On April 14,2018 Roche (SIX: RO, ROG; OTCQX: RHHBY) reported that it will present data from across its broad cancer immunotherapy development programme, including approved and investigational medicines, during the American Association for Cancer Research (AACR) (Free AACR Whitepaper) Annual Meeting from 14 April to 18 April in Chicago, IL, United States (Press release, Hoffmann-La Roche, APR 14, 2018, View Source [SID1234525313]). More than 42 abstracts have been accepted, including five "late breakers" and seven oral presentations.

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"Through our extensive research in the areas of tumour characterisation we are developing therapies that help the immune system to mount a deep and long lasting anti-cancer response," said Sandra Horning, MD, Roche’s Chief Medical Officer and Head of Global Product Development. "A personalised combination approach of cancer immunotherapies like TECENTRIQ with various chemotherapies, targeted medicines and other immunotherapies is central to our goal of providing transformative outcomes for people living with cancer."

Key highlights from the Roche cancer immunotherapy portfolio include an updated analysis from the Phase III IMpower150 study of TECENTRIQ and Avastin plus paclitaxel and carboplatin chemotherapy in people with advanced non-squamous non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC). The study demonstrated significantly improved progression free survival (PFS) across all PD-L1 subgroups (ITT-WT, hazard ratio [HR]=0.61; p<0.0001%; CI: 0.51-0.72), including in people whose tumours are considered PD-L1-negative regardless of the PD-L1 IHC assay used, compared to Avastin plus paclitaxel and carboplatin chemotherapy. A clinically meaningful progression free survival (PFS) advantage was also seen in people with sensitising EGFR mutations, ALK genomic rearrangements, and in people with liver metastases. Importantly, IMpower150 recently met it’s co-primary endpoint of overall survival (OS) and showed that the combination of TECENTRIQ and Avastin plus paclitaxel and carboplatin chemotherapy helped people with advanced lung cancer live longer compared to Avastin plus carboplatin and paclitaxel as an initial treatment for people with advanced NSCLC. These data will be presented at an upcoming oncology meeting in 2018.

There is a scientific rationale for combining TECENTRIQ and abraxane which suggests that the mechanisms of action of each of the medicines may be complementary in the treatment of mTNBC, as they each target different steps in the cancer immunity cycle.

Results from this single arm cohort (N=33) of the Phase 1b study of TECENTRIQ plus nab-paclitaxel chemotherapy in people with metastatic triple negative breast cancer (mTNBC) show encouraging efficacy signals, and the safety of TECENTRIQ plus nab-paclitaxel in this combination is, so far, consistent with the safety profiles of the individual medicines, and no new safety signals were identified with the combination.
A trend toward higher response rates and longer PFS and OS was seen for patients treated in the 1L setting compared to later lines. The ongoing randomised Phase III trial, IMpassion130, is investigating the same regimen as the Phase 1b study, with topline data expected later in 2018.

A retrospective analysis of the biology underlying primary immune escape and responsiveness to TECENTRIQ in tumour samples of people from the phase II IMvigor210 study for people with metastatic urothelial cancer showed that response to TECENTRIQ was highly associated with tumour mutational burden (TMB) and pre-existing T cell immunity. Additionally, another signalling protein known as transforming growth factor-beta (TGF-β) appears to be a negative indicator of response to TECENTRIQ, especially in the immune-excluded tumour phenotype that is common in mUC. Integration of these three independent biological features provides a foundation for understanding outcomes for people living with mUC.
Overview of key Cancer Immunotherapy data AACR (Free AACR Whitepaper) 2018

About TECENTRIQ (atezolizumab)
TECENTRIQ is a monoclonal antibody designed to bind with a protein called PD-L1 expressed on tumour cells and tumour-infiltrating immune cells, blocking its interactions with both PD-1 and B7.1 receptors. By inhibiting PD-L1, TECENTRIQ may enable the activation of T cells. TECENTRIQ has the potential to be used as a foundational combination partner with cancer immunotherapies, targeted medicines and various chemotherapies across a broad range of cancers.

TECENTRIQ is already approved in the European Union, United States and more than 50 countries for people with previously treated metastatic NSCLC and for people with locally advanced or metastatic urothelial cancer (mUC) who are not eligible for cisplatin chemotherapy, or who have had disease progression during or following platinum-containing therapy.

About the TECENTRIQ (atezolizumab) and Avastin (bevacizumab) combination
There is a strong scientific rationale to support combining TECENTRIQ and Avastin. The TECENTRIQ and Avastin regimen may enhance the potential of the immune system to combat a broad range of cancers, including first-line advanced NSCLC. Avastin, in addition to its established anti-angiogenic effects, may further enhance TECENTRIQ’s ability to restore anti-cancer immunity, by inhibiting VEGF-related immunosuppression, promoting T-cell tumour infiltration and enabling priming and activation of T-cell responses against tumour antigens.
About Roche in cancer immunotherapy
For more than 50 years, Roche has been developing medicines with the goal to redefine treatment in oncology. Today, we’re investing more than ever in our effort to bring innovative treatment options that help a person’s own immune system fight cancer.

By applying our seminal research in immune tumour profiling within the framework of the Roche-devised cancer immunity cycle, we are accelerating and expanding the transformative benefits with TECENTRIQ to a greater number of people living with cancer. Our cancer immunotherapy development programme takes a comprehensive approach in pursuing the goal of restoring cancer immunity to improve outcomes for patients.
To learn more about the Roche approach to cancer immunotherapy please follow this link: View Source