Roche gains means to challenge Merck's dominance in first-line non-squamous non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC)

Roche announced that the Phase III IMpower150 study met its co-primary endpoint of progression-free survival (PFS) and demonstrated that the combination of Tecentriq (atezolizumab) and Avastin (bevacizumab) plus chemotherapy (paclitaxel and carboplatin) provided a statistically significant and clinically meaningful reduction in the risk of disease worsening or death (PFS) compared to Avastin plus chemotherapy in the first-line treatment of people with advanced non-squamous non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC). Initial observations for the co-primary endpoint of overall survival (OS) are encouraging.

Safety for the Tecentriq and Avastin plus chemotherapy combination appeared consistent with the known safety profile of the individual medicines, and no new safety signals were identified with the combination. These data will be presented at the European Society for Medical Oncology (ESMO) Immuno Oncology Congress in Geneva, Switzerland in December 2017.

Comment: The results are a positive for Tecentriq's profile and could give Roche the means to challenge Merck & Co.'s lead in the first-line NSCLC setting, where its PD-1 inhibitor Keytruda is currently approved.