MHRA (UK) approves Tecentriq for early stage NSCLC with PD-L1 mutation post surgery and chemo.

Atezolizumab is the first immunotherapy approved for patients with early-stage NSCLC whose tumours express the PD-L1 mutation, and who have undergone surgery and chemotherapy. These patients are at risk of their cancer returning, and England is only the second country in Europe to make this cutting-edge treatment available.

Clinical trials have shown atezolizumab can significantly reduce the risk of cancer recurrence or death by 34% in people with early-stage NSCLC, following surgery and chemotherapy. Given as an IV drip, this innovative treatment works by blocking a protein that stops the immune system from attacking cancer cells, by making cancer cells more visible to the immune system. The first patients will be able to receive treatment in the next few weeks, while the National Institute for Health and Care Excellent (NICE) completes its ongoing appraisal after an early-access deal was struck by NHS England with the manufacturer, Roche.