Roche Holding AG's combination of Tecentriq and Avastin plus chemotherapy medicines carboplatin and paclitaxel helped certain lung cancer patients live longer when compared to treatment with just Avastin and the chemotherapy drugs.
In a phase 3 study, called IMpower150, Tecentriq and Avastin plus carboplatin and paclitaxel were used to treat non-squamous non-small cell lung cancer that had spread to other parts of the body in patients who have not previously had or undergone chemotherapy.
Median overall survival for the patients treated with the Tecentriq and Avastin plus chemotherapy combination was 19.2 months, compared with 14.7 months for those treated with Avastin and chemotherapy, according to interim data from the study.
Tecentriq is classified as an immune system-boosting drug called checkpoint inhibitors. The inhibitor drug focuses on immune checkpoints such as PD-L1 and CTLA-4 to ward off cancer cells from downregulating and hiding from the body's immune system.

The Swiss pharmaceutical giant's California-based unit Genentech Inc. reported that people with liver metastases treated with the Tecentriq combination had a survival advantage.
In addition, the interim data showed that the combination of Tecentriq plus carboplatin and paclitaxel did not show any statistical difference in the lifespan of the patient after the start of the treatment, compared to the combination of Avastin and chemotherapy.
The U.S. Food and Drug Administration recently approved a priority review of the combination of Tecentriq and Avastin plus carboplatin and paclitaxel in patients with non-squamous non-small cell lung cancer that had not previously undergone chemotherapy. The FDA is expected to make a decision on approval by Sept. 5.
IMpower150 is one of eight phase 3 studies evaluating Tecentriq alone or in combination of other drugs. Roche, which is also evaluating Tecentriq for colon and kidney cancers, is expected to report on three more phase 3 lung cancer studies in 2018.
