Roche has welcomed the Therapeutic Goods Administration’s approval of Tecentriq in combination with Avastin and chemotherapy as an initial treatment option for adults with metastatic non-squamous non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC).
Adding Tecentriq (atezolizumab) to a combination of Avastin(bevacizumab) and chemotherapy reduces the risk of metastatic non-small cell lung cancerin patients.
Approval was based on positive results from an Impower150 study, an open-label, randomised phase 3 trial that compared a combination of Tecentriq plus Taxol and carboplatin, with or without Avastin, with a combination of Avastin, Taxol, and carboplatin.
Patients numbering 1,202 with metastatic non-squamous NSCLC not previously treated with chemotherapy were included in the trial.
The trial showed that Tecentriq in combination with Avastin and chemotherapy extended the lives of patients without EGFR or ALK mutations to 19.2 months compared with 14.7 months for patients on Avastin and chemotherapy.
Avastin is a human antibody that binds the VEGF protein, an important protein in blood vessel formation. By blocking VEGF-mediated signalling, Avastin disrupts the tumour’s blood supply, preventing its growth and spread.
Roche has established a patient access program to enable eligible patients access to Tecentriq and Avastin until the PBS listing date or until the program is closed.
University of Sydney Professor of Medicine Stephen Clarke says approval is an important milestone as every day 25 Australians die from lung cancer.
“There’s been a significant unmet need within the epidermal growth factor receptor mutation population of non-squamous non-small cell lung cancer, where patients have failed appropriate targeted therapies,” he said.
Tecentriq is associated with immune-related reactions. Based on severity, Tecentriq should be withheld and corticosteroids administered. In general, Tecentriq must be permanently discontinued for any recurrent grade 3 or grade 4 immune-related reaction.
