Roche mets endpoints in first-line NSCLC study

Roche enroled 724 patients and compared a Tecentriq plus carboplatin or Abraxane nab-paclitaxel combo with chemo-monotherapy (carboplatin and Abraxane alone) in the Phase 3 IMpower130 study. Roche's US arm Genentech said details of the study will be announced at an upcoming scientific meeting. Expert expect them to be reported at ESMO in mid-October.

Roches PD-L1 checkpoint blocker Tecentriq however faces fierce competition: In April, Merck & Co. Inc. detailed data from its Phase III KEYNOTE-189 trial at AACR.  Its PD-1 blocker Keytruda plus chemotherapy (Alimta pemetrexed and cisplatin or carboplatin) led to a median progression-free survival of 8.8 months vs. 4.9 months for chemotherapy. Median overall survival was not yet reached after follow-up for 10.5 months; for chemo-monotherapy it was 11.3 months.

IMpower-130 is the third Phase III trial to show a survival benefit to initial treatment with Tecentriq-based combinations in NSCLC. In March, Roche’s IMpower150 study met the co-primary OS endpoint at interim analysis. Furthermore, Roche's IMpower131 study met the co-primary PFS endpoint that month.