EU approves Tecentriq for ES-CLC and NSCLC

The European Commission has granted marketing approval for Roche’s Tecentriq in both extensive-stage small cell lung cancer (ES-CLC) and non-squamous non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC), based on the results from the phase 3 IMpower133 study, which showed that the Tecentriq combination significantly extended life when compared with chemotherapy alone, and also diminished the risk of disease worsening or death. The immunotherapy has been approved as a first-line treatment option in both indications, in combination with chemotherapy, and in the case of ES-CLC is the first cancer immunotherapy approved in Europe in this indication as an initial treatment. It was granted FDA approval in this indication earlier this year, making it the first approval as an initial treatment in ES-CLC for 20 years. The prognosis for ES-CLC is particularly poor, with 70% of all small-cell lung cancer cases being diagnosed at this stage. It is aggressive and grows rapidly, often becoming metastatic quickly.
Roche’s Sandra Horning said: “This approval makes Tecentriq the first cancer immunotherapy available in Europe for the initial treatment of extensive-stage small cell lung cancer, marking an important step forward for patients.”