Roche to present cancer drug data at ASCO 2015

Roche has announced that it will be attending the American Society of Clinical Oncology (ASCO) annual meeting, where it will share its latest cancer research findings.

Data on ten of its approved cancer medicines and ten additional investigational medicines will be presented during the meeting in Chicago, which runs from May 29th to June 2nd. In total, Roche medicines to be featured in more than 275 abstracts.

New pivotal results for two medicines – the investigational ALK inhibitor alectinib in advanced non-small-cell lung cancer (NSCLC) and Gazyva/Gazyvaro in indolent non-Hodgkin's Lymphoma –  will be shared, as well as important data in advanced NSCLC for the new cancer immunotherapy MPDL3280A.

Dr Sandra Horning, Roche's chief medical officer and head of global product development, said: "These results build upon our long-standing commitment to improve outcomes for people with lung cancer, and we hope this data will help us bring new options to treat this devastating disease."

Also featured will be updated results for the investigational medicine cobimetinib in advanced BRAF-mutated melanoma, as well as for Perjeta in the treatment of neoadjuvant HER2-positive early breast cancer cases.

The company's oncology portfolio was highlighted as a key driver of growth for Roche in the first quarter of 2015, during which it saw a five percent year-on-year sales improvement.