Roche reports positive data from leukaemia drug trial

Roche has announced positive clinical data from the first stage of CLL11, a phase III trial investigating the efficacy of its new chronic lymphocytic leukaemia (CLL) therapy obinutuzumab.

The latest data showed that the treatment, when combined with chlorambucil-based chemotherapy, was able to deliver progression-free survival benefits among people with previously untreated CLL.

Specifically designed as the first glycoengineered type 2 anti-CD20 monoclonal antibody in development for B-cell malignancies, the new compound has been designed to offer a superior performance to MabThera/Rituxan in CLL and non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma.

Data from CLL11 will be submitted to European and other regulatory authorities to support potential future marketing approvals.

Dr Hal Barron, Roche's chief medical officer and head of global product development, said: "GA101 demonstrates our ongoing commitment to the research and development of new medicines for this disease."

This comes after data from a separate phase III trial was announced earlier this week showing the benefits Roche's Avastin can offer in the treatment of advanced bowel cancer among elderly patients.