Roche study shows benefits of Gazyva/Gazyvaro in treating lymphoma

Roche has announced new data from a clinical study showing the benefits offered by its cancer drug Gazyva/Gazyvaro.

Positive results from the pivotal phase III GALLIUM study have shown the efficacy of the drug among patients with previously untreated follicular lymphoma, the most common type of indolent non-Hodgkin lymphoma.

When compared head-to-head with an established therapy, Gazyva/Gazyvaro-based treatment was shown to significantly reduce the risk of disease worsening or death, while adverse effects were in line with previous research.

The drug was able to meet its primary endpoint in the trial early, as determined by an independent data monitoring committee. Results from the study will soon be submitted to health authorities to support regulatory applications.

Dr Sandra Horning, chief medical officer and head of global product development at Roche, said: "GALLIUM is the second study in which Gazyva/Gazyvaro showed superior progression-free survival compared to MabThera/Rituxan when each was combined with chemotherapy."

This comes after the company recently reported Japanese clinical data showing the effectiveness of its drug Alecensa in the treatment of lung cancer.