Another blockbuster immunotherapy loses bladder cancer indication

Roche has decided to drop a bladder cancer indication for its blockbuster immunotherapy, Tecentriq.

According to the company, the drug, a PD-L1 checkpoint inhibitor, failed to meet its goals in late-stage studies. 

Just weeks ago, AstraZeneca made a similar announcement for Imfinzi, another blockbuster immunotherapy. Both Tecentriq and Imfinzi had won a conditional approval for bladder cancer from the FDA, pending positive follow-up studies. But ultimately, neither fared better than standard treatments in those studies and after consulting with the FDA, both companies voluntarily withdrew the indication. 

Tecentriq is one of the biggest products under development at Roche. The drug has notched approvals for a number of indications including non-small cell lung cancer, small cell lung cancer and more.

Read the press release.