Roche Tecentriq Extends Life in Lung Cancer Study

Roche Holding’s immunotherapy drug, already approved for advanced bladder cancer, may help lung cancer patients live longer, according to a late-stage study.

The drugmaker reported that patients taking Tecentriq, along with Roche’s older cancer drug Avastin and chemotherapy, showed a 38 percent reduced risk of their disease worsening, compared with patients who were given only Avastin and chemotherapy.

Widening the market for Tecentriq would be a big win for Roche, as the company continues to struggle with patent loss and biosimilar competition.

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