Roche reports disappointing cancer trials

June 3, 2018

Two Roche oncology drugs provided only modest protection from disease progression in lung cancer and breast cancer, according to data from separate clinical trials.

Roche presented studies involving Tecentriqat and taselisib the American Society of Clinical Oncology (ASCO) annual meeting in Chicago.

First, Roche reported that adding its immunotherapy, Tecentriq, to other standard cancer drugs extended the median time patients with advanced squamous cell lung cancer lived before their disease progressed by only about three weeks.

Tecentriq is already approved for previously treated patients with advanced non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) and certain patients with advanced bladder cancer.

Additionally, Roche said it was ending development plans for its experimental drug, taselisib, after data showed adding it to hormone therapy extended the length of time women with advanced breast cancer lived before their disease worsened by just two months.

According to the Roche, it will not be pursuing an FDA submission for taselisib based on the data presented.

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