Roche to present a broad range of data across multiple cancer types at the ESMO Virtual Congress 2020

Basel, 17 September 2020 - Roche (SIX: RO, ROG; OTCQX: RHHBY) today announced that results from a number of studies across its broad oncology portfolio will be presented at the European Society for Medical Oncology (ESMO) Virtual Congress 2020, which will be held 19-21 September, 2020. Results include data from three phase III studies across the Tecentriq® (atezolizumab) triple-negative breast cancer (TNBC) programme. Central nervous system (CNS) efficacy data from integrated analyses of the pivotal phase II Rozlytrek® STARTRK-2, phase I STARTRK-1, and phase I ALKA-372-001 trials will be presented in addition to results from the registrational phase I/II ARROW trial, investigating GavretoTM for the treatment of people with advanced, RET-mutant medullary thyroid cancer (MTC). Data from the phase III IPATential150 study in patients with metastatic castration-resistant prostate cancer (mCRPC) and whose tumours had PTEN loss will also be shared.

 

Roche will also be hosting a live roundtable discussion that will focus on COVID-19 and the impact it may have on the outcomes for cancer patients. The discussion will focus on potential solutions and what lessons have been learned from the pandemic so far. Two additional sessions will look into pandemic-related lessons learned with regards to the integration of technology into patient management and the impact of digital tumour board solutions on multidisciplinary meetings.

 

“Our commitment to transforming the outcomes of people living with cancer remains steadfast, so we are proud to be presenting data at this year’s congress that advances the scientific understanding of multiple complex diseases,” said Levi Garraway, M.D., Ph.D. Roche's Chief Medical Officer and Head of Global Product Development. “As a direct result of the pandemic, many countries are reporting a disruption to cancer care which could potentially result in the premature deaths of tens of thousands of cancer patients. Therefore, we must work together to ensure that we do not swap one health crisis for another: cancer patients simply cannot afford to wait.”

 

The pandemic has accelerated the need for collaboration among all stakeholders involved in cancer care to address key gaps and challenges that require urgent action by governments and policy makers. To discuss these issues and call for a course correction for all cancer care services, a live virtual panel discussion and Q&A featuring leading experts from medical societies, academia and the patient group community, will take place on Tuesday 22 September 2020, 15:00 CEST. Join this event on Roche’s LinkedIn page here. Two additional sessions will look into related topics in the context of treatment decision making. In the first session, insights will be shared by Italian experts on how the pandemic has affected cancer care and how digital solutions helped them to continue shared decision making remotely. Sign up here for the session on Saturday, 19 September, 16:00-16:30 CEST. The second talk illustrates challenges faced by multidisciplinary teams when convening tumour boards and their real-world experience with a digital tumour board solution in the pandemic. Sign up here for the session on Saturday, 19 September, 16:30-17:00 CEST.

 

Roche highlights featured at ESMO Virtual Congress 2020

 

Breast cancer portfolio

 

At ESMO, results from recent studies across the Tecentriq TNBC programme (both early and metastatic TNBC) will be presented, including final OS analysis from the phase III IMpassion130 study (Tecentriq in combination with nab-paclitaxel [Abraxane® [paclitaxel protein-bound particles for injectable suspension (albumin-bound)] in mTNBC)], results from the IMpassion031 study (Tecentriq in combination with nab-paclitaxel [Abraxane, albumin-bound paclitaxel; nab-paclitaxel; followed by doxorubicin and cyclophosphamide] in the early TNBC setting), and results from the phase III IMpassion131 study (Tecentriq in combination with paclitaxel in mTNBC).

 

In HER2-positive breast cancer, results will highlight our focus on improving patients’ experience of cancer treatment, looking beyond efficacy outcomes and focusing on more flexible treatment solutions. Data from the phase II PHranceSCa study show the majority of patients prefer treatment with Phesgo™, a subcutaneous (SC) fixed-dose combination of Perjeta® (pertuzumab) and Herceptin® (trastuzumab), compared to standard intravenous formulations. Phesgo was recently approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration, about four months earlier than anticipated, for the treatment of early and metastatic HER2-positive breast cancer. Based on the decision of the treating physician and the preference of the patient, it can be administered by a healthcare professional in a treatment centre or in a patient’s home.

 

Data will also be presented for two of our investigational hormone receptor (HR)-positive breast cancer treatments, both of which target the PI3K/AKT signalling pathway, a key driver of cancer cell growth and proliferation. GDC-0077 is our next generation investigational PI3Kα-selective inhibitor and mutant PI3Kα degrader designed to inhibit the growth of tumour cells that have mutations in the PIK3CA gene. We will present PI3K pathway biomarker and clinical response data from a phase I/Ib study of GDC-0077 and announce the design of an ongoing phase III study evaluating GDC-0077 in HR-positive, HER2-negative advanced breast cancer. In addition, results will be shared from phase III IPATunity130 cohort B assessing ipatasertib in combination with paclitaxel in patients with PIK3CA/AKT1/PTEN-altered HR-positive advanced breast cancer.

 

Tecentriq in lung cancer

 

Results from an exploratory analysis of characterisation of long-term survivors (LTS), defined in the study as people who survived for longer than 18 months following randomisation, in the IMpower133 trial will be presented in a mini-oral session. The study previously showed that Tecentriq in combination with chemotherapy helped people with extensive-stage small cell lung cancer (ES-SCLC) live significantly longer compared with chemotherapy alone. SCLC is distinguished from other lung cancer subtypes due to its aggressive nature, rapid growth and early development of metastatic disease.

 

In addition, four-year survival data from the phase II POPLAR and phase III OAK studies, investigating Tecentriq vs docetaxel (chemotherapy) in patients with advanced pre-treated non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) will be presented.

 

Tumour-agnostic data

 

Two sets of CNS efficacy data from integrated analyses of the pivotal phase II STARTRK-2, phase I STARTRK-1, and phase I ALKA-372-001 trials will be presented, including a poster presentation evaluating the efficacy of Rozlytrek in patients with NTRK or ROS1 fusion-positive NSCLC, who have CNS metastases at baseline; and an oral presentation evaluating the intracranial efficacy of Rozlytrek in patients with NTRK fusion-positive solid tumours with baseline CNS metastasis. In addition, an updated integrated analysis of the phase II STARTRK-2, phase I STARTRK-1, and phase I ALKA-372-001 trials, investigating the efficacy and safety of Rozlytrek in locally advanced/metastatic ROS1-positive NSCLC, which evaluated a larger dataset with longer follow-up (15.8 months) will be presented.

 

Gavreto in RET-mutant medullary thyroid cancer

 

At ESMO, Blueprint Medicines will present results from the registrational phase I/II ARROW trial, investigating Gavreto for the treatment of people with advanced, RET-mutant medullary thyroid cancer. Gavreto is being jointly commercialised by Genentech, a wholly owned member of the Roche Group, and Blueprint Medicines in the U.S. and will be commercialised by Roche outside of the U.S., excluding Greater China (encompasses Mainland China, Hong Kong, Macau and Taiwan). Blueprint Medicines and Gavreto are trademarks of Blueprint Medicines Corporation.

 

Subcutaneous formulation of atezolizumab (Tecentriq)

 

First data from the phase Ib dose-finding study (Part 1 of IMscin001) of subcutaneous atezolizumab (Tecentriq) in patients with locally advanced or metastatic NSCLC will also be presented. The subcutaneous formulation of atezolizumab (Tecentriq) is being developed to potentially allow faster administration via an injection under the skin, compared to the original intravenous (IV) formulation, thereby significantly reducing a patient's time spent receiving treatment. Based on previous studies of other monoclonal antibodies, subcutaneous is generally a preferred route of administration by patients, physicians, healthcare providers and can be associated with hospital time- and cost-savings.

 

PHC symposium

 

In light of ESMO’s 2020 motto, “bringing innovation to cancer patients”, Roche is hosting a symposium that explores what it takes to put personalised healthcare at the heart of clinical practice. Leading experts will discuss recent innovations in the field of personalised healthcare within oncology like the use of blood based molecular testing. Furthermore, the panelists will also discuss how to accelerate the adoption personalised oncology in healthcare systems. The symposium is tailored for healthcare professionals and includes a virtual live Q&A with the faculty on Friday, 18 September, 17:00-17:30 CEST.

 

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