EC approves Roche’s Tecentriq in combination with Abraxane for people with PD-L1-positive, metastatic triple-negative breast cancer

Roche announced that the European Commission has approved Tecentriq (atezolizumab) plus chemotherapy (Abraxane [paclitaxel protein-bound particles for injectable suspension (albumin-bound); nab-paclitaxel]) for the treatment of adult patients with unresectable locally advanced or metastatic triple-negative breast cancer (TNBC) whose tumours have PD-L1 expression (≥1%) and who have not received prior chemotherapy for metastatic disease. Roche’s VENTANA PD-L1 (SP142) Assay is now CE marked and commercially available in the European Union as an aid for identifying patients with TNBC eligible for treatment with the Tecentriq combination.

“For the past 30 years, we have been dedicated to transforming the lives of people with breast cancer. Now, we are pleased to build on this foundation with the news that the first immunotherapy treatment for triple-negative breast cancer is available to people in Europe with PD-L1-positive, metastatic triple-negative breast cancer,” said Sandra Horning, MD, Roche’s Chief Medical Officer and Head of Global Product Development. “The European approval of this Tecentriq combination represents a significant step forward in the treatment of this aggressive breast cancer, where the unmet medical need is great.”

This approval is based on the results from the Phase III IMpassion130 study. Progression-free survival (PFS) results demonstrated a statistically significant benefit for Tecentriq in combination with nab-paclitaxel and showed that Tecentriq plus nab-paclitaxel significantly reduced the risk of disease worsening or death (PFS) by 38% compared with nab-paclitaxel alone (median PFS=7.5 vs 5 months; hazard ratio [HR]=0.62, 95% CI: 0.49-0.78, p<0.0001) in people who were tested positive for PD-L1 expression on tumour-infiltrating immune cells. At the second interim analysis, Tecentriq and nab-paclitaxel showed a clinically meaningful overall survival (OS) improvement of seven months vs placebo and nab-paclitaxel in the PD-L1-positive population (median OS=25.0 vs 18.0 months; HR=0.71, 95% CI: 0.54 –0.93). OS results in the PD-L1-positive population were not formally tested due to the hierarchical design of the study as statistical significance was not met for OS in the intention-to-treat (ITT) population (median OS=21.0 vs 18.7 months; HR=0.86, 95% CI: 0.72–1.02, p=0.078).

The assessment of PD-L1 on tumour-infiltrating immune cells is essential for identifying the patients with TNBC benefiting from this Tecentriq combination. PD-L1 expression status in the IMpassion130 study was assessed by the VENTANA PD-L1 (SP142) assay.

Safety in the Tecentriq plus nab-paclitaxel arm appeared consistent with the known safety profiles of the individual medicines, and no new safety signals were identified with the combination. The nature and incidence of severe adverse events (SAEs) and Grade 3–4 adverse events (AEs) were consistent with the known safety profiles of the individual study drugs or the underlying disease. SAEs were reported in 23% of people receiving Tecentriq plus nab-paclitaxel compared to 18% of people receiving chemotherapy alone. Grade 3–4 AEs were reported in 49% of people receiving Tecentriq plus nab-paclitaxel compared to 42% of people receiving chemotherapy alone.

Currently, there are seven ongoing Phase III studies investigating Tecentriq in TNBC, including early and advanced stages of the disease.