Roche announced that new data from its early and late-stage clinical studies, on more than 19 approved and investigational cancer medicines, will be presented at the 2018 American Society of Clinical Oncology (ASCO) Annual Meeting, taking place from 1-5 June, in Chicago, IL, United States. More than 180 abstracts have been accepted across 13 cancer types, including two “late breakers” and 15 oral presentations.

“New data to be presented from our industry-leading oncology portfolio, including our lung and haematology programmes, will demonstrate how our science-driven approach aims to improve outcomes for people living with cancer,” said Sandra Horning, MD, Roche’s Chief Medical Officer and Head of Global Product Development. “At ASCO, we look forward to sharing our progress and commitment to build the future of personalised healthcare in oncology.”

Further information on Roche’s contribution to the ASCO 2018 scientific programme, as well as Roche’s wider progress in cancer care, will be featured during the Roche Media Briefing from 09:00 - 10:45 CDT on Friday, 1 June at the Chicago Marriott Downtown Magnificent Mile, Chicago, IL, US. This event, independently organised by Roche, is open to journalists from outside the United States who have registered as media with the ASCO 2018

Key data to be presented at ASCO cover advances from Roche’s lung cancer programme, including a combination approach using the cancer immunotherapy, Tecentriq (atezolizumab) with targeted therapies and a range of different chemotherapies.

Updated OS data and new patient reported outcomes (PROs) data from the Phase III IMpower150 study of Tecentriq plus Avastin (bevacizumab) and chemotherapy (carboplatin and paclitaxel), in people with previously-untreated, advanced non-squamous non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC), will be presented. The US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) recently granted Priority Review for this combination in the same patient population.

New PFS results from the Phase III IMpower131 study of Tecentriq plus chemotherapy (carboplatin and Abraxane [albumin-bound paclitaxel; nab-paclitaxel]) as an initial (first-line) treatment for people with advanced squamous NSCLC will also be shared and feature as part of ASCO’s official press programme on Saturday, 2 June.

Additional results in lung cancer include longer follow-up results from the Phase III ALEX study of Alecensa (alectinib) versus crizotinib in people with previously untreated anaplastic lymphoma kinase (ALK)-positive NSCLC. These data build on the primary results from the ALEX study, first presented at ASCO 2017, which demonstrated a significant reduction in the risk of disease progression or death versus crizotinib. New data that utilise the application of a real world endpoint to identify and characterise genetic profiles of people with a poor prognosis in advanced NSCLC will also be presented at the congress.

Additional cancer immunotherapy data presentations of note include new Tecentriq plus Avastin PROs from the Phase III IMmotion151 study in advanced renal cell carcinoma (RCC), and Phase Ib data for the combination of Tecentriq plus Avastin in first-line hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). These studies add to the growing body of evidence that support the use of Tecentriq plus Avastin across multiple tumour types.

New tumour mutational burden (TMB) data from two studies of Tecentriq will also be presented, including blood-based TMB data from the Phase II B-F1RST study in advanced NSCLC, and tissue-based TMB data across multiple tumour types including NSCLC, metastatic urothelial carcinoma and melanoma.
Data from pivotal studies in haematology will also be presented at ASCO. Additional analyses on minimal residual disease (MRD) rates will be shared from the Phase III MURANO study evaluating Venclexta/Venclyxto™ (venetoclax) plus MabThera/Rituxan (rituximab), compared to bendamustine plus MabThera/Rituxan, in people with relapsed or refractory chronic lymphocytic leukaemia (CLL). A supplemental new drug application (sNDA) based on the MURANO data was granted Priority Review by the FDA, with an action date of 28 June 2018.

Additional data will also be presented from the Phase Ib M14-358 study of Venclexta/Venclyxto plus azacitidine or decitabine in people with previously untreated acute myeloid leukemia (AML) who are ineligible for intensive chemotherapy. Venclexta/Venclyxto is being developed by AbbVie and Roche.

Data from the randomised Phase II study evaluating polatuzumab vedotin in combination with bendamustine chemotherapy and MabThera/Rituxan in people with relapsed/refractory diffuse large B-cell lymphoma (DLBCL) and follicular lymphoma (FL) will also be presented at the meeting.

Updates from two investigational medicines in breast cancer will be presented at ASCO. Data includes results from the phase III SANDPIPER study of taselisib (GDC-0332) and fulvestrant, compared to fulvestrant alone, in estrogen receptor (ER)-positive, PIK3CA-mutant, locally advanced or metastatic breast cancer, and updated OS data from the LOTUS trial of ipatasertib (GDC-0068, RG7440) and paclitaxel for previously untreated, locally advanced or metastatic, triple-negative breast cancer. The SANDPIPER data will be featured as part of ASCO’s official press programme on Saturday, 2 June.