Switzerland-based Roche's lung cancer drug Tecentriq (atezolizumab) has improved overall survival rate in a phase III IMpower110 study, it was reported yesterday.

The trial is assessing the product as a first-line (initial) monotherapy compared against cisplatin or carboplatin and pemetrexed or gemcitabine (chemotherapy) in advanced non-squamous and squamous non-small cell lung cancer without ALK or EGFR mutations (Wild-Type or WT).

The company's phase III trial achieved its primary endpoint in an interim analysis demonstrating that Tecentriq monotherapy had a statistically significant overall survival benefit in people with high PD-L1 expression (TC3/IC3-WT) compared against chemotherapy alone.

The firm will share the positive data with global health authorities such as the US Food and Drug Administration and European Medicines Agency to offer the new drug option to patients.

The product is a monoclonal antibody developed to bind with PD-L1 protein that is expressed on tumour cells and tumour-infiltrating immune cells, blocking its interactions with both PD-1 and B7.1 receptors. It will allow the activation of T cells by inhibiting PD-L1.