New Phase III Data Support the Benefit of Genentech’s Tecentriq in Early-stage Lung Cancer

On September 20, 2021 Genentech, a member of the Roche Group (SIX: RO, ROG; OTCQX: RHHBY), reported that new data from the Phase III IMpower010 study at the European Society for Medical Oncology (ESMO) (Free ESMO Whitepaper) Congress 2021 Presidential Symposium, reinforcing the significant disease-free survival (DFS) benefit offered by Tecentriq (atezolizumab) for people with Stage II-IIIA non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) whose tumors express PD-L1≥1%. Data from the IMpower010 trial were published simultaneously in The Lancet (Press release, Genentech, SEP 20, 2021, View Source [SID1234588029]). In IMpower010, treatment with Tecentriq, following surgery and chemotherapy, reduced the risk of disease recurrence or death (DFS) by 34% (hazard ratio [HR]=0.66, 95% CI: 0.50–0.88) in people with Stage II-IIIA NSCLC whose tumors express PD-L1≥1%, compared with best supportive care (BSC). Safety data for Tecentriq were consistent with its known safety profile and no new safety signals were identified.

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"IMpower010 shows how, for the first time, a cancer immunotherapy may help many of these patients live longer without their disease returning. The data presented at ESMO (Free ESMO Whitepaper) and WCLC further contribute to our understanding of Tecentriq in this treatment setting."

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"Today more than half of all people with early-stage NSCLC experience recurrence following surgery," said Levi Garraway, M.D., Ph.D., chief medical officer and head of Global Product Development. "IMpower010 shows how, for the first time, a cancer immunotherapy may help many of these patients live longer without their disease returning. The data presented at ESMO (Free ESMO Whitepaper) and WCLC further contribute to our understanding of Tecentriq in this treatment setting."

At the 2021 ESMO (Free ESMO Whitepaper) Virtual Congress, new real-world data show that almost three-quarters of patients with early-stage NSCLC in the U.S. did not receive adjuvant treatment, despite guideline recommendations. Data presented from IMpower010 show that adjuvant Tecentriq offers a DFS benefit in the Stage II-IIIA patient population, irrespective of the stage of disease and across the main prior therapies. Specifically, time to relapse appeared to be improved with Tecentriq, compared with BSC, among people with Stage II-IIIA NSCLC whose tumors express PD-L1 TC ≥1%, for both locoregional and distant sites. There was no clear difference in patterns of relapse. An extended analysis of PD-L1 subgroups in the Stage II-IIIA population shows there is a higher magnitude of benefit from adjuvant Tecentriq in people with PD-L1 expression ≥50%, compared with those with 1-49% PD-L1 expression. The exploratory nature of the analysis in patients with 1-49% PD-L1 expression prevents any firm conclusions, and these data will be further analyzed and shared at a future medical congress.

Additional IMpower010 data, recently presented at the International Association for the Study of Lung Cancer (IASLC) 2021 World Conference on Lung Cancer (WCLC) Presidential Symposium, showed that treatment with Tecentriq improved DFS in the PD-L1≥1% Stage II-IIIA NSCLC population, compared with BSC, regardless of most surgery types and adjuvant chemotherapy regimens.

Based on the IMpower010 data, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) recently granted Priority Review to Tecentriq as an adjuvant treatment for certain people with early NSCLC and is reviewing the application under the Real-Time Oncology Review pilot program, which aims to explore a more efficient review process to ensure safe and effective treatments are available to patients as early as possible. The FDA is expected to make a decision on approval by December 1, 2021.

Tecentriq has previously shown clinically meaningful benefit in various types of lung cancer, with five currently approved indications in markets around the world. It was the first approved cancer immunotherapy for front-line treatment of adults with extensive-stage small cell lung cancer (SCLC) in combination with carboplatin and etoposide (chemotherapy). Tecentriq also has four approved indications in advanced NSCLC as either a single agent or in combination with targeted therapies and/or chemotherapies. Tecentriq is available in three dosing options, providing the flexibility to choose administration every two, three or four weeks.

Genentech has an extensive development program for Tecentriq, including multiple ongoing and planned Phase III studies across different settings in lung, genitourinary, skin, breast, gastrointestinal, gynecological, and head and neck cancers. This includes studies evaluating Tecentriq both alone and in combination with other medicines, as well as studies in metastatic, adjuvant and neoadjuvant settings across various tumor types.

About the IMpower010 study

IMpower010 is a Phase III, global, multicenter, open-label, randomized study evaluating the efficacy and safety of Tecentriq compared with BSC, in participants with Stage IB-IIIA NSCLC (UICC 7th edition), following surgical resection and up to 4 cycles of adjuvant cisplatin-based chemotherapy. The study randomized 1,005 people with a ratio of 1:1 to receive either Tecentriq (up to 16 cycles) or BSC. The primary endpoint is investigator-determined DFS in the PD-L1-positive Stage II-IIIA, all randomized Stage II-IIIA and intent-to-treat (ITT) Stage IB-IIIA populations. Key secondary endpoints include overall survival (OS) in the overall study population, ITT Stage IB-IIIA NSCLC.

About lung cancer

According to the American Cancer Society, it is estimated that more than 235,000 Americans will be diagnosed with lung cancer in 2021, and NSCLC accounts for 80-85% of all lung cancers. Today, about half of all people with early lung cancer still experience a cancer recurrence following surgery, but treating lung cancer early, before it has spread, may help prevent the disease from returning and provide people with the best opportunity for a cure.

About Tecentriq (atezolizumab)

Tecentriq is a monoclonal antibody designed to bind with a protein called PD-L1. Tecentriq is designed to bind to PD-L1 expressed on tumor cells and tumor-infiltrating immune cells, blocking its interactions with both PD-1 and B7.1 receptors. By inhibiting PD-L1, Tecentriq may enable the re-activation of T cells. Tecentriq may also affect normal cells.

Tecentriq U.S. Indications

Tecentriq is a prescription medicine used to treat adults with:

A type of lung cancer called non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC).

Tecentriq may be used alone as their first treatment when their lung cancer:
has spread or grown, and
their cancer tests positive for "high PD-L1", and
their tumor does not have an abnormal "EGFR" or "ALK" gene
Tecentriq may be used with the medicines bevacizumab, paclitaxel, and carboplatin as their first treatment when their lung cancer:
has spread or grown, and
is a type called "non-squamous NSCLC," and
their tumor does not have an abnormal "EGFR" or "ALK" gene
Tecentriq may be used with the medicines paclitaxel protein-bound and carboplatin as their first treatment when their lung cancer:
has spread or grown, and
is a type called "non-squamous NSCLC," and
their tumor does not have an abnormal "EGFR" or "ALK" gene
Tecentriq may also be used when their lung cancer:
has spread or grown, and
they have tried chemotherapy that contains platinum, and it did not work or is no longer working
if their tumor has an abnormal "EGFR" or "ALK" gene, they should have also tried an FDA-approved therapy for tumors with these abnormal genes, and it did not work or is no longer working
A type of lung cancer called small cell lung cancer (SCLC).

Tecentriq may be used with the chemotherapy medicines carboplatin and etoposide as their first treatment when their lung cancer:
is a type called "extensive-stage small cell lung cancer," which means that it has spread or grown
It is not known if Tecentriq is safe and effective in children.

Important Safety Information

What is the most important information about Tecentriq?

Tecentriq can cause the immune system to attack normal organs and tissues in any area of the body and can affect the way they work. These problems can sometimes become severe or life threatening and can lead to death. Patients can have more than one of these problems at the same time. These problems may happen anytime during their treatment or even after their treatment has ended.

Patients should call or see their healthcare provider right away if they develop any new or worse signs or symptoms, including:

Lung problems

cough
shortness of breath
chest pain
Intestinal problems

diarrhea (loose stools) or more frequent bowel movements than usual
stools that are black, tarry, sticky, or have blood or mucus
severe stomach-area (abdomen) pain or tenderness
Liver problems

yellowing of the skin or the whites of the eyes
severe nausea or vomiting
pain on the right side of their stomach area (abdomen)
dark urine (tea colored)
bleeding or bruising more easily than normal
Hormone gland problems

headaches that will not go away or unusual headaches
eye sensitivity to light
eye problems
rapid heartbeat
increased sweating
extreme tiredness
weight gain or weight loss
feeling more hungry or thirsty than usual
urinating more often than usual
hair loss
feeling cold
constipation
their voice gets deeper
dizziness or fainting
changes in mood or behavior, such as decreased sex drive, irritability, or forgetfulness
Kidney problems

decrease in their amount of urine
blood in their urine
swelling of their ankles
loss of appetite
Skin problems

rash
itching
skin blistering or peeling
painful sores or ulcers in mouth or nose, throat, or genital area
fever or flu-like symptoms
swollen lymph nodes
Problems can also happen in other organs.

These are not all of the signs and symptoms of immune system problems that can happen with Tecentriq. Patients should call or see their healthcare provider right away for any new or worse signs or symptoms, including:

Chest pain, irregular heartbeat, shortness of breath, or swelling of ankles
Confusion, sleepiness, memory problems, changes in mood or behavior, stiff neck, balance problems, tingling or numbness of the arms or legs
Double vision, blurry vision, sensitivity to light, eye pain, changes in eyesight
Persistent or severe muscle pain or weakness, muscle cramps
Low red blood cells, bruising
Infusion reactions that can sometimes be severe or life-threatening. Signs and symptoms of infusion reactions may include:

chills or shaking
itching or rash
flushing
shortness of breath or wheezing
dizziness
feeling like passing out
fever
back or neck pain
Complications, including graft-versus-host disease (GVHD), in people who have received a bone marrow (stem cell) transplant that uses donor stem cells (allogeneic). These complications can be serious and can lead to death. These complications may happen if patients undergo transplantation either before or after being treated with Tecentriq. A healthcare provider will monitor for these complications.

Getting medical treatment right away may help keep these problems from becoming more serious. A healthcare provider will check patients for these problems during their treatment with Tecentriq. A healthcare provider may treat patients with corticosteroid or hormone replacement medicines. A healthcare provider may also need to delay or completely stop treatment with Tecentriq if patients have severe side effects.

Before receiving Tecentriq, patients should tell their healthcare provider about all of their medical conditions, including if they:

have immune system problems such as Crohn’s disease, ulcerative colitis, or lupus
have received an organ transplant
have received or plan to receive a stem cell transplant that uses donor stem cells (allogeneic)
have received radiation treatment to their chest area
have a condition that affects their nervous system, such as myasthenia gravis or Guillain-Barré syndrome
are pregnant or plan to become pregnant. Tecentriq can harm an unborn baby. Patients should tell their healthcare provider right away if they become pregnant or think they may be pregnant during treatment with Tecentriq. Females who are able to become pregnant:
A healthcare provider should do a pregnancy test before they start treatment with Tecentriq
They should use an effective method of birth control during their treatment and for at least 5 months after the last dose of Tecentriq
are breastfeeding or plan to breastfeed. It is not known if Tecentriq passes into the breast milk. Patients should not breastfeed during treatment and for at least 5 months after the last dose of Tecentriq
Patients should tell their healthcare provider about all the medicines they take, including prescription and over-the-counter medicines, vitamins, and herbal supplements.

The most common side effects of Tecentriq when used alone include:

feeling tired or weak
nausea
cough
shortness of breath
decreased appetite
The most common side effects of Tecentriq when used in lung cancer with other anti-cancer medicines include:

feeling tired or weak
nausea
hair loss
constipation
diarrhea
decreased appetite
Tecentriq may cause fertility problems in females, which may affect the ability to have children. Patients should talk to their healthcare provider if they have concerns about fertility.

These are not all the possible side effects of Tecentriq. Patients should ask their healthcare provider or pharmacist for more information about the benefits and side effects of Tecentriq.

Report side effects to the FDA at 1-800-FDA-1088 or View Source

Report side effects to Genentech at 1-888-835-2555.

Please see View Source for full Prescribing Information and additional Important Safety Information.

About Genentech in cancer immunotherapy

Genentech has been developing medicines to redefine treatment in oncology for more than 35 years, and today, realizing the full potential of cancer immunotherapy is a major area of focus. With more than 20 immunotherapy molecules in development, Genentech is investigating the potential benefits of immunotherapy alone, and in combination with various chemotherapies, targeted therapies and other immunotherapies with the goal of providing each person with a treatment tailored to harness their own unique immune system.

In addition to Genentech’s approved PD-L1 checkpoint inhibitor, the company’s broad cancer immunotherapy pipeline includes other checkpoint inhibitors, individualized neoantigen therapies and T cell bispecific antibodies. For more information visit View Source

About Genentech in lung cancer

Lung cancer is a major area of focus and investment for Genentech, and we are committed to developing new approaches, medicines and tests that can help people with this deadly disease. Our goal is to provide an effective treatment option for every person diagnosed with lung cancer. We currently have five approved medicines to treat certain kinds of lung cancer and more than 10 medicines being developed to target the most common genetic drivers of lung cancer or to boost the immune system to combat the disease.

GRAIL Receives New York State Approval for Galleri Multi-Cancer Early Detection Blood Test

On September 20, 2021 GRAIL, LLC, a healthcare company whose mission is to detect cancer early, reported that the New York State Department of Health (NYSDOH) has approved Galleri, GRAIL’s groundbreaking multi-cancer early detection blood test (Press release, Grail, SEP 20, 2021, View Source [SID1234588028]). With NYSDOH approval, Galleri is now available to residents in the state of New York by prescription to complement existing single cancer screening tests.

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The standard set by New York State represents one of the most rigorous levels of validation required for laboratory developed tests. Clinical laboratories conducting testing on specimens from New York residents also must obtain a clinical laboratory permit. The permit of a clinical laboratory helps ensure the accuracy and reliability of clinical tests.

"We are pleased that healthcare providers in New York can now prescribe Galleri, a first-of-kind blood test that can detect multiple cancers early, when treatment is more likely to be successful," said Dr. Josh Ofman, chief medical officer and head of external affairs at GRAIL. "The approval of the New York State Department of Health marks a significant regulatory milestone for GRAIL and confirms the high standard for validation of our rigorous approach to test development, and the high quality of our clinical laboratory. Most importantly, this approval represents a significant milestone in bringing Galleri to patients and healthcare providers across the U.S., and continued progress toward our mission to detect cancer early, when it can be cured."

The GRAIL laboratory is certified under the Clinical Laboratory Improvement Amendments (CLIA) and accredited by the College of American Pathologists (CAP). Widely recognized as a gold standard for clinical laboratory accreditations, the CAP Laboratory Accreditation Program is designed to ensure laboratories meet stringent requirements and standards of quality, safety, and accuracy.

More than 600,000 people died from cancer last year in the U.S., according to the American Cancer Society. This is in large part because the majority of cancers are found too late when outcomes are often poor. Recommended screening tests save lives, but only cover five cancer types in the U.S.: breast, colon, cervical, prostate, and in high-risk smokers, lung. In fact, 71% of cancer deaths have no recommended early detection screening at all.

About Galleri

The earlier that cancer is detected, the higher the chance of successful outcomes. The Galleri multi-cancer early detection test can detect more than 50 types of cancer through a routine blood draw. When a cancer signal is detected, the Galleri test predicts the cancer signal origin, or where the cancer is located in the body, with high accuracy to help guide the next steps to diagnosis. The Galleri test requires a prescription from a licensed healthcare provider and should be used in addition to recommended cancer screenings such as mammography, colonoscopy, prostate-specific antigen (PSA) test, or cervical cancer screening. It is intended for use in people with an elevated risk of cancer, such as those aged 50 or older.

Imago BioSciences Announces Its Addition to the Russell 2000® Index

On September 20, 2021 Imago BioSciences, Inc. (Imago) (Nasdaq: IMGO), a clinical stage biopharmaceutical company discovering new medicines for the treatment of myeloproliferative neoplasms (MPNs), reported that it will be added to the Russell 2000 Index as part of the planned second quarter IPO additions scheduled to join the Russell US Indexes on September 20, 2021 (Press release, Imago BioSciences, SEP 20, 2021, View Source [SID1234588027]).

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"The inclusion of Imago BioSciences in the Russell 2000 Index marks a notable milestone following our successful IPO in July. As we continue to progress our clinical programs forward for the treatment of myeloproliferative neoplasms, I anticipate the inclusion will bring greater market awareness of our approach to debilitating diseases," said Hugh Young Rienhoff, Jr., M.D., Chief Executive Officer of Imago BioSciences. "We are honored to be a part of the Russell Indexes and I look forward to leveraging our addition to drive additional value to patients and stockholders alike."

The Russell 2000 Index measures the performance of the small-cap segment of the US equity market. The Russell 2000 Index is a subset of the Russell 3000 Index representing approximately 10% of the total market capitalization of that index. It includes approximately 2,000 of the smallest securities based on a combination of their market cap and current index membership.

Russell indexes are widely used by investment managers and institutional investors for index funds and as benchmarks for active investment strategies. Approximately $10.7 trillion in assets are benchmarked against Russell’s U.S. indexes which are part of FTSE Russell, a global index leader that provides innovative benchmarking, analytics and data solutions for investors worldwide.

For more information on the Russell Indexes, please visit the FTSE Russell website at View Source

Cyteir Therapeutics Selected to Join Russell 2000® Index

On September 20, 2021 Cyteir Therapeutics, Inc. ("Cyteir") (Nasdaq: CYT), a company focused on the discovery and development of next-generation synthetically lethal therapies for cancer reported that it was added as a member of the U.S. small-cap Russell 2000 Index, effective after the US market opens on September 20, as part of the 2021 Russell indexes reconstitution (Press release, Cyteir Therapeutics, SEP 20, 2021, View Source [SID1234588026]). Membership in the Russell 2000 Index, which remains in place for one year, is based on membership in the broad-market Russell 3000 Index. The stock also was automatically added to the appropriate growth and value indexes.

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"We are pleased to be included in the Russell 2000 Index following the successful close of our June IPO. Cyteir is committed to discovering and developing next-generation synthetically lethal therapies for cancer to provide novel treatment options for patients," said Markus Renschler, MD, President and Chief Executive Officer of Cyteir.

Russell indexes are widely used by investment managers and institutional investors for index funds and as benchmarks for active investment strategies. Approximately $10.6 trillion in assets are benchmarked against Russell’s U.S. indexes. Russell indexes are part of FTSE Russell, a leading global index provider.

For more information on the Russell 2000 Index and the Russell indexes reconstitution, go to the "Russell Reconstitution" section on the FTSE Russell website.

Ranok Therapeutics to Present its CHAMP™ Platform at 19th Annual Discovery on Target Conference

On September 20, 2021 Ranok Therapeutics (Hangzhou) Co. Ltd., an emerging biopharmaceutical company focused on developing breakthrough therapies for cancer and other serious diseases, reported that the company will present at the 19th Annual Discovery on Target conference in Boston, MA, September 27-30, 2021 (Press release, Ranok Therapeutics, SEP 20, 2021, View Source [SID1234588025]).

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Kevin P. Foley, Ph.D., Co-founder and Chief Scientific Officer of Ranok Therapeutics, will present a talk entitled "Tumor-Targeted Protein Degradation via Chaperones", as part of the conference’s PROTACs and Targeted Protein Degradation track.

Ranok has developed a proprietary and innovative targeted protein degradation (TPD) platform technology, CHAMP (Chaperone-mediated Protein Degradation), that leverages Ranok’s founders’ expertise in protein homeostasis to take advantage of the cellular chaperone network, potentially improving drug safety and efficacy due to selective targeting of disease tissues. The Company announced a $40 million Series B financing in August 2021, bringing the total raised to date to over $50 million in funding.

Event: 19th Annual Discovery on Target Conference
Date: Tuesday, September 28, 2021
Time: 9:05 a.m. EDT
Venue: Sheraton Boston, Boston, MA and virtually

In addition, Ranok Therapeutics will be presenting at these upcoming events:

October 15, Sino-American Pharmaceutical Professionals Association (SAPA) China Annual Conference (Suzhou, China)
October 19, Advances in Protein Degradation Webinar Series(virtual)
October 28, 4th Annual Targeted Protein Degradation Summit (virtual)
December 7, The New York Academy of Sciences’ Targeted Protein Degradation: From Drug Discovery to the Clinic Symposium (virtual)