On September 10, 2020 Chugai Pharmaceutical Co., Ltd. (Chugai, TSE: 4519) and Takeda Pharmaceutical Co., Ltd. (Takeda, TSE:4502/NYSE:TAK) reported that they have decided to study the combination of Tecentriq (atezolizumab), an engineered anti-PD-L1 monoclonal antibody and CABOMETYX (cabozantinib), a tyrosine kinase inhibitor, in Japan (Press release, Chugai, SEP 10, 2020, View Source [SID1234564916]).
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Subsequent to a joint clinical research agreement between Roche and Exelixis and in conjunction with certain rights granted in Japan, Chugai and Takeda will study atezolizumab and cabozantinib combination therapy in Japan. The three global phase III CONTACT studies are ongoing to investigate the combination of atezolizumab and cabozantinib as a potential new treatment option in multiple tumor types, and Chugai and Takeda are planning to join in supporting these studies in Japan.
About Tecentriq
Tecentriq is an immune checkpoint inhibitor targeting PD-L1 which is a protein expressed on tumor cells and tumor-infiltrating immune cells. PD-L1 blocks T-cell activity by binding with PD-1 and B7.1 receptors on T-cell surface. By inhibiting PD-L1, Tecentriq may enable the activation of T-cells and boost immune response against cancer cells.
In Japan, Tecentriq has been approved as a treatment of unresectable advanced/metastatic non-small cell lung cancer, extended-stage small cell lung cancer and PD-L1-positive inoperable or metastatic triple negative breast cancer. In addition, a supplemental application of Tecentriq in combination with Avastin (bevacizumab) was submitted for the treatment of unresectable metastatic hepatocellular carcinoma to the Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare (MHLW) and was designated as priority review by the MHLW.
About CABOMETYX
In the U.S., CABOMETYX tablets are approved for the treatment of patients with advanced renal cell carcinoma (RCC) and for the treatment of patients with hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) who have been previously treated with sorafenib. CABOMETYX tablets have also received regulatory approvals in the European Union and additional countries and regions worldwide. In Japan, the product was approved for the treatment of curatively unresectable or metastatic RCC as CABOMETYX tablets 20mg and 60mg in March 2020 by the Ministry of Health, Labor and Welfare and launched in May 2020. In addition, a supplemental application was submitted in Japan for the treatment of unresectable HCC that has progressed following chemotherapy in January 2020.