Pipeline updates are highly awaited events in the pharma/biotech sector as they play an important role in deciding whether or not to invest in a particular company. These updates provide information on experimental drugs and at times give an insight into the commercial potential of the candidate once it is successfully developed and commercialized.
Roche (RHHBY) specializes in cancer drugs. Immunotherapy has received a lot of attention in recent times as pharmaceuticals majors focus their research and development efforts on the same.
Roche recently announced encouraging preliminary combination data from a phase Ib study on cancer immunotherapy candidate MPDL3280A (anti-PDL1) in combination with Avastin.
The results from the study showed that the combination of MPDL3280A and Avastin was well tolerated and shrank tumors in approximately 40% of patients with previously untreated metastatic renal cell carcinoma (mRCC).
In addition, Roche also presented encouraging data on the use of MPDL3280A among patients suffering from metastatic urothelial bladder cancer (mUBC) at the European Society for Medical Oncology (ESMO) 2014 Congress in Madrid.
MPDL3280A showed an objective response rate (ORR) of 52% in PD-L1-positive patient populations in a phase I study compared with the ORR of 43% observed earlier in the year.
We note that the FDA granted Breakthrough Therapy Designation to MPDL3280A for the treatment of mUBC earlier in 2014.
Earlier, Roche had announced positive data from a phase III study, coBRIM on pipeline candidate, cobimetinib.
Data from the study showed that MEK inhibitor cobimetinib used in combination with Roche’s BRAF inhibitor Zelboraf extended progression free survival in patients suffering from previously untreated BRAF V600 mutation-positive, advanced melanoma as compared to Zelboraf alone.
Roche has submitted the coBRIM data to the European Medicines Agency and plans to submit a new drug application to the FDA later in 2014. Roche is developing cobimetinib in collaboration with Exelixis Inc. (EXEL).
Roche is well placed in the cancer market. In particular, it is a leader in the breast cancer market with the HER2 franchise which includes Herceptin, drugs Perjeta and Kadcyla. We are impressed by the company’s efforts to extend its portfolio beyond oncology and include immunology.
Investors interested in the health care space may consider stocks like Johnson & Johnson (JNJ) and Bristol-Myers Squibb (BMY).
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