Roche to present data from one of the most comprehensive oncology portfolios at the 2021 ASCO Annual Meeting showcasing advancements for people living with cancer

• Data from the first positive phase III study of a cancer immunotherapy in early, resected lung cancer
• Studies in personalised healthcare exploring tumour agnostic treatments that demonstrate the impact of coupling biomarker testing with targeted therapies to develop individualised treatment plans
• New data, and drug combination strategies for the treatment of lymphoma from the largest haematology portfolio in industry
  
  

Basel, 11 May 2021 - Roche (SIX: RO, ROG; OTCQX: RHHBY) today announced that new data from clinical trials of 19 approved and investigational medicines across 20 cancer types will be presented at the 2021 ASCO Annual Meeting, which will be held 4-8 June, 2021. A total of 132 abstracts that include a Roche medicine will be presented at this year's meeting. These data advance oncology by showing the importance of making patient-centric treatment decisions and providing tailored medical care based on specific cancer types.

“We will be presenting data from across our diverse oncology portfolio that has the potential to help more people living with many types of cancers,” said Levi Garraway, M.D., Ph.D., Roche’s Chief Medical Officer and Head of Global Product Development. “We are particularly excited about our compelling immunotherapy data in lung cancer, which may provide new hope for patients with earlier stage disease.”

Focusing on earlier treatment and targeted lung cancer care
Positive results from the phase III IMpower010 study will be presented that show Tecentriq® (atezolizumab) improved disease-free survival (DFS) in people with resectable early-stage non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) compared to best supportive care - a first in cancer immunotherapy. This advance is significant, as half of all people with early stage lung cancer today still experience a recurrence following surgery; therefore, treating lung cancer early, before it has spread, can provide the best opportunity for a cure. Additionally, updated data for Gavreto® (pralsetinib) in patients with advanced RET fusion-positive NSCLC, including in patients who are treatment naïve, will be reported. These data highlight the need for early RET fusion-positive testing to identify candidates who may benefit from treatment with Gavreto.

Exploring personalised cancer care for more patients
Roche will present several studies that take tumour-agnostic approaches to clinical development, and in breast cancer, that may benefit people with rare and common tumours alike. These studies bring together       next-generation sequencing, targeted therapies and patient-centric clinical trial design that show how personalised treatment plans are helping to evolve the way people are treated. The phase II ALPHA-T study, made possible through a collaboration with Foundation Medicine and Science37, is pioneering a decentralised approach to clinical trial design which enables patients to participate from their own homes while remaining under the care of their oncologist. The phase II TAPISTRY study, a platform umbrella trial, will pair patients with immunotherapy, targeted therapy or treatment combinations based on distinct tumor biology characteristics. The similarly designed phase II MyTACTIC study is enrolling a diverse population of patients to direct them to appropriately targeted treatments based on the results of comprehensive genomic profiling.

With our research we are contributing to the body of evidence in hormone receptor (HR)-positive breast cancer, the most prevalent type of all breast cancers. For giredestrant, a third generation oral selective oestrogen receptor degrader (SERD), we will present data further supporting the tolerable safety profile and single agent clinical activity, as well as pharmacodynamics data from studies in HR-positive early and metastatic breast cancer.

Defining new solutions for patients with difficult-to-treat blood cancer
New and updated data in non-Hodgkin lymphoma (NHL) will be shared, including data from the T-cell engaging CD20xCD3 bispecific antibody development programme. Glofitamab and mosunetuzumab are both T-cell engaging CD20xCD3 bispecific antibodies that are being studied as single agents or in combination with other Roche therapies. Together, they may offer a new immunotherapy based approach to tackle a range of blood cancers. In addition, data exploring novel combinations with mosunetuzumab and Polivy® (polatuzumab vedotin), an antibody drug conjugate, will also be featured. These data demonstrate how Roche continues to seek new solutions for people living with a range of malignant blood disorders, where treatment options are still limited and both relapse and treatment resistance are common.

Furthermore, Roche’s data showcase a commitment to health equity through medicine delivery approaches that reduce treatment time and cost, trial designs that help remove barriers to clinical trial participation, pioneering cancer immunotherapy to improve outcomes for earlier disease stages, and a focus on inclusivity through developing tumour-specific therapies and therapy combinations based on specific characteristics of each person’s disease.

For more details on Roche’s contribution to the ASCO 2021 scientific programme, and to learn more about how Roche is harnessing the latest innovations to accelerate progress in cancer care, join the Roche virtual analyst event from 4:00 - 5:30 pm CEST on Tuesday, 8 June. Further details are available here.

Keep up to date with ASCO news and updates by using the hashtag #ASCO21 and follow Roche on Twitter via @Roche and LinkedIn.

Overview of key presentations featuring Roche medicines

Blueprint Medicines and Roche are co-developing Gavreto (pralsetinib) globally, excluding Greater China.* Blueprint Medicines and Genentech, a wholly-owned member of the Roche Group, are commercialising Gavreto in the US and Roche has exclusive commercialisation rights for Gavreto outside of the US, excluding Greater China.*

Greater China encompasses Mainland China, Hong Kong, Macau and Taiwan. CStone Pharmaceuticals retains all rights to the development and commercialisation of Gavreto in Greater China under its existing collaboration with Blueprint Medicines.

All trademarks used or mentioned in this release are protected by law. Blueprint Medicines, Gavreto and associated logos are trademarks of Blueprint Medicines Corporation.

About Roche in Oncology
Roche has been working to transform cancer care for more than 50 years, bringing the first specifically designed anti-cancer chemotherapy drug, fluorouracil, to patients in 1962. Roche’s commitment to developing innovative medicines and diagnostics for cancers remains steadfast. The Roche Group’s portfolio of innovative cancer medicines includes: Alecensa®(alectinib); Avastin®(bevacizumab); Cotellic®(cobimetinib); Erivedge®(vismodegib); Gavreto®(pralsetinib); Gazyva®/Gazyvaro®(obinutuzumab); Herceptin®(trastuzumab); Kadcyla®(trastuzumab emtansine); MabThera®/Rituxan®(rituximab); Perjeta®(pertuzumab); Polivy®(polatuzumab vedotin); Tarceva®(erlotinib); Rozlytrek®(entrectinib); Tecentriq®(atezolizumab); Venclexta®/Venclyxto®(venetoclax) in collaboration with AbbVie; Xeloda®(capecitabine); Zelboraf®(vemurafenib). Furthermore, the Roche Group has a robust investigational oncology pipeline focusing on new therapeutic targets and novel combination strategies. For more information on Roche’s approach to cancer, visit www.roche.com.

About Roche
Roche is a global pioneer in pharmaceuticals and diagnostics focused on advancing science to improve people’s lives. The combined strengths of pharmaceuticals and diagnostics under one roof have made Roche the leader in personalised healthcare – a strategy that aims to fit the right treatment to each patient in the best way possible.

Roche is the world’s largest biotech company, with truly differentiated medicines in oncology, immunology, infectious diseases, ophthalmology and diseases of the central nervous system. Roche is also the world leader in in vitro diagnostics and tissue-based cancer diagnostics, and a frontrunner in diabetes management.

Founded in 1896, Roche continues to search for better ways to prevent, diagnose and treat diseases and make a sustainable contribution to society. The company also aims to improve patient access to medical innovations by working with all relevant stakeholders. More than thirty medicines developed by Roche are included in the World Health Organization Model Lists of Essential Medicines, among them life-saving antibiotics, antimalarials and cancer medicines. Moreover, for the twelfth consecutive year, Roche has been recognised as one of the most sustainable companies in the Pharmaceuticals Industry by the Dow Jones Sustainability Indices (DJSI).

The Roche Group, headquartered in Basel, Switzerland, is active in over 100 countries and in 2020 employed more than 100,000 people worldwide. In 2020, Roche invested CHF 12.2 billion in R&D and posted sales of CHF 58.3 billion. Genentech, in the United States, is a wholly owned member of the Roche Group. Roche is the majority shareholder in Chugai Pharmaceutical, Japan. For more information, please visit www.roche.com.

All trademarks used or mentioned in this release are protected by law.

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