EC grants approval for first SC PD-(L)1 immunotherapy for multiple cancer types

The European Commission has granted marketing authorization for yet another indication for Swiss pharma giant Roche’s (ROG: SIX) cancer drug Tecentriq SC (atezolizumab; subcutaneous).

This marks the European Union’s (EU) first PD-(L)1 cancer immunotherapy for subcutaneous injection, noted Roche.

Last year, more than 38,000 people in the EU received Tecentriq to treat different types of lung, liver, bladder and breast cancer. Until now, Tecentriq has been given directly into patients’ veins by IV infusion which takes approximately 30-60 minutes. The new subcutaneous injection will cut treatment time to around seven minutes, with most injections taking between four and eight minutes. The marketing authorization applies to all approved indications of Tecentriq IV.