Roche reveals latest Alecensa approval

Swiss pharma giant Roche (ROG: SIX) has announced that the European Commission (EC) has approved Alecensa (alectinib) monotherapy, as adjuvant treatment following tumor resection for adults with anaplastic lymphoma kinase (ALK)-positive non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) at high risk of recurrence.

Data from the Phase III ALINA trial, where Alecensa demonstrated an unprecedented 76% reduction in the risk of disease recurrence or death in people with resected ALK-positive NSCLC, supported the marketing authorization application.

"We are now able to bring the transformational benefits of Alecensa to even more people with ALK-positive lung cancer"Levi Garraway, Roche’s chief medical officer and head of global product development, said: “For the first time, people in Europe who have undergone surgical resection of ALK-positive NSCLC can be treated with an ALK inhibitor, which can significantly reduce the risk of disease recurrence or death.