Tecentriq gains further FDA approval in bladder cancer

Genentech, part of Swiss pharma giant Roche (ROG: SIX), has received accelerated approval from the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for its cancer immunotherapy Tecentriq (atezolizumab) to treat people with locally advanced or metastatic urothelial carcinoma (mUC) who are not eligible for cisplatin chemotherapy.

Tecentriq was previously approved for people with locally advanced or mUC who have disease progression during or following any platinum-containing chemotherapy, or within 12 months of receiving chemotherapy before surgery or after surgery.

Bladder cancer is the most common type of urothelial carcinoma, and up to half of all people with the advanced form of the disease are unable to receive cisplatin chemotherapy as an initial treatment and therefore have a high unmet medical need. Urothelial carcinoma also includes cancers of the urethra, ureters and renal pelvis.