FDA Approves Roche's Tecentriq Hybreza, a Subcutaneous PD-L1 Inhibitor, for Multiple Cancers

Key Insights

• The FDA has approved Roche's Tecentriq Hybreza (atezolizumab and hyaluronidase-tqjs), a subcutaneous formulation, for multiple cancer types previously approved for the IV form.
• Tecentriq Hybreza, combining atezolizumab with Halozyme's Enhanze technology, offers a faster, approximately 7-minute injection compared to the 30-60 minute IV infusion.
• Clinical trials demonstrated comparable drug levels, safety, and efficacy to IV Tecentriq, with 71% of patients preferring the subcutaneous formulation due to convenience.

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has approved Roche's Tecentriq Hybreza (atezolizumab and hyaluronidase-tqjs) for all adult indications previously approved for the intravenous (IV) formulation of Tecentriq. This subcutaneous (SC) formulation offers a new administration route for patients with certain types of lung, liver, skin, and soft tissue cancers.

Tecentriq Hybreza combines atezolizumab, a PD-L1 inhibitor, with Halozyme Therapeutics’ Enhanze drug delivery technology. This combination allows for a faster injection time of approximately seven minutes, significantly reducing the administration time compared to the 30 to 60 minutes required for a standard IV infusion of Tecentriq.

The FDA's decision was supported by data from the phase 1b/3 IMscin001 study. The study demonstrated that subcutaneous administration of Tecentriq Hybreza resulted in comparable levels of atezolizumab in the blood as the IV formulation. The safety and efficacy profiles were also consistent between the two formulations.

Patient Preference and Clinical Impact

Notably, 71% of patients in the IMscin001 study preferred Tecentriq Hybreza over IV Tecentriq. Patients cited reasons such as reduced time spent in the clinic, increased comfort during treatment, and decreased emotional distress as factors influencing their preference.

Levi Garraway, Roche’s chief medical officer and head of global product development, stated that Tecentriq Hybreza offers patients and physicians greater flexibility and choice in treatment administration. He also highlighted that the new SC formulation builds upon the established safety and efficacy profile of IV Tecentriq, allowing for faster treatment in more accessible settings.

Global Adoption and Future Implications

Prior to the US approval, NHS England was the first health system to roll out Tecentriq SC to eligible patients, following approval from the Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency. The SC form has since been approved in over 50 countries, with ongoing regulatory reviews in other regions.

Ann Fish-Steagall, senior vice president of patient services at the LUNGevity Foundation, emphasized that this approval represents a significant option to improve the patient experience, empowering patients to actively participate in their care and choose their preferred treatment option.