Genentech to move anti-PD-L1 to Phase III in triple-negative breast cancer

The Genentech Inc. unit of Roche (SIX:ROG; OTCQX:RHHBY) said it will advance MPDL3280A into Phase III studies for triple-negative breast cancer (TNBC) this year after reporting interim Phase Ia data showing the compound led to an overall response rate (ORR) of 19% and a 24-week progression-free survival (PFS) rate of 27%.

The human mAb targets programmed cell death 1 ligand ( PD-L1; B7-H1; CD274). As presented today at the American Association for Cancer Research meeting in Philadelphia, the 21-patient cohort had ≥5% tumor cells positive for PD-L1 expression and received 15 mg/kg, 20 mg/kg or 1,200 mg of MPDL3280A IV every three weeks. ...