Beyond PD-L1 assays

Data from Genentech Inc.’s Phase III IMpower150 trial of Tecentriq atezolizumab in first-line non-small cell lung cancer provides the company with its first hard data showing what work lies ahead before it will be ready to deploy a gene signature biomarker to supplant PD-L1 assays.

In IMpower150, the Roche unit’s T effector (Teff) gene expression panel, did not show much difference on progression-free survival (PFS) compared with its PD-L1 assay. Previous studies in different populations, however, showed the Teff signature may be able to identify a bigger group of patients who would benefit from Tecentriq than the PD-L1 assay finds, without any loss in the degree of benefit...