BioCentury
ARTICLE | Product Development

TIGIT emerges as a standout next generation checkpoint target at ASCO

Data for next generation checkpoint targets from Roche, MacroGenics unveiled in ASCO abstracts

May 15, 2020 12:45 AM UTC

Drugmakers have been searching for the next checkpoint inhibitor ever since CTLA-4 and PD-1 triggered the immuno-oncology movement roughly five years ago; however, most have disappointed in the clinic. New data presented at the 2020 ASCO meeting suggest TIGIT could be the first to live up to the hype.

In an abstract released ahead of the American Society of Clinical Oncology’s Virtual Scientific Program, the Genentech Inc. unit of Roche (SIX:ROG; OTCQX:RHHBY) shared the first Phase II randomized, controlled data on its anti-TIGIT antibody tiragolumab. When added to the company’s anti-PD-L1 mAb Tecentriq atezolizumab, the next generation checkpoint inhibitor improved response rates without adding toxicities in first-line non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) patients. ...