Tecentriq first front-line extensive-stage SCLC therapy in decades

FDA's approval late Monday of Roche's Tecentriq atezolizumab as front-line treatment for extensive-stage small cell lung cancer marks the first approval of a PD-1/PD-L1 inhibitor in the indication. The drug is also the first initial treatment option approved by the agency for the indication in more than 20 years, according to the Genentech Inc. unit of Roche (SIX:ROG; OTCQX:RHHBY).

This is the second FDA approval of Tecentriq this month after the agency granted accelerated approval to the humanized mAb against PD-L1 in combination with Abraxane nab-paclitaxel to treat PD-L1-positive metastatic triple-negative breast cancer (see "TNBC Gets its First Targeted Agent with Tecentriq Approval")...