Alecensa reduced the risk of disease recurrence or death by an unprecedented 76% in people with ALK-positive resected non-small cell lung cancer, as demonstrated in the Phase III ALINA study

Alecensa’s approval addresses an urgent unmet need in the early-stage setting where about half of all people experience disease recurrence following surgery, despite adjuvant chemotherapy

Early diagnosis and treatment of lung cancer can reduce the burden associated with progressive disease and give people the best possible chance of cure

Basel, 10 June 2024 – Roche (SIX: RO, ROG; OTCQX: RHHBY) announced today that the European Commission has approved Alecensa® (alectinib) monotherapy, as adjuvant treatment following tumour resection for adult patients with anaplastic lymphoma kinase (ALK)-positive non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) at high risk of recurrence (Stage IB [≥4 cm]–IIIA NSCLC [7ᵗʰ edition UICC/AJCC]). Data from the Phase III ALINA trial, where Alecensa demonstrated an unprecedented 76% reduction in the risk of disease recurrence or death in people with resected ALK-positive NSCLC, supported the marketing authorisation application.1

“For the first time, people in Europe who have undergone surgical resection of ALK-positive NSCLC can be treated with an ALK inhibitor, which can significantly reduce the risk of disease recurrence or death,” said Levi Garraway, M.D., Ph.D., Roche’s Chief Medical Officer and Head of Global Product Development. “This is a landmark approval for people who have historically faced a high risk of their cancer returning after surgery. We are now able to bring the transformational benefits of Alecensa to even more people with ALK-positive lung cancer.”

“When it comes to early stage ALK-positive NSCLC, surgery is not always enough as there remains a high risk of recurrence that leaves patients concerned about what’s to come,” said Professor Fabrice Barlesi, thoracic oncologist, Paris Saclay University and chief executive officer of Gustave Roussy Institute. “The magnitude of disease-free survival benefit observed in the ALINA study was unprecedented and consistent across all disease stages. The use of early ALK testing will help to identify all patients that could benefit from this important new treatment option.”

In the ALINA study, Alecensa reduced the risk of disease recurrence or death by 76% (hazard ratio [HR]=0.24, 95% CI: 0.13-0.43, p<0.0001) compared with platinum-based chemotherapy in people with completely resected IB (tumour ≥ 4 cm) to IIIA (UICC/AJCC 7th edition) ALK-positive NSCLC.1 In an exploratory analysis, an improvement of central nervous system disease-free survival was observed (HR=0.22; 95% CI: 0.08-0.58).1 This is of particular importance for people with ALK-positive NSCLC, who are at greater risk of developing brain metastases than those with other types of NSCLC.7 The safety and tolerability of Alecensa in the ALINA trial were generally consistent with previous trials in the metastatic setting and no unexpected safety findings were observed.1 These data were published in the New England Journal of Medicine in April 2024.

Alecensa is the preferred treatment option for patients with advanced ALK-positive NSCLC and has transformed outcomes for people with this disease. Approved in more than 100 countries as a first- and second-line treatment, more than 94,000 patients with advanced disease have been treated with Alecensa in clinical practice. Following its approval in the adjuvant treatment setting, Alecensa could for the first time play a pivotal role in ALK-positive resectable disease, where there is a significant unmet medical need. Today’s approval in Europe follows the April 2024 U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approval of Alecensa as adjuvant treatment following tumour resection for patients with ALK-positive NSCLC (tumours ≥ 4 cm or node positive), as detected by an FDA-approved test. Submissions to additional health authorities worldwide are ongoing to bring this much-needed new treatment option to as many patients as possible.

To support clinicians’ decision-making, routine testing of resected surgical tissue or biopsy for ALK, EGFR and PD-L1 biomarkers in patients with stage IB to IIIA and select IIIB (UICC/AJCC 8th edition) NSCLC, in addition to in the advanced setting, is recommended by international guidelines, including the National Comprehensive Cancer Network® Clinical Practice Guidelines in Oncology (NCCN Guidelines®).

About the ALINA study

The ALINA study [NCT03456076] is a Phase III, randomised, active-controlled, multicentre, open-label study evaluating the efficacy and safety of adjuvant Alecensa® (alectinib) compared with platinum-based chemotherapy in people with resected Stage IB (tumour ≥ 4 cm) to IIIA (UICC/AJCC 7th edition) anaplastic lymphoma kinase (ALK)-positive non-small cell lung cancer. The study included 257 patients who were randomly assigned to either the Alecensa or chemotherapy treatment arm. The primary endpoint is disease-free survival. Secondary outcome measures include overall survival and percentage of patients with adverse events.

About lung cancer

Lung cancer is one of the leading causes of cancer death globally.8 Each year 1.8 million people die as a result of the disease; this translates into more than 4,900 deaths worldwide every day.8 Lung cancer can be broadly divided into two major types: non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) and small-cell lung cancer. NSCLC is the most prevalent type, accounting for around 85% of all cases.9 Today, about half of all people with early lung cancer (45-76%, depending on disease stage) still experience a cancer recurrence following surgery, despite adjuvant chemotherapy.2 Treating lung cancer early, before it has spread, may help prevent the disease from returning and provide people with the best opportunity for a cure.

About Alecensa® (alectinib)

Alecensa is a highly selective, central nervous system-active, oral medicine created at Chugai, a member of the Roche Group, Kamakura Research Laboratories for people with non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) whose tumours are identified as anaplastic lymphoma kinase (ALK)-positive. Alecensa is already approved in over 100 countries as an initial (first-line) and second-line treatment for ALK-positive, metastatic NSCLC, including in the United States, Europe, Japan and China. Alecensa was approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) in April 2024 as adjuvant treatment following tumour resection for patients with ALK-positive NSCLC (tumours ≥ 4 cm or node positive), as detected by an FDA-approved test, and in June 2024 by the European Commission, as a monotherapy for adjuvant treatment following tumour resection for adult patients with ALK-positive NSCLC at high risk of recurrence (Stage IB [≥4 cm]–IIIA NSCLC [7ᵗʰ edition UICC/AJCC]).

About Roche in lung cancer

Lung cancer is a major area of focus and investment for Roche, and we are committed to developing new approaches, medicines and tests that can help people with this deadly disease. Our goal is to provide an effective treatment option for every person diagnosed with lung cancer. We currently have six approved medicines to treat certain kinds of lung cancer and more than ten medicines being developed to target the most common genetic drivers of lung cancer or to boost the immune system to combat the disease. Roche is committed to improving treatment of early-stage lung cancers to help increase the chance of cure for more people.

About Roche

Roche is a global pioneer in pharmaceuticals and diagnostics focused on advancing science to improve people’s lives. The combined strengths of pharmaceuticals and diagnostics under one roof have made Roche the leader in personalised healthcare – a strategy that aims to fit the right treatment to each patient in the best way possible.

Roche is the world’s largest biotech company, with truly differentiated medicines in oncology, immunology, infectious diseases, ophthalmology and diseases of the central nervous system. Roche is also the world leader in in vitro diagnostics and tissue-based cancer diagnostics, and a frontrunner in diabetes management.

Founded in 1896, Roche continues to search for better ways to prevent, diagnose and treat diseases and make a sustainable contribution to society. The company also aims to improve patient access to medical innovations by working with all relevant stakeholders. More than thirty medicines developed by Roche are included in the World Health Organization Model Lists of Essential Medicines, among them life-saving antibiotics, antimalarials and cancer medicines. Moreover, for the twelfth consecutive year, Roche has been recognised as one of the most sustainable companies in the Pharmaceuticals Industry by the Dow Jones Sustainability Indices (DJSI).

The Roche Group, headquartered in Basel, Switzerland, is active in over 100 countries and in 2020 employed more than 100,000 people worldwide. In 2020, Roche invested CHF 12.2 billion in R&D and posted sales of CHF 58.3 billion. Genentech, in the United States, is a wholly owned member of the Roche Group. Roche is the majority shareholder in Chugai Pharmaceutical, Japan