Basel, 05 November 2024 - Roche (SIX: RO, ROG; OTCQX: RHHBY) announced today that it will present more than 40 abstracts across nine blood disorders at the 66th American Society of Hematology (ASH) Annual Meeting and Exposition, held 7-10 December 2024 in San Diego, US. The data underscore Roche’s commitment to advance patient outcomes in lymphoma with long-term follow-up of its approved medicines Polivy® (polatuzumab vedotin), Lunsumio® (mosunetuzumab) and Columvi® (glofitamab) as well as new investigational combination data.
Key presentations include:
Five-year data from the phase III POLARIX study (abstract #469) reinforce the potential of Polivy in combination with MabThera®/Rituxan® (rituximab), cyclophosphamide, doxorubicin and prednisone (R-CHP) to provide durable and lasting remissions and for the first time show a positive trend in overall survival (OS) for people with first-line diffuse large B-cell lymphoma (DLBCL), an area that previously had little advancement in nearly two decades.
Extended follow-up data of up to four years from the pivotal GO29781 study of Lunsumio (abstract #4407) and NP30179 study of Columvi (abstract #865) show long-lasting remissions and immune system recovery after the end of treatment, supporting the use of fixed-duration bispecific antibodies for third line or later (3L+) follicular lymphoma (FL) and DLBCL respectively.
First presentation of data for a subcutaneous formulation of Lunsumio monotherapy from the pivotal phase II GO29781 study (abstract #1645) show high rates of deep and durable responses and low rates and severity of cytokine release syndrome in people with 3L+ FL.4 Subcutaneously administered Lunsumio could further improve the patient experience by combining shorter administration time with the existing benefits of a fixed-duration and outpatient therapy.
New patient-reported outcomes data from the phase III STARGLO study (abstract #5132) indicate comparable health-related quality of life between treatment arms, despite higher median number of cycles received with the Columvi combination (11 versus 4).5 Together with the significant improvement in OS observed in the study, these data support the potential benefit for patients with second-line or later DLBCL.
New and updated data from investigational study combinations of Polivy with bispecific antibodies Lunsumio and Columvi in relapsed or refractory DLBCL, including the phase Ib/II NP39488 (abstract #988) and phase II GO40516 (abstract #989) studies, add to the growing body of evidence demonstrating the potential of novel bispecific antibody/Polivy combinations in earlier treatment lines, and support their ongoing phase III development
Overview of key presentations featuring Roche medicines
*Venclexta/Venclyxto is being developed by AbbVie and Roche. It is jointly commercialised by AbbVie and Genentech, a member of the Roche Group, in the US, and commercialised by AbbVie outside of the US.
About Roche in haematology
Roche has been developing medicines for people with malignant and non-malignant blood diseases for more than 25 years; our experience and knowledge in this therapeutic area runs deep. Today, we are investing more than ever in our effort to bring innovative treatment options to patients across a wide range of haematologic diseases. Our approved medicines include MabThera®/Rituxan® (rituximab), Gazyva®/Gazyvaro® (obinutuzumab), Polivy® (polatuzumab vedotin), Venclexta®/Venclyxto® (venetoclax) in collaboration with AbbVie, Hemlibra® (emicizumab), PiaSky® (crovalimab), Lunsumio® (mosunetuzumab) and Columvi® (glofitamab). Our pipeline of investigational haematology medicines includes T-cell engaging bispecific antibody cevostamab, targeting both FcRH5 and CD3 and Tecentriq® (atezolizumab). Our scientific expertise, combined with the breadth of our portfolio and pipeline, also provides a unique opportunity to develop combination regimens that aim to improve the lives of patients even further.
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