Roche drug exhibits positive phase II results

Genentech has announced that pertuzumab, a drug candidate developed by Roche, Chugai and Genentech for the treatment of cancer, has exhibited “encouraging” results in a recent phase II trial.

The study investigated administration of pertuzumab in conjunction with gemcitabine compared with treatment solely with gemcitabine in women with ovarian, fallopian tube or primary peritoneal cancer that have shown resistance to platinum-based therapies.

Pertuzumab, formerly known as Omnitarg, is an investigational humanised antibody that binds to the HER2 receptor to inhibit its interation with other HER receptors, as pairing of these receptors is thought to have a role in the development of a number of cancers.

Hal Barron, senior vice president of development and chief medical officer at Genentech, noted that ovarian cancer in advanced stages is a hard-to-treat condition with limited treatment options for patients.

“We are encouraged by the results of this trial and will continue to analyse the data to help determine next steps for the pertuzumab development programme.”

Last month, Roche announced that its oral cancer pharmaceutical Tarceva (erlotinib) for the treatment of metastatic pancreatic cancer was granted a positive opinion from the Committee for Medicinal Products for Human Use of the European Commission.