Roche publishes positive trial data for new breast cancer drug

Roche has published data highlighting the safety and efficacy of trastuzumab emtansine, its new treatment for HER2-positive metastatic breast cancer.

Results from the phase III Emilia study showed that the investigational drug – also known as T-DM1 – delivered a significant improvement in progression-free survival rates compared to lapatinib plus Xeloda.

In doing so, the treatment met its co-primary endpoint in the study, while a trend towards overall survival benefits – the trial's other main goal – was observed but has not yet been confirmed.

Applications for European and US regulatory approval of the drug are now expected to be filed later this year.

Dr Hal Barron, chief medical officer and head of global product development at Roche, said: "We are working with global regulatory authorities to submit this data as quickly as possible and hope that trastuzumab emtansine will soon be available to patients with this aggressive type of breast cancer."

This comes after the firm published new data on its established oncology agent Avastin, showing the benefits it offers to ovarian and metastatic colorectal cancer patients.