Roche delivers updated pipeline
pharmafile | March 18, 2010 | News story | | Cancer, Roche
Roche says its pipeline can sustain its growth in oncology and increase its presence in personalised healthcare.
Roche also plans to further expand into therapeutic areas such as metabolism, inflammation and diseases of the central nervous system.
Roche’s late stage pipeline is made up of 35 additional indications for existing products, as well as 10 new molecular entities, which it says are all first-in-class medicines.
The pipeline update was the first investor conference since the $47 billion integration with Genentech in 2009.
Roche has five new cancer drug candidates in late stage development including pertuzumab, that uses two innovative monoclonal antibodies to improve outcomes for HER2 + breast cancer patients beyond the current remit of Roche’s Herceptin.
Also in phase III is GA101/RG7159, a potential second generation successor to its blockbuster cancer treatment MabThera.
GA101/RG7159 is the first glyco-engineered anti-CD20 humanised MAb for chronic lymphocytic leukaemia and non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma. The manufacturing process of glyco-engineering is designed to make a molecule more potent, active in the body longer and cause fewer unwanted side-effects. Glyco-engineering existing molecules also allows companies to protect older biologic drugs against potential biosimilar rivals.
Further into its cancer platform, Roche is also developing new formulations of its Herceptin and MabThera for easier administration via subcutaneous injection rather than intravenous infusion, thereby reducing side effects and increasing patient control.
In metabolic diseases, taspoglutide, Roche’s third-line, once-weekly glucagon-like peptide 1 agonist for diabetes has seen promising results from the T-emerge phase III trials in which it has been compared directly to Lilly’s Byetta (exenatide). However a more formidable opponent will Novo Nordisk’s Victoza.
Roche has been forced to abandon its development of a new rheumatoid arthritis drug ocrelizumab due to safety concerns. Co-developed by Biogen Idec, the drug remains in phase II trials for multiple sclerosis and Roche expects it to progress into phase III this year given its success at reducing brain lesions in MS patients.
The company is also branching out into areas where it is not already established. RG1678 is a new first-in-class treatment for schizophrenia, while dalcetrapib, a new treatment for dyslipidemia, is set to begin phase III later this year.
Severin Schwan, chief executive, Roche said: “Roche is uniquely positioned to deliver sustainable, long-term growth. Our success derives from the diversity of approaches applied by our pharmaceuticals and diagnostics R&D centres, which offer outstanding scientific excellence and an unparalleled breadth and depth of expertise in translational medicine and clinical science.”
Schwan added that the company believed the ‘seamless co-operation’ between its pharmaceuticals and diagnostics units throughout the R&D and marketing process is an integral part of its business model.
In R&D, Roche has developed further centres in diagnostic research dedicated to improving standards of personalised healthcare. Platforms include novel technologies such as next-generation antibodies, RNAi therapeutics, stem cell techniques and protein-based chip technologies.
In addition, Roche also invested in a Translational Research Hub in Singapore last month that will focus on expanding knowledge of disease biology to inform personalised treatment approaches.
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