September 18, 2024 – The FDA has approved an injectable type of the cancer drug Atezolizumab together with the enzyme hyaluronidase to be used in patients with certain kinds of lung, liver, skin and soft tissue cancer. It offers a more user-friendly and fewer time-consuming alternative to the currently available type of the drug.
The combination helps the body's immune system recognize and attack cancer cells. It targets PD-L1, a protein that normally helps cancer cells hide from the immune system. Hyaluronidase facilitates the absorption of atezolizumab when it’s injected under the skin. The recent drug will probably be marketed under the brand name Tecentriq Hybreza.
In approving the brand new treatment, the FDA cited clinical studies that showed comparable levels of atezolizumab within the blood when injected under the skin and a security and efficacy profile comparable to plain intravenous treatment. The FDA said the injectable form will be administered in about 7 minutes every three weeks. In comparison, the treatment time with the present infusion method is around 30 to 60 minutes. The most typical unintended effects included fatigue, muscle and bone pain, cough, shortness of breath and decreased appetite.
Genentech, the drug's manufacturer, said in a news release that a clinical trial found that 71% of patients preferred the improved ease of use of Tecentriq Hybreza over intravenous atezolizumab since it required less time within the clinic, provided greater comfort and reduced emotional distress reduced distress. The approval makes Tecentriq Hybreza the primary anti-PD-(L)-1 cancer immunotherapy available as a subcutaneous injection.
The injectable type of the cancer immunotherapy drug “provides patients with multiple cancer types and their physicians greater flexibility and choice in administering treatment,” Levi Garraway, MD, PhD, Genentech's chief medical officer and head of world product development, said in a press release.
