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 sorts of cancer of the lung, liver, skin and soft tissue. It offers an easier-to-use and fewer time-consuming alternative to the currently available type of the drugs.
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 makes it easier for atezolizumab to be absorbed when it’s injected under the skin. The latest drug is marketed under the brand name Tecentriq Hybreza.
In approving the brand new treatment, the FDA cited clinical trials that showed comparable levels of atezolizumab within the blood when injected under the skin, in addition to a security and efficacy profile comparable to plain infusion treatment. The FDA said the injectable form might be administered in about 7 minutes every three weeks. In comparison, the treatment time with the present infusion method is about 30 to 60 minutes. Common uncomfortable side effects included fatigue, muscle and bone pain, cough, shortness of breath and decreased appetite.
Genentech, the drug's maker, said in a press release that a clinical trial found that 71% of patients preferred the improved convenience of Tecentriq Hybreza over intravenous atezolizumab since it required less time in a clinic, provided more convenience and reduced emotional 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 “offers patients with multiple cancers and their physicians more flexibility and choice in how treatment is administered,” said Levi Garraway, MD, PhD, Genentech’s chief medical officer and head of world product development, in a press release.
