Roche lung cancer drug extends survival by nearly six months in late-stage trial

Roche Holding (RHHBF) (RHHBY) (RHHVF) said its experimental lung cancer drug divarasib extended patient survival by nearly six months compared with competing treatments in a late-stage clinical trial, potentially strengthening the Swiss pharmaceutical company's oncology portfolio.

The treatment outperformed Amgen's (AMGN) sotorasib and Bristol Myers Squibb's (BMY) adagrasib in patients with advanced non-small cell lung cancer driven by the KRAS G12C genetic mutation. Participants had previously received other treatments, including chemotherapy.

The results, presented Sunday at the European Society for Medical Oncology congress in Madrid, were based on a direct comparison with existing KRAS G12C inhibitors rather than chemotherapy, providing evidence of divarasib's potential advantages over established treatments.

Researchers also reported a favorable safety profile, consistent with earlier studies of divarasib and other drugs in the same class. Fewer patients experienced serious adverse events or discontinued treatment because of side effects.

Analysts surveyed by Bloomberg expect divarasib to generate annual sales exceeding 1 billion Swiss francs ($1.3 billion) by 2032, potentially making it a significant contributor to Roche's oncology business if approved.

Roche is conducting additional trials to evaluate divarasib in earlier stages of lung cancer. One study combines the treatment with Merck's (MRK) Keytruda as a potential chemotherapy-free regimen for newly diagnosed patients, while another is investigating its use following surgery to reduce the risk of cancer recurrence.

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