Tecentriq (Atezolizumab)

What is Tecentriq (atezolizumab) for?

Tecentriq (atezolizumab) is a programmed death-ligand 1 (PD-L1) blocking antibody indicated for the treatment of patients with:

• locally advanced or metastatic urothelial carcinoma who have either; disease progression during or following platinum-containing chemotherapy, or within 12 months of neoadjuvant or adjuvant treatment with platinum-containing chemotherapy¹ or are not eligible for cisplatin chemotherapy⁴.
• metastatic non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) whose disease progressed during or following platinum-containing chemotherapy^1,5.
• plus nab-paclitaxel (chemotherapy) for unresectable locally advanced or metastatic triple-negative breast cancer (TNBC) whose tumours have PD-L1 expression¹⁰.

How does Tecentriq (atezolizumab) work?

Tecentriq (atezolizumab) belongs to a class of immunotherapy drugs known as checkpoint inhibitors.

The drug prevents a protein called PD-L1 that is found on some tumour cells from binding to another protein, PD-1, on immune cells. The binding of these “checkpoint” proteins suppresses the immune response². Tecentriq (atezolizumab) is a monoclonal antibody that binds to PD-L1 and blocks its interactions with both PD-1 and B7.1 receptors¹. By blocking this interaction, checkpoint inhibitors “release the brakes” on the immune system, allowing immune cells to attack tumours².

Is Tecentriq (atezolizumab) approved?

Tecentriq (atezolizumab) was approved by:

• Food and Drugs Administration (FDA) (USA)
  • on May 18, 2016, for locally advanced or metastatic urothelial carcinoma, with disease progression on or after prior chemotherapy². On April 17, 2017, the FDA extended the approval to the use of Tecentriq (atezolizumab) as front-line treatment for advanced or metastatic urothelial carcinoma in patients who are not eligible for cisplatin chemotherapy⁴.
  • on October 18, 2016, for metastatic non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC)³.

• Health Canada on April 12, 2017
  • for locally advanced or metastatic urothelial carcinoma, with disease progression on or after prior chemotherapy⁸.
  • for the first-line treatment of adult patients with extensive-stage small cell lung cancer (ES-SCLC) in combination with carboplatin and etoposide⁸.
  • for the first-line treatment of adult patients with metastatic non-squamous non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) in combination with bevacizumab, paclitaxel and carboplatin⁸.
  • for adult patients with locally advanced or metastatic NSCLC with progression on or after platinum-based chemotherapy⁸.
• Therapeutic Goods Administration (TGA) (AUS)
  • on July 27, 2017, for metastatic non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC)⁵.

• European Medicines Agency (EMA) (EU)
• on September 22, 2017, for locally advanced or metastatic non-small cell cancer (NSCLC) and metastatic urothelial carcinoma (mUC) on patients who have been previously treated with a platinum-based chemotherapy and as front-line treatment for advanced or metastatic urothelial carcinoma in patients who are not eligible for cisplatin chemotherapy⁶.
• on August 29, 2019, in combination with nab-paclitaxel for advanced TNBC in patients who have not been previously treated with chemotherapy for metastatic disease¹⁰.
• Medsafe on February 14, 2019
  • for first-line treatment of patients with metastatic non-squamous NSCLC who do not have tumour EGFR or ALK genomic aberrations⁹.
  • for the treatment of adult patients with locally advanced or metastatic non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) after prior chemotherapy⁹.
  • for the first-line treatment of patients with metastatic non-squamous non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC)⁹.
  • for the treatment of adult patients with locally advanced or metastatic urothelial carcinoma⁹.

How do I take Tecentriq (atezolizumab)?

Complete information about Tecentriq (atezolizumab) dosage and administration can be found in the references section^1,5,7.

The recommended therapy consists of:

• 1200 mg as an intravenous infusion over 60 minutes every 3 weeks.
• Dilute prior to intravenous infusion.

Consult your treating doctor for personalised dosing.

Are there any known side effects of Tecentriq (atezolizumab)?

The most common side effects (≥ 20%) in patients with locally advanced or metastatic urothelial carcinoma were fatigue, decreased appetite, nausea, constipation, urinary tract infection, diarrhea, and fever. The most common adverse reactions (≥ 20%) in patients with metastatic non-small cell lung cancer were fatigue, decreased appetite, dyspnea, cough, nausea, musculoskeletal pain, and constipation¹.

For a comprehensive list of side effects and adverse reactions please refer to the official prescribing information^1,5,7.

References

1. Summary of Product Characteristics [FDA]: Tecentriq (atezolizumab) [PDF]
Genentech, Apr 2017.

2. National Cancer Institute. FDA approves new immunotherapy drug for bladder cancer
NIH

3. Approved Drugs: Atezolizumab (Tecentriq)
FDA, Oct 2016

4. FDA Grants Genentech’s Tecentriq (atezolizumab) Accelerated Approval as Initial Treatment for Certain People with Advanced Bladder Cancer
Drugs.com, April 2017

5. Summary of Product Characteristics [TGA]: Tecentriq (atezolizumab)
Roche, July 2017.

6. Roche receives EU approval of TECENTRIQ® (atezolizumab) in a specific type of metastatic lung cancer and two types of metastatic bladder cancer
Roche Media Release, Sept 2017.

7. Summary of Product Characteristics [EMA]: Tecentriq (atezolizumab) [PDF]
Roche, Jan 2018.

8. Summary of Product Characteristics [Health Canada]: Tecentriq (atezolizumab) [PDF]
Hoffmann-La Roche, Apr 2017.

9. Product detail [Medsafe]: Tecentriq (atezolizumab)
Hoffmann-La Roche, Mar 2020.

10. European Commission approves Roche’s Tecentriq in combination with Abraxane for people with PD-L1-positive, metastatic triple-negative breast cancer
Roche press release, Aug 2019.