Tecentriq (Atezolizumab)

Description

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 chemotherapy^[1] or are not eligible for cisplatin chemotherapy^[4].
• 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 expression^[10].

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 response^[2]. Tecentriq (atezolizumab) is a monoclonal antibody that binds to PD-L1 and blocks its interactions with both PD-1 and B7.1 receptors^[1]. By blocking this interaction, checkpoint inhibitors “release the brakes” on the immune system, allowing immune cells to attack tumours^[2].

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 chemotherapy^[2]. 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 chemotherapy^[4].
  • 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 chemotherapy^[8].
  • for the first-line treatment of adult patients with extensive-stage small cell lung cancer (ES-SCLC) in combination with carboplatin and etoposide^[8].
  • for the first-line treatment of adult patients with metastatic non-squamous non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) in combination with bevacizumab, paclitaxel and carboplatin^[8].
  • for adult patients with locally advanced or metastatic NSCLC with progression on or after platinum-based chemotherapy^[8].
• 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 chemotherapy^[6].
  • on August 29, 2019, in combination with nab-paclitaxel for advanced TNBC in patients who have not been previously treated with chemotherapy for metastatic disease^[10].
• 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 aberrations^[9].
  • for the treatment of adult patients with locally advanced or metastatic non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) after prior chemotherapy^[9].
  • 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 carcinoma^[9].

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.