Singapore-  TESARO, an oncology-focused biopharmaceutical company, announced that it has entered into a clinical collaboration with Genentech, a member of the Roche Group, to evaluate the combination of the PD-L1 antibody atezolizumab (TECENTRIQ), the MEK inhibitor cobimetinib (COTELLIC) and TESARO’s PARP inhibitor ZEJULA (niraparib) in patients with platinum-sensitive ovarian cancer. 

“This partnership enables us to further expand the clinical assessment of niraparib-based combinations as we work to advance therapies for women living with ovarian cancer,” said Mary Lynne Hedley, Ph.D., President and COO of TESARO. “Preclinical data has demonstrated potential synergy between MEK and PARP inhibitors, and there is emerging evidence to support an immunomodulatory role for PARP inhibitors. Data suggest the addition of atezolizumab may potentially further enhance the anti-cancer immune response. We look forward to evaluating the potential for this combination to further prolong responses to chemotherapy.”

TESARO and Genentech are also working together to evaluate the combination of ZEJULA and atezolizumab in patients with metastatic bladder cancer as a part of MORPHEUS, Roche's novel cancer immunotherapy development platform. MORPHEUS is a Phase 1b/2 adaptive platform to develop combinations of cancer immunotherapies more rapidly and efficiently. The planned trial will be conducted by Genentech and is expected to begin by the end of 2018. 

TECENTRIQ (atezolizumab) and COTELLIC (cobimetinib) are registered trademarks of Genentech, a member of the Roche Group.