Roche`s new pill shows 30% reduction in breast cancer recurrence

Roche said its experimental oral therapy giredestrant lowered the risk of breast cancer returning by 30% compared with standard endocrine treatment, describing the outcome as the most significant hormonal-therapy advance for the disease in more than two decades.

The company released full findings from the phase III lidERA study, showing that after three years, 92.4% of patients who received giredestrant remained alive without signs of disease. The rate was 89.6% among patients given the current standard of care. Roche disclosed only a brief outline of the data in November, confirming at that time that the study had achieved its main objectives.

Roche’s Chief Medical Officer, Levi Garraway, said the reduction in risk meant fewer patients experienced a return of their cancer than would have been expected under existing treatment options. He said the results met a major need in oestrogen receptor–positive breast cancer, which represents about 70% of global cases. Despite available therapies, up to one-third of people diagnosed at an early stage later face recurrence.

The company said the findings indicate giredestrant could become a new option for adjuvant endocrine therapy. It noted that further work is needed to determine which patients might still require additional medicines, including CDK4/6 inhibitors such as Novartis’ Kisqali.

Roche reported that the safety profile of giredestrant was favourable, with fewer patients stopping treatment due to side effects compared with those receiving standard therapy.

Analysts at JPMorgan have estimated that, if approved, the adjuvant use of giredestrant could generate about $5 billion in yearly sales.

Roche plans to present the trial results on Wednesday at the San Antonio Breast Cancer Symposium. Giredestrant is part of a group of medicines known as oral selective oestrogen receptor degraders, designed to block and degrade the receptor that helps fuel tumour growth.