Sunday, Oct 19, 2025

Genentech’s Tecentriq Showed Significant Overall and Disease-Free Survival Benefits in Bladder Cancer With ctDNA-Guided Treatment

Tecentriq reduced the risk of death by 41% and the risk of disease recurrence or death by 36% compared with placebo

IMvigor011 is the first global Phase III study to read out pioneering a ctDNA-guided approach to post-surgery treatment in muscle-invasive bladder cancer

Data being presented as part of the Presidential Symposium at the ESMO Congress 2025

South San Francisco, CA -- October 19, 2025 --

Genentech, a member of the Roche Group (SIX: RO, ROG; OTCQX: RHHBY), announced today positive results from the Phase III IMvigor011 study evaluating Tecentriq^® (atezolizumab) as an adjuvant treatment for people with muscle-invasive bladder cancer (MIBC) who are at risk of recurrence after surgery (cystectomy) and have detectable circulating tumor DNA (ctDNA). In this ctDNA-guided setting, Tecentriq reduced the risk of death (overall survival, OS) by 41% and the risk of disease recurrence or death (disease-free survival, DFS) by 36%, both compared with placebo. This ctDNA-guided approach, using Natera’s Signatera^TM ctDNA Molecular Residual Disease (MRD) test, spared people at low risk of recurrence from unnecessary treatment and side effects. The safety profile was consistent with previous studies of Tecentriq.

These results are being presented as part of the Presidential Symposium at the European Society for Medical Oncology (ESMO) Congress 2025. They will also be discussed with health authorities, including the U.S. Food and Drug Administration.

“These clinically meaningful results show that Tecentriq helped people with muscle-invasive bladder cancer live longer and without their disease returning,” said Levi Garraway, M.D., Ph.D., chief medical officer and head of Global Product Development. “The use of serial ctDNA testing to detect molecular residual disease may also advance bladder cancer treatment by combining a precision diagnostic with cancer immunotherapy.”

“Even after surgery, most people with muscle-invasive bladder cancer will face the physical and emotional toll of further treatment,” said Thomas Powles, lead principal investigator of IMvigor011, professor of genitourinary oncology; chair of Barts Cancer Centre at St. Bartholomew's Hospital. “These results indicate that with Signatera ctDNA testing, we may be able to identify those at risk of recurrence who could benefit from adjuvant atezolizumab treatment and spare others from unnecessary therapy, paving the way for a more personalized treatment approach.”

At median follow up of 16.1 months, median DFS was 9.9 months in the Tecentriq arm versus 4.8 months in the placebo arm (stratified hazard ratio [HR]=0.64; 95% CI: 0.47-0.87, p=0.0047). Median OS was 32.8 months in the Tecentriq arm versus 21.1 months in the placebo arm (HR=0.59; 95% CI: 0.39-0.90, p=0.0131). People who persistently tested for no detectable ctDNA had low risk of recurrence.

 

More than 150,000 people worldwide are diagnosed with MIBC each year. It is an aggressive type of cancer, with poor long-term outcomes and high treatment burden. Despite this, personalized treatment approaches lag behind other cancer types. ctDNA-guided treatment could change this, by helping healthcare professionals tailor treatment more precisely to improve clinical benefit and reduce unnecessary intervention.

About the IMvigor011 study 
IMvigor011 [NCT04660344] is a global Phase III, randomized, placebo-controlled, double-blind study designed to evaluate the efficacy and safety of adjuvant treatment with Tecentriq^® (atezolizumab) compared with placebo in participants with muscle-invasive bladder cancer (MIBC) who are circulating tumor DNA (ctDNA)-positive and are at risk of recurrence following cystectomy. IMvigor011 utilized Natera’s Signatera™ as the clinical trial assay. This personalized ctDNA test for the detection of MRD is currently under review by the FDA for use as a companion diagnostic. 761 people participated in the surveillance phase of IMvigor011 and those with positive Signatera tests (250 people) joined the treatment phase, where they received either Tecentriq or placebo. The primary endpoint is investigator-assessed disease-free survival (DFS). Secondary endpoints include overall survival (OS) and tolerability, amongst others.

About Tecentriq^® (atezolizumab)

Tecentriq (atezolizumab) is a monoclonal antibody designed to bind with a protein called PD-L1, which is expressed on tumor cells and tumor-infiltrating immune cells, blocking its interactions with both PD-1 and B7.1 receptors. By inhibiting PD-L1, Tecentriq may enable the re-activation of T cells. Tecentriq may also affect normal cells.

 

What is Tecentriq?

Tecentriq is a prescription medicine used to treat:

Adults with a type of lung cancer called non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC).

• Tecentriq may be used alone as a treatment for your lung cancer:
• to help prevent your lung cancer from coming back after your tumor(s) has been removed by surgery and you have received platinum-based chemotherapy, and
• you have stage 2 to stage 3A NSCLC (talk to your healthcare provider about what these stages mean), and 
• your cancer tests positive for “PD-L1”.
• Tecentriq may be used alone as your first treatment when your lung cancer:
• has spread or grown, and
• your cancer tests positive for “high PD-L1”, and
• your tumor does not have an abnormal “EGFR” or “ALK” gene.
• Tecentriq may be used with the medicines bevacizumab, paclitaxel, and carboplatin as your first treatment when your lung cancer:
• has spread or grown, and
• is a type called “non-squamous NSCLC”, and
• your tumor does not have an abnormal “EGFR” or “ALK” gene.

 

• Tecentriq may be used with the medicines paclitaxel protein-bound and carboplatin as your first treatment when your lung cancer:
• has spread or grown, and
• is a type called “non-squamous NSCLC”, and
• your tumor does not have an abnormal “EGFR” or “ALK” gene.

 

• Tecentriq may be used alone when your lung cancer:
• has spread or grown, and
• you have tried chemotherapy that contains platinum, and it did not work or is no longer working.
• If your tumor has an abnormal “EGFR” or “ALK” gene, you should have also tried an FDA-approved therapy for tumors with these abnormal genes, and it did not work or is no longer working.

 

Adults with a type of lung cancer called “extensive stage small cell lung cancer (SCLC)”, which is SCLC that has spread or grown

• Tecentriq may be used with the chemotherapy medicines carboplatin and etoposide as your first treatment 
• Tecentriq may be used with the medicine lurbinectedin as maintenance treatment when your lung cancer:
• has not progressed after first treatment with Tecentriq or atezolizumab and hyaluronidase-tqjs and the chemotherapy medicines carboplatin and etoposide.

 

Adults with a type of liver cancer called hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). Tecentriq may be used with the medicine bevacizumab when your liver cancer:

• has spread or cannot be removed by surgery, and
• you have not received other medicines by mouth or injection through your vein (IV) to treat your cancer.

 

Adults with a type of skin cancer called melanoma. Tecentriq may be used with the medicines cobimetinib and vemurafenib when your melanoma:

• has spread to other parts of the body or cannot be removed by surgery, and
• has a certain type of abnormal “BRAF” gene. Your healthcare provider will perform a test to make sure this Tecentriq combination is right for you.

 

Adults and children 2 years of age and older with a type of soft tissue tumor (cancer) called alveolar soft part sarcoma (ASPS). Tecentriq may be used when your sarcoma:

• has spread to other parts of the body or cannot be removed by surgery. 

 

It is not known if Tecentriq is safe and effective when used:

• in children younger than 2 years of age for the treatment of ASPS.
• in children for the treatment of NSCLC, SCLC, HCC or melanoma.

 

Important Safety Information

What is the most important information about Tecentriq?

Tecentriq can cause your immune system to attack normal organs and tissues in any area of your body and can affect the way they work. These problems can sometimes become severe or life-threatening and can lead to death. You can have more than one of these problems at the same time. These problems may happen anytime during your treatment or even after your treatment has ended.

 

Call or see your healthcare provider right away if you develop any new or worse signs or symptoms, including: 

Lung problems

• cough
• shortness of breath 
• chest pain  

Intestinal problems  

• diarrhea (loose stools) or more frequent bowel movements than usual 
• stools that are black, tarry, sticky, or have blood or mucus 
• severe stomach-area (abdomen) pain or tenderness 

Liver problems  

• yellowing of your skin or the whites of your eyes 
• severe nausea or vomiting 
• pain on the right side of your stomach area (abdomen)
• dark urine (tea colored) 
• bleeding or bruising more easily than normal 

 Hormone gland problems 

• headaches that will not go away or unusual headaches 
• eye sensitivity to light 
• eye problems 
• rapid heartbeat 
• increased sweating 
• extreme tiredness 
• weight gain or weight loss 
• feeling more hungry or thirsty than usual 
• urinating more often than usual 
• hair loss 
• feeling cold 
• constipation 
• your voice gets deeper 
• dizziness or fainting 
• changes in mood or behavior, such as decreased sex drive, irritability, or forgetfulness  

Kidney problems  

• decrease in your amount of urine 
• blood in your urine
• swelling of your ankles 
• loss of appetite  

Skin problems   

• rash 
• itching 
• skin blistering or peeling     
• painful sores or ulcers in mouth or nose, throat, or genital area 
• fever or flu-like symptoms 
• swollen lymph nodes 

  

Problems can also happen in other organs. 

These are not all of the signs and symptoms of immune system problems that can happen with Tecentriq. Call or see your healthcare provider right away for any new or worse signs or symptoms, including:

• Chest pain, irregular heartbeat, shortness of breath, or swelling of ankles
• Confusion, sleepiness, memory problems, changes in mood or behavior, stiff neck, balance problems, tingling or numbness of the arms or legs
• Double vision, blurry vision, sensitivity to light, eye pain, changes in eyesight
• Persistent or severe muscle pain or weakness, muscle cramps
• Low red blood cells, bruising                    

 

Infusion reactions that can sometimes be severe or life-threatening. Signs and symptoms of infusion reactions may include:  

• chills or shaking 
• itching or rash 
• flushing 
• shortness of breath or wheezing
• dizziness 
• feeling like passing out 
• fever 
• back or neck pain 

  

Complications, including graft-versus-host disease (GVHD), in people who have received a bone marrow (stem cell) transplant that uses donor stem cells (allogeneic). These complications can be serious and can lead to death. These complications may happen if you underwent transplantation either before or after being treated with Tecentriq. Your healthcare provider will monitor you for these complications. 

 

Getting medical treatment right away may help keep these problems from becoming more serious. Your healthcare provider will check you for these problems during your treatment with Tecentriq. Your healthcare provider may treat you with corticosteroid or hormone replacement medicines. Your healthcare provider may also need to delay or completely stop treatment with Tecentriq if you have severe side effects.

 

Before you receive Tecentriq, tell your healthcare provider about all of your medical conditions, including if you:

• have immune system problems such as Crohn’s disease, ulcerative colitis, or lupus
• have received an organ transplant
• have received or plan to receive a stem cell transplant that uses donor stem cells (allogeneic)
• have received radiation treatment to your chest area
• have a condition that affects your nervous system, such as myasthenia gravis or Guillain-Barré syndrome
• are pregnant or plan to become pregnant. Tecentriq can harm your unborn baby. Tell your healthcare provider right away if you become pregnant or think you may be pregnant during treatment with Tecentriq. Females who are able to become pregnant:
• Your healthcare provider should do a pregnancy test before you start treatment with Tecentriq.
• You should use an effective method of birth control during your treatment and for at least 5 months after the last dose of Tecentriq.
• are breastfeeding or plan to breastfeed. It is not known if Tecentriq passes into your breast milk. Do not breastfeed during treatment and for at least 5 months after the last dose of Tecentriq.

 

Tell your healthcare provider about all the medicines you take, including prescription and over-the-counter medicines, vitamins, and herbal supplements.

 

The most common side effects of Tecentriq when used alone include:

• Feeling tired or weak 
• decreased appetite
• nausea
• cough
• shortness of breath

 

The most common side effects of Tecentriq when used in lung cancer with other anti-cancer medicines include:

• feeling tired or weak
• nausea
• hair loss
• constipation
• diarrhea
• decreased appetite

 

The most common side effects of Tecentriq when used in hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) with bevacizumab include:

• high blood pressure
• feeling tired or weak
• too much protein in the urine 

 

The most common side effects of Tecentriq when used in melanoma with cobimetinib and vemurafenib include:

• skin rash
• joint, muscle, or bone pain
• feeling tired or weak
• liver injury
• fever
• nausea
• itching
• swelling of legs or arms
• mouth swelling (sometimes with sores)
• low thyroid hormone levels
• sunburn or sun sensitivity

 

Tecentriq may cause fertility problems in females, which may affect the ability to have children. Talk to your healthcare provider if you have concerns about fertility.

 

These are not all the possible side effects of Tecentriq. Ask your healthcare provider or pharmacist for more information about the benefits and side effects of Tecentriq.

 

You may report side effects to the FDA at 1-800-FDA-1088 or www.fda.gov/medwatch. You may also report side effects to Genentech at 1-888-835-2555.

 

Please see full Prescribing Information and Medication Guide for additional Important Safety Information.

 

 

About Genentech in cancer immunotherapy 

To learn more about Genentech’s scientific-led approach to cancer immunotherapy, please follow this link: https://www.gene.com/cancer-immunotherapy.

 About Genentech

Founded nearly 50 years ago, Genentech is a leading biotechnology company that discovers, develops, manufactures and commercializes medicines to treat patients with serious and life-threatening medical conditions. The company, a member of the Roche Group, has headquarters in South San Francisco, California. For additional information about the company, please visit http://www.gene.com. 

 

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