Tokyo, Japan — Chugai Pharmaceutical Co., Ltd. announced that the Phase III TALENTACE study evaluating Tecentriq (atezolizumab), Avastin (bevacizumab), and on-demand transarterial chemoembolization (TACE) in patients with unresectable hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) met its primary endpoint with statistically significant and clinically meaningful results.
Study Overview and Outcomes
The TALENTACE study showed a significant improvement in TACE progression-free survival (TACE PFS), the study’s primary endpoint. The overall survival (OS) data remains immature at the time of the first interim analysis, but an additional benefit in progression-free survival (PFS) by RECIST v1.1 was also observed.
Further details will be presented at an upcoming academic congress.
Study Design
The TALENTACE study is a Phase III, open-label, randomized trial designed to evaluate the effectiveness of combining Tecentriq and Avastin with on-demand TACE, versus TACE alone, in systemically untreated patients with unresectable HCC.
Key features:
- Participants: 342 patients in China and Japan
- Randomization: 1:1 (Tecentriq + Avastin + TACE vs. TACE alone)
- Treatment: On-demand TACE
- Co-primary endpoints: TACE PFS and OS
- Secondary endpoints: PFS by RECIST v1.1, among others
Significance of Results
This marks the first Phase III study in Asia to demonstrate a TACE PFS benefit from a combination of cancer immunotherapy and targeted therapy with TACE in unresectable hepatocellular carcinoma.
The safety profiles of both Tecentriq and Avastin were consistent with their established safety data and the underlying disease characteristics.
Liver Cancer: An Urgent Global Health Challenge
Liver cancer is the third leading cause of cancer-related deaths worldwide. It is one of the few cancers with increasing mortality rates globally. Each year:
- More than 500,000 people are diagnosed
- This equates to one new diagnosis every 50 seconds
- Survival outlook remains grim:
- Only 1 in 5 patients are alive five years post-diagnosis
- Survival rates for advanced liver cancer are significantly lower
Chugai’s Commitment to Innovation
The results of the TALENTACE study reinforce Chugai’s commitment to advancing treatment options for liver cancer through innovative immuno-oncology and targeted therapy combinations. The company continues to explore combination strategies that improve survival outcomes for patients with unmet medical needs.
