Oncology portfolio
The Roche Group is the world’s leading provider of cancer care products. Our anticancer medicines are saving lives and significantly advancing the way some cancers are treated. The Roche portfolio currently includes five innovative cancer products proven to provide survival benefit in a number of different tumour(An abnormal growth of cells, forming a mass of tissue) types: Avastin® (bevacizumab(A recombinant humanised monoclonal antibody that specifically inhibits vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) and is used for the treatment of various cancer types)), Herceptin® (trastuzumab), MabThera® (rituximab), Tarceva® (erlotinib) and Xeloda® (capecitabine).
Research and development
At Roche, we research, develop and provide innovative tests and treatments for cancer. Research and development in this disease area aims to provide effective cancer therapies through the discovery and development of novel therapeutics that target the specific molecular pathways associated with cancer.
We have a rich history of medical innovation in this field and a promising future with our focus on personalised healthcare – an approach that specifically takes into account emerging knowledge about the molecular pathology of diseases and of patients’ individual characteristics.
In addition, Roche is developing new diagnostic tests that will have a significant impact on disease management for cancer patients in the future. With a broad portfolio of tumour markers(Substances found in the blood, urine, or body tissues that can be elevated in cancer) as well as a range of molecular oncology tests, Roche will continue to be one of the leaders in providing cancer-focused treatments and diagnostics.
Herceptin
Herceptin is a monoclonal antibody, designed to target and block the function of HER2, a protein produced by a specific gene with cancer-causing potential. The MoA of Herceptin is unique in that it activates the body’s immune system and suppresses HER2 to target and destroy the tumour. Herceptin has demonstrated unprecedented efficacy in treating both early and advanced (metastatic) HER2-positive breast cancer. Given on its own as monotherapy as well as in combination with or following standard chemotherapy, Herceptin has been shown to improve response rates, disease-free survival and OS while maintaining QoL in women with HER2-positive breast cancer.
MabThera
MabThera is a therapeutic antibody that binds to a specific protein called CD20 found on the surface of cancerous and normal B-cells. In non-Hodgkin's lymphoma and rheumatoid arthritis, MabThera works with the body's own immune system to eliminate CD20-positive B-cells. Stem cells (B-cell progenitors that give rise to B-cells) in bone marrow do not have the CD20 protein allowing B-cells to repopulate after MabThera treatment.
Tarceva
Tarceva is a once-daily, oral non-chemotherapy treatment for the treatment of advanced or metastatic NSCLC. It has been shown to potently inhibit EGFR, a protein involved in the growth and development of cancers. With a unique MoA different from conventional chemotherapies, Tarceva is proven effective in diverse patient populations. In addition to a survival advantage, Tarceva offers an established safety profile combined with the ease of oral administration.
Xeloda
Xeloda is a highly effective targeted oral chemotherapy offering patients a survival advantage when taken on its own or in combination with other anticancer drugs. Xeloda is converted to the active cancer-killing agent 5-FU directly inside the cancer cells, thus reducing damage to healthy cells. Xeloda tablets can be taken by patients in their own home, reducing the number of hospital visits.
Future Roche Oncology
The future of cancer therapy will rely on the choice of the most appropriate combination of drugs for patients, based on the genetic profile of their tumour. The realisation of such ‘personalised cancer care’ through rational integration of diagnostics and therapeutics is a major focus of Roche oncology and diagnostics. Using this paradigm of ‘fitting the treatment to the patient’ Roche will focus on employing innovative genomics tools that will allow us to identify and validate the critical targets for cancer drug discovery and diagnostic development.
With a broad portfolio of tumour markers for prostate, colorectal, liver, ovarian, breast, stomach, pancreatic and lung cancer, as well as a range of molecular oncology tests, Roche will continue to be a leader in providing cancer-focused treatments and diagnostics. With our expertise in diagnostics, genetics/genomics and drug discovery, Roche is uniquely positioned to continue to drive this trend in oncology and expand our leadership in the field.