Roche jumps in Zurich after positive results from oncology drug trial

  (Il Sole 24 Ore Radiocor) - Roche is in the forefront of the Zurich Stock Exchange thanks to positive results recorded in a phase three study on a drug for the treatment of breast cancer. The share of the Swiss pharmaceutical giant is registering by far the biggest rise of the benchmark index, among the top of the Stoxx Europe 600. Roche announced 'positive results' from phase three of the lidERA Breast Cancer study, which evaluates giredestrant as an adjuvant endocrine treatment for patients with early-stage breast cancer. The study met its primary endpoint by "showing a statistically significant and clinically significant improvement in invasive disease-free survival with giredestrant compared to standard endocrine therapy". The drug was well tolerated.

"Today's results underscore the potential of giredestrant as a novel endocrine therapy for people with early-stage breast cancer," said Levi Garraway, MD, PhD, chief medical officer and head of global product development at Roche, quoted in the release. "The long-awaited success is here: giredestrant is effective against early-stage breast cancer," noted Vontobel analysts. The clinical development programme of the drug extends to multiple treatments and therapeutic lines, which suggests further positive results from Roche's clinical trials, the experts added.