Roche Announces Phase III BEAT-SC Study Met Primary Endpoint: Atezolizumab Plus Bevacizumab and Chemotherapy Demonstrates Statistically Significant PFS Benefit in Extensive-Stage Small Cell Lung Cancer

Recently, Roche announced that the Phase III clinical trial BEAT-SC study met its primary endpoint, showing statistically significant PFS benefit for atezolizumab in combination with bevacizumab and platinum-based chemotherapy as a first-line treatment for ES-SCLC.

The BEAT-SC study is the world's first international multicenter, randomized Phase III trial to add the anti-angiogenic drug bevacizumab to the atezolizumab plus platinum-based chemotherapy regimen as a first-line treatment for extensive-stage small cell lung cancer.

The main analysis results showed that, compared with atezolizumab combined with chemotherapy, the combination therapy consisting of atezolizumab, bevacizumab, and chemotherapy could reduce the risk of disease progression or death and improve PFS.

At the time of this interim analysis, OS data were not yet mature. The study will continue until the planned next statistical analysis. The combination of atezolizumab, bevacizumab, and chemotherapy was well-tolerated, with no new safety signals observed for this combination regimen. The study data will be presented at an upcoming medical conference.

About Small Cell Lung Cancer

Small Cell Lung Cancer (SCLC) is highly aggressive, progresses rapidly, and has a poor survival prognosis. Due to its fast-progressing nature, approximately two-thirds of patients are initially diagnosed when the tumor has already spread to other parts of the body, which is known as extensive-stage small cell lung cancer [1].

GLOBOCAN shows that there were approximately 871,000 new cases of lung cancer in China in 2022. Based on the estimate that small cell lung cancer accounts for about 10-15% of lung cancer cases, there are approximately 80,000 to 130,000 new cases of small cell lung cancer annually in China [2],[3].

The global Phase III clinical trial IMpower133 was the first to confirm the definitive efficacy of the immunotherapy drug atezolizumab in combination with platinum-based chemotherapy in ES-SCLC, significantly changing the treatment landscape for ES-SCLC and becoming the current preferred first-line standard treatment for extensive-stage small cell lung cancer.

About the BEAT-SC Study

The BEAT-SC study is a randomized, placebo-controlled, double-blind Phase III trial that evaluated the efficacy of atezolizumab combined with bevacizumab and chemotherapy compared to atezolizumab combined with chemotherapy as initial (first-line) treatment in 330 patients with ES-SCLC. The primary endpoint was PFS, and secondary endpoints included OS, response rate, safety, and others. This study was conducted in China and Japan.

On the Combined Application of Atezolizumab and Bevacizumab

Atezolizumab combined with bevacizumab can enhance tumor immunity against various cancers. In addition to its known anti-angiogenic activity, the anti-VEGF inhibitory activity of bevacizumab is also associated with immunomodulatory effects. [4],[5]-[7] Bevacizumab can also improve the immunosuppressive tumor microenvironment [8]. The combination of atezolizumab and bevacizumab can enhance T-cell-mediated activity against tumor cells through VEGF-mediated immunosuppression.

Editor: Mu Mian

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