Roche breast cancer pill slashes progression risk by 62% in key trial

Roche’s new drug combo cut the risk of disease progression or death by 62% in certain breast cancer patients, outperforming existing treatments.

Why it matters: These results could help Roche’s giredestrant stand out in a competitive field of oral breast cancer drugs and offer better options for patients with limited post-hormone therapy treatments.

Backstory: SERDs (selective estrogen receptor degraders) like Roche’s giredestrant are a new class of hormone-targeting drugs. Two SERDs, Eli Lilly’s Inluriyo and Menarini’s Orserdu, are already approved, but Roche's latest trial may show broader effectiveness.

Zoom in: Roche’s evERA trial paired giredestrant with Afinitor (everolimus). Lilly’s Inluriyo showed a 38% risk reduction (ESR1 only); Orserdu showed 45% (ESR1) and 30% (broad), but wasn't cleared for broader use. In Roche’s case, the risk of progression dropped by 62% in patients with ESR1 mutations and 44% across the broader group.

Big picture: The data could push Roche to the front of the SERD race by proving its drug's benefit in both ESR1-mutated and broader patient populations, potentially expanding treatment access and clinical confidence.