ROCHE, Confidence building up on next gen. Rituxan (GA101)
Roche seems to be on track of delivering sustainable growth as it announced today that Obinutuzumab (GA-101), follow-on biologic to Rituxan has demonstrated significant improvement of PFS against chemotherapy in first-line CLL in the first PhIII study. The DSMB has given a green signal to continue the study as futility analysis comparing GA-101 plus chlorambucil against Rituxan plus chlorambucil indicates potential superiority of GA-101 over Rituxan. Superiority claim over Rituxan will allow the company to protect its revenue from any biosimilar threat going forward. With Perjeta and T-DM1 as well shaping up well, Roche is on a strong ground to sustain its revenues from Herceptin and Rituxan (~12 billion). Biosimilar Rituxan is expected to reach the market in 2016, but by then, Roche would have GA101 on the market which would fend off any potential impact on revenues.
