Chugai’s Tecentriq® Receives Approval in Japan for Unresectable Alveolar Soft Part Sarcoma

Chugai Pharmaceutical Co., Ltd. (TOKYO: 4519) has announced that Japan’s Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare (MHLW) has granted regulatory approval for the use of Tecentriq® (atezolizumab, genetical recombination) as an intravenous infusion for the treatment of unresectable alveolar soft part sarcoma (ASPS). This marks a significant milestone, as Tecentriq becomes the first immune checkpoint inhibitor available in Japan for this rare and aggressive cancer.

“We are very pleased that we can offer Tecentriq as a new treatment for unresectable alveolar soft part sarcoma in adults and children over 2 years old,” said Dr. Osamu Okuda, President and CEO of Chugai Pharmaceutical. “This very rare disease, which occurs most often in the adolescent and young adult (AYA) population, is known to have a poor prognosis with no standard treatment if it becomes unresectable. We will continue our efforts to provide information on the proper use of Tecentriq to contribute to patients with unresectable alveolar soft part sarcoma.”

The approval is supported by findings from the investigator-initiated phase II ALBERT study in Japan and an overseas phase II clinical trial conducted by the National Cancer Institute (NCI) in the United States. These studies evaluated the efficacy and safety of Tecentriq in treating patients with unresectable ASPS, demonstrating promising clinical benefits.

As a leading innovator in oncology, Chugai remains committed to addressing unmet medical needs in cancer treatment through groundbreaking therapies and continued support for patients and healthcare professionals.