Roche's SERD Setback Means Menarini Retains An Edge

Roche's giredestrant failed to show a benefit on progression-free survival in the Phase II acelERA trial in people with advanced breast cancer.

horse race — Roche's SERD failed a Phase II trial in advanced breast cancer • Source: Alamy

Roche Holding AG joined rival Sanofi with a setback in the development of an oral selective estrogen receptor degrader (SERD) for locally advanced or metastatic ER-positive/HER2-negative breast cancer, giving an edge to underdog Menarini Group, which remains the only drug maker to have a successful Phase III trial in the setting.

In disclosing the Phase II trial failure on 25 April, Roche said it was encouraged by signals suggesting that its...