Hopes for tislelizumab outside of China rise after positive data

The RATIONALE 305 trial of BeiGene’s (HKEX: 06160) checkpoint blocker tislelizumab has met its primary endpoint of overall survival (OS).

Developed together with Swiss firm Novartis (NOVN: VX), which has rights outside of Greater China, the product is being tested, in combination with chemotherapy, for the treatment of advanced stomach cancer, regardless of PD-L1 status.

While the Chinese medicines regulator has already granted approval for the therapy in people with PD-L1 positive cancer, the new data will boost hopes that the label can be broadened in what is a relatively uncontested indication for checkpoint blockers.