11/02/2025 | Press release | Distributed by Public on 11/03/2025 00:09
Sunday, Nov 2, 2025
Phase III ALLEGORY study met primary and all key secondary endpoints with Gazyva, an anti-CD20 monoclonal antibody designed for enhanced B cell depletion
Gazyva has the potential to be a transformative new standard of care for up to 3.4 million people affected by systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) worldwide
If approved, Gazyva would be the first anti-CD20 therapy for SLE to directly target B cells, a key driver of inflammation and disease activity
These positive results follow the recent U.S. FDA approval and positive EU CHMP opinion for Gazyva in lupus nephritis, alongside positive Phase III data from the INShore study in idiopathic nephrotic syndrome
South San Francisco, CA -- November 2, 2025 --
Genentech, a member of the Roche Group (SIX: RO, ROG; OTCQX: RHHBY) announced today statistically significant and clinically meaningful results from the Phase III ALLEGORY study of Gazyva® (obinutuzumab) in adults with systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) on standard therapy. The study met its primary endpoint showing a higher percentage of people achieved a minimum four-point improvement in SLE Responder Index 4 (SRI-4) at one year (52 weeks) with Gazyva versus standard therapy. SRI is a tool that assesses changes in disease severity, symptoms and physical condition to indicate whether treatment is effective at controlling disease activity. All key secondary endpoints were also met. No new safety signals were identified, and safety was in line with the well-characterized profile of Gazyva.
"Systemic lupus erythematosus is a lifelong condition that can cause irreversible damage to the major organs in the body, leading to life-threatening complications. These pivotal results are unprecedented in demonstrating that by effectively controlling disease activity, Gazyva may delay or prevent further organ damage in people with SLE," said Levi Garraway, M.D., Ph.D., chief medical officer and head of Global Product Development. "We look forward to sharing the data with global health authorities, with the goal of making this potentially transformative new standard of care available as quickly as possible."
All key secondary endpoints were met, with results showing statistically significant and clinically meaningful benefits with Gazyva versus standard therapy including British Isles Lupus Assessment Group based Composite Lupus Assessment (BICLA) response at week 52, sustained corticosteroid control from week 40 to 52, sustained SRI-4 from week 40 to 52, a six-point improvement in SLE disease activity score (SRI-6) at 52 weeks, and time to first flare over 52 weeks as defined by the British Isles Lupus Assessment Group (BILAG) index.
SLE affects over three million people worldwide, mostly women diagnosed between the ages of 15 and 45, with women of color disproportionately impacted. Frequent flares of disease activity inflame and damage multiple organs. Around half of the patients will progress to lupus nephritis, a potentially life-threatening kidney complication, within five years of diagnosis. Achieving better disease control can reduce flares, limit further damage to the organs and lower the risk of developing lupus nephritis.
Data will be presented at an upcoming medical meeting and shared with health authorities as soon as possible, including the U.S. Food and Drug Administration and the European Medicines Agency. If approved, Gazyva would be the first anti-CD20 therapy for SLE to directly target B cells, an underlying cause of disease.
ALLEGORY is the third positive Phase III study for Gazyva in immune-mediated diseases, in addition to REGENCY in lupus nephritis and INShore in idiopathic nephrotic syndrome. This growing evidence suggests that Gazyva, designed to attack and destroy targeted B cells, both directly and together with the body's immune system, may help address disease activity across a spectrum of autoimmune or immune-related diseases.
In addition to SLE, Gazyva is being investigated in children and adolescents with lupus nephritis, as well as adults with membranous nephropathy, as part of our ambition to be leaders in immune-mediated rheumatology and nephrology diseases.
About Gazyva
Gazyva® (obinutuzumab) is a humanized monoclonal antibody designed with a Type II anti-CD20 region, for direct B cell death and a glycoengineered Fc region, for higher binding affinity and increased antibody-dependent cellular cytotoxicity (ADCC). CD20 is a protein found on certain types of B cells. Gazyva is approved for adults with lupus nephritis in the U.S. who are receiving standard therapy. In October 2025, the European Medicines Agency's Committee for Medicinal Products for Human Use recommended approval in the European Union, with a final decision expected from the European Commission in the near future. Gazyva is also approved in 100 countries for various types of hematological cancers.
About the ALLEGORY Study
ALLEGORY [NCT04963296] is a Phase III, randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled, multicenter study, investigating the efficacy and safety of Gazyva® (obinutuzumab) compared with standard therapy in adults with systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) on standard therapy. The study enrolled approximately 300 people, who were randomized 1:1 to receive Gazyva or placebo for up to one year (52 weeks), followed by an open-label period with Gazyva for up to 104 weeks. The primary endpoint is the percentage of people who achieve SLE Responder Index four at week 52.
About Systemic Lupus Erythematosus
Systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) is a potentially life-threatening autoimmune disease that affects more than three million people worldwide, and rising. Due to the non-specific symptoms, it can take two to six years for an accurate diagnosis. During this time, disease severity and organ damage, due to repeated flares of disease activity, typically worsens and quality of life declines.
Around half of people with SLE will develop lupus nephritis within five years of a lupus diagnosis. In lupus nephritis, the disease activity primarily affects the kidneys and there is a risk of end-stage kidney disease, where dialysis and transplant are the only treatment options.
There is a need for additional targeted therapies that can effectively control disease activity and potentially delay or prevent the onset of lupus nephritis.
GAZYVA Indications
GAZYVA® (obinutuzumab) is a prescription medicine used:
Important Safety Information
The most important safety information patients should know about GAZYVA
Patients must tell their doctor right away about any side effect they experience. GAZYVA can cause side effects that can become serious or life-threatening, including:
Who should not receive GAZYVA:
Patientsshould NOT receive GAZYVA if they have had an allergic reaction (e.g., anaphylaxis or serum sickness) to GAZYVA.Patients must tell their healthcare provider if they have had an allergic reaction to obinutuzumab or any other ingredients in GAZYVA in the past.
Additional possible serious side effects of GAZYVA:
Patients must tell their doctor right away about any side effect they experience. GAZYVA can cause side effects that may become severe or life-threatening, including:
The most common side effects of GAZYVA in CLL were infusion-related reactions and low white blood cell counts.
The most common side effects seen with GAZYVA in a study that included relapsed or refractory NHL, including FL patients were infusion-related reactions, fatigue, low white blood cell counts, cough, upper respiratory tract infection, and joint or muscle pain.
The most common side effects seen with GAZYVA in a study that included previously untreated FL patients were infusion-related reactions, low white blood cell count, upper respiratory tract infections, cough, constipation and diarrhea.
The most common side effects of GAZYVA in LN were upper respiratory tract infection, COVID-19, urinary tract infection, bronchitis, pneumonia, infusion infusion-related reactions, and neutropenia.
Before receiving GAZYVA, patients should talk to their doctor about:
Patients should tell their doctor about any side effects.
These are not all of the possible side effects of GAZYVA. For more information, patients should ask their doctor or pharmacist.
GAZYVA is available by prescription only.
Report side effects to the FDA at (800) FDA-1088, orhttp://www.fda.gov/medwatch. Report side effects to Genentech at (888) 835-2555.
Please visit https://www.GAZYVA.com for the GAZYVA full Prescribing Information, including BOXED WARNINGS, for additional Important Safety Information.
About Genentech in Immunology
Genentech is committed to harnessing pioneering science and innovation to address critical unmet needs for patients with immune-mediated inflammatory diseases. Our pipeline includes over a dozen clinical programs in immunology aiming to transform care for people living with lupus, MASH, ulcerative colitis, Crohn's disease, immunoglobulin A nephropathy, idiopathic nephrotic syndrome, atopic dermatitis, and rheumatoid arthritis. We are investing end-to-end in immunology from discovery and R&D to commercialization across a variety of modalities including monoclonal antibodies, bispecifics, and CAR-T cell therapies to help solve some of the most difficult challenges in immunology today.
About Genentech
Founded nearly 50 years ago, Genentech is a leading biotechnology company that discovers, develops, manufactures and commercializes medicines to treat patients with serious and life-threatening medical conditions. The company, a member of the Roche Group, has headquarters in South San Francisco, California. For additional information about the company, please visit http://www.gene.com.
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