Concentrate for solution for infusion, in combination with platinum-based chemotherapy, for the first-line treatment of adults with unresectable, locally advanced or metastatic oesophageal squamous cell carcinoma whose tumours express PD-L1 with a tumour area positivity (TAP) score of ≥ 5 %

About the medicinal product

Tevimbra contains the active substance tislelizumab. It is used to treat adults with unresectable, advanced or metastatic oesophageal squamous cell carcinoma (cancer of the oesophagus).

Tevimbra is used together with a specific form of chemotherapy (platinum-based chemotherapy). For the treatment to be effective, a specific surface feature known as a PD-L1 protein must be detectable in at least 5% of the tumour tissue (TAP score ≥ 5 %).

Tevimbra was first authorised by Swissmedic on 11 April 2024, with a subsequent indication extension on 3 July 2025 for the first-line treatment, in combination with platinum- and fluoropyrimidine-based chemotherapy, of adults with HER-2-negative, locally advanced, unresectable or metastatic adenocarcinoma of the stomach or gastro-oesophageal junction, whose tumours express PD-L1 with a tumour area positivity (TAP) score of ≥ 5 %.

Mode of action

The active substance in Tevimbra, tislelizumab, is a monoclonal antibody (immunologically active protein) that binds to a specific protein known as PD-1 (programmed cell death receptor-1) and thereby prevents it from binding to the PD-ligand (programmed cell death-ligand). As a result, the immune response is inhibited, and the growth of the cancer can be delayed or stopped.

Administration

Tevimbra is a prescription-only medicinal product that is available as a concentrate for solution for infusion. The recommended dose of Tevimbra is 200 mg and is administered every 3 weeks as an intravenous infusion (into the veins).

Efficacy

The efficacy of Tevimbra in combination with chemotherapy was compared in study BGB-A317-306 with that of placebo (dummy drug) in combination with chemotherapy in a total of 649 patients with locally advanced, recurrent or metastatic oesophageal squamous cell carcinoma.

The study revealed that the treatment with Tevimbra in combination with chemotherapy significantly prolonged overall survival (OS)^[1] compared to placebo in combination with chemotherapy. The patients who received Tevimbra and whose tumours had a TAP ≥ 5% had a median^[2] OS of 19.6 months compared to 10.0 months in those in the placebo group.

The benefit of the treatment with Tevimbra was also evident in the prolongation of progression-free survival (PFS)^[3] and a higher objective response rate compared to the placebo group.

^[1] _{Overall survival: Overall survival (OS) refers to the period between the start of treatment and the death of the patient.}

^[2] _{Median: The value that lies exactly in the middle of a distribution of data is called the median or central value. Half of the data values are always less than the median, the other half are always greater.}

^[3] _{PFS: progression-free survival. Period between the start of a treatment or a clinical trial and the onset of disease progression or the death of the patient.}

Precautions, undesirable effects & risks

Tevimbra must not be used in those who are hypersensitive to the active substance or any of the excipients.

The most frequent adverse effects (affecting more than 1 in 10 patients) are reduced counts of white blood cells (leukocytes, neutrophils) and platelets (thrombocytes) in the blood, reduced lymphocyte count, low haemoglobin (blood pigment), lack of thyroid hormones (hypothyroidism), lower potassium and sodium levels, increased potassium levels, diarrhoea, cough, stomatitis (inflammation of the lining of the mouth), increased levels of aspartate aminotransferase, alanine aminotransferase^[4], alkaline phosphatase and bilirubin^[5], lower albumin levels, elevated creatine kinase (heart and skeletal muscle enzyme), elevated creatinine (kidney function indicator), rash, fatigue and fever.

All precautions, risks, and other possible undesirable effects are listed in the Information for healthcare professionals.

^[4] _{Aspartate aminotransferase (AST) and alanine aminotransferase (ALT) are enzymes produced mainly in the liver. Elevated levels of activity of these enzymes in the blood may indicate liver-related diseases.}

^[5] _{Bilirubin forms as a result of the breakdown of the blood pigment haemoglobin, and an elevated bilirubin level in the blood may be a sign of liver damage.}

Why the medicinal product has been authorised

Effective treatment options are often lacking for patients with advanced or unresectable oesophageal squamous cell carcinoma (OSCC).

In clinical trials, Tevimbra, in combination with platinum-based chemotherapy, significantly improved overall survival and slowed the progression of the disease.

Taking all the risks and precautions into account, and based on the available data, the benefits of this indication extension for Tevimbra outweigh the risks. Swissmedic has therefore extended the authorisation for use in Switzerland of the medicinal product Tevimbra, containing the active substance tislelizumab, for the first-line treatment, in combination with platinum-based chemotherapy, of adults with unresectable, locally advanced or metastatic oesophageal squamous cell carcinoma, whose tumours express PD-L1 with a tumour area positivity (TAP) score of ≥ 5 %.

Further information on the medicinal product

Information for healthcare professionals:

Healthcare professionals can answer any further questions.

^{The date of revision of this text corresponds to that of the SwissPAR. New information concerning the authorised medicinal product in question will not be incorporated into the Summary report on authorisation.}

^{Swissmedic monitors medicinal products authorised in Switzerland. Swissmedic initiates the necessary action in the event of newly discovered adverse drug reactions or other safety-relevant signals. New findings that could impair the quality, efficacy, or safety of this medicinal product are recorded and published by Swissmedic. If necessary, the medicinal product information is adapted.}