AbbVie, Roche combo treatment meets main goal of leukemia trial

FILE PHOTO: A screen displays the share price for pharmaceutical maker AbbVie on the floor of the New York Stock Exchange July 18, 2014. REUTERS/Brendan McDermid/File Photo

(This Oct 31 story corrects paragraph one to say targeted therapy, not immunotherapy)

(Reuters) - AbbVie Inc and Roche Holding AG said on Wednesday their targeted therapy delayed the progression of a type of blood and bone marrow cancer when used in combination with the Swiss drugmaker's cancer drug in a late-stage trial.

The drug, Venclexta, when used with Roche's Gazyva, showed a statistically significant reduction in the risk of disease worsening or death in patients with chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL), when compared to the standard of care, Roche said.

FILE PHOTO: The logo of Swiss pharmaceutical company Roche is seen outside their headquarters in Basel January 30, 2014. REUTERS/Ruben Sprich/File Photo

The results demonstrate the potential of Venclexta as a treatment with a fixed duration for patients with CLL, and may serve as the basis to expand into first-line treatment, AbbVie Chief Scientific Officer Michael Severino said in a statement.

It is estimated that more than 20,000 patients in the United States will be diagnosed with CLL in 2018, Roche said.

(Reporting by Saumya Sibi Joseph in Bengaluru; Editing by Anil D'Silva)