The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has approved a new injectable version of atezolizumab called Tecentriq Hybreza for certain types of lung cancer. This version of the drug delivers immunotherapy through a quick, subcutaneous (under the skin) injection rather than an IV infusion. This injection takes about seven minutes. It’s a time-saving alternative to IV treatment, which often requires going to a special infusion center and spending up to an hour connected to an IV drip.

Tecentriq Hybreza is approved to treat certain types of lung cancer. For people with non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) at stages 2 to 3A, it can be used after they’ve had surgery and specific types of chemotherapy. It’s also approved for adults with advanced NSCLC who have high levels of a protein called PD-L1 on their cancer cells, as long as their cancer doesn’t have certain genetic changes (EGFR or ALK mutations). For people with extensive-stage small cell lung cancer (ES-SCLC), Tecentriq Hybreza is given along with two chemotherapy drugs, carboplatin and etoposide.

Tecentriq Hybreza includes two main components. One is atezolizumab, an immunotherapy drug that blocks the PD-L1 protein to help the immune system recognize and attack cancer cells. The other is hyaluronidase, which helps the drug spread into the body more quickly.

The FDA approved this quick-inject option after a study showed it works just as well as the IV version. The most common side effects are fatigue, muscle and bone pain, cough, trouble breathing, and less appetite.

A More Convenient Treatment Option for Lung Cancer

Tecentriq Hybreza is the first anti-PD-L1 cancer immunotherapy offered as an injection. For people with lung cancer, an injectable may be more convenient than IV immunotherapy, reducing the time and effort involved in receiving treatment at an infusion center.

If you’re living with lung cancer and your current treatment plan isn’t meeting your goals or is causing difficult side effects, talk to your doctor about other options.

Learn about four types of immunotherapy for lung cancer and how they work.

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Have you used immunotherapy to treat your lung cancer? How was your treatment experience? Share your thoughts and tips in a comment below, start a conversation on your Activities page, or connect with likeminded members in Groups.