4 January 2018 - Four dossier assessments involving comparisons between immunotherapies and chemotherapies for the same therapeutic indication in 2017/comparison of the immunotherapies among each other missing.

After nivolumab and pembrolizumab, the IQWiG assessed atezolizumab, and thus a third monoclonal antibody for the treatment of urothelial carcinomas in late 2017. In two early benefit assessments of this drug, the Institute achieved inconsistent results. 

Due to a lack of suitable data, an added benefit of atezolizumab versus the comparator therapy is not proven for first-line treatment of adult patients with locally advanced or metastatic urothelial carcinoma for whom cisplatin-based chemotherapy is not an option. However, as second-line treatment, i.e. after pretreatment with platinum-based chemotherapy, there is a hint of a considerable added benefit. The two other dossier assessments also produced mixed results.

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