More promising news for Genentech
NEW YORK - TheStreet.com reported that Genentech and its Swiss partner may seek U.S. approval of their cancer drug Avastin as a treatment for breast cancer. Genentech and Roche said a study of a therapy using Avastin plus the chemotherapy drug paclitaxel showed improved progression-free survival of metastasic breast cancer compared to chemotherapy alone.
The findings were based on a phase III trial underway involving 722 women with previously untreated metastatic breast cancer. The trial was sponsored by the National Cancer Institute. Phase III is the last stage of testing before a drug is submitted to the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for approval.
Avastin is used in combination with chemotherapy to treat colorectal cancer. The combination is in trials as a treatment for non-small cell lung cancer. Avastin keeps tumors from growing by inhibiting new blood vessel growth (angiogenesis), while chemotherapy attacks the cancer itself.
"This study is very important for two reasons: it demonstrates Avastin has clinical benefit when used in combination with chemotherapy in first-line metastatic breast cancer and reinforces our belief that targeting angiogenesis can result in patient benefit in multiple tumor types, including colorectal and non-small cell lung cancers," Genentech stated.
This is the second time in 10 days that Genentech reported promising clinical data for one of its cancer drugs. On April 6, it reported Rituxan met goals in a late-stage clinical trial for treating rheumatoid arthritis. Rituxan, approved to treat non-Hodgkin's lymphoma, is the company's top-selling drug and is co-marketed with Biogen Idec.
Genentech is evaluating the use of Avastin for adjuvant and metastatic colorectal, kidney, breast, non-small cell lung, pancreatic, ovarian, and prostate cancers.