26.02.10
Avastin slows down advanced ovarian cancer: Phase III study results
Basel – Roche’s blockbuster drug Avastin (bevacizumab) could add another billion to its $5.75 billion sales in 2009, analysts said after the company announced positive preliminary outcomes of a 3-arm phase III study (NCT00262847) in advanced ovarian cancer. According to Roche, the combination of the anti-angiogenetic monoclonal antibody plus carboplatin and paclitaxel, followed by maintenance use of Avastin, prolonged progression-free survival compared to placebo and Avastin monotherapy. A preliminary safety assessment noted adverse events previously observed in pivotal trials with Avastin. Data from the study will be submitted for presentation at the 2010 American Society of Clinical Oncology (ASCO) annual meeting, June 4 to 8, 2010. Roche included around 2,000 patients with stage III or stage IV ovarian epithelial, primary peritoneal cancer, or fallopian tube cancer in the study. The primary endpoint was comparison of overall survival in patients with these patients in the 3 study arms. Secondary endpoint include comparison of time to progression in patients treated with these regimens. Additionally, incidence of severe toxicity of these regimens was compared as well as quality of life.