Tarceva/Avastin combination disappoints in kidney cancer

pharmafile | October 19, 2005 | News story | Sales and Marketing  

Early results from trials suggest adding Tarceva to Avastin has no extra benefit in the treatment of kidney cancer.

Researchers at Genentech had hoped that combining its two new targeted cancer drugs would halt the progress of the disease in more patients than Avastin alone, but preliminary results from the phase II trial have not been encouraging.

"At this time we do not believe further studies of this particular combination in kidney cancer are warranted," said Hal Barron, Genentech's head of development, but added that Avastin remained a promising treatment on its own.

The results are a rare disappointment for the Californian biotech company, which is enjoying a remarkable period of growth, with a string of positive phase III trial results in 2005 and fast growing sales.

Avastin as a monotherapy is in phase III trials for renal cell carcinoma, the most common type of kidney cancer, accounting for 90% of cases.

The drugs, which have distinct modes of action, are being studied alone and in combination with other drugs in a number of different cancer types.

A Tarceva/Avastin combination is currently being studied in another phase II trial, for the second-line treatment of non-small cell lung cancer.

Tarceva recently gained its first EU approval for the treatment of non-small cell lung cancer and is expected to shortly gain its second US approval, for the treatment of pancreatic cancer.

Related articles:

Roche's Tarceva approved in Europe 

Wednesday, September 21, 2005

 

 

 

 

 

 

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