Avastin promising in ovarian cancer
pharmafile | June 7, 2010 | News story | Research and Development | ASCO, avastin
Roche’s Avastin took a step closer to winning an additional indication after phase III trial data showed the blockbuster cancer drug significantly improves progression-free survival in patients with ovarian cancer.
Data from the GOG 0218 study was first previewed in February and the company has now released top-line figures for the trial.
These showed that in combination with chemotherapy (paclitaxel and carboplatin) and then with continued use on its own for up to 15 months Avastin showed a median progression-free survival (PFS) of 14.1 months.
This compared to 10.3 months in women who received chemotherapy alone – a 28% reduction in the risk of cancer progression or death.
Roche’s head of global development and chief medical officer Hal Barron said: “We are encouraged by these results as there have been few improvements in outcomes for women with this disease in the past decade.
“Avastin in combination with chemotherapy, followed by the continued use of Avastin, helped women with advanced ovarian cancer live longer without their disease worsening.”
Barron added: “We will discuss these data and next steps with US and global regulatory authorities.”
The study was an international, multi-centre, randomised, double-blind, placebo-controlled study in over 1,800 women with previously untreated advanced epithelial ovarian, primary peritoneal or fallopian tube carcinoma who already had surgery to remove large sections of the tumour.
It was conducted by a network of researchers led by the Gynecologic Oncology Group (GOG) and is sponsored by an agreement between the National Cancer Institute (NCI) and Roche’s recently acquired biologics arm Genentech.
Currently, treatment options for women with the disease are limited to surgery and chemotherapy.
The data for Avastin – which is already approved for colorectal, breast, kidney, brain and non-small cell lung cancers – was presented at the 46th annual meeting of the American Society of Clinical Oncology (ASCO).
Avastin is an antibody that specifically binds and blocks the VEGF (vascular endothelial growth factor) receptor, the key process in tumour growth.
First approved in 2004 it is currently one of the most successful cancer drugs, making the Roche CHF 6.2 billion in sales last year.
Ben Adams
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