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November 30, 2004

Study: Drug helps sickest cancer patients

Topics: Clinical Pharmacology

Posted on Mon, Nov. 29, 2004, Associated Press, Reported in Mercurynews.com

SAN FRANCISCO - Genentech Inc. said Monday its novel colon cancer-fighting drug Avastin helped some of the sickest patients stay alive two months longer than expected, giving the drug an additional boost on its way to blockbuster status.

The South San Francisco-based biotechnology titan made the announcement ahead of a major conference for cancer researchers and doctors scheduled for January, when the company said it would release more detailed results from a large-scale human experiment using Avastin in combination with a chemotherapy treatment.

"This study provides additional evidence that adding Avastin to chemotherapy results in a significant survival benefit for patients with either untreated or relapsed metastatic colorectal cancer," said Dr. Hal Barron, Genentech's chief medical officer.

The company said patients receiving Avastin and chemotherapy survived, on average, for 12 months compared to 10 months for patients receiving chemotherapy only.  Read More...

Posted by Hyscience at November 30, 2004 12:47 AM

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