Roche finds Herceptin combined with AstraZeneca drug ‘prolongs survival’

Herceptin, the drug diagnosed for patients with HER-2 positive breast cancer, can prolong progression-free survival if used in conjunction with the AstraZeneca drug, Arimidex.

Roche conducted a study comparing patients using Herceptin combined with Arimidex, a hormonal treatment, and patients using only Arimidex. The trial involved 208 patients with HER-2 positive breast cancer and it concluded that there was a “statistically significant improvement” in cancer progression-free patients using Herceptin with Arimidex.

Eduard Holdener, global head of Roche Pharma Development, said: “We are glad to learn from this study that the combination therapy offers a new treatment regimen for these breast cancer patients who suffer from an extremely aggressive form of the disease.”

“We will now work with trial investigators to analyse the full set of data from this trial, and submit it for presentation at an upcoming medical meeting in the second half of 2006,” he added.

Last week, Roche announced that Herceptin had been approved by the European Commission for use in patients with early-stage HER-2 positive breast cancer. It had already been available for the last five years for use in patients with advance, metastatic HER-2 positive breast cancer, but was not licensed for use in the early stages of the disease.

William M Burns, chief executive officer of Roche’s pharmaceuticals division, commented: “Herceptin has clearly demonstrated that it provides the best chance of long-term survival when used as early as possible in the course of the disease and this decision is great news for patients and the medical community.”

Arimidex prevents the production of oestrogen, a hormone that can stimulate growth in some types of tumours.

© Adfero Ltd