Genentech completes phase III study of Avastin Plus

Genentech, a wholly-owned subsidiary of Roche, has announced that a phase III trial into the use of Avastin Plus (bevacizumab) has been completed.

The medicine, which was used in combination with chemotherapy in the study, increased the time women with metastatic HER2-negative breast cancer, whose initial chemotherapy had stopped working, lived without the disease worsening, compared to simply using chemotherapy alone.

Any side-effects experienced correlated with earlier findings, the study determined, with no new adverse effects recorded.

Hal Barron, executive vice-president of global development and chief medical officer with the company, said: “Advanced breast cancer is aggressive and nearly all women will need additional treatment when initial chemotherapy stops working.”

The drug is not designed for use in patients whose breast cancer has developed beyond anthracycline and taxane chemotherapy administered for metastatic disease.

Earlier this year, Genentech expressed its disappointment that a previous phase III trial of Avastin did not meet primary endpoints. At the time, it said that the product still has the potential to be effective for some patients.