Roche reports new trial data for Avastin

Roche has published results from a trial evaluating its drug Avastin as a part of a combination therapy for late stage prostate cancer, which did not meet its primary endpoint.

The study assessed the effect of the drug in combination with docetaxel chemotherapy and prednisone, finding that it did not extend survival rates compared to chemotherapy and prednisone alone.

Although the firm said that the trial’s results are “unfortunate”, it stated that they do not affect the drug’s established efficacy in other capacities, nor will they influence research into use of the treatment against other tumour types.

Dr Hal Barron, head of global development and chief medical officer at Roche, said: “We look forward to sharing the data with the medical community, including the secondary endpoints.”

Last month, the company was granted approval by the Food and Drug Administration for its Rituxan/MabThera drug to be marketed as a treatment for chronic lymphocytic leukaemia.