Roche cancer drug ‘significantly prolongs progression free survival’

Roche has announced the results of its phase III Avoren trial assessing the efficacy of Avastin (bevacizumab) as a treatment for advanced kidney cancer.

The data, presented at the annual meeting of the American Society of Clinical Oncology, shows that administration with the compound in addition to interferon doubled progression free survival in advanced renal cell cancer patients compared to the sole use of interferon.

Furthermore, while patients administered solely with interferon saw tumour response of 12.8 per cent, this was increased to 31.4 per cent with Avastin added to the patient’s treatment.

While the company is still waiting for further results, it reports at present that there exists “a trend towards overall survival” in the study.

Professor Bernard Escudier, head of immunotherapy and innovative therapy unit at Institut Gustave-Roussy, said: “These results are significant because there is a real need for more effective treatments in advanced kidney cancer, where chemotherapy and radiotherapy are not as effective as in other cancers.”

He added that the study showed Avastin to be both well-tolerated and have high-efficacy, providing patients with a new treatment option for this disease.

Roche announced the approval of Avastin in combination with paclitaxel as a treatment for metastatic breast cancer patients in the European Union in March 2007.