Roche’s Avastin receives CHMP backing for new ovarian cancer indication

Roche has announced that the European Medicines Agency's Committee for Medicinal Products for Human Use (CHMP) has recommended its drug Avastin for approval in a new indication.

The multipurpose drug has been endorsed for European Commission approval in combination with chemotherapy as a treatment for women with ovarian cancer that is resistant to platinum-containing chemotherapy.

It is the first biologic medicine to receive a CHMP recommendation for use against the most difficult-to-treat form of ovarian cancer. A pivotal phase III study has shown the addition of Avastin to chemotherapy reduced the risk of the disease worsening or causing mortality by 62 percent.

Median overall survival rates among patients with platinum-resistant ovarian cancer is approximately 12 months, meaning novel strategies are needed.

Dr Sandra Horning, chief medical officer and head of global product development at Roche, said: "EU approval of Avastin for platinum-resistant ovarian cancer would be an important step in helping these women live longer without their disease progressing."

Avastin is one of the company's most strategically important products and was cited as one of the key drivers of its sales growth in the first quarter of 2014.