Genentech Colon Cancer Drug Works with 2nd Chemo
Key points
- Genentech Inc. on Monday said its colon cancer drug Avastin extended the life of patients when used in combination with a chemotherapy regimen called FOLFOX4 more than the chemotherapy alone in a late stage clinical trial.
- An interim analysis of the data showed patients taking the combination lived 12.5 months, compared to 10.7 months for those not getting the Genentech drug as a treatment.
- Avastin in February was approved as a first-line treatment for the same type of colon cancer for use with another widely used chemotherapy regimen known as 5-FU.
- All patients in the trial had cancer that had spread to other parts of the body and had failed previous treatment.
Genentech Inc. on Monday said its colon cancer drug Avastin extended the life of patients when used in combination with a chemotherapy regimen called FOLFOX4 more than the chemotherapy alone in a late stage clinical trial.
An interim analysis of the data showed patients taking the combination lived 12.5 months, compared to 10.7 months for those not getting the Genentech drug as a treatment. All patients in the trial had cancer that had spread to other parts of the body and had failed previous treatment.
Avastin in February was approved as a first-line treatment for the same type of colon cancer for use with another widely used chemotherapy regimen known as 5-FU. It prolonged life of patients by five months in those trials.
Written and revised by
David Cohen, M.D.
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