Home
News
In Focus
Business
Metro
Nation
World
Sports
Feature
Opinion
View more »Opinion Columns
Wan LixinOpinion deputy editor of Shanghai Daily
Stray dogs in short supply as students rush in to walk them – at what risks?
Turning 60 but still working? How to encourage China’s retirees back to work
Sunday
- Subscribe
Related News
Home » Business » Manufacturing
Trial blow for cancer medication producer
By Katie Reid |
April 23, 2009, Thursday
|
Print Edition
Print Edition
A TRIAL of cancer drug Avastin has shown that it does not prevent the recurrence of colon cancer in patients who have undergone surgery, Swiss group Roche Holding AG said yesterday.
Roche's annual sales of Avastin, its most important drug, have soared to 5.2 billion Swiss francs (US$4.4 billion) and some analysts estimated sales could more than double if the drug was found to delay progression of the disease in early-stage cancer patients.
The study - evaluating Avastin plus chemotherapy for colon cancer immediately following surgery compared with chemotherapy alone - failed to meet its main target of lowering the risk of the cancer returning, Roche said.
"While we are disappointed the study did not meet its primary endpoint, our initial review of the data leads us to continue to believe Avastin may be active in patients with early-stage colon cancer," Hal Barron, Genentech chief medical officer, said.
The 2,700-patient trial was designed to show whether Avastin plus chemotherapy, followed by six months of Avastin alone, results in more patients being cancer free after three years.
The drug is designed to cut off the blood supply to tumors and is already approved for advanced cancer of the colon, lung and breast.
Roche's annual sales of Avastin, its most important drug, have soared to 5.2 billion Swiss francs (US$4.4 billion) and some analysts estimated sales could more than double if the drug was found to delay progression of the disease in early-stage cancer patients.
The study - evaluating Avastin plus chemotherapy for colon cancer immediately following surgery compared with chemotherapy alone - failed to meet its main target of lowering the risk of the cancer returning, Roche said.
"While we are disappointed the study did not meet its primary endpoint, our initial review of the data leads us to continue to believe Avastin may be active in patients with early-stage colon cancer," Hal Barron, Genentech chief medical officer, said.
The 2,700-patient trial was designed to show whether Avastin plus chemotherapy, followed by six months of Avastin alone, results in more patients being cancer free after three years.
The drug is designed to cut off the blood supply to tumors and is already approved for advanced cancer of the colon, lung and breast.
- About Us
- |
- Terms of Use
- |
-
RSS - |
- Privacy Policy
- |
- Contact Us
- |
- Shanghai Call Center: 962288
- |
- Tip-off hotline: 52920043
- 沪ICP证：沪ICP备05050403号-1
- |
- 互联网新闻信息服务许可证：31120180004
- |
- 网络视听许可证：0909346
- |
- 广播电视节目制作许可证：沪字第354号
- |
- 增值电信业务经营许可证：沪B2-20120012
Copyright © 1999- Shanghai Daily. All rights reserved.Preferably viewed with Internet Explorer 8 or newer browsers.
