Avastin bevacizumab regulatory update

The U.K.'s NICE issued a final appraisal determination (FAD) recommending against the use of Avastin bevacizumab from Roche in combination with oxaliplatin and either 5-fluorouracil plus folinic acid or capecitabine to treat metastatic colorectal cancer (mCRC). The FAD is in line with the agency's first and second preliminary appraisals, in which NICE said the drug could not be considered a cost effective use of NHS resources despite Roche's inclusion of a patient access scheme for first-line mCRC (see BioCentury, Dec. 7, 2009 & Aug. 30). ...