Avastin bevacizumab regulatory update

The National Comprehensive Cancer Network updated its breast cancer guidelines to affirm its recommendation for Avastin bevacizumab as an option for metastatic breast cancer in combination with paclitaxel. However, NCCN did include a footnote to state that trials of Avastin plus chemotherapy in the first- or second-line setting have shown that Avastin "modestly improves time to progression and response rate but does not improve overall survival." The previous footnote said that a single trial showed that Avastin plus paclitaxel produced superior time to progression vs. paclitaxel alone for first-line setting. Roche's Genentech unit markets Avastin in the U.S., while Roche markets it elsewhere. ...