NCCN reaffirms Avastin recommendation

The National Comprehensive Cancer Network (NCCN) reaffirmed its recommendation for Avastin bevacizumab as an option for metastatic breast cancer in combination with paclitaxel. U.S. payers use NCCN guidelines to make coverage decisions. Thus, the decision could mean that payers will continue to reimburse for the drug in the indication despite last month's FDA advisory panel vote to withdraw Avastin for the indication (see BioCentury, July 11).

NCCN said its breast cancer panel this month voted 24-0, with one abstention, in favor of maintaining the current recommendation for Avastin in the NCCN guidelines for breast cancer. The drug also keeps its 2A rating, which means there is uniform NCCN consensus that the treatment is appropriate, based on lower-level evidence. The Genentech Inc. unit of Roche (SIX:ROG; OTCQX:RHHBY) markets Avastin in the U.S., while Roche markets it elsewhere. ...