Genentech, Inc., a wholly owned member of the Roche Group (SIX: RO, ROG;
OTCQX: RHHBY), today announced that a Phase III study showed the
combination of Avastin® (bevacizumab) and chemotherapy
followed by maintenance use of Avastin alone increased the time women
with previously untreated advanced ovarian cancer lived without the
disease worsening (progression-free survival or PFS), compared to
chemotherapy alone. A preliminary assessment of safety noted adverse
events previously observed in pivotal trials of Avastin. Data from the
study will be submitted for presentation at the American Society of
Clinical Oncology (ASCO) annual meeting, June 4 to 8, 2010.
“This study showed that after
initial surgery, the combination of Avastin and chemotherapy followed by
extended treatment with Avastin improves progression-free survival in
women with newly diagnosed advanced tumors.”
In the three-arm study, known as Gynecologic Oncology Group (GOG) 0218,
women with newly diagnosed advanced ovarian cancer who already had
surgery to remove as much of the tumor as possible were randomized to
receive one of the following:
-
Arm 1: Placebo in combination with carboplatin and paclitaxel
chemotherapy followed by placebo alone, for a total of up to 15 months
of therapy
-
Arm 2: Avastin in combination with carboplatin and paclitaxel
chemotherapy followed by placebo alone, for a total of up to 15 months
of therapy
-
Arm 3: Avastin in combination with carboplatin and paclitaxel
chemotherapy followed by the maintenance use of Avastin alone, for a
total of up to 15 months of therapy.
The study showed that women who continued maintenance use of Avastin
alone, after receiving Avastin in combination with chemotherapy (Arm 3),
lived longer without the disease worsening compared to those who
received chemotherapy alone. Women who received Avastin in combination
with chemotherapy, but did not continue maintenance use of Avastin alone
(Arm 2), did not live longer without the disease worsening compared to
chemotherapy alone.