Avastin News and Research

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Avastin is a biologic antibody designed to specifically bind to a protein called vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) that plays an important role throughout the lifecycle of the tumor to develop and maintain blood vessels, a process known as angiogenesis. Avastin is designed to interfere with the blood supply to a tumor by directly binding to the VEGF protein to prevent interactions with receptors on blood vessel cells. Avastin does not bind to receptors on normal or cancer cells. The tumor blood supply is thought to be critical to a tumor’s ability to grow and spread in the body (metastasize).

Avastin approval to drive ovarian cancer drug market to $1.5 billion in 2018

Decision Resources, one of the world's leading research and advisory firms for pharmaceutical and healthcare issues, finds that the ovarian cancer drug market -- driven by the approval and rapid uptake of Roche/Genentech/Chugai's Avastin -- will more than triple from $449 million in 2008 to just under $1.5 billion in 2018 in the United States, France, Germany, Italy, Spain, the United Kingdom and Japan.

7 Apr 2010

Keryx Biopharmaceuticals' perifosine receives FDA Fast Track Designation

Keryx Biopharmaceuticals, Inc. today announced that the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has granted Fast Track designation for KRX-0401 (perifosine), the Company's novel, potentially first-in-class, oral anti-cancer agent that inhibits Akt activation in the phosphoinositide 3-kinase (PI3K) pathway, for the treatment of refractory advanced colorectal cancer.

5 Apr 2010

FDA grants Keryx Biopharmaceuticals Fast Track designation for perifosine

Æterna Zentaris Inc., a late-stage drug development company specialized in oncology and endocrine therapy, today announced that its partner, Keryx Biopharmaceuticals, was granted Fast Track designation by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration for perifosine (KRX-0401), the Company's novel, potentially first-in-class, oral anti-cancer agent that inhibits the phosphoinositide 3-kinase (PI3K)/Akt pathway, for the treatment of refractory advanced colorectal cancer.

5 Apr 2010

Rosetta Genomics' Philadelphia lab commences FNA cell block sample analysis with miRview squamous test

Rosetta Genomics, Ltd., a leading developer and provider of microRNA-based molecular diagnostics, announced today that starting April 1, 2010 physicians are able to send FNA cell block samples to Rosetta Genomics' CLIA-certified and CAP-accredited laboratory in Philadelphia for analysis using Rosetta's miRview squamous test. FNA is a less invasive method to obtain tumor cells compared with tumor resections or biopsies.

5 Apr 2010

Prescription drug spending up in 2009

Prescription drug spending in the United States rose 5.1 percent in 2009, acording to a new report from IMS Health., a data collection company.

3 Apr 2010

Strong demand leads to 5.1% growth in 2009 U.S. sales of ethical pharmaceuticals

IMS Health today reported 5.1 percent growth in 2009 U.S. sales of ethical pharmaceuticals and insulins through retail and non-retail channels, reaching $300.3 billion, compared with growth of 1.8 percent in 2008.

2 Apr 2010

Bevacizumab/paclitaxel/carboplatin regimen attains gold-standard status for treatment of non-small-cell lung cancer

Decision Resources, one of the world's leading research and advisory firms for pharmaceutical and healthcare issues, finds that the bevacizumab (Genentech/Roche/Chugai's Avastin)/paclitaxel (Bristol-Myers Squibb's Taxol, generics)/carboplatin (Bristol-Myers Squibb's Paraplatin, generics) regimen will remain Decision Resources' proprietary clinical gold standard for the treatment of advanced non-small-cell lung cancer through 2018.

26 Mar 2010

AVASTIN receives Health Canada approval for patients with GBM

Roche Canada announced today that Health Canada has approved AVASTIN(R) (bevacizumab), as a single agent, for the treatment of patients with glioblastoma multiforme, the most aggressive primary malignant brain tumour, after relapse or disease progression, following prior therapy.

26 Mar 2010

Stage IV colorectal cancer: Therapy that improves overall survival over IFL/bevacizumab will earn 60% patient share

Decision Resources, one of the world's leading research and advisory firms for pharmaceutical and healthcare issues, finds that a therapy that would improve median overall survival over IFL (bolus 5-fluorouracil, generics/leucovorin, generics/irinotecan*) plus bevacizumab (Roche/Genentech/Chugai's Avastin), would earn a 60 percent patient share in stage IV colorectal cancer, according to surveyed U.S. oncologists. In Europe, such an agent would earn a 50 percent patient share, according to surveyed European oncologists.

16 Mar 2010

Latest treatment options for colorectal cancer highlighted at NCCN Annual Conference

Despite statistics stating that colorectal cancer is the fourth most frequently diagnosed cancer in men and women in the United States, mortality from colon cancer has decreased slightly over the past 30 years, possibly because of earlier diagnoses through screening and better treatment modalities.

15 Mar 2010

Genentech announces topline results from Phase III trial of Avastin

Genentech, Inc., a wholly owned member of the Roche Group, announced today the topline results of a Phase III trial led by the U.S. Cancer and Leukemia Group B (CALGB) and sponsored by the National Cancer Institute investigating the use of Avastin® (bevacizumab) in combination with docetaxel chemotherapy and prednisone in men with late stage prostate cancer (hormone-refractory / HRPC).

12 Mar 2010

Idera Pharmaceuticals announces net income of $3.9M for fourth-quarter 2009

Idera Pharmaceuticals, Inc. today reported financial results for the fourth quarter and full year ended December 31, 2009.

10 Mar 2010

Data from FAME Phase 3 study for Iluvien presented at Angiogenesis 2010

pSivida Corp., a leader in the development of ophthalmic sustained release drug delivery products, with two of the only three such products approved by the FDA for treatment of back of the eye diseases, today said that 24-month data from the FAME Phase 3 study for Iluvien presented at Angiogenesis 2010 included additional efficacy and safety data that reinforced the positive top-line results reported in December 2009 by pSivida and its licensee, Alimera Sciences, Inc.

4 Mar 2010

Advanced ovarian cancer: Avastin-chemotherapy combination followed by Avastin alone improves PFS

Genentech, Inc., a wholly owned member of the Roche Group, 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.

25 Feb 2010

Genentech's Avastin combination Phase III study in advanced stomach cancer does not meet primary endpoint

Genentech, Inc., a wholly owned member of the Roche Group, today announced that a Phase III study (AVAGAST) did not meet its primary endpoint of showing Avastin® (bevacizumab) plus Xeloda® (capecitabine) or 5-FU and cisplatin chemotherapy extended the lives of people with inoperable or advanced stomach (gastric) cancer, compared to chemotherapy alone.

23 Feb 2010

Antigenics announces fourth-quarter and full-year 2009 financial results

Antigenics Inc. reported today its results for the quarter and year ended December 31, 2009. The company reported net income attributable to common stockholders of $1.7 million, or $0.02 per share, basic and diluted, for the fourth quarter of 2009, compared with net income attributable to common stockholders in the fourth quarter of 2008 of $3.9 million, or $0.06 per share, basic and diluted.

18 Feb 2010

Sorafenib drug therapy can reduce the size of primary kidney tumors before surgery

More than 57,000 Americans face a diagnosis of kidney cancer each year. Now patients with advanced disease may soon have another treatment option. Physicians who conducted a pilot study at UNC Lineberger Comprehensive Cancer Center found that therapy before surgery with the drug sorafenib can reduce the size of large tumors and could be safely undertaken administered without adding significantly to the risks of surgery.

17 Feb 2010

Cancer drug could be effective for treating recurrent nose bleeds

Patients suffering from hereditary hemorrhagic telangiectasia (HHT), an inherited vascular condition characterized by profuse nosebleeds, may find hope in a cancer-fighting drug called bevacizumab, also known as Avastin.

12 Feb 2010

Clarient launches Clarient Insight Dx Pulmotype Test for lung cancer

Clarient, Inc., a premier technology and services resource for pathologists, oncologists and the pharmaceutical industry, today announced the commercial launch of a new lung cancer test, Clarient Insight® Dx Pulmotype® Test, that helps physicians classify specific types of lung cancer to identify which therapies may be most effective.

10 Feb 2010

Keryx Biopharmaceuticals reaches agreement with FDA on SPA for Phase 3 trial of KRX-0401

Keryx Biopharmaceuticals, Inc. announced today that it has reached agreement with the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) regarding a Special Protocol Assessment (SPA) on the design of a Phase 3 trial for its PI3K/Akt pathway inhibitor, KRX-0401 (perifosine), in patients with refractory metastatic colorectal cancer.

3 Feb 2010

Avastin News and Research

Further Reading

Avastin approval to drive ovarian cancer drug market to $1.5 billion in 2018

Keryx Biopharmaceuticals' perifosine receives FDA Fast Track Designation

FDA grants Keryx Biopharmaceuticals Fast Track designation for perifosine

Rosetta Genomics' Philadelphia lab commences FNA cell block sample analysis with miRview squamous test

Prescription drug spending up in 2009

Strong demand leads to 5.1% growth in 2009 U.S. sales of ethical pharmaceuticals

Bevacizumab/paclitaxel/carboplatin regimen attains gold-standard status for treatment of non-small-cell lung cancer

AVASTIN receives Health Canada approval for patients with GBM

Stage IV colorectal cancer: Therapy that improves overall survival over IFL/bevacizumab will earn 60% patient share

Latest treatment options for colorectal cancer highlighted at NCCN Annual Conference

Genentech announces topline results from Phase III trial of Avastin

Idera Pharmaceuticals announces net income of $3.9M for fourth-quarter 2009

Data from FAME Phase 3 study for Iluvien presented at Angiogenesis 2010

Advanced ovarian cancer: Avastin-chemotherapy combination followed by Avastin alone improves PFS

Genentech's Avastin combination Phase III study in advanced stomach cancer does not meet primary endpoint

Antigenics announces fourth-quarter and full-year 2009 financial results

Sorafenib drug therapy can reduce the size of primary kidney tumors before surgery

Cancer drug could be effective for treating recurrent nose bleeds

Clarient launches Clarient Insight Dx Pulmotype Test for lung cancer

Keryx Biopharmaceuticals reaches agreement with FDA on SPA for Phase 3 trial of KRX-0401

Achieving and maintaining ISO/IEC 27001 and BS 10012 certifications

Expanding research and clinical options for children with cancer

Examining how pain could play a direct protective role in the gut

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