News tagged with 'Avastin'

Patients receiving Avastin for colon cancer, were 33 percent more likely to develop blood clots than those who did not receive the drug, researchers announced after reviewing 15 clinical trials involving nearly 8,000 patients with advanced cancer. 

Genentech is seeking accelerated FDA approval of its drug Avastin, to fight gliobastoma, the most aggressive form of brain cancer with no cure and limited treatment options.

The FDA has issued a health alert asking doctors to report any cases of anemia among patients taking Avastin for the treatment of cancers.  A drug trial by maker Genentech has been haulted because of the development of the disease in some participants.

The approval by the Food and Drug Administration of Genentech Inc’s Avastin drove the value up the stock up in premarket trading Monday. Last December an FDA panel voted 5-4 against approval because the drug does not extend the life of breast cancer patients. Has the FDA lowered the standards for approval at the urging of company officials?  

So far Genentech, maker of Avastin, a drug used to slow the growth of colorectal and lung cancers, is having a tough time convincing regulators it should be used to treat breast cancer. There are simply too many side effects for the gain and the FDA seems to be slowing down on drug approvals, despite pressure otherwise.