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).

Updated NCCN Guidelines for Breast Cancer outline expanded treatment options

Women with metastatic breast cancer have expanded treatment options for treating the disease and in the prevention of skeletal-related events as outlined in the recently updated NCCN Guidelines™ for Breast Cancer. Robert W. Carlson, MD, of Stanford Comprehensive Cancer Center and chair of the NCCN Guidelines Panel for Breast Cancer, presented these and other notable updates to the NCCN Guidelines at the NCCN 16th Annual Conference on March 10, 2011.

11 Mar 2011

Idera reports $6.0 million net loss for fourth quarter 2010

Idera Pharmaceuticals, Inc. today reported financial results for the fourth quarter and year ended December 31, 2010.

10 Mar 2011

New clinical trial to prevent aggressive type of breast cancer

In a first-of-its-kind clinical trial, physician-scientists at University Hospitals Case Medical Center are exploring a new method to potentially prevent recurrence of an early stage, aggressive type of breast cancer.

9 Mar 2011

EU's Avastin policy: A stark contrast to the FDA's recent decision

The committee's decision stands in stark contrast to the recent verdict by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration, which is wary of Avastin's benefits for breast-cancer patients.

3 Mar 2011

Avastin debate spills over until June FDA hearing

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration have granted Roche a hearing in June to defend the cancer treatment Avastin. The hearing would examine the effectiveness of the drug in breast cancer.

27 Feb 2011

Researchers capture complexities of breast cancer tumours to improve treatment, diagnostics

Breast cancer can develop very differently in different women. Researchers in Norway are improving breast cancer diagnostics and treatment by identifying the various tumour types. The objective is to find out as much as possible about the various tumour types so that each patient can receive precisely the right treatment at the right time.

25 Feb 2011

Genentech granted FDA hearing on Avastin for metastatic breast cancer

Genentech, a member of the Roche Group, today announced the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has granted a hearing to allow the company the opportunity to present its views on why Avastin® (bevacizumab) should remain FDA-approved for metastatic breast cancer (mBC). The FDA has scheduled the hearing for June 28 to 29, 2011.

25 Feb 2011

EpiCept 2010 fourth quarter net loss is $0.06 per share

EpiCept Corporation today announced operating and financial results for the fourth quarter and full year ended December 31, 2010, and provided an update on its key business initiatives.

24 Feb 2011

Genentech's OCEANS Phase III study of Avastin in platinum-sensitive ovarian cancer meets primary endpoint

Genentech, a member of the Roche Group, announced today that OCEANS, a Phase III study evaluating Avastin® (bevacizumab) in combination with chemotherapy (carboplatin and gemcitabine) followed by continued use of Avastin alone until disease progression in women with previously treated (recurrent), platinum-sensitive ovarian cancer, met its primary endpoint.

8 Feb 2011

Physicians reaction to FDA decision to rescind breast cancer indication from Avastin

Sermo, the world's largest online community for physicians, announced the publication of a free Sermo Report about how physicians are reacting to the FDA decision to rescind the indication for Avastin (bevacizumab) in the treatment of breast cancer.

5 Feb 2011

Study finds treatment-related mortality with bevacizumab in cancer patients

Cancer patients treated with the chemotherapy agent bevacizumab may be at an increased risk of treatment-related death when the drug is used in combination with other therapies.

2 Feb 2011

Glioblastoma's molecular flexibility helps resist nearly all treatment efforts

Glioblastoma, the most common and lethal form of brain cancer and the disease that killed Massachusetts Senator Ted Kennedy, resists nearly all treatment efforts, even when attacked simultaneously on several fronts. One explanation can be found in the tumor cells' unexpected flexibility, discovered researchers at the Salk Institute for Biological Studies.

25 Jan 2011

Northwest Biotherapeutics resumes enrollment in DCVax Phase II clinical trial for GBM brain cancer

Northwest Biotherapeutics announced today that the Company is resuming enrollment of additional new patients into its ongoing 240-patient, double blind, randomized, placebo controlled Phase II clinical trial of DCVax for Glioblastoma multiforme brain cancer.

24 Jan 2011

Choosing between EGFR therapeutic options in metastatic colorectal cancer

Colorectal cancer (CRC) is the third most common cancer in men and women in the USA, with a new diagnosis made every 3.5 minutes and an associated death every 9 minutes.

6 Jan 2011

OpEds: Sebelius, Fla. Attorney General, USA Today, Wash Post opine about repeal strategies

Over the past nine months, I've traveled around the country and seen the benefits of this law firsthand. Unless we want to take coverage away from cancer patients, reduce oversight for insurance companies, raise prescription drug costs for seniors, weaken Medicare, add $1 trillion to the deficit and undo dozens of other reforms that are improving health around the country, we can't afford repeal (Kathleen Sebelius, 1/5).

6 Jan 2011

First Edition: January 5, 2011

In today's headlines, reports about how Republicans and Democrats are preparing for the new power dynamic in the House.

5 Jan 2011

Myrexis initiates controlled two-arm Azixa Phase 2b clinical study in glioblastoma multiforme

EpiCept Corporation today reported that Myrexis, Inc. has initiated a controlled two-arm Phase 2b clinical study of Azixa™ as a front-line treatment for glioblastoma multiforme (GBM). Azixa™, a vascular disruption agent with potent anti-cancer activity, was discovered by EpiCept as part of its ASAP technology platform and licensed to Myrexis.

28 Dec 2010

Myrexis commences Azixa controlled two-arm Phase 2b clinical study in GBM

Myrexis, Inc., a biotechnology company focused on discovering, developing, and commercializing novel treatments for cancer, today announced it has initiated a controlled two-arm Phase 2b clinical study of Azixa (verubulin) as a front-line treatment for glioblastoma multiforme (GBM).

23 Dec 2010

Today's Opinions: Congressional funding vote leaves out health law; Price controls on health; Tough choices in Washington State

The Senate passed the Continuing Resolution 79-16 this afternoon. Another way of saying that: The Senate voted to defund the implementation of both health-care reform and financial-regulation reform.

23 Dec 2010

FDA moves to curb Avastin's approval for breast cancer

The Food and Drug administration on Thursday revoked its approval of Roche drug Avastin for the treatment of breast cancer. The agency's action, based on findings that did not confirm that the medicine helped patients with this disease, has drawn criticism from patients and politicians.

20 Dec 2010