Roche announced that the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approved Avastin (bevacizumab) in combination with chemotherapy for the treatment of women with platinum-resistant, recurrent ovarian cancer.The approval was based on results from the Phase 3 AURELIA study that showed Avastin plus chemotherapy reduced the risk of disease worsening or death (progression-free survival or PFS) by 62% compared to women who received chemotherapy alone. Adverse events were consistent with those seen in previous trials of Avastin across tumor types for approved indications, but also included high blood pressure and pain, redness or swelling of the hands or feet from the Phase 3 study.

“Avastin plus chemotherapy is the first new treatment option for women with this difficult-to-treat type of ovarian cancer in more than 15 years,” said Sandra Horning, M.D., chief medical officer and head of Global Product Development. “Risk of the disease worsening was reduced by 62% for women who received Avastin plus chemotherapy in the study, and a notable treatment effect was observed with paclitaxel, which may be important when choosing treatment.”

The new indication of Avastin is in combination with paclitaxel, pegylated liposomal doxorubicin or topotecan chemotherapy for the treatment of women with platinum-resistant, recurrent, epithelial ovarian, fallopian tube, or primary peritoneal cancer, who have received no more than two prior chemotherapy regimens. With this approval, Avastin is approved in the United States to treat six distinct tumor types.  Avastin was also approved to treat women with platinum-resistant, recurrent ovarian cancer in the European Union earlier this year.

Source: Roche