Avastin unsuccessful in prostate cancer study

Swiss giant Roche

Oncology blockbuster Avastin has proved unsuccessful in the potential treatment of late-stage prostate cancer.

Swiss pharmaceutical giant F. Hoffmann-La Roche Ltd (Roche) unveiled the results of the phrase III study through their Genentech unit, which used Avastin in combination with docetaxel chemotherapy and presnisone in men with late stage prostate cancer.

Avastin (also known as Bevacizumab) is a humanised antibody that recognises and blocks vascular endthelial growth factor, a chemical signal that can stimulate the growth of new blood vessels. This is particularly poignant in the attack of cancer cells, which grow uncontrollably in most cases, and in treating other other conditions with similar biological accelerations.

Number one objective

Roche specified that the trial did not attain its number one objective of extending the overall survival of patients, compared to those patients' survival rate using only chemotherapy and prednisone. Further issues of safety were highlighted, as patients had shown adverse effects that were previously observed in trials with Avastin, according to Pharma Times.

"[Patients] are in urgent need of new treatment options. It is unfortunate that the study did not meet its primary objective," said Hal Barron, chief medical officer at Roche.

Avastin had similarly disappointing results by missing its primary endpoint with stomach cancer, but has shown promise in a Phrase III trial in advanced ovarian cancer.

Roche had previously suggested that gaining approval for prostate cancer could have added up to 1 billion Swiss francs to its already considerable Avastin sales, which reached 6.22 billion francs last year.

Prostate cancer can affect men of all ages, with common early symptoms including needing to urinate with more frequency, hesitancy in urinating, a weak flow during urination and not feeling like the bladder has emptied completely.

Ross Densley

Ross Densley is a graduate from Bath Spa University, and has freelanced for several magazines ranging across a section of topics such as animation, business, film and lifestyle. When Ross is not working he writes and edits his own satirical website.

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