While the ovarian cancer resistant to platinum-based chemotherapy is considered one of the most difficult diseases to treat, the Swiss group Roche has made official the authorization to use the drug Avastin for this form of the disease. This product would double the improvement in patient survival without disease progression.
The European Commission has authorized its use in association with a chemotherapy based on the anticancer drug paclitaxel, topotecan or peggly liposomal doxorubicin. Each year, around 44,000 women suffer from an advanced form of the disease in Europe. Almost a quarter of women who have relapsed are affected by ovarian cancer that is resistant to platinum-based chemotherapy. Authorization for the use of this drug, one of Roche’s flagship treatments, was therefore eagerly awaited.
Approved in more than 60 countries, Avastin was already used in Europe to treat people suffering from advanced breast cancer, colorectal cancer, lung cancer or kidney cancer. . A few weeks ago, the United States Medicines Agency (FDA) granted priority review status in the treatment of cervical cancer to Avastin.
