The outcome of the most recent study of Avastin revealed that the cancer drug is indeed effective for breast cancer sufferers, Roche Holding AG said on Monday.

Avastin, Genentech’s best-selling drug, plus chemotherapy proved to be more efficient in prolonging progression-free survival in patients with breast cancer, compared to chemotherapy alone, the US biotechnology firm said. In a 1,237-patient Phase III study called RIBBON 1, the blockbuster drug was tested in combination with either taxane-based, anthracycline-based or Xeloda (capecitabine) chemotherapies for first-line treatment of metastatic HER2-negative breast cancer.

Avastin, also known as bevacizumab, received the provisional U.S. Food and Drug Administration approval as a treatment for initial cases of breast cancer on condition Roche and Genentech file additional data. Currently, the drug’s maker seeks full federal approval. The medicine was also approved for use in breast and colon cancers.

"We look forward to discussing these data with the FDA and are committed to securing full FDA approval of Avastin based on the totality of data in advanced breast cancer," said Dr. Hal Barron, Senior Vice President, Development and Chief Medical Officer at Genentech.

Provided Avastin will receive federal full approval, sales of the drug for breast cancer use are estimated to rise up to CHF1.5 billion, said Martin Voegtli, an analyst at Sal. Oppenheim in Zurich, who has a buy rating on the stock. Taking into account the results of RIBBON 1, Avastin will probably be prescribed more frequent, therefore its total sales could reach CHF14.8 billion by 2013, as Voegtli predicted.