According to the results of a late-stage clinical
trial into the benefits of combining Genentech’s cancer drug Avastin
(bevacizumab) to the drug Tarceva (erlotinib), the combined treatment didn’t
prolong the lives of patients with advanced lung cancer. The results of the
study were recently published in a press release by Genentech.
Roche Holding, the world’s larger maker of
cancer drugs, and Genentech Inc said on Monday a Phase III study investigated
the addition of Avastin to Tarceva compared with Tarceva alone for the
treatment of patients with advanced non-small cell lung cancer, the most
prevalent form of the disease. Genentech, based in South
San Francisco, Calif. Co-markets
Tarceva with OSI Pharmaceuticals, Melville, N.Y., which developed Tarceva; Roche Holding AG sells
both drugs in Europe. Roche wants to buy Genentech,
which is already majority-owned by Roche. The company offered $89 a share this
summer to buy the Genentech outright. But the company’s board rejected the
offer as too low.
Tarceva and Avastin are on the market for
treating lung cancer. Tarceva is used to treat pancreatic cancer and Avastin is
approved to treat colorectal and breast cancers.
The study did not show an improvement in overall
survival with the Avastin-Tarceva combination compared with Tarceva alone. However,
the combination treatment showed clear evidence of clinical activity, with
improvements in progression-free survival (PFS) and response rate. Adverse
events were consistent with those observed in previous NSCLC clinical trials
evaluating the agents.
“We are disappointed this study didn’t show
an improvement in survival for patients with advanced lung cancer who have a
poor prognosis and a disease that is extremely difficult to treat,” Hal Barron,
Genentech’s chief medical officer, said in a prepared statement Monday.
“We are, however, encouraged to see the
combination of Avastin and Tarceva had clear evidence of biological activity,
and will fully analyse the data so that we can apply the insights to our
ongoing lung cancer research.”
The companies are further analyzing the
study results and will submit the data for presentation at the 2008 Chicago
Multidisciplinary Symposium in Thoracic Oncology in Chicago, Ill.,
November 13-15.
Lung cancer is the leading cause of
cancer-related deaths in the United States
and Europe and is responsible for nearly 30 percent of cancer deaths among men
and women in the United
States. Advanced non–small cell lung cancer
(NSCLC) is the most common type of lung cancer. Current treatments are aimed to
destroy tumor cells or prevent further tumor growth.
Avastin is based on anti-angiogenesis
mechanism, designed to combat cancer by preventing the formation of blood
vessels that supply tumours. The drug simply inteferes with the blood supply of
a tumor, cutting its ability to grow and spread in the body. Studies show the
drug slows tumor growth, without increasing lifespan. The drug is being tested
for more widespread use in cancer during a debate focusing on the balance
between its benefits and its price. The medication can cost up to $100,000 per
year and, although that expensive, the drug may only help people live longer by
just a few months.
Despite the fact that Avastin proved
efficient in slowing the development of breast cancer, patients taking Avastin
did not live for too long. Studies showed that Avastin combined with
chemotherapy was successful in treating breast cancer, lengthening the time before
the cancer worsened. Avastin also has serious side effects, such as bleeding,
heart attack or stroke.
A second study (ATLAS) is evaluating the
combination of Avastin and Tarceva as a potential first-line maintenance
therapy for advanced non-small cell lung cancer patients whose disease has not
progressed following initial treatment with Avastin in combination with
chemotherapy. Results are expected in the first half of 2009.
