Genentech gives up Avastin development

Genentech has announced that Avastin clinical trials in platinum-refractory ovarian cancer patients have been discontinued. The reason is that patients developed a serious bowel problem. Avastin, a biopharmaceutical jewel, is a therapeutic antibody designed to inhibit Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor (VEGF). VEGF is a protein that plays an important role in tumour angiogenesis and maintenance of existing tumour vessels. Avastin was the only drug on the market which worked this way and it was believed to be the best drug since Taxol for ovarian cancer. The FDA approved Avastin on February 26, 2004 as a first-line treatment for metastatic colorectal cancer in combination with intravenous 5-FU-based chemotherapy. The observed problem could lie in the drug's ability to kill tumour cells that have replaced healthy bowel tissue, leading to a dead area that then perforates. ImClone Systems' Erbitux, AstraZeneca's Iressa or Genentech's Tarceva do not work the same way, therefore should not have the same problem. For more information please click "here":[ http://www.genentech.com].

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