The fight over breast-cancer treatment with Roche's Avastin has come to a head: U.S. officials decided to revoke the drug's indication for breast cancer, and European Medicines Agency moved to restrict it for use with only one type of chemotherapy.
The decisions stand to cut more than $1 billion off Avastin's $6 billion in annual revenues, and they're sure to draw fire from folks who've been advocating for the drug.
FDA and EMA have been reviewing Avastin's utility in breast cancer since new trial data showed little benefit for patients with the disease; it stalled cancer growth for up to three months and didn't prolong patients' lives, the news service notes.
An FDA advisory panel voted to withdraw the drug's indication for breast cancer, and even some patient advocates believed that the drug's breast cancer approval should be revoked. Meanwhile, the U.K.'s cost-effectiveness watchdog not only rejected Avastin in breast cancer, it gave the drug a poor review in other cancers earlier this week.
The U.S. government has given an ultimatum to the international group that helps provide vaccines to...
