Genentech's Avastin Approved for Wider Use in Colorectal Cancer

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration on Wednesday approved the use of Roche's Avastin for patients whose colorectal cancer has worsened despite previous treatment with the drug. The new use will allow patients first treated with Avastin plus chemotherapy to be treated again with the biotechnology drug in combination with a different chemotherapy regimen. A pivotal clinical trial showed that such a treatment strategy improved survival. "The majority of people diagnosed with metastatic colorectal cancer receive Avastin plus chemotherapy as their initial treatment," Hal Barron, chief medical officer at Roche's Genentech unit, said in a statement. "These people now have the option to continue with Avastin plus a new chemotherapy after their cancer worsens, which may help them live longer than changing to the new chemotherapy alone."