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New Data Confirms Avastin (R) as the Only Biologic to Demonstrate Overall Survival When Used First-Line in Metastatic Colorectal Cancer Patients With K-RAS (Wild-Type) Gene Status

Basel, Switzerland (ots/PRNewswire)

Avastin
(bevacizumab) remains the only biologic to provide overall survival
(OS) benefit when used as first-line treatment in combination with
chemotherapy for patients with K-Ras wild type metastatic colorectal
cancer (mCRC). Avastin's strong position was confirmed today
following new data from a cetuximab (Erbitux) study presented at the
33rd Congress of the European Society for Medical Oncology (ESMO).
"K-Ras wild-type" describes the normal gene status seen in around 60%
of colorectal cancer patients where the K-Ras oncogene has not
mutated.
This confirmation of Avastin's survival benefit is important
because overall survival is of key importance for patients with
advanced colorectal cancer.
The data presented came from a cetuximab study called the CRYSTAL
trial which showed that cetuximab in combination with chemotherapy
failed to deliver a significant overall survival benefit in either
the general population or in patients tested for K-Ras status. In
contrast, an earlier analysis of Avastin first-line in combination
with chemotherapy achieved significant overall survival for over two
years (27.7 months) for patients with mCRC with K-Ras wild-type.
Avastin therefore remains the best treatment option for patients with
mCRC, regardless of oncogene mutations (e.g. K-Ras).
"Extending the lives of my patients remains a key goal for me as
a treating physician," said Dr Mark Kozloff, Associate Professor,
Department of Oncology, University of Chicago, School of Medicine,
US. "Avastin is the only biologic in combination with chemotherapy
which allows us to achieve this essential outcome and should
therefore be used first-line in the majority of patients with
metastatic colorectal cancer regardless of their K-Ras status."
Main findings from CRYSTAL were:
- There was no statistical difference in overall survival (OS)
      in the K-Ras wild-type population - the study was negative for this
      secondary endpoint (24.9 vs. 21.0 months in the cetuximab and control
      arm respectively) (HR 0.84, p 0.22)
    - There was no statistical difference in OS in the general
      study population - the study therefore failed to meet this key
      secondary endpoint (19.9 vs. 18.6 months in the cetuximab and control
      arm respectively) (HR 0.93, p 0.30)
Main outcomes from pivotal Avastin 2107 study which
demonstrated Avastin's superior K-Ras data:
- Avastin provides a statistically significant OS advantage in
      the K-Ras wild-type population (27.7 vs. 17.6 months in the Avastin and
      Control arm respectively) (HR 0.58, p 0.04)
    - Avastin also provides statistically significant improvements
      in the time patients live without their disease worsening for both K-
      Ras wild-type (PFS improved by 82%, from 7.4 to 13.5 months, hazard
      ratio: 0.44, p<0.0001) and K-Ras mutant patients (PFS improved by 69%,
      from 5.5 to 9.4 months, hazard ratio: 0.41, p=0.0008).
    - Avastin provides a statistically significant gain in OS in
      the general population (20.3 vs. 15.6 months in the Avastin and control
      arm respectively) (HR 0.66, p<0.001)
    - The overall survival benefit of Avastin has been confirmed
      in two large community-based studies (First BEAT / BRiTE), including
      some 4,000 patients
In January 2008, Avastin received a broad label in the EU
allowing it to be used in combination with fluoropyrimidine-based
chemotherapy for first and later treatment lines in patients with
mCRC. This means that virtually all patients with metastatic
colorectal cancer have access to Avastin's benefits.
Additional information
    http://www.avastin-info.com
    http://www.Roche.com
    http://www.thenewsmarket.com (video clips about Avastin in broadcast
    standard, free of charge)

Contact:

For more information please contact, Galliard Healthcare, Dominic
Elliston, +44-20-7663-2266, delliston@galliardhealth.com

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