FDA approves Roche’s Avastin plus chemotherapy for treatment of advanced cervical cancer

Avastin is the first biologic medicine approved in combination with chemotherapy to help women with this type of cancer live longer than with chemotherapy alone

Roche (SIX: RO, ROG; OTCQX: RHHBY) today announced that the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approved Avastin® (bevacizumab) in combination with paclitaxel and cisplatin or paclitaxel and topotecan for the treatment of women with persistent, recurrent or metastatic carcinoma of the cervix.¹

“With this approval, women with advanced cervical cancer now have the option of Avastin plus chemotherapy to help them live longer than with chemotherapy alone,” said Sandra Horning, M.D., Chief Medical Officer and Head of Global Product Development. “Cervical cancer is most commonly diagnosed in women between the ages of 35 and 44, and until today, chemotherapy was the only approved treatment option for women whose cancer recurred, persisted or spread.”

With this approval in advanced cervical cancer, Avastin is approved in the United States to treat five distinct tumour types. The approval in advanced cervical cancer was based on the GOG-0240 study.

1. Roche data on file