Roche cancer news

Blue Shield of California said it will no longer cover Avastin bevacizumab for metastatic breast cancer, effective Oct. 17. The insurance provider, which did not provide a reason for the change, said exceptions may be considered on a case by case basis. In June, an FDA advisory panel unanimously backed a proposal by FDA to withdraw Avastin in combination with paclitaxel for HER2-negative metastatic breast cancer. FDA Commissioner Margaret Hamburg has yet to make a final decision on the indication (see BioCentury, July 4). ...