Another setback for Avastin

Genentech Inc. said Avastin bevacizumab plus chemotherapy missed the primary endpoint of significantly improving disease-free survival vs. chemotherapy alone in the Phase III AVANT trial for the adjuvant treatment of early stage colon cancer. The trial enrolled 3,451 patients who had undergone surgery for high-risk stage II and III colon cancer.

The Roche (SIX:ROG; OTCQX:RHHBY) unit reported in 2009 that Avastin plus FOLFOX missed the primary endpoint of significantly improving disease-free survival vs. FOLFOX alone in the NSABP C-08 trial for the indication. Roche said it is evaluating data from both trials to determine the next steps for Avastin as an adjuvant therapy for early stage colon cancer. ...