The Committee for Medicinal Products for Human Use
(CHMP)recently provided a positive opinion on the use of
Roche Holdings Ltd.
's (
RHHBY
) Avastin (bevacizumab) plus chemotherapy (carboplatin and
gemcitabine) to treat women suffering from recurrent,
platinum-sensitive ovarian cancer.
Results from the OCEANS study demonstrated that women receiving
Avastin and chemotherapy together and thereafter continued with
only Avastin survived longer in comparison to women who received
only chemotherapy.
We note that in December last year, the European Commission had
approved Roche's Avastin plus standard chemotherapy (carboplatin
and paclitaxel) as a first-line treatment of women suffering from
advanced ovarian cancer.
Ovarian cancer is the eight most commonly diagnosed cancers in
women and seventh leading cause of cancer death in women around the
world. As per WHO, IARC GLOBOCAN, Cancer Incidence and Mortality
Worldwide in 2008, around 230,000 women are diagnosed with this
cancer and leads the death of 140,000 people globally.
In June this year, Roche had presented positive results from a
phase III study, Aurelia, evaluating Avastin plus standard
chemotherapy (weekly paclitaxel, topotecan or pegylated liposomal
doxorubicin) in ovarian cancer patients whose disease had
progressed because of resistance to platinum-containing
chemotherapy.
Roche reported that the study demonstrated a 52% reduction in
the risk of progression in patients in the Avastin plus
chemotherapy arm compared to patients who received only
chemotherapy (overall survival of 6.7 months compared to 3.4
months).
We remind investors that Avastin is already approved in the EU
for the treatment of advanced stages of breast cancer, colorectal
cancer, non-small cell lung cancer, kidney cancer and ovarian
cancer. In the US the drug is approved for several indications
including colorectal cancer, non-small cell lung cancer and kidney
cancer. Roche is currently investigating Avastin in around 500
clinical trials.
Our Recommendation
Roche, headquartered in Basel, Switzerland, carries a Zacks #3
Rank (Hold rating) in the short run.
(RHHBY): ETF Research Reports
To read this article on Zacks.com click here.
Zacks Investment
Research