Driven by Avastin, ovarian cancer market set to reach $1.6B by 2016

The 2010 launch of Genentech/Roche/Chugai's Avastin (bevacizumab) for the treatment of ovarian cancer will drive the drug market to more than triple to $1.6 billion by 2016, according to new research from advisory firm Decision Resources.

The new Pharmacor report, titled Ovarian Cancer, finds that the expected launches in the USA and in Europe of Avastin in 2010 for first-line and maintenance treatment, Marshall Edwards' phenoxodiol in 2011 for second-line therapy and ViRexx' monoclonal antibody OvaRex (oregovomab) in 2011 for maintenance, will drive growth of more than $1.1 billion between 2006 to 2016. The report also finds that platinum-based regimens - the use of cell-damaging platinum compounds - will continue to be the cornerstone of treatment for ovarian cancer. Maintenance therapy with drugs that include Avastin and OvaRex (see also page 22) will be given to an increasing portion of patients who demonstrate a complete response to first-line treatment, it notes.

"The mortality rate of ovarian cancer will continue to be high until the critical unmet needs of earlier diagnosis, prevention of relapse and treatment for platinum-resistant patients are met," said Mohamed Muhsin, analyst at Decision Resources. "A cost-effective screening program will remain elusive, but Avastin and phenoxodiol will make impressive strides toward fulfilling some of the unmet needs in treatment," he added.