Roche files Avastin in Europe for glioblastoma

Swiss drug major Roche has filed Avastin (bevacizumab) in Europe for patients with previously-treated glioblastoma. Following initial treatment with chemotherapy and radiation, more than 90% of those with glioblastoma will see their cancer return and there are few effective treatments when the initial therapy stops working. The application is supported by data from the Phase II BRAIN study, which found that, when Avastin was evaluated as a single agent, the results showed that at six months almost half (43%) of patients lived without their disease advancing, as defined by progression-free survival. When Avastin was combined with irinotecan, this figure increased to 50%. In the study, 28% of patients responded to Avastin as a single agent, meaning tumors decreased in size by at least 50%.