GLG News by ONC-Avastin Prescribers for Colorectal Cancer (US)

In pooled data from 8000 patients across 15 studies, the risk of blood clots was increased by 12% in patients receiving Avastin.

The FDA required Amgen to revise the label for Procrit and Aranesp so that these agents are not used until a patient's hemoglobin drops below 10 or in the setting of potentially curative therapy.

The author argues that transparency in healthcare will be an important step forward for the consumer.

Avastin improves survival in colon cancer and lung cancer and improves progression free survival in breast cancer- clinically meaningful outcomes.  Yet these gains are of relatively short duration and the cost of Avastin is significant- 50,000 to 100,000 dollars per year.

NICE has stated that the cost of several novel agents for the treatment of renal cell cancer including Sutent, Torisel, Avastin, and Nexavar exceeds the benefit when assessed by quality adjusted life years (QALY) gained from the therapies.

Lilly has devoted substantial energy/expense in developing Cymbalta for many indications.  Is this at the expense of developing novel agents? 

Several Chinese companies are set to enter the generic drug market ove the next year.  If these agents are demonstrated to be safe, they could have a large impact on the generic drug industry.

Roche has elected not to provide information on the cost effectiveness and clinical effectiveness of Avastin in breast cancer to the medicine advisory board of the British government.  As such, the drug will not be able for first line treatment of these diseases in Britain.

Cancer patients frequently develop neuropathy as a results of chemotherapy agents including oxaliplatin, paclitaxel, vinca alkaloids, and Velcade.  Because many such patients have extended survival or receive treatment with curative intent, the resultant neuropathy can limit quality of life significantly....

Carfilzomib is a nvelo prteosome inhibitor.  Bortezomib, the only proteosome inhibitor that is currently FDA approve, has shown significant activity in myeloma and mantle cell NHL and is being tested in other hematologic malignancies.  If Carfilzomib has improved toxicty and greater efficacy...