FDA Approves Genentech's Avastin Plus Chemotherapy For Advanced Cervical Cancer

(RTTNews) - Genentech, a member of the Roche Group (RHHBY.PK), said Thursday that the U.S. Food and Drug Administration has approved Avastin in combination with paclitaxel and cisplatin or paclitaxel and topotecan for the treatment of women with persistent, recurrent or metastatic carcinoma of the cervix.

With the approval in advanced cervical cancer, Avastin is approved in the United States to treat five distinct tumor types. The approval in advanced cervical cancer was based on the GOG-0240 study.

"With this approval, women with advanced cervical cancer now have the option of Avastin plus chemotherapy to help them live longer than with chemotherapy alone," said Sandra Horning, chief medical officer and head of Global Product Development. "Cervical cancer is most commonly diagnosed in women between the ages of 35 and 44, and until today, chemotherapy was the only approved treatment option for women whose cancer recurred, persisted or spread."