Bevacizumab (Avastin)

The FDA recommendation re:Avastin is not about whether it will continue to be available for treatment of metastatic breast cancer. Since the drug is prescribed for treatment of other cancers, physicians will be able to prescribe it "off label" for breast cancer as well. The issue is largely one of health care coverage. Avastin runs as much as $8000/treatment, and without insurance coverage that is likely to be prohibitive. While, I have heard that Genetech is looking at capping fees at $55,000/a year, that is still WELL beyond the reach of most of us.

A related issue, as Dr. Attai discusses elsewhere, is the need to focus energy and funds on better understanding which drugs will work in which patients with which cancers, so that we can get Avastin to the right patients, and protect the ones who could be harmed. The FDA recommendation re:Avastin is not about whether it will continue to be available for treatment of metastatic breast cancer. Since the drug is prescribed for treatment of other cancers, physicians will be able to prescribe it "off label" for breast cancer as well. The issue is largely one of health care coverage. Avastin runs as much as $8000/treatment, and without insurance coverage that is likely to be prohibitive. While, I have heard that Genetech is looking at capping fees at $55,000/a year, that is still WELL beyond the reach of most of us.

A related issue, as Dr. Attai discusses elsewhere, is the need to focus energy and funds on better understanding which drugs will work in which patients with which cancers, so that we can get Avastin to the right patients, and protect the ones who could be harmed.

According to the FDA, clinical trials demonstrated Avastin did not increase the survival for women with breast cancer. In fact, the overall survival appeared to be shorter in women who took the drug. The reasons for that are not clear, and the possibility remains that some known or unknown side effect of the drug could have contributed to this outcome. According to the FDA, clinical trials demonstrated Avastin did not increase the survival for women with breast cancer. In fact, the overall survival appeared to be shorter in women who took the drug. The reasons for that are not clear, and the possibility remains that some known or unknown side effect of the drug could have contributed to this outcome.