Genentech, OSI say drug combo prolongs survival

LOS ANGELES (Reuters) – A mid-stage trial suggests that a
combination of cancer drugs Avastin and Tarceva can prolong
survival in patients with advanced lung cancer, compared with
chemotherapy alone, drug makers Genentech Inc. and OSI
Pharmaceuticals said on Monday

Avastin, made by Genentech, is the first cancer drug
designed to work by cutting off blood supply to tumors.

Tarceva, a product of Genentech and OSI, is an oral drug
designed to target the human epidermal growth factor receptor
pathway, which is critical to cell growth in a number of
different cancers.

Genentech’s chief medical officer, Hal Barron, said that
more research is needed and the companies are now conducting a
Phase III trial of the combination therapy as an initial
treatment for patients with non-small cell lung cancer.

“We are encouraged that these findings support the
hypothesis that combining therapies that target different
cancer pathways, such as angiogenesis and epidermal growth
factor receptor signaling, may improve progression-free
survival, possibly without the use of chemotherapy,” Barron
said in a statement.

Preliminary results from the 120-patient Phase II study
showed a median progression-free survival of 4.8 months in the
Avastin plus chemotherapy arm, 4.4 months in the Avastin plus
Tarceva arm, and 3 months in the chemotherapy-alone arm, the
companies said.

The data also suggested that Avastin plus chemotherapy
reduced the risk of cancer progression or death by 34 percent
compared to chemotherapy alone, and that the Avastin plus
Tarceva reduced the risk of cancer progression or death by 28
percent compared to chemotherapy alone.

After six months, the percentage of patients alive in the
Avastin plus Tarceva arm was 78 percent, compared with 72
percent in the Avastin plus chemotherapy arm, and 62 percent in
the chemotherapy-alone arm.

One-year survival data are not yet mature.

Combination therapy with Avastin plus Tarceva resulted in
fewer serious adverse events, compared to either
chemotherapy-containing arm, the companies said.