Optimistic rock on Avastin in cancer of the ovary

ZURICH - Roche Holding AG, the world leader in Oncology medicines, struck an optimistic tone about the Outlook of its key Avastin drug approval in ovarian cancer prior to a meeting important industry next month.

Head of pharma group that Pascal Soriot told journalists Thursday he was confident Avastin will win European approval and it was also relatively optimistic for win U.S. drug support.

"In Europe... we are confident because generally in Europe you can get approval on the basis of data of good progression-free survival," Soriot said.

"In the United States, we still wait until the data are fully mature to see what the overall survival data are similar and get a good sense of the FDA response, but I must say that we have seen so far... we made relatively optimistic that we have a good chance at the United States.". Thus, "he says.

Application for Avastin, used to treat a range of tumours, has fallen over recent quarters after the drug was struck by the movements of the two sides of the Atlantic health authorities to limit its use in breast cancer.

Roche now rely on the use of the vendor of billions of dollars to treat cancer of the ovary to stimulate growth future sales and intends to submit for the approval of the United States, later this year once he gave overall survival. She has already filed for approval in Europe.

"We will demonstrate that avastin has an essential role to play in cancer of the ovary," Soriot said before the Conference of the American Society of Clinical Oncology (ASCO) earlier this month next to Chicago.

"Overall superb new data showing our pipeline progresses." We hope that the shift in the perception of Avastin, "Soriot said, referring also data on lung and skin cancer drugs that will be presented at the ASCO."

OPPORTUNITY BUSINESS

Roche will present data impact on MetMAb of lung cancer and was to produce this treatment for approval in 2014, Soriot said, adding that Roche also sought to develop the drug in other diseases such as breast cancer.

Doctors and investors will be also eyes studies on vemurafenib, a drug to treat the deadliest form of skin cancer.

Soriot, said the business opportunity of vemurafenib has been limited to the skin cancer metastatic because the smaller number of patients in this parameter, but there is more potential sales if it were to be developed in the adjuvant.

The Group has yet to decide on setting prices of treatment and has therefore not yet a peak estimate sales for it.

Drug of rock, which develops with private holding Plexxikon and ipilimumab, an experimental drug developed by the US group Bristol - Myers Squibb, are giving hope to patients who already had a few treatment options.

Soriot said there was a place for both agents and it looks vemurafenib as the first line of treatment in patients who are positive BRAF.

"Ipilimumab is a different officer." It is a compound based on the immune system to treat cancer. It is a drug which can potentially be given to all patients, while vemurafenib can only be given to patients who are positive BRAF, which is approximately 50% of patients with cancer melanoma, "Soriot said."

"It is important to keep in mind that the percentage of patients who respond really well to ipilimumab is relatively limited." These patients have a strong response, but it is a small percentage, probably 10 per cent of the patients, who meet, "he says.