Genentech’s Avastin Breast Cancer Phase III Back on Track
Posted on December 13, 2009
Filed Under Angiogenesis Modulators | 3 Comments
Genentech resumes enrolment to Avastin’s Phase III trial in early-stage HER2-negative breast cancer after FDA re-approval. The trial, E5103 which began enrolment in November 2007, was temporarily suspended last September due to concerns over possible cardio-toxicity profile.
Close to 3,500, of the planned 4,950, patients have been enrolled to date and the study’s data safety monitoring board concluded that the risk-benefit assessment of Avastin in combination with anthracycline, cyclophosphamide and paclitaxel chemotherapy in this trial remained unchanged.
Avastin, an angiogenesis modulator that works by starving tumors of blood is also indicated for lung and colon cancers, has realized over six billion dollar in revenue in 2009 according to BioStrategy internal estimates. The product is marketed outside the US by Hoffmann-La Roche, Genentech’s parent company.
Pegasys Approved for Personalised Hepatitis C Therapy
Posted on July 21, 2008
Filed Under Interferon, Virology | 2 Comments
Pegasys (peginterferon alfa-2a) maintained its leadership of the global pegylated interferon market and continued to gain market share worldwide. While the overall sales increase in the first half-year was modest, strong growth in Japan and strong gains in the Asia helped offset continued market volume declines in the United States and Western Europe.
In June the EU authorities approved a shortened course of treatment with Pegasys plus Copegus (ribavirin) for patients with genotype 2 or 3 hepatitis C virus infection who have low virus levels and show a rapid virological response. The approval personalises therapy for these patients, offering a chance for cure with only four months’ treatment. This new approach is made possible by Roche Diagnostics’ highly sensitive, real-time cobas PCR diagnostic tests.
CellCept Continues its Double Digit Growth
Posted on July 21, 2008
Filed Under Immunosuppressant, Organ Transplant | Leave a Comment
CellCept (mycophenolate mofetil), the world’s most widely used immunosuppressant medication and the cornerstone of treatment to prevent organ rejection in patients with solid organ transplants, continued its revenue growth despite loss of market exclusivity in certain countries. The main contributions to growth came from the United States (15%) and Europe (12%). Improved survival of transplant patients means that they are taking immunosuppressant therapy for longer, and this is reflected in a steady increase in prescriptions for CellCept.
Xeloda Experiences Double Digit Sales Growth
Posted on July 21, 2008
Filed Under Oncology | 2 Comments
Xeloda (capecitabine), an oral medicine that simplifies the treatment of colorectal, breast and stomach cancer, continued its double-digit sales growth globally. Growth in Japan was particularly strong (62%), with double-digit gains also recorded in North America and Europe. Sales growth is being driven by new and expanded indications approved in 2007 and 2008, notably in stomach and colorectal cancer, and by greater uptake in the treatment of breast cancer.
In February the EU authorities approved Xeloda for the treatment of metastatic colorectal cancer in combination with any chemotherapy in all lines of treatment, with or without Avastin.
NeoRecormon & Epogin Sales Down
Posted on July 21, 2008
Filed Under Biopharmaceuticals, Erythropoietin Stimulating Agents | Leave a Comment
Roche NeoRecormon and Chugai Epogin sales have been affected by pricing pressure in a highly competitive market. In Europe sales of NeoRecormon, Roche’s anemia medicine, declined by 10% due to a general downward pricing pressure on erythropoietin-stimulating agents following the entry of several new biosimilar versions of epoetin alfa. In Japan sales of Epogin declined by 23% due to competitive pressure and the latest government-mandated price cuts, which came into force in April.