Patients With Pancreatic Cancer can Benefit From Avastin(R) Plus Tarceva(R)

    - Results Confirm Previously Demonstrated Survival Advantages of Tarceva
    in This Difficult-to-Treat Disease

    - ABSTRACT No: 4507

    BASEL, Switzerland, May 31 /CNW/ - Adding Avastin (bevacizumab) to a
combination of Tarceva (erlotinib) and chemotherapy significantly improves the
time patients with metastatic pancreatic cancer live without their disease
getting worse ("progression free survival"). These data, presented for the
first time today at the 44th annual meeting of the American Society of
Clinical Oncology (ASCO) in Chicago, also showed a trend towards extending
life expectancy.
    Pancreatic cancer is the sixth leading cause of cancer death in Europe(1)
and is extremely difficult to treat because it spreads rapidly to other parts
of the body and often shows resistance to chemotherapy and radiotherapy(2). It
is also difficult to diagnose, with no effective early diagnostic test
available(3) so the majority of patients are diagnosed with advanced disease.
    "For patients with advanced pancreatic cancer, the treatment options are
limited," commented Professor Eric Van Cutsem, Professor of Medicine,
Gastrointestinal Oncology Unit, University Hospital Gasthuisberg, Leuven,
Belgium. "The interesting results show the need for further exploring which
patients benefit from the combination of gemcitabine plus Avastin and Tarceva
in view of the statistically longer PFS which trends towards improved
survival."
    The results of the phase III AVITA (BO17706) study showed that the
addition of Avastin to a Tarceva/gemcitabine combination resulted in:-  A 37% increase in the time patients live without their disease
       getting worse compared to Tarceva/gemcitabine alone

    -  Almost 14% of patients experiencing a complete disappearance or
       shrinkage of their tumor

    -  A trend towards improved overall survival

    -  No new safety signals for AvastinIn addition, data from the Tarceva/gemcitabine control arm were
consistent with previous results from the PA3 study, reinforcing the already
established survival benefits of Tarceva in pancreatic cancer(4).

    About AVITA

    The AVITA (BO17706) study is a Roche-sponsored, randomized, double-blind,
 placebo-controlled phase III study that included 607 patients with metastatic
pancreatic cancer. Study participants received first-line treatment with
either gemcitabine, Tarceva and placebo or gemcitabine, Tarceva and Avastin
(at 5mg/kg every two weeks).
    The AVITA study did not meet its primary endpoint of overall survival
(OS), however results showed that adding Avastin to a combination of Tarceva
and chemotherapy significantly improved the time patients with pancreatic
cancer lived without their disease getting worse (PFS). A trend towards
improved OS was also observed.
    In addition, the findings in the gemcitabine/Tarceva control arm of this
trial were consistent with the efficacy observed in the metastatic patient
population in the pivotal Phase III PA3 study led to the regulatory approval
of Tarceva for the treatment of pancreatic cancer in the US in 2005 and in the
EU in 2007.

    Additional information-  Roche in Oncology:
       http://www.roche.com/pages/downloads/company/pdf/mboncology05e_b.pdf

    -  Roche Health Kiosk, Cancer: http://www.health-kiosk.ch/start_krebs

    -  Avastin: http://www.avastin-info.com

    To access video clips about Avastin in broadcast standard, free of charge,
please go to: http://www.thenewsmarket.com.

    References

    (1).  Michaud. Minerva Chir, 2004; 59: 99-111.

    (2).  Khosravi Shahi. Anales de Medicina Interna, 2005; 22: 390-4.

    (3).  Stewart. et al. World Health Organisation and the International
          Agency for Research on Cancer, IARC Press/Lyon, 248-9.

    (4).  Moore et al. J Clin Oncol, 2007; 25: 1960-6.

For further information: Erica Bersin, Roche, [phone] (mobile);
Jon Harris, Galliard Healthcare, [phone] (direct line)