European Medicines Agency completes its review of Avastin used in breast cancer

The European Medicines Agency has confirmed that the benefits of Avastin in combination with paclitaxel outweigh its risks and that this combination remains a valuable treatment option for patients suffering from metastatic breast cancer.

The European Medicines Agency has confirmed that the benefits of Avastin in combination with paclitaxel outweigh its risks and that this combination remains a valuable treatment option for patients suffering from metastatic breast cancer.

The Agency's Committee for Medicinal Products for Human Use (CHMP) also concluded that the balance of benefits and risks of Avastin in combination with docetaxel is negative and that this combination should no longer be used in the treatment of breast cancer. Patients who are currently being treated with this combination should discuss their ongoing treatment with their doctor.

Avastin is an anticancer medicine which contains the active substance bevacizumab. It is used in combination with other anticancer treatments to treat cancers of the colon, rectum, lung, kidney or breast. The CHMP’s review was restricted to the use of Avastin in breast cancer and does not affect its use in the other indications.

The CHMP started a