pharma

Genentech's Avastin: An Undeserving Target for Politicians and the Media

"The results of the large adjuvant CRC trials are expected to show prolonged survival and those results are expected late 2008/early 2009."
These are just speculations. Such data are not available yet.

Now, speaking about Avastin in breast cancer patients.

"The original vote of 5-4 against was reported to have privately been changed to a 6-3 vote for approval as one of the members of the temporary panel - an oncologist from MD Anderson - and a patient advocate changed their votes. "
I am wonder what kind of "private incentives" were offered to the panel member to change his vote? It were not new data since getting ones would take many months.

The most important fact is that Avastin does NOT offer any survival benefits to breast cancer patients!

PS
"What about the people in poor countries who too get cancer but cannot afford this price? Someone has to ask these questions."
Too bad but nothing can be done about it. Any new drug development [if successful since 9 iout of 10 will fail] cost close to $1B, and somebody must pay for it.