Roche Korea (CEO: Matt Sause) said that its targeted therapy Avastin (ingredient: bevacizumab) gained expanded coverage to treat some patients with ovarian cancer starting this month.

Avastin is a targeted advanced ovarian cancer treatment that inhibits the formation of new blood vessels involved in the growth of cancer cells. Both the National Comprehensive Cancer Network and European Society for Medical Oncology recommend Avastin for all its indications as an ovarian cancer therapy, the Korean branch said.

Avastin

Starting Tuesday, the therapy will be reimbursed for platinum-sensitive, recurring ovarian cancer patients.

In detail, those who showed a partial response to first-line cisplatin or carboplatin chemotherapy and whose cancers recurred within at least six months can get an Avastin reimbursed when administered with carboplatin and paclitaxel.

The therapy had previously gained coverage to be used with carboplatin and paclitaxel as a first-line combination treatment for patients at high-risk of relapse. It was also reimbursed for use with paclitaxel or topotecan or pegylated liposomal doxorubicin in platinum-resistant, recurring ovarian cancer patients who have not received prior VEGF-based therapies.

According to Roche Korea, the most recent go-ahead makes Avastin the only targeted therapy to be prescribed in all stages from first-line treatment to platinum-resistant and platinum-sensitive recurrent cancer treatment.

A phase 3 trial dubbed GOG-0213 served as the basis for expanded coverage. Data proved the clinical efficacy and safety of an Avastin combo on 673 patients with relapsing ovarian cancer who were sensitive to platinum-based therapies versus a placebo.

The study found that Avastin extended median overall survival rate by 5.3 months with the bevacizumab group recording 42.6 months and the placebo group marking 37.3 months. Avastin also improved median progression-free survival by 3.4 months, Roche Korea said.

Avastin’s prescription sales amounted to 92 billion won last year, up 14.2 percent from 80.6 billion won in 2016, drawing speculations of whether the therapy would reach blockbuster status by surpassing 100 billion won.

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