| FDA Clears Amgen Colon Cancer Drug | | Posted Monday, October 02, 2006 2:58:59 AM by Blog57 Team | | The Food and Drug Administration on Wednesday approved Amgen Inc.'s application for its drug Vectibix to treat colon cancer patients who are receiving chemotherapy. The drug, which showed effectiveness in reducing tumor growth, is indicated to treat cancer that has spread from the colon to other parts of the body. The FDA granted the drug an accelerated approval based on preliminary results of a 463-patient, randomized, controlled study. According to the FDA, Vectibix reduced the size of tumors in 8 percent of the patients by 50 percent or more. Colon cancer is the third deadliest form of cancer in the U.S. and will cause an estimated 55,000 deaths in 2006, the agency said. Amgen has also sought approval for the drug in Europe, Canada, Australia and Switzerland. Last week, Amgen acquired licensing rights to an antibody used in both Vectibix and competitor ImClone's blockbuster cancer drug Erbitux.... | |
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| | | Walkers help fight against colon cancer | | Posted Monday, August 21, 2006 1:42:02 PM by Blog57 Team | | A year and a half ago Becky Fitch thought her greatest health risk involved her heart and other issues from being overweight. But when the eighth-grade teacher from Middletown underwent an operation to reduce her stomach pouch in April 2005, she found out she had colon cancer. That was the last thing doctors had warned her about, she said. Most doctors recommend a colonoscopy at age 50. Fitch is 44. I have a disease that in all probability will kill me before I am (supposed to be) old enough to get it, Fitch, said Saturday as she prepared to take part in the Walk Away from Colon Cancer with dozens of friends, family members and current and former students. I wouldnt want anybody to get this. When detected early colon cancer has a more than 90 percent treatable rate, yet it remains the No.... | |
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| | | Roche Net Rises on Avastin, Herceptin Cancer Drugs (Update10) | | Posted Sunday, July 23, 2006 6:58:40 AM by Blog57 Team | | July 20 (Bloomberg) -- Roche Holding AG, the world's biggest maker of cancer medicines, said first-half profit rose 38 percent as more patients used Avastin and Herceptin to fight colon and breast tumors. The stock climbed to a record. Roche today said sales will probably grow 10 percent or more this year, compared with an industry average of 7 percent. Chief Executive Officer Franz Humer is boosting revenue by showing that Roche's drugs help people with different types of cancer and should be prescribed earlier. ``They have products that are quite unique and don't have major competition,'' said Luis Correia, who helps manage about $550 million in health stocks at Clariden Bank in Zurich. ``These are good numbers.'' Net income grew to 3.97 billion Swiss francs ($3.19 billion), or 4.90 francs per share, from 2.88 billion francs, or 3.80 francs, a year earlier, Roche said in a statement handed to reporters at its Basel, Switzerland headquarters.... | |
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