The FDA has approved Genentech's biotech medicine Herceptin,in combination with chemotherapy,as a treatment for certain stomach cancers-metastatic ones with the protein HER2 on tumor cells.
Early studies suggest Herceptin may block signals that cause tumor cells to grow and divide,and also signals the immune system to destroy the cancer cells.
About 21,000 Americans will be diagnosed with stomach cancer in 2010,and more than 10,500 will die of it.Often,symptoms of the disease do not appear until the late stages,when it has become metastatic,or spreading,or cannot be surgically removed.
The latest analysis shows that median overall survival with the Herceptin/chemotherapy regimen was 13.1 months,versus 11.7 months with chemotherapy alone.Herceptin is also used to treat HER2+ metastatic breast cancer.
Hal Barron,M.D.,executive vice president of Product Development and chief medical officer,said the FDA approval provides an important new personalized medicine for people with the life-threatening disease who have few treatment options.
Formerly an independent firm,Genentech became a member of Switzerland's Roche Group in March 2009.Considered the original biotech company,Genentech uses human genetic information to discover,develop,manufacture and commercialize medicines for gravely ill patients.
The Roche Group is traded on the over the counter pink sheets in the U.S.,under the ticker symbol RHHBY.
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