58% of Physicians Support FDA Move to Pull Breast Cancer Indication from Avastin

CAMBRIDGE, Mass., Feb. 4, 2011 /PRNewswire/ — Sermo (http://www.sermo.com), the world’s
largest online community for physicians, announced the publication
of a free Sermo Report about how physicians are reacting to the FDA
decision to rescind the indication for Avastin (bevacizumab) in the
treatment of breast cancer. The new report titled “Should
Avastin (bevacizumab) Keep its Breast Cancer Indication?”
reveals how physicians are using Avastin and which therapeutic
agents they will switch to for clinical presentations.

58% of physician respondents support the FDA’s move to pull the
breast cancer indication from Avastin. However, 50% of respondents
also believe that Avastin has increased the quality of life for
breast cancer patients.

Physicians provided commentary on both sides of the debate. Some
believe that the progression free survival benefit previously shown
for Avastin is meaningful. According to one oncologist on
Sermo, “…if folks can get ‘caught up’ on the survival endpoint by
being able to take Avastin at the time of progression, how can one
possibly prove a survival advantage overall.” Another oncologist
commented, “This is a shame, but we are going to do what the payers
let us do.”

Therapeutic agents listed by physicians that will be used
instead of Avastin in the treatment of breast cancer include, but
are not limited to Resveratrol, Abraxane (paclitaxel), Taxotere
(docetaxel), Gemzar (gemcitabine), Xeloda (capecitabine), Abraxane
(paclitaxel), Taxol (paclitaxel), Navelbine (Vinorelbine) and
Ixempra (ixabepilone).

Many of the respondents also participated in an online
discussion regarding the original Avastin study. The full report
includes: