Roche: Avastin and Tarceva in combination significantly improves the time patients with advanced lung cancer can live without their disease worsening

Roche today announced interim results from a phase III study (ATLAS) in patients with advanced non small cell lung cancer (NSCLC). The study was stopped early because of the significance of the interim data. The results showed that Tarceva (erlotinib) plus Avastin (bevacizumab) given as first line maintenance treatment following initial therapy with Avastin plus chemotherapy extends the time patients live without their disease getting worse (progression free survival) compared to maintenance therapy with Avastin plus placebo. The results will be welcome news for patients and their physicians as extending the time patients live without their disease advancing is a key treatment aim in lung cancer. Most people with lung cancer are diagnosed with advanced stage disease and die within 12 months of diagnosis.