By using this site, you agree to the Privacy Policy and Terms of Use.
Accept
Health Works CollectiveHealth Works CollectiveHealth Works Collective
  • Health
    • Mental Health
  • Policy and Law
    • Global Healthcare
    • Medical Ethics
  • Medical Innovations
  • News
  • Wellness
  • Tech
Search
© 2023 HealthWorks Collective. All Rights Reserved.
Reading: Yanking Avastin’s Breast Cancer Indication –the Right Thing To Do
Share
Notification Show More
Font ResizerAa
Health Works CollectiveHealth Works Collective
Font ResizerAa
Search
Follow US
  • About
  • Contact
  • Privacy
© 2023 HealthWorks Collective. All Rights Reserved.
Health Works Collective > Business > Yanking Avastin’s Breast Cancer Indication –the Right Thing To Do
BusinessNewsPolicy & Law

Yanking Avastin’s Breast Cancer Indication –the Right Thing To Do

DavidEWilliams
DavidEWilliams
Share
3 Min Read
SHARE

As expected the FDA today removed Avastin’s approval for use as a breast cancer treatment. The drug will remain on the market for other cancer indications, so if a physician wants to prescribe it for breast cancer they can. However, some patients may have a hard time getting reimbursement from their commercial health plan.

As expected the FDA today removed Avastin’s approval for use as a breast cancer treatment. The drug will remain on the market for other cancer indications, so if a physician wants to prescribe it for breast cancer they can. However, some patients may have a hard time getting reimbursement from their commercial health plan. Not everyone will have this problem, though, because Medicare and some health plans (including United) will continue to reimburse as long as the drug is listed as appropriate for breast cancer by the National Comprehensive Cancer Network (NCCN).

This provides a good opportunity to discuss the benefits of rationing using evidence based guidelines.

In my view, FDA has handled this exactly right. Avastin was approved for breast cancer in 2008 under an accelerated review process designed to allow potentially life-saving treatments on the market on a provisional basis before all the evidence is in. In this case follow-up studies failed to demonstrate efficacy but did show plenty of harsh side effects, including hemorrhage and severe high blood pressure. FDA review panels voted overwhelmingly to remove the breast cancer indication, and after five months of further analysis and deliberation FDA decided to follow that recommendation.

More Read

Why Healthcare is Finally Going Green
Contagion: Help Congress Protect the CDC’s Outbreak Investigation Budget
Was Granny Sent Home from the Hospital Too Soon?
Starting a Healthcare Business in 2024
Lesser Known Legal Hurdles for Telemedicine

It’s possible that Avastin works well for some breast cancer patients. No matter what there will be people who insist it’s saved them or been worth the risk. But late stage cancer patients tend to undergo all sorts of desperate and costly treatments and I firmly believe this label change will get doctors and patients to think twice or three times about whether Avastin is really the right choice. The advisory panels’ recommendations have already had that effect to some degree.

I’m not familiar enough with the NCCN’s process to know how they will react to the data FDA and its panelists have reviewed. But in addition to the clinical dangers faced by those taking Avastin there is a very real financial cost to Medicare and commercial payers. That $50,000+ treatment cost gets reflected in the cost base for taxpayers and health plan customers.


TAGGED:AvastinFDApharma
Share This Article
Facebook Copy Link Print
Share

Stay Connected

1.5kFollowersLike
4.5kFollowersFollow
2.8kFollowersPin
136kSubscribersSubscribe

Latest News

dental care
Importance of Good Dental Care for Health and Confidence
Dental health Specialties
October 2, 2025
AI in Healthcare
AI in Healthcare: Technology is Transforming the Global Landscape
Global Healthcare Policy & Law Technology
October 1, 2025
Choosing the Right Swimwear for Health and Safety
News
September 30, 2025
sports concussions
Concussion In Sports: How Common They Are And What You Need To Know
Infographics
September 28, 2025

You Might also Like

obamacare
BusinessFinanceHealth ReformPolicy & Law

Will ObamaCare Help or Hurt the Economy?

August 29, 2013

FDA Asks Manufacturers of Hip Replacements To Study Failure Rates

May 11, 2011

Health Care Buzz Today

June 28, 2011

The Fallacy of Patient Engagement

April 10, 2015
Subscribe
Subscribe to our newsletter to get our newest articles instantly!
Follow US
© 2008-2025 HealthWorks Collective. All Rights Reserved.
  • About
  • Contact
  • Privacy
Welcome Back!

Sign in to your account

Username or Email Address
Password

Lost your password?