FDA panel votes to reject Avastin for breast cancer

An advisory panel voted Wednesday to recommend that the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) withdraw approval for bevacizumab (Avastin) to treat advanced breast cancer. The panel found that the drug was not effective and caused dangerous side effects. The final decision will be made by the commissioner of food and drugs. The vote came after a 2-day hearing that included presentations by members of the public, drugmaker Genentech and the FDA’s Oncologic Drugs Advisory Committee. Many of the presenters were breast cancer survivors who said Avastin had saved their lives, and pleaded with the FDA not to withdraw approval. Read more here.