Avastin- An Overview
Avastin (Bevacizumab) is a chemotherapy drug marketed by Genentech (a Roche company). It targets a protein found in many cancer cell types, and halts cancer growth. This drug, which was approved by the FDA in 2004, is usually given along with other chemotherapy drugs and treats many cancers including:
- non-small cell lung cancer
- colon or rectal cancer
- breast cancer
- brain cancer
- kidney cancer
Currently, the FDA is deciding whether or not to remove breast cancer from the label of use. The FDA lists two reasons:
- The addition of Avastin to chemotherapy resulted in only a small delay in tumor growth (i.e., progression-free survival, PFS), and the average time it took for tumors to progress seen in these trials was much shorter than had been expected based on the data from an earlier trial that led to accelerated approval.
- The addition of Avastin to chemotherapy did not prolong the lives of women with breast cancer (i.e., overall survival, OS).
Side Effects of Avastin
Gastrointestinal (GI) perforation
- GI perforation is the development of a hole in the stomach, small intestine, or large intestine.
- Symptoms may include abdominal pain, nausea, vomiting, constipation, and fever.
- Gastrointestinal Perforation: Occurs in up to 2.4% of Avastin-treated patients.
- Can be fatal
Perforations (holes in the body)
- the nose (nasal septal perforation)
- the stomach and intestines (gastrointestinal perforation and fistulas)
Incomplete Wound Healing
- Treatment with Avastin can lead to slow or incomplete wound healing
- Ex: when a surgical incision has trouble healing or staying closed
- In some cases, this event resulted in fatality.
Fatal Bleeding
- Severe or fatal hemorrhage or hemoptysis
- This includes coughing up blood, bleeding in the stomach, vomiting blood, bleeding in the brain, nosebleeds, and vaginal bleeding, gastrointestinal bleeding, CNS hemorrhage, and vaginal bleeding
- Requires blood transfusions
Reversible Posterior Leukoencephalopathy Syndrome (RPLS)
- Development of a syndrome characterized by high blood pressure, headaches, confusion, seizures, visual loss, and evidence of swelling of the brain on brain (MRI) scans.
Other Possible Side Effects
- The formation of an abnormal passage from parts of the body to another part, sometimes fatal.
- Stroke or heart problems, which can be fatal. Heart problems include blood clots, mini-stroke, heart attack, and chest pain.
- Too much protein in the urine, which may lead to serious kidney problems
- Severe high blood pressure
- Nervous system and vision disturbances. Symptoms may include high blood pressure, headache, seizure, sluggishness, confusion, and blindness.
- Infusion reactions. These may include high blood pressure or severe high blood pressure that may lead to stroke, difficulty breathing, decreased oxygen in red blood cells, a serious allergic reaction, chest pain, headaches, tremors, and excessive sweating.
Experienced Defective Drug Attorney
Thomas J. Henry Injury Attorneys are leaders in the area of drug and product liability litigation. Our Defective Drug and Products Division have extensive knowledge and resources in order to represent our clients efficiently and aggressively. The Defective Drug and Products Division represent a multitude of people who are battling against manufacturers of medical devices and/ or defective pharmaceuticals.
If you or a loved one have been injured by or have developed serious side effects from the use of a drug, contact Thomas J. Henry Injury Attorneys immediately. We are available 24/7, nights and weekends.
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