Swiss drugmaker Roche Holding AG said Monday it has stopped recruiting patients to test its cancer drug Avastin in late-stage clinical trials after the deaths of four patients.
The Basel-based company said it has stopped adding patients to its Phase III trial, known as AVANT, which tests Avastin in combination with other drugs to treat post-surgical colon cancer. There will be a further review of safety data after the deaths of four patients in one part of the trial, which tests a combination of Roche’s chemotherapy regimen Xelox and Avastin, the company said.
