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Roche and AstraZeneca: competition to the treatment of lung cancer

May 3, 2009

Roche and AstraZeneca: competition to the treatment of lung cancer

Roche Holding AG is studying the effectiveness of its drug Tarceva in the treatment of lung cancer among patients with a genetic mutation. If the study shows that Tarceva effectively its competitor - Iressa production AstraZeneca Plc, this will be the next stage of the struggle for the European market.

Roche announced the start of the joint with the Spanish Group for the Study of Lung Cancer Phase III study drug Tarceva as first-line therapy for lung cancer in patients with genetic mutations in the epidermal growth factor receptor (REFR). The statement was made on the next day, after European regulators recommended the use of Iressa company AstraZeneca in the same category of patients.

Unlike Iressa Tarceva, according to the results of studies showed efficacy in all patients, regardless of the presence of mutations in REFR. However, both drugs effectively especially in tumors with mutated genes. The presence of mutations in molecules REFR occurs in 10-15% of cases of lung cancer in Europe, and approximately one-third of cases in Asia.

Iressa, which is to receive every day, has not yet been approved for use in Europe but in Asia, its sales volume in 2008 was about 250 million U.S. dollars. Tarceva, developed by OSI Pharmaceuticals Inc, was approved in Europe since 2005 for the treatment of non lung cancer.

Deutsche Bank analysts said that Iressa, perhaps, after approval in Europe will become a niche product. In their forecast, sales of Iressa in 2014 will reach 474 million U.S. dollars.

Written by Samanta · Filed Under Pharmacy Industry News