Scrip

Avastin could provide new first-line option in kidney cancer
Anti-angiogenic drugs for the treatment of kidney cancer have once again been highlighted at ASCO, with the first presentation of the full data from the AVOREN study of Roche/Genentech's Avastin showing that it nearly doubled progression-free survival when combined with standard interferon treatment in the first-line metastatic setting.

Higgins sets out aims for EFPIA
Arthur Higgins was elected president of the European Federation of Pharmaceutical Industries and Associations at its annual meeting in Brussels, Belgium, last week and immediately set four objectives for the association during his term of office.

Pfizer files petition with Supreme Court to review Norvasc case
Pfizer asked the US Supreme Court on May 31st to delay the effect of the Federal Circuit's rulings against the company relating to its patents on Norvasc. It argues that the Circuit Court failed to apply the Supreme Court's unanimous ruling a few weeks ago in KSR v Teleflex, "which altered the Federal Circuit's established framework for determining obviousness".

US FDA establishes risk communication advisory panel
The US FDA is seeking 15 individuals, who will all have voting rights, to sit on its new risk communication advisory panel. The committee will advise the FDA on the development of plans to communicate the risks and benefits of all products regulated by the agency, not just medicines.

Nexavar proclaimed new standard in liver cancer
Experts at ASCO have hailed Bayer/Onyx's Nexavar (sorafenib) as the first effective systemic treatment for treat advanced liver cancer after the drug improved survival in a Phase III trial. They said it would become the new reference standard in the disease.