Roche Provides Results Of Phase III Xeloxa Study

Roche has provided the results from the international phase III study NO16968 (Xeloxa), investigating oral Xeloda in combination with intravenous oxaliplatin (Xelox) immediately after surgery.

The study showed that patients with colon cancer taking Xelox, live disease free for longer compared to those taking the commonly used intravenous chemotherapy combination 5-fluorouracil/leucovorin (5-FU/LV).

Xeloda is a highly effective oral chemotherapy drug that can be used alone, or in combination with other drugs, for the treatment of colorectal (including colon), stomach and breast cancer.

The company said that the trial was conducted in previously untreated patients who have undergone surgery for colon cancer, studied use of Xelox for 24 weeks. Patients in the Xelox group demonstrated significantly better disease-free survival compared to patients receiving 5-FU/LV.

William Burns, CEO of Pharmaceutical division at Roche, said: “While Xeloda is already approved for the treatment of early-stage colon cancer as monotherapy, the results of this study mean that physicians will now be able to offer their patients Xeloda as a combination chemotherapy. This is an important development for patients as colon cancer, if caught early enough, can be cured, so physicians need a wide range of treatment options.”