Based on the results of this study, Roche plans to file for an indication in advanced stomach cancer with worldwide regulatory authorities. The drug is currently approved in the treatment of colorectal cancer and breast cancer.
The data from the stomach cancer trial show that Xeloda, added to another chemotherapy called cisplatin, is at least as effective as the current standard treatment (intravenous 5-fluorouracil plus cisplatin) in terms of time to disease progression.
“These new data are encouraging. For many patients the prognosis has been poor, despite recent advances in managing this common, yet often fatal, disease.” said Ed Holdener, head of global development at Roche. “Compared to the current standard, where patients spend five days every three weeks in hospital receiving treatment, Xeloda has the additional benefit of reducing that amount of time to only one day, which helps patients to live as normal life as possible.”
Xeloda is currently licensed in more than 90 countries worldwide including Europe, USA, Japan, Australia and Canada.