Other Names: bevacizumab, rhuMAb-VEGF.

Maker: Genentech, Inc.

Disease Treated: Metastatic colorectal cancer.

Approval Status: Approved by the U.S. FDA on February 26, 2004 as a first-line therapy in combination with intravenous 5-fluorouracil-based chemotherapy for the treatment of metastatic colorectal cancer.

Chemical/Biological Nature: AVASTIN is a recombinant humanized monoclonal IgG1 antibody composed of the human antibody framework regions integrated with the complimentarity-determining regions (in contact with its target antigen) of mouse origin. AVASTIN is produced in a Chinese Hamster ovary mammalian cell expression cell culture system.

Administration: AVASTIN with a dose of 5mg/kg body weight is administered by i.v. infusion over a 90-minute period following chemotherapy. ... Read more

Avastin is a widely-used, important first-line drug for colorectal cancer and lung cancer. The following lists key aspects of the drug.

Chemical/Biological Nature: Avastin (bevacizumab, rhuMAb-VEGF) is a recombinant humanized monoclonal antibody drug. Only the complementarity-determining regions (CDR) of the antibody are of mouse origin since the antibody was originally produced in mice. In order to reduce the antigenicity of the antibody to patients, all other regions of the antibody are of human origin. CDRs of an antibody make physical contact with the specific antigen and determine the antibody’s specificity.

Maker: Genentech

Diseases Treated: Metastatic colorectal cancer — approved on February 26, 2004; ... Read more