Chugai Pharmaceutical Co, Ltd announced that it obtained approval by the Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare (MHLW) for the additional indication of 'Unresectable advanced or recurrent non-squamous non-small cell lung cancer' of its anti-VEGF human monoclonal antibody bevacizumab (genetic recombination).

Avastin was approved for unresectable advanced or recurrent non-squamous non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) in the US in October 2006 and in Europe in August 2007. Since then, it has become one of the standard treatments outside Japan recommended by treatment guidelines, used in combination with chemotherapy. With this approval in Japan, Avastin is now available for patients with non-squamous NSCLC or colorectal cancer in Japan as well as US and Europe.

In November 2008, Chugai filed an application for approval with the MHLW with results from overseas studies (phase-II and phase-III) and a domestic phase-II study. In two comparative trials conducted overseas in patients with previously untreated advanced or recurrent non-squamous NSCLC, overall and/or progression-free survival of patients who received AvastinAvastin in combination with standard platinum-based chemotherapy were significantly prolonged compared to patients given only chemotherapy. The domestic phase-II study also reported comparable results with overseas studies, showing a significant prolongation of progression-free survival in patients who received Avastin in combination with standard chemotherapy (carboplatin and paclitaxel), showing efficacy of the drug in Japanese patients.

In domestic and overseas trials of Avastin in non-squamous NSCLC, a higher incidence of pulmonary haemorrhage (hemoptysis) was reported in patients who received AvastinAvastin, compared to the reported incidences in colorectal cancer indication which has already been approved in Japan. To provide further safety information and promote appropriate use of the product, Chugai plans to implement measures including a six-month post-marketing survey following launch in non-squamous NSCLC to ensure appropriate use and monitor adverse events, and a special drug-use survey to investigate risk profiles for pulmonary haemorrhage (hemoptysis) in non-squamous NSCLC.

Chugai positions oncology as one of its key therapeutic areas. Through development of new treatment options, Chugai will continue its effort to contribute to cancer treatment.