Avastin

Avastin, a drug manufactured by Genentech, is also known as Bevacizumab. Avastin has historically been used in conjunction with chemotherapy to treat cancer of the colon (large intestine) or rectum that has spread to other parts of the body as well as certain types of lung cancer; by limiting blood flow to tumors. In addition to the cancer treatments previously mentioned, Avastin was also used with with chemotherapy to treat breast cancer that has spread to other parts of the body.

On December 16, 2010, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) announced its recommendation to healthcare professionals and patients to remove the breast cancer indication for Avastin (Bevacizumab) from the label due to the drug not being shown to safe or effective for that use. Avastin was not removed from the market and the FDA’s approval of Avastin for the treatment of colon, kidney, brain and lung cancers remained intact. Further, oncology physicians are still allowed to use their “medical judgment” and prescribe Avastin for the treatment of breast cancer in an off-label manner.

According to the FDA, the results of four separate clinical reviews of Avastin (Bevacizumab) in women with breast cancer showed that the drug did not prolong overall survival rates of breast cancer patients or provide a sufficient benefit in slowing the cancer’s progression to outweigh the significant risk it presented to patients. None of the clinical studies showed that breast cancer patients receiving Avastin (Bevacizumab) lived longer. The clinical studies als showed that breast cancer patients that were prescribed Avastin (Bevacizumab) experienced a significant increase in serious side effects, some being fatal to the patient. The side effects noted in the clinical studies were severe high blood pressure; bleeding and hemorrhage; the development of perforations (or ”holes”) in the body, including in the nose, stomach, and intestines; and heart attack or heart failure.

Do I need a lawyer who handles product liability cases?

Obtaining a successful case resolution in a defective drug case, involving the pharmaceutical industry, can be difficult, as it must be shown that the plaintiff’s injuries occurred as a result of a defective drug and not the plaintiff’s own actions. The defendant is often a very large drug company with a wealth of resources to vigorously defend its interests. If you or someone you love is seeking legal counsel in the Sarasota and Bradenton area, a lawyer who handles defective drug cases from Lutz, Bobo & Telfair, P.A., can help. Our compassionate and dedicated injury attorneys can aid you in filing a personal injury or wrongful death claim, and they will work determinedly and strive to secure the compensation to which you are entitled.

Contact a Bradenton and Sarasota Product Liability Attorney

If you or someone you love has been injured by a defective product and is seeking legal counsel in the Sarasota, Bradenton, and Greater Southwest Florida area, a lawyer who handles product liability cases from Lutz, Bobo & Telfair, P.A., can help. To schedule a no cost consultation with an experienced and dedicated product liability attorney, contact our personal injury law offices today.