Switzerland gives green light to new Roche cancer treatment

0 Comments | AFP, December, 2004

BASEL, Switzerland (AFP) — The Swiss drug giant Roche said it had won approval in Switzerland for a new cancer drug Avastin and hoped to get the go-ahead in over 90 other countries, including the European Union, soon.

"The Swiss health authority Swissmedic has approved Avastin for the treatment of patients with previously untreated metastatic cancer of the colon or rectum," the company said in a statemement.

"The Swiss approval lays the foundation for access to the medicine in more than 90 other countries," it added.

A Roche spokeswoman explained that many countries, especially those in the Middle East, would only approve a drug if the nation where the manufacturer is based has already given it the green light.

Swissmedic's decision was an...