Bevacizumab

(Redirected from Avastin)

Better Known as: Avastin

  • Marketed By: Genentech & Roche
  • Major Indication: Colorectal Cancer
  • Drug Class: Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor Inhibitor - Monoclonal Antibody
  • Date of FDA Approval (Patent Expiration): 2004 (2019)
  • 2009 Sales: $4.8 Billion
  • Importance: It is one of the best selling cancer treatments in history. Despite being effective against colorectal cancer, post-approval studies after accelerated approval revealed that Avastin was ineffective in treating breast cancer. Many question the $90,000/year bill to take Avastin when it extends life on average only 10 months.
  • See Pharmaceutical Drugs for more information about other drugs and disorders

Mechanism of Action

Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor (VEGF) is a signal protein often over-expressed in cancerous cells. It is responsible for activating Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor Receptors (VEGFRs) to accelerate angiogenesis and vasculogenesis. Accelerated angiogenesis creates the overly developed blood vessel system common to all tumors, providing oxygen and nutrients to the prodigal tumors. Bevacizumab binds to VEGF, preventing it from interacting with VEGFR, thus halting accelerated angiogenesis in tumors, preventing the cancer from growing rapidly.[1]

Pharmacokinetics

VEGF Inhibitor Pharmacokinetics[2]
Parameter Bevacizumab
Tmax (hr) 5.17
Cmax (ng/ml) 284000
Bioavailability (%) 100
T1/2 (days) 20
AUC (ug/ml/hr) 97488
IC50 (nM) .9
Clearance (L/h) .0096
Dosage (mg/kg) 10

Model Bevacizumab, also known as Avastin (PDB code 1igt)

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References

  1. Ferrara N, Gerber HP. The role of vascular endothelial growth factor in angiogenesis. Acta Haematol. 2001;106(4):148-56. PMID:11815711
  2. Garnier-Viougeat N, Rixe O, Paintaud G, Ternant D, Degenne D, Mouawad R, Deray G, Izzedine H. Pharmacokinetics of bevacizumab in haemodialysis. Nephrol Dial Transplant. 2007 Mar;22(3):975. Epub 2006 Nov 8. PMID:17093010 doi:10.1093/ndt/gfl664


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David Canner, Joel L. Sussman, Michal Harel, Alexander Berchansky