Avastin is considered a last ditch effort medication to treat metastatic cancers. It was temporarily approved to treat breast cancer in 2008, but the FDA revoked the approval in 2010 because the medication was not very effective and had too many severe side effects.
Avastin
Designed as a last chance drug for women with advanced breast cancer, Avastin was released on the market in 2008 by Genentech. This medication has had questions around it from the time that the FDA gave its temporary approval in the same year that it was released. Avastin includes a hefty price tag, and women who take it may end up paying close to $100,000 in a single year. However, despite the fact that Avastin costs so much, the medication seems to actually do very little in order to fight advanced breast cancer. In addition, it comes along with extremely severe side effects that can lead to patient death.
Because of all of the questions surrounding the medication, the FDA performed a study of over two thousand women who were on the medication. After this study, the FDA chose to withdraw approval of the medication. Partly, this has to do with the fact that Avastin does so little to treat breast cancer and it has negative side effects. These side effects of the medication include ovarian failure, blood clots, and deep vein thrombosis, jaw necrosis, excessive bleeding, eye infection, blindness, and heart attacks, perforations in the body, stroke, and death.
Avastin can also cause a nerve condition called chronic leukoencephalopathy syndrome. This nerve condition can cause the brain to become inflamed, which can lead to brain swelling and stroke. The condition is treatable and completely reversible, however.
While the FDA has withdrawn approval of Avastin for treating breast cancer, it is still approved to treat metastatic colorectal cancer, for which the medication is extremely effective. In addition, FDA approval for Avastin can also be used in treatment of brain cancer as well.
At this time, the lawsuits involving Avastin are generally settled for the cost of medical treatment from the side effects. However, some cases, involving death from Avastin, are currently in litigation. Since the medication was only approved in 2008, the lawsuits are all in the earliest phases. However, there are signs that a class action lawsuit will soon be put together in order to help the numerous patients who have suffered after being prescribed Avastin to treat their breast cancer.
If you suffered from side effects of Avastin or you have a loved one who did, then you are entitled to compensation for all of your expenses. Call John Foy today, at (404) 879-7518 to get you the compensation you deserve.
Car Accidents John Foy
Truck Accidents
Social Security
Nursing Homes
Workers’ Comp
Salary & Wages
Check-in on Foursquare, we reward random patrons for sharing their visits to our offices.