Roche’s Xeloda (capecitabine) has been approved by the European Commission for post-surgery treatment of patients with early colon cancer.
The drug is indicated in combination with oxaliplatin – a combined treatment named XELOX.
The XELOXA study, one of the largest studies of early colon cancer, showed that patients taking XELOX immediately after surgery lived disease-free for longer compared to those treated with chemotherapy regimen 5-fluorouracil/leucovorin (5-FU/LV).
“The approval of XELOX for the adjuvant treatment of early colon cancer is great news for patients, who now have the added benefits and convenience of oral Xeloda in combination therapy for this disease, which is potentially curable if diagnosed and treated promptly,” said Pascal Soriot, Chief Operating Officer (COO), Roche Pharmaceutical Division.
Xeloda monotherapy is already approved for use immediately after surgery in patients with colon cancer throughout the world including Europe, the US and Japan.
“I am delighted that XELOX will now be made available to patients with early colon cancer, particularly as it is at this stage of the disease that we have the best chance of curing them,” said Professor Hans-Joachim Schmoll, Martin Luther University Clinic for Internal Medicine IV, Halle, Germany and one of the lead investigators.
“Having a range of treatment options means more patients are given the chance to live without their disease returning, potentially enabling them to be cured,” he added.
Colorectal cancer is the second most common cause of death from cancer across all tumour types in Europe and is the third most commonly reported cancer in the world.
Xeloda is also currently available for the treatment of metastatic colorectal cancer, adjuvant colon cancer, advanced gastric cancer and metastatic breast cancer.