How does it work and what does it do - see below - according to the official information it is not a cure.
Are we witnessing a race to make drugs desireable and give them market presence by putting a high price tag and turning the human need not to be excluded into marketing strategies, as well as making hay before something better comes along.
I dont have access to the full article. But "the value of innovation, and the value of new therapies." has out of context a ring of value based on shiny and new as much as "performance" if and in so far as values can be attributed in terms of life extension - keeping people productive contributing etc. - it may be remarkable in what it does but what importance should be placed on long term acheivement for a treatment - quality of life issues etc.
A huge exceedingly difficult and devise series of questions needing the "wisdom of Solomon" to which I have no answers and only one suggestion - put as much effort into the determination of cause and prevention as treatments to deal with symptoms.
Where are prices like this going to lead in treatment terms, publicly funded treatment for all, affordability, social inclusiveness/ sense of exclusion, and insurance pricing etc.?
RB
http://www.fda.gov/cder/drug/infopag...avastinQ&A.htm
ABSTRACT
5. Is Avastin a cure for metastatic colorectal cancer?
No, Avastin will not cure metastatic colorectal cancer. In clinical trials there was longer survival and tumor control in patients who received the combination of IFL plus Avastin than among those who received IFL without Avastin. Overall, patients given Avastin survived about five months longer. In addition, the average time before tumors restarted growing or new tumors appeared was four months longer than patients who did not receive Avastin.
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7. What are the possible side effects of Avastin?
Serious side effects include:
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holes in the colon requiring surgery to repair (gastrointestinal perforation)
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impaired wound healing
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bleeding leading to disability (stroke) or death (especially in lung cancer patients)
* heart failure in certain patients (those given or receiving other anti-cancer treatments that may injure the heart muscle)
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kidney damage
Other more common side effects of Avastin treatment are:
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high blood pressure
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tiredness/weakness
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clot in the vein (thrombophlebitis)
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diarrhea
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decreased white blood cells
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headache
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loss of appetite
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mouth sores
More on Side effects of avastin.
http://www.avastin.com/avastin/patBrochure4.m