Avastin (Roche) possible new treatment for Haemorrhagic Telangiectasia

A new study suggests that Avastin (bevacizumab), from Roche, may help to improve cardiac function and reduce the number of potentially life-threatening nose bleeds caused by a rare genetic vascular disorder known as Haemorrhagic Telangiectasia. In a Phase II study of 24 patients treated in France, the duration of nosebleeds dropped from a mean of 221 minutes per month to 43 minutes after six months of treatment. Hereditary Haemorrhagic Telangiectasia is a mainly inherited disorder associated with arteriovenous malformations. If the liver is affected, the only available therapy is liver transplant, which is why any drug treatment would be welcome. According to lead researcher Sophie Dupuis-Girod, MD, PhD, of H�pital Louis Pradel in Bron, France, because of the small number of participants, these preliminary findings are encouraging, but it is too early to draw conclusions as to the drug's efficacy and safety. See: "Bevacizumab in Patients With Hereditary Hemorrhagic Telangiectasia and Severe Hepatic Vascular Malformations and High Cardiac Output" Sophie Dupuis-Girod et al, JAMA. 2012;307(9):948-955.