It has been reported that Roche’s Avastin has been made available for the UK women suffering from ovarian cancer. The drug has been approved for the treatment of advanced stage of ovarian cancer. Till now the women suffering with ovarian cancer were limited with chemotherapy and surgery. But now they would be treated with the Roche’s Avastin.

Dr. Timothy Perren from St James’s University Hospital expressed happiness over the approval by saying, “I am delighted that Avastin has now been licensed and is therefore now potentially available to suitable women who are diagnosed with this devastating disease”.

It has been informed that the drug is currently available to treat a number of cancers which include colorectal cancer. The drug is worldwide famous and has helped the manufacturer to book a revenue of $6.5 billion in 2010.

The European authorities gave a green signal to the drug after considering its positive outcomes in tits phase III trial. During the trail it was revealed that women taking Avastin lived six months longer without experiencing any side effects.

However, the overall survival rate has not been improved by the drugs. As the drug has failed to show improvement in the overall survival rate, health watchdog, NICE, has not given favor to the drug. According to the NICE, the drug is not a cost effective treatment and doesn’t even improve survival rates.

However, the manufacturer of the drug are of the view that the after the usage of the drug in the Europe, the NICE would come to know its benefits. It is hoped that the introduction of the drug would help ovarian cancer patients in getting relief from the agonizing pain. The drug is no doubt a new ray of hope for the cancer sufferers.