The Washington Post: FDA Revokes Avastin's Approval For Breast Cancer Treatment The fate of the drug for breast cancer has been closely watched by patients, oncologists, women's health advocates, health-care policymakers, politicians and the pharmaceutical industry. The case has triggered strong reactions from advocates of easier access to new treatments and from critics fearing health-care rationing. It is also being seen as one of the most visible medical examples of scientific evidence winning out over an animated public outcry. Ultimately, clinical trials failed to support the drug's early promise for breast cancer treatment (Stein, 11/18).

The Associated Press: FDA Revokes Approval Of Avastin For Breast Cancer So even though the FDA formally revoked Avastin's approval as a breast cancer treatment, women could still receive it -; but their insurers may not pay for it. ... However, "Medicare will continue to cover Avastin," said Brian Cook, spokesman for the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services. The agency "will monitor the issue and evaluate coverage options as a result of action by the FDA but has no immediate plans to change coverage policies" (Neergaard, 11/18).

This article was reprinted from kaiserhealthnews with permission from the Henry J. Kaiser Family Foundation. Kaiser Health News, an editorially independent news service, is a program of the Kaiser Family Foundation, a nonpartisan health care policy research organization unaffiliated with Kaiser Permanente.