avastin
Pharmaranks rates Avastin 3.5/5 for recall safety — an independent score from its FDA recall history and its manufacturer's record. Avastin (Bevacizumab) is a vascular endothelial growth factor inhibitor used to treat Non-Small-Cell Lung Carcinoma, Uterine Cervical Neoplasms, Fallopian Tube Neoplasms, Glioblastoma.
Bevacizumab · by Genentech Inc
Based on 1 source · Recall-safety score from FDA recall history — this product's own recalls and its manufacturer's record. Not an efficacy or quality rating. methodology →
Key facts
- Active ingredient
- Bevacizumab
- Form
- Injectable
- Strength
- Bevacizumab 100MG · Bevacizumab 400MG
- Type
- Prescription (Rx)
- Brand or generic
- Brand-name
- Manufacturer
- Genentech Inc
- FDA application
- BLA125085
What is Avastin?
From the FDA label:Bevacizumab is a vascular endothelial growth factor inhibitor. Bevacizumab is a recombinant humanized monoclonal IgG1 antibody that contains human framework regions and murine complementarity-determining regions. Bevacizumab has an approximate molecular weight of 149 kDa. Bevacizumab is produced in a mammalian cell (Chinese Hamster Ovary) expression system. Avastin (bevacizumab) injection is a sterile, preservative-free, clear to slightly opalescent, colorless to pale brown solution in a single-dose vial for intravenous use. Avastin contains bevacizumab at a concentration of 25 mg/mL in either a 100 mg/4 mL or 400 mg/16 mL single-dose vial. Each mL of solution contains 25 mg bevacizumab, α,α-trehalose dihydrate (60 mg), polysorbate 20 (0.4 mg), sodium phosphate dibasic, anhydrous (1.2 mg), sodium phosphate monobasic, monohydrate (5.8 mg), and Water for Injection, USP. The pH is 6.2.
How to use
Withhold for at least 28 days prior to elective surgery. Do not administer Avastin for 28 days following major surgery and until adequate wound healing. ( 2.1 ) Metastatic colorectal cancer ( 2.2 ) 5 mg/kg every 2 weeks with bolus-IFL 10 mg/kg every 2 weeks with FOLFOX4 5 mg/ kg every 2 weeks or 7.5 mg/kg every 3 weeks with fluoropyrimidine-irinotecan- or fluoropyrimidine-oxaliplatin-based chemotherapy after progression on a first-line bevacizumab product-containing regimen First-line non–squamous non–small cell lung cancer ( 2.3 ) 15 mg/kg every 3 weeks with carboplatin and paclitaxel Recurrent glioblastoma ( 2.4 ) 10 mg/kg every 2 weeks Metastatic renal cell carcinoma ( 2.5 ) 10 mg/kg every 2 weeks with interferon alfa Persistent, recurrent, or metastatic cervical cancer ( 2.6 ) 15 mg/kg every 3 weeks with paclitaxel and cisplatin, or paclitaxel and topotecan Stage III or IV epithelial ovarian, fallopian tube or primary peritoneal cancer following initial surgical resection ( 2.7 ) 15 mg/kg every 3 weeks with carboplatin and paclitaxel for up to 6 cycles, followed by 15 mg/kg every 3 weeks as a single agent, for a total of up to 22 cycles Platinum-resistant recurrent epithelial ovarian, fallopian tube or primary peritoneal cancer ( 2.7 ) 10 mg/kg every 2 weeks with paclitaxel, pegylated liposomal doxorubicin, or topotecan given every week 15 mg/kg every 3 weeks with…
Side effects
The following clinically significant adverse reactions are described elsewhere in the labeling: Gastrointestinal Perforations and Fistulae [see Warnings and Precautions (5.1) ] . Surgery and Wound Healing Complications [see Warnings and Precautions (5.2) ]. Hemorrhage [see Warnings and Precautions (5.3) ]. Arterial Thromboembolic Events [see Warnings and Precautions (5.4) ]. Venous Thromboembolic Events [see Warnings and Precautions (5.5) ]. Hypertension [see Warnings and Precautions (5.6) ]. Posterior Reversible Encephalopathy Syndrome [see Warnings and Precautions (5.7) ]. Renal Injury and Proteinuria [see Warnings and Precautions (5.8) ]. Infusion-Related Reactions [see Warnings and Precautions (5.9) ]. Ovarian Failure [see Warnings and Precautions (5.11) ]. Congestive Heart Failure [see Warnings and Precautions (5.12) ]. Most common adverse reactions incidence (incidence > 10%) are epistaxis, headache, hypertension, rhinitis, proteinuria, taste alteration, dry skin, hemorrhage, lacrimation disorder, back pain and exfoliative dermatitis. ( 6.1 ) To report SUSPECTED ADVERSE REACTIONS, contact Genentech, Inc. at 1-888-835-2555 or FDA at 1-800-FDA-1088 or www.fda.gov/medwatch. 6.1 Clinical Trials Experience Because clinical studies are conducted under widely varying conditions, adverse reaction rates observed in the clinical studies of a drug cannot be directly compared to…
Warnings
Important safety information
Gastrointestinal Perforations and Fistula : Discontinue for gastrointestinal perforations, tracheoesophageal fistula, grade 4 fistula, or fistula formation involving any organ ( 5.1 ) Surgery and Wound Healing Complications : In patients who experience wound healing complications during Avastin treatment, withhold Avastin until adequate wound healing. Withhold for at least 28 days prior to elective surgery. Do not administer Avastin for at least 28 days following a major surgery, and until adequate wound healing. The safety of resumption of AVASTIN after resolution of wound healing complication has not been established. Discontinue for wound healing complication of necrotizing fasciitis. ( 5.2 ) Hemorrhage: Severe or fatal hemorrhages have occurred. Do not administer for recent hemoptysis. Discontinue for Grade 3-4 hemorrhage ( 5.3 ) Arterial Thromboembolic Events (ATE) : Discontinue for severe ATE. ( 5.4 ) Venous Thromboembolic Events (VTE) : Discontinue for Grade 4 VTE. ( 5.5 ) Hypertension : Monitor blood pressure and treat hypertension. Withhold if not medically controlled; resume once controlled. Discontinue for hypertensive crisis or hypertensive encephalopathy. ( 5.6 ) Posterior Reversible Encephalopathy Syndrome (PRES ) : Discontinue. ( 5.7 ) Renal Injury and Proteinuria : Monitor urine protein. Discontinue for nephrotic syndrome. Withhold until less than 2 grams of protein in urine. ( 5.8 ) Infusion-Related Reactions : Decrease rate for infusion-related reactions. Discontinue for severe infusion-related reactions and administer medical therapy. ( 5.9 ) Embryo-Fetal Toxicity : May cause fetal harm. Advise females of potential risk to fetus and need for use of effective contraception. ( 5.10 , 8.1 , 8.3 ) Ovarian Failure : Advise females of the potential risk. ( 5.11 , 8.3 ) Congestive Heart Failure (CHF) : Discontinue Avastin in patients who develop CHF. ( 5.12 ) 5.1 Gastrointestinal Perforations and Fistulae Serious, and sometimes fatal, gastrointestinal perforation occurred at a higher incidence in patients receiving Avastin compared to patients receiving chemotherapy. The incidence ranged from 0.3% to 3% across clinical studies, with the highest incidence in patients with a history of prior pelvic radiation. Perforation can be complicated by intra-abdominal abscess, fistula formation, and the need for diverting ostomies. The majority of perforations occurred within 50 days of the first dose [see Adverse Reactions (6.1) ] . Serious fistulae (including, tracheoesophageal, bronchopleural, biliary, vaginal, renal and bladder sites) occurred at a higher incidence in patients receiving Avastin compared to patients receiving chemotherapy. The incidence ranged from < 1% to 1.8% across clinical studies, with the highest incidence in patients with cervical cancer. The majority of fistulae occurred within 6 months of the first dose. Patients who develop a gastrointestinal vaginal fistula may also have a bowel obstruction and require surgical intervention, as well as a diverting ostomy. Avoid Avastin in patients with ovarian cancer who have evidence of recto-sigmoid involvement by pelvic examination or bowel involvement on CT scan or clinical symptoms of bowel obstruction. Discontinue in patients who develop gastrointestinal perforation, tracheoesophageal fistula or any Grade 4 fistula. Discontinue in patients with fistula formation involving any internal organ . 5.2 Surgery and Wound Healing Complications In a controlled clinical study in which Avastin was not administered within 28 days of major surgical procedures, the incidence of wound healing complications, including serious and fatal complications, was 15% in patients with mCRC who underwent surgery while receiving Avastin and 4% in patients who did not receive Avastin. In a controlled clinical study in patients with relapsed or recurrent GBM, the incidence of wound healing events was 5% in patients who received Avastin and 0.7% in patients who did not receive Avastin [see Adverse Reactions (6.1) ]. In patients who experience wound healing complications during Avastin treatment, withhold Avastin until adequate wound healing. Withhold for at least 28 days prior to elective surgery. Do not administer for at least 28 days following major surgery and until adequate wound healing. The safety of resumption of AVASTIN after resolution of wound healing complications has not been established [see Dosage and Administration (2.9) ] . Necrotizing fasciitis including fatal cases, has been reported in patients receiving Avastin, usually secondary to wound healing complications, gastrointestinal perforation or fistula formation. Discontinue Avastin in patients who develop necrotizing fasciitis . 5.3 Hemorrhage Avastin can result in two distinct patterns of bleeding: minor hemorrhage, which is most commonly Grade 1 epistaxis, and serious hemorrhage, which in some cases has been fatal. Severe or fatal hemorrhage, including hemoptysis, gastrointestinal bleeding, hematemesis, CNS hemorrhage, epistaxis, and vaginal bleeding, occurred up to 5-fold more frequently in patients receiving Avastin compared to patients receiving chemotherapy alone. Across clinical studies, the incidence of Grades 3-5 hemorrhagic events ranged from 0.4% to 7% in patients receiving Avastin [see Adverse Reactions (6.1) ]. Serious or fatal pulmonary hemorrhage occurred in 31% of patients with squamous NSCLC and 4% of patients with non-squamous NSCLC receiving Avastin with chemotherapy compared to none of the patients receiving chemotherapy alone. An evaluation for the presence of varices is recommended within 6 months of initiation of Avastin in patients with HCC. There is lack of clinical data to support the safety of Avastin in patients with variceal bleeding within 6 months prior to treatment, untreated or incompletely treated varices with bleeding, or high risk of bleeding because these patients were excluded from clinical trials of Avastin in HCC [see Clinical Studies (14.10) ] . Do not administer Avastin to patients with recent history of hemoptysis of 1/2 teaspoon or more of red blood. Discontinue in patients who develop a Grades 3-4 hemorrhage. 5.4 Arterial Thromboembolic Events Serious, sometimes fatal, arterial thromboembolic events (ATE) including cerebral infarction, transient ischemic attacks, myocardial infarction, and angina, occurred at a higher incidence in patients receiving Avastin compared to patients receiving chemotherapy. Across clinical studies, the incidence of Grades 3-5 ATE was 5% in patients receiving Avastin with chemotherapy compared to ≤2% in patients receiving chemotherapy alone; the highest incidence occurred in patients with GBM. The risk of developing ATE was increased in patients with a history of arterial thromboembolism, diabetes, or >65 years [see Use in Specific Populations (8.5) ]. Discontinue in patients who develop a severe ATE. The safety of reinitiating Avastin after an ATE is resolved is not known. 5.5 Venous Thromboembolic Events An increased risk of venous thromboembolic events (VTE) was observed across clinical studies [see Adverse Reactions (6.1) ] . In Study GOG-0240, Grades 3-4 VTE occurred in 11% of patients receiving Avastin with chemotherapy compared with 5% of patients receiving chemotherapy alone. In EORTC 26101, the incidence of Grades 3-4 VTE was 5% in patients receiving Avastin with chemotherapy compared to 2% in patients receiving chemotherapy alone. Discontinue Avastin in patients with a Grade 4 VTE, including pulmonary embolism . 5.6 Hypertension Severe hypertension occurred at a higher incidence in patients receiving Avastin as compared to patients receiving chemotherapy alone. Across clinical studies, the incidence of Grades 3-4 hypertension ranged from 5% to 18%. Monitor blood pressure every two to three weeks during treatment with Avastin. Treat with appropriate anti-hypertensive therapy and monitor blood pressure regularly. Continue to monitor blood pressure at regular…
Who should not take Avastin
None. None ( 4 )
Interactions
Effects of Avastin on Other Drugs No clinically meaningful effect on the pharmacokinetics of irinotecan or its active metabolite SN38, interferon alfa, carboplatin or paclitaxel was observed when Avastin was administered in combination with these drugs; however, 3 of the 8 patients receiving Avastin with paclitaxel and carboplatin had lower paclitaxel exposure after four cycles of treatment (at Day 63) than those at Day 0, while patients receiving paclitaxel and carboplatin alone had a greater paclitaxel exposure at Day 63 than at Day 0.
Drug class
How this class works, per Aflibercept - StatPearls - NCBI Bookshelf.
May treat (source: NIH RxClass)
Dosage forms
Injectable
The forms currently marketed in the U.S., per the FDA National Drug Code Directory.
Ways to save
Ask for the generic
Same active ingredient, far cheaper. Is there a generic? →
Request a 90-day supply
Bulk fills usually lower the per-dose price vs monthly refills.
Use copay cards
Manufacturer copay cards & patient-assistance programs — especially for brand drugs.
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Frequently asked questions
- What does Avastin treat?
- Avastin (Bevacizumab) may be used to treat non-small-cell lung carcinoma, uterine cervical neoplasms, fallopian tube neoplasms, glioblastoma, kidney neoplasms, ovarian neoplasms, based on NIH RxClass drug-classification data (conditions a drug may treat — not a verbatim copy of the FDA-approved label). This is general reference, not medical advice.
- How does Avastin work?
- Avastin is a vascular endothelial growth factor inhibitor. VEGF inhibitors block VEGF, the signal that tells the body to grow new blood vessels. By soaking up or blocking this signal, they starve tumors of the new vessels they need to grow, or calm the leaky abnormal vessels that damage the retina in eye diseases.
- How is Avastin rated?
- pharmaranks gives Avastin a composite score of 3.5 out of 5, currently based on 1 weighted source (FDA regulatory recall-safety data weighted highest). See our methodology at /how-we-rate.
- Is there a coupon or discount for Avastin?
- pharmaranks is an independent ratings site, not a pharmacy — we don't issue coupons or sell Avastin. To pay less, ask your prescriber or pharmacist whether a generic equivalent exists, check the manufacturer's copay/savings card and patient-assistance program, and compare a pharmacy discount card against your insurance copay. Prices vary by pharmacy, insurance, and location, so always confirm at the counter. This is general reference, not medical or financial advice.
- Who makes Avastin?
- Avastin is marketed by Genentech Inc. You can see Genentech Inc's full profile, rating, and other products on pharmaranks.
- Is Avastin a brand-name or generic drug?
- Avastin is a brand-name product with the active ingredient Bevacizumab.
- Is Avastin available over the counter?
- No. Avastin is a prescription (Rx) medication in the US — you need a prescription from a licensed clinician (in person or via telehealth); it isn't sold over the counter. For some conditions there are OTC alternatives — ask your pharmacist.
- What forms does Avastin come in?
- Avastin is currently marketed as injectable, per the FDA's National Drug Code Directory.
- What class of drug is Avastin?
- Avastin is classified as vascular endothelial growth factor inhibitor, per the FDA's Established Pharmacologic Class.
- Is Avastin FDA-registered?
- Avastin is on record with the U.S. FDA under application number BLA125085. You can verify this on its official FDA label.
- Has Avastin been recalled by the FDA?
- Avastin has no FDA recalls recorded under its own application in the openFDA enforcement database. Its recall-safety score reflects its manufacturer's overall recall record. This is general reference, not medical advice — check the FDA recall database for the latest alerts.
- Is Avastin safe?
- There's no single safe-or-not verdict. pharmaranks gives Avastin a recall-safety score of 70/100, based on its FDA recall history (no recalls under its own FDA application) — not an efficacy or side-effect rating. Review its FDA-label side effects and warnings before use, and always consult a licensed professional.
- What are the side effects of Avastin?
- Avastin's side effects are taken directly from its FDA label. From the label: The following clinically significant adverse reactions are described elsewhere in the labeling: Gastrointestinal Perforations and Fistulae [see Warnings and Precautions (5.1) ] . Surgery and Wound Healing Complications [see Warnings and Precautions (5.2) ].… Both common and serious reactions are documented in full on this page. This is general reference from the FDA, not medical advice — always consult a professional.
Clinical content sourced from the FDA label via openFDA (U.S. FDA). View the FDA label on DailyMed → Provided for general reference only — not medical advice. Always consult a licensed professional and the current prescribing information.
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avastin
70/100