Genentech Updates Cancer Drug’s Label

Genentech Inc. said it updated information on the label for its colon cancer drug Avastin to warn of an increased risk of blood clots that can cause heart attacks and stroke.

The company, which first announced the potential risk last year, has also sent a letter to physicians notifying them of the label change. The final label reflects discussions with the Food and Drug Administration, which analyzed information disclosed by Genentech.

Genentech, which is majority owned by Roche Holding, said in August that the risk for patients taking Avastin plus chemotherapy was as much as 5% compared with 1.9% in patients taking chemotherapy alone. The risk in patients taking Avastin has now been determined to be 4.4%, the company said.