DELAURO ON AVASTIN DECISION

Washington, DC – Congresswoman Rosa L. DeLauro (CT-3), Ranking Member on the Labor, Health, and Human Services Appropriations Subcommittee, issued the following statement following the Food and Drug Administration's decision to revoke the approval of the cancer drug Avastin due to its potentially dangerous side effects.

Congresswoman DeLauro had previously called for action on this medication in December of 2010, when the FDA had originally made their recommendation to remove the breast cancer indication from the label for Avastin.

"I am pleased with the FDA's decision to remove the breast cancer indication from the Avastin label. While I understand the concerns of the breast cancer patients who believe that Avastin has helped them, we must ensure that patients receive medicine that is determined by scientific evidence to be safe and effective—and Avastin does not meet these requirements for metastatic breast cancer. It is the FDA's responsibility to safeguard American consumers, and I applaud their actions today. This decision also clearly reinforces the value of strong post-approval scientific studies in protecting American patients."