Avastin / Bevacizumab

Syringe

Were you taking the blockbuster prescription cancer medicine Avastin when you developed a serious blood clot?

If so, contact Edgar Snyder & Associates right away for a free legal evaluation – no strings attached. You may have a case, so there’s no time to waste.

Avastin No Longer Approved to Treat Breast Cancer

On November 18, 2011, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) announced that Avastin is no longer approved to treat breast cancer. The drug is still approved to treat several other types of cancer.

Avastin Overview

Bevacizumab (brand name Avastin) is a cancer medication that works by blocking a protein that is important for the formation of blood vessels. Since tumors rely on blood vessels to get the nutrients they need to survive and grow, the drug tries to prevent new blood vessels from forming and allowing the tumor to get bigger.

Avastin, made by Genentech, was approved in 2004 to treat colon cancer. It was later approved for advanced lung (2006), and kidney and brain cancers (2009). The drug was approved for metastatic breast cancer (cancer that has spread to other parts of the body) in 2008, but as of December 2010 the FDA recommended it no longer be used for that purpose, saying the drug’s dangers for metastatic breast cancer outweighed the benefits.

It is also used, without FDA approval, to treat macular degeneration.

Avastin is given through injection, usually once every 14 days at a medical office, infusion center, or hospital.

Avastin Linked to Serious Blood Clots and Several Other Deadly Side Effects

Avastin is part of a group of drugs called "targeted therapies" that have been praised for being safer and gentler than traditional chemotherapy. However, a report in the Journal of the American Medical Association says that the potentially dangerous medication increases the risk of developing serious blood clots, among many other serious side effects.

The report found that 12 percent of people taking Avastin develop blood clots in their veins – a rate that is 30 percent higher than cancer patients not taking the drug. Blood clots can be deadly if they travel to the lungs and are one of the leading causes of death among cancer patients.

A second report found that patients who took Avastin experienced about 50 percent more deadly side effects than those on chemotherapy alone.

Other severe side effects of taking Avastin include:

Heart attack, heart failure, and stroke
Massive bleeding requiring blood transfusions
Development of holes in the body, including the nose, stomach, and intestines
Severe high blood pressure – causing severe headaches, blurred vision, buzzing in the ears, anxiety, confusion, chest pain, shortness of breath, etc.
Kidney damage
Wounds that do not heal or scars that split open
Development of reversible posterior leukoencephalopathy syndrome (RPLS), a syndrome that causes high blood pressure, headaches, confusion, seizures, loss of vision, and swelling of the brain
Infertility (females)
Wounds that won’t heal
Severe stomach pain with vomiting or constipation
Blood in urine or stools
Unusual bleeding (nose, mouth, etc.) or bleeding that won’t stop
Problems with urinating – less than usual or not at all
Fever, chills, and other flu symptoms
White patches or sores on the inside of your mouth or lips

Call your doctor at once if you are experiencing any of these side effects.

What Should I do if I’ve Been Hurt by Avastin?

As always, if you’re experiencing any problems or complications while taking Avastin – including any of the side effects listed above – seek medical treatment immediately. Then, contact Edgar Snyder & Associates to find out if you have a case.

Since 1982, our highly rated law firm has helped hundreds of people who have suffered because of a prescription drug that was supposed to help them…but instead it harmed them.

Our experienced attorneys go up against the big pharmaceutical companies that make, sell, and distribute dangerous drugs. From the moment you choose us, we go above and beyond get you the money you deserve. We can’t erase what happened to you, but we can help you with your financial future.

And remember, there’s never a fee unless we get money for you, so you have nothing to lose.

Find Out if You Have a Dangerous Drug Case Now

Hurt by Avastin? Think you might have a case? Find out today.

Call toll-free 1-866-9-4EDGAR (1-866-943-3427), or submit your information online for a free legal evaluation. It’s absolutely free, and there’s no obligation to use our services.

Don’t wait – there are time limits to file a claim. Contact us now.