Bevacizumab

Brand Names: Avastin, Mvasi, Oyavas, Alymsys, Aybintio, Abevmy, Vegzelma, Onbevzi, Zirabev, Lytenava, Avzivi

Background: There is a great deal of evidence indicating that vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) is important for the survival and proliferation of cancer cells. VEGF plays an important role in angiogenesis, lymphangiogenesis, and tumor growth, which are all factors that contribute to its attractiveness as a therapeutic target for anti-cancer therapies.

In 2004, bevacizumab (Avastin) gained FDA approval for specific types of cancer, and became the first antiangiogenic agent introduced to the market. It is a humanized monoclonal IgG antibody, and inhibits angiogenesis by binding and neutralizing VEGF-A. Bevacizumab is generally indicated for use in combination with different chemotherapy regimens which are specific to the type, severity, and stage of cancer. Bevacizumab was approved by Health Canada on March 24, 2010 and by the European Commission on April 21, 2021. There are also biosimilars of bevacizumab available, such as bevacizumab-awwb, bevacizumab-maly, and bevacizumab-adcd.

Interestingly, researchers have identified higher VEGF expression in patients with COVID-19, which may contribute to lung pathologies including acute respiratory syndrome (ARDS) and acute lung injury (ALI). As such, bevacizumab is being investigated for the treatment of lung complications associated with severe cases of COVID-19.

Indication: As a vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) inhibitor, bevacizumab is used in several chemotherapy regimens to treat metastatic colorectal cancer; metastatic, unresectable, locally advanced or recurrent non-squamous non-small cell lung cancer; metastatic renal cell carcinoma; metastatic, persistent, or recurrent cervical cancer; primary peritoneal cancer; epithelial ovarian cancer; fallopian tube cancer; breast cancer; and recurrent glioblastoma.

Interestingly, bevacizumab is currently under investigation for the treatment of COVID-19 complications including acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS) and acute lung injury (ALI).

Associated Conditions: Metastatic Breast Cancer, Metastatic Cervical Cancer, Metastatic Colorectal Cancer (CRC), Metastatic Non-squamous Non Small Cell Lung Cancer, Metastatic Renal Cell Carcinoma ( mRCC), Persistent Cervical Cancer, Recurrent Cervical Cancer, Recurrent Glioblastoma, Relapsed Glioblastoma, Stage III Fallopian Tube Cancer, Stage III Ovarian Epithelial Cancer, Stage III Primary Peritoneal Cancer, Stage IV Fallopian Tube Cancer, Stage IV Ovarian Epithelial Cancer, Stage IV Primary Peritoneal Cancer, Locally advanced nonsquamous non-small cell lung cancer, Recurrent Non-Squamous Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer, Recurrent Platinum-Sensitive Epithelial Ovarian Cancer, Recurrent Platinum-resistant Epithelial Ovarian Cancer, Recurrent platinum drug resistant Fallopian tube cancer, Recurrent platinum drug resistant primary peritoneal cancer, Recurrent platinum sensitive primary peritoneal cancer, Recurrent platinum-sensitive fallopian tube cancer, Unresectable Non-Squamous Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer, Unresectable, advanced Non-squamous Non-small-cell Lung Cancer (NSQ NSCLC)