Genentech breast-cancer drug gets FDA OK - Sacramento Business Journal:

Genentech breast-cancer drug gets FDA OK - Sacramento Business Journal:: "Business News - Local News
Genentech breast-cancer drug gets FDA OK
Sacramento Business Journal - 9:04 AM PST Friday

Shares of Genentech Inc. rose 77 cents Friday, a day after the Food and Drug Administration approved its Herceptin drug as part of a breast-cancer regimen.

South San Francisco-based Genentech (NYSE: DNA), which is a major employer in Vacaville, said late Thursday the drug was OK'd for women with early-stage breast cancer who have had surgery, with or without radiation therapy.

The treatment is designed to reduce the risk of cancer recurrence or the occurrence of metastatic disease.

The FDA approval was based on data from an interim joint analysis of more than 3,500 patients enrolled in two third-phase clinical trials., which showed that the addition of Herceptin to standard adjuvant therapy significantly reduced the risk of breast cancer recurrence, Genentech said.

In midday trading, shares were at $81.49 after closing the day before at $80.72."