New York-The federal government on Friday showed green signal to biotech major Genentech Inc. for marketing its best selling drug Avastin as a medication for late stage breast cancer, a decision welcomed by some but condemned by others concerned about the efficiency and cost of the drug.

Previously the drug has been approved to treat colon and lung cancer. The Food and Drug Administration’s decision clears the way for doctors to recommend the drug for women who have metastatic breast cancer. In the past, doctors were prescribing avastin for such women on an unapproved or “off label” basis. Though it is a legal thing it makes insurance coverage less probable.

The FDA decision has been made following the claim by U.S. Biotechnology Company last week that a study of Avastin used with chemotherapy prolonged progression free survival significantly in patients with breast cancer.

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