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www.fdanews.com/articles/82143-xeloda-extends-survival-for-patients-with-pancreatic-cancer

XELODA EXTENDS SURVIVAL FOR PATIENTS WITH PANCREATIC CANCER

November 2, 2005

The interim analysis of one of the largest Phase III studies investigating the first-line treatment of advanced pancreatic cancer shows that adding Xeloda (capecitabine) to standard chemotherapy (gemcitabine) significantly extends patient survival. The study showed that after a year, one patient out of four was still alive when treated with Xeloda plus standard chemotherapy, compared to one in five taking standard chemotherapy alone.

The randomized study compared the survival of gemcitabine with gemcitabine plus Xeloda and involved 533 previously untreated patients with locally advanced or metastatic pancreatic cancer. Patients receiving the combination therapy lived significantly longer than those with standard therapy alone with acceptable levels of toxicity. A higher percentage of patients were alive at 12 months in the group treated with Xeloda plus gemcitabine, compared to those treated with chemotherapy alone.