Taxotere Cuts Breast Cancer Relapse in Study

A cancer treatment from French drugmaker Sanofi-Aventis (SNY Quote) improved the long-term survival of breast cancer patients and reduced the risk of disease recurrence when used after surgery, the company announced Thursday.

Taxotere reduced the risk of relapse by 28% when used in addition to a post-surgery treatment regimen of doxorubicin and cyclophosphamide in patients with early-stage breast cancer, compared with the standard post-surgery treatment known as FAC, which is composed of 5-fluorouracil, doxorubicin and cyclophosphamide. The multicenter phase III study of the cancer infusion involved about 1,500 patients.

The study also showed a 30% reduction in the risk of death after 55 months.

At five years, 87% of women treated in the Taxotere arm of the trial were alive vs. 81% in the arm without the drug. "The data from the study suggest that by substituting Taxotere for 5-fluorouracil after surgery, we now have a treatment that may be able to benefit more women with early stage breast cancer," Dr. John R. Mackey, co-chair of the study, said in a statement.

Taxotere is currently approved for treating patients with locally advanced or metastatic breast cancer after prior chemotherapy failed. Before each infusion, patients receiving the drug must also take an anti-inflammatory drug to reduce the risk of fluid retention and allergic reactions.

Shares of Sanofi-Aventis were recently up 42 cents, or 1%, to $44.75.