The ongoing confrontation between the US Food and Drug administrator (FDA) and the drug maker, Genentech over suspending the use of breast cancer drug Avastin (bevacizumab) has been capturing the attention of medical community across the world. As per the FDA’s analysis, side effects observed in the breast cancer patients after taking Avastin have surpassed the meager effect of breast cancer.

Following this regulation in December, the FDA took the decision to pull out the drug from the US market, which has been strongly objected by a clan of oncologists. On the coming June 28-29 hearing, a strong voice will be heard from Dr. Frederick C. Tucker Jr. of Fredericksburg Oncology in Virginia, who has openly downplayed the analysis done by the FDA.

Defending the argument, Dr. Tucker claimed, “It was this lack of demonstrated clinical benefit, combined with the potentially severe side effects of the drug that led the F. D. A. last year to reject the use of Avastin with Taxol or with the other chemotherapies for breast cancer”.

Furthermore, Dr. Tucker was dissatisfied with the arguments made by Genentech in the initial appeal and further, referring to a number of patients who have got ample benefit from the drug, asserted that anecdote is not science.