New data confirm that XELOX, a combination of Xeloda (capecitabine) and oxaliplatin, is as safe as the current standard treatment of intravenous 5-fluorouracil/leucovorin (i.v. 5-FU/LV) in adjuvant colon cancer patients (post-surgery). Moreover, XELOX reduces the number of hospital visits by more than 60 percent compared to the current standard therapy, providing patients the freedom to live as normal a life as possible.¹

"Being diagnosed with colon cancer shook me to the core. Having discussed treatment options with my doctor, I was thankful to be offered a combination treatment, including oral Xeloda, as it would mean much less time spent in hospital, so that I could get on with my life and return to work sooner," said Andy Griffin, a patient with colon cancer from the UK. "At such a difficult time in my life, it was important for me to be able to spend as much quality time with my family as possible."

In 2004, colorectal cancer was one of the leading cancers and accounted for 13 percent of all cancers.² It is estimated that over 394,000 people die worldwide from colorectal cancer each year.³ Xeloda was approved in the EU for post-surgery treatment of colorectal cancer in April 2005. Approval was based on data (X-ACT study) that showed Xeloda to be at least equal to 5-FU/LV in terms of effectiveness with a strong trend towards improvement with fewer severe side-effects.⁴

"It's great to know that physicians have a new treatment option that will truly benefit their patients. This option is giving patients the freedom to live their lives while providing similar safety benefits to the current standard i.v. combination treatment in the post-surgery setting," said Professor Chris Twelves, University of Leeds and Bradford NHS Foundation Trust. "This study confirms that Xeloda, either on its own or in combination, is fast becoming the backbone of bowel cancer treatment."

Previous XELOX studies, c
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Contact: Jonathan Kearney
jonathan.kearney@newyork.shirehealth.com
212-329-6271
Shire Health New York
2-Nov-2005

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