- Patient
  - Colorectal Cancer
    - Understanding MCRC
    - About Avastin
    - Avastin Treatment
    - Side Effects of Avastin
    - Helpful Resources
      - Support Groups
      - Reimbursement
      - Where to Find More Information
    - Important Safety Information

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Patient Support Line: 877-4-AVASTIN24-hour access to Oncology Nurses

Colorectal Cancer Connections: Get the support you need... Enroll Now

Avastin Access Solutions: Committed to helping you access Avastin Learn More

Patient Brochure: Treatment for MCRC with Avastin Download

Reimbursement

To learn more about how we can help you or a loved one:

call (888) 249-4918 and speak live with one of our Specialists
visit AVASTINAccessSolutions.com

Avastin Access Solutions

AVASTIN Access Solutions - connecting you to the medicine you need. If you are worried about paying for one of our medicines, we can help.

Regardless of your insurance status, we can help:

Find out if your health plan pays for your medicine
Guide you through the reimbursement process
Connect you with programs to help you with out-of-pocket costs
Give you and your doctor's office personal help from a member of our support team

If you have no insurance, we can help you get your medicine free of charge.

Avastin Co-Pay Card Program

We are committed to ensuring that all eligible patients have access to the therapies they need. That is why we created the Avastin Co-Pay Card Program, a program that gives eligible patients help with their monthly insurance co-payments for Avastin

If eligible, this program can reduce your monthly co-pays for up to one year, up to $4,000.
For patients with commercial insurance and co-pays over $100 per month.
Quick and simple program qualification and activation.

Eligibility-Can I use this program?

Please respond to the following statements to see if you are eligible for the Avastin Co-Pay Card Program

I am covered by commercial insurance. To answer "yes," you must not be covered by a government- funded healthcare program (such as Medicare Part D, Medicaid Medigap, VA, DoD, and Tricare [or any other federal- or state-funded benefit programs]) or already receiving benefits from the Genentech Access to Care Foundation.
My insurance co-pay for Avastin is over $100
My annual household income is $100,000 or less
I am age 18 years or older
I currently live in either Puerto Rico or the United States, but not in Massachusetts. Massachusetts state law does not allow programs like this.
Answer the questions above to find out if you are eligible for the Avastin Co-Pay Card Program. Call us at 1-888-249-4918 weekdays, 6AM to 5PM PST for more information. Your 'No' answer above indicates your are not eligible for the Avastin Co-Pay Card Program at this time. Please call us at 1-888-249-4918 weekdays, 6AM to 5PM PST for more information. Congratulations, you are eligible for the Avastin Co-Pay Card Program. Please speak with your Healthcare Provider for more information or apply through BioOncology or Avastin Access Solutions. Call us at 1-888-249-4918 weekdays, 6AM to 5PM PST.

Answers to your questions

Am I eligible for this program?

You qualify for the Avastin Co-Pay Card Program if you are covered by commercial insurance (non-governmental), your insurance co-pay is over $100, your annual household income is $100,000 or less, and you are age 18 years or older.

There are legal limits regarding who may participate in programs like this. You are not eligible if you are uninsured, covered by a government-funded healthcare program (eg, Medicare Part D, Medicaid Medigap, VA, DoD, or Tricare), currently residing in Massachusetts, or currently participating in the Genentech Access to Care Foundation.

How does the program work?

We have made it as easy as possible for you to get the support you need from the Avastin Co-Pay Card Program. You can activate the card by answering some questions by phone or on the Internet. Then, present this card to your pharmacist along with your prescription. If eligible, your co-pay amount will be reduced accordingly.

How much co-payment support will I receive if I am eligible for the program?

You pay: The Avastin Co-Pay, plus any additional amount not covered by the program.

Program pays: Contributes 80% of total co-pay after the first $100.

Example: $500 co-pay: patient pays first $100; program pays 80% of remaining $400 (total patient cost = $180)

Program limit: Up to $4,000 in Avastin Co-Pay support, which must be used within 1 year after you activate you card.

Next Page: Important Safety Information

Indication

Avastin, in combination with intravenous 5-FU–based chemotherapy, is approved by the FDA for first- or second-line treatment of people with metastatic cancer of the colon or rectum.

Serious Side Effects

Avastin can result in the development of a potentially serious, and sometimes fatal, side effect called gastrointestinal (GI) perforation. GI perforation is the development of a hole in the stomach, small intestine, or large intestine. Symptoms may include abdominal pain, nausea, vomiting, constipation, and fever. Avastin therapy should be stopped if GI perforation occurs.

Treatment with Avastin can lead to slow or incomplete wound healing (for example, when a surgical incision has trouble healing or staying closed). In some cases, this event resulted in fatality. Stop Avastin for at least 28 days before voluntary surgery. Do not start Avastin for at least 28 days after surgery and until the surgical wound is fully healed. Avastin therapy should be stopped in patients who experience slow or incomplete wound healing.

Treatment with Avastin can result in serious and sometimes fatal bleeding. This includes coughing up blood, bleeding in the stomach, vomiting blood, bleeding in the brain, nosebleeds, and vaginal bleeding. People who have recently coughed up blood or have serious bleeding should not receive Avastin.

Please click here for additional important safety information.

Indication

Avastin, in combination with intravenous 5-FU–based chemotherapy, is approved by the FDA for first- or second-line treatment of people with metastatic cancer of the colon or rectum.

Possible Serious Side Effects and Additional Important Safety Information

What is the most important safety information I should know about Avastin?

Avastin can result in the development of a potentially serious, and sometimes fatal, side effect called gastrointestinal (GI) perforation. GI perforation is the development of a hole in the stomach, small intestine, or large intestine. Symptoms may include abdominal pain, nausea, vomiting, constipation, and fever. Avastin therapy should be stopped if GI perforation occurs.

Treatment with Avastin can lead to slow or incomplete wound healing (for example, when a surgical incision has trouble healing or staying closed). In some cases, this event resulted in fatality. Stop Avastin for at least 28 days before voluntary surgery. Do not start Avastin for at least 28 days after surgery and until the surgical wound is fully healed. Avastin therapy should be stopped in patients who experience slow or incomplete wound healing.

Treatment with Avastin can result in serious and sometimes fatal bleeding. This includes coughing up blood, bleeding in the stomach, vomiting blood, bleeding in the brain, nosebleeds, and vaginal bleeding. People who have recently coughed up blood or have serious bleeding should not receive Avastin.

What are the additional possible serious side effects of Avastin?

Serious side effects with Avastin include:

The formation of an abnormal passage from parts of the body to another part, sometimes fatal. Stop Avastin therapy if this occurs
Stroke or heart problems, which can be fatal. Heart problems include blood clots, mini-stroke, heart attack, and chest pain. Stop Avastin therapy if these occur
Too much protein in the urine, which may lead to kidney problems, sometimes fatal. Your doctor will monitor your protein level and may stop Avastin therapy if your level is too high
High blood pressure. Your doctor will monitor your blood pressure and may start you on medications to control your blood pressure. Temporarily stop Avastin if not controlled with medications. Avastin should be stopped if blood pressure severely spikes or if disturbance of the brain from high blood pressure occurs
Nervous system and vision disturbances. Symptoms may include high blood pressure, headache, seizure, sluggishness, confusion, and blindness. Stop Avastin therapy if these symptoms occur
Infusion reactions. These may include high blood pressure or severe high blood pressure that may lead to stroke, difficulty breathing, decreased oxygen in red blood cells, a serious allergic reaction, chest pain, headaches, tremors, and excessive sweating. Stop Avastin therapy if severe infusion reactions occur

What are the most common side effects of Avastin?

The most common side effects of Avastin that occurred at >10% and at least twice the control rate include nosebleeds, headache, high blood pressure, inflammation of the nose, too much protein in the urine, taste change, dry skin, rectal bleeding, tear production disorder, back pain, and inflammation of the skin.

What should I do if I am pregnant or thinking of becoming pregnant?

You should not take Avastin while you are pregnant. If you stop Avastin, you should use a contraceptive for at least 6 months after your last dose before attempting to become pregnant.

What should I tell my health care provider before taking Avastin?

Avastin therapy may not be appropriate for certain people. Talk to your doctor if you:

Are pregnant or think you may be pregnant, or are planning to become pregnant. Based on animal data, Avastin may harm the fetus
Are breast-feeding. Avastin may pass into your breast milk
Are undergoing surgery. Avastin should not be given for at least 28 days after surgery and until the surgical wound is fully healed
Are under the age of 18. The safety and efficacy of Avastin in children have not been evaluated

Please see full Product Information, including Serious Side Effects, for additional important safety information.