If U. S. and EU regulators invalidate the commercialization of Avastin as a treatment for breast cancer, it will hardly hit the sales of drug maker Roche Holding AG.

As expected by analysts, the sales of the pharmaceutical Company could decline between CHF500 million and CHF1.5 billion that will depend on to which extent the regulators will disapprove the use of the drug. The sale could drop maximum by 25%.

The fate of the Avastin for its use in combination with chemotherapies for treating breast cancer patients will be decided by the U. S. Food and Drug Administration on December 17, which will be based on the new data from Roche. An FDA advisory panel in July suggested annulling the use of drug for treating breast cancer. On Wednesday, the U. K. healthcare cost body also recommended that the drug should not be available on National Health Service, which is funded publicly.

David Kaegi, pharmaceuticals analyst at Bank Sarasin, "The FDA is likely to revoke its approval for breast cancer. The European regulator and other regulators may also come to a similar conclusion”.

The European regulator is also reviewing the benefits and risks of Avastin, but it has not told the date when to will reveal its results. Some industry observers are of the view that the decision will arrive on December 16.