Roche says Herceptin with chemo prolongs survival

ZURICH (Reuters) - Roche Holding AG's Herceptin, when added to chemotherapy Xeloda, prolonged survival without progression of breast cancer by three months compared to chemotherapy alone, the Swiss drugmaker said on Friday.

Roche also reported results from a mid-stage trial, which showed that patients whose disease had progressed during a Herceptin regimen benefited from a combination of Herceptin and pertuzumab, another Roche drug.

Roche stock rose 1.1 percent to 182.20 Swiss francs by 1013 GMT, versus a 0.6 percent rise in the European sector.

"Incremental positive news for Herceptin should also help sentiment towards Roche," Dresdner Kleinwort analysts said in a note.

The data are due to be presented at an American Society of Clinical Oncology (ASCO) meeting.

For the Roche statements, click here or here

(Reporting by Sam Cage and Paul Arnold; editing by Sue Thomas)