Sept 13,2005 - Genentech Inc.   on Tuesday said interim analysis of a late-stage study of its breast cancer drug Herceptin combined with chemotherapy showed a significant reduction in disease recurrence in patients in whom the cancer has not spread. The results appear to back up results from previous studies released at a major cancer conference in May of Herceptin plus chemotherapy in early-stage breast cancer following surgery. Genentech said the latest study, conducted by the Breast Cancer International Research Group (BCIRG), demonstrated that Herceptin plus Taxotere following a standard chemotherapy regimen reduced the risk of disease recurrence by 51 percent. Herceptin is currently approved for use in late-stage breast cancer, meaning patients whose cancer has spread beyond the breast and associated lymph nodes. The biotechnology drug is designed specifically for women whose cancer tests positive for human epidermal growth factor receptor 2, known as HER-2.