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Roche’s subcutaneous Perjeta/Herceptin combo proves non-inferior to IV formulation in HER2-positive early breast cancer

pharmafile | December 12, 2019 | News story | Research and Development |  Cancer, Herceptin, Perjeta, Roche, breast cancer, pharma 

New Phase 3 data from Roche has shown that its subcutaneously-delivered formulation of Perjeta (pertuzumab) and Herceptin (trastuzumab), in combination with intravenous (IV) chemotherapy, proved non-inferior to its standard IV infusion formulation in the treatment of HER2-positive early breast cancer (eBC).

Specifically, the subcutaneous formulation met its primary endpoint, showing non-inferior levels of Perjeta in the blood in addition to comparable efficacy and safety to the standard IV infusion.

On top of this, the subcutaneous version is much faster to administer, requiring eight minutes for the initial loading dose and around five minutes for each subsequent dose. Conversely, the IV infusion takes around 150 minutes to administer a loading dose, with subsequent doses requiring anywhere between 60 and 150 minutes.

These advantages are taken alongside the preference expressed for subcutaneous delivery by patients in previous studies, principally because of its shorter duration.

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“This fixed-dose subcutaneous combination has the potential to provide a quicker and less invasive method of administration for people with HER2-positive breast cancer being treated with Perjeta and Herceptin,” remarked Dr Levi Garraway, Roche’s Chief Medical Officer and Head of Global Product Development. “This is the first time that we have brought together two of our targeted antibodies as a single subcutaneous injection that can be administered in just minutes.”

Matt Fellows

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