Licence Granted Today for New Breast Cancer Drug Perjeta,

[cornishgirl]

Very pleased to hear that the licence was granted today for the new breast cancer drug Perjeta for advanced HER2+ breast cancer patients. We now have to wait for NICE approval to fund it, BUT in the meantime there is the trials available plus oncologists can apply to the breast cancer fund for treatment with Perjeta, this seems to be a very promising drug and has been shown to significantly extend life for advanced HER2+ patients.
If you want to listen to the news reports where one of the oncologists from my hospital is talking about the news today on Radio Cornwall this morning you can listen to it here (103 mins in) . BBC Radio Cornwall - James Churchfield, 14/03/2013

[Lola65]

It does sound very promising for advanced HER2+++ patients, and hopefully funding will soon be approved. The same drug is also being trialled at the moment for early stage BC to be used alongside Herceptin.

[system]

On this topic, here is what Dr Emma Pennery, Breast Cancer Care’s Clinical Director has said:

“Patients with HER2-positive, advanced breast cancer and their families will welcome today’s news that Perjeta (pertuzumab) has been approved for use in the UK.

“This drug, when combined with Herceptin and chemotherapy can provide a more effective, targeted treatment option to delay progression of this aggressive disease than Herceptin and chemotherapy alone, but with comparable side effects.

“The priority now must be that Perjeta is made widely accessible across the UK as soon as possible for patients with secondary breast cancer whose lives could be extended from its use.”

http://www.breastcancercare.org.uk/news/blog/our-comment-perjeta-pertuzumab-being-given-regulatory-green-light

[samos]

This is such good news!
My Onc was on our local news - North West - and he said for women to contact their doc if they believed they would benefit from taking Pertuzumab!

[alize]

Im starting perjeta on monday! Funded by the cancer drugs fund, given 3 wkly with herceptin and taxotere.
I first had BC in 2003,er-, pr+. Not tested for Her2 at that time, surgery, chemo and rads. then NED for a looooonng time until recurrence in supraclavicular lymph nodes. This time er+ and Her2+
I had rads to the neck and started femara and and them arimidex. A bone scan 1 yr after initial recurrence showed spread to spine, pelvis and ribs.
I am eligible for this new regime as i have not already had chemo/herceptin for mets.
i have been told i am only the 2nd person in the uk to be on this regime, other than all the women who underwent the trial -thank you all so much- hopefully this will extend the length of time to further progression.
I have been told that the first woman to recieve the same protocol is from Winchester - wd love to hear from you, who ever you are, if you feel like getting in touch.
All the very best to each and everyone out there x