On June 8, 2012, the U. S. Food and Drug Administration approved Pertuzumab injection (PERJETA™, Genentech, Inc.) for use in combination with trastuzumab and docetaxel for the treatment of patients with HER2-positive metastatic breast cancer who have not received prior anti-HER2 therapy or chemotherapy for metastatic disease.

 Pertuzumab is a similar compounds as Trastuzumab (Herceptin) that targets HER2 but in a different area of the molecule. It prevents 2 such molecules (HER2 or other receptors like HER1, 3, or 4) for attach to each other and thus activate their function. Together with trastuzumab and chemo, as shown in the “CLEOPATRA” trial, it improves outcome of patients with MBC.

Author - Dr. Stefan Gluck

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