15.7

"These days, even expensive cancer treatments don't necessarily deliver show-stopping study results when it comes to actually extending patients' lives. Roche's  Perjeta is now a major departure from that trend.

Thanks to previously released data, we knew that Perjeta helped patients with HER2-positive breast cancer live significantly longer. But how long is that? Almost 16 months, according to a study rolled out at the European Society for Medical Oncology meeting over the weekend.

Perjeta helped half of patients live at least 15.7 months longer than patients in the control group, the study data shows. In the world of metastatic, HER2-positive breast cancer, that's a whopping result.

Perjeta's U.S. list price is about $5,900 per month, and it's used in tandem with Herceptin, which costs $5,300 per month.

But with those impressive survival stats, any stubborn payers could have trouble saying no. Roche says it will be asking regulators around the world to add the data to Perjeta's official label, which could help clear the way for increased sales.

Perjeta has also proven itself in patients with earlier stages of HER2-positive breast cancer. The drug won FDA approval for use before surgery a year ago, a move that cancer experts and FDA officials called "historic" and a "quantum leap" at the time."
http://www.fiercepharma.com/story/roches-perjeta-helps-breast-cancer-patients-live-record-setting-157-months/2014-09-29

What are the most common side effects?

The most common side effects of PERJETA when given with Herceptin and docetaxel for treatment of breast cancer that has spread to other parts of the body (metastatic) are:

• Diarrhea


• Hair loss


• Low levels of white blood cells with or without a fever


• Nausea


• Feeling tired


• Rash


• Damage to the nerves (numbness, tingling, pain in hands/feet)

The most common side effects of PERJETA when given with Herceptin and docetaxel as part of an early breast cancer regimen before surgery are:

• Hair loss


• Diarrhea


• Nausea


• Low levels of white blood cells with or without a fever

The most common side effects of PERJETA when given with Herceptin and docetaxel following 3 cycles of epirubicin, cyclophosphamide, and fluorouracil as part of an early breast cancer regimen before surgery are:

• Feeling tired


• Hair loss


• Diarrhea


• Nausea


• Vomiting


• Low levels of white blood cells with or without a fever

The most common side effects of PERJETA when given with Herceptin, docetaxel, and carboplatin as part of an early breast cancer regimen before surgery are:

• Feeling tired


• Hair loss


• Diarrhea


• Nausea


• Vomiting


• Low levels of white blood cells with or without a fever


• Low platelet count


• Low levels of red blood cell

http://www.perjeta.com/