Pertuzumab
A second HER2 antibody that binds a different spot from trastuzumab, blocking HER2 from pairing with HER3; together they extended survival by 16 months in CLEOPATRA.
Binds HER2 extracellular domain II, preventing HER2-HER3 heterodimerisation. Approved with trastuzumab and docetaxel in first-line metastatic disease (2012), neoadjuvant (2013, first pCR-based accelerated approval), and adjuvant node-positive disease (2017, APHINITY). Phesgo (2020) delivers both antibodies subcutaneously in minutes. Being partnered with T-DXd in first line (DESTINY-Breast09) and tucatinib in maintenance (HER2CLIMB-05).
1.HER3, activated by neuregulin, seeks HER2 as a dimer partner
- Route
- Intravenous (or subcutaneous as Phesgo)
- Schedule
- 840 mg loading then 420 mg every 3 weeks; Phesgo 1200/600 mg loading then 600/600 mg SC every 3 weeks
- Monitoring
- LVEF at baseline and every 3 months
Source: www.accessdata.fda.gov/drugsatfda_docs/label/2021/125409s128lbl.pdf. Doses are for orientation; the current label governs.
- Medicare
- Part B (clinician-administered)
Given by infusion or injection in a clinic or hospital outpatient department, so it is a Part B drug: Medicare pays 80% after the Part B deductible and the patient owes 20% coinsurance, uncapped in Original Medicare unless a Medigap policy applies. Phesgo (pertuzumab + trastuzumab + hyaluronidase) is a subcutaneous clinician-administered product and also Part B.
- Commercial insurance
- covered with prior authorisation
Covered under the medical benefit with prior authorisation confirming diagnosis, biomarker status and line of therapy; site-of-care policies may steer infusions away from hospital outpatient departments.
- Assistance programmes
- Genentech Access Solutions
- Genentech Patient Foundation — Free medicine for eligible patients regardless of insurance type.
- PAN Foundation — Disease-specific co-pay and premium funds; open and closed funds change monthly.
- HealthWell Foundation
- CancerCare Co-Payment Assistance Foundation
- Patient Advocate Foundation Co-Pay Relief
20% Part B coinsurance on a high-cost infusion adds up quickly: Medigap Plan G or N, Medicare Advantage maximum out-of-pocket, Medicaid dual eligibility, or a charity fund are the usual buffers.
Sources: Medicare.gov: Chemotherapy · Medicare.gov: Prescription drugs (outpatient, Part B). Not medical or financial advice; verify with your plan.
- Appraised for
- With trastuzumab and docetaxel for HER2-positive metastatic breast cancer
- Notes
- Adjuvant use for node-positive early HER2-positive disease: TA569 (2019). Phesgo (subcutaneous with trastuzumab) is used where the TAs apply.
- NHS England
- Routinely funded for the appraised indication (or via managed access)
Sources: NICE TA509 · SMC advice: pertuzumab. Funding decisions are indication-specific and change monthly; verify with NICE and your treating team.
- 8 Jun 2012ApprovalUS
First-line metastatic (CLEOPATRA)
- 30 Sept 2013ApprovalUS
Neoadjuvant accelerated approval on pCR
- 20 Dec 2017ApprovalUS
Adjuvant (APHINITY)
- 29 Jun 2020ApprovalUS
Phesgo SC
Approvals
| Region | Year | Indication |
|---|---|---|
| US | 2012 | First-line HER2+ metastatic breast cancer with trastuzumab and docetaxel |
| US | 2013 | Neoadjuvant HER2+ early breast cancer (accelerated; first pCR-based approval) |
| US | 2017 | Adjuvant HER2+ early breast cancer at high risk of recurrence |
| US | 2020 | Phesgo subcutaneous fixed-dose combination with trastuzumab |
| Adverse event | Any grade | Grade 3+ |
|---|---|---|
| Diarrhoea | 67% | 8% |
| Rash | 34% | — |
| Left ventricular dysfunction | 5% | 1.2% |
| Febrile neutropenia (with docetaxel) | — | 14% |
Events listed without rates were not read from a primary source; see the label. Blank cells mean the figure was not sourced, not that it is zero.
Trials
topRecruiting now (live from ClinicalTrials.gov)
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Landmark trials in OnCo
Latest papers
topQuery for this drug: (TITLE:"Pertuzumab" OR ABSTRACT:"Pertuzumab" OR TITLE:"Perjeta; Phesgo" OR ABSTRACT:"Perjeta; Phesgo" OR TITLE:"with trastuzumab" OR ABSTRACT:"with trastuzumab" OR TITLE:"subcutaneous" OR ABSTRACT:"subcutaneous") AND (cancer OR tumor OR tumour OR oncology OR carcinoma OR lymphoma OR leukemia OR leukaemia OR myeloma OR sarcoma OR melanoma OR glioma). Results are unfiltered search hits about Pertuzumab, not a curated reading list.
Pages like this
not linked directly; found by shared links- ProductTrastuzumab
Shares HER2CLIMB-05, Early FDG-PET response → chemotherapy omission (HER2+), APHINITY, Trastuzumab cardiotoxicity.
- ProductZenocutuzumab
Shares HER3, Receptor tyrosine kinase activation, HER2.
- TrialPERSEPHONE
Shares Trastuzumab cardiotoxicity, HER2-positive breast cancer.
- TrialDESTINY-Breast11
Shares Can T-DXd alone cure early HER2-positive disease?, HER2-positive breast cancer.
- PersonSara M. Tolaney
Shares DESTINY-Breast09, HER2, HER2-positive breast cancer.
- TrialDESTINY-Breast05
Shares Can T-DXd alone cure early HER2-positive disease?, HER2-positive breast cancer.
- PersonDavid Cameron
Shares APHINITY, HER2-positive breast cancer.
- ProductTrastuzumab biosimilars
Shares Monoclonal antibodies, HER2, HER2-positive breast cancer.