OnCo
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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).

Schematic of the modality · Monoclonal antibody (anti-HER2, dimerisation domain) · not a molecule; see the Monoclonal antibodies page
Mechanism, step by step
auto-advancing · hover to pause

1.HER3, activated by neuregulin, seeks HER2 as a dimer partner

Modality
Monoclonal antibody (anti-HER2, dimerisation domain)
Mechanism
Anti-HER2 IgG1 against subdomain II; blocks ligand-dependent HER2-HER3 signalling; ADCC.
Brand / code
Perjeta; Phesgo (with trastuzumab, subcutaneous)
Dosing & schedule
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

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.

NICE recommendedNICE TA509 · 2018SMC: accepted
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.

Regulatory

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  1. 8 Jun 2012ApprovalUS

    First-line metastatic (CLEOPATRA)

  2. 30 Sept 2013ApprovalUS

    Neoadjuvant accelerated approval on pCR

  3. 20 Dec 2017ApprovalUS

    Adjuvant (APHINITY)

  4. 29 Jun 2020ApprovalUS

    Phesgo SC

Approvals

RegionYearIndication
US2012First-line HER2+ metastatic breast cancer with trastuzumab and docetaxel
US2013Neoadjuvant HER2+ early breast cancer (accelerated; first pCR-based approval)
US2017Adjuvant HER2+ early breast cancer at high risk of recurrence
US2020Phesgo subcutaneous fixed-dose combination with trastuzumab

Safety

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Toxicity profile
Adverse eventAny gradeGrade 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

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ClinicalTrials.gov · phase 2/3
refreshed 2026-09-09
318 studies25 recruiting73 Phase 230 Phase 3
Search “Pertuzumab” on ClinicalTrials.gov →
Counts are from a name search and may include unrelated studies; up to 100 studies are summarised.

Recruiting now (live from ClinicalTrials.gov)

Recruiting trials near you · live from ClinicalTrials.gov
Pertuzumab
intervention: Pertuzumab
Open on ClinicalTrials.gov →

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Landmark trials in OnCo

Latest papers

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Literature trend5,495 papers in the last 12 months+6% vs prior 12How this is computed
Latest papers · live from Europe PMC
Open in Europe PMC

Query 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.

Connected

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