Panel Discusses Costly New Oncology Drugs; Study Address Cancer Drug Shortages

Although researchers have made powerful new targeted treatment options available to oncologists who treat breast cancer patients, options such as pertuzumab are associated with high costs which raises questions about access as payers assess the value of treatment. Pertuzumab, also known as Genentech’s Perjeta, is a recombinant humanized monoclonal antibody that is approved for use in combination with trastuzumab and docetaxel for the treatment of patients with HER2-positive metastatic breast cancer.

According to the American Journal of Managed Care, in one clinical trial, women treated with combination therapy with pertuzumab experienced significant improvements in progression-free survival, or six months greater on average, compared to women who received combination treatment with a placebo. These and other key issues surrounding proper utilization and reimbursement were the focus of an expert panel discussion that the American Journal of Managed Care convened.

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Source: PharmaLive