Government funds first targeted treatment for aggressive breast cancera disease where abnormal cells split without control and spread to other nearby body tissue and/or organs disproportionately affecting younger people
- Trodelvy® (sacituzumab govitecan) will be listed on the Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme (PBS) from this Sunday, 1 May 2022 for the treatment of metastatic triple negative breast cancer
- Known as a ‘hard to treat’ cancer, triple negative is more common in those under 40 years, and more likely to recur and spread (metastasise) than other types of breast cancer
- The swift reimbursement of Trodelvy via the PBS recognises the severe lack of treatment options for triple negative breast cancer, particularly when the cancer has spread Melbourne, Australia
Tuesday 26 April 2022 – Gilead Sciences Australia today announced the first targeted medicine to treat an aggressive form of breast cancer, known as triple negative breast cancer, will be funded by the Federal Government from this Sunday.
Trodelvy® (sacituzumab govitecan) will become available on the Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme (PBS) from 1 May 2022 for Australians with triple negative breast cancer whose disease has progressed (locally advancedat a late stage, far along or metastasised), is inoperable and have received prior treatment with two or more therapies. Trodelvy is a novel antibody-drug conjugate, which works by delivering chemotherapya cancer treatment that uses drugs to kill or slow the growth of cancer cells, while minimising damage to healthy cells directly to cancer cellsthe basic structural and functional unit of all living things in a selective and targeted way, minimising the impact on healthy tissuea group of cells that work together to perform a function.
Breast cancer remains the most commonly diagnosed cancer among Australian women and the second biggest cancer killer, despite the number of advancements in treatment innovation. Triple negative breast cancer (TNBC) is a specific type of breast cancer. It is more likely to recur and spread to other parts of the body faster, compared to other breast cancers. The average time to recurrenceto occur or happen again is just 2.6 years compared with approximately 5 years for other breast cancers. Once TNBC spreads, the rate of death is higher than other types of breast cancers. Until now, metastatic TNBC has been treated with chemotherapy as the standard of care, as there have been no approved treatment options that target TNBC. This has provided limited benefit for those affected, with chemotherapy associated with low response rates and only a short time until the disease progresses or worsens.
Medical Oncologista doctor who specialises in the study, diagnosis and treatment of cancer at the Mater Hospital Sydney and Director of the Patricia Ritchie Centre for Cancer Care and Research, Professor Fran Boyle said: “We have long hoped for a new treatment option for this unique and challenging to treat breast cancer. Triple negative does not have receptors on the cells that are the targets of existing breast cancer treatments, and so the treatment options available to patients have been very limited, particularly when their cancer has come back.”
In Australia, more than 20,000 Australians are diagnosed with breast cancer each year. An estimated 15% will have TNBC, with the number of those progressing to metastatic disease unknown. Eligible patients will pay $42.50 (general patients) or $6.80 (concessional patients) for each treatment.
Jaime McCoy, General Manager, Gilead Sciences Australia and New Zealand added: “We are extremely pleased to see expedited access to Trodelvy in Australia and commend the Federal Government for their efforts in recognising this urgent need and responding quickly. We also thank the breast cancer community, including clinicians and patient groups for their collaboration, support and tireless work on behalf of those with metastatic TNBC, which has helped to make this novel therapy widely available to eligible Australians.”
The most common (>25%) side effects experienced with Trodelvy seen across clinical trialsresearch studies performed to test new treatments, tests or procedures and evaluate their effectiveness on various diseases were nauseato feel sick or likely to vomit, low white bloodthe red bodily fluid that transports oxygen and other nutrients around the body cell count, diarrhoeafrequent discharge of watery or loose stools from the body, fatiguea state of extreme tiredness or exhaustion, can be physical or mental, hair loss, low red blood cell count, vomiting, constipationa condition where a person has difficulty passing faeces/stools, rash, decreased appetite and abdominal pain.
View the full media release from Gilead Sciences Australia, including references.
About Triple Negative Breast Cancer
View this information sheet from Gilead Sciences for more detailed information on these Triple Negative Breast Cancer topics:
- Breast cancer remains Australia’s second biggest cancer killer in women, despite treatment advances
- Triple negative breast cancer (TNBC) is different to most other types of breast cancer
- TNBC is aggressive, with a higher death rate than other breast cancers
- Until now there have been no approved targeted treatment options for metastatic TNBC
- About Trodelvy