Efficacy

Kisqali (Ribociclib) Efficacy in Breast Cancer

Kisqali (ribociclib) is a targeted therapy drug used to treat breast cancer. Specifically, it is approved for the treatment of hormone receptor-positive (HR+), human epidermal growth factor receptor 2-negative (HER2-) advanced or metastatic breast cancer. Ribociclib is a cyclin-dependent kinase 4/6 (CDK4/6) inhibitor, a class of drugs that work by interrupting the proliferation of cancer cells. In clinical trials, ribociclib, in combination with an aromatase inhibitor or fulvestrant, has shown to significantly improve progression-free survival in women with this subtype of breast cancer. The MONALEESA trials, which were key in the approval of ribociclib, demonstrated a substantial delay in disease progression when ribociclib was added to standard endocrine therapy.

The MONALEESA-2 trial, for instance, showed that the combination of ribociclib and letrozole significantly increased progression-free survival compared to letrozole alone in postmenopausal women with HR+/HER2- advanced breast cancer. Similar benefits were observed in premenopausal and perimenopausal women when ribociclib was combined with endocrine therapy in the MONALEESA-7 trial. These findings have established ribociclib as an effective first-line treatment option for patients with this particular type of breast cancer.

Keytruda (Pembrolizumab) Efficacy in Breast Cancer

Keytruda (pembrolizumab) is an immunotherapy drug that has been shown to be effective in treating certain types of breast cancer. It is a programmed death receptor-1 (PD-1) blocking antibody that helps the immune system to detect and fight cancer cells. Pembrolizumab has been studied in breast cancer, particularly in patients with triple-negative breast cancer (TNBC), which is a more aggressive and difficult-to-treat form of the disease. In these patients, pembrolizumab is used in combination with chemotherapy and has been found to improve survival outcomes in those whose tumors express programmed death-ligand 1 (PD-L1).

The KEYNOTE-355 trial provided evidence that pembrolizumab, in combination with chemotherapy, offered a significant improvement in progression-free survival for patients with metastatic TNBC whose tumors expressed PD-L1. This has led to the approval of pembrolizumab for use in this specific patient population. While the results are promising, the efficacy of pembrolizumab can vary based on PD-L1 expression and other tumor characteristics. Therefore, its use is tailored to the individual patient's tumor profile to maximize the potential benefits of the treatment.