Efficacy

Efficacy of Keytruda (Pembrolizumab) in Breast Cancer

Keytruda, known generically as pembrolizumab, is an immunotherapy drug that has shown efficacy in the treatment of 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. Keytruda is particularly effective in treating triple-negative breast cancer (TNBC), which is a type of cancer that lacks the three most common types of receptors known to fuel most breast cancer growth—estrogen, progesterone, and the HER-2 gene. For patients with PD-L1 positive TNBC, Keytruda in combination with chemotherapy has been shown to improve survival rates and reduce the risk of disease progression.

In clinical trials, Keytruda has demonstrated a significant improvement in progression-free survival (PFS) when used as a first-line treatment in combination with chemotherapy for patients with metastatic TNBC that expresses PD-L1. The KEYNOTE-355 trial, which evaluated the efficacy of Keytruda, showed a median PFS of 9.7 months for the pembrolizumab-chemotherapy combination compared to 5.6 months for the placebo-chemotherapy combination. This indicates a substantial benefit for patients with this aggressive form of breast cancer.

Efficacy of Phesgo (Pertuzumab, Trastuzumab, and Hyaluronidase) in Breast Cancer

Phesgo is a combination of two monoclonal antibodies, pertuzumab and trastuzumab, with the enzyme hyaluronidase, and is used in the treatment of HER2-positive breast cancer. HER2-positive breast cancer is characterized by an overexpression of the human epidermal growth factor receptor 2 (HER2), which promotes the growth of cancer cells. By targeting the HER2 protein, Phesgo has been shown to effectively slow down the progression of the disease and to improve survival rates in patients with early and metastatic HER2-positive breast cancer.

In clinical studies, such as the FeDeriCa trial, Phesgo has been proven to be non-inferior to intravenous administrations of pertuzumab and trastuzumab, with respect to the pharmacokinetics and efficacy, while offering the convenience of subcutaneous injection. The combination of pertuzumab and trastuzumab has been a standard treatment for HER2-positive breast cancer, and Phesgo maintains this efficacy with a more patient-friendly administration route. The addition of hyaluronidase allows the drugs to be effectively absorbed after being injected under the skin, simplifying the treatment regimen for patients and potentially reducing the time spent receiving treatment.