To offer increased survival benefit to Indian women with aggressive HER2-positive form of metastatic breast cancer, Roche Pharma India recently announced the introduction of two innovative medicines for the treatment of HER2-positive metastatic breast cancer, a particularly aggressive form of the disease. The new drugs, Perjeta and Kadcyla, have been shown to both extend survival and improve quality of life in their approved applications for metastatic HER2-positive breast cancer.

Perjeta is approved in combination with trastuzumab (Herclon) and docetaxel chemotherapy for people with previously untreated HER2-positive metastatic breast disease (first-line treatment). Kadcyla is approved for people with HER2-positive metastatic breast disease previously treated with trastuzumab (Herclon) and taxane chemotherapy (second-line treatment).

“The introduction of these therapies is a significant milestone in the treatment of HER2-positive metastatic breast cancer in India and reaffirms our commitment to bring Roche's innovative medicines to patients in India as quickly as possible,” said Maturin Tchoumi, managing director, Roche Pharma India. “These targeted medicines represent a completely new way to treat HER2-positive metastatic breast cancer, with which we aim to help women in India live as long and as well as possible.”

With its targeted breast cancer medicine Herclon (globally known as Herceptin), Roche has helped transform the treatment of HER2-positive breast cancer over the last several years in India. Recognizing the need for additional treatment options, Roche is aiming to introduce a new standard of care for HER2-positive metastatic breast cancer patients in India with Kadcyla and Perjeta.

Breast cancer is the most common cancer among women worldwide2, with about 1.67 million new cases diagnosed, and over 500,000 women dying of the disease. In India, approximately, 1 in 4 women with breast cancer will be HER2 positive.

In India, Perjeta is indicated for patients with previously untreated HER2-positive metastatic breast cancer. In global studies, people who received Perjeta, Herceptin and docetaxel chemotherapy lived 15.7 months longer (overall survival; OS) than people who received Herceptin and docetaxel chemotherapy alone (median OS: 56.5 months vs. 40.8 months). Kadcyla, the latest targeted medicine from Roche India’s HER2 franchise and its first antibody-drug conjugate, is used for the treatment of people with HER2-positive metastatic breast cancer (mBC) who have received prior treatment with trastuzumab (Herclon) and taxane chemotherapy. An antibody-drug conjugate (ADC) is a new kind of targeted cancer medicine that can attach to certain types of cancer cells and deliver chemotherapy directly to them.

In global studies, Kadcyla has shown to have extended the lives of people with previously treated metastatic breast cancer by nearly 6 months (median OS: 30.9 months vs. 25.1 months), compared with lapatinib and capecitabine (Xeloda). Kadcyla’s highly effective, targeted mode of action also offers patients a chance to extend their lives with fewer of the side effects commonly experienced with chemotherapy.

Roche Products (India) Private Limited (formerly known as Roche Scientific Company (India) Pvt. Ltd.) was incorporated in 1994 as a wholly owned subsidiary of the Roche Group, the world’s largest biotech company, headquartered in Basel, Switzerland.