FDA Approves Genentech Breast Cancer Treatment That Can Be Administered At Home

By Stephen Nakrosis

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration on Monday said it approved Genentech Inc.'s Phesgo, a treatment for breast cancer that can be administered at home by a qualified health professional.

The FDA said Phesgo, which is a combination of pertuzumab, trastuzumab and hyaluronidase, can be injected under the skin "to treat adult patients with HER2-positive breast cancer that has spread to other parts of the body, and for treatment of adult patients with early HER2-positive breast cancer."

Phesgo is initially used in combination with chemotherapy, the FDA said, adding qualified healthcare professionals can continue to administer treatments at home when chemotherapy is completed.

"Currently, most patients with HER2-positive breast cancer receive trastuzumab and pertuzumab at infusion centers. With a new administration route, Phesgo offers an out-patient option for patients to receive trastuzumab and pertuzumab," said Richard Pazdur, director of the FDA's Oncology Center of Excellence and acting director of the Office of Oncologic Diseases in the FDA's Center for Drug Evaluation and Research.

Genentech Inc. is a Roche Holding AG company.

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(END) Dow Jones Newswires

June 29, 2020 13:50 ET (17:50 GMT)

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