Government funds first targeted treatment for aggressive breast cancer 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.1-5
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 advanced or metastasised), is inoperable and have received prior treatment with two or more therapies.1-2Trodelvy is a novel antibody-drug conjugate, which works by delivering chemotherapy directly to cancer cells in a selective and targeted way, minimising the impact on healthy tissue.3,6,7
Breast cancer remains the most commonly diagnosed cancer among Australian women and the second biggest cancer killer8, despite the number of advancements in treatment innovation.9-11 Triple negative breast cancer (TNBC) is a specific type of breast cancer.4,5 It is more likely to recur and spread to other parts of the body faster, compared to other breast cancers.4,5 The average time to recurrence is just 2.6 years compared with approximately 5 years for other breast cancers.12Once TNBC spreads, the rate of death is higher than other types of breast cancers.13,14 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.15,16 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.16
Medical Oncologist 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.8,17 An estimated 15% will have TNBC, with the number of those progressing to metastatic disease unknown.18 Eligible patients will pay $42.50 (general patients) or $6.80 (concessional patients) for each treatment.19
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 trials were nausea, low white blood cell count, diarrhoea, fatigue, hair loss, low red blood cell count, vomiting, constipation, rash, decreased appetite and abdominal pain.6,7
