PERJETA POOLED ANALYSIS IN EBC

Background: PERJETA in the neoadjuvant setting

NeoSphere Study Design

A Phase 2, randomized, open-label trial that evaluated the efficacy and safety of 4 neoadjuvant treatment regimens in HER+ EBC (N=417). Patients received either Herceptin® (trastuzumab) + docetaxel, or PERJETA + Herceptin + docetaxel, or PERJETA + Herceptin, or PERJETA + docetaxel. During the entire pre- and post-surgery period, all patients were to receive chemotherapy as per standard care. The primary endpoint was pCR in the breast.1,2

Results

Percentage of patients who experienced pCR in the breast and nodes (FDA-preferred definition)1

  • PERJETA + Herceptin + docetaxel (n=107): 39.3% pCR (95% CI: 30.0-49.2; P=0.0063) vs Herceptin + docetaxel (n=107) 21.5% pCR (95% CI: 14.1-30.5)1
  • PERJETA + Herceptin (n=107): 11.2% pCR (95% CI: 5.9-18.8; P=0.0223) vs Herceptin + docetaxel1
  • PERJETA + docetaxel (n=96): 17.7% pCR (95% CI: 10.7-26.8; P=0.0018) vs PERJETA + Herceptin + docetaxel1

EBC=early breast cancer; HER2=human epidermal growth factor receptor 2; pCR=pathological complete response.

Pooled analysis: An exploratory analysis of 5 neoadjuvant studies3

Pooled Analysis Overview

The pooled analysis included 1,763 patients with HER2+ EBC from 5 studies for which there was patient-level data, who received neoadjuvant HER2-targeted therapy plus chemotherapy and continued their anti-HER2 treatment post surgery.3

Objective

Patient-level data were pooled, with the goal to assess EFS in patients who had a pCR or residual disease and to determine if outcomes differed by treatment modality in the neoadjuvant and adjuvant settings: H → H; P + H → H; and P + H → P + H.3

The arrows indicate the time of surgery such that treatments to the left of the arrow were given prior to surgery (i.e., neoadjuvant setting) and treatments to the right of the arrow were given after surgery (i.e., adjuvant setting).3
EFS: time from the date of randomization on enrollment to the date of disease recurrence or progression or death due to any cause.3
EFS=event-free survival; H=Herceptin (patients received Herceptin HYLECTA™ [trastuzumab and hyaluronidase-oysk] subcutaneous formulation or Herceptin IV); P=PERJETA.

Studies included in pooled analysis

  • HannaH: A Phase 3, randomized, open-label trial evaluated the pharmacokinetics, efficacy, and safety of subcutaneous vs IV administration of neoadjuvant Herceptin in HER2+ EBC (N=596). pCR was a primary endpoint. EFS was evaluated as a secondary endpoint.4,5
  • NeoSphere: A Phase 2, randomized, open-label trial evaluated the efficacy and safety of neoadjuvant PERJETA + Herceptin in HER2+ EBC (N=417). pCR was a primary endpoint. PFS was evaluated as a secondary endpoint. Only 3 of the 4 arms (n=321) in NeoSphere were used in this pooled analysis.1,2,6
  • TRYPHAENA: A Phase 2, randomized, open-label trial evaluated the cardiac safety of PERJETA + Herceptin plus standard neoadjuvant anthracycline-containing and anthracycline-free chemotherapy in HER2+ EBC (N=225). Cardiac safety was a primary endpoint. PFS was a secondary endpoint.1,7,8    
  • BERENICE: A Phase 2, open-label, non-randomized study evaluated the cardiac safety of PERJETA + Herceptin plus standard anthracycline- and taxane-based chemotherapy in neoadjuvant HER2+ EBC (N=401). Cardiac safety was the primary endpoint. EFS was a secondary endpoint.1,9,10
  • KRISTINE: A Phase 3, open-label, randomized study evaluated the efficacy and safety of ado-trastuzumab emtansine plus PERJETA compared with chemotherapy plus PERJETA + Herceptin in patients with HER2+ EBC (N=444). The primary endpoint was pCR. EFS was evaluated as a secondary endpoint. Only the PERJETA + Herceptin arm in KRISTINE was used (n=221).11,12

PFS=progression-free survival.

Limitations of the Pooled Analysis

  • This exploratory analysis was not powered to detect differences between treatment groups. Therefore, the results are descriptive. Caution should be exercised when interpreting the results.
  • Each treatment modality contains data from only 2 of the 5 underlying trials.3
  • Certain baseline characteristics were imbalanced among the treatment groups. For example, there were more patients with clinical stage II disease and HR+ disease at baseline in the P + H → P + H vs P + H → H group; the H → H and P + H → H groups had a higher number of patients with T4 lesions.3
  • The median duration of treatment was not described and chemotherapy regimens differed across the trial arms.3
  • In comparison to the other trials, the patients in NeoSphere received part of their chemotherapy after surgery.3
  • Patients in the KRISTINE trial (1/3 of the patients in the P + H → P + H group) had a shorter follow-up time compared to the other studies (36.9 mos vs >60 mos).3

HR+=hormone receptor-positive.

In the pooled population of patients with and without a pCR, EFS varied by treatment modality.3

EFS by pCR Status and Treatment Modality*3

Table derived from Tables 3 and 4 of Swain SM, et al. Cancers. 2022;14:5051.

*Adjusted for hormone receptor status (positive, negative), clinical stage (I,II,III), and age group (<40, 40-65, >65).3
RD=residual disease.

Additional data is available for patients starting PERJETA in the adjuvant setting. View adjuvant data.

  1. PERJETA Prescribing Information. Genentech, Inc. 2025.
  2. Gianni L, et al. Lancet Oncol. 2016;17(6):791-800.
  3. Swain SM, et al. Cancers. 2022;14:5051.
  4. Ismael G, et al. Lancet Oncol. 2012;13:869-878.
  5. Jackisch C, et al. JAMA Oncol. 2019;5(5):e190339.
  6. Gianni L, et al. Lancet Oncol. 2012;13(1):25-32.
  7. Schneeweiss A, et al. Ann Oncol. 2013;24:2278-2284.
  8. Schneeweiss A, et al. Eur J Cancer. 2018;89:27-35.
  9. Swain SM, et al. Ann Oncol. 2018;29(3):646:653.
  10. Dang C, et al. Cancers (Basel). 2022;14(11):2596.
  11. Hurvitz SA, et al. Lancet Oncol. 2018;19:115-126.
  12. Hurvitz SA, et al. J Clin Oncol. 2019;37(25):2206-2216.

Important Safety Information & Uses

Indications:

PERJETA® (pertuzumab) is indicated for use in combination with trastuzumab and chemotherapy for:

  • the neoadjuvant treatment of adults with HER2-positive, locally advanced, inflammatory, or early stage breast cancer (either greater than 2 cm in diameter or node positive) as part of a complete treatment regimen for early breast cancer (EBC)
  • the adjuvant treatment of adults with HER2-positive early breast cancer (EBC) at high risk of recurrence

PERJETA® (pertuzumab) is indicated for use in combination with trastuzumab and docetaxel for the treatment of adults with HER2-positive metastatic breast cancer (MBC) who have not received prior anti-HER2 therapy or chemotherapy for metastatic disease.

Important Safety Information

BOXED WARNINGS: Left Ventricular Dysfunction and Embryo-Fetal Toxicity

  • PERJETA can cause subclinical and clinical cardiac failure manifesting as decreased left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF) and congestive heart failure (CHF). Evaluate cardiac function prior to and during treatment. Discontinue PERJETA treatment for a confirmed clinically significant decrease in left ventricular function
  • Exposure to PERJETA can cause embryo-fetal death and birth defects. Advise patients of these risks and the need for effective contraception
    • Verify the pregnancy status of females of reproductive potential prior to the initiation of PERJETA. Advise pregnant women and females of reproductive potential that exposure to PERJETA in combination with trastuzumab during pregnancy or within 7 months prior to conception can result in fetal harm, including embryo-fetal death or birth defects. Advise females of reproductive potential to use effective contraception during treatment and for 7 months following the last dose of PERJETA in combination with trastuzumab
    • There is a pregnancy pharmacovigilance program for PERJETA. If PERJETA is administered during pregnancy, or if a patient becomes pregnant while receiving PERJETA or within 7 months following the last dose of PERJETA in combination with trastuzumab, healthcare providers and patients should immediately report PERJETA exposure to Genentech at 1-888-835-2555

Contraindications

PERJETA is contraindicated in patients with known hypersensitivity to pertuzumab or to any of its excipients.

Warnings and Precautions

Left Ventricular Dysfunction

  • PERJETA can cause left ventricular dysfunction, including symptomatic heart failure
  • Assess LVEF prior to initiation of PERJETA and at regular intervals during treatment to ensure that LVEF is within normal limits. If the LVEF declines and has not improved, or has declined further at the subsequent assessment, consider permanent discontinuation of PERJETA and trastuzumab
  • In the PERJETA-treated patients with MBC in CLEOPATRA, left ventricular dysfunction occurred in 4% of patients and symptomatic left ventricular systolic dysfunction (LVSD) (congestive heart failure) occurred in 1% of patients. Patients who received prior anthracyclines or prior radiotherapy to the chest area may be at higher risk of decreased LVEF or left ventricular dysfunction
  • In patients receiving PERJETA as a neoadjuvant treatment in combination with trastuzumab and docetaxel in NeoSphere, LVEF decline >10% and a drop to <50% occurred in 8% of patients and left ventricular dysfunction occurred in 3% of patients. LVEF recovered to ≥50% in all these patients
  • In patients receiving neoadjuvant PERJETA in TRYPHAENA, LVEF decline >10% and a drop to <50% occurred in 7% of patients treated with PERJETA plus trastuzumab and fluorouracil, epirubicin, and cyclophosphamide (FEC) followed by PERJETA plus trastuzumab and docetaxel, 16% of patients treated with PERJETA plus trastuzumab and docetaxel following FEC, and 11% of patients treated with PERJETA in combination with docetaxel, carboplatin, and trastuzumab (TCH). Left ventricular dysfunction occurred in 6% of patients treated with PERJETA plus trastuzumab and FEC followed by PERJETA plus trastuzumab and docetaxel, 4% of patients treated with PERJETA plus trastuzumab and docetaxel following FEC, and 3% of patients treated with PERJETA in combination with TCH. Symptomatic LVSD occurred in 4% of patients treated with PERJETA plus trastuzumab and docetaxel following FEC, 1% of patients treated with PERJETA in combination with TCH, and none of the patients treated with PERJETA plus trastuzumab and FEC followed by PERJETA plus trastuzumab and docetaxel. LVEF recovered to ≥50% in all but 1 patient
  • In patients receiving neoadjuvant PERJETA in BERENICE, in the neoadjuvant period, LVEF decline ≥10% and a drop to <50% as measured by ECHO/MUGA assessment occurred in 7% of patients treated with PERJETA plus trastuzumab and paclitaxel following ddAC, and 2% of patients treated with PERJETA plus trastuzumab and docetaxel following FEC. Ejection fraction decreased (asymptomatic LVD) occurred in 7% of patients treated with PERJETA plus trastuzumab and paclitaxel following dose-dense doxorubicin and cyclophosphamide (ddAC) and 4% of the patients treated with PERJETA plus trastuzumab and docetaxel following FEC in the neoadjuvant period. Symptomatic LVSD (New York Heart Association [NYHA] Class III/IV Congestive Heart Failure) occurred in 2% of patients treated with PERJETA plus trastuzumab and paclitaxel following ddAC and none of the patients treated with PERJETA plus trastuzumab and docetaxel following FEC in the neoadjuvant period
  • In patients receiving adjuvant PERJETA in APHINITY, the incidence of symptomatic heart failure (NYHA Class III/IV) with a LVEF decline ≥10% and a drop to <50% was 0.6%. Of the patients who experienced symptomatic heart failure, 47% of PERJETA-treated patients had recovered (defined as 2 consecutive LVEF measurements above 50%) at the data cutoff. The majority of the events (86%) were reported in anthracycline-treated patients. Asymptomatic or mildly symptomatic (NYHA Class II) declines in LVEF ≥10% and a drop to <50% were reported in 3% of PERJETA-treated patients, of whom 80% recovered at the data cutoff
  • PERJETA has not been studied in patients with a pretreatment LVEF value of <50%, a prior history of CHF, decreases in LVEF to <50% during prior trastuzumab therapy, or conditions that could impair left ventricular function such as uncontrolled hypertension, recent myocardial infarction, serious cardiac arrhythmia requiring treatment, or a cumulative prior anthracycline exposure to >360 mg/m2 of doxorubicin or its equivalent

Embryo-Fetal Toxicity

  • Based on its mechanism of action and findings in animal studies, PERJETA can cause fetal harm when administered to a pregnant woman. PERJETA is a HER2/neu receptor antagonist. Cases of oligohydramnios and oligohydramnios sequence manifesting as pulmonary hypoplasia, skeletal abnormalities, and neonatal death have been reported with use of another HER2/neu receptor antagonist (trastuzumab) during pregnancy

Infusion-Related Reactions

  • PERJETA can cause serious infusion reactions, including fatal events
  • In CLEOPATRA, on the first day, when only PERJETA was administered, infusion-related reactions occurred in 13% of patients and <1% were Grade 3 or 4. The most common infusion reactions (≥1%) were pyrexia, chills, fatigue, headache, asthenia, hypersensitivity, and vomiting. During the second cycle when all drugs were administered on the same day, the most common infusion reactions in the PERJETA-treated group (≥1%) were fatigue, dysgeusia, hypersensitivity, myalgia, and vomiting
  • In APHINITY, when PERJETA was administered in combination with trastuzumab and chemotherapy on the same day, infusion-related reactions occurred in 21% of patients with <1% of patients experiencing Grade 3-4 events
  • Observe patients closely for 60 minutes after the first infusion and for 30 minutes after subsequent infusions of PERJETA. If a significant infusion-related reaction occurs, slow or interrupt the infusion and administer appropriate medical therapies. Monitor patients carefully until complete resolution of signs and symptoms. Consider permanent discontinuation in patients with severe infusion reactions

Hypersensitivity Reactions/Anaphylaxis

  • PERJETA can cause hypersensitivity reactions, including anaphylaxis
  • In CLEOPATRA, the overall frequency of hypersensitivity/anaphylaxis reactions was 11% in PERJETA-treated patients, with Grade 3-4 hypersensitivity reactions and anaphylaxis occurring in 2% of patients
  • In NeoSphere, TRYPHAENA, BERENICE, and APHINITY, hypersensitivity/anaphylaxis events were consistent with those observed in CLEOPATRA. In APHINITY, the overall frequency of hypersensitivity/anaphylaxis was 5% in the PERJETA-treated group. The incidence was highest in the PERJETA plus TCH treated group (8%) with 1% Grade 3-4 events
  • Observe patients closely for hypersensitivity reactions. Severe hypersensitivity, including anaphylaxis and fatal events, have been observed in patients treated with PERJETA. Angioedema has been described in post-marketing reports. Medications to treat such reactions, as well as emergency equipment, should be available for immediate use prior to administration of PERJETA

Most Common Adverse Reactions

Neoadjuvant Treatment of Breast Cancer

  • The most common adverse reactions (>30%) with PERJETA in combination with trastuzumab and docetaxel were alopecia, diarrhea, nausea, and neutropenia
  • The most common adverse reactions (>30%) with PERJETA in combination with trastuzumab and docetaxel when given for 3 cycles following 3 cycles of FEC were fatigue, alopecia, diarrhea, nausea, vomiting, and neutropenia
  • The most common adverse reactions (>30%) with PERJETA in combination with docetaxel, carboplatin, and trastuzumab (TCH) were fatigue, alopecia, diarrhea, nausea, vomiting, neutropenia, thrombocytopenia, and anemia
  • The most common adverse reactions (>30%) with PERJETA in combination with trastuzumab and paclitaxel when given for 4 cycles following 4 cycles of ddAC were nausea, diarrhea, alopecia, fatigue, constipation, peripheral neuropathy, and headache
  • The most common adverse reactions (>30%) with PERJETA in combination with trastuzumab and docetaxel when given for 4 cycles following 4 cycles of FEC were diarrhea, nausea, alopecia, asthenia, constipation, fatigue, mucosal inflammation, vomiting, myalgia, and anemia

Adjuvant Treatment of Breast Cancer

  • The most common adverse reactions (>30%) with PERJETA in combination with trastuzumab and chemotherapy were diarrhea, nausea, alopecia, fatigue, peripheral neuropathy, and vomiting

Treatment of Metastatic Breast Cancer

  • The most common adverse reactions (>30%) with PERJETA in combination with trastuzumab and docetaxel were diarrhea, alopecia, neutropenia, nausea, fatigue, rash, and peripheral neuropathy

You may report side effects to the FDA at 1-800-FDA-1088 or www.fda.gov/medwatch. You may also report side effects to Genentech at 1-888-835-2555.

Please see the full Prescribing Information for additional Important Safety Information, including BOXED WARNINGS.