Another Biosimilar for a Common Breast Cancer Rx

(RxWiki News) The US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has approved another biosimilar for a common breast cancer medication.

The FDA recently approved Trazimera (trastuzumab-qyyp) to treat breast cancer. This medication is the fourth approved biosimilar for Herceptin (trastuzumab), according to BreastCancer.org.

Because Herceptin is made from living cells (a so-called “biologic” medication), they are more complex to make. And as a result, it is difficult to make generic versions of this medication. For drugs like this, biosimilars can provide a different option that is often less expensive. In some ways, biosimilars are like generic versions of biologic drugs.

As for the recently approved Herceptin biosimilar Trazimera, the FDA approved it to treat breast cancer in the same way as Herceptin. Trazimera is approved to treat HER2-positive breast cancer that has either spread to the lymph nodes or is not in the lymph nodes but is considered to be at high risk of recurring.

This medication is also approved treat breast cancer that has spread to other parts of the body such as the bones or liver (metastatic).

The FDA also approved it to treat stomach cancer that has spread to other parts of the body.

This biosimilar is to be administered into the vein. This medication can be given with other chemotherapy agents or be given alone which will depend on the status of the breast cancer. 

Because Trazimera is so similar to Herceptin, it has similar possible side effects. These include rash, cough, insomnia, congestive heart failure, infection, fever, chills, nausea, diarrhea and headache. Potential severe side effects include heart problems like weakening of the heart muscle, as well as severe lung problems.

Trazimera is the fourth Herceptin biosimilar the FDA has approved. The others are Ontruzant (trastuzumab-dttb), Ogivri (trastuzumab-dkst) and Herzuma (trastuzumab-pkrb).

Ask your health care provider any questions you have about your cancer treatment plan.

The FDA granted approval of Trazimera to Pfizer Oncology.

Written by Digital Pharmacist Staff