This is a medicine called Trodelvy. The latter represents great hope for women with metastatic triple negative breast cancer. This drug could extend their life expectancy by a few months, but the American laboratory that produces it is limited to supplying it to Europe.
“We absolutely need solutions, we cannot accept that, we cannot stand idly by”
French women with particularly aggressive breast cancer are sounding the alarm. The latter are fighting to obtain a drug, the Trodelvy. The latter does not heal but offers the hope of living a few more months. “According to official figures, the median survival is 14 months”, entrusted to France Info, Claude Coutier, suffering from this form of breast cancer. “Fourteen months is short. So, this drug, it makes it possible to double the life expectancy. “
Unfortunately, the American laboratory Gilead (which manufactures Trodelvy) is not currently able to supply its drug in Europe, although this treatment concerns nearly 600 French women. “What must also be understood is that this triple-negative breast cancer affects young women”, continues Claude Coutier. Metastatic triple negative breast cancer mainly attacks young patients, the majority under the age of 40 … “Young mothers, even pregnant mothers who discover their breast cancer, she is alarmed. We absolutely need solutions, we cannot accept that, we cannot remain without doing anything, it is Not possible.”
Availability in France for the end of the year
Authorized on the United States market in April 2020, the drug Trodelvy was used in France only under a temporary authorization for use (ATU), a maneuver operated by the National Agency for the Safety of Medicines and Medicines. Health products (ANSM). The Agency also took stock of the situation in a press release, published this Wednesday, June 9: “At the end of January 2021, the Gilead laboratory told us that its production capacity was insufficient and did not allow the start of a new treatment outside the United States. In order to ensure continuity of care for women who have already started treatment, new ATU requests remained pending. […] In consultation with patient associations and healthcare professionals, we are committed to doing what is necessary with the laboratory to obtain new treatments. Thus, from June 3 and although the production is not yet sufficient, new patients can be taken care of with Trodelvy “. Asked by France Info, the president of Gilead France affirms that “we will have a drug which will be available also at the time of the European marketing authorization, that is to say at the end of the year 2021”.
Aware of the situation, the French president of the laboratory indicates, however, to have “was able to take a few thousand bottles from American production to give access to Trodelvy to a few dozen patients who are in an emergency situation.” This would concern 78 women in France. For the other patients, it will be necessary to wait until the end of the year, while waiting for the construction of a Gilead protection plant in Italy. Some women will not be able to wait until this period.
This is why Claude Coutier, creator of the #MobilisationTriplettes collective, urgently demands to provide the product to the 600 French women on borrowed time. A petition is online at this address to support the collective: triple negative breast cancer – give us access to treatments to stay alive.
