Every year, around 9000 French people are diagnosed with triple negative breast cancer (TNBC): fortunately rare, this cancer (which represents approximately 15% of breast cancers) remains difficult to treat today, with therapeutic options still ineffective.
In early November 2021, France made available Trodelvy® (Sacituzumab govitecan), a drug that doubles the overall survival of patients with triple-negative breast cancer.
Moreover, this Friday, November 5, 2021the French National Authority for Health (HAS) has given the green light to Keytruda®, another drug judged to be effective against this aggressive disease.
Keytruda®, a new weapon against triple negative breast cancer
Keytruda®: what is it? Keytruda® (scientific name: pembrolizumab) is a drug that allows “an absolute survival gain of almost 7 monthsfor patients with triple negative breast cancer.
The High Authority for Health (HAS) has given a positive opinion on the use of Keytruda® in combination with chemotherapy for a specific group of patients: “women with locally recurrent unresectable or metastatic triple negative breast cancer, whose tumors express the PD-L1 marker with a CPS (Combined Positive Score) ≥ 10 and who have not previously received chemotherapy“.
“Early Access [au Keytruda®] granted for a renewable period of one year makes it possible to quickly offer a therapeutic solution to the patients concerned” adds the High Authority for Health (HAS). After obtaining its marketing authorization (AMM), Keytruda® should obviously be reimbursed.
Read also :
- Breast cancer: 6 good reasons to get screened
- Metastatic breast cancer: symptoms, diagnosis, treatments
- Breast cancer: the French underestimate the cure rate
