Daily Medication Pearl: Pertuzumab (Perjeta) Injection for Breast Cancer

Medication Pearl of the Day: Pertuzumab (Perjeta) Injection

Indication: Pertuzumabis a human epidermal growth factor receptor 2 (HER2)/neu receptor antagonist indicated for use in combination with trastuzumab and docetaxel for treatment of patients with HER2-positive metastatic breast cancer (MBC) who have not received prior anti-HER2 therapy or chemotherapy for metastatic disease.

Insight

• Dosing: The initial pertuzumabdose is 840 mg administered as a 60-minute intravenous (IV) infusion, followed every 3 weeks thereafter by 420 mg administered as a 30- to 60-minute IV infusion.
• Dosage form: Injection 420 mg/14 mL single-dose vial.
• Adverse events: Diarrhea, alopecia, neutropenia, nausea, fatigue, rash, and peripheral neuropathy.
• Mechanism of action: Pertuzumab targets the extracellular dimerization domain (subdomain II) of the HER2 and, thereby, blocks ligand-dependent heterodimerization of HER2 with other HER family members, including EGFR, HER3, and HER4.
• Manufacturer: Genentech

Sources:

• PERJETA® (pertuzumab) (gene.com)
• HER2+ Breast Cancer Treatment | PERJETA® (pertuzumab) HCP
• perjeta medication image - Google Search