Buy Kadcyla (Trastuzumab Emtansine)

What is Kadcyla (trastuzumab emtansine) for?

Kadcyla (trastuzumab emtansine) is a conjugate of a HER2-targeted antibody and a microtubule inhibitor, indicated as a single agent for:

• Treatment of HER2-positive breast cancer in adults who have previously received trastuzumab and a taxane (a type of cancer drug). Patients should either:
  • You have already received therapy for metastatic disease (cancer that has spread to other parts of the body) or
  • A relapse of the disease occurred during or within six months after completion of adjuvant therapy.
• Adjuvant treatment of patients with early-stage HER2-positive breast cancer who have invasive residual disease after neoadjuvant treatment with taxanes and trastuzumab.

This medicine is not (yet) part of our standard range, but we may be able to obtain it for you. The pack size and strength shown below may vary depending on product availability.

How does Kadcyla (trastuzumab emtansine) work?

About a quarter of all breast cancers are HER2-positive, meaning they overexpress HER2. HER2 is a protein found in large quantities on the surface of some cancer cells.

Kadcyla (trastuzumab emtansine) has two active ingredients:

• Trastuzumab is a monoclonal antibody (a type of protein) that can recognize and bind to HER2. By binding to HER2, trastuzumab can activate immune cells that then attack and kill the cancer cells. Trastuzumab also prevents HER2 from stimulating the growth of the cancer cells.
• DM1, a toxic substance that kills cells when they try to divide and grow.

When Kadcyla is taken up by the cell, DM1 becomes active. It binds to a protein in cells called tubulin, which is important for the process of cell division. By binding to tubulin in cancer cells, DM1 can prevent the division and growth of these cells.

Where was Kadcyla (trastuzumab emtansine) approved?

Kadcyla (trastuzumab emtansine) has been approved by the following health authority for the treatment of patients with HER2-positive breast cancer:

• Die Food and Drug Administration (FDA), USA, Mai 2019
• MedSafe, New Zealand, September 2019
• The Therapeutic Goods Administration (TGA), Australia, September 2019
• Health Canada November 2019
• The European Medicines Agency (EMA) January 2020

How is Kadcyla (trastuzumab emtansine) taken?

The standard dose is:

• 3.6 mg/kg body weight as an intravenous infusion (drip) every 3 weeks

Patients are treated until their disease worsens or unacceptable toxicity occurs, or for a maximum of 14 cycles of 3 weeks each.

Patients should be monitored for infusion-related reactions during and after the infusion. In patients who develop allergic reactions or adverse reactions, the treating physician may need to reduce the dose or (temporarily) discontinue treatment with Kadcyla (trastuzumab emtansine).

Are there any known adverse reactions or side effects of Kadcyla (trastuzumab emtansine)?

Common side effects

Metastatic breast cancer

The most common side effects (≥25% of patients) listed in the prescribing information include:

• Fatigue (exhaustion)
• nausea
• Musculoskeletal pain (pain in muscles and bones)
• Bleeding
• Thrombocytopenia (low platelet count)
• Headache
• Elevated transaminases
• constipation
• Nosebleeds

Early breast cancer

The most common side effects (≥25% of patients) listed in the prescribing information include:

• fatigue
• Nausea
• Elevated transaminases
• Musculoskeletal pain
• Bleeding
• Thrombocytopenia
• Headache
• Peripheral Neuropathy
• Arthralgia (joint pain)

Serious side effects

Serious side effects listed in the prescribing information include:

• Hepatotoxicity (liver damage)
• Cardiotoxicity (heart damage)