New drug 'Truqap' for HER2- breast cancer Rx available

at general hospitals

Following its launch in September 2024 as a non-reimbursable drug, Truqap now lands at medical centers, including Samsung Medical Center·Seoul National University Hospital

Truqap improved a mPFS in the CAPItello-291 Phase 3 study

Product photo of AstraZeneca Korea

'Truqap,' an oral anticancer drug that targets AKT gene mutation, is now available for prescription at general hospitals.

 

According to industry sources, AstraZeneca Korea's Truqap (capivasertib), a treatment for hormone receptor (HR)-positive and human epidermal growth factor receptor 2 (HER2)-negative advanced breast cancer, has passed the drug committees (DC) of tertiary general hospitals, including Samsung Medical Center and Seoul National University Hospital, and medical centers, including Gachon University Gil Medical center, Gangnam Severance Hospital, Korea University ANAM Hospital, Seoul National University Bundang Hospital, and Cha University Bungdang Medical Center.

 

Domestically approved in March 2024, Truqap was launched as a non-reimbursable drug in September of the same year.

 

This drug can be prescribed for combination therapy with fulvestrant following progression on or after an endocrine therapy or recurrence within 12 months after adjuvant therapy.

 

The introduction of Truqap is significant because it offers more second-line treatment options following first-line treatment of HR-positive/HER2-negative breast cancer where there have been unmet needs.

 

HR-positive/HER2-negative breast cancer accounts for 70% of the total breast cancer patients.

 

This drug was demonstrated to be efficacious based on the CAPItello-291 Phase 3 study.

 

The results showed that Truqap improved the median progression-free survival (mPFS) by approximately 2.5-fold compared to fulvestrant alone in patients who failed the first-line treatment following endocrine therapy (ET)±CDK4/6 inhibitor therapy.

 

In detail, the Truqap+fulvestrant combination group had a mPFS of 7.3 months, which is more than double the 3.1 months with fulvestant alone.

 

"Patients with PIK3CA/AKT1/PTEN mutations, accounting for about 50% of patients with HR-positive/HER2-negative breast cancer, may have faster disease progression; therefore, there has been a consistent need for second-line treatment for metastatic breast cancer targeting these mutations," Dr.

 

Kywong Hwa Park, Professor of the Division of Oncology at Korea University ANAM Hospital, explained.

 

"In metastatic breast cancer, patients who achieve complete recovery with a first-line treatment is rare, and most patients fail treatments, leading to the second-line treatments or more.

 

The mutation targeted by Truqap commonly metastasizes to various organs, so we anticipate a positive outlook with this medication," Dr.

 

Park said.