AstraZeneca India has officially unveiled Trastuzumab deruxtecan, a breakthrough breast cancer treatment designed for adult patients grappling with unresectable or metastatic HER2-positive breast cancer.

This antibody drug conjugate (ADC), developed in collaboration with Daiichi Sankyo, targets individuals who have previously undergone anti-HER2 therapies.

Breast cancer, flagged as a significant global health concern by the World Health Organization, witnessed over 2 million cases worldwide in 2020. In India, there has been a staggering 40 percent rise in breast cancer cases over the past 25 years.

Results from the DESTINY-Breast03 clinical trial demonstrated a remarkable 72 percent reduction in disease progression or mortality compared to T-DM1, an existing treatment.

Further data updates revealed a 36 percent decrease in the risk of death compared to T-DM1, with 77.4 percent of patients treated with Trastuzumab deruxtecan still alive at the two-year mark.

Dr. Meenu Walia, Vice Chairman of Medical Oncology at Max Super Speciality Hospital, hailed Trastuzumab deruxtecan as a significant leap forward in combating HER2-positive breast cancer.

Reflecting on the drug's launch, Dr. Anil Kukreja, Vice-President of Medical Affairs and Regulatory at AstraZeneca India, emphasized the urgent necessity for transformative medicines catering to patients who have exhausted initial anti-HER2 treatments.

The introduction of Trastuzumab deruxtecan in India marks a pivotal advancement in addressing the complexities of HER2-positive breast cancer, offering renewed hope and improved treatment options for patients who have undergone prior therapies.