Roche's Perjeta is now the first cancer drug approved to treat breast cancer pre-surgery.
Perjeta, which is to be used in combination with Roche's Herceptin and the chemo drug docetaxel, was shown in early clinical trials to increase the odds the disease may be stopped in those diagnosed with early stage HER2-positive tumors. The use of Perjeta prior to therapy may enable women to choose options less invasive than a mastectomy.
The decision is also a landmark for the FDA, which altered its drug approval guidelines to speed new cancer therapies to market. Read more