Dr. Dang on the Significance of the MYL-1401O Biosimilar in HER2-Positive Metastatic Breast Cancer

Chau Dang, MD, medical oncologist, chief, West Harrison Medical Oncology Service, Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, discusses the significance of MYL-1401O, a proposed biosimilar of trastuzumab, as a potential treatment for patients with HER2-positive metastatic breast cancer.

The study, which was originally reported by Hope Rugo, MD, at the 2016 ASCO Annual Meeting, looked at the activity of MYL-1401O with a taxane versus trastuzumab (Herceptin) with a taxane in the first-line setting of patients with HER2-positive metastatic breast cancer. This equivalency trial showed that the proposed biosimilar MYL-1401O was equivalent to trastuzumab in terms of efficacy and safety.

Because trastuzumab is not available worldwide due to cost factors, this biosimilar data could eventually lead to more affordable, global options for patients.