HER2 Support Group Forums - View Single Post - Generic Hercpetin coming soon to your cancer center?

Joan M · 01-29-2013, 07:26 AM

A story in today's New York Times discusses the development of a generic version of Herceptin. Such a biosimilar drug would have a tremendous impact on us.

Genentech will lose fairly soon its patent protection on Herceptin (trastuzumab), and has been lobbying against a biosimilar substitute.

According to the news story, "Biotech drugs, known in the industry as biologics, are much more complex than pills like Lipitor or Prozac. That makes it extremely difficult to tell if a copy of a biological drug is identical to the original. Even slight changes in the cells that make the proteins can change the drug’s properties."

http://www.nytimes.com/2013/01/29/bu...ef=todayspaper

Despite the high cost of Herceptin, I'm very worried about this.

Joan

01-29-2013, 07:26 AM	#1
Joan M Senior Member Join Date: Oct 2007 Posts: 1,851	Generic Hercpetin coming soon to your cancer center? A story in today's New York Times discusses the development of a generic version of Herceptin. Such a biosimilar drug would have a tremendous impact on us. Genentech will lose fairly soon its patent protection on Herceptin (trastuzumab), and has been lobbying against a biosimilar substitute. According to the news story, "Biotech drugs, known in the industry as biologics, are much more complex than pills like Lipitor or Prozac. That makes it extremely difficult to tell if a copy of a biological drug is identical to the original. Even slight changes in the cells that make the proteins can change the drug’s properties." http://www.nytimes.com/2013/01/29/bu...ef=todayspaper Despite the high cost of Herceptin, I'm very worried about this. Joan __________________ Diagnosed stage 2b in July 2003 (2.3 cm, HER2+, ER-/PR-, 7+ nodes). Treated with mastectomy (with immediate DIEP flap reconstruction), AC + T/Herceptin (off label). Cancer advanced to lung in Jan. 2007 (1 cm nodule). Started Herceptin every 3 weeks. Lung wedge resection April 2007. Cancer recurred in lung April 2008. RFA of lung in August 2008. 2nd annual brain MRI in Oct. 2008 discovered 2.6 cm cystic tumor in left frontal lobe. Craniotomy Oct. 2008 (ER-/PR-/HER2-) followed by targeted radiation (IMRT). Coughing up blood Feb. 2009. Thoractomy July 2009 to cut out fungal ball of common soil fungus (aspergillus) that grew in the RFA cavity (most likely inhaled while gardening). No cancer, only fungus. Removal of tiny melanoma from upper left arm, plus sentinel lymph node biopsy in Feb. 2016. Guardant Health liquid biopsy in Feb. 2016 showed mutations in 4 subtypes of TP53. Repeat of Guardant Health biopsy in Jana. 2021 showed 3 TP53 mutations, BRCA1 mutation and CHEK2 mutation. Invitae genetic testing showed negative for all of these. Living with MBC since 2007. Stopped Herceptin Hylecta (injection) treatment in March 2020. Recent 2021 annual CT of chest, abdomen and pelvis and annual brain MRI showed NED. Praying for NED forever!!