I was diagnosed with MBC in Nov 2011 (first diagnosis: mets to liver, bones, lung & brain), and have been feeling very well for years on Herceptin. However, this month, there has been new growth in the breast & supraclavicular lymph nodes - so there is some cancer that has become resistant to Herceptin. I would like to begin Perjeta (pertuzumab), but this is currently only financed on the PBS as a first line treatment. I'm ineligible as I've already had a HER2 targeted therapy... even though Perjeta wasn't available back when I was diagnosed (insert frustrated eye roll)!!!Has anyone in a similar situation had success in getting subsidised access to Perjeta and would like to share how please? (To pay privately, I'd need to pay $6269 for the first dose, then $3197 every three weeks after that, which is not sustainable.)Appreciate any suggestions or stories of successful access for those of us with HER2+ MBC diagnosis prior to Perjeta coming on the market.

@Riki_BCNA I just wanted to update you that it looks like Roche have agreed in principle to include me in an access program where they pay every third Perjeta treatment. (My oncologist contacted them directly). Obviously this is still very expensive and won't be sustainable long term, but we are thinking we will try to self fund for a few months to see if it's working and hopefully in the mean time it will be considered for funding as a second or subsequent line of therapy for Stage IV HER2+, or I'll have some evidence to push my case. I will let you know how it goes, as I have to sign some paperwork tomorrow morning.Best regards,Keely

Hi @KeelyB Whilst I'm not in your position I cannot believe the idiocracy of this.Perhaps your oncologist can contact the drug company directly and request they consider you a special circumstance. I know they have done this for others requiring treatment for Estrogen cancers. It's worth asking if they could consider this since perjeta wasn't available when you first started treatment .I guess they may offer to test and see if improvement is noticed with the addition. The cost is out of most people's reach otherwise. Hope they will try for you. Your bc nurse might be able to help push this for you. Also..will they re-biopsy these areas to ensure no pathology change? ..I believe sometimes cancers can do this and therefore require a new plan of attack. Kath x

Thanks Kath @primek We did a biopsy and the pathology is still HER2+, so no change there meaning it's become resistant to Herceptin. We are trying to find the contact at Roche to write to and explain the situation... fingers crossed we get a compassionate response! The existing company access programs don't appear to apply to my situation.Appreciate your message, thank you.

Oh my this is just so not right. @primek has some good suggestions and hopefully @bcna can advocate for listing on the PBS. I'm hoping you receive a compassionate response from Roche.

Here's hoping Roche will respond. Please update us how you go. X

Perjeta access as second line treatment for HER2+ MBC - suggestions please

23 Replies

Lmc1310
Member
8 years ago
Oh my this is just so not right. @primek has some good suggestions and hopefully @bcna can advocate for listing on the PBS. I'm hoping you receive a compassionate response from Roche.
KeelyB
Member
8 years ago
Thanks Kath @primek
We did a biopsy and the pathology is still HER2+, so no change there meaning it's become resistant to Herceptin. We are trying to find the contact at Roche to write to and explain the situation... fingers crossed we get a compassionate response! The existing company access programs don't appear to apply to my situation.
Appreciate your message, thank you.
primek
Member
8 years ago
Hi @KeelyB Whilst I'm not in your position I cannot believe the idiocracy of this.
Perhaps your oncologist can contact the drug company directly and request they consider you a special circumstance. I know they have done this for others requiring treatment for Estrogen cancers. It's worth asking if they could consider this since perjeta wasn't available when you first started treatment .
I guess they may offer to test and see if improvement is noticed with the addition. The cost is out of most people's reach otherwise. Hope they will try for you. Your bc nurse might be able to help push this for you.

Also..will they re-biopsy these areas to ensure no pathology change? ..I believe sometimes cancers can do this and therefore require a new plan of attack.
Kath x

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Perjeta access as second line treatment for HER2+ MBC - suggestions please

23 Replies

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