G-BA backs Perjeta for metastatic breast cancer
Germany's Federal Joint Committee (G-BA) said Perjeta pertuzumab from Roche (SIX:ROG; OTCQX:RHHBY) has "significant" additional benefit in combination with the pharma's Herceptin trastuzumab and docetaxel vs. Herceptin plus taxane-containing chemotherapy in patients with HER2-positive metastatic breast cancer with visceral metastases. In a July preliminary assessment, Germany's Institute for Quality and Efficiency in Healthcare (IQWiG) said Perjeta had "major" additional benefit in the indication. G-BA said the higher "major" benefit ranking is not justified by Perjeta's overall survival data. G-BA agreed with IQWiG that Perjeta has "no additional benefit" in patients without visceral metastases and in patients with locally recurrent, unresectable HER2-positive breast cancer (see BioCentury Extra, July 1). ...