Abemaciclib (Verzenio)

Key Messages

• Canada’s Drug Agency recommends that public drug plans reimburse Verzenio in combination with endocrine therapy for the adjuvant treatment of adults with hormone receptor (HR)-positive, human epidermal growth factor receptor 2 (HER2)-negative, node-positive, early-stage breast cancer at high risk of recurrence based on clinicopathological features if certain conditions are met.
• Verzenio, in combination with endocrine therapy, should only be covered in patients whose breast cancer has receptors for the estrogen and progesterone hormones, tests negative for the HER2 protein, has been removed by surgery, and is at high risk of coming back based on clinicopathological features, including 4 or more positive axillary lymph nodes (ALNs), or 1 to 3 positive ALNs plus histologic grade 3 disease, or 1 to 3 positive ALNs plus a tumour size of 5 cm or more, or 1 to 3 positive ALNs plus a Ki-67 score of 20% or more (if tumour size is < 5cm and disease is not grade 3).
• Verzenio, in combination with endocrine therapy, should only be reimbursed if prescribed by clinicians with expertise delivering systemic treatment and if the cost is reduced.