Vol. 2 No. 2 (2022)
Reimbursement Recommendations

Pertuzumab (Perjeta)

Published February 10, 2022

Key Messages

  • CADTH recommends that Perjeta should not be reimbursed by public drug plans in combination with trastuzumab and chemotherapy for the neoadjuvant treatment of human epidermal growth factor receptor 2 (HER2)-positive, locally advanced, inflammatory, or early-stage breast cancer (either > 2 cm in diameter or node positive).
  • Evidence from 2 clinical trials demonstrated that adding Perjeta to trastuzumab and chemotherapy for treatment before surgery to remove cancer increases the chance of having no residual cancer, but there was no evidence demonstrating improvements in long-term survival outcomes.
  • It is unclear whether Perjeta meets the needs identified by patients, which included preventing recurrence and development of metastases, stabilizing disease, and maintaining quality of life.