SIDE EFFECTS
The following adverse reactions are discussed in greater detail in other sections of the label:
- Left Ventricular Dysfunction [see WARNINGS AND PRECAUTIONS]
- Embryo-Fetal Toxicity [see WARNINGS AND PRECAUTIONS]
- Infusion-Related Reactions [see WARNINGS AND PRECAUTIONS]
- Hypersensitivity Reactions/Anaphylaxis [see WARNINGS AND PRECAUTIONS]
Clinical Trials Experience
Because clinical trials are conducted under widely varying conditions, adverse reaction rates
observed in the clinical trials of a drug cannot be directly compared to rates in the clinical trials
of another drug and may not reflect the rates observed in clinical practice.
Metastatic Breast Cancer (MBC)
The adverse reactions described in Table 2 were identified in 804 patients with HER2-positive
metastatic breast cancer treated in CLEOPATRA. Patients were randomized to receive either
PERJETA in combination with trastuzumab and docetaxel or placebo in combination with
trastuzumab and docetaxel. The median duration of study treatment was 18.1 months for
patients in the PERJETA-treated group and 11.8 months for patients in the placebo-treated
group. No dose adjustment was permitted for PERJETA or trastuzumab. Adverse reactions
resulting in permanent discontinuation of all study therapy were 6% in the PERJETA-treated
group and 5% for patients in the placebo-treated group. The most common adverse reactions
(>1%) that led to discontinuation of all study therapy was left ventricular dysfunction (1% for
patients in the PERJETA-treated group and 2% for patients in the placebo-treated group). The
most common adverse reactions that led to discontinuation of docetaxel alone were edema,
fatigue, edema peripheral, neuropathy peripheral, neutropenia, nail disorder and pleural effusion.
Table 2 reports the adverse reactions that occurred in at least 10% of patients in the PERJETAtreated
group. The safety profile of PERJETA remained unchanged with an additional 2.75
years of follow-up (median total follow-up of 50 months) in CLEOPATRA.
The most common adverse reactions (> 30%) seen with PERJETA in combination with
trastuzumab and docetaxel were diarrhea, alopecia, neutropenia, nausea, fatigue, rash, and
peripheral neuropathy. The most common NCI - CTCAE v3.0 Grade 3 – 4 adverse reactions
(> 2%) were neutropenia, febrile neutropenia, leukopenia, diarrhea, peripheral neuropathy,
anemia, asthenia, and fatigue. An increased incidence of febrile neutropenia was observed for
Asian patients in both treatment arms compared with patients of other races and from other
geographic regions. Among Asian patients, the incidence of febrile neutropenia was higher in
the pertuzumab-treated group (26%) compared with the placebo-treated group (12%).
Table 2: Summary of Adverse Reactions Occurring in ≥ 10%
of Patients on the PERJETA Treatment Arm in CLEOPATRA
Body System/
Adverse Reactions |
PERJETA
+ trastuzumab
+ docetaxel
n=407
Frequency
rate % |
Placebo
+ trastuzumab
+ docetaxel
n=397
Frequency
rate % |
All
Grades
% |
Grades
3 – 4
% |
All
Grades
% |
Grades
3 – 4
% |
General disorders and administration site
conditions |
Fatigue |
37 |
2 |
37 |
3 |
Mucosal inflammation |
28 |
1 |
20 |
1 |
Asthenia |
26 |
2 |
30 |
2 |
Edema peripheral |
23 |
0.5 |
30 |
0.8 |
Pyrexia |
19 |
1 |
18 |
0.5 |
Skin and subcutaneous tissue disorders |
Alopecia |
61 |
0 |
60 |
0.3 |
Rash |
34 |
0.7 |
24 |
0.8 |
Nail disorder |
23 |
1 |
23 |
0.3 |
Pruritus |
14 |
0 |
10 |
0 |
Dry skin |
11 |
0 |
4 |
0 |
Gastrointestinal disorders |
Diarrhea |
67 |
8 |
46 |
5 |
Nausea |
42 |
1 |
42 |
0.5 |
Vomiting |
24 |
1 |
24 |
2 |
Stomatitis |
19 |
0.5 |
15 |
0.3 |
Constipation |
15 |
0 |
25 |
1 |
Blood and lymphatic system disorders |
Neutropenia |
53 |
49 |
50 |
46 |
Anemia |
23 |
2 |
19 |
4 |
Leukopenia |
18 |
12 |
20 |
15 |
Febrile neutropenia* |
14 |
13 |
8 |
7 |
Nervous system disorders |
Neuropathy peripheral |
32 |
3 |
34 |
2 |
Headache |
21 |
1 |
17 |
0.5 |
Dysgeusia |
18 |
0 |
16 |
0 |
Dizziness |
13 |
0.5 |
12 |
0 |
Musculoskeletal and connective tissue disorders |
Myalgia |
23 |
1 |
24 |
0.8 |
Arthralgia |
15 |
0.2 |
16 |
0.8 |
Infections and infestations |
Upper respiratory tract infection |
17 |
0.7 |
13 |
0 |
Nasopharyngitis |
12 |
0 |
13 |
0.3 |
Respiratory, thoracic, and mediastinal disorders |
Dyspnea |
14 |
1 |
16 |
2 |
Metabolism and nutrition disorders |
Decreased appetite |
29 |
2 |
26 |
2 |
Eye disorders |
Lacrimation increased |
14 |
0 |
14 |
0 |
Psychiatric disorders |
Insomnia |
13 |
0 |
13 |
0 |
* In this table this denotes an adverse reaction that has been reported in association with a fatal
outcome |
The following clinically relevant adverse reactions were reported in < 10% of patients in
the PERJETA-treated group in CLEOPATRA:
Infections and Infestations
Paronychia (7% in the PERJETA-treated group vs. 4% in the
placebo-treated group)
Adverse Reactions Reported in Patients Receiving PERJETA and Trastuzumab After
Discontinuation of Docetaxel
In CLEOPATRA, adverse reactions were reported less frequently after discontinuation of
docetaxel treatment. All adverse reactions in the PERJETA and trastuzumab treatment group
occurred in < 10% of patients with the exception of diarrhea (19%), upper respiratory tract
infection (13%), rash (12%), headache (11%), and fatigue (11%).
Neoadjuvant Treatment Of Breast Cancer (NeoSphere)
In NeoSphere, the most common adverse reactions seen with PERJETA in combination with
trastuzumab and docetaxel administered for 4 cycles were similar to those seen in the PERJETAtreated
group in CLEOPATRA. The most common adverse reactions (> 30%) were alopecia,
neutropenia, diarrhea, and nausea. The most common NCI – CTCAE v3.0 Grade 3 – 4 adverse
reactions (> 2%) were neutropenia, febrile neutropenia, leukopenia, and diarrhea. In this group,
one patient permanently discontinued neoadjuvant treatment due to an adverse event. Table 3
reports the adverse reactions that occurred in patients who received neoadjuvant treatment with
PERJETA for breast cancer in NeoSphere.
Table 3 Summary of Adverse Reactions Occurring in ≥ 10%
in the Neoadjuvant Setting for Patients Receiving PERJETA in NeoSphere
Body System/
Adverse Reactions |
Trastuzumab
+ docetaxel
n=107
Frequency rate
% |
PERJETA
+ trastuzumab
+ docetaxel
n=107
Frequency rate
% |
PERJETA
+ trastuzumab
n=108
Frequency rate
% |
PERJETA
+ docetaxel
n=108
Frequency rate
% |
All
Grades
% |
Grades
3 – 4
% |
All
Grades
% |
Grades
3 – 4
% |
All
Grades
% |
Grades
3 – 4
% |
All
Grades
% |
Grades
3 – 4
% |
General disorders
and administration
site conditions |
Fatigue |
27 |
0 |
26 |
0.9 |
12 |
0 |
26 |
1 |
Mucosal
inflammation |
21 |
0 |
26 |
2 |
3 |
0 |
26 |
0 |
Asthenia |
18 |
0 |
21 |
2 |
3 |
0 |
16 |
2 |
Pyrexia |
10 |
0 |
17 |
0 |
8 |
0 |
9 |
0 |
Edema peripheral |
10 |
0 |
3 |
0 |
0.9 |
0 |
5 |
0 |
Skin and
subcutaneous
tissue disorders |
Alopecia |
66 |
0 |
65 |
0 |
3 |
0 |
67 |
0 |
Rash |
21 |
2 |
26 |
0.9 |
11 |
0 |
29 |
1 |
Gastrointestinal
disorders |
Diarrhea |
34 |
4 |
46 |
6 |
28 |
0 |
54 |
4 |
Nausea |
36 |
0 |
39 |
0 |
14 |
0 |
36 |
1 |
Stomatitis |
7 |
0 |
18 |
0 |
5 |
0 |
10 |
0 |
Vomiting |
12 |
0 |
13 |
0 |
5 |
0 |
16 |
2 |
Blood and
lymphatic system
disorders |
Neutropenia |
64 |
59 |
50 |
45 |
0.9 |
0.9 |
65 |
57 |
Leukopenia |
21 |
11 |
9 |
5 |
0 |
0 |
14 |
9 |
Nervous system
disorders |
Dysgeusia |
10 |
0 |
15 |
0 |
5 |
0 |
7 |
0 |
Headache |
11 |
0 |
11 |
0 |
14 |
0 |
13 |
0 |
Peripheral Sensory
Neuropathy |
12 |
0.9 |
8 |
0.9 |
2 |
0 |
11 |
0 |
Musculoskeletal
and connective
tissue disorders |
Myalgia |
22 |
0 |
22 |
0 |
9 |
0 |
21 |
0 |
Arthralgia |
8 |
0 |
10 |
0 |
5 |
0 |
10 |
0 |
Metabolism and
nutrition disorders |
Decreased appetite |
7 |
0 |
14 |
0 |
2 |
0 |
15 |
0 |
Psychiatric
disorders |
Insomnia |
11 |
0 |
8 |
0 |
4 |
0 |
9 |
0 |
The following adverse reactions were reported in < 10% of patients receiving neoadjuvant
treatment and occurred more frequently in PERJETA-treated groups in NeoSphere:
(Ptz=pertuzumab; H=trastuzumab; D=docetaxel)
Blood and Lymphatic System Disorders
Anemia (7% in the H+D arm, 3% in the Ptz+H+D
arm, 5% in the Ptz+H arm and 9% in the Ptz+D arm), Febrile neutropenia (7% in the H+D arm,
8% in the Ptz+H+D arm, 0% in the Ptz+H arm and 7% in the Ptz+D arm)
Nervous System Disorders
Dizziness (4% in the H+D arm, 3% in the Ptz+H+D arm, 6% in the
Ptz+H arm and 3% in the Ptz+D arm)
Infections and Infestations
Upper respiratory tract infection (3% in the H+D arm, 5% in the
Ptz+H+D arm, 2% in the Ptz+H arm and 7% in the Ptz+D arm)
Eye Disorders
Lacrimation increased (2% in the H+D arm, 4% in the Ptz+H+D arm, 0.9% in
the Ptz+H arm, and 4% in the Ptz+D arm)
Neoadjuvant Treatment Of Breast Cancer (TRYPHAENA)
In TRYPHAENA, when PERJETA was administered in combination with trastuzumab and
docetaxel for 3 cycles following 3 cycles of FEC, the most common adverse reactions (> 30%)
were diarrhea, nausea, alopecia, neutropenia, vomiting, and fatigue. The most common NCICTCAE
(version 3) Grade 3 – 4 adverse reactions (> 2%) were neutropenia, leukopenia, febrile
neutropenia, diarrhea, left ventricular dysfunction, anemia, dyspnea, nausea, and vomiting.
Similarly, when PERJETA was administered in combination with docetaxel, carboplatin, and
trastuzumab (TCH) for 6 cycles, the most common adverse reactions (> 30%) were diarrhea,
alopecia, neutropenia, nausea, fatigue, vomiting, anemia, and thrombocytopenia. The most
common NCI-CTCAE (version 3) Grade 3 – 4 adverse reactions (> 2%) were neutropenia,
febrile neutropenia, anemia, leukopenia, diarrhea, thrombocytopenia, vomiting, fatigue, ALT
increased, hypokalemia, and hypersensitivity.
Adverse reactions resulting in permanent discontinuation of any component of neoadjuvant
treatment occurred in 7% of patients receiving PERJETA in combination with trastuzumab and
docetaxel following FEC, and 8% for patients receiving PERJETA in combination with TCH.
The most common adverse reactions (>2%) resulting in permanent discontinuation of PERJETA
were left ventricular dysfunction, drug hypersensitivity, and neutropenia. Table 4 reports the
adverse reactions that occurred in patients who received neoadjuvant treatment with PERJETA
for breast cancer in TRYPHAENA.
Table 4: Summary of Adverse Reactions Occurring in ≥ 10% of Patients Receiving
Neoadjuvant Treatment with PERJETA in TRYPHAENA
Body
System/Adverse
Reactions |
PERJETA
+ trastuzumab
+ FEC followed by
PERJETA
+ trastuzumab
+ docetaxel |
vPERJETA
+ trastuzumab
+ docetaxel following
FEC |
PERJETA
+ TCH |
n=72 |
n=75 |
n=76 |
Frequency rate
% |
Frequency rate
% |
Frequency rate
% |
All
Grades
% |
Grades
3 – 4
% |
All
Grades
% |
Grades
3 – 4
% |
All
Grades
% |
Grades
3 – 4
% |
General disorders
and
administration site
conditions |
Fatigue |
36 |
0 |
36 |
0 |
0 |
4 |
Mucosal
inflammation |
24 |
0 |
20 |
0 |
17 |
1 |
Pyrexia |
17 |
0 |
9 |
0 |
16 |
0 |
Asthenia |
10 |
0 |
15 |
1 |
13 |
1 |
Edema peripheral |
11 |
0 |
4 |
0 |
9 |
0 |
Skin and
subcutaneous
tissue disorders |
Alopecia |
49 |
0 |
52 |
0 |
55 |
0 |
Rash |
19 |
0 |
11 |
0 |
21 |
1 |
Palmar-Plantar
Erythrodysaesthesia
Syndrome |
7 |
0 |
11 |
0 |
8 |
0 |
Dry skin |
6 |
0 |
9 |
0 |
11 |
0 |
Gastrointestinal
disorders |
Diarrhea |
61 |
4 |
61 |
5 |
72 |
12 |
Nausea |
53 |
0 |
53 |
3 |
45 |
0 |
Vomiting |
40 |
0 |
36 |
3 |
39 |
5 |
Dyspepsia |
25 |
1 |
8 |
0 |
22 |
0 |
Constipation |
18 |
0 |
23 |
0 |
16 |
0 |
Stomatitis |
14 |
0 |
17 |
0 |
12 |
0 |
Blood and
lymphatic system
disorders |
Neutropenia |
51 |
47 |
47 |
43 |
49 |
46 |
Leukopenia |
22 |
19 |
16 |
12 |
17 |
12 |
Anemia |
19 |
1 |
9 |
4 |
38 |
17 |
Febrile neutropenia |
18 |
18 |
9 |
9 |
17 |
17 |
Thrombocytopenia` |
7 |
0 |
1 |
0 |
30 |
12 |
Immune system
disorders |
Hypersensitivity |
10 |
3 |
1 |
0 |
12 |
3 |
Nervous system
disorders |
Headache |
22 |
0 |
15 |
0 |
17 |
0 |
Dysgeusia |
11 |
0 |
13 |
0 |
21 |
0 |
Dizziness |
8 |
0 |
8 |
1 |
16 |
0 |
Neuropathy
peripheral |
6 |
0 |
1 |
0 |
11 |
0 |
Musculoskeletal
and connective
tissue disorders |
Myalgia |
17 |
0 |
11 |
1 |
11 |
0 |
Arthralgia |
11 |
0 |
12 |
0 |
7 |
0 |
Respiratory,
thoracic, and
mediastinal
disorders |
Dyspnea |
13 |
0 |
8 |
3 |
11 |
1 |
Epistaxis |
11 |
0 |
11 |
0 |
16 |
1 |
Cough |
10 |
0 |
5 |
0 |
12 |
0 |
Oropharyngeal pain |
8 |
0 |
7 |
0 |
12 |
0 |
Metabolism and
nutrition
disorders |
Decreased appetite |
21 |
0 |
11 |
0 |
21 |
0 |
Eye disorders |
Lacrimation
increased |
13 |
0 |
5 |
0 |
8 |
0 |
Psychiatric
disorders |
Insomnia |
11 |
0 |
13 |
0 |
21 |
0 |
Investigations |
ALT increased |
7 |
0 |
3 |
0 |
11 |
4 |
FEC=5-fluorouracil, epirubicin, cyclophosphamide, TCH=docetaxel, carboplatin, trastuzumab |
The following selected adverse reactions were reported in < 10% of patients receiving
neoadjuvant treatment in TRYPHAENA: (Ptz=pertuzumab; H=trastuzumab;
D=docetaxel; FEC= fluorouracil, epirubicin, and cyclophosphamide; TCH=docetaxel,
carboplatin, and trastuzumab)
Skin and Subcutaneous Tissue Disorders
Nail disorder (10% in the Ptz+H+FEC/Ptz+H+D
arm, 7% in the FEC/Ptz+H+D arm, and 9% in the Ptz+TCH arm), Paronychia (0% in the
Ptz+H+FEC/Ptz+H+D arm, and 1% in both the FEC/Ptz+H+D and Ptz+TCH arms), Pruritus
(3% in the Ptz+H+FEC/Ptz+H+D arm, 4% in the FEC/Ptz+H+D arm, and 4% in the Ptz+TCH
arm)
Infections and Infestations
Upper respiratory tract infection (8.3% in the
Ptz+H+FEC/Ptz+H+D arm, 4.0% in the FEC/Ptz+H+D arm, and 2.6% in the Ptz+TCH arm),
Nasopharyngitis (6.9% in the Ptz+H+FEC/Ptz+H+D arm, 6.7% in the FEC/Ptz+H+D arm, and
7.9% in the Ptz+TCH arm)
Neoadjuvant Treatment Of Breast Cancer (BERENICE)
In BERENICE, when PERJETA was administered in combination with trastuzumab and
paclitaxel for 4 cycles following 4 cycles of ddAC, the most common adverse reactions (> 30%)
were nausea, diarrhea, alopecia, fatigue, constipation, peripheral neuropathy and headache. The
most common Grade 3 – 4 adverse reactions (> 2%) were neutropenia, febrile neutropenia,
neutrophil count decreased, white blood cell count decreased, anemia, diarrhea, peripheral
neuropathy, alanine aminotransferase increased and nausea.
When PERJETA was administered in combination with trastuzumab and docetaxel for 4 cycles
following 4 cycles of FEC, the most common adverse reactions (> 30%) were diarrhea, nausea,
alopecia, asthenia, constipation, fatigue, mucosal inflammation, vomiting, myalgia, and anemia.
The most common Grade 3 – 4 adverse reactions (> 2%) were febrile neutropenia, diarrhea,
neutropenia, neutrophil count decreased, stomatitis, fatigue, vomiting, mucosal inflammation,
neutropenic sepsis and anemia.
Adverse reactions resulting in permanent discontinuation of any component of neoadjuvant
treatment were 14% for patients receiving PERJETA in combination with trastuzumab and
paclitaxel following ddAC and 8% for patients receiving PERJETA in combination with
trastuzumab and docetaxel following FEC. The most common adverse reactions (>1%) resulting
in permanent discontinuation of any component of neoadjuvant treatment were neuropathy
peripheral, ejection fraction decreased, diarrhea, neutropenia and infusion related reaction. Table
5 reports the adverse reactions that occurred in patients who received neoadjuvant treatment with
PERJETA for breast cancer in BERENICE.
Table 5: Summary of Adverse Reactions Occurring in ≥ 10% of Patients Receiving
Neoadjuvant Treatment with PERJETA in BERENICE
Body System/Adverse Reactions |
PERJETA
+ trastuzumab
+ paclitaxel following
ddAC |
PERJETA
+ trastuzumab
+ docetaxel following
FEC |
n=199 |
n=198 |
Frequency rate
% |
Frequency rate
% |
All
Grades
% |
Grades
3 – 4
% |
All
Grades
% |
Grades
3 – 4
% |
General disorders and administration site
conditions |
Fatigue |
58 |
1 |
1 |
5 |
Asthenia |
19 |
2 |
41 |
0 |
Mucosal inflammation |
22 |
1 |
37 |
4 |
Pyrexia |
15 |
0 |
18 |
0 |
Edema peripheral |
9 |
0 |
12 |
1 |
Skin and subcutaneous tissue disorders |
Alopecia |
62 |
0 |
59 |
0 |
Rash |
14 |
0 |
11 |
0 |
Dry skin |
14 |
0 |
10 |
0 |
Nail discoloration |
15 |
0 |
2 |
0 |
Palmar-Plantar Erythrodysaesthesia
Syndrome |
6 |
0 |
10 |
0.5 |
Gastrointestinal disorders |
Nausea |
71 |
3 |
69 |
2 |
Diarrhea |
67 |
3 |
69 |
10 |
Constipation |
35 |
0.5 |
38 |
0.5 |
Vomiting |
23 |
1 |
35 |
4 |
Stomatitis |
25 |
0 |
27 |
5 |
Dyspepsia |
19 |
0 |
16 |
0 |
Abdominal pain upper |
6 |
0 |
13 |
0 |
Abdominal pain |
5 |
0 |
10 |
0 |
Gastroesophageal reflux disease |
12 |
0 |
2 |
0 |
Blood and lymphatic system disorders |
Anemia |
27 |
3 |
30 |
3 |
Neutropenia |
22 |
12 |
16 |
9 |
Febrile neutropenia |
7 |
7 |
17 |
17 |
Nervous system disorders |
Headache |
30 |
0.5 |
14 |
0.5 |
Dysgeusia |
20 |
0 |
19 |
0.5 |
Neuropathy peripheral |
42 |
3 |
26 |
0.5 |
Paresthesia |
15 |
0 |
9 |
0 |
Dizziness |
12 |
0 |
8 |
0 |
Musculoskeletal and connective tissue
disorders |
Myalgia |
20 |
0 |
33 |
1 |
Arthralgia |
20 |
0 |
21 |
1 |
Back pain |
10 |
0 |
9 |
0 |
Pain in extremity |
10 |
0 |
8 |
0 |
Bone pain |
12 |
0.5 |
5 |
0 |
Infections and infestations |
Urinary tract infection |
11 |
1 |
2 |
0 |
Respiratory, thoracic, and mediastinal
disorders |
Epistaxis |
25 |
0 |
19 |
0 |
Dyspnea |
15 |
0.5 |
15 |
0.5 |
Cough |
20 |
0.5 |
9 |
0 |
Oropharyngeal pain |
10 |
0 |
8 |
0.5 |
Metabolism and nutrition disorders |
Decreased appetite |
20 |
0 |
23 |
0 |
Eye disorders |
|
|
|
|
Lacrimation increased |
9 |
0 |
18 |
0 |
Psychiatric disorders |
Insomnia |
19 |
0 |
13 |
0 |
Vascular disorders |
Hot flush |
19 |
0 |
13 |
0 |
Investigations |
White blood cell count decreased |
11 |
4 |
3 |
2 |
Injury, poisoning and procedural
complications |
Infusion related reaction |
16 |
1 |
13 |
1 |
ddAC = dose-dense doxorubicin, cyclophosphamide, FEC=5-fluorouracil, epirubicin,
cyclophosphamide |
The following selected adverse reactions were reported in < 10% of patients receiving
neoadjuvant treatment in BERENICE: (Ptz=pertuzumab; H=trastuzumab; P=paclitaxel;
ddAC=dose-dense doxorubicin and cyclophosphamide; D=docetaxel; FEC= fluorouracil,
epirubicin, and cyclophosphamide)
Skin and Subcutaneous Tissue Disorders
Pruritus (9% in the ddAC/Ptz+H+P arm, and 8% in
the FEC/Ptz+H+D arm), Nail disorder (7% in the ddAC/Ptz+H+P arm, and 10% in the
FEC/Ptz+H+D arm)
Infections and Infestations
Upper respiratory tract infection (7% in the ddAC/Ptz+H+P arm,
and 2% in the FEC/Ptz+H+D arm), nasopharyngitis (7% in the ddAC/Ptz+H+P arm, and 9% in
the FEC/Ptz+H+D arm), paronychia (0.5% in the ddAC/Ptz+H+P arm, and 1% in the
FEC/Ptz+H+D arm)
Adjuvant Treatment Of Breast Cancer (APHINITY)
The adverse reactions described in Table 6 were identified in 4769 patients with HER2-positive
early breast cancer treated in APHINITY. Patients were randomized to receive either PERJETA
in combination with trastuzumab and chemotherapy or placebo in combination with trastuzumab
and chemotherapy.
Adverse reactions resulting in permanent discontinuation of any study therapy were 13% for
patients in the PERJETA-treated group and 12% for patients in the placebo-treated group.
Adverse reactions resulting in permanent discontinuation of PERJETA or placebo was 7% and
6%, respectively. The most common adverse reactions (>0.5%) resulting in permanent
discontinuation of any study treatment were ejection fraction decreased, neuropathy peripheral,
diarrhea, and cardiac failure. Table 6 reports the adverse reactions that occurred in at least 10%
of patients in the PERJETA-treated group.
When PERJETA was administered in combination with trastuzumab and chemotherapy, the most
common adverse reactions (> 30%) were diarrhea, nausea, alopecia, fatigue, peripheral
neuropathy, and vomiting. The most common Grade 3 – 4 adverse reactions (> 2%) were
neutropenia, febrile neutropenia, diarrhea, neutrophil count decreased, anemia, white blood cell
count decreased, leukopenia, fatigue, nausea, and stomatitis.
The incidence of diarrhea, all Grades, was higher when chemotherapy was administered with
targeted therapy (61% in the PERJETA-treated group vs. 34% in the placebo-treated group), and
was higher when administered with non-anthracycline based therapy (85% in the PERJETAtreated
group vs. 62% in the placebo-treated group) than with anthracycline based therapy (67%
in the PERJETA-treated group vs. 41% in the placebo-treated group). The incidence of diarrhea
during the period that targeted therapy was administered without chemotherapy was 18% in the
PERJETA-treated group vs. 9% in the placebo-treated group. The median duration of all Grades
diarrhea was 8 days for the PERJETA-treated group vs. 6 days for the placebo-treated group.
The median duration of Grade ≥3 diarrhea was 20 days for the PERJETA-treated group vs. 8
days for the placebo-treated group. More patients required hospitalization for diarrhea as a
serious adverse event in the PERJETA-treated group (2.4%) than in the placebo-treated group
(0.7%).
Table 6: Summary of Adverse Reactions Occurring in ≥ 10% of Patients Receiving
Adjuvant Treatment with PERJETA in APHINITY
Body System/
Adverse Reactions |
PERJETA
+ trastuzumab
+ chemotherapy
n=2364
Frequency rate % |
Placebo
+ trastuzumab
+ chemotherapy
n=2405
Frequency rate % |
All
Grades
% |
Grades
3 – 4
% |
All
Grades
% |
Grades
3 – 4
% |
General disorders and administration site conditions |
Fatigue |
49 |
4 |
44 |
3 |
Mucosal inflammation |
23 |
2 |
19 |
0.7 |
Asthenia |
21 |
1 |
21 |
2 |
Pyrexia |
20 |
0.6 |
20 |
0.7 |
Edema peripheral |
17 |
0 |
0 |
0.2 |
Skin and subcutaneous tissue disorders |
Alopecia |
67 |
<0.1 |
67 |
<0.1 |
Rash |
26 |
0.4 |
20 |
0.2 |
Pruritus |
14 |
0.1 |
9 |
<0.1 |
Dry skin |
13 |
0.1 |
11 |
<0.1 |
Nail disorder |
12 |
0.2 |
12 |
0.1 |
Gastrointestinal disorders |
Diarrhea |
71 |
10 |
45 |
4 |
Nausea |
69 |
2 |
65 |
2 |
Vomiting |
32 |
2 |
30 |
2 |
Constipation |
29 |
0.5 |
32 |
0.3 |
Stomatitis |
28 |
2 |
24 |
1 |
Dyspepsia |
14 |
0 |
14 |
0 |
Abdominal pain |
12 |
0.5 |
11 |
0.6 |
Abdominal pain upper |
10 |
0.3 |
9 |
0.2 |
Blood and lymphatic system disorders |
Anemia |
28 |
7 |
23 |
5 |
Neutropenia |
25 |
16 |
23 |
16 |
Febrile neutropenia* |
12 |
12 |
11 |
11 |
Nervous system disorders |
Dysgeusia |
26 |
0.1 |
22 |
<0.1 |
Neuropathy peripheral |
33 |
1 |
32 |
1 |
Headache |
22 |
0.3 |
23 |
0.4 |
Paresthesia |
12 |
0.5 |
10 |
0.2 |
Dizziness |
11 |
0 |
11 |
0.2 |
Musculoskeletal and connective tissue disorders |
Arthralgia |
29 |
0.9 |
33 |
1 |
Myalgia |
26 |
0.9 |
30 |
1 |
Pain in extremity |
10 |
0.2 |
10 |
0.2 |
Infections and infestations |
Nasopharyngitis |
13 |
<0.1 |
12 |
0.1 |
Respiratory, thoracic, and mediastinal disorders |
Epistaxis |
18 |
<0.1 |
14 |
0 |
Cough |
16 |
<0.1 |
15 |
<0.1 |
Dyspnea |
12 |
0.4 |
12 |
0.5 |
Metabolism and nutrition disorders |
Decreased appetite |
24 |
0.8 |
20 |
0.4 |
Vascular disorders |
Hot flush |
20 |
0.2 |
21 |
0.4 |
Eye disorders |
Lacrimation increased |
13 |
0 |
13 |
<0.1 |
Psychiatric disorders |
Insomnia |
17 |
0.3 |
17 |
<0.1 |
Investigations |
Neutrophil count decreased |
14 |
10 |
14 |
10 |
Injury, poisoning and procedural complications |
Radiation skin injury |
13 |
0.3 |
11 |
0.3 |
* In this table this denotes an adverse reaction that has been reported in association with a fatal
outcome |
For the adverse reactions that were reported in ≥10% of patients with at least 5%
difference between the PERJETA-treated group and the placebo-treated group in
APHINITY, the breakdown per chemotherapy regimen is provided: (Ptz=pertuzumab;
H=trastuzumab; AC=anthracyclines; TCH=docetaxel, carboplatin, and trastuzumab)
Gastrointestinal Disorders
Diarrhea (67% in the Ptz+H+AC chemo arm, 85% in the Ptz+TCH
arm, 41% in the Pla+H+AC chemo arm, 62% in the Pla+TCH arm)
Skin and Subcutaneous Disorders
Rash (26% in the Ptz+H+AC chemo arm, 25% in the
Ptz+TCH arm, 21% in the Pla+H+AC chemo arm, 19% in the Pla+TCH arm), Pruritus (14% in
the Ptz+H+AC chemo arm, 15% in the Ptz+TCH arm, 9% in the Pla+H+AC chemo arm, 9% in
the Pla+TCH arm)
The following clinically relevant adverse reactions were reported in < 10% of patients in
the PERJETA-treated group in APHINITY:
Blood and Lymphatic System Disorders
Leukopenia (9% in the PERJETA-treated group vs.
9% in the placebo-treated group)
Infections and Infestations
Upper respiratory tract infection (8% in the PERJETA-treated
group vs. 7% in the placebo-treated group), paronychia (4% in the PERJETA-treated group vs.
2% in the placebo-treated group)
Adverse Reactions Reported in Patients Receiving PERJETA and Trastuzumab After
Discontinuation of Chemotherapy
In the APHINITY study, during the targeted treatment alone phase, all adverse reactions in the
PERJETA treatment group occurred in < 10% of patients with the exception of diarrhea (18%),
arthralgia (15%), radiation skin injury (12%), and hot flush (12%).
Immunogenicity
As with all therapeutic proteins, there is the potential for immunogenicity. The detection of
antibody formation is highly dependent on the sensitivity and specificity of the assay.
Additionally, the observed incidence of antibody (including neutralizing antibody) positivity in
an assay may be influenced by several factors including assay methodology, sample handling,
timing of sample collection, concomitant medications, and underlying disease. For these reasons,
comparison of the incidence of antibodies to pertuzumab in the studies described below with the
incidence of antibodies in other studies or to other products may be misleading.
Patients in CLEOPATRA were tested at multiple time-points for antibodies to PERJETA. 3%
(13/389) of patients in the PERJETA-treated group and 7% (25/372) of patients in the placebotreated
group tested positive for anti-PERJETA antibodies. Of these 38 patients, none
experienced anaphylactic/hypersensitivity reactions that were clearly related to the anti-drug
antibodies (ADA). The presence of pertuzumab in patient serum at the levels expected at the
time of ADA sampling can interfere with the ability of this assay to detect anti-pertuzumab
antibodies. In addition, the assay may be detecting antibodies to trastuzumab. As a result, data
may not accurately reflect the true incidence of anti-pertuzumab antibody development.
In the neoadjuvant period of BERENICE, 0.3% (1/383) of patients treated with PERJETA tested
positive for anti-PERJETA antibodies. This patient did not experience any
anaphylactic/hypersensitivity reactions.
Post-Marketing Experience
The following adverse reactions have been identified during post-approval use of PERJETA.
Because these reactions are reported voluntarily from a population of uncertain size, it is not
always possible to reliably estimate their frequency or establish a causal relationship to drug
exposure.
- Tumor lysis syndrome (TLS): Cases of possible TLS have been reported in patients
treated with PERJETA. Patients with significant tumor burden (e.g., bulky metastases)
may be at a higher risk. Patients could present with hyperuricemia, hyperphosphatemia,
and acute renal failure which may represent possible TLS. Providers should consider
additional monitoring and/or treatment as clinically indicated.
DRUG INTERACTIONS
No drug-drug interactions were observed between pertuzumab and trastuzumab, or between
pertuzumab and docetaxel, paclitaxel, or carboplatin.