Kadcyla bests Herceptin in Phase III breast cancer test

Roche’s (ROG: SIX) Kadcyla (trastuzumab emtansine) has passed a Phase III test comparing the antibody-drug conjugate (ADC) with Herceptin (trastuzumab) as a therapy for certain breast cancers.

The KATHERINE trial is designed to test Kadcyla as an adjuvant monotherapy in certain people with HER2-positive early breast cancer, who have residual disease before surgery.

Roche says the drug reduced the risk of disease recurrence or death by 50% compared to Herceptin. At three years, 88.3% of people treated with Kadcyla did not have their breast cancer return compared to 77% treated with Herceptin.