Daiichi Sankyo and AstraZeneca have achieved a significant regulatory milestone as the Committee for Medicinal Products for Human Use (CHMP) of the European Medicines Agency recommended approval for ENHERTU® in treating patients with HER2 low or HER2 ultralow metastatic breast cancer who have received at least one prior endocrine therapy.
Clinical Impact and Patient Population
The recommendation represents a major step forward in addressing the treatment needs of breast cancer patients with lower levels of HER2 expression, a population that historically had limited targeted therapy options. This development could potentially benefit a substantial number of patients across the European Union who have progressed on standard endocrine therapy.
Treatment Landscape Evolution
ENHERTU® (trastuzumab deruxtecan) is an antibody-drug conjugate specifically engineered to target HER2-expressing cancer cells. Its potential approval in the EU would mark a paradigm shift in how clinicians approach breast cancer treatment, particularly for patients with low or ultralow HER2 expression who previously may not have been considered candidates for HER2-targeted therapies.
Regulatory Progress
The CHMP's positive opinion will now be reviewed by the European Commission, which has the authority to grant marketing authorization for the European Union. This recommendation follows a comprehensive review of clinical data supporting ENHERTU's efficacy and safety profile in this patient population.
Strategic Implications
For Daiichi Sankyo and AstraZeneca, this recommendation strengthens their position in the oncology market and reflects their commitment to advancing innovative therapies for patients with significant unmet medical needs. The potential approval would expand the available treatment options for metastatic breast cancer patients across Europe.
