New drug for breast cancer sufferers approved

By LYNDSAY BUCKLAND
Published on 14/03/2013 01:01

CAMPAIGNERS have welcomed the approval of a new drug for breast cancer sufferers after trials involving patients in Scotland.

Perjeta has given granted a licence by the European Medicines Agency for patients with a type of breast cancer known as HER2-positive, in combination with the drug Herceptin and chemotherapy.

Trials of the drug involved patients in Edinburgh, Glasgow and Aberdeen and showed that patients on the treatment lived for an average of 6.1 months longer. It also reduced the risk of death by 34 per cent.

James Jopling, director for Scotland at Breakthrough Breast Cancer, said: “This drug has been proven to make a difference to some women with advanced breast cancer.”