Genentech Receives First ADC Approval

Genentech has received FDA approval for Kadcyla (ado-trastuzumab emtansine or T-DM1) for the treatment of HER2-positive metastatic breast cancer (mBC) in patients that have received prior Herceptin and chemotherapy treatment. Kadcyla, an antibody-drug conjugate (ADC), is a new kind of targeted cancer medicine that can attach to certain types of cancer cells and deliver chemotherapy directly to them. Kadcyla is the first FDA-approved ADC for treating HER2-positive mBC.
 
“Kadcyla is an antibody-drug conjugate representing a completely new way to treat HER2-positive metastatic breast cancer, and it helped people in the EMILIA study live nearly six months longer,” said Hal Barron, M.D., chief medical officer and head, Global Product Development. “We currently have more than 25 ADCs in our pipeline and hope this promising approach will help us deliver more medicines to fight other cancers in the future.”