This grade answers one narrow question: how strong is the public evidence and safety record behind this drug, and how clean is its money trail and court record? It is not a verdict on whether the drug is right for you.
WARNING: LEFT VENTRICULAR DYSFUNCTION and EMBRYO-FETAL TOXICITY Left Ventricular Dysfunction: PERJETA can cause subclinical and clinical cardiac failure manifesting as decreased LVEF and CHF. Evaluate cardiac function prior to and during treatment. Discontinue PERJETA treatment for a confirmed clinically significant decrease in left ventricular function [see Dosage and Administration (2.3) , Warnings and Precautions (5.1) and Adverse Reactions (6.1) ]. Embryo-fetal Toxicity: Exposure to PERJETA can cause embryo-fetal death and birth defects. Advise patients of these risks and the need for effective contraception [see Warnings and Precautions (5.2) and Use in Specific Populations (8.1) (8.3) ]. WARNING: LEFT VENTRICULAR DYSFUNCTION and EMBRYO-FETAL TOXICITY See full prescribing information for complete boxed warning. Left Ventricular Dysfunction: PERJETA can cause subclinical and clinical cardiac failure manifesting as decreased LVEF and CHF. Evaluate cardiac function prior to and during treatment. Discontinue PERJETA treatment for a confirmed clinically significant decrease in left ventricular function. ( 2.3 , 5.1 , 6.1 ) Embryo-fetal Toxicity: Exposure to PERJETA can cause embryo...
is a HER2/neu receptor antagonist indicated for: Use in combination with trastuzumab and docetaxel for treatment of adults with HER2-positive metastatic breast cancer (MBC) who have not received prior anti-HER2 therapy or chemotherapy for metastatic disease. ( 1.1 ) Use in combination with trastuzumab and chemotherapy as neoadjuvant treatment of adults with HER2-positive, locally advanced, inflammatory, or early stage breast cancer (either greater than 2 cm in diameter or node positive) as part of a complete treatment regimen for early breast cancer. ( 1.2 , 2.2 , 14.2 ) adjuvant treatment of adults with HER2-positive early breast cancer at high risk of recurrence ( 1.2 , 2.2 , 14.3 ) 1.1 Metastatic Breast Cancer (MBC) PERJETA is indicated for use in combination with trastuzumab and docetaxel for the treatment of adults with HER2-positive metastatic breast cancer who have not received prior anti-HER2 therapy or chemotherapy for metastatic disease [see Dosage and Administration (2.2) and Clinical Studies (14.1) ] . 1.2 Early Breast Cancer (EBC) PERJETA is indicated for use in combination with trastuzumab and chemotherapy for the neoadjuvant treatment of adults with HER2-positive, lo...
is contraindicated in patients with known hypersensitivity to pertuzumab or to any of its excipients [see Warnings and Precautions (5.4)]. PERJETA is contraindicated in patients with known hypersensitivity to pertuzumab or to any of its excipients. ( 4 )
Infusion-Related Reactions: PERJETA can cause serious infusion reactions, including fatal events: Monitor for signs and symptoms. If a significant infusion-associated reaction occurs, slow or interrupt the infusion and administer appropriate medical therapies. ( 5.3 ) Hypersensitivity Reactions/Anaphylaxis: PERJETA can cause hypersensitivity reactions, including anaphylaxis: Monitor for signs and symptoms, including angioedema. If a severe hypersensitivity reaction/anaphylaxis occurs, discontinue the infusion immediately and administer appropriate medical therapies. ( 5.4 ) 5.1 Left Ventricular Dysfunction PERJETA can cause left ventricular dysfunction, including symptomatic heart failure. Decreases in LVEF have been reported with drugs that block HER2 activity, including PERJETA. Assess LVEF prior to initiation of PERJETA and at regular intervals during treatment to ensure that LVEF is within normal limits. If the LVEF declines and has not improved, or has declined further at the subsequent assessment, consider permanent discontinuation of PERJETA and trastuzumab [see Dosage Modification for Adverse Reactions (2.5) ] . In the PERJETA-treated patients with MBC in CLEOPATRA, left ve...
The following adverse reactions are discussed in greater detail in other sections of the label: Left Ventricular Dysfunction [see Warnings and Precautions (5.1) ] Embryo-Fetal Toxicity [see Warnings and Precautions (5.2) ] Infusion-Related Reactions [see Warnings and Precautions (5.3) ] Hypersensitivity Reactions/Anaphylaxis [see Warnings and Precautions (5.4) ] Metastatic Breast Cancer The most common adverse reactions (> 30%) with PERJETA in combination with trastuzumab and docetaxel were diarrhea, alopecia, neutropenia, nausea, fatigue, rash, and peripheral neuropathy. ( 6.1 ) Neoadjuvant Treatment of Breast Cancer The most common adverse reactions (> 30%) with PERJETA in combination with trastuzumab and docetaxel were alopecia, diarrhea, nausea, and neutropenia. ( 6.1 ) The most common adverse reactions (>30%) with PERJETA in combination with trastuzumab and docetaxel when given for 3 cycles following 3 cycles of FEC were fatigue, alopecia, diarrhea, nausea, vomiting, and neutropenia. ( 6.1 ) The most common adverse reactions (>30%) with PERJETA in combination with docetaxel, carboplatin, and trastuzumab (TCH) were fatigue, alopecia, diarrhea, nausea, vomiting, neutropenia, thr...
Source: FDA SPL label for PERJETA (Genentech, Inc.), effective 20260430. Full label on DailyMed.
These are counts of reports people filed, not rates of harm. Anyone can file one, and nobody checks whether the drug was the cause. Millions of doses are taken for every report sent, so the useful part is how this drug compares with the average across all drugs.
| 2019 | 2020 | 2021 | 2022 | 2023 | 2024 | 2025 | 2026 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2,291 | 2,538 | 2,958 | 2,698 | 2,752 | 3,063 | 2,025 | 934 |
Source: the FDA's Adverse Event Reporting System (FAERS). Reports are voluntary and unverified. Drugs that are prescribed a lot, in the news, or in lawsuits attract more reports, so the percentages are compared with the whole database to correct for that partly, not fully.
Counts measure how much evidence exists and how transparent it is, not how big the benefit is. For that, ask your prescriber: if 100 people like me took this, how many would get better because of it, and how many would be harmed? (Doctors call these the "number needed to treat" and "number needed to harm.") It differs by condition and is the number drug ads leave out. Sources: PubMed, ClinicalTrials.gov.
In 2024, drug companies reported $37,453 in payments to US physicians and hospitals tied to this drug across 403 transactions (Perjeta $37,453).
No pending federal MDL names this drug or its brands.
Not named in any federal pharmaceutical settlement of $100M or more on record.
Sources: CMS Open Payments (Sunshine Act); Judicial Panel on Multidistrict Litigation pending docket list; DOJ settlements as tabulated on Wikipedia with links to the primary record. State-court and individual suits are not included.
Same ATC pharmacological class, graded ones first, best grade at the top. Being in the same class does not make them interchangeable for your condition; it makes them worth asking about.