Sacituzumab govitecan for treating HR+/HER2- negative metastatic breast cancer

Sacituzumab govitecan is in clinical development for the treatment of adult patients with hormone receptor positive and human epidermal growth factor 2 negative (HR+/HER2-) metastatic breast cancer, whose disease has progressed despite treatment with at least two prior rounds of chemotherapy. Survival outcomes for patients with metastatic breast cancer are poor and current chemotherapy options are associated with adverse side effects so there is a need for additional therapies for these patients.
Sacituzumab govitecan belongs to a class of medicinal products called antibody drug conjugates (ADCs) which are developed by attaching (conjugating) a specific protein, called a monoclonal antibody, to an anti-cancer drug. The monoclonal antibody component of savicituzumab govitecan specifically targets and attaches to a protein, TROP-2, which is found on the surface of cancer cells allowing the entry of the sacituzumab govitecan into the cancer cell. Once inside the cell the anti-cancer drug SN-38 is released resulting in DNA damage that causes death of the cancerous cells. Sacituzumab govitecan is administered by intravenous infusion (IV) and if licensed will offer an additional treatment option for patients with HR+/HER2- metastatic breast cancer whose disease has progressed despite treatment with at least two prior rounds of chemotherapy.