The U.S. Food and Drug Administration has approved a new medication called Ontruzant for treating certain types of cancer. This drug is designed to work against cancers that have too much of a protein called HER2, including some breast cancers and some stomach cancers. It's approved for use in adults with these specific cancer types.
Ontruzant is what's called a biosimilar, which means it's very similar to an existing cancer drug called trastuzumab. The approval means doctors now have another option when treating patients with HER2-positive cancers. This could potentially help make this type of targeted cancer treatment more accessible to patients who need it.
It's important to understand that Ontruzant is not a substitute for all trastuzumab-based medications. Doctors need to be careful about which specific medication they prescribe for each patient's situation. The drug is given through an IV and has specific dosing schedules depending on the type of cancer being treated.
One important thing to know is that patients should talk with their doctor about whether this medication might be appropriate for their specific situation. Doctors will need to test for the HER2 protein to determine if a patient might benefit from this treatment. As with any medication, there are safety considerations that doctors will monitor during treatment.
