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What Is Trodelvy® (sacituzumab govitecan-hziy)?

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By Editorial Team

3 min read

Reviewed by: HU Medical Review Board | Last reviewed: June 2023

Trodelvy® (sacituzumab govitecan-hziy) is a targeted therapy for some people with certain forms of metastatic or unresectable locally advanced triple-negative breast cancer. It is used to treat breast cancer that:1,2

  • Is hormone receptor (HR) negative and human epidermal growth factor receptor 2 (HER2) negative (also called triple-negative), and
  • Has spread to other parts of the body (metastatic), or has progressed within the breast region and cannot be removed by surgery (unresectable locally advanced), and
  • Has been previously treated with at least 2 other therapies, with at least 1 of these therapies having been used to treat metastatic breast cancer

Trodelvy is the first antibody-drug conjugate (anti-Trop-2 ADC) approved by the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) specifically for the treatment of certain forms of triple-negative breast cancer.1,2

Triple-negative breast cancer is an aggressive form of breast cancer with limited treatment options. Chemotherapy has historically been the standard treatment for triple-negative breast cancer. Trodelvy offers another treatment option for people who continue to have active disease.1

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Trodelvy is also used for some people with certain forms of metastatic or unresectable locally advanced breast cancer that is HR-positive, HER2-negative and have previously been treated with endocrine therapy and at least 2 other forms of treatment for metastatic breast cancer.2

What are the ingredients in Trodelvy?

The active ingredient in Trodelvy is sacituzumab govitecan-hziy.1,2

How does Trodelvy work?

About 20 percent of breast cancer cases worldwide are triple-negative. This means it tests negative for:1

  • Estrogen receptors
  • Progesterone receptors
  • Human epidermal growth factor receptor 2 (HER2) protein

This type of cancer does not respond to hormone therapy or treatments that target HER2.

Trodelvy includes 2 parts: a monoclonal antibody and a chemotherapy drug. By combining the antibody and chemotherapy drug, the antibody portion helps to find and attach to the breast cancer cells. Once attached, the chemotherapy portion is released to attack the cancer cell.1

What are the possible side effects?

The most common side effects of Trodelvy include:1,2

  • Nausea and vomiting
  • Low white blood cell counts
  • Diarrhea
  • Fatigue
  • Hair loss
  • Constipation
  • Decreased appetite
  • Low red blood cell counts
  • High blood sugar
  • Low albumin levels
  • Changes in kidney function tests
  • High alkaline phosphates
  • Low potassium, sodium, and/or magnesium levels

Trodelvy has a boxed warning, the strictest warning from the FDA. It has this warning because it can cause serious side effects, including:

  • Severe or life-threatening neutropenia, which is an abnormally low count of a type of white blood cell (neutrophils)
  • Severe diarrhea

These are not all the possible side effects of Trodelvy. Talk to your doctor about what to expect when taking Trodelvy. You also should call your doctor if you have any changes that concern you when taking Trodelvy.

Other things to know

Before taking Trodelvy, tell your doctor if you have:1,2

  • Liver problems
  • Been told you have the uridine diphosphate-glucuronosyl transferase 1A1 (UGT1A1)*28 gene. Having this gene increases the risk of experiencing certain side effects with Trodelvy, especially low red and white blood cell counts, as well as getting a fever along with low white blood cells

Trodelvy can harm an unborn baby. If you can become pregnant, you should use birth control during treatment and for some time after the last dose of Trodelvy. You should also not breastfeed during treatment with Trodelvy and for some time after the last dose. Talk to your doctor about your options for birth control and breastfeeding while taking Trodelvy.1,2

Before beginning treatment for breast cancer, tell your doctor about all your health conditions and any other drugs, vitamins, or supplements you are taking. This includes over-the-counter drugs.

For more information, read the full prescribing information of Trodelvy.