Mayo Clinic and Eli Lilly discover new standard of care for certain high-risk breast cancer patients
A groundbreaking partnership between Mayo Clinic and Eli Lilly has demonstrated that combining abemaciclib with endocrine therapy significantly enhances survival and reduces disease spread in early-stage high-risk breast cancer patients, based on the phase 3 monarchE trial.
A partnership between Mayo Clinic and Eli Lilly is increasing survival for patients with early-stage breast cancer. Details of the collaboration are reported in a press release.
The study tested two years of FDA-approved abemaciclib (Verzenio) plus endocrine therapy in 2808 patients with HR+ and HER2- breast cancer. They “also had cancer in at least one underarm lymph node, a factor linked to higher risk of recurrence.” The other 2829 patients only received endocrine therapy. The participants were located in 38 different countries.
According to the phase 3 monarchE trial results, abemaciclib plus endocrine therapy could be the “new standard of care for this high-risk group.” The patients receiving the combination had a 15.8% lower risk of death compared to the other group. Additionally, “32% fewer experienced disease spread after seven years compared with those who only received endocrine therapy.” The researchers said they will continue to follow-up with the participants to “determine whether the survival benefit deepens over time.”
