Verzenio treats advanced or metastatic breast cancer usually in combination with either an aromatase inhibitor such as Femara/letrozole or a drug from a different class - Faslodex. Postmenopausal women whose tumors demonstrate estrogen or hormone receptors are ideal patients. This group includes close to 80% of all breast cancers.
Advertisements for Verzenio blanket the airways claiming that it represents the only CDK 4/6 inhibitor that can be taken daily - more properly twice a day. Other competitors, Ibrance and Kisqali, damage the body’s ability to produce infection fighting white blood cells. They are taken daily for 21 consecutive days with a 7 day rest period.
Verzenio seems somewhat less likely to interfere with white blood cells but instead often results in debilitating diarrhea. Up to 80% of patients treated with Verzenio experience diarrhea with dose reductions necessary in about one in three. Other major toxicities routinely occur.
While the drug modestly increases progression free survival, no evidence exists that it prolongs overall survival. At present, Verzenio, Ibrance and Kisqali seem to provide equivalent benefits. Choice relates to cost, side effects and patient or doctor preference.
Cost is outrageous at about $150,000 a year cash or $425+ a day.