Study to prove not all CDK4/6 inhibitors are the same

[DDIL1]

fiercepharma.com/marketing/...

[Hazelgreen]

This 2020 study was recently expanded. Here is a link to a 2022 paper (nejm.org/doi/full/10.1056/N... which concluded, "Median overall survival was 63.9 months...with ribociclib plus letrozole and 51.4 months...with placebo plus letrozole".

I think it is important to remind people that median really means that 50% of the patients survived longer than that. We don't know who actually needed the ribociclib in either group, but clearly it helped some of the patients in the first group.

[DDIL1 in reply to Hazelgreen]

Thank you, that’s even better news. It makes me want to switch from Ibrance. My onc is pushing me to switch.

[Fiercefighter13 in reply to DDIL1]

At my last visit with my oncologist, I asked to be changed from Ibrance to Verzenio. My markers keep going up, but scans are all clear including PET's and MRI's and brain MRI's, and no particular symptoms showing. But for some reason, I got it in my head I should switch. My doctor had no problem with it, just warning me we would have to keep a close eye on the possible diarrhea that comes with Verzenio. I can't say personally that I know one CDK 4/6 over an other is better or not, or that I have a "good" reason to switch, but I'm going to Verzenio. I may end up back on Ibrance, who knows. A gut feeling has been telling me to move on to another and my doctor said it's o.k. to do that. Hope my info helps?

[USIrishcolleen in reply to Fiercefighter13]

Fiercefighter13,

I was having such good results with the Ibrance, that I did not understand when the medical oncologist switched me from Ibrance to Verzenio, when I was having such good results on Ibrance. I gues his reasoning was, that the partial mastectomy and lymph node dissection and biopsy, warranted that I should be put on Verzenio as a systemic treatment because cancer had spread to one lymph node.

Hope this helps someone.

Best,

Colleen

[TammyCross in reply to Hazelgreen]

Link doesn't work -- did they take it down?

Will there be a head to head comparison of the CDK4/6 inhibitors (pqlo, abema and ribo)? I guess not; competing pharmaceuticals.

I received Ibrance free from Pfizer under patient assistance program. Now they tell me the co-pays are very high for Verzenio, so the hospital team is trying to get me in Lilly's program. When I was prescribed Ibrance and they said it would take a month to get financial help, I insisted on starting immediately, even if I have to pay for the first month (they assume I cannot afford it). They managed to get it for me stat. At that point, I couldn't breathe or walk. This time I am in much better shape and not so rushed. I would like my body to get used to Letrozole first. That is taking its toll. Don't know if that is a wise strategy. I have just one tumor, the size of a peanut, and no symptoms.

[Aprilfoolz1 in reply to TammyCross]

The link works for me but it takes you to a different website so I had to click on a messageBox to agree to the new site . It's a 2 year old article .

[NPmary]

Thank you.

[Aprilfoolz1]

I had read this, published in 2020. Personally , i have NEAD on Ibrance and fulvestrant so for me, while I'm doing well on treatment it makes no sense to switch. I'll keep these other cdk/4-6 for later if needed .

[DDIL1 in reply to Aprilfoolz1]

I agree but I heard you can’t switch if one CDK 4/6 stops working.

[TammyCross in reply to DDIL1]

Not so. I am working my way through Ibrance, then Verzenio, then Kisgali. The idea is that the next one will work when the previous one stops working. I assume side effects get worse, too.

[DDIL1 in reply to TammyCross]

My onc said the insurance company categorizes them the same all CDK4/6 so if one stops working you need to advance to 2nd line. (??)

[Aprilfoolz1]

Didn't you mention your oncologist has mentioned moving to Verzenio ? I know women who have moved from Ibrance to Verzenio or dropped Ibrance when they had progression, switched to a different therapy or med yet came back a year later. I also know a woman who switched from Verzenio to Ibrance due to bad side effects on Verzenio. I think it's really specific for each of us and any sign of progression I would want a biopsy done including mutation testing . To me it makes sense that they are all different formulas so have different results. I'm ok where I'm at but it's good to know we may have options ! When I say "i know " women i am referring to online "friends "