A significant step toward improving access to treatment for Canadians with HER2-positive early breast cancer was reached this month, following the completion of negotiations between Roche Canada and the pan-Canadian Pharmaceutical Alliance (pCPA) for Perjeta (pertuzumab) in the neoadjuvant setting.
The agreement brings Canadian patients one step closer to publicly funded access to Perjeta in combination with trastuzumab and chemotherapy before surgery for certain patients with HER2-positive, locally advanced, inflammatory or early-stage breast cancer.
HER2-positive breast cancer accounts for approximately 10–20% of breast cancer cases in Canada and can be associated with more aggressive disease and a higher risk of recurrence. Neoadjuvant treatment – treatment given before surgery – is designed to shrink a tumour before it is removed. It can also provide important information about how the cancer responds to treatment, helping inform care decisions following surgery.
Access to Perjeta in this setting has been a long-standing priority for Canadian breast cancer advocates. In October 2025, Canada’s Drug Agency (CDA-AMC) issued a positive recommendation following a Non-Sponsored Reimbursement Review. Negotiations between Roche Canada and the pCPA began in February 2026.
“After years of advocacy, this much-needed agreement means equitable access for Canadian patients with HER2-positive breast cancer is within reach,” said Kimberly Carson, CEO of Breast Cancer Canada. “This treatment is standard in most countries and may provide high-risk patients with a better outcome from their diagnosis. Today, Canada is closer to closing a critical treatment gap.”
Read the full press release here: Roche Canada and the pan-Canadian Pharmaceutical Alliance (pCPA) successfully complete negotiations for Perjeta® (pertuzumab) for the neoadjuvant treatment of aggressive early stage breast cancer
