Lilly Breast-Cancer Drug Approved by FDA

The FDA approved Eli Lilly’s breast-cancer drug Verzenio (abemaciclib).

Verzenio was approved for adult patients with hormone receptor (HR)-positive, human epidermal growth factor receptor 2 (HER2)-negative advanced or metastatic breast cancer that has progressed after endorcrine therapy. It may be given in combination with endocrine therapy after the cancer has grown on that therapy, or it may be administered on its own if patients were previously treated with endocrine therapy and chemotherapy after the cancer had spread.

Verzenio blocks certain molecules that promote the growth of cancer cells. The FDA has approved two other breast-cancers drugs in the same class: palbociclib and ribociclib.