New pill combo aims to keep advanced breast cancer in check

NCT ID NCT04208178

First seen Jun 27, 2026 · Last updated Jun 27, 2026

Summary

This Phase 3 study tests whether adding the targeted drug alpelisib to standard maintenance therapy (trastuzumab and pertuzumab) can help people with advanced HER2-positive breast cancer that has a specific genetic change (PIK3CA mutation) live longer without their cancer growing. The trial enrolls about 19 participants who have already received initial chemotherapy. Part 1 checks the safety of the combination, and Part 2 compares alpelisib against a placebo.

What this could mean

Our plain-language read of the trial. This is informational only — not medical advice or a prediction.

Active substance

alpelisib (a targeted cancer pill)

What this could lead to

If successful, this could offer a new maintenance treatment option to help delay cancer progression in people with a specific genetic mutation.

What could go wrong

This is a small, early-phase safety run-in (Part 1) followed by a randomized Phase 3. The drug may cause side effects or not improve outcomes compared to placebo.

Disclaimer Read more

This is a summary of the original study . Summaries may miss details or leave out important information. Before applying or accepting participation, make sure you have read and understood the full study. Curemydisease.com takes no responsibility whatsoever for anything missed, misunderstood, or acted upon as a result of our summary — we know it does not capture everything.

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Conditions

The condition(s) this trial relates to.

HER2 positive breast carcinoma

As listed by the trial registrant

The condition terms exactly as the trial's registrant entered them.

Contacts and locations

Locations

  • Highlands Oncology Group

    Fayetteville, Arkansas, 72703, United States

  • Novartis Investigative Site

    Leuven, 3000, Belgium

  • Novartis Investigative Site

    Liège, 4000, Belgium

  • Novartis Investigative Site

    Changchun, Jilin, 130021, China

  • Novartis Investigative Site

    Shanghai, 200032, China

  • Novartis Investigative Site

    Saint-Cloud, Hauts De Seine, 92210, France

  • Novartis Investigative Site

    Saint-Herblain, 44805, France

  • Novartis Investigative Site

    Florence, FI, 50134, Italy

  • Novartis Investigative Site

    Kuala Lumpur, 59100, Malaysia

  • Novartis Investigative Site

    L'Hospitalet de Llobregat, Barcelona, 08907, Spain

  • University of California LA

    Los Angeles, California, 90095, United States