Cheaper copy of herceptin tested for stomach cancer – small study shows promise
NCT ID NCT04181333
First seen Jun 24, 2026 · Last updated Jun 27, 2026 · Updated 1 time
Summary
This completed study by Pfizer tested a biosimilar (a near-copy) of trastuzumab in 8 people with advanced or recurrent HER2-positive gastric cancer that could not be removed by surgery. The goal was to check safety and how well the drug worked in real-world use. Participants received the biosimilar alongside other anti-cancer drugs, and doctors tracked side effects and tumor response.
What this could mean
Our plain-language read of the trial. This is informational only, not medical advice or a prediction.
- Active substance
- trastuzumab biosimilar (a copy of Herceptin)
- What this could lead to
- If this biosimilar works as well as the original drug, it could offer a more affordable treatment option for HER2-positive gastric cancer.
- What could go wrong
- This was a very small study (8 people) with no comparison group. Results may not apply to all patients, and biosimilars can have subtle differences in safety or effectiveness.
This is an AI summary of the original study and may miss details. Read our disclaimer.
Study facts
What this study's own registry entry says, in plain language.
- Participants
-
8 people
The number who actually took part.
- Started
-
Aug 2023
- Finished
-
Mar 2025
- Lead sponsor
-
A company
The lead sponsor is a pharmaceutical, biotech, or medical-device company.
Who can take part
This study's own entry requirements. Only the study team can say for certain whether you qualify.
Who is studied
100 patients
- Ages
-
0 years and older
- Sex
-
Anyone
- Healthy volunteers
-
Not accepted
This study is not open to healthy volunteers. The entry requirements below say who it is open to.
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Copied word for word from the study's registry entry, so the wording is the study team's rather than ours.
Inclusion Criteria: * Patients with unresectable advanced/recurrent gastric cancer who are confirmed to have HER2 overexpression and started treatment with this drug\* * Patients who receive this drug\* for the first time after this drug\* is launched \* Not including the biological product, HERCEPTIN, and biosimilars of HERCEPTIN other than this drug Exclusion Criteria: \- not specified in this study
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Conditions
The condition(s) this trial relates to.
As listed by the trial registrant
The condition terms exactly as the trial's registrant entered them.
Contacts and locations
Locations
-
Pfizer
Tokyo, Japan
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Other studies related to the condition(s) this trial covers.
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