Diplomat to dispense FDA-approved IBRANCE (palbociclib) to treat metastatic breast cancer

Feb 4 2015

Diplomat Pharmacy, Inc. (NYSE: DPLO), the nation's largest independent specialty pharmacy, announced today it will dispense Pfizer's new breakthrough medication, IBRANCE^® (palbociclib), starting tomorrow, Feb. 5. IBRANCE^® received approval from the Food and Drug Administration yesterday for use, when paired with letrozole, to treat metastasized tumors in postmenopausal women with a specific form of breast cancer.

The approval for IBRANCE^® came more than two months ahead of schedule, through the FDA's Breakthrough Therapy designation and Priority Review programs. According to Pfizer, the registration trial showed that, compared to letrozole alone, IBRANCE^® in combination with letrozole nearly doubled the time before tumors progressed. The drug is the first in a new class of anti-cancer agents, CDK 4/6 inhibitors, to be FDA-approved.

"IBRANCE^® offers hope for the breast cancer community, and we're excited to be able to offer it at Diplomat," said Gary Kadlec, president of the company. "Patients facing metastatic breast cancer need the support of advancements like these, and we are honored to complement this treatment with focused care."

IBRANCE^® is indicated for use in combination with letrozole for the treatment of postmenopausal women with estrogen receptor (ER)-positive, human epidermal growth factor receptor 2 (HER2)-negative advanced breast cancer as initial endocrine-based therapy for their metastatic disease.