Anybody getting Kanjinti rather than Herceptin ?

Scaredbutstrong
Scaredbutstrong Member Posts: 11
edited February 2021 in HER2+ (Positive) Breast Cancer

Apparently, my insurance company will approve Kanjinti rather than Herceptin. Is one better than the other ? I heard that Kanjinti is cheaper, which is all insurance companies seem to care about.

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  • illimae
    illimae Member Posts: 5,710
    edited November 2020

    I’m about to next week. I moved from Houston and MD Anderson, so my local MO is at Texas Oncology, they don’t offer Herceptin, so I’m being switched to Kanjinti. An MDA pharmacist said that kanjinti is as effective and has the same side effects. I’ll know soon enough. I’ll update, if you like.

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  • MinusTwo
    MinusTwo Member Posts: 16,634
    edited November 2020

    This is the biosimilar, right? I think it was approved by the FDA in mid-2019 so it has more than a year in use - AFTER the trials. I tend to follow HER2+ threads so I'll be interested in your reactions.

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  • Wanda1978
    Wanda1978 Member Posts: 5
    edited November 2020

    Hi everyone,

    I also had Kanjinti instead of herceptin as part of my treatment and I did get pcr, so I was happy with it. Good luck

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  • SpecialK
    SpecialK Member Posts: 16,486
    edited November 2020

    Over on the TP thread and a few other places on this site people have mentioned some allergic type reactions to Kanjinti, which have not happened when they were switched to Herceptin. I believe that the trials had to prove no "statistically significant" difference in quantifiable action, so from that standpoint I don't believe Herceptin is necessarily superior, but some may be sensitive to the inactive ingredients. This would be a case like that of generic meds, which are always less expensive, not being a suitable match for some patients and needing to use the name brand.

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  • ajminn3
    ajminn3 Member Posts: 327
    edited November 2020

    I’m on Kanjinti instead of Herceptin per my insurance. I fortunately do not have any noticeable side effects from it. (Well none that I can tie directly to it since I’m also on Perjeta, Zoladex, and examestene)

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  • DGHoff
    DGHoff Member Posts: 624
    edited January 2021

    I just got switched to Kanjinti this week as my health system now automatically defaults to it whenever Herceptin is prescribed. I'm sure it has to do with pricing. So far, I don't feel anything really different and it is two days later. I was a little gobsmacked when the nurse started reading out the information for double-checking as the infusion was about to begin. It seems really strange that they can just change a drug without informing you beforehand. If I hadn't been paying attention, I would not even have known!


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  • Nsbrown54
    Nsbrown54 Member Posts: 908
    edited January 2021

    My MO discussed using bio similars after TCHP chemo. Seems like it was standard practice, probably insurance related since bio similars are cheaper.I started Kanjinti this week and so far have not noticed any side effects.

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  • amontro
    amontro Member Posts: 504
    edited February 2021

    I was also switched from herceptin to kanjintin without being asked. I was told only once during my every-three-week infusions ,"by the way this is kanjintin," "it's like herceptin". I have also noticed that I am sicker, longer after the infusions with kanjintin. More nausea, body aches, and diarrhea sometimes for days afterward. The side effects seem to be increasing. I'm not due for another 2 weeks now, so I'll bring it up with my onc then. Thanks for bringing this topic to mind.

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