U.S. FDA Approves Trodelvy® for First-Line Treatment of Metastatic Triple-Negative Breast Cancer
Key Terms
antibody-drug conjugate medical
progression-free survival medical
combined positive score (cps) medical
topoisomerase i inhibitor medical
blinded independent central review medical
febrile neutropenia medical
– Trodelvy is a New Backbone Therapy and the Only Approved ADC in First-Line mTNBC Across PD-L1 Status –
– Approval Builds on Trodelvy’s Leadership in Second-Line mTNBC and Pre-Treated HR+/HER2- Metastatic Breast Cancer with More than 75,000 Patients Treated Globally –

“For people living with mTNBC, the first treatment choice can be pivotal, as many patients may not have the opportunity to receive subsequent therapies,” said Sara Tolaney, MD, MPH, Chief of the Division of Breast Oncology at Dana-Farber Cancer Institute and a principal investigator of the ASCENT-03 and ASCENT-04 studies. “This approval is heartening news for patients and the clinical community, and I believe offers a practice-changing first-line treatment option for all patients across PD-L1 status.”
The FDA approval is based on highly statistically significant and clinically meaningful progression-free survival (PFS) data from the Phase 3 ASCENT-03 and ASCENT-04/KEYNOTE-D19 trials, where Trodelvy-based regimens significantly reduced the risk of disease progression or death in first-line mTNBC—by
Across ASCENT-03 and ASCENT-04, Trodelvy-based regimens delivered markedly more durable responses, with median duration of response of 12.2 versus 7.2 months with chemotherapy in ASCENT-03 and 16.5 versus 9.2 months for Trodelvy plus Keytruda versus Keytruda plus chemotherapy in ASCENT-04 by blinded independent central review.
“For patients with metastatic TNBC, a new first-line treatment option offers optimism to a community with historically few choices,” said Ricki Fairley, Co-Founder and CEO of TOUCH, The Black Breast Cancer Alliance. “TNBC disproportionately affects younger women - many in the prime of their lives - and often leads to poorer outcomes. Because so many patients may never receive subsequent lines of therapy, the ability to start with a promising option like Trodelvy with or without Keytruda is critical. We have sought additional alternatives to chemotherapy-containing regimens in the first-line metastatic setting since TNBC was classified as a disease more than 20 years ago. As such, this approval represents meaningful progress for the families impacted by this disease.”
“The FDA’s approval of Trodelvy provides a new standard of care for the most aggressive form of breast cancer,” said Dietmar Berger, MD, PhD, Chief Medical Officer, Gilead Sciences. “For more than twenty years, patients with mTNBC have had limited choices in first-line treatment. Building on its impact in second-line mTNBC, Trodelvy now offers patients a powerful new backbone therapy option in the first-line setting.”
Based on the ASCENT-03 and ASCENT-04 positive study results, the National Comprehensive Cancer Network® (NCCN®) recommends Trodelvy with or without Keytruda as a category 1 preferred first-line treatment option for people with mTNBC across PD-L1 status in the NCCN Guidelines®i. Trodelvy also has a category 1 recommendation in second-line mTNBC and in pre-treated HR+/HER2-negative (IHC 0, IHC 1+ or IHC 2+/ISH-) metastatic breast cancer (mBC).
Healthcare professionals have well-established experience with Trodelvy, with more than 75,000 breast cancer patients treated across more than 60 countries over the past six years. It remains the only Trop-2-directed ADC to demonstrate meaningful overall survival benefits in both second-line or later metastatic TNBC and pre-treated HR+/HER2- mBC. It is also the only ADC with four positive Phase 3 trials in HER2-negative (IHC 0, IHC 1+ or IHC 2+/ISH-) mBC.
Please see below for the
KEYTRUDA® and KEYTRUDA QLEX™ are trademark(s) of Merck Sharp & Dohme LLC., a subsidiary of Merck & Co., Inc.,
About Triple-Negative Breast Cancer
TNBC is the most aggressive type of breast cancer and has historically been difficult to treat, accounting for approximately
First-line metastatic TNBC has seen limited new approvals in recent years and additional options are urgently needed. Over
About Trodelvy
Trodelvy (sacituzumab govitecan-hziy) is a first-in-class Trop-2-directed antibody-drug conjugate. Trop-2 is a cell surface antigen highly expressed in multiple tumor types, including in more than
Trodelvy is currently approved in more than 60 countries for second-line or later metastatic triple-negative breast cancer (TNBC) and in more than 50 countries for certain patients with pre-treated HR+/HER2- metastatic breast cancer (mBC). Global regulatory submissions for the approval of Trodelvy based on ASCENT-03 and ASCENT-04 are underway.
Trodelvy is currently being evaluated in multiple ongoing Phase 3 trials across a range of tumor types with high Trop-2 expression. These studies with Trodelvy, both in monotherapy and in combination with pembrolizumab, involve earlier lines of treatment for TNBC and HR+/HER2- breast cancer—including in curative settings—as well as in lung and gynecologic cancers, where previous proof-of-concept studies have demonstrated clinical activity.
INDICATIONS
TRODELVY® (sacituzumab govitecan-hziy) is a Trop-2–directed antibody and topoisomerase inhibitor conjugate indicated in adult patients:
Locally Advanced or Metastatic Triple-Negative Breast Cancer
First Line
- As a single agent for the first-line treatment of unresectable locally advanced or metastatic triple-negative breast cancer (mTNBC) who are not candidates for PD-1 or PD-L1 inhibitor-based therapy
- In combination with pembrolizumab or pembrolizumab and berahyaluronidase alfa-pmph for the first-line treatment of unresectable locally advanced or mTNBC whose tumors express PD-L1 [Combined Positive Score (CPS ≥10)] as determined by an FDA-authorized test
Second Line or Later
- For the treatment of unresectable locally advanced or mTNBC who have received two or more prior systemic therapies, at least one of them for metastatic disease.
Locally Advanced or Metastatic HR-positive, HER2-negative Breast Cancer
- For the treatment of unresectable locally advanced or metastatic hormone receptor (HR)-positive, human epidermal growth factor receptor 2 (HER2)-negative (IHC 0, IHC 1+, or IHC 2+/ISH–) breast cancer who have received endocrine-based therapy and at least two additional systemic therapies in the metastatic setting.
IMPORTANT SAFETY INFORMATION
BOXED WARNING: NEUTROPENIA AND DIARRHEA
- TRODELVY can cause severe, life-threatening, or fatal neutropenia. Withhold TRODELVY for absolute neutrophil count below 1500/mm3 or neutropenic fever. Monitor blood cell counts periodically during treatment. Primary prophylaxis with G-CSF is recommended for all patients at increased risk of febrile neutropenia. Initiate anti-infective treatment in patients with febrile neutropenia without delay.
- TRODELVY can cause severe diarrhea. Monitor patients with diarrhea and give fluid and electrolytes as needed. At the onset of diarrhea, evaluate for infectious causes and, if negative, promptly initiate loperamide. If severe diarrhea occurs, withhold TRODELVY until resolved to ≤Grade 1 and reduce subsequent doses.
CONTRAINDICATIONS
- Severe hypersensitivity reaction to TRODELVY.
WARNINGS AND PRECAUTIONS
Neutropenia: Severe, life-threatening, or fatal neutropenia can occur as early as the first cycle of treatment and may require dose modification. Neutropenia occurred in
Diarrhea: Diarrhea occurred in
Hypersensitivity and Infusion-Related Reactions: TRODELVY can cause serious hypersensitivity reactions, including life-threatening anaphylactic reactions. Severe signs and symptoms included cardiac arrest, hypotension, wheezing, angioedema, swelling, and skin reactions. Hypersensitivity reactions occurred in
Nausea and Vomiting: TRODELVY is emetogenic and can cause severe nausea and vomiting. Nausea occurred in
Increased Risk of Adverse Reactions in Patients With Reduced UGT1A1 Activity: Patients homozygous for the uridine diphosphate-glucuronosyl transferase 1A1 (UGT1A1)*28 allele are at increased risk for neutropenia, febrile neutropenia, and anemia and may be at increased risk for other adverse reactions with TRODELVY. The incidence of Grade 3-4 neutropenia was
Embryo-Fetal Toxicity: Based on its mechanism of action, TRODELVY can cause teratogenicity and/or embryo-fetal lethality when administered to a pregnant woman. TRODELVY contains a genotoxic component, SN-38, and targets rapidly dividing cells. Advise pregnant women and females of reproductive potential of the potential risk to a fetus. Advise females of reproductive potential to use effective contraception during treatment with TRODELVY and for 6 months after the last dose. Advise male patients with female partners of reproductive potential to use effective contraception during treatment with TRODELVY and for 3 months after the last dose.
ADVERSE REACTIONS
In the pooled safety population of TRODELVY as a single agent, the most common (≥
In the safety population of TRODELVY in combination with pembrolizumab, the most common (≥
In the ASCENT-03 study (single agent in previously untreated, unresectable locally advanced or mTNBC), the most common adverse reactions (incidence ≥
In the ASCENT-04 study (in combination with pembrolizumab in previously untreated, unresectable locally advanced or mTNBC whose tumors express PD-L1), the most common adverse reactions (incidence ≥
In the ASCENT study (previously treated locally advanced or mTNBC), the most common adverse reactions (incidence ≥
In the TROPiCS-02 study (locally advanced or metastatic HR+/HER2– breast cancer), the most common adverse reactions (incidence ≥
DRUG INTERACTIONS
UGT1A1 Inhibitors: Avoid administering UGT1A1 inhibitors with TRODELVY. SN-38 is a UGT1A1 substrate. Concomitant administration of TRODELVY with inhibitors of UGT1A1 may increase the incidence of adverse reactions due to potential increase in systemic exposure to SN-38.
UGT1A1 Inducers: Avoid administering UGT1A1 inducers with TRODELVY. SN-38 is a UGT1A1 substrate. Concomitant administration of TRODELVY with inducers of UGT1A1 may reduce exposure to SN-38.
Please see full Prescribing Information, including BOXED WARNING.
About Gilead and Kite Oncology
Gilead and Kite Oncology are working to transform how cancer is treated. We are innovating with next-generation therapies, combinations and technologies to deliver improved outcomes for people with cancer. We are purposefully building our oncology portfolio and pipeline to address the greatest gaps in care. From antibody-drug conjugate technologies and small molecules to cell therapy-based approaches, we are creating new possibilities for people with cancer.
About Gilead Sciences
Gilead Sciences, Inc. is a biopharmaceutical company that has pursued and achieved breakthroughs in medicine for more than three decades, with the goal of creating a healthier world for all people. The company is committed to advancing innovative medicines to prevent and treat life-threatening diseases, including HIV, viral hepatitis, COVID-19, cancer and inflammation. In 2025, Gilead announced a planned
Forward-Looking Statements
This press release includes forward-looking statements within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995 that are subject to risks, uncertainties and other factors, including Gilead’s ability to initiate, progress or complete clinical trials or studies within currently anticipated timelines or at all, and the possibility of unfavorable results from ongoing and additional clinical trials or studies, including those involving sacituzumab govitecan-hziy (such as ASCENT-03 and ASCENT-04); uncertainties relating to regulatory applications and related filing and approval timelines, including potential applications for programs and/or indications currently under evaluation, and the risk that any regulatory approvals, if granted, may be subject to significant limitations on use or subject to withdrawal or other adverse actions by the applicable regulatory authority; the possibility that Gilead may make a strategic decision to discontinue development of these programs and, as a result, these programs may never be successfully commercialized for the indications currently under evaluation; the risk that physicians and patients may not see advantages of Trodelvy for first-line mTNBC and may therefore be reluctant to prescribe the products; and any assumptions underlying any of the foregoing. These and other risks, uncertainties and factors are described in detail in Gilead’s Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the quarter ended March 31, 2026, as filed with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission. These risks, uncertainties and other factors could cause actual results to differ materially from those referred to in the forward-looking statements. All statements other than statements of historical fact are statements that could be deemed forward-looking statements. The reader is cautioned that any such forward-looking statements are not guarantees of future performance and involve risks and uncertainties and is cautioned not to place undue reliance on these forward-looking statements. All forward-looking statements are based on information currently available to Gilead, and Gilead assumes no obligation and disclaims any intent to update any such forward-looking statements.
Trodelvy, Gilead and the Gilead logo are trademarks of Gilead Sciences, Inc., or its related companies.
U.S. Prescribing Information for Trodelvy, including BOXED WARNING, is available at www.gilead.com.
For more information about Gilead, please visit the company’s website at www.gilead.com, follow Gilead on X/Twitter (@Gilead Sciences) and LinkedIn (@Gilead-Sciences).
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i Referenced with permission from the NCCN Clinical Practice Guidelines in Oncology (NCCN Guidelines®) for Breast Cancer Version 4.2026. © National Comprehensive Cancer Network, Inc. 2026. All rights reserved. Accessed June 16, 2026. To view the most recent and complete version of the guideline, go online to NCCN.org. NCCN makes no warranties of any kind whatsoever regarding their content, use or application and disclaims any responsibility for their application or use in any way.
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Source: Gilead Sciences, Inc.