Health x Wellness
Treatment for Metastatic Colorectal Cancer Patients with BRAFV600E mutation in Singapore
Colorectal cancer is one of the most common cancers among males and female aged 50 years and above in Singapore.
According to the Singapore Cancer Registry Annual Report, it is the second deadliest cancer in Singapore and the mortality rate of colorectal cancers had risen from 2.9 to 13.0 per 100,000 from 1968 to 2020.
The Singapore Cancer Society also reports an increasing trend of colorectal cancer among young adults.
BRAF mutations are estimated to occur in approximately 8–12 percent of patients with metastatic colorectal cancer (“mCRC”), and V600E is the most common mutation.
According to John Hopkins Medicine, BRAF is “…a gene …that encodes a protein also called BRAF. This protein plays a role in cell growth by sending signals inside the cell promoting, among other functions, cell division. A BRAF mutation is a spontaneous change in the BRAF gene that makes it work incorrectly.”
Patients with mCRC who have BRAFV600E-mutant tumours generally have a poor prognosis and therefore represent an unmet medical need.
Pierre Fabre Singapore has recently received approval from the Ministry of Health Singapore, for the listing of BRAFTOVI on the Cancer Drug List (“CDL”).
BRAFTOVI, in combination with cetuximab, has been indicated in CDL as a treatment for adult patients with BRAFV600E-mutant mCRC. These patients must have had prior systemic therapy.
Currently, there are no other approved targeted treatments in Singapore specifically indicated for this patient population.
Patients who are Singaporeans or Singapore Permanent Residents can claim MediShield Life of up to SGD 1,800 per month, and withdraw from MediSave of up to SGD 600 per month from their Central Provident Fund (“CPF”) accounts.
Mr. Jairo Pardey, General Manager, Pierre Fabre
Singapore: “The approval of BRAFTOVI for its indication in Singapore reflects our long-term commitment to advancing care for patients living with difficult-to-treat cancers. Listed on the Cancer Drug List by Ministry of Health, Singapore, the BRAFTOVI and cetuximab combination targeted regimen provides an option as a cost-effective cancer drug treatment for this population.”
Photo by National Cancer Institute on Unsplash
