Pharmacotherapeutic group: antineoplastic agents, monoclonal antibodies and antibody drug conjugates, other monoclonal antibodies, and antibody drug conjugates, ATC code: L01FX17
Mechanism of action
Sacituzumab govitecan is a Trop-2-directed antibody-drug conjugate. Sacituzumab is a humanised antibody that recognises Trop-2. The small molecule, SN‑38, is a topoisomerase I inhibitor, which is covalently attached to the antibody by a linker. Sacituzumab govitecan binds to Trop-2-expressing tumour cells and is internalised with the subsequent release of SN-38 via hydrolysis of the linker. SN-38 interacts with topoisomerase I and prevents re-ligation of topoisomerase I-induced single strand breaks. The resulting DNA damage leads to apoptosis and cell death. Sacituzumab govitecan decreased tumour growth in mouse xenograft models of triple-negative breast cancer.
The TRODELVY exposure-response relationships and pharmacodynamic time course for efficacy have not been fully characterized.
Cardiac electrophysiology
The maximum mean change from baseline was 9.7 msec (the upper bound of the two-sided 90% confidence interval is 16.8 msec) at the recommended dose. A positive exposure-response relationship was observed between QTc increases and SN-38 concentrations.
Clinical efficacy and safety
Triple Negative Breast Cancer (TNBC)
Previously Untreated, Unresectable Locally Advanced or Metastatic TNBC in patients who are not candidates for PD-1/PD-L1 inhibitor therapy (ASCENT-03)
The efficacy of sacituzumab govitecan was evaluated in a multicentre, open-label, randomised study (ASCENT-03) conducted in 558 patients with unresectable locally advanced or metastatic triple-negative breast cancer (mTNBC) who had not received previous systemic therapy for advanced disease and who were not candidates for PD-1 or PD-L1 inhibitor therapy. The study enrolled patients with tumours that are PD-L1 negative (defined as having a tumour CPS < 10 using the IHC 22C3 assay), and patients with tumours that are PD-L1 positive (defined as having a CPS ≥ 10 using the IHC 22C3 assay) if they received a PD-1 or PD-L1 inhibitor in the (neo)adjuvant setting or if they had a comorbidity precluding treatment with PD-1 or PD-L1 inhibitor therapy.
Patients may have received chemotherapy with or without a PD-1 or PD-L1 inhibitor and/or radiotherapy in the early-stage of TNBC, however at least 6 months must have elapsed between the completion of systemic (neo) adjuvant breast cancer therapy or surgery, whichever occurred last, and first local or distant recurrence. No prior treatment with topoisomerase 1 inhibitors or antibody drug conjugates containing a topoisomerase inhibitor was allowed.
Patients were randomised (1:1) to receive sacituzumab govitecan 10 mg/kg as an intravenous infusion on Days 1 and 8 of a 21-day cycle (n=279) or Treatment of Physician's Choice (TPC) (n=279). TPC was determined by the investigator before randomisation from one of the following regimens: gemcitabine and carboplatin, paclitaxel or nab-paclitaxel. Randomisation was stratified by de novo vs recurrent disease within 6 to 12 months from completion of treatment in the curative setting versus recurrent disease > 12 months from completion of treatment in the curative setting, and by geographic region (United States, Canada, Western Europe vs. Rest of World).
Patients were treated until BICR-verified disease progression, unacceptable toxicity, death, or consent withdrawal. Tumour imaging was obtained every 6 weeks for the first year followed by every 12 weeks thereafter. Following BICR-verified objective disease progression and study treatment discontinuation, patients who were randomised to TPC chemotherapy were able to receive SG supplied on trial in the crossover phase of this study if eligible.
The primary efficacy outcome was progression-free survival (PFS) by BICR per RECIST v1.1. Additional efficacy outcomes measures included overall survival (OS) and objective response rate (ORR) by BICR.
The median age of the study population was 55 years (range: 23-86 years), and 26% of patients were 65 years or over; 99.5% of patients were female. The majority of patients were White (64%); 23% were Asian, 3% were Black, and 4% were other race. Thirty-one percent (31%) of patients had de novo disease, 21% of patients had recurrent disease with a disease-free interval (DFI) 6 to 12 months and 48% of patients with DFI > 12 months. Ninety-nine point five percent (99.5%) of patients enrolled had tumours that were PD-L1 negative and 0.5% of patients had tumours that were PD-L1 positive. At study entry, all patients had an ECOG performance status of 0 (66%) or 1 (34%). The majority of patients (97.8%) had metastatic disease at screening; brain metastases were observed in 5% of patients. BRCA 1/2 mutation status was known for 76% of participants, out of which 18% of tested study participants had positive BRCA mutations.
Sacituzumab govitecan demonstrated a statistically significant improvement in PFS versus TPC by BICR. At the time of the first interim OS analysis, patients had a median follow-up of 17.7 months.
Efficacy results are summarized in Table 4, Figure 1 and Figure 2.
Table 4. Efficacy endpoints (ASCENT-03)
| | TRODELVY N=279 | TPC N=279 |
| Progression-Free Survival by BICR1 |
| Number (%) of patients with events | 161 (58%) | 188 (67%) |
| Median PFS in months (95% CI) | 9.7 (8.1, 11.1) | 6.9 (5.6, 8.2) |
| Hazard ratio (95% CI)2 | 0.62 (0.50, 0.77) |
| p-value3 | < 0.0001 |
| Objective Response Rate by BICR1 |
| ORR, (95% CI)4 | 48% (42%, 54%) | 46% (40%, 52%) |
| Overall Survival5 |
| Number (%) of patients with events | 139 (50%) | 144 (52%) |
| Median OS in months (95% CI) | 21.5 (18.9, 26.5) | 21.3 (18.7, 25.2) |
| Hazard ratio (95% CI)2 | 0.95 (0.75, 1.20) |
1. Based on PFS primary analysis (data cut-off 2 April 2025) with median follow-up time 13.2 months.
2. Hazard ratio with 95% CIs based on the stratified Cox proportional hazards model adjusted for randomisation stratification factors: disease stratification (de novo vs recurrent disease within 6 to 12 months vs recurrent disease occurring > 12 months from completion of treatment in the curative setting) and geographic region (US/Canada/Western Europe vs rest of the world).
3. 2-sided p-value based on log-rank test adjusted for randomisation stratification factors: disease stratification (de novo vs recurrent disease within 6 to 12 months vs recurrent disease occurring > 12 months from completion of treatment in the curative setting) and geographic region (US/Canada/Western Europe vs rest of the world)
4. The 95% CI is based on the Clopper-Pearson exact method.
5. Based on first interim OS analysis (data cut-off 27 October 2025) with median follow-up time 17.7 months
BICR = Blinded Independent Central Review; CI = Confidence Interval
TPC = gemcitabine and carboplatin, paclitaxel, or nab-paclitaxel
Figure 1: Progression free survival by BICR in ASCENT-03 (data cut-off date 2 April 2025)
Figure 2: Overall survival in ASCENT-03 (data cut-off date 27 Oct 2025)
Unresectable or metastatic Triple Negative Breast Cancer
The efficacy of TRODELVY in the treatment of adult patients with unresectable locally advanced or metastatic triple-negative breast cancer (mTNBC) who have received at least two prior lines of chemotherapies was evaluated in two studies: ASCENT (IMMU-132-05) and IMMU-132-01.
ASCENT (IMMU-132-05)
ASCENT was a multicentre, open-label, randomised Phase 3 study conducted in 529 patients with unresectable locally advanced or metastatic triple-negative breast cancer (mTNBC) who had relapsed after at least two prior lines of chemotherapies (one of which could be in the neoadjuvant or adjuvant setting provided progression occurred within a 12 month period. All patients received previous taxane treatment in either the adjuvant, neoadjuvant, or advanced stage unless there was a contraindication or intolerance to taxanes during or at the end of the first taxane cycle. Poly-ADP ribose polymerase (PARP) inhibitors were allowed as one of the two prior chemotherapies for patients with a documented germline BRCA1/BRCA2 mutation.
Patients with brain metastases had to have stable disease for at least 4 weeks, and were allowed to enrol up to a pre-defined maximum of 15% of the trial population. Of the 529 patients randomised, 61 patients had brain metastases, 468 patients did not have brain metastases. Patients with Gilbert's disease, chronic inflammatory bowel disease/bowel obstruction, ECOG performance status 2 or higher, bone-only disease, or who had received live attenuated vaccine within 30 days before the start of TRODELVY, or who were pregnant, or breastfeeding were excluded.
Patients were randomised 1:1 to receive TRODELVY 10 mg/kg as a slow intravenous infusion on Days 1 and 8 of a 21-day treatment cycle (n = 267) or physician's choice of single-agent chemotherapy as per approved labelling (TPC, n = 262). Single-agent chemotherapy was determined by the investigator before randomisation from one of the following regimens: eribulin (n = 139), capecitabine (n = 33), gemcitabine (n = 38), or vinorelbine (n = 52).
Prior to the administration of TRODELVY, all patients were given pre-medication for prevention of chemotherapy-induced nausea and vomiting (e.g. dexamethasone with either a 5-HT3 receptor antagonist or a NK1 receptor antagonist and other drugs as indicated). Premedication, with antipyretics, H1 and H2 blockers, or corticosteroids (50 mg hydrocortisone or equivalent orally or IV), was strongly recommended to prevent infusion reactions with TRODELVY. All patients were given additional medications for prevention and treatment of nausea, vomiting, and diarrhoea for use at home.
Patients were treated until disease progression or unacceptable toxicity. The primary efficacy endpoint was PFS in patients without brain metastases at baseline (i.e. BMNeg) as measured by a BICR using RECIST v1.1 criteria. Key secondary efficacy endpoints included overall survival (OS), objective response rate (ORR) and duration of response (DOR) in BMNeg patients, and PFS and OS for the full population (including all patients with and without brain metastases).
The primary analysis included 235 BMNeg patients in the TRODELVY group and 233 BMNeg patients in the TPC group. The demographics of the BMNeg population were: median age of 54 years (range: 27–82 years) with 81% < 65 years; ECOG performance status of 0 (44%) or 1 (57%); 99.6% female; 78.8% White; 12% Black/African American. The baseline disease characteristics were: 42.5% had hepatic metastases; 7.3% were BRCA1/BRCA2 mutational status positive; 70.5% had previously received 2 to 3 prior systemic therapies. Overall, 27.1% of patients had received prior PD-1 or PD-L1 therapy. The median number of prior systemic therapies was 4.0 (range: 2 – 17). Thirteen percent of patients in the TRODELVY group in the full population received only 1 prior line of systemic therapy in the metastatic setting.
The efficacy results in the BMNeg population are summarised in Table 5, Figure 3, and Figure 4.
Table 5: Efficacy Endpoints (Brain Metastases-Negative Population) from ASCENT
| | TRODELVY n = 235 | Treatment of Physician's Choice (TPC) n = 233 | p-value*** | Hazard Ratio (HR) or Odds Ratio (OR) (95% CI) *** |
| Median Progression-free Survival (PFS)*, ** Months (95% CI) | 5.6 (4.3-6.3) | 1.7 (1.5-2.6) | < 0.0001 | HR: 0.41 (0.32-0.52) |
| Median Overall Survival Months (95% CI)** | 12.1 (10.7-14.0) | 6.7 (5.8-7.7) | < 0.0001 | HR: 0.48 (0.38-0.59) |
| Objective Response Rate; n (%) | 82 (35%) | 11 (5%) | < 0.0001 | OR: 10.86 (5.59-21.10) |
| Median Duration of Response Months (95% CI) | 6.3 (5.5-9.0) | 3.6 (2.8-NE) | - | - |
| * PFS is defined as the time from the date of randomization to the date of the first radiological disease progression or death due to any cause, whichever comes first. ** Controlled for multiplicity statistical testing *** For PFS and OS, P-values are based on stratified log-rank test; and HRs are from stratified Cox regression adjusted for stratification factors: number of prior chemotherapies (2-3 vs. >3), presence of known brain metastases at study entry (yes vs. no), and region (North America vs. rest of world). For ORR, P-value is based on Cochran–Mantel–Haenszel (CMH) test for common odds-ratio; and stratified odds-ratio is reported. |
Figure 3: Progression Free Survival by BICR (Brain Metastases-Negative Population) in ASCENT

Figure 4: Overall Survival (Brain Metastases Negative Population) from in ASCENT

The analysis of the overall population included 267 patients in the TRODELVY group (235BMNeg patients and 32 patients with brain metastases) and 262 patients in the TPC group (233 BMNeg patients and 29 patients with brain metastases. The demographics and baseline characteristics of the BMNeg patients and overall population were similar.
The efficacy results in the overall population were consistent with the BMNeg population. Analyses of PFS (HR=0.43; 95% CI: 0.35, 0.54) and OS (HR=0.51; 95% CI: 0.41, 0.62) for the overall population were in favour of the TRODELVY arm.
In study IMMU-132-05, a generally consistent treatment effect of TRODELVY compared to TPC was seen in all pre-specified subgroups evaluated in favour of the TRODELVY arm. Efficacy results for the subgroup of patients who had received only 1 prior line of systemic therapy in the metastatic setting (in addition to having disease recurrence or progression within 12 months of neoadjuvant/adjuvant systemic therapy) were consistent with those who had received at least two prior lines in the metastatic setting.
An exploratory analysis of PFS in 61 patients with previously treated, stable brain metastases showed a stratified HR of 0.65 (95% CI: 0.35, 1.22). The median PFS in the TRODELVY arm was 2.8 months (95% CI: 1.5, 3.9) and the median PFS with single agent chemotherapy was 1.6 months (95% CI: 1.3, 2.9). Exploratory OS analysis in the same population showed a stratified HR of 0.87 (95% CI: 0.47, 1.63). The median OS in the TRODELVY arm was 6.8 months (95% CI: 4.7, 14.1) and the median OS with single agent chemotherapy was 7.5 months (95% CI: 4.7, 11.1).
IMMU-132-01
IMMU-132-01 (NCT01631552) was a multicentre, single-arm, clinical study that enrolled 108 patients with metastatic triple-negative breast cancer (mTNBC) who had received at least two prior treatments for metastatic disease. Patients with bulky disease, defined as a mass > 7 cm, were not eligible. Patients with treated brain metastases not receiving high dose steroids (> 20 mg prednisone or equivalent) for at least four weeks were eligible. Patients with known Gilbert's disease were excluded.
Patients received TRODELVY 10 mg/kg intravenously on Days 1 and 8 of a 21-day treatment cycle. Patients were treated with TRODELVY until disease progression or intolerance to the therapy. Tumour imaging was obtained every 8 weeks, with confirmatory CT/MRI scans obtained 4-6 weeks after an initial partial or complete response, until progression requiring treatment discontinuation. Major efficacy outcome measures were investigator assessed overall response rate (ORR) using RECIST 1.1 and duration of response.
The median age was 55 years (range: 31‑80 years); 82% of patients were younger than 65 years. The majority of patients were female (99%) and White (76%). At study entry, all patients had an ECOG performance status of 0 (29%) or 1 (71%). Seventy-six percent had visceral disease, 42% had hepatic metastases, 56% had lung/pleura metastases, and 2% had brain metastases. Fourteen patients (13%) had Stage IV disease at the time of initial diagnosis.
The median number of prior systemic therapies received in the metastatic setting was 3 (range: 2‑10). Prior chemotherapies in the metastatic setting included carboplatin or cisplatin (69%), gemcitabine (55%), paclitaxel or docetaxel (53%), capecitabine (51%), eribulin (45%), doxorubicin (24%), vinorelbine (16%), cyclophosphamide (19%), and ixabepilone (8%).
Overall, 98% of patients had received prior taxanes and 86% had received prior anthracyclines either in the (neo)adjuvant or metastatic setting.
Table 6 summarises the efficacy results.
Table 6: Efficacy results for patients with mTNBC in IMMU-132-01
| | TRODELVY (N = 108) |
| Overall Response Ratei | |
| ORR (95% CI) | 33.3% (24.6, 43.1) |
| Complete response | 2.8% |
| Partial response | 30.6% |
| Response durationi | |
| Number of responders | 36 |
| Median, Months (95% CI) | 7.7 (4.9, 10.8) |
| Range, Months | 1.9+, 30.4+ |
| % with duration ≥ 6 months | 55.6% |
| % with duration ≥ 12 months | 16.7% |
i investigator assessment
CI: confidence interval
+: denotes ongoing
HR-Positive, HER2-Negative Breast Cancer
Unresectable or metastatic HR-positive/ HER2-negative breast cancer (TROPiCS-02)
The efficacy of TRODELVY was evaluated in a multicentre, open-label, randomised study TROPiCS-02 (IMMU-132-09) conducted in 543 patients with unresectable locally advanced or metastatic HR-positive, HER2-negative (IHC 0, IHC 1+, or IHC 2+/ISH-) breast cancer whose disease has progressed after the following in any setting: a CDK 4/6 inhibitor, endocrine therapy, and a taxane; patients received at least two prior chemotherapies in the metastatic setting (one of which could be in the neoadjuvant or adjuvant setting if progression or recurrence occurred within 12 months of completion of the chemotherapy). Patients with bone-only disease, active chronic inflammatory bowel disease and known history of bowel obstruction, known history of unstable angina or myocardial infarction or congestive heart failure or active hepatitis B or C infection were excluded from the study.
Patients were randomised (1:1) to receive TRODELVY 10 mg/kg as an intravenous infusion on Days 1 and 8 of a 21-day cycle (n=272) or TPC (n=271). TPC was determined by the investigator before randomisation from one of the following single-agent regimens: eribulin (n=130), vinorelbine (n=63), gemcitabine (n=56), or capecitabine (n=22). Randomisation was stratified based on prior chemotherapy regimens for metastatic disease (2 vs. 3-4), visceral metastasis (yes vs. no), and endocrine therapy in the metastatic setting for at least 6 months (yes vs. no).
Patients were treated until disease progression or unacceptable toxicity. The primary efficacy outcome measure was PFS as determined by BICR per RECIST v1.1. Additional efficacy outcome measures were OS, ORR by BICR, and DOR by BICR.
The median age of the study population was 56 years (range: 27-86 years), and 26% of patients were 65 years or over. Almost all patients were female (99%). The majority of patients were White (67%); 4% were Black, 3% were Asian, and 26% were of unknown race. Patients received a median of 7 (range: 3 to 17) prior systemic regimens in any setting and 3 (range: 0 to 8) prior systemic chemotherapy regimens in the metastatic setting. Approximately 42% of patients had 2 prior chemotherapy regimens for metastatic disease compared to 58% of patients who had 3 to 4 prior chemotherapy regimens. Most patients received endocrine therapy in the metastatic setting for ≥ 6 months (86%). Patients had an ECOG performance status of 0 (44%) or 1 (56%). Ninety-five percent of patients had visceral metastases; 4.6% of patients had stable, pre-treated brain metastases.
TRODELVY demonstrated a statistically significant improvement in PFS by BICR and OS versus TPC. The improvement in PFS by BICR and OS was generally consistent across pre-specified subgroups. Efficacy results are summarized in Table 7.
Table 7. Efficacy endpoints – Pre-specified Final Analysis (TROPiCS-02)
| | TRODELVY n=272 | TPC n=271 |
| Progression-Free Survival by BICR1 |
| Number of events (%) | 170 (62.5%) | 159 (58.7%) |
| Median PFS in months (95% CI) | 5.5 (4.2, 7.0) | 4.0 (3.1, 4.4) |
| Hazard ratio (95% CI) | 0.661 (0.529, 0.826) |
| p-value2 | 0.0003 |
| PFS rate at 12 months, % (95% CI) | 21.3 (15.2, 28.1) | 7.1 (2.8, 13.9) |
| Overall Survival3 |
| Number of events (%) | 191 (70.2%) | 199 (73.4%) |
| Median OS in months (95% CI) | 14.4 (13.0, 15.7) | 11.2 (10.1, 12.7) |
| Hazard ratio (95% CI) | 0.789 (0.646, 0.964) |
| p-value2 | 0.0200 |
| Objective Response Rate by BICR3 |
| Number of responders (%) | 57 (21.0%) | 38 (14.0%) |
| Odds ratio (95% CI) | 1.625 (1.034, 2.555) |
| p-value | 0.0348 |
1 PFS is defined as the time from the date of randomisation to the date of the first radiological disease progression or death due to any cause, whichever comes first (data cut-off 3 January 2022).
2 Stratified log-rank test adjusted for stratification factors: prior chemotherapy regimens for metastatic disease (2 vs. 3-4), visceral metastasis (yes vs. no), and endocrine therapy in the metastatic setting for at least 6 months (yes vs. no).
3 Based on second interim OS analysis (data cut-off 1 July 2022).
BICR = Blinded Independent Central Review; CI = Confidence Interval
In an updated efficacy analysis with a median duration of follow-up of 12.8 months (data cut-off 1 December 2022), results were consistent with the pre-specified final analysis. The median PFS by BICR was 5.5 months vs 4.0 months, in patients treated with TRODELVY and TPC, respectively (HR of 0.65; 95% CI: 0.53, 0.81). The median OS was 14.5 months vs 11.2 months, respectively (HR of 0.79; 95% CI: 0.65, 0.95). Kaplan-Meier curves for updated PFS by BICR and OS are presented in Figures 5 and 6.
Figure 5: Progression free survival by BICR (data cut-off 1 December 2022) in TROPiCS-02
Figure 6: Overall Survival (data cut-off 1 December 2022) in TROPiCS-02
Paediatric population
The Medicines and Healthcare Regulatory Agency has waived the obligation to submit the results of studies with TRODELVY in all subsets of the paediatric population for the treatment of breast cancer (see section 4.2 for information on paediatric use).