Maryam Daneshpour/LinkedIn
Jun 2, 2025, 10:01
Maryam Daneshpour: The Herceptin Story – From Biomarker to Breakthrough
Expert at
“From Biomarker to Breakthrough: The Herceptin Story
In the late 1980s, two scientists at Genentech, Michael Shepard and Robert Hudziak, shared a bold idea: what if we could stop cancer by simply telling it to stop growing?
Their target? A protein called HER2, overexpressed in some of the most aggressive breast cancers!
Their Tool? An antibody called 4D5, eventually refined into the drug we now know as Herceptin.
It wasn’t smooth sailing.
Executives were hesitant.
Early trials stumbled.Many thought the idea of using antibodies to fight solid tumors was “too experimental.” The program was nearly shut down more than once!
But perseverance, philanthropy, and brilliant minds prevailed!
In 1998, Herceptin became the first targeted therapy approved for solid tumors. It turned a dismal diagnosis into a manageable disease for millions of women. It became the proof of concept that precision medicine wasn’t just theory, it was the future!
From just $31M in global revenue in 1998, Herceptin climbed to a peak of $7.1B in 2018. A trajectory that mirrored the hope it brought! And while biosimilars eventually took over, Herceptin’s legacy never declined.
In Roche’s oncology portfolio, Herceptin held the second sales spot for years, right behind another monoclonal titan, Rituximab (Rituxan). But more than numbers, Herceptin gave something deeper to millions: time, quality of life, and a second chance for patients, families, and future innovators.
It started with a receptor.
It became a revolution.
And we’re still learning from its echo.A big thank you to Zhina Mazhari for her kind help in collecting data for this post.”
Matt Sagan, Founder, Managing Partner and CEO of MoD Partners and Executive Director of BioForum Accelerator, shared this post on LinkedIn, adding:
“Great innovation story of Herceptin trastuzumab monoclonal antibody targeting HER2 cancers.
More to come to get wider treatment response.”
The Herceptin story, shared by Maryam Daneshpour, outlines the drug’s scientific foundation, development challenges, and long-term impact on breast cancer treatment. Matt Sagan highlighted its role in expanding HER2-targeted therapies. Matt Sagan emphasized Herceptin’s innovative role and potential for broader treatment advancements.
Read OncoDaily’s Special Article: Immunohistochemistry (IHC): How Antibodies Help Diagnose and Classify Disease
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