What are the benefits of taking Kisqali and Femara together?

Taking Kisqali and Femara together can benefit patients with specific types of breast cancer because the medications work in different ways. Kisqali blocks the growth of cancer cells, while Femara reduces the amount of estrogen in the body that can fuel cancer growth. Studies have shown that taking the two together can be more effective compared to taking Femara alone.

What is Kisqali?

Kisqali (ribociclib) is a kinase inhibitor. It is FDA approved for adults with hormone receptor (HR)-positive, human epidermal growth factor receptor 2 (HER2)-negative advanced or metastatic breast cancer in combination with an aromatase inhibitor or fulvestrant (Faslodex). Kisqali was first FDA approved in 2017.

What is Femara?

Femara (letrozole) is an aromatase inhibitor. It is FDA approved to treat postmenopausal women with hormone receptor positive early breast cancer and locally advanced or metastatic breast cancer. It was approved by the FDA in 1997.

How do Kisqali and Femara work?

Kisqali and Femara work in different ways to treat breast cancer. Kisqali is a CDK4/6 inhibitor, while Femara is an aromatase inhibitor.

Kisqali works by targeting proteins called cyclin-dependent kinases 4 and 6. These proteins help control how fast cells grow and divide. By blocking them, Kisqali slows or stops cancer cells from growing.

Femara works by blocking a protein called aromatase, which changes androgen hormones into estrogen. This results in lower estrogen levels in the body. Estrogen is a hormone that can cause certain types of breast cancer to grow.

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How effective are Kisqali and Femara when taken together?

In a clinical trial called MONALEESA-2, postmenopausal women with hormone receptor (HR)–positive, human epidermal growth factor receptor 2 (HER2)–negative advanced breast cancer were treated with either Kisqali and Femara or Femara and a placebo (no active medication). The trial included over 600 patients and followed them for around 6.6 years.

The median survival in patients who took Kisqali and Femara together was 63.9 months, compared to 51.4 months in patients who took Femara and a placebo. The median overall survival was more than 12 months longer in patients taking Kisqali together with Femara than in patients taking Femara with a placebo.

This is not all the information you need to know about Kisqali (ribociclib) and Femara (letrozole) for safe and effective use and does not take the place of your doctor’s directions. Review the full product information and discuss this information and any questions you have with your doctor or other health care provider.