Pyrotinib: First Global Approval

Pyrotinib is an irreversible dual pan-ErbB receptor tyrosine kinase inhibitor developed for the treatment of HER2-positive advanced solid tumours. Based on positive results in a phase II trial, the drug recently received conditional approval in China for use in combination with capecitabine for the treatment of HER2-positive, advanced or metastatic breast cancer in patients previously treated with anthracycline or taxane chemotherapy. This article summarizes the milestones in the development of pyrotinib leading to this first global approval for the treatment of HER2-positive advanced breast cancer.