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Do you know your PIK3CA mutation status? Test, know, treat

There is likely no shortage of tests in your life right now. However, getting an in-depth look at your HR+, HER2- metastatic breast cancer (mBC) and whether you have the PIK3CA mutation will help you and your doctor make the right treatment decision for you. It starts with asking your doctor for testing now, so you can be ready at progression. Our doctor discussion guide can help. Remember: Test to see if you have a mutation. Know your mutation status. Be empowered to choose a treatment that goes right at it.*

*PIQRAY affects cancer cells, but can also affect healthy cells. Although PIQRAY has been studied in people with HR+, HER2- mBC, how PIQRAY works has only been demonstrated in laboratory studies.

Statistic

About 40% of all people with HR+, HER2- metastatic breast cancer have a PIK3CA mutation:

If you test positive for a PIK3CA mutation and have progressed on or after hormone therapy, you and your doctor can consider PIQRAY® (alpelisib) tablets.

How PIK3CA mutation testing works:

To determine your PIK3CA mutation status, your doctor will test your breast cancer for an abnormal PIK3CA gene. Here’s how the process works.

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Who can request it: PIK3CA mutations can only be detected through a specific genomic test ordered by your doctor.

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How to request it: Even if you’ve had genetic testing done before, you’ll need to ask specifically for a PIK3CA mutation test.

Blood Sugar Test

How the test is performed: PIK3CA mutations can be detected in tissue or plasma specimens.Your doctor will send a tissue or blood sample (to get a plasma specimen). If you’ve had a biopsy done before, ask your doctor if your tissue is still viable for PIK3CA gene mutation testing. If you do not, your doctor may start with a blood test. If no mutation is found in the plasma specimen, ask your doctor to test your tissue to confirm.

Request PIK3CA mutation testing to be ready

By understanding your specific cancer type and PIK3CA mutation status, you can be your own best advocate and an active member of your health care team. Start a conversation with your doctor about PIK3CA mutation testing to be prepared for your next treatment. Learn tips for talking to your doctor with our helpful guide. 

Tap to see IMPORTANT SAFETY INFORMATION AND APPROVED USE

Important Safety Information

Do not take PIQRAY if you have had a severe allergic reaction to PIQRAY or are allergic to any of the ingredients in PIQRAY.

PIQRAY may cause serious side effects, including:

  • Severe allergic reactions: Tell your health care provider or get medical help right away if you have trouble breathing, swelling of the face or throat, flushing, rash, fever, or fast heart rate during treatment with PIQRAY...

Do not take PIQRAY if you have had a severe allergic reaction to PIQRAY or are allergic to any of the ingredients in PIQRAY.

PIQRAY may cause serious side effects, including:

  • Severe allergic reactions: Tell your health care provider or get medical help right away if you have trouble breathing, swelling of the face or throat, flushing, rash, fever, or fast heart rate during treatment with PIQRAY

  • Severe skin reactions: Tell your health care provider or get medical help right away if you get severe rash or rash that keeps getting worse, reddened skin, flu-like symptoms, blistering of the lips, eyes or mouth, blisters on the skin or skin peeling, with or without fever

  • High blood sugar levels (hyperglycemia): Hyperglycemia is common with PIQRAY and may be severe. Your health care provider will monitor your blood sugar levels before you start and during treatment with PIQRAY. Your health care provider may monitor your blood sugar levels more often if you have a history of type 2 diabetes. Tell your health care provider right away if you develop symptoms of hyperglycemia, including excessive thirst, dry mouth, urinating more often than usual or having a higher amount of urine than normal, increased appetite with weight loss, confusion, nausea, vomiting, fruity odor on breath, difficulty breathing, or dry or flushed skin

  • Lung problems (pneumonitis): Tell your health care provider right away if you develop new or worsening symptoms of lung problems, including shortness of breath or trouble breathing, cough, or chest pain

  • Diarrhea or colitis (inflammation of your intestines): Diarrhea is common with PIQRAY and may be severe. Severe diarrhea can lead to the loss of too much body water (dehydration) and kidney injury. Tell your health care provider right away, if you develop diarrhea, stomach-area (abdominal) pain, or see mucus or blood in your stool during treatment with PIQRAY. Your health care provider may tell you to drink more fluids or take medicines to treat diarrhea or colitis

Your health care provider may tell you to decrease your dose, temporarily stop your treatment, or completely stop your treatment with PIQRAY if you get certain serious side effects.

Before you take PIQRAY, tell your health care provider about all of your medical conditions, including if you:

  • have a history of diabetes

  • have a history of skin rash, redness of skin, blistering of the lips, eyes or mouth, or skin peeling

  • are pregnant or plan to become pregnant. PIQRAY can harm your unborn baby

Females who are able to become pregnant:

  • Your health care provider will check to see if you are pregnant before you start treatment with PIQRAY

  • You should use effective birth control during treatment with PIQRAY and for 1 week after the last dose. Talk to your health care provider about birth control methods that may be right for you during this time

  • If you become pregnant or think you are pregnant, tell your health care provider right away

Males with female partners who are able to become pregnant should use condoms and effective birth control during treatment with PIQRAY and for 1 week after the last dose. If your female partner becomes pregnant, tell your health care provider right away. 

  • are breastfeeding or plan to breastfeed. It is not known if PIQRAY passes into your breast milk. Do not breastfeed during treatment with PIQRAY and for 1 week after the last dose

You should also read the full Prescribing Information of fulvestrant for important pregnancy, contraception, infertility, and lactation information.

Tell your health care provider about all the medicines you take, including prescription and over-the-counter medicines, vitamins, and herbal supplements. PIQRAY and other medicines may affect each other causing side effects. Know the medicines you take. Keep a list of them to show your health care provider or pharmacist when you get a new medicine.

The most common side effects of PIQRAY when used with fulvestrant include:

  • rash

  • nausea

  • tiredness and weakness

  • decreased appetite

  • mouth sores

  • vomiting

  • weight loss

  • hair loss

  • changes in certain blood tests

PIQRAY may affect fertility in males and in females who are able to become pregnant. Talk to your health care provider if this is a concern for you.

These are not all the possible side effects of PIQRAY. Call your doctor for medical advice about side effects. You are encouraged to report negative side effects of prescription drugs to the FDA. Visit www.fda.gov/medwatch , or call 1-800-FDA-1088.

 

Please see full Prescribing Information, including Patient Information.

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Approved Use

PIQRAY® (alpelisib) tablets is a prescription medicine used in combination with the medicine fulvestrant to treat women who have gone through menopause, and men:

  • who have hormone receptor (HR)-positive, human epidermal growth factor receptor 2 (HER2)-negative advanced breast cancer or breast cancer that has spread to other parts of the body (metastatic), with an abnormal phosphatidylinositol-3-kinase catalytic subunit alpha (PIK3CA) gene, and...

PIQRAY® (alpelisib) tablets is a prescription medicine used in combination with the medicine fulvestrant to treat women who have gone through menopause, and men:

  • who have hormone receptor (HR)-positive, human epidermal growth factor receptor 2 (HER2)-negative advanced breast cancer or breast cancer that has spread to other parts of the body (metastatic), with an abnormal phosphatidylinositol-3-kinase catalytic subunit alpha (PIK3CA) gene, and

  • whose disease has progressed on or after endocrine therapy

Your health care provider will test your cancer for an abnormal "PIK3CA" gene to make sure that PIQRAY is right for you.

It is not known if PIQRAY is safe and effective in children.

1 Piqray, Prescribing information. Novartis Pharmaceuticals Corp.