Kadcyla® 160mg Injection (Trastuzumab Emtansine) – Targeted Therapy (Rx)

Quick answer: Kadcyla 160mg contains trastuzumab emtansine (T-DM1), a targeted medicine for HER2-positive breast cancer. It joins the antibody trastuzumab to a chemotherapy drug, so the treatment reaches the cancer cells directly. A nurse gives it as a drip every three weeks. MedHub supplies it on prescription across Pakistan.

For patients and families

What is Kadcyla 160mg?

Kadcyla is Roche’s brand of trastuzumab emtansine. Doctors call this type of medicine an antibody-drug conjugate. The antibody part finds the HER2 protein on breast cancer cells, and the chemotherapy part attached to it works inside those cells. This 160mg vial contains a powder that the hospital pharmacy mixes and dilutes before your infusion.

What is it used for?

Oncologists prescribe Kadcyla for HER2-positive breast cancer in two situations:

• Early breast cancer: after surgery, when some cancer remained in the breast or lymph nodes despite treatment given before the operation.
• Advanced (metastatic) breast cancer: after earlier treatment with trastuzumab and a taxane chemotherapy.

Kadcyla helps only when a tumour test shows HER2-positive disease, so your doctor confirms this first.

How is it given?

A nurse gives Kadcyla as a drip into a vein, usually once every three weeks. The first infusion takes about 90 minutes. If it goes well, later infusions can take about 30 minutes. Your doctor works out the dose from your body weight and decides how many cycles you need.

Kadcyla and Herceptin are different medicines. They contain related ingredients, but one cannot replace the other, so always check the name on the box with your care team.

Common side effects

• Tiredness, headache and muscle or joint aches
• Nausea and constipation
• Nosebleeds or bleeding gums, linked to a low platelet count
• Changes in liver blood tests

Your team checks your blood, liver and heart regularly during treatment. Call your doctor straight away if you notice yellow skin or eyes, heavy bleeding, breathlessness, swollen ankles or a racing heart.

Storage

Keep the vial in its box in the fridge at 2–8°C and never freeze it. If you collect it before your appointment, take it to the hospital in a cool bag with ice packs. Read more about how we keep medicines cold during delivery.

How to order from MedHub

1. Send a photo of your prescription on WhatsApp.
2. Our pharmacist confirms the price and stock with you.
3. We pack the vial in a cold-chain box and deliver it to your city or hospital.

Families abroad often arrange Kadcyla for parents in Pakistan through us. You can also look at Herceptin 440mg (trastuzumab) and Herceptin 600mg, or browse all oncology medicines.

For healthcare professionals

• Composition: trastuzumab emtansine 160 mg, lyophilised powder for concentrate for solution for infusion (single-dose vial)
• Drug class: HER2-directed antibody-drug conjugate (trastuzumab linked to the microtubule inhibitor DM1)
• Indications: HER2-positive early breast cancer with residual invasive disease after neoadjuvant taxane and HER2-targeted therapy; HER2-positive unresectable locally advanced or metastatic breast cancer previously treated with trastuzumab and a taxane
• Mechanism: binds HER2, is internalized, and releases DM1 inside the cell, causing cell cycle arrest and apoptosis; retains the anti-HER2 activity of trastuzumab
• Label dose: 3.6 mg/kg IV every 3 weeks; first infusion over 90 minutes, later infusions over 30 minutes if well tolerated; do not exceed 3.6 mg/kg
• Important: not interchangeable with trastuzumab; do not substitute
• Monitoring: LVEF at baseline and regularly; liver function and platelet count before each dose
• Storage: 2–8°C; do not freeze
• Manufacturer: F. Hoffmann-La Roche Ltd, Switzerland
• Marketed in Pakistan by: Roche Pakistan Ltd
• Pack: 1 vial

Frequently asked questions

What is Kadcyla 160mg used for?

Kadcyla 160mg treats HER2-positive breast cancer. Doctors use it after surgery when some cancer remains, and for advanced breast cancer that has already been treated with trastuzumab and a taxane.

What is the Kadcyla 160mg price in Pakistan?

Kadcyla 160mg costs Rs 166,080 per vial. Prices can change with supply, so message us on WhatsApp for today’s price before you order.

Is Kadcyla 160mg the same as Herceptin?

No. Kadcyla contains trastuzumab joined to a chemotherapy drug, while Herceptin contains trastuzumab alone. The doses and uses differ, and one cannot replace the other.

Can I get Kadcyla 160mg in Lahore, Karachi or Peshawar?

Yes. MedHub delivers Kadcyla across Pakistan, including Islamabad, Rawalpindi, Lahore, Karachi, Peshawar, Multan and Faisalabad. We pack every vial in a cold-chain box to keep it at 2–8°C on the way.

Do I need a prescription to buy Kadcyla 160mg?

Yes. Kadcyla is a prescription-only medicine. Send a clear photo of your oncologist’s prescription on WhatsApp, and our pharmacist checks it before confirming your order.

How is Kadcyla 160mg given?

A nurse gives Kadcyla as a drip into a vein, usually every three weeks. The first infusion takes about 90 minutes, and later infusions can take about 30 minutes.

How should Kadcyla 160mg be stored?

Store Kadcyla in its original box in the fridge at 2–8°C and never freeze it. Carry it to the hospital in a cool bag with ice packs.

Can I order Kadcyla 160mg for my parents in Pakistan from abroad?

Yes. Many families in the UAE, UK and Saudi Arabia order Kadcyla through MedHub for parents in Pakistan. Share the prescription on WhatsApp, and our team guides you through payment and delivery to their home or hospital.

Last updated: 3 October 2026

This information is for general awareness only and is not medical advice. Always consult your doctor before starting, stopping or changing any medicine.