Beirut, 22 September 2025: As Lebanon prepares for Pink October, the international breast cancer awareness month, a breakthrough targeted therapy for advanced HER2-positive and HER2-low breast cancer is registered and launched in the country, helping patients with advanced HER2-positive breast cancer who have historically faced a poor prognosis and limited management options, as resistance to standard therapies and disease progression have long challenged effective long-term outcomes.
“The diagnosis of breast cancer in Lebanon remains a major concern, reflected in both the high incidence rates and the need for sustained early detection programs,” said Dr. Roger Khater, Hematologist-oncologist, Head of the Lebanese Society of Medical oncology. “Through the Lebanese Society of Medical Oncology, we continue to advance the expertise of our oncology community—ensuring that care in Lebanon remains aligned with the latest international standards and scientific developments. By collaborating closely with local authorities, we are working to secure timely access to innovative medications across the country. The launch of this breakthrough therapy exemplifies the resilience and progress of our health sector, marking a critical step in integrating world-class innovation into the care of Lebanese patients.”
Breast cancer is the most frequently diagnosed cancer among Lebanese women, accounting for 33.6% of new cases in females and 16.6% of all cancer cases across both sexes in Lebanon¹. In 2022 alone, the country recorded 2,161 new breast cancer cases and 781 related deaths¹. More than 6,800 women in Lebanon are currently living with breast cancer diagnosed within the past five years—reflecting a substantial patient population and an urgent need for continued innovation¹.
While ongoing awareness campaigns, screening efforts, and advances in care have contributed to earlier detection and improved outcomes², breast cancer remains the leading malignancy and a major cause of cancer-related mortality in Lebanon. Up to 60% of metastatic breast cancer cases globally are classified as HER2-low, a segment that previously lacked dedicated treatment options³.
This newly approved HER2-directed antibody-drug conjugate (ADC), developed by AstraZeneca in collaboration with Daiichi Sankyo, is the first therapy specifically designed to target both HER2-positive and HER2-low/ Ultralow disease. It uses advanced ADC technology: binding to HER2 proteins on cancer cells and releasing chemotherapy directly inside the cell—enhancing effectiveness while limiting damage to surrounding healthy tissue⁴⁵.
For Lebanese patients and clinicians, this marks the arrival of personalized, targeted treatment options for women who urgently need more hope—and the chance for longer, better lives⁶. The positive impact of this therapy has been confirmed in global clinical trials such as DESTINY-Breast03, DESTINY-Breast04, and DESTINY-Breast12, which demonstrated significant improvements in progression-free and overall survival for HER2-positive and HER2-low / Ultralow patients compared with standard therapies⁵.
Introducing this therapy in Lebanon signals a new era in breast cancer care—anchored in robust clinical evidence and aligned with international guidelines⁵⁶.
At the new treatment’s launch event, Lebanon’s Breast Cancer Oncology leaders shared their perspectives:
Prof. George Chahine, Professor of Hematology & Oncology, Hôtel-Dieu de France in Beirut: “The management of breast cancer, and particularly metastatic cases, remains a complex challenge due to disease progression and limited treatment options. The approval of this innovative targeted therapy gives new hope to patients and their families, ushering in a new era of personalized care and significantly improving outcomes for women with HER2-positive and HER2-low subtypes who previously had fewer options.”
Prof. Peter Fasching, Associate Professor of Gynecology and Obstetrics and Translational Medicine at the Friedrich-Alexander University Erlangen-Nuremberg and the National Center for Tumor Diseases WERA in Erlangen, Germany: “International collaboration plays a vital role in driving progress for breast cancer management, ensuring that scientific breakthroughs are quickly translated into real-world benefits for patients everywhere. The arrival of innovative medications such as HER2-directed therapies marks a new era—one that offers genuine hope for women facing advanced and metastatic disease. With these advances, we are seeing significant reductions in disease progression and cancer-related death, reaffirming the importance of global research partnerships and access to modern treatments for improved outcomes and quality of life.”
Rami Scandar, Country President for the Near East and Maghreb Region at AstraZeneca: “AstraZeneca is proud to accelerate the registration and supply of transformative solutions in Lebanon, even in challenging environments. The introduction of this breakthrough targeted therapy, just ahead of Pink October, is a testament to our collaboration with Lebanese health authorities and medical experts, and to our commitment to supporting patients with science recognized in global guidelines.
“AstraZeneca reiterates its support for Lebanon, partnering with healthcare authorities and oncology communities to deliver cutting-edge therapies that improve survival and quality of life for Lebanese women facing breast cancer.”
Footnotes
- Global Cancer Observatory: Cancer Today (GLOBOCAN 2022, Lebanon Fact Sheet), International Agency for Research on Cancer, February 2024.
- World Health Organization (WHO). Lebanon: Cancer Profile 2022.
- Modi et al., “Trastuzumab Deruxtecan in HER2-Low Metastatic Breast Cancer,” New England Journal of Medicine, 2022; 387:9-20.
- Enhertu® (fam-trastuzumab deruxtecan-nxki) Prescribing Information, AstraZeneca/Daiichi Sankyo, 2023.
- U.S. FDA Enhertu Approval (August 2022), EMA Press Release (2023), and DESTINY-Breast04 Clinical Trial, NEJM 2022.
- Lebanese National Cancer Registry, Ministry of Public Health, 2022 Annual Report.
About AstraZeneca:
AstraZeneca (LSE/STO/Nasdaq: AZN) is a global, science-led biopharmaceutical company that focuses on the discovery, development, and commercialisation of prescription medicines in Oncology, Rare Diseases, and BioPharmaceuticals, including Cardiovascular, Renal & Metabolism, and Respiratory & Immunology. Based in Cambridge, UK, AstraZeneca’s innovative medicines are sold in more than 125 countries and used by millions of patients worldwide. Please visit astrazeneca.com and follow the Company on social media @AstraZeneca.