Herceptin and Pregnancy

Animal studies involving Herceptin and pregnancy demonstrated that the medication did not appear to cause any harm to the fetus. As a result, the FDA has classified Herceptin as a pregnancy Category B medication, meaning that it is generally considered safe for people who are pregnant.

 

Herceptin and Pregnancy: An Overview

Herceptin® (trastuzumab) is generally considered safe for people who are pregnant. In animal studies that looked at the effects of Herceptin during pregnancy, the drug did not cause any problems.
 

Herceptin and Pregnancy Category B

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) uses a pregnancy category system to classify the possible risks to a fetus when a specific medicine is taken during pregnancy. Pregnancy Category B is given to medicines that have not been studied in pregnant humans, but do not appear to cause harm to the fetus in animal studies.
 
However, it is important to note that animals do not always respond to medicines in the same way that humans do. Therefore, a pregnancy Category B medicine should be given to a pregnant woman only if the healthcare provider believes that the benefits to the pregnant woman outweigh any possible risks to the unborn child.
 

Herceptin and Pregnancy: Final Thoughts

If you are pregnant or thinking of becoming pregnant while taking Herceptin, let your healthcare provider know. He or she will consider the benefits and risks of using the medication during pregnancy before making a recommendation for your particular situation.
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Written by/reviewed by: Kristi Monson, PharmD; Arthur Schoenstadt, MD
Last reviewed by: Kristi Monson, PharmD;