Quick answers
- What is Ado-trastuzumab emtansine used for?
- The FDA-approved label (Kadcyla, Genentech, Inc., April 1, 2026) says: “KADCYLA is a HER2-targeted antibody and microtubule inhibitor conjugate indicated, as a single agent, for: the treatment of patients with HER2-positive, metastatic breast cancer who previously received trastuzumab and a taxane, separately or in combination. Patients should have either …” This page is not medical advice. Talk to your doctor or pharmacist before you start, stop or change any medicine.
- Does Ado-trastuzumab emtansine have a boxed warning?
- Yes. The FDA label for Kadcyla has a boxed warning (“WARNING: HEPATOTOXICITY, CARDIAC TOXICITY, EMBRYO-FETAL TOXICITY”), the FDA’s strongest warning. Read it on the full label and ask your pharmacist.
- Is there a shortage of Ado-trastuzumab emtansine?
- No current shortage is listed by the FDA for the products of this medicine (FDA data from October 30, 2026).
- Has Ado-trastuzumab emtansine been recalled?
- No recall linked to the products of this medicine appears in the FDA enforcement reports we use.
- Who makes Ado-trastuzumab emtansine?
- 1 company lists prescription products of Ado-trastuzumab emtansine in the FDA NDC Directory, including Genentech, Inc..
What Ado-trastuzumab emtansine is used for
Quoted from the “Indications and Usage” section of the FDA-approved label.
KADCYLA is a HER2-targeted antibody and microtubule inhibitor conjugate indicated, as a single agent, for: the treatment of patients with HER2-positive, metastatic breast cancer who previously received trastuzumab and a taxane, separately or in combination. Patients should have either …
— FDA label: Kadcyla, Genentech, Inc., effective April 1, 2026. Read the full label on DailyMed →
This page is not medical advice. Talk to your doctor or pharmacist before you start, stop or change any medicine.
Conditions named on the label
These condition names appear word for word in the label’s “Indications and Usage” text (matched with a reviewed table). Each page lists hospitals whose own websites name the condition.
Related medical specialties
Boxed warning
A boxed warning (“black box”) is the FDA’s strongest warning on a drug label, for serious or life-threatening risks.
This label has a boxed warning. Its heading: WARNING: HEPATOTOXICITY, CARDIAC TOXICITY, EMBRYO-FETAL TOXICITY
. Read it on the full label →
Forms and how it is given
| Dosage forms | Injection, powder, lyophilized, for solution |
|---|---|
| Route | Intravenous |
| Prescription products | 2 in the FDA NDC Directory |
| Brand names | Kadcyla |
Companies that list this medicine
Labelers in the FDA NDC Directory: the company named on the package (maker or distributor), with the number of prescription products.
- Genentech, Inc.2 products
FDA approval history
- BLA: Biologics License Application: how a biologic medicine (made from living cells) is approved.
| Application | Sponsor | Approved | Later changes approved |
|---|---|---|---|
| BLA125427 KADCYLA | Genentech | February 22, 2013 | 13, latest March 26, 2026 2026: Labeling · 2025: Efficacy · 2022: Labeling |
Shortage status
The FDA drug shortage list does not show these products.
Recalls
No recall linked to these products (by their NDC code) appears in the FDA enforcement reports.
Official identifiers
| RxCUI (RxNorm) | 1658084, 1658087, 1658089, 1658091 |
|---|---|
| SPL set ID of the quoted label | 23f3c1f4-0fc8-4804-a9e3-04cf25dd302e |
| FDA labels (SPL) | 1 |
| FDA applications | BLA125427 |
| Active ingredients (FDA) | TRASTUZUMAB EMTANSINE |
Sources
- FDA-approved label on DailyMed (National Library of Medicine) — Kadcyla, Genentech, Inc., effective April 1, 2026; via openFDA, FDA data exported October 30, 2026, retrieved October 31, 2026
- NDC Directory (openFDA) — U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA), FDA data exported October 30, 2026, retrieved October 31, 2026
- Drugs@FDA (openFDA) — U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA), FDA data exported October 30, 2026, retrieved October 31, 2026
- Drug recall enforcement reports (openFDA) — U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA), FDA data exported October 27, 2026, retrieved October 31, 2026
- Drug shortages (openFDA) — U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA), FDA data exported October 30, 2026, retrieved October 31, 2026
openFDA data is provided by the FDA as is; it may be incomplete. Always rely on the label that comes with your medicine. FDA Enforcement Report search →