Genentech Inc. reported positive results from the phase 3 trial evaluating Perjeta, Herceptin and chemotherapy in patients with HER2-positive early breast cancer.

The Roche Holding Ltd. unit said the combination treatment significantly reduced the risk of breast cancer recurrence or death by 19% in HER2-positive early breast cancer patients, compared to Herceptin and chemotherapy alone.

However, the combined treatment showed only a slight benefit over the existing standard of care. At three years, 94.1% of patients treated with the Perjeta-based regimen did not have their breast cancer return, compared with 93.2% treated with Herceptin and chemotherapy.

Perjeta and Herceptin are both developed by Genentech.