Non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) is the most common type of lung cancer, making up 85% of new lung cancer cases in US every year. FDA has recently given approach to Alunbrig for rare form of lung cancer. This is developed by Takeda and is approved for treatment of patients with anaplastic lymphoma kinase-positive (ALK+) metastatic NSCLC. The approval was based on a non-comparative, open-label and multicenter clinical trial demonstrating clinically meaningful and durable ORR in patients. The patients had tumor and a total of 222 patients were randomized to brigatinib orally.
Brandon Tom, vice president, Biopharma Services, Biologics, Inc. said, “We are thrilled to have been given the privilege of being in this network of specialty pharmacies dispensing Alunbrig.” “Our team has decades of experience supporting NSCLC patients. We’re well prepared to help patients transition to this new therapy and to support them throughout their entire treatment journey,” he added.
Dosage
It is supplied as film-coated tablets having 30mg or 60mg of brigatinib. The recommended dose is 90mg once daily for the first seven days and then the dosage is increased to 180mg once daily. The pill can be taken with or without food.
The drug is manufactured by Takeda Pharmaceutical Company Limited. It is used to treat patients with NSCLC having a certain type of abnormal ALK gene and that has spread to other parts of the body and also those who have taken crizotinib but their condition worsened or they cannot tolerate taking the drug.
Side Effects
The most common adverse reactions taking brigatiib include nausea, diarrhea, cough, headache and fatigue. The serious ones included pneumonia and ILD/pneumonitis. The patients should also be monitored for new or worsening respiratory problems such as hypertension, visual symptoms, blood glucose elevations and more.
Do you know anyone facing lung cancer? What problems do they face during lung cancer treatment? Let us know your thoughts in the comments.
The information offered in this blog is for informational purposes only and is not a substitute for medical advice.