Zanubrutinib
Generic name: zanubrutinib
Brand name: Brukinsa
Dosage form: oral capsule
Drug class:BTK inhibitors
What is zanubrutinib?
Zanubrutinib is a chemotherapy drug used to treat certain types of B-cell non-Hodgkin lymphoma. These are blood cancers that affect B-lymphocytes, a, type of white blood cell that help you fight off infection. They occur when your body makes too many abnormal B-cells.
Zanubrutinib belongs to a class of drugs called kinase inhibitors. Zanubrutinib is a second-generation irreversible BTK (Bruton tyrosine kinase) inhibitor that works by blocking the action of a protein called Bruton's tyrosine kinase, which signals B-cells to grow and multiple. This stops cancer cells from multiplying in your body.
Zanubrutinib was approved by the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) in 2019.
What is zanubrutinib used for?
Zanubrutinib is a prescription medicine used to treat adults with:
- Mantle cell lymphoma (MCL) who have received at least one prior treatment for their cancer.
- Waldenström's macroglobulinemia (WM).
- Marginal zone lymphoma (MZL) when the disease has come back or did not respond to treatment and who have received at least one certain type of treatment.
It is not known if zanubrutinib is safe and effective in children.
What should I tell my doctor before taking zanubrutinib?
Before taking zanubrutinib, tell your healthcare provider about all of your medical conditions, including if you:
- have bleeding problems.
- have had recent surgery or plan to have surgery. Your healthcare provider may stop zanubrutinib for any planned medical, surgical, or dental procedure.
- have an infection.
- have or had heart rhythm problems.
- have high blood pressure.
- have liver problems, including a history of hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection.
How should I take zanubrutinib?
- Take zanubrutinib exactly as your healthcare provider tells you to take it.
- Do not change your dose or stop taking zanubrutinib unless your healthcare provider tells you to.
- Your healthcare provider may tell you to decrease your dose, temporarily stop, or completely stop taking zanubrutinib if you develop certain side effects.
- Take zanubrutinib with or without food.
- Swallow zanubrutinib capsules whole with a glass of water. Do not open, break, or chew the capsules.
What happens if I miss a dose?
If you miss a dose of zanubrutinib, take it as soon as you remember on the same day. Return to your normal schedule the next day.
Dosing information
- The recommended dose of zanubrutinib is 160 mg orally twice daily or 320 mg orally once daily; swallow whole with water and with or without food.
- Do not to open, break, or chew capsules.
- In patients with severe hepatic impairment the dose of zanubrutinib should be reduced.
- See full prescribing information for further details about ...
