A New Job for Xalkori

Pfizer's Xalkori (crizotinib) approved to treat advanced non-small cell lung cancer with tumors that have ROS-1 gene alteration

(RxWiki News) The US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approved Xalkori (crizotinib) to treat patients with advanced non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) who have tumors with an ROS-1 gene alteration.

Pfizer's Xalkori was previously approved to treat NSCLC in patients whose tumors present with a different abnormal gene.

The latest approval will allow Xalkori to treat the roughly 1 percent of NSCLC patients who have an ROS-1 gene alteration, according to the FDA.

In a study of 50 patients, Xalkori was found to block the activity of the ROS-1 protein in tumors that possess an ROS-1 gene alteration, which may prevent NSCLC from spreading. Sixty-six percent of study patients had their tumors shrink while taking Xalkori.

NSCLC is a type of lung cancer. Lung cancer is a leading cause of cancer-related deaths in the US, the FDA reported.

Serious side effects of Xalkori include lung inflammation, liver problems, abnormal heart rhythm and vision loss. Patients also reported minor side effects.

Review Date: 
March 12, 2016