New Breast Cancer Rx Approved

The US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has approved a new medication to treat breast cancer.

This new approval can be found under the name Kisqali (ribociclib). The FDA approved it to treat women who have breast cancer that has spread to other parts of the body (metastatic) and who have already gone through menopause.

Ribociclib was approved in combination with another medication as the first hormone-based treatment to treat women with hormone receptor (HR)-positive, human epidermal growth factor receptor 2 (HER2)-negative breast cancer.

Ribociclib's approval was based on a clinical trial that included more than 660 women. 

This medication is available in tablets and is to be taken once daily, preferably in the morning, with or without food for 21 days, followed by seven days of no treatment. Swallow the tablets whole. Do not chew, crush or split them. 

Common side effects may include changes in blood counts, nausea or vomiting, fatigue, diarrhea or constipation, hair loss, headache and back pain. Serious side effects may include liver problems, heart rhythm problems and low white blood cell counts.

Avoid grapefruit and pomegranate, including their juice, during treatment with ribociclib. Compounds in these fruits may increase the amount of the medication in the body. 

Novartis Pharmaceuticals manufactures Kisqali.