Alunbrig Tablet: Uses, Dosage, Side Effects, Precautions and Alternates

Quick overview

Alunbrig Tablet (generic name: brigatinib) is a prescription cancer medicine belonging to the multikinase inhibitor drug class. It is used to treat adults with a type of non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) that has a specific abnormal ALK gene and has spread to other parts of the body. It works by blocking an abnormal protein called ALK that some cancer cells need to grow, and it is taken as a once-daily oral tablet.

What is Alunbrig Tablet

Alunbrig is a prescription cancer medicine used to treat adults with a type of non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) that has a specific abnormal ALK gene and has spread to other parts of the body.

Alunbrig Tablet uses

• Treats ALK-positive metastatic non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) that has spread to other parts of the body
• Used only if the cancer has a specific abnormal ALK gene, confirmed by a test

Benefits of Alunbrig Tablet

• Clinical studies show strong tumor shrinkage and a median progression-free survival of around 24 months in first-line settings compared to older treatments
• Has shown high response rates in patients whose lung cancer has spread to the brain
• Convenient once-daily oral tablet dosing

How Alunbrig Tablet works

Alunbrig blocks an abnormal protein called ALK that some cancer cells need in order to grow and multiply, which helps stop the cancer cells from growing and spreading. It acts as a tyrosine kinase inhibitor that blocks specific proteins promoting tumor growth.

Alunbrig Tablet dosage

Take it exactly as your doctor prescribes and follow all directions on your prescription label. It is usually taken once per day, with or without food. Swallow the tablet whole; do not crush, chew, or break it. If you vomit shortly after taking a dose, do not take another dose — just continue your regular schedule. Do not stop taking this medicine unless your doctor tells you to. If you miss a dose, skip it and take your next dose at the regular time; do not take two doses at once.

Available forms and strengths

• 30 mg oral tablets
• 90 mg oral tablets
• 180 mg oral tablets

Side effects of Alunbrig Tablet

Common

• Nausea, vomiting, diarrhea
• Increased blood pressure
• Trouble breathing
• Cough
• Rash
• Muscle pain
• Headache
• Feeling tired

Serious

• Lung problems (inflammation) - trouble breathing, chest pain, cough, fever
• High blood pressure - severe headache, pounding in neck or ears, dizziness, blurred vision
• Slow heartbeats - feeling lightheaded, dizzy, or like you might pass out
• Vision problems - blurred or double vision, increased light sensitivity, seeing flashes of light or floaters
• Muscle damage - unexplained muscle pain, tenderness, or weakness
• Pancreatitis - upper stomach pain that may spread to the back and worsens with eating, nausea, weight loss
• Liver problems - nausea, vomiting, decreased appetite, right-side stomach pain, tiredness, itching, dark urine, easy bruising or bleeding, yellowing of skin or eyes
• High blood sugar - increased thirst, increased urination, hunger, nausea, fruity breath odor, weakness, confusion
• Severe allergic reaction - hives, difficulty breathing, swelling of face, lips, tongue, or throat

Warnings and precautions

• This medicine may cause severe or life-threatening lung inflammation at any time during treatment, especially within the first week, which can lead to death.
• This medicine can cause serious side effects such as lung problems, vision problems, high blood pressure, high blood sugar, very slow heartbeats, muscle damage, liver problems, or pancreatitis.
• Avoid grapefruit and grapefruit juice during treatment, as it may increase the amount of this medicine in your blood and increase side effects.
• This medicine can make your skin sensitive to sunlight, increasing the risk of severe sunburn. Limit sun exposure during treatment and for at least 5 days after your last dose, and use protective clothing and sunscreen.
• This medicine may cause fertility problems in men, which may affect the ability to father a child.
• Alunbrig can harm an unborn baby. Women should not use this medicine if pregnant, and should use effective non-hormonal birth control during treatment and for at least 4 months after the last dose, since Alunbrig can make hormonal birth control less effective. 
• Men should use condoms or other barrier birth control for at least 3 months after the last dose if their partner can become pregnant.
• Do not breastfeed while using this medicine and for at least 1 week after the last dose, since it is not known if the medicine passes into breast milk.
• Tell your doctor if you have kidney disease or are on dialysis before starting this medicine.
• Tell your doctor if you have liver disease before starting this medicine, since it can cause liver problems.
• There are no known interactions between this medicine and alcohol, but heavy drinking can slow your immune response and make it harder for your body to fight cancer.
• This medicine may cause blurred vision, tiredness, and may impair your reactions. Avoid driving or hazardous activity until you know how it affects you.

Storage

• Store at room temperature between 68°F to 77°F (20°C to 25°C)
• Can be exposed to temperatures between 59°F and 86°F (15°C to 30°C) for shorter periods, such as when transporting it
• Store in a cool, dry place
• Keep out of the reach of children

When to see a doctor

• Get emergency help right away if you have signs of an allergic reaction such as hives, difficulty breathing, or swelling of your face, lips, tongue, or throat.
• Call your doctor right away if you have severe headache, confusion, feeling light-headed, blurred vision, seeing flashes of light or floaters, increased thirst or urination, hunger, nausea, upper stomach pain spreading to your back, unexplained muscle pain or weakness, fever, cough, chest pain, trouble breathing, very slow heartbeats, feeling like you might pass out, right-sided stomach pain, dark urine, or yellowing of your skin or eyes.
• If your blood pressure reading shows a top number of 180 or higher or a bottom number of 120 or higher, get medical attention right away.
• If you think you have taken too much of this medicine, get emergency medical attention or contact a poison control center right away.

Alternatives

• Alectinib
• Lorlatinib
• Crizotinib
• Ceritinib