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

Quick overview

Tepmetko Tablet (tepotinib) is a prescription kinase inhibitor taken by mouth. It is used to treat adults with a specific type of advanced, metastatic non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) whose tumors have MET exon 14 skipping alterations. It works by blocking a faulty MET protein that drives abnormal cancer cell growth. Tepmetko is taken once daily with food and carries important warnings, including risks of serious lung and liver problems.

What is Tepmetko Tablet

Tepmetko is a prescription medicine taken by mouth that is used to treat a specific type of advanced lung cancer in adults. Its generic name is tepotinib, and it belongs to a class of medicines called kinase inhibitors, specifically a MET inhibitor.

Tepmetko Tablet uses

• Treats adults with non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) that has spread to other parts of the body (metastatic) and whose tumors have an abnormal mesenchymal-epithelial transition (MET) gene, specifically MET exon 14 skipping alterations

Benefits of Tepmetko Tablet

• Treats certain metastatic non-small-cell lung cancers (NSCLC)
• Specifically targets cancers with MET exon 14 skipping alterations
• Blocks abnormal MET signaling
• Can help shrink tumors
• Provides an oral targeted-therapy option

How Tepmetko Tablet works

The MET gene alteration causes a faulty protein that leads to out-of-control cell growth and cancer. Tepmetko blocks this faulty MET protein, which can slow or stop the cancer from growing and may help shrink it.

Tepmetko Tablet dosage

Take Tepmetko once a day with food. Swallow the tablets whole; do not chew, crush, or split them. If you have trouble swallowing, you can put the tablet in a glass without crushing it, add a small amount of still water, stir until it breaks into very small pieces, then drink the liquid right away or within one hour, and rinse the glass with more water and drink that too.

Take your dose at about the same time every day. Do not change your dose or stop taking it unless your healthcare provider tells you to.

If you miss a dose, take it as soon as you remember, unless your next dose is due soon, in which case skip the missed dose and continue your regular schedule. Do not take a double dose to make up for a missed one. If you vomit after taking a dose, take your next dose at the regular scheduled time.

This medicine has not been established as safe and effective for use in children.

Available forms and strengths

• Tablets (225 mg)

Side effects of Tepmetko Tablet

Common

• Swelling in the face or other parts of the body
• Tiredness
• Nausea
• Diarrhea
• Muscle and joint pain
• Shortness of breath
• Loss of appetite
• Rash
• Changes in certain blood tests
• Abdominal pain
• Constipation
• Vomiting

Serious

• Severe or life-threatening lung inflammation (interstitial lung disease/pneumonitis) that can cause trouble breathing, shortness of breath, cough, or fever, and can lead to death
• Liver problems, including yellowing of skin or eyes, dark or tea-colored urine, light-colored stools, confusion, tiredness, loss of appetite for several days or longer, nausea and vomiting, pain or tenderness on the right side of the abdomen, weakness, or swelling in the stomach area
• Pancreas problems, including upper abdominal pain that may spread to the back and worsen with eating, weight loss, nausea, or vomiting
• Allergic reactions, including shortness of breath, wheezing or difficulty breathing, swelling of the face, lips, tongue or other parts of the body, rash, itching or hives

Warnings and precautions

• This medicine can cause severe or life-threatening lung inflammation that can lead to death. Tell your healthcare provider right away about new or worsening breathing symptoms.
• This medicine can cause liver problems, and one patient died from liver failure. Liver function will be checked with blood tests before and during treatment.
• This medicine can raise blood levels of amylase and lipase, which may signal a problem with the pancreas. Blood tests will check pancreatic function before and during treatment.
• This medicine can harm an unborn baby.
• Do not give this medicine to anyone else, even if they have similar symptoms, as it may harm them.
• Pregnancy: This medicine can harm an unborn baby. Women who can become pregnant may need a pregnancy test before starting treatment and should use effective birth control during treatment and for one week after the last dose. 
• Men with partners who can become pregnant should also use effective birth control during this time.
• Breastfeeding: It is not known if this medicine passes into breast milk. Women should not breastfeed during treatment and for one week after the last dose.
• Kidney: No dose change is needed for people with mild or moderate kidney problems. Dosing has not been established for severe kidney impairment.
• Liver: No dose change is needed for people with mild or moderate liver problems. This medicine has not been studied in people with severe liver impairment, and it can cause liver damage, so liver function will be checked with blood tests before and during treatment.
• Driving: Take special care when driving or using machines, as this medicine may make you feel unusually tired.

Storage

• Store at room temperature between 68°F to 77°F (20°C to 25°C)
• Store in the original package
• Keep the medicine and all medicines out of the reach of children
• Store in a cool dry place away from moisture, heat or sunlight; do not store in the bathroom, near a sink, in the car, or on window sills
• Do not use the medicine after the expiry date
• If no longer needed or out of date, take it to a pharmacy for safe disposal

When to see a doctor

• Get medical help right away if you have trouble breathing, shortness of breath, cough, or fever, which could be signs of serious lung inflammation.
• Get medical help right away if you notice yellowing of the skin or eyes, dark urine, light-colored stools, confusion, tiredness, loss of appetite, nausea and vomiting, pain on the right side of your abdomen, weakness, or swelling in the stomach area, which could be signs of liver problems.
• Get medical help right away if you have upper stomach pain that spreads to your back and worsens with eating, along with weight loss, nausea, or vomiting, which could signal a pancreas problem.
• Call your doctor right away if you become pregnant while taking this medicine.
• Seek urgent medical attention if you think you have taken too much of this medicine, even if you feel fine.

Alternatives

• Capmatinib
• Crizotinib in selected cases
• Platinum-based chemotherapy