Results for tag: "Alecensa"

Alecensa (Alectinib) is a prescription medication used to treat certain types of non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC). It is a type of targeted therapy, which works by blocking the activity of a protein called anaplastic lymphoma kinase (ALK). This protein is found in some types of NSCLC and is thought to be involved in the growth and spread of cancer cells. Alecensa is used to treat NSCLC that has spread to other parts of the body and is caused by a certain type of genetic change (ALK-positive). It is usually given after other treatments, such as chemotherapy, have been tried without success. Alecensa is a relatively new drug, having been approved by the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) in 2015. It is currently the only ALK inhibitor approved for the treatment of ALK-positive NSCLC. It is available in both capsule and intravenous (IV) forms. The Alecensa market is highly competitive, with several companies offering similar treatments. These include Pfizer, Merck, AstraZeneca, and Roche. Other companies, such as Novartis and Eli Lilly, are also developing ALK inhibitors for the treatment of NSCLC. Show Less Read more