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Brukinsa

Pronunciation: brew-KIN-za
Generic name: zanubrutinib
Dosage form: oral capsule (80 mg)
Drug class: BTK inhibitors

Medically reviewed by Carmen Pope, BPharm. Last updated on Mar 18, 2025.

What is Brukinsa?

Brukinsa is used to treat adults with mantle cell lymphoma, Waldenström’s macroglobulinemia, marginal zone lymphoma, chronic lymphocytic leukemia, small lymphocytic lymphoma, and follicular lymphoma. It is an oral capsule that is taken once or twice a day.

Brukinsa (zanubrutinib) was first approved in 2019. There is no generic.

FDA approvals and indications

Brukinsa is a prescription oral capsule used to treat adults with:

It is not known if this medicine is safe and effective in children.

How does Brukinsa work?

Brukinsa is a targeted treatment, not a chemotherapy drug, and works by directly blocking an enzyme, called Bruton’s tyrosine kinase (BTK), preventing its activity.

Side effects

The most common side effects of Brukinsa are:

Serious side effects and warnings

Get emergency medical help if you have signs of an allergic reaction to Brukinsa. Symptoms may include hives, difficulty breathing, or swelling of your face, lips, tongue, or throat.

Brukinsa can cause the following serious or life-threatening side effects:

Brukinsa can cause fetal harm when administered to a pregnant woman, including malformations. Women should use effective contraception and avoid becoming pregnant while taking Brukinsa and for 1 week after the last dose. Men should avoid fathering a child during treatment and for 1 week after the last dose.

It is not known if Brukinsa is safe and effective in children.

This is not a complete list of side effects and others may occur. Call your doctor for medical advice about side effects. You may report side effects to the FDA at 1-800-FDA-1088.

Before taking

Before you start treatment with Brukinsa, tell your healthcare provider about all of your medical conditions, including if you:

Pregnancy

Brukinsa can harm your unborn baby. If you can become pregnant, your healthcare provider may do a pregnancy test before starting treatment with this medicine.

You may need to have a negative pregnancy test before you start using Brukinsa. Females should not become pregnant during treatment and for at least 1 week after the last dose. You should use effective birth control (contraception) during treatment and for at least 1 week after the last dose.

Males should avoid getting female partners pregnant during treatment and for at least 1 week after the last dose of Brukinsa. You should use effective birth control (contraception) during treatment and for at least 1 week after the last dose.

Breastfeeding

It is not known if Brukinsa passes into your breast milk. Do not breastfeed during treatment and for at least 2 weeks after your last dose.

How should I take Brukinsa?

Take exactly as directed by your healthcare provider. 

Dosing information

Adult dose for MCL, WM, MZL, CLL, SLL, and FL: Brukinsa 160 mg twice a day or 320 mg once a day.

Available as 80 mg capsules.

What happens if I miss a dose?

Take the missed dose on the same day you remember it. Take your next dose at the regular time and stay on your once-daily schedule. Do not use 2 doses in one day.

What happens if I overdose?

Seek emergency medical attention or call the Poison Help line at 1-800-222-1222.

What other drugs will affect Brukinsa?

Sometimes it is not safe to use certain medications at the same time. Some drugs can affect your blood levels of other drugs you take, which may increase side effects or make the medications less effective. Common medications that may interact with Brukinsa include:

Tell your healthcare provider about all the medicines you take, including prescription and over-the-counter medicines, vitamins, and herbal supplements. Taking Brukinsa with certain other medications may affect how zanubrutinib works and can cause side effects.

Does Brukinsa interact with my other drugs?

Enter medications to view a detailed interaction report using our Drug Interaction Checker.

Storage

Store at room temperature in the original container.

Ingredients

Active: zanubrutinib 80mg

Inactive: Silicon dioxide, croscarmellose sodium, magnesium stearate, microcrystalline cellulose, sodium lauryl sulfate, gelatine (unspecified), titanium dioxide, and ferrosoferric oxide.

Manufacturer

Brukinsa (zanubrutinib) is manufactured by BeiGene, a global biopharmaceutical company. BeiGene was founded in Beijing, China, and now maintains dual headquarters:

Frequently asked questions

Further information

Always consult your healthcare provider to ensure the information displayed on this page applies to your personal circumstances.