What type of drug is Lorbrena?

Q: What type of drug is Lorbrena?

Lorbrena is an anaplastic lymphoma kinase (ALK) tyrosine kinase inhibitor (TKI) used for the treatment of patients with ALK-positive non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) that has spread to other parts of the body (metastatic). Non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) is the most common type of lung cancer, accounting for approximately 80-85% of all lung cancers. About 5% of NSCLC patients have a rearrangement in their ALK gene that produces an abnormal protein which can cause the cancer cells to grow and spread. ALK-positive tumors are diagnosed using an FDA-approved genetic test. ALK tyrosine kinase inhibitors work to shrink tumors by targeting the abnormal ALK protein. Lorbrena was designed to inhibit the ALK protein, including ALK that has become resistant to other ALK inhibitors. Other ALK tyrosine kinase inhibitors include crizotinib (Xalkori), ceritinib (Zykadia), alectinib (Alecensa), and brigatinib (Alunbrig) Lorbrena was first approved in 2018 for the treatment of patients with ALK-positive metastatic non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) whose disease had progressed on crizotinib and at least one other ALK inhibitor for metastatic disease; or whose disease had progressed on alectinib or ceritinib as the first ALK inhibitor therapy for metastatic disease. In 2021, the FDA approved the use of Lorbrena as a first-line treatment of people with ALK-positive NSCLC. Lorbrena is an oral tablet that is taken once daily, with or without food. Common side effects include edema, peripheral neuropathy, weight gain, cognitive effects, fatigue, dyspnea, arthralgia, diarrhea, mood effects, hypercholesterolemia, hypertriglyceridemia, and cough.

Medically reviewed by Judith Stewart, BPharm. Last updated on Feb 28, 2025.

Official Answer by Drugs.com

What condition is it used to treat?

Lorbrena is an anaplastic lymphoma kinase (ALK) tyrosine kinase inhibitor (TKI) used for the treatment of patients with ALK-positive non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) that has spread to other parts of the body (metastatic).

Non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) is the most common type of lung cancer, accounting for approximately 80-85% of all lung cancers. About 5% of NSCLC patients have a rearrangement in their ALK gene that produces an abnormal protein which can cause the cancer cells to grow and spread.

ALK-positive tumors are diagnosed using an FDA-approved genetic test.

ALK tyrosine kinase inhibitors work to shrink tumors by targeting the abnormal ALK protein. Lorbrena was designed to inhibit the ALK protein, including ALK that has become resistant to other ALK inhibitors. Other ALK tyrosine kinase inhibitors include crizotinib (Xalkori), ceritinib (Zykadia), alectinib (Alecensa), and brigatinib (Alunbrig)

Lorbrena was first approved in 2018 for the treatment of patients with ALK-positive metastatic non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) whose disease had progressed on crizotinib and at least one other ALK inhibitor for metastatic disease; or whose disease had progressed on alectinib or ceritinib as the first ALK inhibitor therapy for metastatic disease.

In 2021, the FDA approved the use of Lorbrena as a first-line treatment of people with ALK-positive NSCLC.

Lorbrena is an oral tablet that is taken once daily, with or without food.

Common side effects include edema, peripheral neuropathy, weight gain, cognitive effects, fatigue, dyspnea, arthralgia, diarrhea, mood effects, hypercholesterolemia, hypertriglyceridemia, and cough.

References

U.S. Food and Drug Administration. Lorbrena Product Label. Available at https://www.accessdata.fda.gov/drugsatfda_docs/label/2021/210868s004lbl.pdf [Accessed March 10, 2021]
American Cancer Society. Targeted Drug Therapy for Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer. Available at https://www.cancer.org/cancer/lung-cancer/treating-non-small-cell/targeted-therapies.html [Accessed March 10, 2021]
American Lung Association. ALK and Lung Cancer. Available at https://www.lung.org/lung-health-diseases/lung-disease-lookup/lung-cancer/learn-about-lung-cancer/how-is-lung-cancer-diagnosed/lung-cancer-tumor-testing/alk-lung-cancer [Accessed March 10, 2021]

Is small cell or non-small cell lung cancer worse?

Generally, small cell lung cancer (SCLC) is worse than non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC). SCLC accounts for about 10-15% of people who have lung cancer and is the most aggressive form of lung cancer. SCLC usually starts in the breathing tubes (bronchi), and although the cells are small, they grow very quickly and create large tumors. Early on in the course of the disease, there are rarely any symptoms. If caught early (limited-stage disease) 20-25% of people can be potentially cured. Extensive SCLC is more difficult to treat. Continue reading

Is non-small cell lung cancer hereditary?

A hereditary family history of lung cancer is one of the many risk factors for developing non-small cell lung cancer. About 8% of lung cancers are thought to be inherited or linked to gene changes, but smoking and air pollution remain the primary causes of lung cancer. Continue reading

How aggressive is non-small cell lung cancer?

Non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) tends to spread more slowly than small cell lung cancer (SCLC). About 80% of all lung cancers are diagnosed as NSCLC. Some forms of NSCLC do grow rapidly, such as large cell undifferentiated carcinoma and large cell neuroendocrine carcinoma. Lung cancer most commonly spreads to the liver, brain, bones or adrenal glands. Continue reading

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