Generic Name: abemaciclib
Drug Class: Targeted Therapy Medications
Company: Eli Lilly
Approval Status: Approved
Generic Version Available: No
Drug Indication
Verzenio is a CDK4/6 kinase inhibitor approved for the treatment of hormone receptor-positive, HER2-negative advanced or metastatic breast cancer, alone or in combination with hormone therapy.
General Info
Verzenio inhibits cyclin-dependent kinases 4 and 6 (CDK4/6), which play a role in cell growth and division. Blocking these kinases interferes with breast cancer growth.
The MONARCH-3 trial showed that Verzenio plus an aromatase inhibitor improved progression-free survival (PFS) in postmenopausal women with hormone receptor-positive (HR+), HER2-negative advanced or metastatic breast cancer who were receiving hormone therapy for the first time. MONARCH-2 showed that Verzenio plus Faslodex (fulvestrant) extended PFS in women who experienced disease progression during or after hormone therapy. In MONARCH-1, Verzenio alone showed an objective response rate of 20 percent for women with metastatic breast cancer who were previously treated with hormone therapy and chemotherapy. Verzenio was first approved in 2017.
Dosage
Dosing Info:
Verzenio is taken as a tablet twice daily with or without food.
Side Effects
Common side effects include diarrhea, nausea and vomiting, fatigue, decreased appetite, headache and hair loss. Verzenio can cause depletion of red blood cells (anemia), white blood cells (neutropenia) and platelets (thrombocytopenia), which can lead to infections and easy bleeding. Potentially serious side effects include severe diarrhea, liver toxicity and blood clots. Verzenio should not be used during pregnancy.
For More Info: https://www.verzenio.com
Patient Assistance Program Info: https://www.verzenio.com/savings-support
Last Reviewed: December 4, 2018
