Description and Brand Names

Drug information provided by: Merative, Micromedex®

US Brand Name

  1. Gavreto

Descriptions


Pralsetinib is used to treat metastatic (cancer that has already spread) non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) and in patients whose tumors have RET fusion-positive genes. Your doctor will perform a test to check for the RET gene fusion before you use this medicine.

Pralsetinib is also used to treat advanced or metastatic (cancer that has already spread) medullary thyroid cancer (MTC) in patients whose tumors have abnormal RET (RET-mutant) genes. Your doctor will perform a test to check for the abnormal RET gene before you use this medicine. It is used in patients who needs a medicine by mouth or injection.

Pralsetinib is also used to treat advanced or metastatic (cancer that has already spread) thyroid cancer in patients whose tumors have RET fusion-positive genes. Your doctor will perform a test to check for the RET gene fusion before you use this medicine. It is used in patients who needs a medicine by mouth or injection and have received radioactive iodine but did not work.

Pralsetinib belongs to the group of medicines called antineoplastics (cancer medicines). It works by interfering with the growth of cancer cells, which are eventually destroyed.

This medicine is available only with your doctor's prescription.

This product is available in the following dosage forms:

  • Capsule

Before Using

In deciding to use a medicine, the risks of taking the medicine must be weighed against the good it will do. This is a decision you and your doctor will make. For this medicine, the following should be considered:

Allergies

Tell your doctor if you have ever had any unusual or allergic reaction to this medicine or any other medicines. Also tell your health care professional if you have any other types of allergies, such as to foods, dyes, preservatives, or animals. For non-prescription products, read the label or package ingredients carefully.

Pediatric

Appropriate studies have not been performed on the relationship of age to the effects of pralsetinib to treat non-small cell lung cancer in the pediatric population. Safety and efficacy have not been established.

Appropriate studies performed to date have not demonstrated pediatric-specific problems that would limit the usefulness of pralsetinib to treat medullary thyroid cancer and thyroid cancer in children 12 years of age and older. Safety and efficacy have not been established in children younger than 12 years of age.

Geriatric

Appropriate studies performed to date have not demonstrated geriatric-specific problems that would limit the usefulness of pralsetinib in the elderly.

Breastfeeding

There are no adequate studies in women for determining infant risk when using this medication during breastfeeding. Weigh the potential benefits against the potential risks before taking this medication while breastfeeding.

Drug Interactions

Although certain medicines should not be used together at all, in other cases two different medicines may be used together even if an interaction might occur. In these cases, your doctor may want to change the dose, or other precautions may be necessary. When you are taking this medicine, it is especially important that your healthcare professional know if you are taking any of the medicines listed below. The following interactions have been selected on the basis of their potential significance and are not necessarily all-inclusive.

Using this medicine with any of the following medicines is usually not recommended, but may be required in some cases. If both medicines are prescribed together, your doctor may change the dose or how often you use one or both of the medicines.

  • Amiodarone
  • Amprenavir
  • Apalutamide
  • Aprepitant
  • Atazanavir
  • Berotralstat
  • Boceprevir
  • Bosentan
  • Carbamazepine
  • Carvedilol
  • Cenobamate
  • Ceritinib
  • Cimetidine
  • Ciprofloxacin
  • Clarithromycin
  • Clofazimine
  • Cobicistat
  • Conivaptan
  • Crizotinib
  • Cyclosporine
  • Dabrafenib
  • Darunavir
  • Diltiazem
  • Dipyrone
  • Dronedarone
  • Duvelisib
  • Efavirenz
  • Elagolix
  • Enzalutamide
  • Erythromycin
  • Etravirine
  • Flibanserin
  • Fluconazole
  • Fluvoxamine
  • Fosamprenavir
  • Fosnetupitant
  • Fosphenytoin
  • Idelalisib
  • Imatinib
  • Indinavir
  • Itraconazole
  • Ivosidenib
  • Josamycin
  • Ketoconazole
  • Lapatinib
  • Lesinurad
  • Letermovir
  • Lonafarnib
  • Lopinavir
  • Lorlatinib
  • Lumacaftor
  • Mibefradil
  • Mifepristone
  • Mitotane
  • Modafinil
  • Nafcillin
  • Nefazodone
  • Nelfinavir
  • Netupitant
  • Nilotinib
  • Phenobarbital
  • Phenytoin
  • Posaconazole
  • Primidone
  • Quinidine
  • Ranolazine
  • Ribociclib
  • Rifabutin
  • Rifampin
  • Rifapentine
  • Ritonavir
  • Saquinavir
  • Schisandra sphenanthera
  • St John's Wort
  • Telaprevir
  • Telithromycin
  • Telotristat Ethyl
  • Thioridazine
  • Treosulfan
  • Troleandomycin
  • Tucatinib
  • Vemurafenib
  • Verapamil
  • Voriconazole
  • Voxelotor

Other Interactions

Certain medicines should not be used at or around the time of eating food or eating certain types of food since interactions may occur. Using alcohol or tobacco with certain medicines may also cause interactions to occur. The following interactions have been selected on the basis of their potential significance and are not necessarily all-inclusive.

Using this medicine with any of the following is usually not recommended, but may be unavoidable in some cases. If used together, your doctor may change the dose or how often you use this medicine, or give you special instructions about the use of food, alcohol, or tobacco.

  • Grapefruit Juice

Other Medical Problems

The presence of other medical problems may affect the use of this medicine. Make sure you tell your doctor if you have any other medical problems, especially:

  • Bleeding problems or
  • Kidney disease or
  • Liver disease or
  • Lung problems (eg, interstitial lung disease, pneumonitis)—Use with caution. May make these conditions worse.
  • Hypertension (high blood pressure), uncontrolled or—This condition must be corrected first before using and during treatment with this medicine.
  • Surgery, recent—Use with caution. May cause side effects to become worse.

Proper Use

Medicines used to treat cancer are very strong and can have many side effects. Before receiving this medicine, make sure you understand all the risks and benefits. It is important for you to work closely with your doctor during your treatment.

Take this medicine exactly as directed by your doctor. Do not take more of it, do not take it more often, and do not take it for a longer time than your doctor ordered. To do so may increase the chance of side effects.

This medicine comes with a patient information leaflet. It is very important that you read and understand this information. Be sure to ask your doctor about anything you do not understand.

Swallow the capsule whole. Do not crush, open, or chew it.

It is best to take this medicine on an empty stomach. Do not eat for at least 2 hours before and 1 hour after taking this medicine.

Dosing

The dose of this medicine will be different for different patients. Follow your doctor's orders or the directions on the label. The following information includes only the average doses of this medicine. If your dose is different, do not change it unless your doctor tells you to do so.

The amount of medicine that you take depends on the strength of the medicine. Also, the number of doses you take each day, the time allowed between doses, and the length of time you take the medicine depend on the medical problem for which you are using the medicine.

  • For oral dosage form (capsules):
    • For non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC), medullary thyroid cancer (MTC), and thyroid cancer:
      • Adults—400 milligrams (mg) once a day. Your doctor may adjust your dose as needed and tolerated.
      • Children—Use and dose must be determined by your doctor.

Missed Dose

If you miss a dose of this medicine, take it as soon as possible. However, if it is almost time for your next dose, skip the missed dose and go back to your regular dosing schedule. Do not double doses.

If you vomit after taking a dose of this medicine, do not take an extra dose. Take your next dose at your regular time the next day.

Storage

Store the medicine in a closed container at room temperature, away from heat, moisture, and direct light. Keep from freezing.

Keep out of the reach of children.

Do not keep outdated medicine or medicine no longer needed.

Ask your healthcare professional how you should dispose of any medicine you do not use.

Precautions

It is very important that your doctor check your progress at regular visits to make sure that this medicine is working properly. Blood tests may be needed to check for unwanted effects.

Using this medicine while you are pregnant can harm your unborn baby. If you are a woman who can bear children, your doctor may give you a pregnancy test before you start using this medicine to make sure you are not pregnant. Use an effective form of birth control during treatment and for at least 2 weeks after the last dose. Males with female partners who are able to become pregnant should use an effective form of birth control during treatment and for at least 1 week after the last dose. If you think you have become pregnant, tell your doctor right away.

This medicine may cause swelling of the lungs (pneumonitis) or interstitial lung disease. These are life-threatening conditions and require immediate medical attention. The symptoms may be similar to the symptoms from lung cancer. Check with your doctor right away if you have new or worsening cough, fever, or trouble breathing.

Check with your doctor right away if you have blurred vision, dizziness, nervousness, headache, pounding in the ears, or slow or fast heartbeat occurs during or after treatment with this medicine. These can be symptoms of hypertension (high blood pressure).

Check with your doctor right away if you have pain or tenderness in the upper stomach, pale stools, dark urine, loss of appetite, nausea, vomiting, unusual tiredness or weakness, or yellow eyes or skin. These could be symptoms of a serious liver problem.

This medicine can cause serious bleeding problems that may be life-threatening. Check with your doctor right away if you have coughing up blood, increased menstrual flow or vaginal bleeding, nosebleeds, red or black, tarry stools, red or dark brown urine, vomiting of blood or material that looks like coffee grounds, or any unusual bleeding or bruising.

This medicine may cause a serious type of reaction called tumor lysis syndrome. Your doctor may give you medicine to help prevent this. Call your doctor right away if you have a decrease or change in the amount of urine, joint pain, stiffness, or swelling, lower back, side, or stomach pain, a rapid weight gain, swelling of the feet or lower legs, or unusual tiredness or weakness.

This medicine may affect the way your body heals from cuts and wounds. Make sure any doctor who treats you knows that you are using this medicine. You may need to stop using this medicine several days before and after having surgery.

Talk with your doctor before using this medicine if you plan to have children. Some men and women using this medicine have become infertile (unable to have children).

Do not take other medicines unless they have been discussed with your doctor. This includes prescription or nonprescription (over-the-counter [OTC]) medicines and herbal or vitamin supplements.

Side Effects

Along with its needed effects, a medicine may cause some unwanted effects. Although not all of these side effects may occur, if they do occur they may need medical attention.

Check with your doctor immediately if any of the following side effects occur:

More common

  1. Bleeding gums
  2. blurred vision
  3. chest pain
  4. chills
  5. cough
  6. coughing up blood
  7. dark urine
  8. decrease or change in the amount of urine
  9. difficulty in breathing or swallowing
  10. dizziness
  11. fainting
  12. fast or slow heartbeat
  13. fever
  14. general feeling of discomfort or illness
  15. headache
  16. increased menstrual flow or vaginal bleeding
  17. irregular pulse
  18. joint pain, stiffness, or swelling
  19. loss of appetite
  20. lower back, side, or stomach pain
  21. nausea
  22. nervousness
  23. nosebleeds
  24. paralysis
  25. pounding in the ears
  26. prolonged bleeding from cuts
  27. rapid weight gain
  28. red or black, tarry stools
  29. red or dark brown urine
  30. slow or fast heartbeat
  31. stomach pain, severe
  32. swelling around the eye
  33. swelling of the eyelids
  34. swelling of the feet or lower legs
  35. swelling or puffiness of the face
  36. thickening of bronchial secretions
  37. unusual tiredness or weakness
  38. vomiting
  39. yellow eyes or skin

Less common

  1. Black, tarry stools
  2. bladder pain
  3. bloody or cloudy urine
  4. chest pain or tightness
  5. confusion
  6. difficult, burning, or painful urination
  7. frequent urge to urinate
  8. lightheadedness
  9. lower back or side pain
  10. pale skin
  11. sneezing
  12. sore throat
  13. sores, ulcers, or white spots on the lips or in the mouth
  14. swollen glands
  15. unusual bleeding or bruising

Some side effects may occur that usually do not need medical attention. These side effects may go away during treatment as your body adjusts to the medicine. Also, your health care professional may be able to tell you about ways to prevent or reduce some of these side effects. Check with your health care professional if any of the following side effects continue or are bothersome or if you have any questions about them:

More common

  1. Bone pain
  2. burning, numbness, tingling, or painful sensations
  3. change in taste
  4. constipation
  5. decreased appetite
  6. difficulty in moving
  7. dry mouth
  8. joint pain
  9. lack or loss of strength
  10. loss of taste
  11. muscle aching or cramping
  12. muscle pains or stiffness
  13. neck pain
  14. pain, swelling, or redness in the joints
  15. swelling or inflammation of the mouth
  16. tenderness
  17. unsteadiness or awkwardness
  18. watery or bloody diarrhea
  19. weakness in the arms, hands, legs, or feet

Other side effects not listed may also occur in some patients. If you notice any other effects, check with your healthcare professional.

Call your doctor for medical advice about side effects. You may report side effects to the FDA at 1-800-FDA-1088.

Portions of this document last updated: April 01, 2024

Original article: https://www.mayoclinic.org/drugs-supplements/pralsetinib-oral-route/description/drg-20502467