For Patients and Caregivers

ALK+ NSCLC is a subset of NSCLC with a distinct pathology and epidemiology3-5

Defining ALK+ NSCLC: key characteristics and epidemiology

  • ALK+ NSCLC is a subset of NSCLC characterized by abnormal ALK tyrosine kinases, resulting from gene fusion or chromosomal rearrangement events3-5
    • In ALK+ NSCLC, ALK is overexpressed and cellular growth and proliferation pathways are activated even in the absence of normal physiologic growth signals, contributing to tumorigenesis5

Compared to the general NSCLC patient population, patients with ALK+ NSCLC are more likely to6:

be younger

Patient image

be never/light smokers

No smoking

have a more equal gender distribution

Women and men

Approximately 3%-5% of patients are ALK+ in NSCLC, with a similar incidence in early-stage NSCLC4,6

  • ALK+ patients with NSCLC often have more advanced disease upon diagnosis, and as many as 2 out of 3 will eventually develop CNS metastases7,8
  • Diagnosing patients early helps qualify them for surgery; a current recommended treatment option for resectable ALK+ NSCLC is surgery + chemotherapy2,9,10

Preventing recurrence following surgery is an important goal in the treatment of early-stage, resectable ALK+ NSCLC6,11

Common sites of post-resection recurrence in patients with early-stage NSCLC9

Most common sites of metasteses

Retrospective observational study including 831 patients with complete resected stage IB-IIIA NSCLC (n=200).

The CNS is a common site of recurrence following adjuvant chemotherapy9,12

ALK=anaplastic lymphoma kinase; CNS=central nervous system; NSCLC=non-small cell lung cancer.

For more information

View proposed MOA
See importance of testing

Indications & Important Safety Information

Indications

ALECENSA is a kinase inhibitor indicated for:

  • adjuvant treatment in adult patients following tumor resection of anaplastic lymphoma kinase (ALK)-positive non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) (tumors ≥4 cm or node positive), as detected by an FDA-approved test
  • treatment of adult patients with ALK-positive metastatic NSCLC as detected by an FDA-approved test

Warnings and Precautions

Hepatotoxicity

  • Severe hepatotoxicity, including drug-induced liver injury, occurred in patients treated with ALECENSA. Hepatotoxicity occurred in 41% of 533 patients treated with ALECENSA and the incidence of Grade ≥3 hepatotoxicity was 8%. In the ALINA study, hepatotoxicity occurred in 61% of patients treated with ALECENSA and the incidence of Grade ≥3 hepatotoxicity was 4.7%. The majority (72% of 136 patients) of elevated transaminases occurred during the first 3 months of treatment. Treatment discontinuation due to hepatotoxicity occurred in 3.6% of patients who received ALECENSA in the pooled safety population and 1.6% of patients treated in the ALINA study
  • Concurrent elevations in alanine transaminase (ALT) or aspartate transaminase (AST) greater than or equal to 3 times the ULN and total bilirubin greater than or equal to 2 times the ULN, with normal alkaline phosphatase, occurred in less than 1% of patients treated with ALECENSA. Three patients with Grades 3-4 AST/ALT elevations had drug-induced liver injury (documented by liver biopsy in 2 cases)
  • Monitor liver function tests including ALT, AST, and total bilirubin every 2 weeks during the first 3 months of treatment, then once a month and as clinically indicated, with more frequent testing in patients who develop transaminase and bilirubin elevations. Based on the severity of the adverse drug reaction, withhold ALECENSA and resume at a reduced dose, or permanently discontinue ALECENSA

Interstitial Lung Disease (ILD)/Pneumonitis

  • ILD/pneumonitis occurred in 1.3% of 533 patients treated with ALECENSA with 0.4% of patients experiencing Grade 3 ILD/pneumonitis. Five patients (0.9%) discontinued ALECENSA due to ILD/pneumonitis. The median time-to-onset of Grade 3 or higher ILD/pneumonitis was 2.1 months (range: 0.6 months to 3.6 months)
  • Promptly investigate for ILD/pneumonitis in any patient who presents with worsening of respiratory symptoms indicative of ILD/pneumonitis (eg, dyspnea, cough, and fever)
  • Immediately withhold ALECENSA treatment in patients diagnosed with ILD/pneumonitis and permanently discontinue ALECENSA if no other potential causes of ILD/pneumonitis have been identified

Renal Impairment

  • Renal impairment occurred in 12% of 533 patients treated with ALECENSA, including Grade ≥3 in 1.7% of patients, of which 0.4% were fatal events
  • The median time to Grade ≥3 renal impairment was 3.7 months (range 0.5 to 31.8 months). Dosage modifications for renal impairment were required in 2.4% of patients
  • Permanently discontinue ALECENSA for Grade 4 renal toxicity. Withhold ALECENSA for Grade 3 renal toxicity until recovery to less than or equal to 1.5 times ULN, then resume at reduced dose

Bradycardia

  • Symptomatic bradycardia occurred in patients treated with ALECENSA. Bradycardia occurred in 11% of 533 patients treated with ALECENSA. Twenty percent of 521 patients for whom serial electrocardiograms (ECGs) were available had post-dose heart rates of less than 50 beats per minute (bpm)
  • Monitor heart rate and blood pressure regularly. For asymptomatic bradycardia, dose modification is not required. For symptomatic bradycardia that is not life-threatening, withhold ALECENSA until recovery to asymptomatic bradycardia or to a heart rate ≥60 bpm and evaluate concomitant medications known to cause bradycardia, as well as anti-hypertensive medications. If bradycardia is attributable to a concomitant medication, resume ALECENSA at a reduced dose upon recovery to asymptomatic bradycardia or to a heart rate of ≥60 bpm, with frequent monitoring as clinically indicated
  • Permanently discontinue ALECENSA in cases of life-threatening bradycardia if no contributing concomitant medication is identified or for recurrence of life-threatening bradycardia

Severe Myalgia and Creatine Phosphokinase (CPK) Elevation

  • Severe myalgia and creatine phosphokinase (CPK) elevation occurred in patients treated with ALECENSA. Myalgia (including muscle- and musculoskeletal-related reactions) occurred in 31% of 533 patients treated with ALECENSA, including Grade ≥3 in 0.8% of patients. Dosage modifications for myalgia events were required in 2.1% of patients
  • Of the 491 with CPK laboratory data available, elevated CPK occurred in 56% of patients, including 6% Grade ≥3. The median time to Grade ≥3 CPK elevation was 15 days (interquartile range 15-337 days). Dosage modifications for elevation of CPK occurred in 5% of patients. In the ALINA study, elevated CPK occurred in 77% of 128 patients with CPK laboratory data, including 6% Grade ≥3 elevations
  • Advise patients to report any unexplained muscle pain, tenderness, or weakness. Assess CPK levels every 2 weeks for the first month of treatment and as clinically indicated in patients reporting symptoms. Based on the severity of the CPK elevation, withhold ALECENSA, then resume or reduce dose

Hemolytic Anemia

  • Hemolytic anemia occurred in patients treated with ALECENSA. Hemolytic anemia was initially reported with ALECENSA in the postmarketing setting, including cases associated with a negative direct antiglobulin test (DAT) result. Assessments for the determination of hemolytic anemia were subsequently collected in the ALINA study, where hemolytic anemia was observed in 3.1% of patients treated with ALECENSA
  • If hemolytic anemia is suspected, withhold ALECENSA and initiate appropriate laboratory testing. If hemolytic anemia is confirmed, consider resuming at a reduced dose upon resolution or permanently discontinue ALECENSA

Embryo-Fetal Toxicity

  • ALECENSA can cause fetal harm when administered to pregnant women. Administration of alectinib to pregnant rats and rabbits during the period of organogenesis resulted in embryo-fetal toxicity and abortion at maternally toxic doses with exposures approximately 2.7-fold those observed in humans with alectinib 600 mg twice daily. Advise pregnant women of the potential risk to a fetus
  • Advise females of reproductive potential to use effective contraception during treatment with ALECENSA and for 5 weeks following the last dose
  • Advise males with female partners of reproductive potential to use effective contraception during treatment with ALECENSA and for 3 months following the last dose

Most Common Adverse Reactions

  • The most common adverse reactions (≥20%) were hepatotoxicity (41%), constipation (39%), fatigue (36%), myalgia (31%), edema (29%), rash (23%), and cough (21%)

Use in Specific Populations

Lactation

  • Because of the potential for serious adverse reactions in breastfed infants from ALECENSA, advise a lactating woman not to breastfeed during treatment with ALECENSA and for 1 week after the last dose

You may report side effects to the FDA at 1-800-FDA-1088 or www.fda.gov/medwatch. You may also report side effects to Genentech at 1-888-835-2555.

Please see additional Important Safety Information in full Prescribing Information.

    • ALECENSA [prescribing information]. South San Francisco, CA: Genentech USA, Inc; 2024.

      ALECENSA [prescribing information]. South San Francisco, CA: Genentech USA, Inc; 2024.

    • Referenced with permission from the NCCN Clinical Practice Guidelines in Oncology (NCCN Guidelines®) for Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer V.10.2024. © National Comprehensive Cancer Network, Inc. 2024. All rights reserved. Accessed September 24, 2024. To view the most recent and complete version of the guideline, go online to NCCN.org. NCCN makes no warranties of any kind whatsoever regarding their content, use, or application, and disclaims any responsibility for their application or use in any way. See the NCCN Guidelines® for detailed recommendations.

      Referenced with permission from the NCCN Clinical Practice Guidelines in Oncology (NCCN Guidelines®) for Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer V.10.2024. © National Comprehensive Cancer Network, Inc. 2024. All rights reserved. Accessed September 24, 2024. To view the most recent and complete version of the guideline, go online to NCCN.org. NCCN makes no warranties of any kind whatsoever regarding their content, use, or application, and disclaims any responsibility for their application or use in any way. See the NCCN Guidelines® for detailed recommendations.

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      Data on File. Genentech, Inc.

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      IQVIA US Claims, December 2022-March 2024.