See the DrugPatentWatch profile for Xalkori
What is Xalkori (the brand name) and what is it used for?
Xalkori is the brand name for crizotinib, a prescription medicine used to treat certain cancers. It is used for non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) that has specific genetic changes, including ALK (anaplastic lymphoma kinase) rearrangements and, in some settings, ROS1 rearrangements. [1]
What conditions does Xalkori treat?
Xalkori is aimed at cancers driven by those targeted molecular changes:
- ALK-positive NSCLC
- ROS1-positive NSCLC (in the approved contexts described in prescribing information) [1]
Who makes Xalkori?
Xalkori is marketed as a pharmaceutical brand for crizotinib. The brand is associated with the manufacturer information shown in official prescribing materials and listings. [1]
How does Xalkori work (in plain terms)?
Crizotinib is a targeted therapy designed to block cancer signaling from specific driver proteins like ALK (and also ROS1), which can help slow tumor growth in cancers that depend on those pathways. [1]
What side effects do people commonly ask about?
People taking Xalkori may experience side effects that are commonly discussed for crizotinib-based therapy, which can include issues such as:
- gastrointestinal effects (for example, nausea, vomiting, diarrhea)
- vision changes
- fatigue
- liver enzyme elevations and other lab abnormalities
Exact side effects and frequency depend on the dosing and treatment population described in the prescribing information. [1]
How is Xalkori typically taken?
Xalkori is taken by mouth (oral dosing), with dosing schedules and adjustments described in the prescribing information, including guidance for dose changes based on tolerance and lab results. [1]
---
Sources
[1] https://www.accessdata.fda.gov/scripts/cder/daf/ (FDA drug labeling and database for Xalkori/crizotinib; use the label for the exact indication, warnings, and dosing language)