What is Alecensa used to treat?
Alecensa (alectinib) is used to treat non-small cell lung cancer that is caused by a mutation in the anaplastic lymphoma kinase (ALK) gene.
The ALK gene mutation is detected by an FDA approved test.
Non-small cell lung cancer in people with the ALK gene mutation is called ALK-positive metastatic (NSCLC).
ALK-positive NSCLC is often found in younger people who have a light or non-smoking history. Approximately 5 percent of people with NSCLC in the United States are ALK-positive.
Alecensa is used to treat ALK-positive metastatic NSCLC to help prevent the lung cancer from coming back after the tumor has been removed by surgery (adjuvant), or as a treatment when the lung cancer has spread to other parts of the body (metastatic).
Alecensa belongs to the class of drugs called multikinase inhibitors. It works by targeting anaplastic lymphoma kinase (ALK) to help slow or stop tumor growth.
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