Tag: Btk inhibitor

First approved by the FDA in 2017 for mantle cell lymphoma, **calquence** (acalabrutinib) is a targeted oral medication used to treat certain B-cell malignancies. It is not a traditional chemotherapy drug but a Bruton's tyrosine kinase (BTK) inhibitor, a class of targeted therapies that work by interrupting specific signaling pathways within cancer cells. This targeted approach aims to limit the negative effects on healthy cells, offering a more precise treatment method.

According to insurance policies from providers like Mass General Brigham, the cancer medication zanubrutinib (Brukinsa) has been designated as a specialty drug that must be filled at a contracted specialty pharmacy. This classification is based on its high cost, complex administration, and the requirement for specialized patient support and monitoring.

Zanubrutinib, sold under the brand name Brukinsa, is a highly selective inhibitor of Bruton's tyrosine kinase (BTK) that has been shown to offer superior efficacy and cardiac safety compared to first-generation BTK inhibitors in clinical trials. This targeted oral therapy addresses the core signaling pathways that drive the growth of malignant B-cells, representing a major advancement in the treatment of certain blood cancers. Understanding **what is the mechanism of Brukinsa** provides crucial insight into how this precision medicine combats cancer at a molecular level.