Generic (Cabozantinib) LUCICABOZ

Cabozantinib is a medication used to treat medullary thyroid cancer, renal cell carcinoma, and hepatocellular carcinoma. It is a small molecule inhibitor of the tyrosine kinases c-Met and VEGFR2, and also inhibits AXL and RET. It was discovered and developed by Exelixis Inc.

In November 2012, cabozantinib in its capsule formulation was approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) under the name Cometriq for treating patients with medullary thyroid cancer. The capsule form was approved in the European Union for the same purpose in 2014.

In April 2016, the FDA granted approval for marketing the tablet formulation (Cabometyx) as a second line treatment for kidney cancer and the same was approved in the European Union in September of that year.
The brands Cometriq and Cabometyx have different formulations and are not interchangeable.

Medical uses
Cabozantinib is used in two forms. A capsule form (Cometriq) is used since 2012, to treat medullary thyroid cancer and a tablet form (Cabometyx) is used since 2016, as a second line treatment for renal cell carcinoma.

In the United States, cabozantinib (Cabometyx) is also indicated for the treatment of people aged twelve years of age and older with locally advanced or metastatic differentiated thyroid cancer (DTC) that has progressed following prior VEGFR-targeted therapy and who are ineligible or refractory to radioactive iodine.

Why is this medication prescribed?
Cabozantinib (Cabometyx, Cometriq) is used to treat a number of conditions.

Cabozantinib (Cabometyx) is used:
to treat advanced renal cell carcinoma (RCC; a type of cancer that begins in the cells of the kidneys).
in combination with nivolumab (Opdivo) to treat advanced RCC in patients who have not yet received a treatment for RCC.
to treat hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC; a type of liver cancer) in people who were previously treated with sorafenib (Nexafar).
to treat a certain type of thyroid cancer in adults and children 12 years of age and older that has spread to nearby tissues or to other parts of the body and that has not responded to previous a treatment and cannot be treated with radioactive iodine.
Cabozantinib (Cometriq) is used:
to treat a certain type of thyroid cancer that is getting worse and that has spread to other parts of the body.
Cabozantinib is in a class of medications called kinase inhibitors. It works by blocking the action of an abnormal protein that signals cancer cells to multiply. This helps slow or stop the spread of cancer cells.

How should this medicine be used?
Cabozantinib comes as a tablet (Cabometyx) and a capsule (Cometriq) to take by mouth. It is usually taken once a day on an empty stomach, at least 1 hour before and 2 hours after eating. Take cabozantinib at around the same time every day. The length of your treatment depends on how well your body responds to the medication and the side effects that you experience. Follow the directions on your prescription label carefully, and ask your doctor or pharmacist to explain any part you do not understand. Take cabozantinib exactly as directed. Do not take more or less of it or take it more often than prescribed by your doctor.

Swallow the tablets and capsules whole with a full glass (8 ounces, 240 mL) of water. Do not split, chew, crush, or open them.

Your doctor may decrease your dose of cabozantinib or permanently or temporarily stop your treatment if you experience serious side effects. Be sure to talk to your doctor about how you are feeling during your treatment with cabozantinib.

Ask your pharmacist or doctor for a copy of the manufacturer's information for the patient.

Other uses for this medicine
This medication may be prescribed for other uses; ask your doctor or pharmacist for more information.

What side effects can this medication cause?
Cabozantinib may cause side effects. Tell your doctor if any of these symptoms are severe or do not go away:
constipation
nausea
vomiting
difficulty swallowing
change in ability to taste food
hemorrhoids
redness, swelling, sores, or pain in your mouth or throat
loss of appetite
weight loss
anxiety
tiredness or weakness
pale skin
dry skin
patchy thickening of the skin
pain in joints, arms, or legs
voice changes or hoarseness
hair loss
hair color turning lighter or gray
slowed wound healing.