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Verzenio
Brand name: Verzenio
Chemical name: Abemaciclib
Class: Cyclin-dependent kinase 4/6 inhibitor. Ibrance and Kisqali are other cyclin-dependent kinase 4/6 inhibitors used to treat breast cancer.
How it works: A kinase is a type of protein in the body that helps control cell division. Verzenio works by inhibiting the kinase and stopping cancer cells from dividing and growing.
Uses: Verzenio is used in combination with Faslodex (chemical name: fulvestrant) to treat women diagnosed with hormone-receptor-positive, HER2-negative metastatic or advanced-stage breast cancer if the cancer progressed after hormonal therapy treatment. Verzenio also is used alone to treat women and men diagnosed with hormone-receptor-positive, HER2-negative metastatic or advanced-stage breast cancer if the cancer progressed after hormonal therapy treatment and earlier chemotherapy for metastatic disease.
How it’s given: Verzenio is a pill taken by mouth.
Side effects:
- diarrhea
- low white blood cell counts (neutropenia and leukopenia)
- nausea
- abdominal pain
- infections
- fatigue
- low red blood cell counts (anemia)
- decreased appetite
- vomiting
- headache
- low platelet counts (thrombocytopenia)
Read more about Verzenio.
