How Does Erdafitinib (Balversa) Work? Efficacy & Treatment Outcomes

Erdafitinib and Its Indications

Erdafitinib is a prescription medicine specifically used to treat adults with bladder cancer (urothelial cancer) whose cancer has spread or cannot be removed by surgery. Use of erdafitinib requires that both of the following conditions be met: first, the patient's tumor has certain types of abnormal FGFR genes; second, the patient has already tried at least one other systemic therapy (oral or injectable) that has stopped working or is no longer effective. Before starting treatment, your healthcare provider will test your cancer tissue for these specific types of abnormal FGFR genes to confirm whether erdafitinib is appropriate for you.

Important Limitation of Use for Erdafitinib

It is important to note that erdafitinib is not recommended for patients who are eligible for and have not yet received treatment with a PD-1 or PD-L1 inhibitor. This means that if you have never used an immune checkpoint inhibitor (such as a PD-1 or PD-L1 antibody) and you are suitable for such therapy, doctors will generally not recommend erdafitinib as a first option. Furthermore, it is not known whether erdafitinib is safe and effective in children, so this drug is not approved for use in pediatric patients.

The Target of Erdafitinib: FGFR Genes

FGFR genes (fibroblast growth factor receptor genes) are involved in regulating cell growth and division in normal cells. When these genes acquire abnormal mutations, they may cause uncontrolled proliferation of cancer cells. Erdafitinib is an oral FGFR inhibitor that selectively blocks the activity of abnormal FGFR proteins, thereby inhibiting tumor growth. By precisely targeting cancer cells carrying FGFR gene mutations, erdafitinib offers a new treatment option for bladder cancer patients who have failed conventional therapies. Your doctor will use genetic testing to confirm whether you belong to this specific patient population.