What is Selpercatinib?

Selpercatinib is a targeted drug for the treatment of RET gene mutations, which was approved by the FDA in May 2020 for the treatment of cancer patients with abnormal RET kinase mutations.

What is Selpercatinib?

On May 8, 2020, the United States FDA approved Selpercatinib, the first targeted drug specifically for the treatment of RET fusion-positive metastatic non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) and advanced thyroid cancer harboring RET mutations. It can be used to treat adults and children over 12 years of age who require systemic therapy, especially for thyroid cancer patients who are not sensitive to radioactive iodine therapy.

Selpercatinib is a tyrosine kinase inhibitor that prevents tumor growth and spread by inhibiting the kinase activity of RET fusion proteins and other related signaling pathways. Multiple mechanisms of action make Selpercatinib an important drug for the treatment of specific types of cancer.

Is Selpercatinib used in special populations?

Before purchasing and using drugs, you should understand the medication of special populations related to drugs, according to the drug instructions, special groups of people who use drugs include but are not limited to:

1. Pregnant women and lactating periods

Selpercatinib may have adverse effects on the fetus. Animal studies have shown that the drug may cause fetal damage when used in pregnant women. Pregnant women should be clearly informed of these possible harms at the time of treatment.

Female patients of childbearing potential are advised to use effective contraception during treatment and for one week after the last dose. For breastfeeding women, it is recommended to avoid breastfeeding during treatment and for a week after the last dose to prevent the drug from affecting the baby through breast milk.

2. Medication for the elderly

Clinical trial data for Selpercatinib in the elderly population are limited, but no other noteworthy clinical issues have been identified at this time. Elderly patients should use the drug under the guidance of a doctor, who may need to decide whether the dose needs to be adjusted based on the patient's overall health and other comorbidities.

What are the precautions for Selpercatinib?

Physicians and patients should pay attention to the precautions associated with medications.

Ocular toxicity

Selpercatinib may cause retinal pigment epithelium detachment (RPED), which manifests as blurred vision, floaters, or other visual problems. Optical coherence tomography (OCT) is not routinely used in clinical trials to monitor asymptomatic RPED, and the incidence is unclear.

[Warm tips] During the use of Selpercatinib, patients should pay close attention to the changes in their condition. Any physical discomfort or abnormal reaction should be reported to the doctor, so that the doctor can understand and deal with it accordingly.