Abemaciclib (VERZENIO)

Breast Cancer, adjuvant hormone-receptor positive

Breast Cancer, adjuvant hormone-receptor positive

• Oral: 150 mg twice daily for up to two years.
• Given in combination with endocrine therapy

Available as 50 mg, 100 mg, 150 mg, and 200 mg film-coated tablets. Tablets contain lactose. Tablets should NOT be crushed or broken. Store at room temperature.

Cyclin-Dependent Kinase (CDK) 4/6 inhibitor

Take with or without food

If a dose is missed, patients should be instructed not to take the missed dose but to resume with the next scheduled dose.

Common: Anemia, Neutropenia, Thrombocytopenia, Diarrhea, Nausea, Fatigue, Infections.

Less Common: ALT increase, AST increase, Serum creatinine increase, Interstitial lung disease/pneumonitis, Venous thromboembolic events.

The adverse effects listed above are not exhaustive. Please refer to the relevant product monograph for full details.

Baseline before treatment: CBC & differential, platelets, creatinine, total bilirubin, ALT, alkaline phosphatase, GGT.

During treatment: CBC & differential, platelets, creatinine, total bilirubin, ALT.

• ‍Note: For first two cycles, also monitor CBC & differential, platelets, total bilirubin, ALT on day 15.

If clinically indicated: Sodium, potassium, calcium, albumin, magnesium, alkaline phosphatase, GGT, serum cholesterol, triglycerides.

• This drug can impact or be impacted by metabolic enzymes for absorption and excretion. Many drugs can also affect or be affected by these enzymes, so please consult with pharmacy to assess for interactions.
• Avoid grapefruit, grapefruit juice, Seville oranges, or Seville orange juice.
• Current drug interaction databases should be consulted for more information.

• Avoid in pregnancy and lactation.
• Diarrhea is reported in 90% of patients receiving monotherapy with abemaciclib and has been associated with dehydration and infection. Incidence is greatest during the first month of therapy. Start antidiarrheal therapy at the first sign of loose stools.
• Abemaciclib treatment requires patients to be postmenopausal. Patients can be chemically induced into menopause with LHRH agonists.

BC Cancer. BC Cancer Drug Manual. Abemaciclib. Vancouver, British Columbia: BC Cancer Agency. Available at: http://www.bccancer.bc.ca/drug-database-site/Drug%20Index/Abemaciclib_monograph.pdf. Updated December 1, 2023. Accessed January 22, 2024.

Lexicomp. Abemaciclib Monograph. In: Lexi-Drugs. Hudson, Ohio: Lexi-Comp, Inc. Available at: https://online-lexi-com.qe2a-proxy.mun.ca/lco/action/doc/retrieve/docid/patch_f/6548917?cesid=5fxsENkeUpW&searchUrl=%2Flco%2Faction%2Fsearch%3Fq%3Dabemaciclib%26t%3Dname%26acs%3Dtrue%26acq%3Dabemacicl. Updated January 24, 2024. Accessed January 28, 2024.

Cancer Care Ontario. Abemaciclib Monograph. Drug Formulary. Toronto, Ontario: Cancer Care Ontario. Available at: https://www.cancercareontario.ca/en/drugformulary/drugs/monograph/62406. Updated October 2023. Accessed January 22, 2024.

Eli Lilly Canada Inc. VERZENIO® Product Monograph. Toronto, Ontario. Updated December 1, 2023.