Lumakras
Lumakras (sotorasib) is a medication that’s used for metastatic non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC). In particular, it’s used for adults who have a specific mutation called KRAS G12C in their lung cancer. Lumakras (sotorasib) is typically recommended only when first-choice treatment doesn’t work anymore. It can be a convenient option since it’s taken by mouth once a day. But, it commonly causes bothersome side effects, like stomach upset and fatigue.
What is Lumakras (sotorasib)?
What is Lumakras (sotorasib) used for?
- Metastatic non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) with a KRAS G12C mutation, after having tried at least one previous cancer treatment
How Lumakras (sotorasib) works
Lumakras (sotorasib) is a KRAS G12C inhibitor. KRAS is a protein in your body that sends signals to your cells to grow and divide. In certain lung cancers, a mutation (change) in KRAS called G12C leads to uncontrolled cell growth. Lumakras (sotorasib) attaches to KRAS proteins with the G12C mutation. By doing so, the medication helps block tumor growth.
Drug facts
Side effects of Lumakras (sotorasib)
The following side effects may get better over time as your body gets used to the medication. Let your healthcare provider know immediately if you continue to experience these symptoms or if they worsen over time.
Common Side Effects
- Diarrhea (42%)
- Muscle or bone pain (35%)
- Fatigue (26%)
- Nausea (26%)
- Cough (20%)
Less Common Side Effects
- Vomiting
- Constipation
- Stomach pain
- Shortness of breath
- Swelling
Lumakras (sotorasib) serious side effects
Contact your healthcare provider immediately if you experience any of the following.
- Liver injury: pain in the right side of the stomach, yellowing of the eyes or skin, dark or brown urine
- Lung damage: cough, shortness of breath, fever
The following Lumakras (sotorasib) side effects have also been reported
Side effects that you should report to your care team as soon as possible:
- Allergic reactions—skin rash, itching, hives, swelling of the face, lips, tongue, or throat
- Dry cough, shortness of breath or trouble breathing
- Liver injury—right upper belly pain, loss of appetite, nausea, light-colored stool, dark yellow or brown urine, yellowing skin or eyes, unusual weakness or fatigue
Side effects that usually do not require medical attention (report these to your care team if they continue or are bothersome):
- Diarrhea
- Fatigue
- Muscle pain
- Nausea
- Vomiting
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Pros and cons of Lumakras (sotorasib)
Pros
- Oral medication that’s taken once a day
- Targeted therapy option for people with metastatic non-small cell lung cancer with a KRAS G12C mutation
Cons
- Commonly causes diarrhea, nausea, muscle pain, and fatigue
- Only recommended after first-choice treatment hasn’t worked
Pharmacist tips for Lumakras (sotorasib)
- The full dose of Lumakras (sotorasib) is 960 mg once a day. In order to make the 960 mg dose, you’ll need three 320 mg tablets or eight 120 mg tablets. Take the entire dose at once each day. You don’t need to spread out the tablets throughout the day.
- Swallow Lumakras (sotorasib) tablets whole. Don’t cut or crush the tablets.
- If you’re having trouble swallowing Lumakras (sotorasib) tablets, you can place your dose in a glass with 4 ounces (120 mL) of room-temperature tap water. Stir or swirl the cup for about 3 minutes until the tablets break up into small pieces (the tablets won’t dissolve completely). Drink the mixture right away, and don’t chew any solid tablet pieces. Add another 4 ounces (120 mL) of water to the glass, swirl the mixture, and drink. This makes sure you’ve taken all of the medication for your dose.
- If you need to take medication for heartburn, avoid medications like omeprazole (Prilosec) and famotidine (Pepcid AC) while you’re taking Lumakras (sotorasib). These medications might make Lumakras (sotorasib) not work as well. Instead, you can use an antacid like Tums. Just make sure to take Lumakras (sotorasib) 4 hours before or 10 hours after the antacid so the medications don’t interfere with each other.
- If you’re starting any new medications, supplements, or herbal products, talk with your provider or pharmacist first to make sure they’re safe to take with Lumakras (sotorasib). Lumakras (sotorasib) can interact with other medications and supplements. Depending on what the specific interaction is, this can affect your risk of side effects or how well your medications work. For example, taking rosuvastatin (Crestor) with Lumakras (sotorasib) can possibly raise your risk of side effects from the cholesterol medication like joint pain or headache.
- Talk with your provider or pharmacist about handling Lumakras (sotorasib) safely. Store the medication away from children and pets.
Common questions about Lumakras (sotorasib)
Lumakras (sotorasib) is only approved for people with a KRAS G12C mutation in their lung cancer. The lung cancer must also be considered advanced or metastatic, meaning that it has started to spread outside of the lung. To determine whether your lung cancer has the KRAS G12C mutation, your provider will collect a sample of your tumor tissue (biopsy) or order a blood test. If your lung cancer has this mutation, Lumakras (sotorasib) might be a treatment option for you, especially if first-choice treatment is no longer working.
Talk with your provider about how long you should take Lumakras (sotorasib). Usually, you’ll continue taking Lumakras (sotorasib) until the cancer starts growing again, meaning the medication is no longer working for you. You might also stop Lumakras (sotorasib) if you have too many side effects from the medication, like diarrhea, nausea, and fatigue. If you’re not able to take the medication because of side effects, let your healthcare team know. They might lower the dose or recommend that you take other medications to help manage side effects before they consider stopping Lumakras (sotorasib).
Your body absorbs Lumakras (sotorasib) best in your stomach where it’s acidic. Heartburn medications like famotidine (Pepcid AC) and omeprazole (Prilosec) make the stomach less acidic. With less acidic conditions, your body isn’t able to absorb Lumakras (sotorasib) as well. And if less Lumakras (sotorasib) is absorbed by the body, it might not work as well. If you have heartburn while you’re taking Lumakras (sotorasib), it’s okay to use an antacid like Tums. Be sure to take Lumakras (sotorasib) 4 hours before or 10 hours after the antacid. That way, the medications don’t interfere with each other.
If you miss your Lumakras (sotorasib) dose by more than 6 hours, skip the missed dose, and take your next dose at your regular time the next day. Don’t take two doses at the same time to make up for the dose you missed. You should take Lumakras (sotorasib) at the same time each day to make sure the medication works at its best for you. Making a habit of taking Lumakras (sotorasib) at the same time every day might also help you remember to take your medication.
If you vomit after taking a dose of Lumakras (sotorasib), don’t take another dose that day to make up for it. Take your next dose at the regular time the next day. If you’re not able to take Lumakras (sotorasib) because of vomiting or nausea from the medication, talk with your provider. They can prescribe medications to help prevent or manage vomiting or nausea. If your nausea and vomiting are still bothersome after trying medications, your provider might lower your Lumakras (sotorasib) dose.
The accelerated approval pathway is a program that the U.S. FDA uses to help speed up the lengthy medication approval process to fill an unmet medical need. In this approval pathway, the FDA looks at evidence that the medication can improve a surrogate endpoint (a measurement that’s thought to reflect a clinical benefit, like living better or longer). But, the FDA requires the manufacturer to do more studies to confirm that people truly gain clinical benefit from the medication. Lumakras (sotorasib)’s accelerated approval was based on a study of people with advanced or metastatic NSCLC and the KRAS G12C mutation who had tried at least one cancer treatment. In that study, 36% of those taking Lumakras (sotorasib) had shrinkage of their tumors (the surrogate endpoint). This accelerated approval is important because there were previously no specific treatment options available for lung cancer with the KRAS G12C mutation.
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Risks and warnings for Lumakras (sotorasib)
Lumakras (sotorasib) can cause some serious health issues. This risk may be even higher for certain groups. If this worries you, talk to your doctor or pharmacist about other options.
Liver injury
Lumakras (sotorasib) might cause damage to your liver. Because of this risk, you’ll need to get blood tests done so your healthcare provider can track how well your liver is working. You’ll typically need these blood tests before you start Lumakras (sotorasib), every 3 weeks when you first start, and then less often after that. In studies, some people experienced liver injury within the first 2 months of starting Lumakras (sotorasib). Let your healthcare team know if you notice signs of liver damage, such as pain in the right side of the stomach, yellowing of the eyes or skin, or dark or brown urine. If your provider suspects that you have liver damage, your provider might have you take a break from Lumakras (sotorasib). Once your liver test results return to normal, you might be able to restart the medication at a lower dose.
Lung damage
Although rare, Lumakras (sotorasib) can cause damage to the lungs, which can sometimes be life-threatening. In studies, lung problems started within the first 4 months of taking Lumakras (sotorasib). Let your healthcare team know if you experience new or worsened cough, shortness of breath, or fevers. You’ll probably need to stop the medication while your provider checks your lungs for problems.
Lumakras (sotorasib) dosage
Tablet| Dosage | Quantity | Price as low as | Price per unit |
|---|---|---|---|
| 240mg of | 60 tablets | $10,968.01 | $182.80 |
Typical dosage for Lumakras (sotorasib)
The typical dose is 960 mg by mouth once a day, with or without food.
Lumakras (sotorasib) is available as 120 mg and 320 mg tablets. The daily dose is taken as eight 120 mg tablets or three 320 mg tablets at one time each day.
How much does Lumakras (sotorasib) cost?
$10,968.01
What are alternatives to Lumakras (sotorasib)?
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