Sunitinib Malate Tablet 25mg, 50mg Suppliers & Bulk Manufacturers

Available Forms: Tablets

Available Strengths: 25mg, 50mg

Reference Brands: Sutent (USA)

Category: Oncology Cancer Care

Sunitinib malate is approved to treat adults with: Gastrointestinal stromal tumor (a type of stomach cancer). It is used in patients whose condition has become worse while taking imatinib mesylate or who are not able to take it. Pancreatic cancer.

Product Description:

Sunitinib is an oral multi-targeted tyrosine kinase inhibitor. It blocks VEGF receptors, which starves a tumour of new blood vessels, and PDGF receptors, KIT, FLT3 and RET, which act on tumour cells directly. Blocking several kinases at once gives it activity across different cancers, and it also explains a side effect profile broader than that of more selective agents.

It is used for advanced renal cell carcinoma, for gastrointestinal stromal tumours after imatinib failure or intolerance, and for advanced pancreatic neuroendocrine tumours. Dosing is cyclical in some regimens and continuous in others. Adverse effects follow the targets: hypertension from VEGF blockade, hand-foot skin reaction, fatigue, mucositis, diarrhoea, hypothyroidism and yellowing of the skin from the drug's own colour. Hepatotoxicity carries a boxed warning, and liver function is monitored. Cardiac function can decline, so ejection fraction is assessed in patients at risk.

Sourcing notes. Off patent, with generic capsules available in many markets — which makes it unlike the rest of this category. It is an oncology product rather than an orphan one, and it is handled as a cytotoxic hazard in pharmacy and at the point of manufacture, with the containment and handling requirements that implies.