Afatinib

The Basics

What is Afatinib?

Used to treat certain types of non-small cell lung cancer that has spread to nearby tissues or to other parts of the body.

Brand names for Afatinib

Gilotrif

How Afatinib is classified

Antineoplastic Agents, Enzyme Inhibitors, Protein Kinase Inhibitors, Signal Transduction Inhibitors, Tyrosine Kinase Inhibitors

Afatinib During Pregnancy

Afatinib pregnancy category

Category Not AssignedNote that the FDA has deprecated the use of pregnancy categories, so for some medications, this information isn’t available. We still think it’s useful to list historical info, however, given what a common proxy this has been in the past.

What we know about taking Afatinib while pregnant

Based on findings from animal studies and its mechanism of action [see CLINICAL PHARMACOLOGY], GILOTRIF can cause fetal harm when administered to a pregnant woman. There are no available data on the use of GILOTRIF in pregnant women. Administration of afatinib to pregnant rabbits during organogenesis at exposures approximately 0.2 times the exposure in humans at the recommended dose of 40 mg daily resulted in embryotoxicity and, in rabbits showing maternal toxicity, increased abortions at late gestational stages (see Data). Advise a pregnant woman of the potential risk to a fetus. The background risk of major birth defects and miscarriage for the indicated population is unknown. In the U.S. general population, the estimated background risk of major birth defects and miscarriage in clinically recognized pregnancies is 2 to 4% and 15 to 20%, respectively. Data Animal Data In an embryo-fetal development study in rabbits, administration of afatinib to pregnant animals at doses of 5 mg/kg (approximately 0.2 times the exposure by AUC at the recommended human dose of 40 mg daily) or greater during the period of organogenesis caused increased post-implantation loss, and in animals showing maternal toxicity, abortion at late gestational stages. In the same study, at the high dose level of 10 mg/kg (approximately 0.7 times the exposure by AUC at the recommended human dose of 40 mg daily), there were reduced fetal weights, and increases in the incidence of runts, as well as visceral and dermal variations. In an embryo-fetal development study in rats, there were skeletal alterations consisting of incomplete or delayed ossifications and reduced fetal weight at a dose of 16 mg/kg (approximately twice the exposure based on AUC at the recommended human dose of 40 mg daily).

Taking Afatinib While Breastfeeding

What are recommendations for lactation if you're taking Afatinib?

No information is available on the clinical use of afatinib during breastfeeding. Because afatinib is about 95% bound to plasma proteins, the amount in milk is likely to be low. However, its half-life is about 37 hours and it might accumulate in the infant. the manufacturer recommends that breastfeeding be discontinued during afatinib therapy and for 2 weeks after the last dose.

Maternal / infant drug levels

No information is available on the clinical use of afatinib during breastfeeding. Because afatinib is about 95% bound to plasma proteins, the amount in milk is likely to be low. However, its half-life is about 37 hours and it might accumulate in the infant. the manufacturer recommends that breastfeeding be discontinued during afatinib therapy and for 2 weeks after the last dose.

Possible effects of Afatinib on milk supply

Relevant published information was not found as of the revision date.

Possible alternatives to Afatinib

None listed