Xalkori as monotherapy is indicated for:¹

• The first-line treatment of adults with ALK-positive advanced NSCLC

• The treatment of adults with previously treated ALK-positive advanced NSCLC

• The treatment of adults with ROS1-positive advanced NSCLC

Xalkori is a cancer medicine used on its own to treat adults with a type of lung cancer called non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC), when the disease is advanced:²

• It is used if the NSCLC is ‘ALK-positive’, which means that the cancer cells contain certain changes affecting the gene responsible for a protein called ALK (anaplastic lymphoma kinase).

• It is also used when the NSCLC is ‘ROS1-positive’. This means that the cancer cells contain changes affecting the gene responsible for the protein ROS1.

ALK and ROS1 belong to a family of proteins called receptor tyrosine kinases (RTKs), which are involved in the growth of cells. In patients either ‘ALK-positive’ or ‘ROS1-positive’, the ALK or ROS1 protein is abnormally active and can promote the growth of cancer cells and the development of new blood vessels that supply them.²

The active substance in Xalkori, crizotinib, is an RTK inhibitor. It works mainly by blocking the activity of ALK or ROS1, including when the genetic change is present, thereby reducing the growth and spread of the cancer in ALK-positive or in ROS1-positive NSCLC.²

The medicine can only be obtained with a prescription.

The National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE) provides national guidance and advice to improve health and social care. One of the ways they do this is by producing evidence based guidance. See NICE guidance on Xalkori.

The European Medicines Agency (EMA) is an agency of the European Union (EU), located in Amsterdam, the Netherlands. The Agency is responsible for the scientific evaluation, supervision and safety monitoring of medicines developed by pharmaceutical companies for use in the EU. See EMA guidance on Xalkori.

If you would like to see the Summary of Product Characteristics (SPC) or Patient Information Leaflet (PIL) for Vyndaqel please follow these links:

Medicines in Northern Ireland fall under the remit of the European Medicines Agency (EMA) whilst medicines in Great Britain (England, Scotland and Wales) fall under the remit of the Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA) following the UK leaving the European Union. These agencies are responsible for the scientific evaluation, supervision and safety monitoring of medicines developed by pharmaceutical companies.

Great Britain
Xalkori (crizotinib)

Northern Ireland
Xalkori (crizotinib)

Pfizer is unable to provide advice on personal medical matters. Please consult your doctor or other relevant health professional for specific, health-related advice and support.

If you get any side effects when taking this or any other medicine, talk to your doctor or other relevant health professional e.g. pharmacist, nurse. This includes any possible side effects not listed in the packaging leaflet. You can also report side effects directly via the Yellow Card Scheme at https://yellowcard.mhra.gov.uk or search the Google Play or Apple App Store for MHRA Yellow Card. By reporting side effects, you can help provide more information on the safety of this medicine.