BRUKINSA® (zanubrutinib) is a medicine used to treat some B-cell lymphomas. The Therapeutic Goods Administration (TGA) in Australia has approved it for more conditions, and some are now covered by the Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme (PBS), making it more affordable. Below is a simple guide to these updates.
Before we get started, there are some words in this article that you may not have heard of before. Here are some useful definitions that aim to help you understand this article.
• First-line treatment – The first treatment you have to treat your lymphoma.
• Relapsed – When the lymphoma comes back after you’ve been in remission.
• Refractory – When the lymphoma does not improve with the treatment you are having.
• Chemo-immunotherapy – A treatment protocol that includes chemotherapy and immunotherapy.
• BTK – a shortened way to say Bruton’s Tyrosine Kinase – a protein that causes lymphoma cells to grow and multiply.
Approved Uses & PBS listings for BRUKINSA®
Below are the lymphoma types BRUKINSA® is TGA approved for and information about PBS listings for each.
Waldenström’s Macroglobulinaemia (WM)
- Who can use it? Adults with WM who have had at least one previous treatment or those who cannot have chemo-immunotherapy in the first-line of treatment.
- BRUKINSA® is PBS listed for relapsed or refractory WM, or for people who cannot have chemo-immunotherapy in the first-line of treatment.
Chronic Lymphocytic Leukaemia (CLL) / Small Lymphocytic Lymphoma (SLL)
- Who can use it? Adults with CLL or SLL, including those with specific genetic mutations like deletion 17p and/or TP53 mutation.
- BRUKINSA is PBS listed for first-line treatment and relapsed or refractory CLL/SLL.
Mantle Cell Lymphoma (MCL)
- Who can use it? Adults with MCL who have had at least one prior treatment.
- Note: This approval is provisional, meaning more research is needed to confirm its benefits.
- BRUKINSA® is PBS listed for relapsed or refractory MCL.
Marginal Zone Lymphoma (MZL)
- Who can use it? Adults who have had at least one prior anti-CD20-based therapy (such as rituximab).
- Note: This is also a provisional approval, requiring further studies.
- BRUKINSA is not PBS listed for MZL, which means it is available, but you will need to pay full price for it. Other options may include joining a clinical trial. If you are interested in joining a clinical trial, ask your haematologist or oncologist if there are any suitable options for you.
What does this mean for Patients?
If you have one of the conditions mentioned, BRUKINSA® might be a treatment option for you. Its inclusion in the PBS makes it more accessible and affordable for people with CLL/SLL, WM and MCL. However, it’s essential to discuss with your doctor to see if it’s suitable for your specific situation.
What is BRUKINSA?
BRUKINSA® is the brand name of zanubrutinib, a BTK inhibitor developed by BeiGene. It is a targeted therapy that works by blocking a protein called BTK.
BTK is found on some lymphoma cells, and it helps them to grow and multiply. By blocking BTK, BRUKINSA® can slow down or stop the growth of these cancerous lymphoma cells.
BRUKINSA® is a capsule that you swallow, which means you can take it at home instead of needing to go to the hospital or clinic for treatment.
You can find more information about BRUKINSA® in the Consumer Medicine Information summary on the TGA website by clicking this link BRUKINSA Consumer Medicine Information summary.
Ask your doctor
BRUNKINSA® is a great option for many people with CLL/SLL, MZL, MCL and WM. But it doesn’t mean it is the right option for everyone with these subtypes of lymphoma. Talk to your haematologist or oncologist and ask them if it would be a good option for you, and how it compares to other treatments available to you.
Conclusion
BRUKINSA® is a BTK inhibitor that blocks a protein that causes lymphoma cells to grow and multiply. Blocking the protein can slow or stop the spread of some lymphomas.
The approval and PBS listing of BRUKINSA® for various lymphomas offer new hope for patients. Always ask your doctor about best treatment options available for you.
