Augtyro (repotrectinib) is a prescription drug that’s used to treat a certain type of lung cancer. Augtyro comes as an oral capsule.
Specifically, Augtyro is used in adults to treat a certain type of non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC). It must have a genetic mutation (gene change) for the ROS1 protein. (This is called “ROS1 positive.”) It also must have spread within your chest or to other areas of your body.
To learn more about Augtyro’s uses, see the “What is Augtyro taken for?” section below.
Augtyro basics
Augtyro contains the active ingredient repotrectinib. It belongs to a group of drugs called kinase inhibitors.
Augtyro is a brand-name medication. A generic version of the drug isn’t currently available.
Augtyro is taken to treat a certain type of NSCLC in adults. It must have spread within the chest or to other areas of the body. It also must have a genetic mutation for the ROS1 protein, which is also called ROS1 positive. A genetic mutation is when a gene has mutated or changed abnormally.
NSCLC is the most common form of lung cancer. In the early stages, you may not notice any symptoms. But in the later stages, you may experience the following:
- difficulty breathing
- coughing up blood
- pain in other areas where the cancer has spread
Mutations in the ROS1 protein cause cancer cells to grow. Augtyro works to treat NSCLC by blocking ROS1. Blocking ROS1 may keep cancer cells from growing and spreading.
Like most drugs, Augtyro may cause mild to serious side effects. The lists below describe some of the more common side effects that Augtyro may cause. These lists don’t include all side effects possible.
Keep in mind that side effects of a drug can depend on:
- your age
- other health conditions you have
- other medications you take
Your doctor or pharmacist can tell you more about the potential side effects of Augtyro. They can also suggest ways to help reduce side effects.
Mild side effects
Here’s a list of some of the mild side effects that Augtyro can cause. To learn about other mild side effects, talk with your doctor or pharmacist or read Augtyro’s prescribing information.
Mild side effects of Augtyro that have been reported include:
- dizziness or confusion
- gastrointestinal problems, such as constipation, nausea, vomiting, or diarrhea
- changes in your sense of taste
- numbness or tingling in your arms or legs
- cough or shortness of breath
- tiredness
- problems with your coordination or balance
- muscle weakness
- problems with your vision
- weight gain or retaining too much fluid
Mild side effects of many drugs may go away within a few days to a couple of weeks. But if they become bothersome, talk with your doctor or pharmacist.
Serious side effects
Serious side effects from Augtyro can occur, but they aren’t common. If you have serious side effects from Augtyro, call your doctor right away. But if you think you’re having a medical emergency, you should call 911 or your local emergency number.
Serious side effects of Augtyro that have been reported include:
- problems with your brain and spinal cord, including severe dizziness, hallucinations, or difficulty concentrating
- new or worsening lung problems, including interstitial lung disease or pneumonitis
- liver problems, including higher levels of certain liver enzymes in your blood
- muscle pain along with increased levels of creatine phosphokinase, which may signal damage
- bone fracture
- changes in certain blood levels, including:
- low levels of lymphocytes, leukocytes, or neutrophils
- high level of uric acid
Allergic reactionFor some people, Augtyro can cause an allergic reaction. But this side effect wasn’t reported in the drug’s studies.
In general, symptoms of allergic reaction can be mild or serious. You can learn more about possible symptoms in this article.
What might help
If you have mild symptoms of an allergic reaction, such as a mild rash, call your doctor right away. They may suggest a treatment to manage your symptoms and can determine whether you should keep taking Augtyro.
If you have symptoms of a severe allergic reaction, such as swelling or difficulty breathing, call 911 right away. Or call your local emergency number. These symptoms could be life threatening and require immediate medical care.
Your doctor can confirm whether you’ve had a serious allergic reaction to Augtyro. If they do, they may have you switch to a different treatment.
Your doctor will recommend the dosage of Augtyro that’s right for you. Below are commonly used dosages, but always take the dosage your doctor prescribes.
Form and strength
Augtyro is available as an oral capsule in one strength of 40 milligrams (mg).
Recommended dosages
Augtyro is used in adults to treat a certain type of NSCLC. It must have spread within the chest or to other areas of the body. It also must have a genetic mutation for the ROS1 protein, which is also called “ROS1 positive.”
For the first 14 days of treatment, your doctor will likely prescribe a dosage of 160 mg once daily. After that, your doctor will likely increase the dosage to 160 mg twice daily.
If you experience side effects, your doctor may pause Augtyro until you recover. Then your doctor may resume Augtyro at a lower dose. Or your doctor may choose to permanently stop Augtyro, depending on how severe your side effects are.
Your doctor will check your uric acid levels before starting Augtyro. They will also check your liver function every 2 weeks for the first month and throughout your treatment. Your doctor may check other levels in your blood if you start to experience side effects.
To learn more about Augtyro’s dosage, see this article.
Questions about taking Augtyro
Below are some common questions about taking Augtyro.
- Can Augtyro be chewed, crushed, or split? No, you should not chew, crush, or split Augtyro capsules. You should swallow them whole. If you have difficulty swallowing pills, check out this article or ask your doctor or pharmacist for advice.
- Should I take Augtyro with food? You can take Augtyro with or without food.
- Is there a best time of day to take Augtyro? You can take Augtyro any time of day, but it’s best to take it around the same time each day. This helps keep a consistent level of the drug in your body, which helps Augtyro work effectively.
- What if I miss a dose of Augtyro? If you miss a dose of Augtyro, skip the missed dose. Then take the next dose at its usual time. You should not take two doses at once to make up for a missed dose. Doing so could raise your risk of side effects.
- Will I need to take Augtyro long term? Augtyro is typically taken as a long-term treatment. You and your doctor can discuss whether it’s safe and effective for your condition. If you agree that it is, you’ll likely take it long term.
- How long does Augtyro take to work? Augtyro may start to work in a few weeks after you take your first dose, according to studies. But it also may depend on the specific cancer and your previous other treatments. To learn more about what you can expect with your Augtyro treatment, talk with your doctor.
Overdose
Do not take more Augtyro than your doctor prescribes, as this can lead to harmful effects.
What to do in case you take too much Augtyro
Call your doctor if you think you’ve taken too much Augtyro. You can also call 800-222-1222 to reach America’s Poison Centers or use its online resource. But if you have severe symptoms, immediately call 911 or your local emergency number. Or go to the nearest emergency room.
Below is important information you should consider before taking Augtyro.
Interactions
Taking a drug with certain medications, vaccines, foods, and other things can affect how the drug works. These effects are called interactions.
Augtyro can interact with several other medications. It can also interact with certain supplements as well as certain foods.
Before starting Augtyro treatment, talk with your doctor and pharmacist. Tell them about all prescription, over-the-counter, and other drugs you take. Also, tell them about any herbs or vitamins or supplements you take. Sharing this information can help you avoid potential interactions.
Drug interactions
Below is a list of medications that can interact with Augtyro as well as some definitions after it. This list does not contain all drugs that may interact with Augtyro. If you have questions about drug interactions that may affect you, ask your doctor or pharmacist.
| Drug group | Drug examples |
|---|---|
| drugs that moderately or strongly slow down the CYP3A enzyme | • itraconazole (Sporanox, Tolsura) • clarithromycin • verapamil |
| drugs that moderately or strongly speed up the CYP3A enzyme | • rifampin (Rimactane, Rifadin) • carbamazepine (Carbatrol, Equetro, Tegretol, Teril, Epitol) • phenytoin (Dilantin, Phenytek) |
| drugs to which the CYP3A enzyme attaches | • midazolam (Nayzilam, Seizalam) • triazolam (Halcion) |
| drugs that slow down p-glycoprotein | • erythromycin (Eryc, Ery-Tab, E.E.S., Eryped, Erythrocin) • cyclosporine (Gengraf, Neoral, Sandimmune) |
| birth control products containing hormones | • ethinyl estradiol/etonogestrel (NuvaRing, Eluryng, Haloette, EnilloRing) • ethinyl estradiol/norgestimate (Sprintec, Tri-Sprintec, Tri Lo Sprintec, Mili, Previfem) • others |
Cytochrome P450 3A (CYP3A) is an enzyme in the liver that helps break down certain drugs, including Augtyro. P-glycoprotein helps move some drugs to where they work in your body.
If you have questions about drug interactions that may affect you, talk with your doctor or pharmacist.
Augtyro and alcohol
Alcohol is not known to interact with Augtyro.
It’s likely safe to consume alcohol while taking Augtyro. But alcohol may make certain side effects of Augtyro worse. These include dizziness and liver problems. Because of this, your doctor may recommend that you limit the amount of alcohol you drink.
Other interactions
Augtyro can interact with other substances, such as:
- Vitamins or supplements: Augtyro interacts with St. John’s wort. Your doctor will likely recommend that you avoid taking this supplement during your Augtyro treatment.
- Food: Augtyro interacts with grapefruit and grapefruit juice. Your doctor will likely recommend that you do not consume grapefruit products during your Augtyro treatment.
Pregnancy and breastfeeding
Augtyro is not safe to take during pregnancy.
You should also not breastfeed while taking Augtyro and for 10 days after your last dose.
Birth control
Females able to become pregnant should use birth control during Augtyro treatment. They should also use it for at least 2 months after their last Augtyro dose. (In this article, we use the terms “female” and “male” to refer to someone’s sex assigned at birth. For information about the difference between sex and gender, see this article.)
Males with partners able to become pregnant should use birth control during treatment. They should also use it for at least 4 months after their last dose.
Birth control containing hormones may be less effective while taking Augtyro. Talk with your doctor about other birth control options that may be best for you.
Warnings
Augtyro can sometimes cause harmful effects in people who have certain conditions. This is known as a drug-condition interaction. Other factors may also affect whether Augtyro is a good treatment option for you.
Talk with your doctor about your health history before you take Augtyro. Be sure to tell them if any of the following factors apply to you:
- liver problems
- problems in your brain or spinal cord
- new or worsening lung problems, including interstitial lung disease or pneumonitis
- muscle pain with increased levels of creatine phosphokinase
- current or past high levels of uric acid in your blood
- past bone fracture or current risk of it
- past allergic reaction to Augtyro
- pregnancy
- breastfeeding
Whether or not you have health insurance, cost may be a factor when you’re considering Augtyro. What you’ll pay for Augtyro may depend on several things, such as your treatment plan and the pharmacy you use.
If you have questions about how to pay for your prescription, talk with your doctor or pharmacist. A program called Bristol Myers Squibb Access Support may also be available.
For estimates of what you’d pay for your medications when using coupons, visit Optum Perks. (Note: Optum Perks coupons cannot be used with insurance copays or benefits.)
You can also check out this article to learn more about saving money on prescriptions.
Other drugs are available that can treat your condition. If you’d like to explore an alternative to Augtyro, talk with your doctor. They can tell you about other medications that might work well for you.
The following drugs belong to the same group of drugs as Augtyro and treat NSCLC:
Disclaimer: Healthline has made every effort to make certain that all information is factually correct, comprehensive, and up to date. However, this article should not be used as a substitute for the knowledge and expertise of a licensed healthcare professional. You should always consult your doctor or another healthcare professional before taking any medication. The drug information contained herein is subject to change and is not intended to cover all possible uses, directions, precautions, warnings, drug interactions, allergic reactions, or adverse effects. The absence of warnings or other information for a given drug does not indicate that the drug or drug combination is safe, effective, or appropriate for all patients or all specific uses.