Welcome to “A to Z: Drugs in Highlight:
This series is designed to delve into the intricate realm of pharmaceutical drugs. As the world of pharmaceuticals continues to evolve with new discoveries and emerging challenges, we aim to shed light on the diverse array of medications available today, ranging from blockbuster medications to those that may not be as familiar. Whether you’re a healthcare professional, a student, or simply someone with a curious mind, “A to Z: Drugs in Highlight” promises to be an enlightening and engaging series.
I is for IMBRUVICA®
IMBRUVICA® (from AbbVie, who acquired the original developer Pharmacyclics, and Janssen Biotech, a subsidiary of Johnson & Johnson) uses ibrutinib for treating blood cancers such as mantle cell lymphoma, chronic lymphocytic leukaemia and Waldenström’s macroglobulinaemia. Imbruvica is available as capsules (140 mg) and tablets (140, 280, 420 and 560 mg).
How it works:
IMBRUVICA® contains the active substance ibrutinib. Ibrutinib works against cancerous B lymphocytes, a type of white blood cell. It does this by specifically targeting and binding to an enzyme called Bruton’s tyrosine kinase (BTK), which is crucial for the survival and proliferation of B lymphocytes. By inhibiting BTK, ibrutinib blocks the signals that these cancerous B lymphocytes need to survive and multiply. This action helps to slow down the spread of cancer and can lead to the death of the cancerous cells.
Treatment with IMBRUVICA® is usually continued for as long as the disease improves or remains stable, and the side effects are tolerable.
Marketing approval:
IMBRUVICA® is approved for marketing in the United States (approved by the FDA in February 2014 (capsule), February 2018 (tablet) and August 2022 (new formulation)) and Europe (approved by the EMA in October 2014) as well as many other countries across the world.
It has been used to treat more than 200,000 patients worldwide.
Patent protection:
There are a number of patent rights protecting various aspects of IMBRUVICA® in the United States and Europe (as well as in many other countries around the world). For example, European patent no. 2081435 relates to inhibitors of BTK, specifically to compounds of Formula (D) having the structure:
The corresponding patent in the United States, US patent no. 8008309, has a slightly narrower scope of protection. There are also patents in the United States directed to specific crystal forms of ibrutinib (see, for example, US patent no. 10125140).
