Xalkori is pronounced “zal-KOR-ee”. You can also listen to the pronunciation here.

• Xalkori is the brand name product for crizotinib (pronounced “kriz OH ti nib”), the generic name of the drug.
• Xalkori was first approved in August 2011 and is manufactured by Pfizer Oncology.
• Xalkori is a cancer medicine that you take by mouth.

Does Xalkori treat lung cancer?

Yes, Xalkori is a prescription medicine approved by the FDA to treat three types of cancers: non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC), anaplastic large cell lymphoma (ALCL), a type of blood cancer, and anaplastic lymphoma kinase (ALK)-positive inflammatory myofibroblastic tumors (IMT), a type of solid tumor.

Non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC)

Xalkori is an oral anaplastic lymphoma kinase (ALK) inhibitor used for the treatment of patients with metastatic non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) whose tumors are anaplastic lymphoma kinase (ALK) or ROS1-positive as detected by an FDA-approved test. ALK and ROS-1 are abnormal genes that cause the cell to multiply out of control, resulting in cancer growth.

• Most lung cancers (80% to 85%) are classified as non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC).
• The main subtypes of NSCLC are adenocarcinoma, squamous cell carcinoma, and large cell carcinoma. These subtypes start from different types of lung cells, but are grouped under NSCLC as treatment and outlook are often similar.

Anaplastic large cell lymphoma (ALCL)

Xalkori is also used in children 1 year of age and older and young adults with relapsed or refractory, systemic anaplastic large cell lymphoma (ALCL) that is ALK-positive. It is not known if Xalkori is safe and effective in older adults with relapsed or refractory, systemic ALK-positive ALCL.

• Anaplastic large cell lymphoma is a rare form of non-Hodgkin lymphoma (NHL), a type of lymph cancer, and accounts for approximately 30% of cases of NHL in young people.
• It develops when T-cells, a type of white blood cell that fights infection, become abnormal.
• About 90% of ALCL cases in young people are ALK-positive.

ALK+ inflammatory myofibroblastic tumors (IMT)

In July 2022, the FDA approved Xalkori for the treatment of anaplastic lymphoma kinase (ALK)-positive inflammatory myofibroblastic tumors (IMT) for adult and pediatric patients 1 year of age and older. This indication is for patients with tumors that cannot be surgically removed, have returned, or when a different treatment does not work or is no longer working.

• IMT is rare type of cancer that is made up of cells from smooth muscle, connective tissue cells, and some types of immune cells.
• It usually occurs in the lungs, in the abdomen (stomach area) or back of the abdomen, or pelvis but can occur anywhere in the body.

This is not all the information you need to know about Xalkori (crizotinib) for safe and effective use and does not take the place of talking to your doctor about your treatment. Review the full Xalkori information here, and discuss this information and any questions you have with your doctor or other health care provider.