What are the possible side effects of Tepotinib?

Tepotinib is a selective MET tyrosine kinase inhibitor mainly used to treat patients with non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) carrying MET exon 14 skipping mutations. Although its targeted effect provides new treatment hope for many patients with advanced lung cancer, its clinical application may still be accompanied by a series of adverse reactions, which requires close attention from patients and doctors. According to overseas clinical studies and post-marketing surveillance data, common adverse reactions of tepotinib mainly include peripheral edema, nausea, diarrhea, vomiting, fatigue, decreased appetite, weight gain, and hypoalbuminemia. Among them, peripheral edema is the most prominent, which may occur in the lower limbs, face, or body. Some patients require medication adjustment or symptomatic treatment to control symptoms.

In the VISION clinical trial, the incidence rate of peripheral edema exceeded 60%. Although it was mostly grade 1 to 2, it had a great impact on the quality of life and may require reduction or suspension of treatment. Gastrointestinal symptoms such as nausea and diarrhea are also common, often occur in the early stages of treatment, and can usually be relieved by dietary adjustments and auxiliary medications. Fatigue is another common non-specific side effect. Some patients may experience moderate fatigue and need to arrange their work and rest appropriately to avoid overexertion. Less common but serious adverse reactions that need to be focused on include abnormal liver function (elevation of ALT or AST), interstitial lung disease (ILD) or pneumonia-like changes. Although the latter is rare, it may be life-threatening. Imaging changes and lung function need to be monitored regularly. Once suspicious symptoms are found, the drug should be stopped immediately and hormone therapy should be initiated.

In general, most of the adverse reactions of tepotinib are controllable and reversible, but the safety of the drug needs to be regularly evaluated under the guidance of a professional doctor, and the dosage should be adjusted reasonably to ensure the efficacy while minimizing the negative impact of side effects. Patients should strengthen communication with their doctors during medication and proactively report symptom changes to improve the overall treatment experience and quality of life.

Reference materials:https://www.tepotinib.com/