Dasatinib
Dasatinib, sold as Sprycel, is a targeted cancer therapy for Chronic Myeloid Leukaemia and Acute Lymphocytic Leukaemia. One product sits on this shelf: Sprycel 50 mg film-coated tablets.
Key points
- Tyrosine kinase inhibitor that blocks an abnormal protein signalling cancer cells to multiply, limiting the spread of leukaemia.
- Listed for Philadelphia chromosome-positive chronic myeloid leukaemia and acute lymphoblastic leukaemia in adults and children.
- Dasatinib may harm a developing fetus; women should not become pregnant while taking it and for 30 days after the final dose.
How does Dasatinib work?
Dasatinib belongs to a class of medicines called tyrosine kinase inhibitors. In certain leukaemias, a genetic change creates an abnormal protein (BCR-ABL) that tells cancer cells to keep dividing. Dasatinib binds to that protein and blocks its signal, limiting how quickly the cells multiply. Because it targets one specific pathway rather than all fast-growing cells, it is called a targeted therapy.
Sprycel is the brand-name version of dasatinib. The 50 mg film-coated tablet must be swallowed whole; crushing or cutting it changes the dose and risks skin contact with the active substance. Dasatinib falls under Oncology Support on this site.