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Welireg

belzutifan
HIF-2α Inhibitor FDA Approved 2021 Merck & Co.
1. Indications and Usage

Von Hippel-Lindau (VHL) disease-associated renal cell carcinoma (RCC), central nervous system hemangioblastomas, or pancreatic neuroendocrine tumors (pNET) not requiring immediate surgery; Advanced renal cell carcinoma (with cabozantinib and nivolumab, after prior anti-PD-1/PD-L1 therapy)

2. Dosage and Administration

VHL-associated tumors: 120 mg orally once daily until disease progression or unacceptable toxicity
Advanced RCC: 120 mg orally once daily (with cabozantinib 40 mg daily and nivolumab 480 mg IV q4w)
Take with or without food
Dose reduction: 80 mg once daily, then 40 mg once daily

3. Dosage Forms and Strengths

Tablets: 40 mg

4. Contraindications

None listed.

5. Warnings and Precautions
  • Anemia: Reported in 93% of VHL patients (Grade 3: 7.3%). May require transfusion. Monitor hemoglobin before and during treatment. Withhold for hemoglobin <8 g/dL.
  • Hypoxia: Reported in 1.3% of patients. Monitor pulse oximetry. Discontinue for life-threatening hypoxia.
  • Embryo-Fetal Toxicity: Can cause fetal harm based on mechanism of action and animal data.
6. Adverse Reactions
Most Common Adverse Reactions

Anemia (93%), fatigue (51%), musculoskeletal pain (30%), dizziness (20%), headache (17%), nausea (16%), decreased visual acuity (13%)

Anemia
93%
Fatigue
51%
Musculoskeletal Pain
30%
Dizziness
20%
Headache
17%
Nausea
16%
Decreased Visual Acuity
13%

Consult the complete prescribing information for a comprehensive list of adverse reactions and their frequencies.

7. Drug Interactions

Consult the complete prescribing information for drug interactions, including effects on CYP enzymes, transporters, and concomitant medications that may require dose adjustments or monitoring.

8. Use in Specific Populations
Pregnancy

Consult the full prescribing information for pregnancy-related considerations.

Lactation

Refer to prescribing information for lactation guidance.

Pediatric Use

Pediatric safety and efficacy information is detailed in the full label.

Hepatic/Renal Impairment

Dose modifications for organ impairment are specified in the complete prescribing information.

12. Clinical Pharmacology
Mechanism of Action

Belzutifan is an inhibitor of hypoxia-inducible factor 2 alpha (HIF-2α). In VHL disease, inactivation of the VHL tumor suppressor gene leads to accumulation of HIF-2α and subsequent transcription of genes promoting tumor growth, angiogenesis, and erythropoiesis. Belzutifan blocks the interaction between HIF-2α and HIF-1β (ARNT), thereby reducing transcription of HIF-2α target genes including VEGFA, CCND1, and EPO.

Pharmacokinetics

Tmax: 1.5 hours. Half-life: approximately 14 hours. Protein binding: 97%. Metabolized by CYP2C19 and UGT2B17. Excreted in urine (47%) and feces (41%).

14. Clinical Studies

Clinical efficacy and safety data supporting the approval are available in the full prescribing information and from the clinical trials listed below.

Pivotal Clinical Trials
Additional Resources
FDA-Approved Tumor Types

Welireg has FDA-approved indications across the following cancer types covered on PipelineEvidence:

External Resources
Important Notice: This page is intended as a navigational reference to the FDA-approved prescribing information for Welireg. It does not replace the full prescribing information. Healthcare professionals should consult the complete package insert available at DailyMed before making prescribing decisions. Patient-specific factors should always guide clinical decision-making.