Ayvakit

Generic name:avapritinib
Drug class:Multikinase inhibitors

Medically reviewed by Judith Stewart, BPharm. Last updated on May 31, 2022.

What is Ayvakit?

Ayvakit is a prescription medicine used to treat adults with:

• a certain type of stomach, bowel, or esophagus cancer called gastrointestinal stromal tumor (GIST) that cannot be treated with surgery or that has spread to other parts of the body (metastatic), and that is caused by certain abnormal platelet-derived growth factor receptor alpha (PDGFRA) genes. Your healthcare provider will perform a test to make sure that you have this abnormal PDGFRA gene and that Ayvakit is right for you.
• advanced systemic mastocytosis (AdvSM), including aggressive systemic mastocytosis (ASM), systemic mastocytosis with an associated hematological neoplasm (SM-AHN), and mast cell leukemia (MCL). Ayvakit is not recommended for the treatment of AdvSM in people with low platelet counts (less than 50 X 10⁹/L).

It is not known if this medicine is safe and effective in children.

Before taking Ayvakit

Before you start treatment, tell your healthcare provider about all of your medical conditions, including if you:

• are pregnant or plan to become pregnant. Ayvakit can cause harm to your unborn baby.
  Females who are able to become pregnant:
  • Your healthcare provider should do a pregnancy test before you start treatment.
  • You should use effective birth control (contraception) during treatment, and for 6 weeks after the final dose. Talk to your healthcare provider about birth control methods that may be right for you.
  • Tell your healthcare provider right away if you become pregnant or think you may be pregnant during treatment.

Males with female partners who are able to become pregnant should use effective birth control (contraception) during treatment, and for 6 weeks after the final dose.

• are breastfeeding or plan to breastfeed. It is not known if Ayvakit passes into your breast milk. Do not breastfeed during treatment, and for at least 2 weeks after the final dose. Talk to your healthcare provider about the best way to feed your baby during this time.

How should I take Ayvakit?

• Take Ayvakit exactly as your healthcare provider tells you to take it.
• Do not change your dose or stop taking this medicine unless your healthcare provider tells you to.
• Your healthcare provider may change your dose, temporarily stop, or permanently stop treatment with Ayvakit if you develop side effects.
• Take Ayvakit 1 time each day.
• Take the tablet(s) on an empty stomach at least 1 hour before, and at least 2 hours after a meal.
• If you miss a dose take it as soon as you remember unless your next scheduled dose is due within 8 hours. Take the next dose at your regular time.
• If you vomit after taking a dose of Ayvakit, do not take an extra dose. Take your next dose at your next scheduled time.