How it is administered

Ponatinib is taken by mouth as a tablet. It is available in strengths of 10 mg, 15 mg, 30 mg, and 45 mg. The tablets should be swallowed whole and can be taken with or without food. Do not crush, break, or chew the tablets. If a dose is missed, take the next dose at the regularly scheduled time the next day.

How it works

Ponatinib is a type of medicine called a kinase inhibitor. It works by blocking the activity of certain proteins called kinases, specifically the BCR::ABL protein and its mutated forms, including the T315I mutation. These proteins are involved in the growth and survival of cancer cells in certain blood cancers, such as Philadelphia chromosome-positive Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia (Ph+ ALL).

By blocking these kinases, ponatinib helps stop the cancer cells from growing and may lead to their death. It also inhibits other kinases involved in blood vessel growth and cell signaling, which may further help control the spread of cancer. Ponatinib is especially important for patients whose cancer has not responded to other treatments or who have specific mutations that make other medicines less effective.

Who Should take it

Ponatinib is used to treat adults with Philadelphia chromosome-positive Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia (Ph+ ALL). It can be prescribed:

• In combination with chemotherapy for newly diagnosed Ph+ ALL.
• As a single agent (monotherapy) for Ph+ ALL in patients for whom no other kinase inhibitors are indicated, or for those with the T315I mutation.

It is also used for certain types of Chronic Myeloid Leukemia (CML), but for blood cancers like Ph+ ALL, it is especially valuable when other treatments have not worked or when specific genetic mutations are present.

Who should not take it

There are no absolute contraindications listed for ponatinib, but it should be used with caution. Patients with uncontrolled high blood pressure, severe heart disease, or a history of serious blood clots or arterial blockages may be at higher risk of complications.

Ponatinib can cause harm to an unborn baby, so it should not be used during pregnancy, and effective contraception is recommended for women of childbearing potential. It is not recommended for use in children, as safety and effectiveness have not been established in pediatric patients. Always discuss your full medical history with your doctor before starting ponatinib.

Commonly used with

For newly diagnosed Ph+ ALL, ponatinib is commonly used in combination with chemotherapy agents such as vincristine, dexamethasone, methotrexate, cytarabine, and prednisone. The combination helps improve treatment effectiveness by attacking the cancer in different ways.

After the initial combination therapy, ponatinib may be continued alone as maintenance treatment.

Commonly tested with

Ponatinib has been tested in clinical studies alongside chemotherapy regimens for Ph+ ALL, including drugs like vincristine, dexamethasone, methotrexate, cytarabine, and prednisone. It has also been compared to other tyrosine kinase inhibitors, such as imatinib, in clinical trials to assess its effectiveness and safety profile.