Bosutinib (Bosulif, Pfizer) is a second-generation tyrosine kinase inhibitor that inhibits Abl-kinases, including Bcr Abl kinase. It also inhibits the Src family kinases, which have been implicated in driving chronic myeloid leukaemia (CML) progression.
Bosutinib (Bosulif, Pfizer) has a UK marketing authorisation for 'the treatment of adult patients with chronic phase (CP), accelerated phase (AP), and blast phase (BP) Philadelphia chromosome positive chronic myelogenous leukaemia (Ph+ CML) previously treated with one or more tyrosine kinase inhibitor(s) and for whom imatinib, nilotinib and dasatinib are not considered appropriate treatment options'.
The summary of product characteristics lists the following adverse reactions as being the most common (that is, affecting more than 1 in 20 people): thrombocytopenia, anaemia, diarrhoea, nausea, vomiting, abdominal pain, fever, rash and increased levels of liver enzymes. For full details of adverse reactions and contraindications, see the summary of product characteristics.
Bosutinib is administered orally. The recommended dose is 500 mg once daily. The dose can be increased up to 600 mg if there has not been a complete haematological response by week 8 or a complete cytogenetic response by week 12.
Bosutinib costs £3,436.67 for 28×500‑mg tablets and £859.17 for 28×100‑mg tablets (excluding VAT; BNF, May 2016). The average cost is £122.74 for 500 mg/day. The annual cost of bosutinib at this dose is £44,799 per patient.
The company has agreed a commercial arrangement (patient access scheme). This makes bosutinib available to the NHS with a discount. The size of the discount is commercial in confidence.