Afatinib is a targeted tablet for non-small cell lung cancer whose cells carry a change (mutation) in the EGFR gene. It is used as a first treatment for metastatic EGFR-mutant lung cancer — including some of the less common mutations — and for squamous lung cancer that has progressed after platinum chemotherapy.
It is a second-generation EGFR inhibitor: it binds permanently to EGFR and its relatives HER2 and HER4, switching off the growth signal that the mutation has jammed on. Because EGFR is also important in skin and the gut lining, diarrhoea and an acne-like rash are very common and are managed with medicines your team will give you from the start.
Afatinib is taken once a day on an empty stomach. Your tumour must have been tested for an EGFR mutation before it is prescribed. It is a prescription-only medicine; a valid prescription must be provided at checkout.