Afatinib

Brand/Trade Names: Gilotrif

Formula: C₂₄H₂₅ClFN₅O₃

Mechanism: Kinase Inhibitor

Protein substrate: Tyrosine

Class: Type V – covalent

Administration: Oral

Notes: EGFR inhibitor.  Approved by the FDA in 2013.  Approved for treatment of non-small cell lung cancer.

Avapritinib

Brand/Trade Names: Ayvakit

Formula: C₂₆H₂₇FN₁₀

Mechanism: Kinase Inhibitor

Protein substrate: Tyrosine

Administration: Oral

Notes: Approved by the FDA in 2020. Approved for treatment of stomach cancer.

Axitinib

Brand/Trade Names: Inlyta

Formula: C₂₂H₁₈N₄OS

Mechanism: Kinase Inhibitor

Protein substrate: Tyrosine

Class:  Type II

Administration: Oral

Notes: First approved by the FDA in 2012.  VEGF inhibitor and angiogenesis inhibitor.  Approved for treatment of renal cell carcinoma.

Cabozantinib

Brand/Trade Names: Cometriq

Formula: C₂₈H₂₄FN₃O₅

Mechanism: Kinase Inhibitor

Protein substrate: Tyrosine

Class: Type I

Administration: Oral

Notes: First approved by the FDA in 2012.   Angiogenesis inhibitor. Approved for treatment of renal cell carcinoma, hepatocellular carcinoma, and medullary thyroid cancer.

Capmatinib

Brand/Trade Names: Tabrecta

Formula: C₂₃H₁₇FN₆O

Mechanism: Kinase Inhibitor

Protein substrate: Tyrosine

Class:

Administration: Oral

Notes: First approved by the FDA in 2020. 

Dacomitinib

Brand/Trade Names: Vizimpro

Formula: C₂₄H₂₅ClFN₅O₂

Mechanism: Kinase Inhibitor

Protein substrate: Tyrosine

Class:

Administration: Oral

Notes:  Approved by the FDA in 2018.  EGFR inhibitor and HER inhibitor.  Approved for treatment of non-small cell lung cancer.

Entrectinib

Brand/Trade Names: Rozlytrek

Formula: C₃₁H₃₄F₂N₆O₂

Mechanism: Kinase Inhibitor

Protein substrate: Tyrosine

Class:

Administration: Oral

Notes:  Approved by the FDA in 2019. Tumor-agnostic drug.

Osimertinib

Brand/Trade Names: Tagrisso, Mereletinib

Formula: C₂₈H₃₃N₇O₂

Mechanism: Kinase Inhibitor

Protein substrate: Tyrosine

Class: Type V – covalent

Administration: Oral

Notes: EGFR inhibitor.  Approved by the FDA in 2015.  Approved for treatment of non-small cell lung cancer.

Ponatinib

Brand/Trade Names: Iclusig

Formula: C₂₉H₂₇F₃N₆O

Mechanism: Kinase Inhibitor

Protein substrate: Tyrosine

Class:

Administration: Oral

Notes: First approved by the FDA in 2012.   Approved for treatment of acute lymphoblastic leukemia and chronic myelogenous leukemia.

Lenvatinib

Brand/Trade Names: Lenvima

Formula: C₂₁H₁₉ClN₄O₄

Mechanism: Kinase Inhibitor

Protein substrate: Tyrosine

Class:

Administration: Oral

Notes:  Approved by the FDA in 2015.  Approved for treatment of hepatocellular carcinoma, renal cell carcinoma, and thyroid cancer.  Estimated sales of $540 million in 2018.

Neratinib

Brand/Trade Names: Nerlynx

Formula: C₃₀H₂₉ClN₆O₃

Mechanism: Kinase Inhibitor

Protein substrate: Tyrosine

Class:

Administration: Oral

Notes:  Approved by the FDA in 2017.  Approved for treatment of breast cancer.

Regorafenib

Brand/Trade Names: Stivarga

Formula: C₂₁H₁₇ClF₄N₄O₄

Mechanism: Kinase Inhibitor

Protein substrate: Tyrosine

Class:

Administration: Oral

Notes: First approved by the FDA in 2012.  Angiogenesis inhibtor. Has been found to target at 14 different kinase enzymes.  Approved for treatment of colorectal cancer, gastrointestinal stromal tumor, and hepatocellular carcinoma.

Ripretinib

Brand/Trade Names: Qinlock

Formula: C₂₄H₂₁BrFN₅O₂

Mechanism: Kinase Inhibitor

Protein substrate: Tyrosine

Class:

Administration: Oral

Notes: First approved by the FDA in 2020

Selpercatinib

Brand/Trade Names: Retevmo

Formula: C₂₉H₃₁N₇O₃

Mechanism: Kinase Inhibitor

Protein substrate: Tyrosine

Class:

Administration: Oral

Notes: First approved by the FDA in 2020.

Vandetanib

Brand/Trade Names: Caprelsa

Formula: C₂₂H₂₄BrFN₄O₂

Mechanism: Kinase Inhibitor

Protein substrate: Tyrosine

Class: Type I

Administration: Oral

Notes: First approved by the FDA in 2011.  EGFR and VEGFR inhibitor.  Has antiangiogenesis properties.  Approved for treatment of medullary thyroid cancer.

Ziv-aflibercept

Brand/Trade Names: Zaltrap

Formula: C₄₃₁₈H₆₇₈₈N₁₁₆₄O₁₃₀₄S₃₂

Mechanism: VEGF inhibitor

Protein substrate:

Class: Fusion protein

Administration: Intravenous

Notes:  Approved by the FDA in 2012. Angiogenesis inhibitor.  Approved for treatment of colorectal cancer.

Venetoclax

Brand/Trade Names: Venclexta

Formula: C₄₅H₅₀ClN₇O₇S

Mechanism: BCL-2 Inhibitor

Protein substrate:

Class:

Administration: Oral

Notes:  Approved by the FDA in 2016 for treatment of acute myeloid leukemia and chronic lymphocytic leukemia. Article from CLL Society

Dasatinib

Brand/Trade Names: Sprycel

Formula: C₂₂H₂₆ClN₇O₂S

Mechanism: Kinase Inhibitor

Protein substrate: Tyrosine

Class:

Administration: Oral

Notes: First approved by the FDA in 2006.  Pretty much used only to treat leukemia.  Formally approved for treatment of acute myeloid leukemia and chronic lymphocytic leukemia.

Erlotinib

Brand/Trade Names: Tarceva

Formula: C₂₂H₂₃N₃O₄

Mechanism: EGFR inhibitor

Protein substrate: Tyrosine

Class:

Administration: Oral

Notes:  First approved by the FDA in 2004 for lung cancer.  Expanded approval for treatment of pancreatic cancer.

Erdafitinib

Brand/Trade Names: Balversa

Formula: C₂₅H₃₀N₅O₂

Mechanism: FGFR inhibitor

Protein substrate: Tyrosine

Class:

Administration: Oral

Notes:  Approved by the FDA in 2019.  Approved for bladder (urothelial) carcinoma.

Gefitinib

Brand/Trade Names: Iressa

Formula: C₂₂H₂₄ClFN₄O₃

Mechanism: EGFR inhibitor

Protein substrate: Tyrosine

Class: Type I

Administration: Oral

Notes: First approved by the FDA in 2003.  Approved for treatment of non-small cell lung cancer.  Not used as often as it once was, as newer drugs have displaced it. More on gefitinib.

Imatinib

Brand/Trade Names: Gleevec, Glivec

Formula: C₂₉H₃₁N₇O

Mechanism: Kinase Inhibitor

Protein substrate: Tyrosine

Class:  Type II

Administration: Oral

Notes: First approved by the FDA in 2001.  Approved for treatment of chronic eosinophilic leukemia, hypereosinophilic syndrome, chronic myelogenous leukemia, dermatofibrosarcoma protuberans. gastrointestinal stromal tumor, myelodysplastic/myeloproliferative neoplasms, and systemic mastocytosis

Gilteritinib

Brand/Trade Names: Xospata

Formula: C₂₉H₂₄N₈O₃

Mechanism: Kinase Inhibitor

Protein substrate:

Class:  Type II

Administration: Oral

Notes: Approved by the FDA in 2018.  Approved for treatment of acute myeloid leukemia.

Lapatinib

Brand/Trade Names: Tykerb, Tyverb

Formula: C₂₉H₂₆ClFN₄O₄S

Mechanism: Kinase Inhibitor

Protein substrate: Tyrosine

Class:

Administration: Oral

Notes: First approved by the FDA in 2007.  Used against advanced breast cancer, often after other medicines have been tried.  EGFR inhbitor and HER2 inhbitor.

Nilotinib

Brand/Trade Names: Tasigna

Formula: C₂₈H₂₂F₃N₇O

Mechanism: Kinase Inhibitor

Protein substrate: Tyrosine

Class: Type III

Administration: Oral

Notes: First approved by the FDA in 2007.  Approved to treat chronic myelogenous leukemia. More on nilotinib.

Pazopanib

Brand/Trade Names: Votrient

Formula: C₂₁H₂₃N₇O₂S

Mechanism: Kinase Inhibitor

Protein substrate: Tyrosine

Class: Type I

Administration: Oral

Notes: First approved by the FDA in 2009.  Approved for treatment of renal cell carcinoma and soft tissue sarcoma.  Angiogenesis inhibitor.  Approved for advanced renal cell carcinoma. Can cause liver damage. More.

Pemigatinib

Brand/Trade Names: Pemazyre

Formula: C₂₄H₂₇F₂N₅O₄

Mechanism: Kinase Inhibitor

Protein substrate: Tyrosine

Class: 

Administration: Oral

Notes: First approved by the FDA in 2030.

Ruxolitinib

Brand/Trade Names: Jakafi

Formula: C₁₇H₁₈N₆

Mechanism: Kinase Inhibitor, JAK Inhibitor

Protein substrate: Tyrosine

Class: Type I

Administration: Oral

Notes: First approved by the FDA in 2011.   Approved for treatment of myelofibrosis and polycythemia vera.  Estimated sales in 2018: $2.36 billion.

Sorafenib

Brand/Trade Names: Nexavar

Formula: C₂₁H₁₆ClF₃N₄O₃

Mechanism: Kinase Inhibitor

Protein substrate: Serine/threonine

Class: Type II

Administration: Oral

Notes: Approved for certain types of liver and kidney cancer.  Angiogenesis inhibtor.  First approved by the FDA in 2005.  Approved for treatment of hepatocellular carcinoma, renal cell carcinoma, and thyroid cancer.

Sunitinib

Brand/Trade Names: Sutent

Formula: C₂₂H₂₇FN₄O₂

Mechanism: Kinase Inhibitor

Protein substrate: Tyrosine

Class:

Administration: Oral

Notes: First approved by the FDA in 2006.  Angiogensis inhibitor.  Employed against several hard-to-treat cancers.  Approved for gastrointestinal stromal tumor, pancreatic cancer, and renal cell carcinoma.

Tucatinib

Brand/Trade Names:Tukysa

Formula: C₂₆H₂₄N₈O₂

Mechanism: Kinase Inhibitor

Protein substrate: Tyrosine

Class:

Administration: Oral

Notes: First approved by the FDA in 2020 for treatment of metastatic breast cancer.

Larotrectinib

Brand/Trade Names: Vitrakvi

Formula: C₂₁H₂₂F₂N₆O₂

Mechanism: Tropomyosin kinase inhibitor

Protein substrate:  tropomyosin

Class:

Administration: Oral

Notes: Approved by the FDA in 2018 for treatment of soft tissue.  “Tissue-agnostic” – meaning it can be labeled for solid tumors in general rather than for one type of cancer.

Bosutinib

Brand/Trade Names: Bosulif

Formula: C₂₆H₂₉Cl₂N₅O₃

Mechanism: kinase inhibitor

Protein substrate: Tyrosine

Class:

Administration: Oral

Notes: Approved by the FDA in 2012.  More on bosutinib. Approved for treatment of chronic myelogenous leukemia.

FLT3 inhibitors

Midostaurin

Brand/Trade Names: Rydapt

Formula: C₃₅H₃₀N₄O₄

Mechanism: FLT3 inhibitor

Protein substrate:

Class:

Administration: Oral

Notes:  Approved by the FDA in 2017.  Approved for treatment of acute myeloid leukemia, systemic mastocytosis, and mast cell leukemia.

Proteasome inhibitors

Bortezomib

Brand/Trade Names: Velcade

Formula: C₁₉H₂₅BN₄O₄

Mechanism: proteasome inhibitor

Class:

Administration: Intravenous

Notes: The first approved proteasome inhibitor for cancer treatment, it has a boron atom in its molecule.  Approved by the FDA in 2003.  Approved for treatment of mantle cell lymphoma and multiple myeloma.

Carfilzomib

Brand/Trade Names: Kyprolis

Formula: C₄₀H₅₇N₅O₇

Mechanism: proteasome inhibitor

Class:

Administration: Intravenous

Notes: Derivative of epoxomicin, which is extracted from bacteria.  Approved by the FDA in 2012.   Approved for treatment of multiple myeloma.

Ixazomib

Brand/Trade Names: Ninlaro

Formula: C₁₄H₁₉Cl₂N₂O₄

Mechanism: proteosome inhibitor

Class:

Administration: Oral

Notes: Approved by the FDA in 2015.   Approved for treatment of multiple myeloma.  Estimated sales of $590 million in 2018.

BTK Inhibitors

Ibrutinib

Brand/Trade Names: Imbruvica

Formula: C₂₅H₂₄N₆O₂

Mechanism: Bruton’s tyrosine kinase inhibitor

Protein substrate: Tyrosine

Class: Type V

Administration: Oral

Notes:  Approved by the FDA in 2013.   Approved for treatment of Waldenström macroglobulinemia, marginal zone lymphoma, mantle cell lymphoma, chronic lymphocytic leukemia, and small lymphocytic lymphoma.  Estimated sales in 2018 were $4.45 billion.

Acalabrutinib

Brand/Trade Names: Calquence

Formula: C₂₆H₂₃N₇O₂

Mechanism: Bruton’s tyrosine kinase inhibitor

Protein substrate:

Class:

Administration: Oral

Notes:  Approved by the FDA in 2017. “Acalabrutinib is a more highly specific BTK inhibitor than ibrutinib with fewer “off-target” effects, possibly accounting for an improved safety profile.” Approved for treatment of mantle cell carcinoma.

Zanubrutinib

Brand/Trade Names: Brukinsa

Formula: C₂₇H₂₉N₅O₃

Mechanism: Bruton’s tyrosine kinase inhibitor

Protein substrate:

Class:

Administration: Oral

Notes:  Approved by the FDA in 2019.

CDK Inhibitors

Ribociclib

Brand/Trade Names: Kisqali

Formula: C₂₃H₃₀N₈O

Mechanism: Cyclin-dependent kinase inhibitor

Protein substrate: Serine/Threonine

Class:

Administration: Oral

Notes: Approved by the FDA in 2018. First drug approved under FDA’s Real-Time Oncology Review.  Approved for treatment of breast cancer.

Palbociclib

Brand/Trade Names: Ibrance

Formula: C₂₄H₂₉N₇O₂

Mechanism: Cyclin-dependant kinase inhibitor

Protein substrate: Serine/Threonine

Class:

Administration: Oral

Notes: Approved by the FDA in 2017.   Approved for treatment of breast cancer.   Estimated sales of $723 million in 2015.

Abemaciclib

Brand/Trade Names: Verzenio

Formula: C₂₇H₃₂F₂N₈

Mechanism: Cyclin-dependant kinase inhibitor

Protein substrate:

Class:

Administration: Oral

Notes:  Approved by the FDA in 2017.  Approved for treatment of breast cancer.

BRAF Inhibitors

Vemurafenib

Brand/Trade Names: Zelboraf

Formula: C₂₃H₁₈ClF₂N₃O₃S

Mechanism: B-Raf enzyme inhibitor

Protein substrate:

Class:

Administration: Oral

Notes: First approved by the FDA in 2011.  Has a greater affinity for mutant form of the B-Raf kinase than for wild-type B-Raf.  Approved for treatment of Erdheim-Chester disease and melanoma.

Encorafenib

Brand/Trade Names: Braftovi

Formula: C₂₂H₂₇ClFN₇O₄S

Mechanism: BRAF Inhibitor

Protein substrate:

Class:

Administration: Intravenous

Notes:  Approved by the FDA in 2018.  Approved for treatment of melanoma.

Dabrafenib

Brand/Trade Names: Tafinlar

Formula: C₂₃H₂₀F₃N₅O₂S₂

Mechanism: BRAF Inhibitor

Protein substrate: Serine/threonine

Class:

Administration: Oral

Notes:  Approved by the FDA in 2013.  Approved for treatment of anaplastic thyroid cancer, melanoma, and non-small cell lung cancer.  Estimated sales of $1.16 billion in 2018.

MEK Inhibitors

Medicines that inhibit mitogen-activated protein kinase kinase enzymes

Trametinib

Brand/Trade Names: Mekinist

Formula: C₂₆H₂₃FIN₅O₄

Mechanism: MEK1 and MEK2 inhibitor

Protein substrate:

Class: Type III

Administration: Oral

Notes: Approved to treat BRAF-mutated melanoma.  Approved by the FDA in 2013.   Approved for treatment of anaplastic thyroid cancer, melanoma, and non-small cell lung cancer.

Cobimetinib

Brand/Trade Names: Cotellic

Formula: C₂₁H₂₁F₃IN₃O₂

Mechanism: MEK inhibitor

Protein substrate:

Class:

Administration: Oral

Notes: Approved by the FDA in 2015.  Given in combination with vemurafenib.  Approved for treatment of melanoma.

Binimetinib

Brand/Trade Names: Mektovi

Formula: C₁₇H₁₅BrF₂N₄O₃

Mechanism: MEK Inhibitor

Protein substrate:

Class:

Administration: Oral

Notes: Approved by the FDA in 2018 for treatment of melanoma.

ALK Inhibitors

Medicines that inhibit receptors of tyrosine kinase anaplastic lymphoma kinase (ALK),

Crizotinib

Brand/Trade Names: Xalkori

Formula: C₂₁H₂₂Cl₂FN₅O

Mechanism: ALK Inhibitor

Protein substrate: Tyrosine

Class: Type I

Administration: Oral

Notes: First approved by the FDA in 2011 for treatment of non-small cell lung cancer.

Ceritinib

Brand/Trade Names: Zykadia

Formula: C₂₈H₃₆ClN₅O₃S

Mechanism: ALK Inhibitor

Protein substrate: Tryosine

Class: Type I

Administration: Oral

Notes:  Approved by the FDA in 2014 for treatment of non-small cell lung cancer.

Alectinib

Brand/Trade Names: Alecensa

Formula: C₃₀H₃₄N₄O₂

Mechanism: ALK Inhibitor

Protein substrate: Tyrosine

Class:

Administration: Oral

Notes:  Approved by the FDA  in 2015 for treatment of non-small cell lung cancer.

Brigatinib

Brand/Trade Names: Alunbrig

Formula: C₂₉H₃₉ClN₇O₂P

Mechanism: ALK Inhibitor

Protein substrate:  Tyrosine

Class:

Administration: Oral

Notes:  Approved by the FDA in 2017 for treatment of non-small cell lung cancer.

Lorlatinib

Brand/Trade Names: Lorbrena

Formula: C₂₃H₂₀OFN₅O₂

Mechanism: ALK Inhibitor

Protein substrate:

Class:

Administration: Oral

Notes: First approved by the FDA in 2018 for treatment of non-small cell lung cancer.

PI3K Inhibitors

Copanlisib

Brand/Trade Names: Aliqopa

Formula: C₂₃H₂₈N₈O₄

Mechanism: PI3K Inhibitor

Protein substrate:

Class:

Administration: Intravenous

Notes:  Approved by the FDA in 2017 for treatment of follicular lymphoma.

Duvelisib

Brand/Trade Names: Copiktra

Formula: C₂₂H₁₇ClN₆O

Mechanism: PI3K Inhibitor

Protein substrate:

Class:

Administration: Intravenous

Notes:  Approved by the FDA in 2018.  Approved for treatment of follicular lymphoma, chronic lymphocytic leukemia, and small lymphocytic lymphoma.

Alpelisib

Brand/Trade Names: Piqray

Formula: C₁₉H₂₂F₃N₅O₂S

Mechanism: PI3K Inhibitor

Protein substrate:

Class:

Administration: Oral

Notes:  Approved by the FDA in 2019 for treatment of breast cancer.

Idelalisib

Brand/Trade Names: Zydelig

Formula: C₂₂H₁₈FN₇O

Mechanism: Phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase inhibitor or phosphoinositide 3-kinase inhibitor

Protein substrate:

Class:

Administration: Oral

Notes:  Approved by the FDA in 2014.  Approved for treatment of chronic lymphocytic leukemia and non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma.

Hedgehog signaling pathway inhibitors

Glasdegib

Brand/Trade Names: Daurismo

Formula: C₂₁H₂₂N₆O

Mechanism: Hedgehog signaling pathway inhibitor

Class:

Administration: Oral

Notes:  Approved by the FDA in 2018.  Approved for treatment of acute myeloid leukemia.

Sonidegib

Brand/Trade Names: Odomzo

Formula: C₂₆H₂₆F₃N₃O₃

Mechanism: Hedgehog signaling pathway inhibitor

Class:

Administration: Oral

Notes:  Approved by FDA in 2015. Approved for treatment of basal cell carcinoma.

Vismodegib

Brand/Trade Names: Erivedge

Formula: C₁₉H₁₄Cl₂N₂O₃S

Mechanism: Hedgehog pathway inhibitor

Class:

Administration: Oral

Notes: First approved by the FDA in 2012.  Large Trial Confirms Vismodegib Benefit in Basal Cell Carcinoma   Approved for treatment of basal cell carcinoma.

Selective inhibitors of nuclear export (SINE)

Selinexor

Brand/Trade Names: Xpovio

Formula: C₁₇H₁₁F₆N₇O

Mechanism: SINE

Class:

Administration: Oral

Notes: First approved by the FDA in 2019.  Large Trial Confirms Vismodegib Benefit in Basal Cell Carcinoma   Approved for treatment of multiple myeloma.