Netupitant/palonosetron, sold under the brand name Akynzeo, is a

fixed-dose combination A combination drug is a combination of two or more pharmaceutical drugs as active ingredients combined into a single dosage form, typically as a ''fixed-dose combination'', with each constituent standardized to specifications of a fixed dose. Fix ...

medication used for the prevention of acute and delayed

chemotherapy-induced nausea and vomiting Chemotherapy-induced nausea and vomiting (CINV) is a common side-effect of many cancer treatments. Nausea and vomiting are two of the most feared cancer treatment-related side effects for cancer patients and their families. In 1983, Coates et al. f ...

. It is marketed and distributed by Helsinn Therapeutics. Netupitant is an NK₁ receptor antagonist and

palonosetron Palonosetron, sold under the brand name Aloxi, is a medication used for the prevention and treatment of chemotherapy-induced nausea and vomiting (CINV). It is a 5-HT3 antagonist. Palonosetron is administered intravenously, or as a single oral ...

is a 5-HT₃ receptor antagonist. The capsules contain netupitant and palonosetron hydrochloride. The intravenous version is a combination of fosnetupitant chloride hydrochloride and palonosetron hydrochloride.

Contraindications

Netupitant/palonosetron may be contraindicated during pregnancy.

Adverse effects

The most common side effects include headache, weakness, fatigue, upset stomach,

constipation Constipation is a bowel dysfunction that makes bowel movements infrequent or hard to pass. The Human feces, stool is often hard and dry. Other symptoms may include abdominal pain, bloating, and feeling as if one has not completely passed the ...

, and skin redness. The overall profile of adverse effects is comparable to that of palonosetron (see Palonosetron#Adverse effects); no common adverse effects can be attributed to netupitant.

Interactions

Pharmacology

History

Netupitant/palonosetron was approved for use in the United States in October 2014. It was approved for use in the European Union in May 2015. The intravenous version, which contains the prodrug fosnetupitant in place of netupitant, was approved in the United States in April 2018.

References

{{Authority control Antiemetics Combination drugs