Brukinsa (zanubrutinib) is a prescription oral medication used to treat several types of B-cell blood cancers in adults. It belongs to a drug class called Bruton’s tyrosine kinase (BTK) inhibitors and was first approved by the FDA in November 2019.
What Is Brukinsa Used For?
Brukinsa is FDA-approved to treat several B-cell malignancies, including:
- Mantle cell lymphoma (MCL)
- Waldenström’s macroglobulinemia (WM)
- Marginal zone lymphoma (MZL)
- Chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL) and small lymphocytic lymphoma (SLL)
- Follicular lymphoma (FL), in combination with obinutuzumab
How It Works
Brukinsa blocks an enzyme called Bruton’s tyrosine kinase (BTK), which abnormal B-cells rely on to survive and multiply. By inhibiting BTK, Brukinsa slows the growth and spread of the malignant cells driving these cancers. It’s taken orally, either as an 80 mg capsule or a 160 mg tablet, according to the dosing schedule a hematologist-oncologist sets for the specific cancer being treated.
Brukinsa Side Effects
Brukinsa’s most frequently reported serious adverse reactions in clinical trials were pneumonia (occurring in about 11% of patients) and hemorrhage or bleeding events (about 5%). Other commonly reported side effects include:
- Decreased blood cell counts (neutrophils, platelets, hemoglobin)
- Musculoskeletal pain
- Diarrhea
- Bruising
- Upper respiratory tract infection
Serious Risks
Like other BTK inhibitors, Brukinsa carries warnings for serious infections (bacterial, viral, and fungal), significant bleeding events, cardiac arrhythmias including atrial fibrillation and flutter, and second primary cancers. Blood counts and cardiac symptoms are typically monitored throughout treatment. This is general information, not medical advice — anyone on Brukinsa experiencing signs of infection, unusual bleeding or bruising, or an irregular heartbeat should contact their oncology team promptly.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Brukinsa a form of chemotherapy?
No. Brukinsa is a targeted therapy, not traditional chemotherapy. It works by blocking a specific enzyme (BTK) that malignant B-cells depend on, rather than broadly killing rapidly dividing cells.
How is Brukinsa different from ibrutinib (Imbruvica)?
Both are BTK inhibitors used for overlapping blood cancers, but Brukinsa is a more selective BTK inhibitor, which in head-to-head trial data was associated with a lower rate of certain cardiac side effects, such as atrial fibrillation, compared with ibrutinib. The choice between them depends on individual patient factors a hematologist-oncologist evaluates.
Do you take Brukinsa with food?
Brukinsa can be taken with or without food. It should be swallowed whole with water and not opened, crushed, or chewed.