From the Guidelines
Abemaciclib (Verzenio) should be taken twice daily at a dose of 150 mg. This recommendation is based on the most recent and highest quality study, which suggests that 2 years of abemaciclib (150 mg twice daily) plus endocrine therapy (ET) may be offered to patients with node-positive, hormone receptor-positive human epidermal growth factor receptor 2 (HER2)-negative breast cancer at high risk of recurrence 1. The dosing frequency and duration are crucial for maximizing the benefits of abemaciclib while minimizing its risks, as evidenced by the sustained hazard ratio (HR) of 0.680 (95% CI, 0.599 to 0.772) for invasive disease-free survival (IDFS) for abemaciclib plus ET, with a deepening of benefit over time and 5-year absolute improvement in IDFS of 7.6% and distant relapse-free survival of 6.7% compared with ET alone 1. Key points to consider when prescribing abemaciclib include:
- The medication should be taken twice daily, as this dosing schedule has been shown to be effective in clinical trials 1
- The recommended dose is 150 mg, which has been demonstrated to provide a favorable balance between efficacy and safety 1
- Abemaciclib should be used in combination with endocrine therapy (ET) for a duration of at least 5 years, as this has been shown to improve outcomes in patients with high-risk early breast cancer 1
- Patients should be closely monitored for potential adverse events, including diarrhea, fatigue, and neutropenia, which are common side effects of abemaciclib 1.
From the FDA Drug Label
DOSAGE AND ADMINISTRATION VERZENIO tablets are taken orally with or without food. (2.1) Recommended starting dose in combination with fulvestrant, tamoxifen, or an aromatase inhibitor: 150 mg twice daily. (2.1) Recommended starting dose as monotherapy: 200 mg twice daily. (2.1) Dosing Instruct patients to take the doses of VERZENIO at approximately the same times every day and to swallow whole (do not chew, crush, or split them prior to swallowing) [see Dosage and Administration (2.1)].
Abemaciclib (Verzenio) is not taken daily, it is taken twice daily. The recommended starting dose is 150 mg twice daily in combination with fulvestrant, tamoxifen, or an aromatase inhibitor, and 200 mg twice daily as monotherapy 2. Patients should take the doses at approximately the same times every day 2.
From the Research
Abemaciclib Dosage
- Abemaciclib is taken orally, twice daily, at a dose of 150 mg or 200 mg every 12 hours, depending on the specific treatment regimen 3, 4, 5.
- The dosage and administration schedule of abemaciclib may vary depending on the patient's condition, the specific treatment regimen, and the presence of any adverse events 6, 7.
Treatment Duration
- In some studies, abemaciclib was administered for a specific duration, such as 2 years, in the adjuvant treatment of early breast cancer 3.
- In other studies, abemaciclib was administered on a continuous dosing schedule, with treatment continuing until disease progression or unacceptable toxicity 4, 5.