Afatinib is a medication used to treat non-small cell lung carcinoma (NSCLC).

It blocks the formation of new blood vessels (angiogenesis) by the cancer, thus preventing the cancer from growing.

It is mainly used to treat cases of NSCLC that harbour mutations in the epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) gene.

Like lapatinib and neratinib, afatinib is a protein kinase inhibitor that also irreversibly inhibits human epidermal growth factor receptor 2 (Her2) and epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) kinases.

Afatinib is not only active against EGFR mutations targeted by first generation tyrosine-kinase inhibitors (TKIs) like erlotinib or gefitinib, but also against mutations such as T790M which are not sensitive to these standard therapies. 

-EGFR Mutation-Positive metastatic Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer: For the first-line treatment of patients with metastatic non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) whose tumors have non-resistant epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) mutations as detected by an approved test.

-Previously Treated metastatic Squamous NSCLC: For the treatment of patients with metastatic squamous NSCLC progressing after platinum-based chemotherapy.

Before you start treatment your doctor may perform tests to make sure afatinib is the best treatment for your type of lung cancer.

Afatinib is usually taken once per day. Follow all directions on your prescription label. Do not take this medicine in larger or smaller amounts or for longer than recommended.

Take afatinib on an empty stomach at least 1 hour before or 2 hours after a meal.

Afatinib can cause severe diarrhea which can be life-threatening if it leads to dehydration. You may be given medications to prevent or quickly treat diarrhea.