What causes allergies to Alpelisib? How to deal with it?

Alpelisib (Alpelisib) is a drug that can effectively treat hormone receptor-positive, human epidermal growth factor receptor 2-negative advanced or metastatic breast cancer that carries PIK3CA gene mutations. However, like any drug, it may cause allergic reactions during use. An allergic reaction is an abnormal immune response of the body to a drug or its ingredients, manifesting as a range of symptoms, ranging from mild to severe.

Cause of allergy:

1.Individual differences: Each person’s immune system is unique and may respond differently to medications. Some people may have an allergic reaction to the ingredients in Apelvis, while others may tolerate it better.

2.Drug ingredients: As a targeted therapy drug, Apelix’s ingredients may cause abnormal reactions of the individual’s immune system. Certain chemicals or additives in medications may be allergens.

3.Previous allergy history: Patients who have had an allergic reaction to a similar drug or drug ingredient may also be more likely to have an allergic reaction to apelix. Anaphylaxis sometimes manifests as a memory allergy, in which a previous exposure to a similar substance leads to a more severe reaction upon subsequent exposure.

Symptoms of allergic reactions:

1.Mild allergic reactions: Including skin itching, mild urticaria, local redness and swelling, etc.

2.Moderate allergic reactions: Including moderate urticaria, mild shortness of breath, facial edema, etc.

3.Severe allergic reactions: Including severe urticaria, anaphylactic shock (anaphylactic shock is an acute and severe allergic reaction that may cause a sudden drop in blood pressure, shortness of breath, loss of consciousness, etc.). Severe allergic reactions require emergency medical treatment.

Steps to deal with allergic reactions:

1.Stop medication: If a drug allergic reaction is suspected, the use of Apelvis or other related drugs should be stopped immediately. It is best to seek medical advice before stopping medication.

2.Emergency medical treatment: If the symptoms are severe, especially shortness of breath, anaphylactic shock and other symptoms, you should seek medical treatment immediately. Anaphylaxis may require emergency treatment, and medical professionals will administer emergency treatment based on symptoms.

3.Anti-allergy medications: Doctors may recommend that patients bring anti-allergy medications, such as antihistamines, to relieve mild allergy symptoms. However, this is limited to mild allergic symptoms, and for severe allergic reactions, patients need to seek medical attention promptly.

4.Seek professional advice: After experiencing an allergic reaction, patients should contact their doctor promptly to report symptoms and seek further guidance. Doctors may need to adjust treatment plans, consider alternative medications, or take other measures.

5.Allergy Testing: After experiencing an allergic reaction, a doctor may recommend that a patient undergo an allergy test to identify the specific allergen and avoid future exposure.

Patients should communicate regularly with their doctor to report any unusual reactions or allergic symptoms while taking Apelvis or any other medicine. The doctor will assess the patient's condition and provide appropriate advice and treatment. For patients, maintaining close contact with their medical team and understanding possible side effects and allergic reactions to medications are key to ensuring safe and effective treatment.

Apelis has not yet been launched in China, so it is not included in medical insurance. Therefore, patients cannot purchase it domestically and need to purchase Apelis through overseas channels. In foreign countries, the original Apelvis drug is mainly used. There are European and Indian versions of the original drug on the market. The price of the European version of the original drug is as high as tens of thousands of yuan. Relatively speaking, the price of the Indian version of the original drug is around four to five thousand yuan. The price is still relatively cheap. Moreover, the ingredients and efficacy of the European and Indian original drugs are consistent.