Summary of Use during Lactation

No information is available on the clinical use of alectinib during breastfeeding. Because alectinib is more than 99% bound to plasma proteins, the amount in milk is low. However, its half-life is about 33 hours and it might accumulate in the infant. The manufacturer recommends that breastfeeding be discontinued during alectinib therapy and for 1 week after the last dose.

Drug Levels

Maternal Levels. A woman being treated with alectinib 600 mg once daily for lung cancer gave birth a normal infant. A milk sample taken postpartum contained 152 mcg/L of alectinib.[1] The time of the sample was not stated, but because of the drug’s long half-life, the timing might not be critical.

Infant Levels. Relevant published information was not found as of the revision date.

Effects in Breastfed Infants

Relevant published information was not found as of the revision date.

Effects on Lactation and Breastmilk

Relevant published information was not found as of the revision date.

References

1.

Shang M, Luo X, Wu J, et al. The safety and efficacy for the treatment of alectinib in a women with ALK-positive lung cancer delivered a healthy male neonate throughout Pregnancy: A case report. Lung Cancer. 2023;180:107188. [PubMed: 37087822]

Substance Name

Alectinib

CAS Registry Number

1256580-46-7

Drug Class

Breast Feeding

Lactation

Milk, Human

Antineoplastic Agents

Enzyme Inhibitors

Protein Kinase Inhibitors

Signal Transduction Inhibitors

Tyrosine Kinase Inhibitors