Overview and Usage
Brand name – Iressa
Generic name – Gefitinib
Manufacturer – Astra Zaneca
Strength – 250mg
Dosage Form – Tablet
Composition – Gefitinib
Indication – Lung Cancer
Storage – at 20° – 25° C
Overview
Iressa 250mg tablet is a chemotherapy medication used to treat non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC). Gefitinib is the generic name of this medication. It is a tyrosine kinase inhibitor that exhibits antineoplastic activity. Iressa is used in the first-line treatment of lung cancer with genetic mutations.
Pharmacodynamics
Iressa functions by stopping the working of EGFR tyrosine kinase which binds to the ATP binding site of the enzyme. EGFR refers to epidermal growth factor receptor and is often overexpressed in cancerous cells, leading to stimulation of anti-apoptotic signals. Additionally, it causes cell proliferation as well. Iressa has antineoplastic activity thus it stops the growth and spreading of cancerous cells.