Drug review: Fosaprepitant

Abstract

AbstractChemotherapy-induced nausea and vomiting (CINV) is a significant contributor to the treatment morbidity experienced by patients with cancer. With effective prophylactic anti-emetics given prior to administration of moderately or highly emetogenic chemotherapy (MEC or HEC) it is expected that 70-80% of patients will have no CINV. Fosaprepitant is an intravenous prodrug of aprepitant that acts as an anti-emetic by blocking the neurokinin (NK-1) receptor. Fosaprepitant in combination with dexamethasone and 5-HT3 antagonist like ondansetron has been shown to be effective in preventing CINV in patients receiving MEC or HEC. The current review discusses the pharmacology and clinical indications for the use of fosaprepitant. The evidence for the effectiveness of fosaprepitant in the prevention of CINV and the commonly observed adverse events with its administration is discussed in this review.