Ballicules › Drugs › Asciminib
Pronunciation: as-KIM-i-nib (SEM-blix)
Mechanism of action: Asciminib ballicule
What it is Allosteric BCR-ABL1 inhibitor binding the myristoyl pocket rather than the ATP site; chronic myeloid leukemia.
Why this one Its distinct binding site can retain activity after ATP-site inhibitors fail, including against T315I disease.
What limits it Myelosuppression, pancreatic-enzyme elevation or pancreatitis, hypertension, and arterial events require monitoring.
Molecular structure: Asciminib
FDA label
Read the full label on DailyMed ↗
FDA dosing Population Start Target Max
Ph+ CML in chronic phase (newly diagnosed or previously treated) Adults 80 mg QD or 40 mg BID (~12 h apart) 80 mg QD or 40 mg BID 80 mg/day
Ph+ CML-CP with T315I mutation Adults 200 mg BID (~12 h apart) 200 mg BID 400 mg/day
Renal No adjustment needed (mild-severe, eGFR 15-89, not requiring dialysis)
Hepatic No adjustment needed (mild-severe)
Dose-reduce for adverse reactions: CML-CP 40 mg QD or 20 mg BID; T315I 160 mg BID; discontinue if not tolerated
Instructions Take without food; avoid food >=2 h before and 1 h after each dose Swallow tablets whole; do not break, crush, or chew Missed dose: skip if >~12 h late (QD regimen) or >~6 h late (BID regimens); take next dose as scheduled
Available strengths
Cautions Myelosuppression — CBC q2wk for first 3 months, then monthly; manage by interruption/dose reduction Pancreatic toxicity — monitor lipase/amylase monthly; evaluate for pancreatitis if elevation with abdominal symptoms Hypertension (18%) — monitor BP; interrupt/reduce/stop if not medically controlled Hypersensitivity (rash, edema, bronchospasm) Cardiovascular toxicity (ischemic, thromboembolic, cardiac failure, arrhythmia incl. QTc prolongation) — monitor patients with CV risk factors Embryo-fetal toxicity — verify pregnancy status; effective contraception during and 1 wk after
Adverse reactions Musculoskeletal pain Rash Fatigue Upper respiratory tract infection Headache Abdominal pain Arthralgia Diarrhea Labs: decreased lymphocytes/leukocytes/platelets/neutrophils/hemoglobin; increased lipase, cholesterol, triglycerides, uric acid, ALT/AST/ALP, CK, amylase
Pregnancy Can cause fetal harm (animal malformations at <=human exposure); verify pregnancy status before starting; contraception during and 1 wk after last dose
Lactation Do not breastfeed during treatment and for 1 week after last dose
Cost Asciminib (SCEMBLIX)
Strength #/mo generic $/mo CostPlus 20 mg tab 30 qd not offered 40 mg tab 30 qd not offered 100 mg tab 30 qd not offered
NADAC is a voluntary CMS survey of what retail community pharmacies pay for the drugs they stock. Asciminib is dispensed outside retail pharmacies, so it rarely appears on surveyed invoices.
Generic entry 2040 est.
Principal risk No FDA boxed warning.
Classes and tags
Clinical profile
Therapeutic safety burden 3 / 4
Overdose danger 2 / 4
Weight-gain liability 0 / 4
Sedation liability 0 / 4
QT / Torsades 0 / 4
Direct muscarinic antagonism 0 / 4
Embryofetal risk 3 / 4
Legacy pregnancy category Not assigned — PLLR-era drug
Defining liability Myelosuppression and agent-specific hepatic, cardiac, pulmonary, neurologic or reproductive toxicity require oncology monitoring.
Open Asciminib in the interactive console ↗