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SCLC Basics

The basics: Small cell lung cancer (SCLC) and
its treatment

If you've already been through treatment for small cell lung cancer,
then you probably know a good bit about it already. Here are some
reminders and maybe some new terms that can help you
understand treatment with ZEPZELCA® (lurbinectedin).

About SCLC

What is small cell lung cancer (SCLC)?
Cancer starts when abnormal cells in the body grow out of control. Lung cancer starts in the lungs.

There are 2 types of lung cancer. One is called non–small cell lung cancer. The other is called small cell lung cancer, or SCLC.

SCLC tends to grow and spread quickly. That’s why it tends to respond to chemotherapy and radiation therapy. For the same reason, SCLC comes back for most people.

What is metastatic lung cancer?
Cancer that has spread from the lungs, where it started, to other parts of the body.

What is progression?
Disease that has spread and grown.

Treatment for small cell lung cancer (SCLC)

First-line chemotherapies for SCLC
SCLC is usually first treated with chemotherapy combinations. The combinations used most often are:

  • Cisplatin + etoposide or irinotecan
  • Carboplatin + etoposide or irinotecan

SCLC often responds to first-line chemotherapy.
But it usually comes back sooner or later.

When SCLC comes back
There are still treatment options when the first
treatment did not work or is no longer working.

ZEPZELCA is a treatment option used by itself in adults:

  • With SCLC that has spread and
  • Who have already tried cisplatin or carboplatin

Tip: Many people find that connecting with others who are going through similar experiences can be helpful.
Learn about support groups and more >>

It can be hard to hear that SCLC has come back.
But ZEPZELCA can help you keep fighting.

Get answers to Frequently asked questions about small cell lung cancer >>

WHAT IS ZEPZELCA?

ZEPZELCA® (lurbinectedin) is a prescription medicine used to treat adults with a kind of lung cancer called small cell lung cancer (SCLC).

ZEPZELCA may be used when your lung cancer:

  • has spread to other parts of the body (metastatic), and
  • you have received treatment with chemotherapy that contains platinum, and it did not work or is no longer working.

ZEPZELCA is approved based on response rate and how long the response lasted. Additional studies will further evaluate the benefit of ZEPZELCA for this use.

Important safety Information

Before receiving ZEPZELCA, tell your healthcare provider about all of your medical conditions, including if you:

  • have liver or kidney problems.
  • are pregnant or plan to become pregnant. ZEPZELCA can harm your unborn baby.
  • Females who are able to become pregnant:
    • Your healthcare provider should do a pregnancy test before you start treatment with ZEPZELCA.
    • You should use effective birth control (contraception) during treatment with and for 6 months after your last dose of ZEPZELCA.
    • Tell your healthcare provider right away if you become pregnant or think that you are pregnant during treatment with ZEPZELCA.
    Males with female partners who are able to become pregnant should use effective birth control during treatment with and for 4 months after your last dose of ZEPZELCA.
  • are breastfeeding or plan to breastfeed. It is not known if ZEPZELCA passes into your breastmilk. Do not breastfeed during treatment with ZEPZELCA and for 2 weeks after your last dose of ZEPZELCA. Talk to your healthcare provider about the best way to feed your baby during treatment with ZEPZELCA.
  • Tell your healthcare provider about all the medicines you take, including prescription and over-the-counter medicines, vitamins, and herbal supplements. Certain other medicines may affect how ZEPZELCA works.

What should I avoid while using ZEPZELCA?

Avoid eating or drinking grapefruit, Seville oranges, or products that contain grapefruit juice and Seville oranges during treatment with ZEPZELCA.

ZEPZELCA can cause serious side effects, including:

  • Low blood cell counts. Low blood counts including low neutrophil counts (neutropenia) and low platelet counts (thrombocytopenia) are common with ZEPZELCA, and can also be severe. Some people with low white blood cell counts may get fever, or an infection throughout the body (sepsis), that can cause death. Your healthcare provider should do blood tests before you receive each treatment with ZEPZELCA to check your blood cell counts.
  • Tell your healthcare provider right away if you develop:
    • fever or any other signs of infection
    • unusual bruising or bleeding
    • tiredness
    • pale colored skin
  • Liver problems. Increased liver function tests are common with ZEPZELCA and can also be severe. Your healthcare provider should do blood tests to check your liver function before you start and during treatment with ZEPZELCA.
  • Tell your healthcare provider right away if you develop symptoms of liver problems including:
    • loss of appetite
    • nausea or vomiting
    • pain on the right side of your stomach area (abdomen)
  • Leakage of ZEPZELCA out of your vein during the infusion. If ZEPZELCA leaks into the tissues around your infusion site, it can cause damage and death of tissue cells around the infusion site. You may need to have surgery to remove any dead tissue. Tell your healthcare provider right away if you see any ZEPZELCA leaking out of your vein or around the catheter during your infusion, or if you notice any redness, swelling, itching or discomfort at the infusion site at any time.
  • Severe muscle problems (rhabdomyolysis). Tell your healthcare provider if you have severe muscle pain or weakness.

Your healthcare provider may temporarily stop treatment, lower your dose, or permanently stop ZEPZELCA if you develop serious side effects during treatment with ZEPZELCA.

The most common side effects of ZEPZELCA include:

  • tiredness
  • low white and red blood cell counts
  • increased kidney function blood test (creatinine)
  • increased liver function blood tests
  • increased blood sugar (glucose)
  • nausea
  • decreased appetite
  • muscle and joint (musculoskeletal) pain
  • low level of albumin in the blood
  • constipation
  • trouble breathing
  • low levels of sodium and magnesium in the blood
  • vomiting
  • cough
  • diarrhea

These are not all of the possible side effects of ZEPZELCA.

Call your doctor for medical advice about side effects. You are encouraged to report negative side effects of prescription drugs to the FDA. Visit www.fda.gov/medwatch or call 1-800-FDA-1088. You may also report side effects to Jazz Pharmaceuticals at 1-800-520-5568.

Please see accompanying full Prescribing Information including Patient Information, and discuss with your doctor.

Jazz Pharmaceuticals Pharma Mar

ZEPZELCA is a registered trademark of PharmaMar, S.A. used by Jazz Pharmaceuticals under license.

©2024 Jazz Pharmaceuticals   US-LUR-2400113   Rev0724

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Important safety Information

Before receiving ZEPZELCA, tell your healthcare provider about all of your medical conditions, including if you:

  • have liver or kidney problems.
  • are pregnant or plan to become pregnant. ZEPZELCA can harm your unborn baby.
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