How does BALVERSA® work?
BALVERSA® is a drug that is called a kinase inhibitor. A kinase inhibitor is a substance that blocks a type of enzyme (a protein) called a kinase. Human cells have many different kinases, and they help control important functions.
BALVERSA® works by stopping the activity of FGFR, which is present in the bladder cancer tumor cell as well as healthy cells throughout the body. Because BALVERSA® targets the FGFR protein and can affect all cells with this receptor, it may cause serious side effects.
BALVERSA® is the first medicine of its kind approved by the FDA to treat people with advanced bladder cancer where the tumor carries a certain abnormal FGFR gene.
FDA = U.S. Food and Drug Administration.
Is BALVERSA® right for you?
Talk to your doctor about whether BALVERSA® may be right for you. In order for you to receive BALVERSA®, your doctor must first test your cancer for certain types of abnormal FGFR genes. To do this, your doctor will send a tissue sample from your tumor to a lab for analysis. This can be done with tissue from a new biopsy or with tissue that was already removed, so you may not need an additional procedure.