4 December 2018 - - US-based specialty pharmacy US Bioservices has been selected by German drugmaker Bayer and its collaboration partner Loxo Oncology, Inc. to dispense Vitrakvi(larotrectinib), the company said.

Vitrakvi was approved by the US Food and Drug Administration on November 26, 2018.

Vitrakvi is an oral tropomyosin receptor kinase inhibitor for the treatment of adult and pediatric patients with solid tumors that have a neurotrophic receptor tyrosine kinase gene fusion without a known acquired resistance mutation, are metastatic or where surgical resection is likely to result in severe morbidity, and have no satisfactory alternative treatments or that have progressed following treatment.

A tumor's underlying genomic profile is increasingly important in oncology treatment. NTRK gene fusions are genomic alterations that result in the overexpression of TRK fusion proteins.

Growing research suggests that the NTRK genes can become abnormally fused to other genes, producing a TRK fusion protein that can lead to the growth and survival of solid tumors in various sites of the body.

TRK fusion cancer occurs across a broad range of tumor types with varying frequency in both adult and pediatric patients.

Vitrakvi is designed to inhibit overexpressed TRK fusion proteins that lead to TRK fusion cancer growth and survival.

As a specialty pharmacy, US Bioservices has more than two decades of experience supporting small patient populations and patients with various types of cancers.

Through its Oncology Center of Excellence, US Bioservices' dedicated Oncology Patient Support Team will provide customised, high-touch services that address the unique clinical profile of this therapy and specific needs of the patient population.

US Bioservices' team of pharmacists and registered nurses provide therapy-specific education and 24/7 clinical support to patients and their caregivers.

Through the breadth of resources available at AmerisourceBergen, US Bioservices develops solutions to ensure all patients on therapy receive specialised support to navigate their treatment, clinically, economically and socially.

AmerisourceBergen companies supporting the launch of this therapy include ASD Healthcare for exclusive specialty distribution to hospitals, 340B eligible covered entities and any government entities; Oncology Supply for specialty distribution to physician practices; ION Solutions to support community oncology services and Lash Group for patient support services.

Vitrakvi is a limited distribution medication that is only available from select specialty pharmacies.