Ceritinib is a targeted cancer medicine for certain lung cancers. It is a tyrosine kinase inhibitor that blocks a protein called ALK. By turning off this signal, it can slow or stop cancer cell growth. You may also see it sold under the brand name Zykadia.
Brand Name(s)
- US: Zykadia
- Canada: Zykadia
Warning(s)
- Tell all of your health care providers that you take ceritinib. This includes doctors, nurses, pharmacists, and dentists.
- Drug interactions are common. Many medicines can interact, including some used for HIV, infections, or seizures. Do not start or stop any drug, vitamins, or herbal products without talking to your care team.
- Heart rhythm changes (long QT) can happen and may be serious. Seek help right away for fainting, chest pain or pressure, fast, slow, or irregular heartbeat, or dizziness.
- Liver problems can occur. Call your care team for dark urine, tiredness, loss of appetite, nausea, stomach pain, light-colored stools, or yellow skin or eyes.
- Pancreas problems (pancreatitis) have happened. Call your care team for severe stomach or back pain, bad nausea, or vomiting.
- Lung inflammation (pneumonitis) can occur and may be serious. Call your care team for new or worse cough, fever, shortness of breath, or trouble breathing.
- High blood sugar can happen, especially if you have diabetes. Watch for increased thirst or hunger, peeing more often, sleepiness, or breath that smells fruity.
- Low phosphate levels may occur. Tell your care team if you have muscle pain or weakness, trouble swallowing, confusion, mood changes, or vision changes.
- Nerve problems can happen, such as burning, numbness, or tingling feelings.
- You may feel dizzy or weak. Use care to prevent falls.
- You may sunburn more easily. Use sunscreen, wear protective clothing and eyewear, and avoid sunlamps and tanning beds.
- Avoid grapefruit and grapefruit juice. They can increase side effects.
- Pregnancy: Ceritinib may harm an unborn baby. You may need a pregnancy test before starting. If you can become pregnant, use birth control during treatment and for 6 months after the last dose. If your sex partner can become pregnant, use birth control during treatment and for 3 months after the last dose. Call your care team right away if pregnancy happens.
- Breastfeeding: Do not breastfeed during treatment and for 2 weeks after the last dose.
- You may have blood work and checks of blood pressure, heart rate, and blood sugar while on this medicine.
Kind of Cancers It Is Used For (not a complete list)
- ALK-positive metastatic non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) in adults.
Mechanism of Action
Some lung cancers have changes in the ALK gene that drive cancer growth. Ceritinib is a selective ALK inhibitor. It blocks the ALK protein and shuts down signals that cancer cells use to grow and survive.
By turning off these signals, ceritinib can slow cancer growth and may shrink tumors. It is a type of targeted therapy, not traditional chemotherapy.
Common Side Effects
- Diarrhea, nausea, or vomiting
- Decreased appetite and weight loss
- Stomach pain or heartburn
- Constipation
- Feeling tired or weak
- Headache
- Back pain; pain in the arms or legs; muscle pain
- Cough
These are not all the possible side effects. Side effects can be mild or serious. Contact your care team if symptoms do not get better, get worse, or feel severe. Get urgent help for symptoms listed in the Warning(s) section.
Last reviewed: 2025-12-17
