Introduction
Larotrectinib (trade name: Vitrakvi) has been approved in Germany since September 2019 for the treatment of all solid tumors with NTRK (neurotrophic tyrosine receptor kinase) gene fusions.
The solid tumors include lung, bowel, skin and thyroid cancer. This medication is considered as a treatment if the cancer is advanced and there are no other satisfactory treatment options.
An NTRK gene fusion results from the "joining together" of an NTRK gene with another gene. This causes too many cells to grow. Larotrectinib aims to inhibit the overactive gene product that is responsible in order to slow down the growth of the cancer.