afatinib dimaleate

A drug used to treat non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) that has spread to other parts of the body. It is used in patients whose cancer has certain mutations (changes) in a gene called epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR). It is also used to treat squamous cell NSCLC that has spread to other parts of the body and got worse after treatment with anticancer drugs that included platinum. It is also being studied in the treatment of other types of cancer. Afatinib dimaleate blocks certain proteins made by the mutated EGFR gene, which may help keep cancer cells from growing. It may also prevent the growth of new blood vessels that tumors need to grow. Afatinib dimaleate is a type of tyrosine kinase inhibitor and a type of antiangiogenesis agent. Also called Gilotrif.