Tipanat (trifluridine + tipiracil) 15 mg/6.14 mg tablets: profile, composition and research
Reference page for Tipanat (trifluridine + tipiracil) 15 mg/6.14 mg tablets. Active substance: Тифлуридин + типирацил / Trifluridine + Tipiracil.
- What it is: trifluridine with tipiracil, an oral cytotoxic medicine for advanced cancer.
- Presentation: tablets containing 15 mg/6.14 mg.
- Status: prescription-only medicine.
- Research: major trials in colorectal and gastric cancer, links below.
- Where to buy: APV Pharmacy (price and availability there).
Key facts
| Active substance | Trifluridine and tipiracil |
|---|---|
| Form | Film-coated tablets |
| Strength | 15 mg trifluridine and 6.14 mg tipiracil per tablet |
| Pack size | Tablets in the original blister pack |
| Category | Prescription medicine |
| Article (SKU) |
What trifluridine and tipiracil are
Tipanat is an oral anticancer medicine built around two substances: trifluridine and tipiracil. Trifluridine is the cytotoxic component, while tipiracil has no antitumour action of its own and exists to protect the first substance from being broken down too quickly.
The pairing makes a tablet form possible rather than intravenous use alone. Both components sit in a fixed proportion: every tablet carries 15 mg of trifluridine together with 6.14 mg of tipiracil.
The product is a prescription medicine and is used only under an oncologist's supervision, because it interferes with cell division and affects the blood.
How the combination works
Trifluridine
Trifluridine is structurally close to the natural nucleoside thymidine. Once inside a cell it is incorporated into DNA in place of a normal building block. This disrupts the copying of DNA and brings the division of the tumour cell to a halt.
The part played by tipiracil
Trifluridine is quickly degraded by the enzyme thymidine phosphorylase in the liver and the gut. Tipiracil blocks that enzyme and in this way keeps enough of the active substance circulating in the blood.
Why it matters
It is the addition of tipiracil that made tablet administration feasible: without it, trifluridine would not persist in the body in a sufficient quantity to reach the tumour.
Approved uses
In the prescribing information and in clinical guidance the medicine appears in metastatic colorectal cancer, once the tumour has stopped responding to other treatments.
A second setting is metastatic gastric cancer, including tumours of the gastro-oesophageal junction, after at least two earlier treatment regimens have failed.
The decision to prescribe rests with an oncologist after assessment. The length of treatment, the monitoring tests and any adjustment of therapy are the physician's call; a reference page does not prescribe.
What the research shows
The pivotal randomised RECOURSE trial found that in refractory metastatic colorectal cancer the combination extended overall survival compared with placebo. The results were published in the New England Journal of Medicine in 2015.
The TAGS trial confirmed a survival advantage in patients with heavily pretreated metastatic gastric cancer. The later SUNLIGHT trial indicated a further gain when bevacizumab was added to the combination.
The evidence comes from controlled trials in large groups, yet it concerns prolonging life and holding the disease in check rather than eliminating it altogether. Tolerability varies from person to person, and some patients need a dose reduction or a delay of the course.
Published research
Primary sources, verified against PubMed:
- Randomized trial of TAS-102 for refractory metastatic colorectal cancer., PubMed 25970050 (The New England journal of medicine, 2015).
- Trifluridine/tipiracil versus placebo in patients with heavily pretreated metastatic gastric cancer (TAGS): a randomised, double-blind, placebo-controlled, phase 3 trial., PubMed 30355453 (The Lancet. Oncology, 2018).
- Trifluridine-Tipiracil and Bevacizumab in Refractory Metastatic Colorectal Cancer., PubMed 37133585 (The New England journal of medicine, 2023).
- Trifluridine/Tipiracil: A Review in Metastatic Colorectal Cancer., PubMed 27568360 (Drugs, 2016).
Listed for reference. Publication of a study is not a claim about this particular product.
Precautions
- This is a prescription medicine. Prescribing, dosing and monitoring belong to an oncologist.
- The combination can sharply reduce white cells, red cells and platelets, so blood counts are checked before and during every course.
- Fever, chills, a sore throat or any other sign of infection must be reported to a doctor without delay.
- Nausea, vomiting, diarrhoea, loss of appetite, fatigue, soreness of the mouth and skin rash are possible.
- In pregnancy the medicine can harm the fetus; reliable contraception is required during treatment and breastfeeding is stopped.
- Tell your doctor about every other medicine you take: interactions are possible.
Frequently asked
Is Tipanat a prescription medicine?
Yes. It is a prescription anticancer medicine and is not intended for use on one's own.
Which diseases is it used in?
Metastatic colorectal cancer and metastatic gastric cancer after earlier treatment. The decision to prescribe belongs to an oncologist.
Why does this page not give a dosing schedule?
The dose, the regimen and the length of the course are set by an oncologist, taking test results and the patient's condition into account. A reference page does not prescribe treatment.
Where does the order ship from?
Shipping and customs handling are described on the APV Pharmacy delivery page.