Lumakras (loo-ma-krass) is an oral targeted cancer medicine used to treat certain types of non-small cell lung cancer and colorectal cancer in adults. It is prescribed for patients whose tumors carry a specific genetic change, the KRAS G12C mutation.
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Lumakras was the first medicine developed to directly target the KRAS G12C mutation (a cancer-promoting gene) that was once considered “untreatable” due to its complex structure. This cancer drug made a remarkable breakthrough in cancer care, especially for cancer patients with the KRAS G12 mutation who previously had limited therapeutic options.
The generic name for Lumakras is sotorasib, and it is available as an oral tablet as prescribed by your doctor. Read on to learn its uses, how it works, dosage, possible side effects, and safety measures.
Lumakras (Sotorasib): Uses
The US Food and Drug Administration approved Lumakras in May 2021 to treat:
- Non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC)
- Colorectal cancer (CRC)
Lumakras is only prescribed to adults under the following cases:
- When cancer has spread to other parts of the body or cannot be removed by surgery
- When a tumor has an abnormal KRAS G12C gene
- When a patient has already tried other treatments (e.g., chemotherapy)
Before prescribing Lumakras, your healthcare provider will perform a biomarker test to ensure this drug is right for you.
Lumakras: Working Mechanism
Lumakras (sotorasib) specifically targets the cancer mutation (KRAS G12C) that drives tumor growth. Normally, the KRAS protein in your body acts like a molecular switch that tells cells when to grow and when to stop.
However, when a mutation occurs in the KRAS protein, it gets stuck in an “ON” state, leading to continuous, uncontrolled cell growth and tumor formation (most commonly in NSCLC).
Sotorasib, the active component in Lumakras, attaches to the KRAS G12C mutation and locks it in an inactive state, so it can’t send a signal to cancer cells to multiply, thus preventing the growth of tumor cells.
Unlike traditional chemotherapy that kills both healthy and cancer cells, Lumakras works in a more selective way and only kills cancer cells with the KRAS G12C mutation.
Lumakras: Drug Forms
Lumakras is available as an oral tablet in the following strengths:
- 320 mg
- 240 mg
- 120 mg
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FDA Recommended Dosage
The FDA-approved dosage for patients with non-small cell lung cancer and metastatic colorectal cancer is 960 mg once a day.
Depending on the Lumakras tablet strength you have, you may take:
- Three 320 mg tablets
- Four 240 mg tablets
- Eight 120 mg tablets.
Your doctor will tell you exactly how many tablets to take each day to reach the total dose of 960 mg.
How It Is Taken
Lumakras tablet is taken orally, with or without food. You should swallow the tablets whole. Do not chew, crush, or split tablets.
If you have colorectal cancer, you’ll also receive a recommended dose of panitumumab intravenously (through a vein) after taking your first dose of Lumakras.
If You Cannot Swallow Lumakras Tablets
If swallowing tablets is difficult, you can take Lumakras by mixing it with water:
- Put your dose in 120 ml (4 oz) of room-temperature, non-carbonated water (don’t crush or use other liquids).
- Stir for about 3 minutes until the tablets break into small pieces (they won’t fully dissolve).
- Drink the mixture right away or within 2 hours.
- Do not chew any pieces.
- Rinse the glass with another 120 ml of water and drink it to get the full dose.
- If you missed a dose by more than 6 hours or vomit after taking a dose, do not take an extra dose; just continue with your next scheduled dose.
Possible Side Effects
Lumakras can cause mild and serious side effects in patients with NSCLC and metastatic colorectal cancer.
Common Side Effects
The most common side effects of Lumakras when used alone for NSCLC are:
- Diarrhea
- Musculoskeletal pain (pain in the muscle and bone)
- Nausea
- Tiredness
- Cough
The most common side effects of Lumakras when used in combination with panitumumab for CRC include:
- Rash
- Dry skin
- Diarrhea
- Stomatitis (mouth sores)
- Fatigue
- Muscle or bone pain
Serious Side Effects
Serious side effects can rarely occur, which include:
- Liver problems (common signs include jaundice, bleeding or bruising, lack of appetite, weakness, dark urine, pain or aching in your stomach)
- Lung or breathing problems (common signs include new or worsening shortness of breath, cough, or fever). This could happen due to the inflammation in the lungs, which sometimes leads to death if not treated immediately.
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About Copay AssistanceLumakras: Interaction with Other Drugs
You should not take stomach acid–reducing medicines such as Proton Pump Inhibitor (PPI) or H2 blockers at the same time as your scheduled Lumakras dose. This is because antacid medicines can affect how Lumakras works, and vice versa.
If you cannot avoid taking antacid medicines, then administer Lumakras either 4 hours before or 10 hours after the antacid.
Lumakras: Safety Measures
Before taking Lumakras, tell your healthcare provider if you:
- Have liver problems
- Have lung or breathing problems other than lung cancer
- Are allergic to sotorasib or any of the other ingredients of this medicine
- Are pregnant or plan to become pregnant. It is not known if Lumakras is safe for your unborn baby.
- Are breastfeeding or plan to breastfeed. It is not safe to breastfeed while taking Lumakras. You may start breastfeeding 1 week after your last dose.
- Are taking any prescription or non-prescription medicines, vitamins, and herbal supplements. Lumakras may affect the way other medicines work, and other medicines may affect how Lumakras works.
Estimated Cost
Lumakras is currently available as a brand-name drug only, and no generic version is available yet. It can be quite expensive without insurance. Below are the estimated costs for different tablet strengths:
- 120 mg tablets: $22,315.10 for 240 tablets
- 240 mg tablets: $22,315.10 for 120 tablets
- 320 mg tablets: $22,315.10 for 90 tablets
The cost of Lumakras can vary depending on the pharmacy, location, and insurance coverage. You may not pay the full price because insurance coverage, copay assistance, or pharmacy discount cards can help reduce the cost. Contact us if you are interested in exploring financial assistance opportunities or copay assistance for Lumakras.
REFERENCES:
- US Food and Drug Administration (FDA). Lumakras (sotorasib) Prescribing Information: https://www.accessdata.fda.gov/drugsatfda_docs/label/2025/214665Orig1s009correctedlbl.pdf
- European Medicines Agency (EMC). Lumakras (sotorasib) Prescribing Information: https://www.ema.europa.eu/en/documents/product-information/lumykras-epar-product-information_en.pdf
- Nakajima, E. C., Drezner, N., Li, X., Mishra-Kalyani, P. S., Liu, Y., Zhao, H., Bi, Y., Liu, J., Rahman, A., Wearne, E., Ojofeitimi, I., Hotaki, L. T., Spillman, D., Pazdur, R., Beaver, J. A., & Singh, H. (2022). FDA Approval Summary: Sotorasib for KRAS G12C Mutated Metastatic NSCLC. Clinical Cancer Research: An Official Journal of the American Association for Cancer Research, 28(8), 1482. https://doi.org/10.1158/1078-0432.CCR-21-3074
- Sheridan, C. (2021). Oncologists greet Lumakras: The world’s first KRAS inhibitor. https://doi.org/10.1038/s41587-021-01053-9
- Fakih, M. G., Salvatore, L., Esaki, T., Modest, D. P., Lopez-Bravo, D. P., Taieb, J., Karamouzis, M. V., Ruiz-Garcia, E., Kim, T., Kuboki, Y., Meriggi, F., Cunningham, D., Yeh, K., Chan, E., Chao, J., Saportas, Y., Tran, Q., Cremolini, C., & Pietrantonio, F. (2023). Sotorasib plus Panitumumab in Refractory Colorectal Cancer with Mutated KRAS G12C. New England Journal of Medicine, 389(23), 2125–2139. https://doi.org/10.1056/nejmoa2308795
