BTK inhibitors: what pharmacists need to know

Bruton tyrosine kinase (BTK) inhibitors are used to treat cancers caused by defective B cells, such as chronic lymphocytic leukaemia, B-cell lymphomas and Waldenström macroglobulinemia (WM). While B-cell malignancies are relatively rare cancers, their incidence is increasing. There are significant side effects and drug interactions associated with these therapies, and as the clinical use of BTK inhibitors increases, so does the need for pharmacists and pharmacy teams to be aware of them. In this episode of The PJ Pod, Caitlin Killen, assistant clinical editor, speaks to a patient who has received these therapies, as well as with two experts to find out more about the different BTK inhibitor classes, their mechanisms of action and considerations for their use in practice, with a focus on WM.