Currently approved antiemetic drugs (i.e. drugs for the treatment of nausea and vomiting), generally target the acute phase of nausea and vomiting (i.e. nausea and vomiting that occur in the first 24 hours after the start of chemotherapy). Yet, many patients also experience delayed nausea and vomiting that occur from 24 to 120 hours or more after a course of chemotherapy.

On September 1, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approved the drug Rolapitant (Varubi) which targets this delayed chemotherapy-induced nausea and vomiting. The approval of Rolapitant was based on the results from three large clinical trials; in these trials, patients treated with different types of chemotherapy (known to cause much nausea and vomiting) who received Rolapitant in combination with Kytril and Dexamethasone, had greater reductions in delayed nausea and vomiting – compared with patients who received placebo in combination with Kytril and Dexamethasone.

Rolapitant works through the inhibition of specific mechanisms in our body which induce nausea and vomiting.

Rolapitant is taken as a pill. For each patient, its use should be discussed with the oncology physician in accordance with the medical indications

(From the NIH-National Cancer Institute)

At the moment, Rolapitant is still not approved by the Israeli drug panel as state-subsidized for the treatment of delayed nausea and vomiting.