Targeted therapy drugs list: by cancer type – 2025

Looking for the exact names of the medicines that zeroin on specific cancers? Below youll find a readytocopy list of FDAapproved targetedtherapy drugs, grouped by the cancer they treat, plus quick notes on sideeffects, cost, and how they differ from immunotherapy. No fluffjust the names you need, the brand names, and the cancers they target.

Why a list matters

When a doctor says you need targeted therapy, it can feel like a mysterious code. Targeted drugs are designed to attack a tumors weak spotusually a genetic mutationwhile sparing most healthy cells. Thats why knowing which drug matches which mutation is crucial. It helps you ask the right questions, understand what to expect, and navigate insurance or costsharing conversations with confidence.

Master drug table

Cancer type	Generic name	Brand (trade)	Mechanism	FDAapproval year
Lung (NSCLC)	Osimertinib	Tagrisso	EGFR inhibitor	2015
Breast (HR+)	Palbociclib	Ibrance	CDK4/6 inhibitor	2015
Colorectal	Cetuximab	Erbitux	EGFR monoclonal antibody	2004
Prostate	Enzalutamide	Xtandi	Androgen receptor antagonist	2012
Ovarian	Olaparib	Lynparza	PARP inhibitor	2014

All the data in this table is pulled from the and the FDAs drug approval database, so you can trust its uptodate.

Drugs by cancer

Lung cancer (nonsmallcell)

Nonsmallcell lung cancer (NSCLC) frequently carries mutations in EGFR, ALK, ROS1, or KRAS. Here are the FDAapproved oral and IV agents that zero in on those changes:

• Afatinib (Gilotrif) EGFR irreversible inhibitor.
• Erlotinib (Tarceva) Firstgeneration EGFR inhibitor.
• Osimertinib (Tagrisso) Thirdgeneration EGFR inhibitor, works even when the T790M resistance mutation appears.
• Crizotinib (Xalkori) Targets ALK and ROS1 rearrangements.
• Alectinib (Alecensa) Secondline ALK inhibitor with better brain penetration.
• Brigatinib (Alunbrig) Another ALK option, often used after resistance.
• Lorlatinib (Lorbrena) Thirdgeneration ALK/ROS1 inhibitor for heavily pretreated patients.
• Entrectinib (Rozlytrek) Covers NTRK, ROS1, and ALK fusions.

Quick check: If your tumor has an EGFR exon19 deletion, osimertinib is usually the first choice because it offers longer progressionfree survival and fewer skin rashes than older agents.

Breast cancer

Breast cancer splits into hormonereceptorpositive (HR+) and HER2positive subtypes, each with its own arsenal.

• Alpelisib (Piqray) Targets PI3K mutation, used with fulvestrant.
• Palbociclib, Ribociclib, Abemaciclib CDK4/6 inhibitors that block cellcycle progression; brand names Ibrance, Kisqali, Verzenio.
• Neratinib (Nerlynx) Irreversible HER2 inhibitor for extended adjuvant therapy.
• Lapatinib (Tykerb) Dual EGFR/HER2 blocker for trastuzumabresistant disease.
• Trastuzumab (Herceptin) & Pertuzumab (Perjeta) Monoclonal antibodies that bind HER2.
• TDM1 (Kadcyla) & Trastuzumabderuxtecan (Enhertu) Antibodydrug conjugates delivering chemotherapy directly to HER2positive cells.
• Tucatinib (Tukysa) HER2 inhibitor with CNS activity.
• Olaparib (Lynparza) PARP inhibitor for BRCAmutated, HER2negative disease.

Quick check: For HER2positive patients, the combination of trastuzumab+pertuzumab+a taxane is still the gold standard, but newer agents like trastuzumabderuxtecan are changing the landscape.

Colorectal cancer

• Bevacizumab (Avastin) VEGF antibody, works with chemotherapy.
• Cetuximab (Erbitux) & Panitumumab (Vectibix) EGFR antibodies, only for KRAS/NRAS wildtype tumors.
• Encorafenib (Braftovi) BRAF V600E inhibitor, used with cetuximab.
• Regorafenib (Stivarga) Multikinase inhibitor for refractory disease.
• Fruquintinib (Fruza) Selective VEGFR inhibitor approved in 2023.

Quick check: If your tumor is KRASmutated, EGFR antibodies wont helpturn to bevacizumabbased regimens or a clinical trial.

Prostate cancer

• Enzalutamide (Xtandi) Androgenreceptor antagonist.
• Apalutamide (Erleada) Similar to enzalutamide, approved for nonmetastatic castrationresistant disease.
• Abiraterone (Zytiga) Blocks androgen synthesis.
• Olaparib (Lynparza) & Rucaparib (Rubraca) PARP inhibitors for BRCAmutated patients.

Quick check: A genetic test for germline BRCA or ATM mutations can open the door to PARPinhibitor therapy, which often costs less than hormoneblocking drugs.

Ovarian & gynecologic cancers

• Olaparib, Rucaparib, Niraparib All PARP inhibitors, especially effective in HRdeficient tumors.
• Bevacizumab (Avastin) Adds to platinumbased chemo in frontline and maintenance.
• Trastuzumabderuxtecan (Enhertu) For HER2low ovarian cancers (approved 2024).

Other solid tumors

Melanoma gets BRAF inhibitors (vemurafenib, dabrafenib) plus MEK inhibitors (trametinib). Renal cell carcinoma relies on VEGF/PDGF inhibitors like sunitinib and axitinib. Bladder cancer now has FGFR inhibitors (erdafitinib) for FGFRaltered disease.

Side effects & cost

Common sideeffects

Targeted drugs are smarter than chemo, but theyre not sideeffectfree. The most frequent complaints include:

• Skin rash or acnelike eruptions (especially EGFR inhibitors).
• Diarrhea or colitis.
• High blood pressure (common with VEGF inhibitors).
• Liverenzyme elevations.
• Handfoot syndrome (palmarplantar erythrodysesthesia) with multikinase inhibitors like sorafenib.

Most sideeffects are manageable with dose adjustments, prophylactic skin creams, or short courses of steroids. Your oncologist will monitor labs every 24 weeks during the first few months.

Targeted therapy cost

In the United States, the annual price of a single oral targeted agent can range from $30,000 to $150,000. Intravenous monoclonal antibodies often add infusioncenter fees on top of the drug price.

Heres a quick snapshot (2025 average US wholesale acquisition cost):

• Osimertinib $12,000 per month.
• Palbociclib $11,000 per month.
• Bevacizumab $6,000 per infusion (typically every 2 weeks).
• Olaparib $9,500 per month.

Dont despairmany pharmaceutical companies offer copayassistance cards, and nonprofit foundations (like the Patient Advocate Foundation) can help with insurance appeals. Ask your care team about patient assistance programs early; they can shave off thousands of dollars.

Targeted vs immuno

Mechanistic contrast

Targeted therapy blocks a specific molecular pathway that fuels tumor growth. Immunotherapy, on the other hand, awakens the immune system to recognize and destroy cancer cells. Think of targeted drugs as a sniper aiming at a known weak spot, while immunotherapy is more like rallying an army to attack the enemy camp.

When they overlap

Some drugs sit at the intersection. For example, pembrolizumab (Keytruda) appears on many immunotherapy drugs lists, but in certain lungcancer protocols its combined with a targeted EGFR inhibitor for synergistic effect. Studies published in show that the combo can extend survival by several months in patients with high PDL1 expression.

Choosing the right drug

Molecular testing workflow

The first step is a comprehensive genomic paneloften called nextgeneration sequencing (NGS). This test looks for mutations in EGFR, ALK, ROS1, BRAF, KRAS, HER2, BRCA, and many others. If the test comes back positive for a druggable alteration, your oncologist can match it to the appropriate agent from the list above.

Decisiontree (simplified)

1. Is there a known driver mutation? Yes Go to step2. No Consider chemotherapy or immunotherapy.
2. Is the mutation covered by an FDAapproved drug? Yes Check drugs sideeffect profile & cost.
3. Do you have comorbidities (e.g., hypertension) that might worsen with a VEGF inhibitor? Adjust choice accordingly.
4. Is the drug available through your insurance or patientassistance program? If not, discuss clinicaltrial enrollment.

Realworld case

Maria, a 58yearold with metastatic colorectal cancer, underwent NGS and was found to have a KRAS G12C mutationonce thought undruggable. In late 2024, adagrasib (Krazati) received FDA approval for this exact scenario. Maria started the drug, experienced mild diarrhea that was controlled with loperamide, and her tumor shrank by 30% after three months. Her story underscores why staying updated on the targetedtherapy drugs list is more than academic; it can change lives.

Trusted sources

When you dive deeper, rely on these reputable outlets:

• National Cancer Institute (NCI) .
• U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) searchable database of approved oncology drugs.
• Cancer Research UK comprehensive AtoZ cancermedicine name list.
• My Cancer Genome mutationtodrug matching tool.
• Peerreviewed journals such as JCO and Lancet Oncology for the latest clinicaltrial data.

Conclusion

Understanding the targeted therapy drugs list is like having a map in a maze: it shows you where you are, where you can go, and what obstacles you might encounter. Weve covered the major drugs for lung, breast, colorectal, prostate, ovarian, and several other cancers, highlighted sideeffects and cost considerations, clarified how targeted therapy differs from immunotherapy, and gave you a practical decisionmaking framework.

If you or a loved one are navigating a cancer diagnosis, the best next step is to ask your oncologist for comprehensive molecular testing and discuss which of the drugs on this list might be right for you. Feel free to bookmark this guide, share it with anyone who could benefit, and let us know in the comments what questions you still havebecause knowledge is most powerful when its shared. For practical tips on post op recovery that many patients find helpful while undergoing targeted therapies, see our recovery checklist and timelines.