Description
Qinlock 50mg Tablet (Ripretinib) – World’s First Switch-Control KIT/PDGFRA Inhibitor | NCCN Category 1 for Advanced GIST
Reviewed by a qualified oncologist | Last updated: April 2026 Prescription-only | Oncologist supervision mandatory | KIT/PDGFRA mutation testing recommended
What It Is
Qinlock 50mg contains Ripretinib — a novel oral kinase inhibitor developed by Deciphera Pharmaceuticals LLC (Waltham, MA, USA). FDA-approved May 15, 2020, Qinlock is the world’s first and only switch-control kinase inhibitor — a mechanism that is categorically different from all previous GIST tyrosine kinase inhibitors.
Qinlock is available as 50mg film-coated tablets. The recommended dose is 150mg once daily (three 50mg tablets), taken with or without food.
Important: Qinlock is the originator branded product. No FDA-approved generic or biosimilar exists as of 2026. Patients purchasing from international pharmacy exporters are receiving the genuine originator product at export pricing.
The Switch-Control Difference — Why This Matters
All prior GIST TKIs (imatinib, sunitinib, regorafenib) are type II kinase inhibitors — they occupy the ATP-binding pocket to block kinase activity. Their limitation: as KIT and PDGFRA accumulate resistance mutations across treatment lines, the ATP pocket changes shape and these inhibitors lose binding — causing disease progression.
Ripretinib works differently. It is a switch-control inhibitor — it simultaneously occupies both the ATP-binding switch pocket AND the activation loop of KIT and PDGFRA. This dual-site binding locks the kinase in its inactive conformation regardless of which resistance mutations have accumulated. By targeting the switch-control region — which is required for kinase activation regardless of mutation — ripretinib broadly inhibits primary, secondary, and treatment-resistant KIT and PDGFRA variants.
This is why Qinlock works where prior TKIs have failed: it is designed for heavily mutated, multi-drug-resistant GIST.
Indications
| Line | Indication | NCCN Status |
|---|---|---|
| 4th line (≥3 prior TKIs) | Advanced GIST after imatinib, sunitinib, regorafenib | Category 1 — only designated regimen |
| 2nd line (sunitinib-intolerant) | Advanced GIST, KIT exon 11 mutations | Preferred regimen |
| 2nd line (KIT exon 11 + 17/18) | Advanced GIST | FDA Breakthrough Therapy Designation |
INVICTUS trial (4th-line, Phase 3): Median PFS 6.3 months vs 1.0 month for placebo (HR 0.15; p<0.0001). Median OS 15.1 months vs 6.6 months. Disease control rate 76.4%.
INTRIGUE trial (2nd-line): In KIT exon 11 mutant patients, ripretinib 150mg showed superior outcomes vs sunitinib — underpinning the FDA Breakthrough Therapy Designation granted 2023.
Dosage
150mg (three 50mg tablets) orally once daily — with or without food. Take at the same time each day. Swallow whole.
Missed dose: Take if less than 8 hours have passed. Otherwise skip — do not double dose.
Dose reductions for toxicity: First reduction → 100mg (two 50mg tablets) once daily Second reduction → 50mg once daily Third → discontinue
No dose adjustment for mild/moderate renal or hepatic impairment. Avoid strong CYP3A inducers (rifampicin, carbamazepine, St. John’s Wort) — significantly reduce ripretinib exposure.
Side Effects
Very common: Alopecia (hair loss — 52%). Fatigue. Nausea. Abdominal pain. Constipation. Myalgia. Palmar-plantar erythrodysesthesia (hand-foot syndrome). Decreased appetite.
Serious — report immediately: New skin lesions or changes (cutaneous squamous cell carcinoma and melanoma reported). Cardiac dysfunction — monitor LVEF at baseline and during therapy. Hypertension. Wound healing complications — withhold for at least 1 week before elective surgery.
Embryo-foetal toxicity: Effective contraception required during treatment and for 1 week after last dose (female patients) and 1 week after last dose (male patients with female partners of reproductive potential).
Is Qinlock the same as ripretinib?
Yes. Qinlock is the brand name for ripretinib 50mg tablets by Deciphera Pharmaceuticals. No approved generic exists.
How many tablets make up one daily dose?
Three 50mg tablets = 150mg total once daily. All three are taken together at the same time each day.
What makes Qinlock different from imatinib, sunitinib, and regorafenib?
Qinlock is the only switch-control inhibitor — it blocks KIT/PDGFRA at a different site than prior TKIs, making it effective against the accumulated resistance mutations that cause failure of earlier lines. It is specifically designed for multi-drug-resistant GIST.
Is Qinlock available as a generic?
No FDA-approved generic or biosimilar exists as of 2026. International export pricing provides the most affordable access to the originator product.
Do you ship Qinlock internationally?
Yes — to USA, UK, UAE, Canada, Japan, Russia, China, Thailand, Philippines, Saudi Arabia, and Australia.
References
- Qinlock (Ripretinib) — FDA Prescribing Information, DailyMed (May 2020, updated 2024) https://dailymed.nlm.nih.gov/dailymed/drugInfo.cfm?setid=9f18e462-03dd-4296-a02a-a0577e3ee78d
- Qinlock HCP Official Website — INVICTUS Efficacy Data, NCCN V1.2025 Reference https://www.qinlockhcp.com/efficacy
- NCCN Adds Ripretinib to Guidelines for Second-line GIST — OncLive (2023) https://www.onclive.com/view/nccn-adds-ripretinib-to-guidelines-for-second-line-treatment-of-gist
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