What is "erlotinib"

n. A drug used to treat certain cancers.

Erlotinib hydrochloride (trade name Tarceva) is a drug used to treat non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC), pancreatic cancer and several other types of cancer. It is a receptor tyrosine kinase inhibitor, which acts on the epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR).

It is marketed in the United States by Genentech and OSI Pharmaceuticals and elsewhere by Roche. In the United States as of 2015 one 150 mg pill costs between 200 and 242 USD.