The Pharmacovigilance Analysis of Adverse Events of Erlotinib Based on the Open Access FAERS Database
February 2026
in “
MedBA Medicine
”
TLDR Erlotinib can cause unexpected side effects like eyelash growth and scarring.
This study analyzed adverse events (AEs) associated with erlotinib, a drug used to treat lung and pancreatic cancer, using data from 9,360,316 case reports in the FAERS database. Of these, 2,870 reports identified erlotinib as the primary suspect for AEs, with 177 adverse drug reactions (ADRs) affecting 21 organ systems. While some AEs, like dermatitis acneiform, were consistent with clinical observations, unexpected AEs such as eyelash growth, thoracic metastases, and scarring alopecia were also identified. These findings suggest the need for further clinical studies to confirm these ADRs and improve patient guidance.