Pemfexy
RxNorm 2590672· PEMETREXED· INTRAVENOUS
Eagle Pharmaceuticals, Inc.
Indications and usage
1 INDICATIONS AND USAGE PEMFEXY™ is a folate analog metabolic inhibitor indicated for: in combination with pembrolizumab and platinum chemotherapy, for the initial treatment of patients with metastatic non-squamous NSCLC, with no EGFR or ALK genomic tumor aberrations. ( 1.1 ) in combination with cisplatin for the initial treatment of patients with locally advanced or metastatic non-squamous, non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC). ( 1.1 ) as a single agent for the maintenance treatment of patients with locally advanced or metastatic non-squamous NSCLC whose disease has not progressed after four cycles of platinum-based first-line chemotherapy. ( 1.1 ) as a single agent for the treatment of patients with recurrent, metastatic non-squamous NSCLC after prior chemotherapy. ( 1.1 ) Limitations of Use : PEMFEXY is not indicated for the treatment of patients with squamous cell non-small cell lung cancer. ( 1.1 ) in combination with cisplatin for the initial treatment, of patients with malignant pleural mesothelioma whose disease is unresectable or who are otherwise not candidates for curative surgery. ( 1.2 ) 1.1 Non-squamous Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer PEMFEXY ™ is indicated: in combination with pembrolizumab and platinum chemotherapy, for the initial treatment of patients with metastatic non-squamous non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC), with no EGFR or ALK genomic tumor aberrations. in combination with cisplatin for the initial treatment of patients with locally advanced or metastatic, non-squamous NSCLC. as a single agent for the maintenance treatment of patients with locally advanced or metastatic non-squamous NSCLC whose disease has not progressed after four cycles of platinum-based first-line chemotherapy. as a single agent for the treatment of patients with recurrent, metastatic non-squamous NSCLC after prior chemotherapy. Limitations of Use : PEMFEXY is not indicated for the treatment of patients with squamous cell NSCLC [see Clinical Studies 14.1 ]. 1.2 Mesothelioma PEMFEXY is indicated in combination with cisplatin for the initial treatment of patients with malignant pleural mesothelioma whose disease is unresectable or who are otherwise not candidates for curative surgery.
Dosage and administration
2 DOSAGE AND ADMINISTRATION The recommended dose of PEMFEXY administered with pembrolizumab and platinum chemotherapy in patients with a creatinine clearance (calculated by Cockcroft-Gault equation) of 45 mL/min or greater is 500 mg/m 2 as an intravenous infusion over 10 minutes, administered after pembrolizumab and prior to platinum chemotherapy, on Day 1 of each 21-day cycle. ( 2.1 ) The recommended dosage of PEMFEXY, administered as a single agent or with cisplatin, in patients with creatinine clearance of 45 mL/minute or greater, is 500 mg/m 2 as an intravenous infusion over 10 minutes on Day 1 of each 21-day cycle. ( 2.1 , 2.2 , 2.3 ) Initiate folic acid 400 mcg to 1000 mcg orally once daily beginning 7 days prior to the first dose of PEMFEXY and continue until 21 days after the last dose. ( 2.4 ) Administer vitamin B 12 1 mg intramuscularly 1 week prior to the first dose of PEMFEXY and every 3 cycles thereafter. ( 2.4 ) Administer dexamethasone 4 mg orally twice daily the day before, the day of, and the day after PEMFEXY administration. ( 2.4 ) 2.1 Recommended Dosage for Non-squamous Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer The recommended dose of PEMFEXY, when administered with pembrolizumab and platinum chemotherapy for the initial treatment of metastatic non-squamous NSCLC in patients with a creatinine clearance (calculated by Cockcroft-Gault equation) of 45 mL/min or greater is 500 mg/m 2 as an intravenous infusion over 10 minutes administered after pembrolizumab and prior to carboplatin or cisplatin on Day 1 of each 21-day cycle for 4 cycles. Following completion of platinum-based therapy, treatment with PEMFEXY with or without pembrolizumab is administered until disease progression or unacceptable toxicity. Please refer to the full prescribing information for pembrolizumab and for carboplatin or cisplatin. The recommended dosage of PEMFEXY, when administered with cisplatin for initial treatment of locally advanced or metastatic non-squamous NSCLC in patients with a creatinine clearance (calculated by Cockcroft-Gault equation) of 45 mL/min or greater, is 500 mg/m 2 as an intravenous infusion over 10 minutes administered prior to cisplatin on Day 1 of each 21-day cycle for up to six cycles in the absence of disease progression or unacceptable toxicity. The recommended dosage of PEMFEXY for maintenance treatment of non-squamous NSCLC in patients with a creatinine clearance (calculated by Cockcroft-Gault equation) of 45 mL/min or greater is 500 mg/m 2 as an intravenous infusion over 10 minutes on Day 1 of each 21-day cycle until disease progression or unacceptable toxicity after four cycles of platinum-based first-line chemotherapy. The recommended dosage of PEMFEXY for treatment of recurrent non-squamous NSCLC in patients with a creatinine clearance (calculated by Cockcroft-Gault equation) of 45 mL/min or greater is 500 mg/m 2 as an intravenous infusion over 10 minutes on Day 1 of each 21-day cycle until disease progression or unacceptable toxicity. 2.2 Recommended Dosage for Mesothelioma The recommended dosage of PEMFEXY, when administered with cisplatin, in patients with a creatinine clearance (calculated by Cockcroft-Gault equation) of 45 mL/min or greater is 500 mg/m 2 as an intravenous infusion over 10 minutes on Day 1 of each 21-day cycle until disease progression or unacceptable toxicity. 2.3 Renal Impairment PEMFEXY dosing recommendations are provided for patients with a creatinine clearance (calculated by Cockcroft-Gault equation) of 45 mL/min or greater [see Dosage and Administration ( 2.1 , 2.2 )] . There is no recommended dose for patients whose creatinine clearance is less than 45 mL/min [see Use in Specific Populations ( 8.6 )] . 2.4 Premedication and Concomitant Medications to Mitigate Toxicity Vitamin Supplementation Initiate folic acid 400 mcg to 1000 mcg orally once daily, beginning 7 days before the first dose of PEMFEXY and continuing until 21 days after the last dose [see Warnings and Precautions ( 5.1 )] . Adm…
Warnings
5 WARNINGS AND PRECAUTIONS Myelosuppression : Can cause severe bone marrow suppression resulting in cytopenia and an increased risk of infection. Do not administer PEMFEXY when the absolute neutrophil count is less than 1500 cells/mm 3 and platelets are less than 100,000 cells/mm 3 . Initiate supplementation with oral folic acid and intramuscular vitamin B 12 to reduce the severity of hematologic and gastrointestinal toxicity of PEMFEXY. ( 2.4 , 5.1 ) Renal Failure : Can cause severe, and sometimes fatal, renal failure. Do not administer when creatinine clearance is less than 45 mL/min ( 2.3 , 5.2 ) Bullous and Exfoliative Skin Toxicity : Permanently discontinue for severe and life-threatening bullous, blistering or exfoliating skin toxicity. ( 5.3 ) Interstitial Pneumonitis : Withhold for acute onset of new or progressive unexplained pulmonary symptoms. Permanently discontinue if pneumonitis is confirmed. ( 5.4 ) Radiation Recall : Can occur in patients who received radiation weeks to years previously; permanently discontinue for signs of radiation recall. ( 5.5 ) Embryo-Fetal Toxicity : Can cause fetal harm. Advise patients of the potential risk to a fetus and to use effective contraception. ( 5.7 , 8.1 , 8.3 ) 5.1 Myelosuppression and Increased Risk of Myelosuppression without Vitamin Supplementation Pemetrexed can cause severe myelosuppression resulting in a requirement for transfusions and which may lead to neutropenic infection. The risk of myelosuppression is increased in patients who do not receive vitamin supplementation. In Study JMCH, incidences of Grade 3-4 neutropenia (38% versus 23%), thrombocytopenia (9% versus 5%), febrile neutropenia (9% versus 0.6%), and neutropenic infection (6% versus 0) were higher in patients who received pemetrexed plus cisplatin without vitamin supplementation as compared to patients who were fully supplemented with folic acid and vitamin B 12 prior to and throughout pemetrexed plus cisplatin treatment. Initiate supplementation with oral folic acid and intramuscular vitamin B 12 prior to the first dose of PEMFEXY; continue vitamin supplementation during treatment and for 21 days after the last dose of PEMFEXY to reduce the severity of hematologic and gastrointestinal toxicity of pemetrexed [see Dosage and Administration ( 2.4 )] . Obtain a complete blood count at the beginning of each cycle. Do not administer PEMFEXY until the ANC is at least 1500 cells/mm 3 and platelet count is at least 100,000 cells/mm 3 . Permanently reduce PEMFEXY in patients with an ANC of less than 500 cells/mm 3 or platelet count of less than 50,000 cells/mm 3 in previous cycles [see Dosage and Administration ( 2.6 )] . In Studies JMDB and JMCH, among patients who received vitamin supplementation, incidence of Grade 3-4 neutropenia was 15% and 23%, the incidence of Grade 3-4 anemia was 6% and 4%, and incidence of Grade 3-4 thrombocytopenia was 4% and 5%, respectively. In Study JMCH, 18% of patients in the pemetrexed arm required red blood cell transfusions compared to 7% of patients in the cisplatin arm [see Adverse Reactions ( 6.1 )] . In Studies JMEN, PARAMOUNT and JMEI, where all patients received vitamin supplementation, incidence of Grade 3-4 neutropenia ranged from 3% to 5%, and incidence of Grade 3-4 anemia ranged from 3% to 5%. 5.2 Renal Failure Pemetrexed can cause severe, and sometimes fatal, renal toxicity. The incidences of renal failure in clinical studies in which patients received pemetrexed with cisplatin were: 2.1% in Study JMDB and 2.2% in Study JMCH. The incidence of renal failure in clinical studies in which patients received pemetrexed as a single agent ranged from 0.4% to 0.6% (Studies JMEN, PARAMOUNT and JMEI [see Adverse Reactions ( 6.1 )] . Determine creatinine clearance before each dose and periodically monitor renal function during treatment with PEMFEXY. Withhold PEMFEXY in patients with a creatinine clearance of less than 45 mL/minute [see Dosage and Administration ( 2.3 )] . 5.3 Bul…
Contraindications
4 CONTRAINDICATIONS PEMFEXY is contraindicated in patients with a history of severe hypersensitivity reaction to pemetrexed [see Adverse Reactions ( 6.1 )] . History of severe hypersensitivity reaction to pemetrexed. ( 4 )
Drug interactions
7 DRUG INTERACTIONS Ibuprofen: Modify the ibuprofen dosage as recommended for patients with a creatinine clearance between 45 mL/min and 79 mL/min. ( 2.5 , 5.6 , 7 ) 7.1 Effect of Other Drugs on Pemetrexed Ibuprofen Ibuprofen increases exposure (AUC) of pemetrexed [see Clinical Pharmacology ( 12.3 )] . In patients with creatinine clearance between 45 mL/min and 79 mL/min: Avoid administration of ibuprofen for 2 days before, the day of, and 2 days following administration of PEMFEXY [see Dosage and Administration ( 2.5 )] . Monitor patients more frequently for myelosuppression, renal, and gastrointestinal toxicity, if concomitant administration of ibuprofen cannot be avoided.
Pregnancy
8.1 Pregnancy Risk Summary Based on findings from animal studies and its mechanism of action, pemetrexed can cause fetal harm when administered to a pregnant woman [see Clinical Pharmacology ( 12.1 )] . There are no available data on pemetrexed use in pregnant women. In animal reproduction studies, intravenous administration of pemetrexed to pregnant mice during the period of organogenesis was teratogenic, resulting in developmental delays and malformations at doses lower than the recommended human dose of 500 mg/m 2 ( see Data ). Advise pregnant women of the potential risk to a fetus [see use in Specific Population ( 8.3 )] . In the U.S. general population, the estimated background risk of major birth defects and miscarriage in clinically recognized pregnancies is 2 to 4% and 15 to 20%, respectively. Data Animal Data Pemetrexed was teratogenic in mice. Daily dosing of pemetrexed by intravenous injection to pregnant mice during the period of organogenesis increased the incidence of fetal malformations (cleft palate; protruding tongue; enlarged or misshaped kidney; and fused lumbar vertebra) at doses (based on BSA) 0.03 times the human dose of 500 mg/m 2 . At doses, based on BSA, greater than or equal to 0.0012 times the 500 mg/m 2 human dose, pemetrexed administration resulted in dose-dependent increases in developmental delays (incomplete ossification of talus and skull bone; and decreased fetal weight).
Adverse events
Most frequently reported events (FDA FAERS). Report frequency does not imply causation.
- malignant neoplasm progression3,043
- off label use2,267
- anaemia2,073
- nausea1,876
- diarrhoea1,783
- pancytopenia1,701
- neutropenia1,689
- death1,673
- thrombocytopenia1,590
- fatigue1,422
- vomiting1,395
- disease progression1,370
- dyspnoea1,303
- acute kidney injury1,255
- pyrexia1,251
- rash1,222
Adverse reactions (label)
6 ADVERSE REACTIONS The following clinically significant adverse reactions are described elsewhere in the labeling: Myelosuppression [see Warnings and Precautions ( 5.1 )] Renal failure [see Warnings and Precautions ( 5.2 )] Bullous and exfoliative skin toxicity [see Warnings and Precautions ( 5.3 )] Interstitial pneumonitis [see Warnings and Precautions ( 5.4 )] Radiation recall [see Warnings and Precautions ( 5.5 )] The most common adverse reactions (incidence ≥ 20%) of pemetrexed, when administered as a single agent are fatigue, nausea, and anorexia. ( 6.1 ) The most common adverse reactions (incidence ≥ 20%) of pemetrexed when administered with cisplatin are vomiting, neutropenia, anemia, stomatitis/pharyngitis, thrombocytopenia, and constipation. ( 6.1 ) The most common adverse reactions (incidence ≥20%) of pemetrexed when administered in combination with pembrolizumab and platinum chemotherapy are fatigue/asthenia, nausea, constipation, diarrhea, decreased appetite, rash, vomiting, cough, dyspnea, and pyrexia. ( 6.1 ) To report SUSPECTED ADVERSE REACTIONS, contact Eagle Pharmaceuticals, Inc. at 1-855-318-2170 or FDA at 1-800-FDA-1088 or www.fda.gov/medwatch. 6.1 Clinical Trials Experience Because clinical trials are conducted under widely varying conditions, adverse reactions rates observed in clinical trials of drugs cannot be directly compared to rates in the clinical trials of another drug and may not reflect the rates observed in practice. In clinical trials, the most common adverse reactions (incidence ≥ 20%) of pemetrexed, when administered as a single-agent, are fatigue, nausea and anorexia. The most common adverse reactions (incidence ≥ 20%) of pemetrexed, when administered with cisplatin, are vomiting, neutropenia, anemia, stomatitis/pharyngitis, thrombocytopenia and constipation. The most common adverse reactions (incidence ≥20%) of pemetrexed, when administered in combination with pembrolizumab and platinum chemotherapy, are fatigue/asthenia, nausea, constipation, diarrhea, decreased appetite, rash, vomiting, cough, dyspnea, and pyrexia. Non-Squamous Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer (NSCLC) First-line Treatment of Metastatic Non-squamous NSCLC with Pembrolizumab and Platinum Chemotherapy The safety of pemetrexed, in combination with pembrolizumab and investigator’s choice of platinum (either carboplatin or cisplatin), was investigated in Study KEYNOTE-189, a multicenter, double-blind, randomized (2:1), active-controlled trial in patients with previously untreated, metastatic non-squamous NSCLC with no EGFR or ALK genomic tumor aberrations. A total of 607 patients received pemetrexed, pembrolizumab, and platinum every 3 weeks for 4 cycles followed by pemetrexed and pembrolizumab (n=405), or placebo, pemetrexed, and platinum every 3 weeks for 4 cycles followed by placebo and pemetrexed (n=202). Patients with autoimmune disease that required systemic therapy within 2 years of treatment; a medical condition that required immunosuppression; or who had received more than 30 Gy of thoracic radiation within the prior 26 weeks were ineligible [see Clinical Studies (14.1) ]. The median duration of exposure to pemetrexed was 7.2 months (range: 1 day to 1.7 years). Seventy-two percent of patients received carboplatin. The study population characteristics were: median age of 64 years (range: 34 to 84), 49% age 65 years or older, 59% male, 94% White and 3% Asian, and 18% with history of brain metastases at baseline. Pemetrexed was discontinued for adverse reactions in 23% of patients in the pemetrexed, pembrolizumab, and platinum arm. The most common adverse reactions resulting in discontinuation of pemetrexed in this arm were acute kidney injury (3%) and pneumonitis (2%). Adverse reactions leading to interruption of pemetrexed occurred in 49% of patients in the pemetrexed, pembrolizumab, and platinum arm. The most common adverse reactions or laboratory abnormalities leading to interruption of pemetrexed in this arm (≥2%) were ne…
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