Leukine Drug Information

Neutrophil Recovery Following

Induction Chemotherapy for Acute Myeloid Leukemia The recommended dose is 250 mcg/m 2 /day administered intravenously over a 4-hour period starting approximately on day 11 or four days following the completion of induction chemotherapy, if the day 10 bone marrow is hypoplastic with less than 5% blasts. If a second cycle of induction chemotherapy is necessary, administer LEUKINE approximately four days after the completion of chemotherapy if the bone marrow is hypoplastic with less than 5% blasts. Continue LEUKINE until an absolute neutrophil count (ANC) greater than 1500 cells/mm 3 for 3 consecutive days or a maximum of 42 days.

Do not administer LEUKINE within 24 hours preceding or following receipt of chemotherapy or radiotherapy . Dose Modifications Obtain a CBC with differential twice per week during LEUKINE therapy and modify the dose for the following: Leukemic regrowth: Discontinue LEUKINE immediately Grade 3 or 4 adverse reactions: Reduce the dose of LEUKINE by 50% or interrupt dosing until the reaction abates ANC greater than 20,000 cells/mm 3 : Interrupt LEUKINE treatment or reduce the dose by 50%

Autologous Peripheral Blood Progenitor Cell Mobilization and Collection

The recommended dose is 250 mcg/m 2 /day administered intravenously over 24 hours or subcutaneously once daily. Continue at the same dose through the period of PBPC collection. The optimal schedule for PBPC collection has not been established.

In clinical studies, collection of PBPC was usually begun after 5 days of LEUKINE and performed daily until protocol specified targets were achieved . If WBC greater than 50,000 cells/mm 3, reduce the LEUKINE dose by 50%. Consider other mobilization therapy if adequate numbers of progenitor cells are not collected.

Autologous Peripheral Blood Progenitor Cell and Bone Marrow Transplantation Autologous Peripheral Blood

Progenitor Cell Transplantation The recommended dose is 250 mcg/m 2 /day administered intravenously over 24 hours or subcutaneously once daily beginning immediately following infusion of progenitor cells and continuing until an ANC greater than 1500 cells/mm 3 for three consecutive days is attained. Do not administer LEUKINE within 24 hours preceding or following receipt of chemotherapy or radiotherapy. Autologous Bone Marrow Transplantation The recommended dose is 250 mcg/m 2 /day administered intravenously over a 2-hour period beginning two to four hours after bone marrow infusion, and not less than 24 hours after the last dose of chemotherapy or radiotherapy.

Do not administer LEUKINE until the post marrow infusion ANC is less than 500 cells/mm 3. Continue LEUKINE until an ANC greater than 1500 cells/mm 3 for three consecutive days is attained. Do not administer LEUKINE within 24 hours preceding or following receipt of chemotherapy or radiotherapy .

Allogeneic Bone Marrow Transplantation

The recommended dose is 250 mcg/m 2 /day administered intravenously over a 2-hour period beginning two to four hours after bone marrow infusion, and not less than 24 hours after the last dose of chemotherapy or radiotherapy. Do not administer LEUKINE until the post marrow infusion ANC is less than 500 cells/mm 3. Continue LEUKINE until an ANC greater than 1500 cells/mm 3 for three consecutive days is attained. Do not administer LEUKINE within 24 hours preceding or following receipt of chemotherapy or radiotherapy . Dose Modifications Obtain a CBC with differential twice per week during LEUKINE therapy and modify the dose as for the following: Disease progression or blast cell appearance: Discontinue LEUKINE immediately Grade 3 or 4 adverse reactions: Reduce the dose of LEUKINE by 50% or temporarily discontinue until the reaction abates WBC greater than 50,000 cells/mm 3 or ANC greater than 20,000 cells/mm 3 : Interrupt LEUKINE treatment or reduce the dose by 50%

Allogeneic or Autologous Bone Marrow Transplantation: Treatment of Delayed Neutrophil Recovery or

Graft Failure The recommended dose is 250 mcg/m 2 /day for 14 days as a 2-hour intravenous infusion. The dose can be repeated after 7 days off therapy if neutrophil recovery has not occurred. If neutrophil recovery still has not occurred, a third course of 500 mcg/m 2 /day for 14 days may be tried after another 7 days off therapy.

If there is still no improvement, it is unlikely that further dose escalation will be beneficial. Dose Modifications Obtain a CBC with differential twice per week during LEUKINE therapy and modify the dose as for the following: Disease progression or blast cell appearance: Discontinue LEUKINE immediately Grade 3 or 4 adverse reactions: Reduce the dose of LEUKINE by 50% or temporarily discontinue until the reaction abates WBC greater than 50,000 cells/mm 3 or ANC greater than 20,000 cells/mm 3 : Interrupt LEUKINE treatment or reduce the dose by 50%

Acute Exposure to Myelosuppressive Doses of Radiation (H-ARS) For patients with H-ARS

the recommended dose of LEUKINE is a subcutaneous injection administered once daily as follows: 7 mcg/kg in adult and pediatric patients weighing greater than 40 kg 10 mcg/kg in pediatric patients weighing 15 kg to 40 kg 12 mcg/kg in pediatric patients weighing less than 15 kg Administer LEUKINE as soon as possible after suspected or confirmed exposure to radiation doses greater than 2 gray (Gy). Estimate a patient’s absorbed radiation dose (i.e., level of radiation exposure) based on information from public health authorities, biodosimetry if available, or clinical findings such as time to onset of vomiting or lymphocyte depletion kinetics. Obtain a baseline CBC with differential and then serial CBCs approximately every third day until the ANC remains greater than 1,000/mm 3 for three consecutive CBCs. Do not delay administration of LEUKINE if a CBC is not readily available.

Continue administration of LEUKINE until the ANC remains greater than 1,000/mm 3 for three consecutive CBCs or exceeds 10,000/mm3 after a radiation-induced nadir.

Preparation and

Administration of LEUKINE Do not administer LEUKINE simultaneously with or within 24 hours preceding cytotoxic chemotherapy or radiotherapy or within 24 hours following chemotherapy . LEUKINE for injection is a sterile, preservative-free lyophilized powder that requires reconstitution with 1 mL Sterile Water for Injection (without preservative), USP, to yield a clear, colorless single-dose solution or 1 mL Bacteriostatic Water for Injection, USP (with 0.9% benzyl alcohol as preservative) to yield a clear, colorless single-dose solution. Use only LEUKINE for injection (lyophilized powder) reconstituted with Sterile Water for Injection without preservatives when administering LEUKINE to neonates or infants to avoid benzyl alcohol exposure . Do NOT use an in-line membrane filter for intravenous infusion of LEUKINE. Store reconstituted solution under refrigeration at 2°C to 8°C (36°F to 46°F); DO NOT FREEZE. In the absence of compatibility and stability information, do not add other medication to infusion solutions containing LEUKINE. Use only 0.9% Sodium Chloride Injection, USP to prepare intravenous infusion solutions. Parenteral drug products should be inspected visually for particulate matter and discoloration prior to administration.

If particulate matter is present or the solution is discolored, the vial should not be used. LEUKINE for Injection Preparation Reconstitute the lyophilized powder with 1 mL of diluent. Do not mix the contents of vials reconstituted with different diluents together.

Reconstitute with either Sterile Water for Injection, USP (without preservative) or Bacteriostatic Water for Injection, USP (0.9% benzyl alcohol) for intravenous or subcutaneous administration. Discard any unused portions. When reconstituted with Sterile Water for Injection, USP (without preservative), may store the reconstituted solution refrigerated at 2°C to 8°C and must use within 24 hours following reconstitution.

When reconstituted with Bacteriostatic Water for Injection, USP (0.9% benzyl alcohol), may store the reconstituted solution refrigerated at 2°C to 8°C and must use within 20 days following reconstitution. LEUKINE for Intravenous Administration Dilute reconstituted LEUKINE in 0.9% Sodium Chloride Injection, USP. If the final concentration of LEUKINE is less than 10 mcg/mL, add Albumin (Human) to a final concentration of 0.1% to prevent adsorption of LEUKINE to the drug delivery system. LEUKINE for intravenous administration must be used immediately after dilution with 0.9 % Sodium Chloride Injection, USP.

Clinical Trials Experience

Because clinical trials are conducted under widely varying conditions, adverse reaction rates observed in the clinical trials of a drug cannot be directly compared with rates in the clinical trials of another drug and may not reflect the rates observed in clinical practice. Autologous Peripheral Blood Progenitor Cell (PBPC) and Bone Marrow Transplantation Studies 301, 302 and 303 enrolled a total of 156 patients after autologous or allogeneic marrow or PBPC transplantation. In these placebo-controlled studies, pediatric and adult patients received once-daily intravenous infusions of LEUKINE 250 mcg/m 2 or placebo for 21 days.

In Studies 301, 302, and 303, there was no difference in relapse rate between the LEUKINE and placebo-treated patients. Adverse reactions reported in at least 10% of patients who received intravenous LEUKINE or at a rate that was at least 5% higher than the placebo arm are shown in Table 1. Table 1: Adverse Reactions after Autologous Marrow or PBPC Transplantation in at Least 10% of Patients Receiving Intravenous LEUKINE or at Least 5% Higher than the Placebo Arm Adverse Reactions by Body System LEUKINE (n=79) % Placebo (n=77) % Adverse Reactions by Body System LEUKINE (n=79) % Placebo (n=77) % Body, General Metabolic, Nutritional Disorder Fever 95 96 Edema 34 35 Mucous membrane disorder 75 78 Peripheral edema 11 7 Asthenia 66 51 Respiratory System Malaise 57 51 Dyspnea 28 31 Sepsis 11 14 Lung disorder 20 23 Digestive System Blood and Lymphatic System Nausea 90 96 Blood dyscrasia 25 27 Diarrhea 89 82 Cardiovascular Vascular System Vomiting 85 90 Hemorrhage 23 30 Anorexia 54 58 Urogenital System GI disorder 37 47 Urinary tract disorder 14 13 GI hemorrhage 27 33 Nervous System Stomatitis 24 29 CNS disorder 11 16 Liver damage 13 14 Skin and Appendages Alopecia 73 74 Rash 44 38 Additional Clinically Significant Adverse Reactions Occurring in Less than 10% Incidence Investigations : Elevated creatinine, elevated bilirubin, elevate transaminases Allogeneic Bone Marrow Transplantation In the placebo-controlled trial of 109 patients after allogeneic BMT (Study 9002), acute graft-vs-host disease occurred in 55% on the LEUKINE arm and in 59% on the placebo arm. Adverse reactions reported in at least 10% of patients who received IV LEUKINE or at a rate at least 5% higher than the placebo arm are shown in Table 2. Table 2: Adverse Reactions after Allogeneic Marrow Transplantation in at Least 10% of Patients Receiving Intravenous LEUKINE or at Least 5% Higher than the Placebo Arm * Grade 3 and 4 laboratory abnormalities only.

Denominators may vary due to missing laboratory measures. Adverse Reactions by Body System LEUKINE (n=53) % Placebo (n=56) % Adverse Reactions by Body System LEUKINE (n=53) % Placebo (n=56) % Body, General Eye hemorrhage 11 0 Fever 77 80 Cardiovascular Vascular System Abdominal pain 38 23 Hypertension 34 32 Headache 36 36 Tachycardia 11 9 Chills 25 20 Metabolic / Nutritional Disorders Pain 17 36 Bilirubinemia 30 27 Asthenia 17 20 Hyperglycemia 25 23 Chest pain 15 9 Peripheral edema 15 21 Digestive System Increased creatinine 15 14 Diarrhea 81 66 Hypomagnesemia 15 9 Nausea 70 66 Increased SGPT 13 11 Vomiting 70 57 Edema 13 11 Stomatitis 62 63 Respiratory System Anorexia 51 57 Pharyngitis 23 13 Dyspepsia 17 20 Epistaxis 17 16 Hematemesis 13 7 Dyspnea 15 14 Dysphagia 11 7 Rhinitis 11 14 GI hemorrhage 11 5 Blood and Lymphatic System Skin and Appendages Thrombocytopenia 19 34 Rash 70 73 Leukopenia 17 29 Alopecia 45 45 Nervous System Pruritus 23 13 Paresthesia 11 13 Musculoskeletal System Insomnia 11 9 Bone pain 21 5 Anxiety 11 2 Arthralgia 11 4 Laboratory Abnormalities* Special Senses High glucose 49 41 Low albumin 36 27 High BUN 17 23 Acute Myeloid Leukemia Following Induction Chemotherapy Nearly all patients in both arms developed leukopenia, thrombocytopenia, and anemia. Adverse reactions reported in at least 10% of patients who received LEUKINE or at least 5% higher than the placebo arm are reported in Table 3. Table 3: Adverse Reactions after Treatment of AML in at Least 10% of Patients Receiving Intravenous LEUKINE or at Least 5% Higher than the Placebo Arm Adverse Reactions by Body System LEUKINE (n=52) % Placebo (n=47) % Adverse Reactions by Body System LEUKINE (n=52) % Placebo (n=47) % Body, General Metabolic, Nutritional Disorder Fever (no infection) 81 74 Metabolic Laboratory Abnormalities 58 49 Infection 65 68 Edema 25 23 Weight loss 37 28 Respiratory System Chills 19 26 Pulmonary toxicity 48 64 Allergy 12 15 Blood and Lymphatic System Digestive System Coagulation 19 21 Nausea 58 55 Cardiovascular System Liver toxicity 77 83 Hemorrhage 29 43 Diarrhea 52 3 Hypertension 25 32 Vomiting 46 34 Cardiac 23 32 Stomatitis 42 43 Hypotension 13 26 Anorexia 13 11 Urogenital System Skin and Appendages GU abnormalities 50 57 Skin Reactions 77 45 Nervous System Alopecia 37 51 Neuro-clinical 42 53 Neuro-motor 25 26 Neuro-psych 15 26 There was no significant difference between the arms in the proportion of patients achieving complete remission (CR; 69% in the LEUKINE group and 55% in the placebo group). There was also no significant difference in relapse rates; 12 of 36 patients who received LEUKINE and five of 26 patients who received placebo relapsed within 180 days of documented CR (p=0.26). The study was not sized to assess the impact of LEUKINE treatment on response.

Graft Failure In a historically controlled study of 86 patients with AML, the LEUKINE treated group exhibited an increased incidence of weight gain (p=0.007), low serum proteins, and prolonged prothrombin time (p=0.02) when compared to the control group. Two LEUKINE treated patients had progressive increase in circulating monocytes and promonocytes and blasts in the marrow, which reversed when LEUKINE was discontinued. The historical control group exhibited an increased incidence of cardiac events (p=0.018), liver function abnormalities (p=0.008), and neurocortical hemorrhagic events (p=0.025). Headache (26%), pericardial effusion (25%), arthralgia (21%), and myalgia (18%) were also reported in patients treated with LEUKINE in the graft failure study.

Immunogenicity As with all therapeutic proteins, there is the potential for immunogenicity

with LEUKINE. The detection of antibody formation is highly dependent on the sensitivity and specificity of the assay. Additionally, the observed incidence of antibody positivity in an assay may be influenced by several factors, including assay methodology, sample handling, timing of sample collection, duration of treatment, concomitant medications, and underlying disease. For these reasons, comparison of the incidence of antibodies to sargramostim in the studies described below with the incidence of antibodies in other studies or other products may be misleading.

In 214 patients with a variety of underlying diseases, neutralizing anti-sargramostim antibodies were detected in 5 patients (2.3%) after receiving LEUKINE by continuous IV infusion (3 patients) or SC injection (2 patients) for 28 to 84 days in multiple courses (as assessed by GM-CSF dependent human cell-line proliferation assay). All 5 patients had impaired hematopoiesis before the administration of LEUKINE, and consequently the effect of the development of anti-sargramostim antibodies on normal hematopoiesis could not be assessed. Antibody studies of 75 patients with Crohn's disease (a disease for which LEUKINE is not indicated), with normal hematopoiesis and no other immunosuppressive drugs, receiving LEUKINE daily for 8 weeks by SC injection, showed 1 patient (1.3%) with detectable neutralizing anti-sargramostim antibodies (as assessed by GM-CSF dependent human cell-line proliferation assay). In an experimental use trial where LEUKINE was given for an extended period, 53 patients with melanoma in complete remission (a disease for which LEUKINE is not indicated) received adjuvant therapy with LEUKINE 125 mcg/m 2 once daily (maximum dose 250 mcg) from day 1 to 14 every 28 days for 1 year. Serum samples from patients assessed at day 0, 2 weeks, 1 month, and 5 and/or 12 months were tested retrospectively for the presence of anti-sargramostim antibodies.

Of 43 evaluable patients (having at least 3 timepoint samples post treatment), 42 (97.7%) developed anti-sargramostim binding antibody as assessed by ELISA and confirmed using an immunoprecipitation assay. Of these 42 patients, 41 had sufficient sample and were further tested: 34 patients (82.9%) developed anti-sargramostim neutralizing antibodies (as determined by a cell based luciferase reporter gene neutralizing antibody assay); 17 (50%) of these patients did not have a sustained pharmacodynamic effect of LEUKINE by day 155 as assessed by WBC counts. This study provided limited assessment of the impact of antibody formation on the safety and efficacy of LEUKINE. Serious allergic and anaphylactoid reactions have been reported with LEUKINE, but the rate of occurrence of antibodies in such patients has not been assessed.

Postmarketing Experience

The following adverse reactions have been identified during postapproval use of LEUKINE in clinical trials and/or postmarketing surveillance. Because these reactions are reported voluntarily from a population of uncertain size, it is not always possible to reliably estimate their frequency or establish a causal relationship to drug exposure. Infusion related reactions including dyspnea, hypoxia, flushing, hypotension, syncope and/or tachycardia Serious allergic reactions/hypersensitivity, including anaphylaxis, skin rash, urticaria, generalized erythema, and flushing Effusions and capillary leak syndrome Supraventricular arrhythmias Leukocytosis including eosinophilia Thromboembolic events Pain, including chest, abdominal, back, and joint pain Injection site reactions

Concomitant Use with Products that Induce Myeloproliferation

Avoid the concomitant use of LEUKINE and products that induce myeloproliferation (such as lithium and corticosteroids). Such products may increase the myeloproliferative effects of LEUKINE. Monitor patients receiving both LEUKINE and products that induce myeloproliferation frequently for clinical and laboratory signs of excess myeloproliferative effects.

Pregnancy Risk Summary LEUKINE for injection reconstituted with Bacteriostatic Water for Injection, USP contain 0.9% benzyl alcohol, which has been associated with gasping syndrome in neonates and infants. The preservative benzyl alcohol can cause serious adverse reactions and death when administered intravenously to neonates and infants. If LEUKINE is needed during pregnancy, reconstitute LEUKINE for injection only with Sterile Water for injection without preservatives . The limited available data on LEUKINE use in pregnant women are insufficient to inform the drug-associated risk of adverse developmental outcomes.

Based on animal studies LEUKINE may cause embryofetal harm. In animal reproduction studies, administration of LEUKINE to pregnant rabbits during organogenesis resulted in adverse developmental outcomes including increased spontaneous abortion at systemic exposures ≥1.3 times the human exposure expected at the recommended human dose . Advise pregnant women of the potential risk to a fetus. The estimated background risk of major birth defects and miscarriage for the indicated population is unknown.

All pregnancies have a background risk of birth defect, loss, or other adverse outcomes. In the U.S. general population, the estimated background risks of major birth defects and miscarriage in clinically recognized pregnancies are 2%-4% and 15%-20%, respectively. Data Animal data In an embryofetal developmental study and a prenatal and postnatal study, pregnant rabbits were administered SC doses of LEUKINE during the period of gestation day (GD) 6 to GD19, GD19 to GD28, or GD19 to parturition at 25, 70, and 200 mcg/kg/day.

An increase in spontaneous abortions, late resorptions, and post implantation loss, and a reduction in viable fetuses, mean live litter size, and offspring body weight were evident in rabbits treated with LEUKINE at 200 mcg/kg/day. No adverse effects were observed at ≤70 mcg/kg/day. After the first administration in rabbits, the dose of 200 mcg/kg/day corresponds to a systemic exposure (AUC) of approximately 11-25.3 times the exposures observed in patients treated with the clinical LEUKINE dose of 250 mcg/m 2 ; however, due to the production of anti-LEUKINE antibodies with repeat administration, the AUC in rabbits was reduced to 1.3-5.5 times the clinical exposure by the end of the dosing periods.

Similarly, after the first administration in rabbits, the dose of 70 mcg/kg/day corresponds to a systemic exposure (AUC) of approximately 7 to 11 times the exposures observed in patients treated with the clinical LEUKINE dose of 250 mcg/m 2 ; however, due to the production of anti-LEUKINE antibodies with repeat administration, the AUC in rabbits was reduced to 1.0-1.2 times the clinical exposure by the end of the dosing periods.

Pediatric Use The safety and effectiveness of LEUKINE have been established in pediatric patients 2 years of age and older for autologous peripheral blood progenitor cells and bone marrow transplantation, allogeneic bone marrow transplantation, and treatment of delayed neutrophil recovery or graft failure. Use of LEUKINE for these indications in this age group is based on adequate and well-controlled studies of LEUKINE in adults, in addition to clinical data in 12, 23, and 37 pediatric patients, respectively . The pediatric adverse reactions were consistent with those reported in the adult population. The safety and effectiveness of LEUKINE for pediatric patients less than 2 years of age for autologous peripheral blood progenitor cells and bone marrow transplantation, allogeneic bone marrow transplantation, and treatment of delayed neutrophil recovery or graft failure have not been established.

The use of LEUKINE to increase survival in pediatric patients acutely exposed to myelosuppressive doses of radiation (H-ARS) is based on efficacy studies conducted in animals and clinical data supporting the use of LEUKINE in patients undergoing autologous or allogeneic BMT following myelosuppressive chemotherapy with or without total body irradiation. Efficacy studies of LEUKINE could not be conducted in humans with acute radiation syndrome for ethical and feasibility reasons. Modeling and simulation were used to derive dosing regimens that are predicted to provide pediatric patients with exposure comparable to the observed exposure in adults receiving 7 mcg/kg . The dose for pediatric patients is based on weight . Safety and effectiveness in pediatric patients have not been established in: Acute Myeloid Leukemia: Neutrophil Recovery Following Induction Chemotherapy Autologous Peripheral Blood Progenitor Cell Mobilization and Collection Avoid administration of solutions containing benzyl alcohol to neonates and low birth weight infants.

Instead, administer lyophilized LEUKINE reconstituted with Sterile Water for Injection, USP . Serious adverse reactions including fatal reactions and the “gasping syndrome” occurred in premature infants in the neonatal intensive care unit who received drugs containing benzyl alcohol as a preservative. In these cases, benzyl alcohol dosages of 99 to 234 mg/kg/day produced high levels of benzyl alcohol and its metabolites in the blood and urine (blood levels of benzyl alcohol were 0.61 to 1.38 mmol/L). Additional adverse reactions included gradual neurological deterioration, seizures, intracranial hemorrhage, hematologic abnormalities, skin breakdown, hepatic and renal failure, hypotension, bradycardia, and cardiovascular collapse. Preterm, low birth weight infants may be more likely to develop these reactions because they may be less able to metabolize benzyl alcohol.

If LEUKINE for injection reconstituted with Bacteriostatic Water for Injection, USP (0.9% benzyl alcohol) must be used in neonates and low birth weight infants, consider the combined daily metabolic load of benzyl alcohol from all sources including LEUKINE (LEUKINE for injection reconstituted with Bacteriostatic Water for Injection, USP contains 9 mg of benzyl alcohol per mL). The minimum amount of benzyl alcohol at which serious adverse reactions may occur is not known .

Do not administer LEUKINE to patients with a history of serious allergic reactions, including anaphylaxis, to human granulocyte-macrophage colony-stimulating factor such as sargramostim, yeast-derived products, or any component of the product. Anaphylactic reactions have been reported with LEUKINE . Do not administer LEUKINE to patients with a history of serious allergic reactions, including anaphylaxis, to human granulocyte-macrophage colony stimulating factor such as sargramostim, yeast-derived products, or any component of the product.

Doses up to 100 mcg/kg/day (4,000 mcg/m 2 /day or 16 times the recommended dose) were administered to four patients in a Phase 1 uncontrolled clinical study by continuous IV infusion for 7 to 18 days. Increases in WBC up to 200,000 cells/mm 3 were observed. Adverse events reported were dyspnea, malaise, nausea, fever, rash, sinus tachycardia, headache, and chills.

All these events were reversible after discontinuation of LEUKINE. In case of overdosage, discontinue LEUKINE therapy and monitor the patient for WBC increase and respiratory symptoms.