Vidaza Drug Information
Generic name: AZACITIDINE
Nucleoside Metabolic Inhibitor [EPC]
Uses of Vidaza
Myelodysplastic Syndromes (MDS) VIDAZA ® is indicated for treatment of adult patients with the following French-American-British (FAB) myelodysplastic syndrome subtypes: refractory anemia (RA) or refractory anemia with ringed sideroblasts (if accompanied by neutropenia or thrombocytopenia or requiring transfusions), refractory anemia with excess blasts (RAEB), refractory anemia with excess blasts in transformation (RAEB-T), and chronic myelomonocytic leukemia (CMMoL).
Juvenile Myelomonocytic Leukemia (JMML) VIDAZA is indicated for the treatment of pediatric patients aged one month and older with newly diagnosed JMML.
Dosage & Administration of Vidaza
Important Administration Information
Do not substitute VIDAZA for oral azacitidine. The indications and dosing regimen for VIDAZA differ from that of oral azacitidine.
First Treatment Cycle for Adults
The recommended starting dose for the first treatment cycle, for all patients regardless of baseline hematology laboratory values, is 75 mg/m 2 subcutaneously or intravenously, daily for 7 days. Premedicate patients for nausea and vomiting. Obtain complete blood counts, liver chemistries and serum creatinine prior to the first dose.
Subsequent Treatment Cycles for Adults
Repeat cycles every 4 weeks. The dose may be increased to 100 mg/m 2 if no beneficial effect is seen after 2 treatment cycles and if no toxicity other than nausea and vomiting has occurred. It is recommended that patients be treated for a minimum of 4 to 6 cycles.
However, complete or partial response may require additional treatment cycles. Treatment may be continued as long as the patient continues to benefit. Monitor patients for hematologic response and renal toxicities, and delay or reduce dosage if necessary.
Pediatric Patients with JMML Table 1: Dosage and Administration for Pediatric Patients (JMML) The recommended dosage for pediatric patients with JMML is provided in Table 1. VIDAZA is administered as an intravenous infusion daily for 7 days in a 28-day cycle. Patients should be treated for a minimum of 3 cycles and maximum of 6 cycles.
A delay in dose not exceeding 14 days can be considered for non-hematologic toxicities.
Dosage Adjustment Based on Hematology Laboratory Values •
For adult patients with baseline (start of treatment) WBC greater than or equal to 3 x10 9 /L, ANC greater than or equal to 1.5 x10 9 /L, and platelets greater than or equal to 75 x10 9 /L, adjust the dose as follows, based on nadir counts for any given cycle: • For adult patients whose baseline counts are WBC less than 3 x10 9 /L, ANC less than 1.5 x10 9 /L, or platelets less than 75 x10 9 /L, base dose adjustments on nadir counts and bone marrow biopsy cellularity at the time of the nadir as noted below, unless there is clear improvement in differentiation (percentage of mature granulocytes is higher and ANC is higher than at onset of that course) at the time of the next cycle, in which case continue the current dose. If a nadir as defined in the table above has occurred, give the next course 28 days after the start of the preceding course, provided that both the WBC and the platelet counts are greater than 25% above the nadir and rising. If a greater than 25% increase above the nadir is not seen by day 28, reassess counts every 7 days.
If a 25% increase is not seen by day 42, reduce the scheduled dose by 50%. Pediatric Patients with JMML As hematological toxicity will be difficult to assess and to differentiate from the natural course of the underlying disorder, dose reductions are not recommended due to hematological toxicity within the first 3 cycles. Similarly, if unexplained elevations of BUN or serum creatinine occur, delay the next cycle until values return to normal or baseline and reduce the dose by 50% for the next course.
Use in Geriatric Patients Azacitidine and its metabolites are known to be substantially excreted by the kidney, and the risk of toxic reactions to this drug may be greater in patients with impaired renal function. Because elderly patients are more likely to have decreased renal function, select the dose carefully and monitor renal function.
Preparation of VIDAZA VIDAZA is a hazardous drug
Follow applicable special handling and disposal procedures. The VIDAZA vial is single-dose and does not contain any preservatives. Discard unused portions of each vial properly.
Do not save any unused portions for later administration.
Instructions for Subcutaneous Administration Reconstitute
VIDAZA aseptically with 4 mL Sterile Water for Injection, USP to obtain a concentration of 25 mg/mL. Inject the diluent slowly into the vial. Vigorously shake or roll the vial until a uniform suspension is achieved.
The suspension will be cloudy. Do not filter the suspension after reconstitution. Doing so could remove the active substance.
Due to retention in the vial and needle, it may not be feasible to withdraw all of the suspension from the vial. The product may be held at room temperature for up to 1 hour, but must be administered within 1 hour after reconstitution. Preparation for Delayed Subcutaneous Administration: The reconstituted product may be kept in the vial or drawn into a syringe.
The product must be refrigerated immediately. See Table 2 for suspension stability storage timelines based on the temperature of the diluent for delayed subcutaneous administration. After removal from refrigerated conditions, the suspension may be allowed to equilibrate to room temperature for up to 30 minutes prior to administration.
Subcutaneous Administration To provide a homogeneous suspension, the contents of the dosing syringe must be re-suspended immediately prior to administration. To re-suspend, vigorously roll the syringe between the palms until a uniform, cloudy suspension is achieved. VIDAZA suspension is administered subcutaneously.
Rotate sites for each injection (thigh, abdomen, or upper arm). New injections should be given at least one inch from an old site and never into areas where the site is tender, bruised, red, or hard.
Instructions for Intravenous Administration
Parenteral drug product should be inspected visually for particulate matter and discoloration prior to administration, whenever solution and container permit. Do not use the product if there is evidence of particulate matter or discoloration. Adult Patients with MDS Reconstitute the appropriate number of VIDAZA vials to achieve the desired dose.
Reconstitute each vial with 10 mL Sterile Water for Injection, USP. Vigorously shake or roll the vial until all solids are dissolved. The resulting solution will contain azacitidine 10 mg/mL.
The solution should be clear. Withdraw the required amount of VIDAZA solution to deliver the desired dose and inject into a 50 -100 mL infusion bag of either 0.9% Sodium Chloride Injection, USP or Lactated Ringer’s Injection, USP. Intravenous Solution Incompatibility VIDAZA is incompatible with 5% Dextrose Injection, USP solutions, Hespan, or solutions that contain bicarbonate.
These solutions have the potential to increase the rate of degradation of VIDAZA and should therefore be avoided. Intravenous Administration VIDAZA solution is administered intravenously. Administer the total dose over a period of 10 - 40 minutes.
The administration must be completed within 1 hour of reconstitution of the VIDAZA vial. Solution Stability: VIDAZA reconstituted and diluted for intravenous administration may be stored at 25°C (77°F), but administration must be completed within 1 hour of reconstitution.
| Pediatric Patients with JMML | Recommended Dose |
|---|---|
| Age 1 month to less than 1 year OR weighing less than 10 kg | 2.5 mg/kg |
| Age 1 year and older AND weighing 10 kg or greater | 75 mg/m 2 |
| Nadir Counts | % Dose in the Next Course | |
| ANC (x10 9 /L) Less than 0.5 0.5 –1.5 Greater than 1.5 | Platelets (x10 9 /L) Less than 25 25-50 Greater than 50 | 50% 67% 100% |
| WBC or Platelet Nadir % decrease in counts from baseline | Bone Marrow Biopsy Cellularity at Time of Nadir (%) | ||
| 30-60 | 15-30 | Less than 15 | |
| % Dose in the Next Course | |||
| 50 - 75 | 100 | 50 | 33 |
| Greater than 75 | 75 | 50 | 33 |
| Suspension Stability Storage timelines | |
| Diluent | Storage Temperature/Duration |
| Room temperature (25°C / 77°F) Sterile Water for Injection, USP | Store at room temperature at 25°C (77°F) for up to 1 hour or refrigerated at 2°C to 8°C (36°F to 46°F) for up to 8 hours. |
| Cold (2°C to 8°C / 36°F to 46°F) Sterile Water for Injection, USP | Store refrigerated at 2°C to 8°C (36°F to 46°F) for up to 22 hours. |
Side Effects of Vidaza
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 to rates in the clinical trials of another drug and may not reflect the rates observed in practice. MDS The data described below reflect exposure to VIDAZA in 443 patients with MDS from 4 clinical studies. Study 1 was a supportive-care controlled trial (subcutaneous administration), Studies 2 and 3 were single arm studies (one with subcutaneous administration and one with intravenous administration), and Study 4 was an international randomized trial (subcutaneous administration).
VIDAZA was studied primarily in supportive-care controlled and uncontrolled trials (n=150 and n=118, respectively). Most patients received average daily doses between 50 and 100 mg/m 2. In Study 4, a total of 175 patients with higher-risk MDS (primarily RAEB and RAEB-T subtypes) were exposed to VIDAZA.
Most patients received daily VIDAZA doses of 75 mg/m 2. Most Commonly Occurring Adverse Reactions (Subcutaneous or Intravenous Route) in Adult Patients with MDS: nausea, anemia, thrombocytopenia, vomiting, pyrexia, leukopenia, diarrhea, injection site erythema, constipation, neutropenia, ecchymosis. The most common adverse reactions by intravenous route also included petechiae, rigors, weakness and hypokalemia.
Adverse Reactions Most Frequently (>2%) Resulting in Clinical Intervention (Subcutaneous or Intravenous Route) in Adult Patients with MDS: Discontinuation: leukopenia, thrombocytopenia, neutropenia. Dose Held: leukopenia, neutropenia, thrombocytopenia, pyrexia, pneumonia, febrile neutropenia. Dose Reduced: leukopenia, neutropenia, thrombocytopenia.
It is important to note that duration of exposure was longer for the VIDAZA-treated group than for the observation group: patients received VIDAZA for a mean of 11.4 months while mean time in the observation arm was 6.1 months. 52 8 Table 4 presents adverse reactions occurring in at least 5% of patients treated with VIDAZA in Study 4. Similar to Studies 1 and 2 described above, duration of exposure to treatment with VIDAZA was longer (mean 12.2 months) compared with best supportive care (mean 7.5 months). In Studies 1, 2 and 4 with subcutaneous administration of VIDAZA, adverse reactions of neutropenia, thrombocytopenia, anemia, nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, constipation, and injection site erythema/reaction tended to increase in incidence with higher doses of VIDAZA.
Adverse reactions that tended to be more pronounced during the first 1 to 2 cycles of subcutaneous treatment compared with later cycles included thrombocytopenia, neutropenia, anemia, nausea, vomiting, injection site erythema/pain/bruising/reaction, constipation, petechiae, dizziness, anxiety, hypokalemia, and insomnia. There did not appear to be any adverse reactions that increased in frequency over the course of treatment. Overall, adverse reactions were qualitatively similar between the intravenous and subcutaneous studies.
Adverse reactions that appeared to be specifically associated with the intravenous route of administration included infusion site reactions (e.g. erythema or pain) and catheter site reactions (e.g. infection, erythema, or hemorrhage). In clinical studies of either subcutaneous or intravenous VIDAZA, the following serious adverse reactions occurring at a rate of <5% (and not described in Tables 2 or 3) were reported: Blood and lymphatic system disorders: agranulocytosis, bone marrow failure, pancytopenia splenomegaly. Cardiac disorders: atrial fibrillation, cardiac failure, cardiac failure congestive, cardio-respiratory arrest, congestive cardiomyopathy.
Eye disorders: eye hemorrhage Gastrointestinal disorders: diverticulitis, gastrointestinal hemorrhage, melena, perirectal abscess. General disorders and administration site conditions: catheter site hemorrhage, general physical health deterioration, systemic inflammatory response syndrome. Hepatobiliary disorders: cholecystitis.
Immune system disorders: anaphylactic shock, hypersensitivity. Infections and infestations: abscess limb, bacterial infection, cellulitis, blastomycosis, injection site infection, Klebsiella sepsis, neutropenic sepsis, pharyngitis streptococcal, pneumonia Klebsiella, sepsis, septic shock, Staphylococcal bacteremia, Staphylococcal infection, toxoplasmosis. Metabolism and nutrition disorders: dehydration.
Musculoskeletal and connective tissue disorders: bone pain aggravated, muscle weakness, neck pain. Neoplasms benign, malignant and unspecified: leukemia cutis. Nervous system disorders: cerebral hemorrhage, convulsions, intracranial hemorrhage.
Renal and urinary disorders: loin pain, renal failure. Respiratory, thoracic and mediastinal disorders: hemoptysis, lung infiltration, pneumonitis, respiratory distress. Skin and subcutaneous tissue disorders: pyoderma gangrenosum, rash pruritic, skin induration.
Surgical and medical procedures: cholecystectomy. Vascular disorders: orthostatic hypotension. Juvenile Myelomonocytic Leukemia (JMML) The safety of VIDAZA was evaluated in pediatric patients with JMML (N=18; 0.2-6.9 years old) in Study AZA-JMML-001.
Patients received VIDAZA as intravenous infusion daily for 7 days in a 28-day cycle. Serious adverse reactions occurred in 67% of patients who received VIDAZA for JMML. Permanent discontinuation of VIDAZA due to an adverse reaction occurred in a single patient who had abdominal pain and acute respiratory distress syndrome.
The most common (≥30%) adverse reactions were pyrexia, rash, upper respiratory tract infection, and anemia. Table 5 summarizes the adverse reactions in pediatric JMML. 0 a Grouped term includes: face edema, generalized edema, edema peripheral. b Grouped term includes: rash, rash macular, dermatitis bullous, rash maculo-papular, rash papular, rash pruritic. c Grouped term includes: pruritis, pruritis generalized. d Grouped term includes: influenza, nasopharyngitis, Parainfluenzae virus infection, respiratory tract infection, rhinitis, upper respiratory tract infection, and viral upper respiratory tract infection e Grouped term includes: anal candidiasis, Candida infection, oral candidiasis. f Grouped term includes: lung infection, pneumonia respiratory syncytial viral. g Grouped term includes: abdominal pain, abdominal pain upper. h Grouped term includes: mouth hemorrhage, rectal hemorrhage. i Grouped term includes: back pain, musculoskeletal pain, non-cardiac chest pain, pain in extremity.
Postmarketing Experience
The following adverse reactions have been identified during postmarketing use of VIDAZA. 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. ‑ Interstitial lung disease ‑ Tumor lysis syndrome ‑ Injection site necrosis ‑ Sweet’s syndrome (acute febrile neutrophilic dermatosis) ‑ Necrotizing fasciitis (including fatal cases) ‑ Differentiation syndrome ‑ Pericardial effusion ‑ Pericarditis ‑ Cutaneous vasculitis
| Table 3: Most Frequently Observed Adverse Reactions (≥ 5% in All Subcutaneous VIDAZA Treated Patients; Studies 1 and 2) | ||
|---|---|---|
| Number (%) of Patients | ||
| System Organ Class Preferred Term a | All VIDAZA b (N=220) | Observation c (N=92) |
| a Multiple terms of the same preferred terms for a patient are only counted once within each treatment group. b Includes adverse reactions from all patients exposed to VIDAZA, including patients after crossing over from observations. c Includes adverse reactions from observation period only; excludes any adverse events after crossover to VIDAZA. | ||
| Blood and lymphatic system disorders | ||
| Anemia | 153 (70) | 59 (64) |
| Anemia aggravated | 12 (6) | 5 (5) |
| Febrile neutropenia | 36 (16) | 4 (4) |
| Leukopenia | 106 (48) | 27 (29) |
| Neutropenia | 71 (32) | 10 (11) |
| Thrombocytopenia | 144 (66) | 42 (46) |
| Gastrointestinal disorders | ||
| Abdominal tenderness | 26 (12) | 1 (1) |
| Constipation | 74 (34) | 6 (7) |
| Diarrhea | 80 (36) | 13 (14) |
| Gingival bleeding | 21 (10) | 4 (4) |
| Loose stools | 12 (6) | 0 |
| Mouth hemorrhage | 11 (5) | 1 (1) |
| Nausea | 155 (71) | 16 (17) |
| Stomatitis | 17 (8) | 0 |
| Vomiting | 119 (54) | 5 (5) |
| General disorders and administration site conditions | ||
| Chest pain | 36 (16) | 5 (5) |
| Injection site bruising | 31 (14) | 0 |
| Injection site erythema | 77 (35) | 0 |
| Injection site granuloma | 11 (5) | 0 |
| Injection site pain | 50 (23) | 0 |
| Injection site pigmentation changes | 11 (5) | 0 |
| Injection site pruritus | 15 (7) | 0 |
| Injection site reaction | 30 (14) | 0 |
| Injection site swelling | 11 (5) | 0 |
| Lethargy | 17 (8) | 2 (2) |
| Malaise | 24 (11) | 1 (1) |
| Pyrexia | 114 (52) | 28 (30) |
| Infections and infestations | ||
| Nasopharyngitis | 32 (15) | 3 (3) |
| Pneumonia | 24 (11) | 5 (5) |
| Upper respiratory tract infection | 28 (13) | 4 (4) |
| Injury, poisoning, and procedural complications | ||
| Post procedural hemorrhage | 13 (6) | 1 (1) |
| Metabolism and nutrition disorders | ||
| Anorexia | 45 (21) | 6 (7) |
| Musculoskeletal and connective tissue disorders | ||
| Arthralgia | 49 (22) | 3 (3) |
| Chest wall pain | 11 (5) | 0 |
| Myalgia | 35 (16) | 2 (2) |
| Nervous system disorders | ||
| Dizziness | 41 (19) | 5 (5) |
| Headache | 48 (22) | 10 (11) |
| Psychiatric disorders | ||
| Anxiety | 29 (13) | 3 (3) |
| Insomnia | 24 (11) | 4 (4) |
| Respiratory, thoracic and mediastinal disorders | ||
| Dyspnea | 64 (29) | 11 (12) |
| Skin and subcutaneous tissue disorders | ||
| Dry skin | 11 (5) | 1 (1) |
| Ecchymosis | 67 (31) | 14 (15) |
| Erythema | 37 (17) | 4 (4) |
| Rash | 31 (14) | 9 (10) |
| Skin nodule | 11 (5) | 1 (1) |
| Urticaria | 13 (6) | 1 (1) |
| Vascular disorders | ||
| Hematoma | 19 (9) | 0 |
| Hypotension | 15 (7) | 2 (2) |
| Petechiae | 52 (24) | 8 (9) |
| Table 4: Most Frequently Observed Adverse Reactions (≥ 5% in the VIDAZA Treated Patients and the Percentage with NCI CTC Grade 3/4 Reactions; Study 4) | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Number (%) of Patients | ||||
| Any Grade | Grade 3/4 | |||
| System Organ Class Preferred Term a | VIDAZA (N=175) | Best Supportive Care Only (N=102) | VIDAZA (N=175) | Best Supportive Care Only (N=102) |
| a Multiple reports of the same preferred term from a patient were only counted once within each treatment. | ||||
| Blood and lymphatic system disorders | ||||
| Anemia | 90 (51) | 45 (44) | 24 (14) | 9 (9) |
| Febrile neutropenia | 24 (14) | 10 (10) | 22 (13) | 7 (7) |
| Leukopenia | 32 (18) | 2 (2) | 26 (15) | 1 (1) |
| Neutropenia | 115 (66) | 29 (28) | 107 (61) | 22 (22) |
| Thrombocytopenia | 122 (70) | 35 (34) | 102 (58) | 29 (28) |
| Gastrointestinal disorders | ||||
| Abdominal pain | 22 (13) | 7 (7) | 7 (4) | 0 |
| Constipation | 88 (50) | 8 (8) | 2 (1) | 0 |
| Dyspepsia | 10 (6) | 2 (2) | 0 | 0 |
| Nausea | 84 (48) | 12 (12) | 3 (2) | 0 |
| Vomiting | 47 (27) | 7 (7) | 0 | 0 |
| General disorders and administration site conditions | ||||
| Fatigue | 42 (24) | 12 (12) | 6 (3) | 2 (2) |
| Injection site bruising | 9 (5) | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Injection site erythema | 75 (43) | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Injection site hematoma | 11 (6) | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Injection site induration | 9 (5) | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Injection site pain | 33 (19) | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Injection site rash | 10 (6) | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Injection site reaction | 51 (29) | 0 | 1 (1) | 0 |
| Pyrexia | 53 (30) | 18 (18) | 8 (5) | 1 (1) |
| Infections and infestations | ||||
| Rhinitis | 10 (6) | 1 (1) | 0 | 0 |
| Upper respiratory tract infection | 16 (9) | 4 (4) | 3 (2) | 0 |
| Urinary tract infection | 15 (9) | 3 (3) | 3 (2) | 0 |
| Investigations | ||||
| Weight decreased | 14 (8) | 0 | 1 (1) | 0 |
| Metabolism and nutrition disorders | ||||
| Hypokalemia | 11 (6) | 3 (3) | 3 (2) | 3 (3) |
| Nervous system disorders | ||||
| Lethargy | 13 (7) | 2 (2) | 0 | 1 (1) |
| Psychiatric disorders | ||||
| Anxiety | 9 (5) | 1 (1) | 0 | 0 |
| Insomnia | 15 (9) | 3 (3) | 0 | 0 |
| Renal and urinary disorders | ||||
| Hematuria | 11 (6) | 2 (2) | 4 (2) | 1 (1) |
| Respiratory, thoracic and mediastinal disorders | ||||
| Dyspnea | 26 (15) | 5 (5) | 6 (3) | 2 (2) |
| Dyspnea exertional | 9 (5) | 1 (1) | 0 | 0 |
| Pharyngolaryngeal pain | 11 (6) | 3 (3) | 0 | 0 |
| Skin and subcutaneous tissue disorders | ||||
| Erythema | 13 (7) | 3 (3) | 0 | 0 |
| Petechiae | 20 (11) | 4 (4) | 2 (1) | 0 |
| Pruritus | 21 (12) | 2 (2) | 0 | 0 |
| Rash | 18 (10) | 1 (1) | 0 | 0 |
| Vascular disorders | ||||
| Hypertension | 15 (9) | 4 (4) | 2 (1) | 2 (2) |
| Table 5: Most Frequently Observed Adverse Reactions (≥10%) in Pediatric Patients with JMML Receiving VIDAZA in Study AZA-JMML-001 | ||
| Adverse Reaction | All Grades N=18 % | Grade 3 or 4 N=18 % |
| General disorders and administration site conditions | ||
| Pyrexia | 61 | 0 |
| Edema a | 11 | 0 |
| Skin and subcutaneous tissue disorders | ||
| Rash b | 44 | 0 |
| Pruritus c | 22 | 0 |
| Dermatitis allergic | 11 | 0 |
| Petechiae | 11 | 0 |
| Infections and infestations | ||
| Upper respiratory tract infection d | 44 | 6 |
| Febrile infection | 11 | 6 |
| Fungal infection e | 11 | 6 |
| Pneumonia f | 11 | 0 |
| Blood and lymphatic system disorders | ||
| Anemia | 39 | 33 |
| Thrombocytopenia | 28 | 22 |
| Neutropenia | 17 | 11 |
| Febrile Neutropenia | 11 | 6 |
| Lymphadenopathy | 11 | 6 |
| Gastrointestinal disorders | ||
| Vomiting | 28 | 0 |
| Abdominal pain g | 22 | 11 |
| Constipation | 22 | 0 |
| Diarrhea | 22 | 6 |
| Hemorrhage h | 11 | 0 |
| Nausea | 11 | 0 |
| Ascites | 11 | 6 |
| Respiratory, thoracic and mediastinal disorders | ||
| Cough | 22 | 0 |
| Epistaxis | 17 | 6 |
| Metabolism and nutrition disorders | ||
| Hyperuricemia | 17 | 0 |
| Fluid retention | 11 | 0 |
| Musculoskeletal and connective tissue disorders | ||
| Musculoskeletal pain i | 11 | 0 |
Warnings & Cautions for Vidaza
Risks of Substitution with Other Azacitidine Products Due to substantial differences in the pharmacokinetic parameters, the recommended dose and schedule for VIDAZA are different from those of oral azacitidine products. Treatment of patients using VIDAZA at the recommended dosage of oral azacitidine may result in a fatal adverse reaction. Treatment of patients using oral azacitidine at the doses recommended for VIDAZA may not be effective.
Do not substitute VIDAZA for oral azacitidine.
Anemia, Neutropenia and Thrombocytopenia
VIDAZA causes anemia, neutropenia and thrombocytopenia in adult patients with MDS and in pediatric patients with JMML. Monitor complete blood counts frequently for response and/or toxicity, at a minimum, prior to each dosing cycle. In adult patients with MDS, after administration of the recommended dosage for the first cycle, adjust dosage for subsequent cycles based on nadir counts and hematologic response.
In pediatric patients with JMML, dose reductions due to hematological toxicity are not recommended within the first 3 cycles as hematological toxicity will be difficult to assess and to differentiate from the natural course of the underlying disorder.
Hepatotoxicity in Patients with Severe Pre-existing Hepatic Impairment Because azacitidine is potentially hepatotoxic in patients with severe pre-existing hepatic impairment, caution is needed in patients with liver disease. Patients with extensive tumor burden due to metastatic disease have been reported to experience progressive hepatic coma and death during azacitidine treatment, especially in such patients with baseline albumin <30 g/L. Azacitidine is contraindicated in patients with advanced malignant hepatic tumors.
Monitor liver chemistries prior to initiation of therapy and with each cycle. Safety and effectiveness of VIDAZA in patients with MDS or in pediatric patients with JMML and hepatic impairment have not been studied as these patients were excluded from the clinical trials.
Renal Toxicity
Renal toxicity ranging from elevated serum creatinine to renal failure and death have been reported in patients treated with intravenous azacitidine in combination with other chemotherapeutic agents for non-MDS conditions. In addition, renal tubular acidosis, defined as a fall in serum bicarbonate to <20 mEq/L in association with an alkaline urine and hypokalemia (serum potassium <3 mEq/L) developed in 5 patients with CML treated with azacitidine and etoposide. Monitor serum creatinine and electrolytes prior to initiation of therapy and with each cycle.
If unexplained reductions in serum bicarbonate <20 mEq/L or elevations of BUN or serum creatinine occur, reduce or hold the dose. Patients with renal impairment may be at increased risk for renal toxicity. Also, azacitidine and its metabolites are primarily excreted by the kidney.
Therefore, monitor these patients closely for toxicity. Patients with MDS or pediatric patients with JMML and renal impairment were excluded from the clinical studies.
Tumor Lysis Syndrome VIDAZA may cause fatal or serious tumor lysis syndrome, including in patients with MDS. Tumor lysis syndrome may occur despite concomitant use of allopurinol. Assess baseline risk and monitor and treat as appropriate.
Embryo-Fetal Toxicity Based on the mechanism of action and findings in animals, VIDAZA can cause fetal harm when administered to a pregnant woman. Azacitidine administered to pregnant rats via a single intraperitoneal (IP) dose approximating 8% of the recommended human daily dose caused fetal death and anomalies. Advise pregnant women of the potential risk to a fetus.
Advise females of reproductive potential to use effective contraception during treatment with VIDAZA and for 6 months after the last dose.
Pregnancy Safety for Vidaza
Pregnancy Risk Summary Based on its mechanism of action and findings in animals, VIDAZA can cause fetal harm when administered to a pregnant woman. There are no data on the use of azacitidine in pregnant women. Azacitidine was teratogenic and caused embryo-fetal lethality in animals at doses lower than the recommended human daily dose (see Data).
Advise pregnant women of the potential risk to the fetus. The background rate of major birth defects and miscarriage is unknown for the indicated population. All pregnancies have a background risk of birth defect, loss, or other adverse outcomes.
In the U.S. general population, the estimated background risk of major birth defects and miscarriage in clinically recognized pregnancies is 2%-4% and 15%-20%, respectively. In rats, azacitidine was clearly embryotoxic when given IP on gestation days 4-8 (postimplantation) at a dose of 6 mg/m 2 (approximately 8% of the recommended human daily dose on a mg/m 2 basis), although treatment in the preimplantation period (on gestation days 1-3) had no adverse effect on the embryos. Fetal anomalies included: CNS anomalies (exencephaly/encephalocele), limb anomalies (micromelia, club foot, syndactyly, oligodactyly), and others (micrognathia, gastroschisis, edema, and rib abnormalities).
Pediatric Use of Vidaza
Pediatric Use Safety and effectiveness of VIDAZA in pediatric patients with MDS have not been established. The safety and effectiveness of VIDAZA have been established in pediatric patients with newly diagnosed JMML aged 1 month and older and the information on this use is discussed throughout the labeling. The safety and effectiveness of VIDAZA have not been established in pediatric patients younger than 1 month old.
Contraindications for Vidaza
Advanced Malignant Hepatic Tumors VIDAZA is contraindicated in patients with advanced malignant hepatic tumors.
Hypersensitivity to Azacitidine or Mannitol VIDAZA is contraindicated in patients with a known hypersensitivity to azacitidine or mannitol.
Overdosage Information for Vidaza
One case of overdose with VIDAZA was reported during clinical trials. A patient experienced diarrhea, nausea, and vomiting after receiving a single intravenous dose of approximately 290 mg/m 2, almost 4 times the recommended starting dose. The events resolved without sequelae, and the correct dose was resumed the following day.
In the event of overdosage, the patient should be monitored with appropriate blood counts and should receive supportive treatment, as necessary. There is no known specific antidote for VIDAZA overdosage.
Clinical Studies of Vidaza
Myelodysplastic Syndromes (MDS) Study 1 was a randomized, open-label, controlled trial carried out in 53 U.S. sites compared the safety and efficacy of subcutaneous VIDAZA plus supportive care with supportive care alone (“observation”) in adult patients with any of the five FAB subtypes of myelodysplastic syndromes (MDS): refractory anemia patients were included if they met one or more of the following criteria: required packed RBC transfusions; had platelet counts ≤50.0 x 10 9 /L; required platelet transfusions; or were neutropenic (ANC <1.0 x 10 9 /L) with infections requiring treatment with antibiotics. Patients with acute myelogenous leukemia (AML) were not intended to be included. Supportive care allowed in this study included blood transfusion products, antibiotics, antiemetics, analgesics and antipyretics.
The use of hematopoietic growth factors was prohibited. Baseline patient and disease characteristics are summarized in Table 6; the 2 groups were similar. The dose was increased to 100 mg/m 2 if no beneficial effect was seen after 2 treatment cycles.
The dose was decreased and/or delayed based on hematologic response or evidence of renal toxicity. Patients in the observation arm were allowed by protocol to cross over to VIDAZA if they had increases in bone marrow blasts, decreases in hemoglobin, increases in red cell transfusion requirements, or decreases in platelets, or if they required a platelet transfusion or developed a clinical infection requiring treatment with antibiotics. For purposes of assessing efficacy, the primary endpoint was response rate (as defined in Table 7).
Of the 191 patients included in the study, independent review (adjudicated diagnosis) found that 19 had the diagnosis of AML at baseline. These patients were excluded from the primary analysis of response rate, although they were included in an intent-to-treat (ITT) analysis of all patients randomized. Approximately 55% of the patients randomized to observation crossed over to receive VIDAZA treatment.
Table 6. Baseline Demographics and Disease Characteristics The overall response rate (CR + PR) of 15.7% in VIDAZA-treated patients without AML (16.2% for all VIDAZA randomized patients including AML) was statistically significantly higher than the response rate of 0% in the observation group (p<0.0001) (Table 8). The majority of patients who achieved either CR or PR had either 2 or 3 cell line abnormalities at baseline (79%; 11/14) and had elevated bone marrow blasts or were transfusion dependent at baseline.
Patients responding to VIDAZA had a decrease in bone marrow blasts percentage, or an increase in platelets, hemoglobin or WBC. Greater than 90% of the responders initially demonstrated these changes by the 5 th treatment cycle. All patients who had been transfusion dependent became transfusion independent during PR or CR.
The mean and median duration of clinical response of PR or better was estimated as 512 and 330 days, respectively; 75% of the responding patients were still in PR or better at completion of treatment. Response occurred in all MDS subtypes as well as in patients with adjudicated baseline diagnosis of Patients in the observation group who crossed over to receive VIDAZA treatment (47 patients) had a response rate of 12.8%. Study 2, a multi-center, open-label, single-arm study of 72 patients with RAEB, RAEB-T, CMMoL, or AML was also carried out.
Treatment with subcutaneous VIDAZA resulted in a response rate (CR + PR) of 13.9%, using criteria similar to those described above. The mean and median duration of clinical response of PR or better was estimated as 810 and 430 days, respectively; 80% of the responding patients were still in PR or better at the time of completion of study involvement. In Study 3, another open-label, single-arm study of 48 patients with RAEB, RAEB-T, or AML, treatment with intravenous VIDAZA resulted in a response rate of 18.8%, again using criteria similar to those described above.
The mean and median duration of clinical response of PR or better was estimated as 389 and 281 days, respectively; 67% of the responding patients were still in PR or better at the time of completion of treatment. Response occurred in all MDS subtypes as well as in patients with adjudicated baseline diagnosis of AML in both of these studies. VIDAZA dosage regimens in these 2 studies were similar to the regimen used in the controlled study.
Benefit was seen in patients who did not meet the criteria for PR or better, but were considered “improved.” About 24% of VIDAZA-treated patients were considered improved, and about 2/3 of those lost transfusion dependence. In the observation group, only 5/83 patients met criteria for improvement; none lost transfusion dependence. In all 3 studies, about 19% of patients met criteria for improvement with a median duration of 195 days.
Study 4 was an international, multicenter, open-label, randomized trial in patients with MDS with RAEB, RAEB-T or modified CMMoL according to FAB classification and Intermediate-2 and High risk according to IPSS classification. The primary efficacy endpoint was overall survival. The azacitidine and CCR groups were comparable for baseline parameters.
By IPSS classification, 87% were higher risk: Int-2 (41%), High (47%). At baseline, 32% of patients met WHO criteria for AML. Patients continued treatment until disease progression, relapse after response, or unacceptable toxicity.
In the Intent-to-Treat analysis, patients treated with azacitidine demonstrated a statistically significant difference in overall survival as compared to patients treated with CCR (median survival of 24.5 months vs. 15.0 months; stratified log-rank p=0.0001). The hazard ratio describing this treatment effect was Kaplan-Meier Curve of Time to Death from Any Cause: (Intent-to-Treat Population) Key: AZA = azacitidine; CCR = conventional care regimens; CI = confidence interval; HR = Hazard Ratio Azacitidine treatment led to a reduced need for red blood cell transfusions (see Table 8). In patients treated with azacitidine who were RBC transfusion dependent at baseline and became transfusion independent, the median duration of RBC transfusion independence was 13.0 months.
Table 9. Effect of Azacitidine on RBC Transfusions in Patients with MDS 1 A patient was considered RBC transfusion independent during the treatment period if the patient had no RBC transfusions during any 56 consecutive days or more during the treatment period. Otherwise, the patient was considered transfusion dependent.
Juvenile Myelomonocytic Leukemia (JMML) AZA-JMML-001 (NCT02447666) was an international, multicenter, open-label study to evaluate the pharmacokinetics, pharmacodynamics, safety, and activity of VIDAZA prior to hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (HSCT) in a total of 18 pediatric patients (median age of 2.1 years, range 0.2-6.9 years; 61% male; 89% white) with juvenile myelomonocytic leukemia (JMML). Patients with newly diagnosed JMML were included if they met the following criteria: diagnosis confirmed in peripheral blood and bone marrow, and had one of the following: somatic mutation in PTPN11, KRAS, or NRAS and HbF % > 5 x normal value for age, or clinical diagnosis of neurofibromatosis Type 1 (NF-1). Additionally, patients included had no CNS involvement, isolated extramedullary disease, or germline molecular aberrations in CBL, PTPN11, NRAS, or KRAS.
The efficacy of VIDAZA was established based on clinical complete remission (cCR) or clinical partial remission (cPR) according to the International JMML response criteria at 3 months (Cycle 3 Day 28). Of these 9 patients, there were 3 cCR and 6 cPR. The median time to response was 1.2 months (range 1-1.9 months).
The proportion of patients with JMML undergoing HSCT was 94% and the median time to HSCT was 4.6 months (range 2.8-19 months).
| VIDAZA (N=99) | Observation (N=92) | |
|---|---|---|
| Gender (n%) | ||
| Male | 72 (72.7) | 60 (65.2) |
| Female | 27 (27.3) | 32 (34.8) |
| Race (n%) | ||
| White | 93 (93.9) | 85 (92.4) |
| Black | 1 (1.0) | 1 (1.1) |
| Hispanic | 3 (3.0) | 5 (5.4) |
| Asian/Oriental | 2 (2.0) | 1 (1.1) |
| Age (years) | ||
| N | 99 | 91 |
| Mean ± SD | 67.3 ± 10.39 | 68.0 ± 10.23 |
| Range | 31 - 92 | 35 - 88 |
| Adjudicated MDS diagnosis at study entry (n%) | ||
| RA | 21 (21.2) | 18 (19.6) |
| RARS | 6 (6.1) | 5 (5.4) |
| RAEB | 38 (38.4) | 39 (42.4) |
| RAEB-T | 16 (16.2) | 14 (15.2) |
| CMMoL | 8 (8.1) | 7 (7.6) |
| AML | 10 (10.1) | 9 (9.8) |
| Transfusion product used in 3 months before study entry (n%) | ||
| Any transfusion product | 70 (70.7) | 59 (64.1) |
| Blood cells, packed human | 66 (66.7) | 55 (59.8) |
| Platelets, human blood | 15 (15.2) | 12 (13.0) |
| Hetastarch | 0 (0.0) | 1 (1.1) |
| Plasma protein fraction | 1 (1.0) | 0 (0.0) |
| Other | 2 (2.0) | 2 (2.2) |
| RA | RARS | RAEB | RAEB-T | CMMoL | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Complete Response (CR), duration ≥4 weeks | Marrow | <5% blasts | ||||
| Peripheral Blood | Normal CBC if abnormal at baseline Absence of blasts in the peripheral circulation | |||||
| Partial Response (PR), duration ≥4 weeks | Marrow | No marrow requirements | ≥50% decrease in blasts Improvement of marrow dyspoiesis | |||
| Peripheral Blood | ≥50% restoration in the deficit from normal levels of baseline white cells, hemoglobin and platelets if abnormal at baseline No blasts in the peripheral circulation For CMMoL, if WBC is elevated at baseline, a ≥75% reduction in the excess count over the upper limit of normal | |||||
| VIDAZA (N=89) | Observation Before Crossover (N=83) | ||
|---|---|---|---|
| Response | n (%) | n (%) | P value |
| Overall (CR+PR) | 14 (15.7) | 0 ( 0.0) | (<0.0001) |
| Complete (CR) | 5 ( 5.6) | 0 ( 0.0) | (0.06) |
| Partial (PR) | 9 (10.1) | 0 ( 0.0) | -- |
| Efficacy Parameter | Azacitidine plus BSC (n= 179) | Conventional Care Regimens (n= 179) |
|---|---|---|
| Number and percent of patients who were transfusion dependent at baseline who became transfusion independent on treatment 1 | 50/111 (45.0%) | 13/114 (11.4%) |
| (95% CI: 35.6%, 54.8%) | (95% CI: 6.2%, 18.7%) | |
| Number and percent of patients who were transfusion-independent at baseline who became transfusion-dependent on treatment | 10/68 (14.7%) | 28/65 (43.1%) |
| (95% CI: 7.3%, 25.4%) | (95% CI: 30.9%, 56.0%) |
Drug information sourced from the FDA. This content is for informational purposes only and does not constitute medical advice. Consult a healthcare professional before making any medication decisions.
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