Xatmep Drug Information

Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia

XATMEP is indicated for the treatment of pediatric patients with acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL) as part of a multi-phase, combination chemotherapy maintenance regimen.

Polyarticular Juvenile Idiopathic Arthritis

XATMEP is indicated in the management of pediatric patients with active polyarticular juvenile idiopathic arthritis (pJIA) who have had an insufficient therapeutic response to, or are intolerant of, an adequate trial of first-line therapy including full dose non-steroidal anti-inflammatory agents (NSAIDs).

Important

Administration Information XATMEP is intended for oral use only. Use another formulation of methotrexate for alternative dosing in patients who require dosing via other routes of administration. Instruct patients and caregivers that the recommended dose should be taken weekly, as directed, and that mistaken daily use of the recommended dose has led to fatal toxicity.

It is important that XATMEP be measured with an accurate measuring device . A household teaspoon is not an accurate measuring device. A pharmacist can provide an appropriate device and can provide instructions for measuring the correct dose.

Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia

The recommended starting dose of XATMEP, in multi-agent combination chemotherapy maintenance regimens, is 20 mg/m 2 given one time weekly. After initiating XATMEP, continuation of appropriate dosing requires periodic monitoring of absolute neutrophil count (ANC) and platelet count to assure sufficient drug exposure (that is to maintain ANC at a desirable level) and to adjust for excessive hematological toxicity.

Polyarticular Juvenile Idiopathic Arthritis

The recommended starting dose of XATMEP is 10 mg/m 2 given one time weekly. Dosages should be tailored to the individual patient and adjusted gradually to achieve an optimal response. Although there is experience with doses up to 30 mg/m 2 /week in pediatric patients, doses greater than 20 mg/m 2 /week may result in a significant increase in the incidence and severity of serious toxic reactions, especially bone marrow suppression.

Doses between 20 and 30 mg/m 2 /week (0.65 to 1 mg/kg/week) may have better absorption and fewer gastrointestinal side effects if methotrexate is administered by an alternative route using another formulation. Therapeutic response usually begins within 3 to 6 weeks and the patient may continue to improve for another 12 weeks or more. Certain side effects such as mouth sores may be reduced by folate supplementation with methotrexate in pJIA.

Evaluations

Prior to Starting Methotrexate Assess hematologic, hepatic, and renal function before beginning, as well as periodically during and before reinstituting, therapy with XATMEP . Exclude pregnancy in females of reproductive potential before starting XATMEP .

Handling Information

XATMEP is a cytotoxic drug. Follow applicable special handling and disposal procedures. 1

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. The most frequently reported adverse reactions include ulcerative stomatitis, leukopenia, nausea, and abdominal distress. Other frequently reported adverse reactions are malaise, fatigue, chills, fever, dizziness, and decreased resistance to infection.

Folate deficiency states may increase methotrexate toxicity. Polyarticular Juvenile Idiopathic Arthritis The approximate incidences of adverse reactions reported in pediatric patients with JIA treated with oral, weekly doses of methotrexate (5 to 20 mg/m 2 /week or 0.1 to 0.65 mg/kg/week) were as follows (virtually all patients were receiving concomitant nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, and some also were taking low doses of corticosteroids): elevated liver function tests, 14%; gastrointestinal reactions (e.g., nausea, vomiting, diarrhea), 11%; stomatitis, 2%; leukopenia, 2%; headache, 1.2%; alopecia, 0.5%; dizziness, 0.2%; and rash, 0.2%. Although there is experience with dosing up to 30 mg/m 2 /week in JIA, the published data for doses above 20 mg/m 2 /week are too limited to provide reliable estimates of adverse reaction rates.

Postmarketing Experience Additional adverse reactions which have been identified during postmarketing use

of methotrexate are listed below by organ system. Blood and Lymphatic System Disorders: Suppressed hematopoiesis causing anemia, aplastic anemia, pancytopenia, leukopenia, neutropenia, thrombocytopenia, lymphadenopathy, lymphoproliferative disorders (including reversible), hypogammaglobulinemia Cardiovascular: Thromboembolic events (including arterial thrombosis, cerebral thrombosis, deep vein thrombosis, retinal vein thrombosis, thrombophlebitis, and pulmonary embolus), pericarditis, pericardial effusion, hypotension Eye Disorders: Optic neuropathy, transient blindness, blurred vision, ocular irritation, conjunctivitis, xerophthalmia Gastrointestinal Disorders: Gingivitis, pharyngitis, stomatitis, anorexia, nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, hematemesis, melena, gastrointestinal ulceration and bleeding, enteritis, pancreatitis Hepatobiliary Disorders: Hepatotoxicity, acute hepatitis, chronic fibrosis and cirrhosis, decreased serum albumin, liver enzyme elevations Immune System Disorders: Vasculitis, lymphomas, and anaphylactoid reactions Infections: Fatal opportunistic infections (most commonly Pneumocystis jiroveci pneumonia). There have also been reports of other infections, pneumonia, sepsis, nocardiosis, histoplasmosis, cryptococcosis, Herpes zoster, Herpes simplex hepatitis, and disseminated Herpes simplex. Metabolism: Hyperglycemia and tumor lysis syndrome Musculoskeletal System: Stress fracture, soft tissue necrosis, osteonecrosis, arthralgia, myalgia, osteoporosis Nervous System Disorders: Headaches, drowsiness, blurred vision, transient blindness, speech impairment (including dysarthria and aphasia), hemiparesis, paresis and convulsions have also occurred following administration of methotrexate.

Following low doses, there have been reports of transient subtle cognitive dysfunction, mood alteration, unusual cranial sensations, leukoencephalopathy, or encephalopathy. Renal Disorders: Azotemia, hematuria, proteinuria, cystitis Reproductive Disorders: Defective oogenesis or spermatogenesis, menstrual dysfunction, loss of libido, impotence, vaginal discharge, gynecomastia Respiratory Disorders: Pulmonary fibrosis, respiratory failure, chronic interstitial obstructive pulmonary disease, pleuritic pain and thickening alveolitis Skin Disorders: Erythematous rashes, pruritus, urticaria, photosensitivity, pigmentary changes, alopecia, ecchymosis, telangiectasia, acne, furunculosis, erythema multiforme, toxic epidermal necrolysis, Stevens-Johnson syndrome, skin necrosis, skin ulceration, accelerated nodulosis, and exfoliative dermatitis

Effect of Other Drugs on

XATMEP Oral Antibiotics Penicillins may reduce the renal clearance of methotrexate; increased serum concentrations of methotrexate with concomitant hematologic and gastrointestinal toxicity have been observed with methotrexate. Monitor patients accordingly . Trimethoprim/sulfamethoxazole has been reported to increase bone marrow suppression in patients receiving methotrexate. Monitor patients accordingly . Hepatotoxins The potential for increased hepatotoxicity when methotrexate is administered with other hepatotoxic agents has not been evaluated; however, hepatotoxicity has been reported in such cases.

Monitor patients receiving XATMEP with other potential hepatotoxins (e.g., azathioprine, retinoids, and sulfasalazine) for possible signs of hepatotoxicity. Probenecid Probenecid may reduce renal elimination of methotrexate. Consider alternative drugs.

Nitrous Oxide The use of nitrous oxide anesthesia potentiates the effect of methotrexate on folate-dependent metabolic pathways, resulting in the potential for increase toxicity. Avoid the simultaneous use of nitrous oxide and methotrexate. Nonsteroidal Anti-Inflammatory Drugs (NSAIDs), Aspirin, and Steroids Concomitant administration of some NSAIDs with high dose methotrexate therapy has been reported to elevate and prolong serum methotrexate levels, resulting in deaths from severe hematologic and gastrointestinal toxicity.

Caution should be used when NSAIDs and salicylates are administered concomitantly with lower doses of methotrexate, including XATMEP. These drugs have been reported to reduce the tubular secretion of methotrexate in an animal model and may enhance its toxicity. Despite the potential interactions, studies of methotrexate in patients with rheumatoid arthritis, including patients with polyarticular juvenile idiopathic arthritis (pJIA), have usually included concurrent use of constant dosage regimens of NSAIDs, without apparent problems. It should be appreciated, however, that the doses used in pJIA (10 mg/m 2 /week as starting dose) are somewhat lower than those used in acute lymphoblastic leukemia and that larger doses could lead to unexpected toxicity.

Aspirin, NSAIDs, and/or low dose steroids may be continued, although the possibility of increased toxicity with concomitant use of NSAIDs including salicylates has not been fully explored. Steroids may be reduced gradually in patients who respond to methotrexate.

Effect of

XATMEP on Other Drugs Theophylline Methotrexate may decrease the clearance of theophylline. Monitor theophylline levels when coadministered with XATMEP.

Pregnancy Risk Summary Based on published reports and methotrexate’s mechanism of action, methotrexate is a teratogen that can cause embryo-fetal toxicity and fetal death when administered to a pregnant woman . In pregnant women with non-malignant disease, XATMEP is contraindicated. Consider the benefits and risks of XATMEP and risks to the fetus when prescribing XATMEP to a pregnant patient with a neoplastic disease. There are no animal data that meet current standards for nonclinical developmental toxicity studies.

The estimated background risk of major birth defects and miscarriage for the indicated populations are unknown. 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. Data Human Data Published data from cases, literature reviews, and observational studies report that methotrexate exposure during pregnancy is associated with an increased risk of embryo-fetal toxicity and fetal death.

Methotrexate exposure during the first trimester of pregnancy is associated with an increased incidence of spontaneous abortions and multiple adverse developmental outcomes, including skull anomalies, facial dysmorphism, central nervous system abnormalities, limb abnormalities, and sometimes cardiac anomalies and intellectual impairment. Adverse outcomes associated with exposure during second and third trimesters of pregnancy include intrauterine growth restriction and functional abnormalities. Because methotrexate is widely distributed and persists in the body for a prolonged period, there is a potential risk to the fetus from preconception methotrexate exposure.

A prospective multicenter study by U.S. and European teratology information services evaluated pregnancy outcomes in women taking methotrexate less than or equal to 30 mg/week after conception. The rate of spontaneous abortion/miscarriage in pregnant women exposed to methotrexate was 42.5% (95% confidence interval 29.2-58.7), which was higher than in unexposed autoimmune disease comparators (22.5%, 95% CI 16.8-29.7) and unexposed nonautoimmune disease comparators (17.3%, 95% CI 13-22.8). Of the live births, the rate of major birth defects in pregnant women exposed to methotrexate after conception was higher than in autoimmune disease comparators (adjusted odds ratio (OR) 1.8 ) and nonautoimmune disease comparators (adjusted OR 3.1 ). Major birth defects associated with pregnancies exposed to methotrexate after conception were not always consistent with methotrexate-associated adverse developmental outcomes.

Pediatric Use Safety and effectiveness of XATMEP in pediatric patients have been established for the treatment of pediatric patients with acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL) as part of a multi-phase, combination chemotherapy maintenance regimen and for the management of pediatric patients with active polyarticular juvenile idiopathic arthritis (pJIA) .

is contraindicated in the following: Pregnancy in patients with non-malignant diseases. XATMEP can cause embryo-fetal toxicity and fetal death when administered during pregnancy . Patients with severe hypersensitivity to methotrexate . Pregnancy (patients with pJIA). Severe hypersensitivity to methotrexate.

Manifestations Fatal overdosage has occurred with methotrexate. Manifestations of overdosage include adverse reactions reported at pharmacologic doses, particularly hematologic and gastrointestinal reactions (e.g., leukopenia, thrombocytopenia, anemia, pancytopenia, bone marrow suppression, mucositis, stomatitis, oral ulceration, nausea, vomiting, gastrointestinal ulceration, or gastrointestinal bleeding). In some cases, no symptoms were reported. Management Leucovorin and levoleucovorin are indicated to diminish the toxicity and counteract the effect of inadvertently administered overdosages of methotrexate.

Administer leucovorin or levoleucovorin as soon as possible after overdosage (refer to the leucovorin or levoleucovorin Prescribing Information). Monitor serum methotrexate concentrations closely to guide leucovorin or levoleucovorin therapy. Monitor serum creatinine concentrations closely because high serum methotrexate concentrations may cause renal damage leading to acute renal failure. Glucarpidase is indicated for the treatment of toxic methotrexate concentrations in patients with delayed methotrexate clearance due to impaired renal function (refer to the glucarpidase prescribing information). If glucarpidase is used, do not administer leucovorin within 2 hours before or after a dose of glucarpidase because leucovorin is a substrate for glucarpidase.

In cases of massive overdosage, hydration and urinary alkalinization may be necessary to prevent the precipitation of methotrexate and/or its metabolites in the renal tubules. Neither hemodialysis nor peritoneal dialysis has been shown to improve methotrexate elimination. However, effective clearance of methotrexate has been reported with acute, intermittent hemodialysis using a high-flux dialyzer.