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Drug Safety-related Labeling Changes (SrLC)

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VARUBI (NDA-206500)

(ROLAPITANT HYDROCHLORIDE)

Safety-related Labeling Changes Approved by FDA Center for Drug Evaluation and Research (CDER)

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08/19/2020 (SUPPL-8)

Approved Drug Label (PDF)

4 Contraindications

Additions and/or revisions underlined:
… VARUBI is contraindicated in pediatric patients less than 2 years of age because of irreversible impairment of sexual development and fertility observed in juvenile rats at clinically relevant dosages [see Use in Specific Populations (8.4)].

5 Warnings and Precautions

5.1 Interaction with CYP2D6 Substrates

Additions and/or revisions underlined:

Rolapitant is a moderate inhibitor of CYP2D6. Exposure to dextromethorphan, a CYP2D6 substrate, following a single dose of rolapitant increased about 3-fold on Days 8 and Day 22. The inhibition of CYP2D6 persisted on Day 28 with a 2.3-fold increase in dextromethorphan (CYP2D6 substrate) concentrations, the last time point measured.

6 Adverse Reactions

Newly added information:

The following adverse reactions are discussed in greater detail in other sections of the labeling:

7 Drug Interactions

Additions and/or revisions underlined:

Rolapitant, given as a single oral dose, is not an inhibitor or inducer of CYP3A4 [see Clinical Pharmacology (12.3)]. Therefore, no dosage adjustment for dexamethasone (CYP3A4 substrate) is needed when co-administered with VARUBI [see Dosage and Administration (2)].

Table 4 and Table 5 include drugs with clinically important drug interactions when administered concomitantly with VARUBI and instructions for preventing or managing them.

Table 4: Clinically Relevant Interactions Affecting Drugs Co-Administered with VARUBI

Table 5: Clinically Relevant Interactions Affecting Rolapitant When Co-Administered with Other Drugs

Tables 4 and 5 are newly added; please refer to label for complete information.

8 Use in Specific Populations

8.1 Pregnancy

Statistics in section revised from ‘1.3 times and 3 times’ to ‘1.2 times and 2.9 times’

8.4 Pediatric Use

Additions and/or revisions underlined:

The safety and effectiveness of VARUBI have not been established in pediatric patients. VARUBI is contraindicated in pediatric patients less than 2 years of age [see Contraindications (4)]. Rolapitant administration in juvenile rats (human age equivalent of birth to 2 years) resulted in abnormal ovarian and uterine development, early sexual development in females, delayed sexual development in males, and impaired fertility.

Juvenile Animal Toxicity Data

A toxicity study in juvenile rats at rolapitant doses approximately 1.2 and 2.5 times the approved adult body surface area (BSA)-based dose from postnatal day (PND) 7 through PND 70 (approximate human age equivalent of birth to 16 years) identified reproductive toxicity. A subsequent toxicity study in juvenile rats was conducted to identify the critical window of exposure for reproductive toxicity. A rolapitant dose of 50 mg/kg/day (approximately 2.7 times the approved adult BSA-based dose) was administered daily from PNDs 7 through 70, 7 to 21, 21 to 42 and 42 to 70 (approximate human age equivalent of birth to 16 years, birth to 2 years, 2 years to 12 years, and 12 years to 16 years, respectively). Female juvenile rats treated with rolapitant beginning on PND 7 developed adverse effects including partial or irreversible lower uterine weights that correlated with decreased endometrial glands of the uterus, decreases in the numbers of corpora lutea, implantation sites and live embryos and increases in pre- and post-implantation loss, and early resorptions. These adverse effects were observed in female juvenile rats administered rolapitant prior to PND 21 (approximate human age equivalent of 2 years). Additionally, juvenile rats treated with rolapitant beginning on either PND 7 or PND 21 developed slight changes in the onset of sexual maturation (including earlier attainment of vaginal opening in females and delay in preputial separation in males).

17 PCI/PI/MG (Patient Counseling Information/Patient Information/Medication Guide)

PATIENT INFORMATION

Additions and/or revisions underlined:

Do not take VARUBI if you:

  • are a child less than 2 years of age.

Before taking VARUBI, tell your doctor about all of your medical conditions, including if you:

  • are breastfeeding or plan to breastfeed. It is not known if VARUBI passes into your breast milk or could harm your baby. Talk to your doctor about the best way to feed your baby if you take VARUBI.

Other

Varubi Injectable Emulsion is no longer being marketed.

04/13/2018 (SUPPL-3)

Approved Drug Label (PDF)

4 Contraindications

Additions and/or revisions underlined:

VARUBI is contraindicated in patients taking CYP2D6 substrates with a narrow therapeutic index, such as thioridazine and pimozide. VARUBI can significantly increase the plasma concentrations of thioridazine and pimozide, which may result in QT prolongation and Torsades de Pointes.

5 Warnings and Precautions

5.1 Interaction with CYP2D6 Substrates

Additions and/or revisions underlined:

Rolapitant is a moderate inhibitor of CYP2D6. Exposure to dextromethorphan, a CYP2D6 substrate, following a single dose of rolapitant increased about 3-fold on Days 8 and Day 22. The inhibition of CYP2D6 persisted on Day 28 with a 2.3-fold increase in dextromethorphan concentrations, the last time point measured. The inhibitory effect of rolapitant on CYP2D6 is expected to persist beyond 28 days for an unknown duration following administration of VARUBI.

Narrow Therapeutic Index Drugs (Thioridazine and Pimozide)

VARUBI is contraindicated in patients taking CYP2D6 substrates with a narrow therapeutic index such as thioridazine and pimozide. Increased plasma concentrations of thioridazine and pimozide are associated with serious and/or life-threatening events of QT prolongation and Torsades de Pointes.

Before starting treatment with VARUBI, consider whether patients require treatment with thioridazine or pimozide. If patients require these drugs, use an alternative antiemetic to VARUBI or an alternative to thioridazine or pimozide that is not metabolized by CYP2D6.

Other Drugs

VARUBI can also increase plasma concentrations of other CYP2D6 substrates for at least 28 days following administration of VARUBI and may result in adverse reactions.

Before starting treatment with VARUBI, consult the prescribing information for CYP2D6 substrates to obtain additional information about interactions with CYP2D6 inhibitors.

6 Adverse Reactions

6.1 Clinical Trials Experience

Additions and/or revisions underlined:

Tablets

In 4 controlled clinical trials in patients receiving emetogenic cancer chemotherapy, VARUBI tablets were given in combination with a 5-HT3 receptor antagonist and dexamethasone … The remainder of this paragraph references tablets.

7 Drug Interactions

Addition of the following subsections; please refer to label for complete information:

7.1 CYP2D6 Substrates

7.2 Strong CYP3A4 Inducers

7.3 BCRP Substrates with a Narrow Therapeutic Index

7.4 P-gp Substrates with a Narrow Therapeutic Index

7.5 Warfarin

7.6 CYP3A4 Substrates

8 Use in Specific Populations

8.1 Pregnancy

Additions and/or revisions underlined:

The limited data with VARUBI use in pregnant women are insufficient to inform a drug associated risk of adverse developmental outcomes. In animal reproduction studies, there were no adverse developmental effects observed with oral administration of rolapitant …

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 …

Data

Animal Data

he potential embryo-fetal toxicity of rolapitant was assessed in pregnant rats administered oral doses up to 22.5 mg/kg per day throughout the period of organogenesis … a concomitant decrease in food consumption during the first week of dosing. No adverse embryo-fetal developmental effects were observed at doses up to 22.5 mg/kg per day rolapitant (approximately 1.3 times the recommended intravenous human dose on a body surface area basis). In rabbits administered rolapitant throughout the period of organogenesis, oral doses up to 27 mg/kg per day (approximately 3 times the recommended intravenous human dose on a body surface area basis) …

… and increased number of unaccounted for implantation sites at a dose of 22.5 mg/kg per day (approximately 1.3 times the recommended intravenous human dose on a body surface area basis). Effects on offspring … (approximately 0.5 times the recommended intravenous human dose on a body surface area basis …

8.3 Females and Males of Reproductive Potential

Newly created subsection:

Infertility

Females

In animal fertility studies, rolapitant impaired the fertility in females in a reversible fashion.

8.4 Pediatric Use

Newly added information following Safety & efficacy of VARUBI have not been established in pediatric patients:

In non-clinical studies, sexual development and fertility of juvenile rats (human age equivalent of birth to 16 years) were affected following oral administration of VARUBI, as described below in Juvenile Animal Toxicity Data.

Juvenile Animal Toxicity Data

In an oral juvenile toxicity study in rats, at rolapitant doses of 11.3, 22.5 and 45 mg/kg/day from postnatal (PND) Day 7 through PND 70 (equivalent human age of newborn to 16 years), there was a delay in the attainment of balanopreputial separation in males and an acceleration of the attainment of vaginal patency in females with rolapitant doses of 22.5 and 45 mg/kg/day (approximately 1.3 and

2.6 times, respectively, the recommended intravenous human dose on a body surface area basis). Treated males and females were mated following a 2-week wash-out period after the last dose. There were lower mean numbers of implantation sites, corpora lutea, and mean number of viable embryos at 22.5 and 45 mg/kg/day (approximately 1.3 and 2.6 times, respectively, the recommended intravenous human dose on a body surface area basis) when compared to control.

17 PCI/PI/MG (Patient Counseling Information/Patient Information/Medication Guide)

PATIENT COUNSELING INFORMATION

Addition of the following:

Infertility

Advise females of reproductive potential that VARUBI may impair fertility.