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Warnings 

See precautions below.

Description 

GILOTRIF™ (afatinib) tablets, for oral use
Initial U.S. Approval: 2013
Afatinib dimaleate is a white to brownish yellow powder, water soluble and hygroscopic, with an empirical formula of C32H33ClFN5O11, and a molecular weight of 718.1 g/mol.

GILOTRIF tablets for oral administration are available in 40 mg, 30 mg, or 20 mg of afatinib (equivalent to 59.12 mg, 44.34 mg, or 29.56 mg afatinib dimaleate, respectively). The inactive ingredients of GILOTRIF are the following: Tablet Core: lactose monohydrate, microcrystalline cellulose, crospovidone, colloidal silicon dioxide, magnesium stearate. Coating: hypromellose, polyethylene glycol, titanium dioxide, talc, polysorbate 80, FD&C Blue No. 2 (40 mg and 30 mg tablets only).

Clinical pharmacology

Mechanism of Action
Afatinib covalently binds to the kinase domains of EGFR (ErbB1), HER2 (ErbB2), and HER4 (ErbB4) and irreversibly inhibits tyrosine kinase autophosphorylation, resulting in downregulation of ErbB signaling.

Afatinib demonstrated inhibition of autophosphorylation and in vitro proliferation of cell lines expressing wild-type EGFR or those expressing selected EGFR exon 19 deletion mutations or exon 21 L858R mutations, including some with a secondary T790M mutation, at afatinib concentrations achieved, at least transiently, in patients. In addition, afatinib inhibited in vitro proliferation of cell lines overexpressing HER2.

Treatment with afatinib resulted in inhibition of tumor growth in nude mice implanted with tumors either overexpressing wild type EGFR or HER2 or in an EGFR L858R/T790M double mutant model.

Indications and usage 

INDICATIONS:
GILOTRIF is a kinase inhibitor indicated for the first-line treatment of patients with metastatic non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) whose tumors have epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) exon 19 deletions or exon 21 (L858R) substitution mutations as detected by an FDA-approved test.

Limitation of Use: Safety and efficacy of GILOTRIF have not been established in patients whose tumors have other EGFR mutations.

Contraindications

None.

Precautions

WARNINGS AND PRECAUTIONS:

  1. Diarrhea: Diarrhea may result in dehydration and renal failure. Withhold GILOTRIF for severe and prolonged diarrhea not responsive to anti-diarrheal agents.
  2. Bullous and Exfoliative Skin Disorders: Severe bullous, blistering, and exfoliating lesions occurred in 0.15% of patients. Discontinue for life-threatening cutaneous reactions. Withhold GILOTRIF for severe and prolonged cutaneous reactions.
  3. Interstitial lung disease (ILD): Occurs in 1.5% of patients. Withhold GILOTRIF for acute onset or worsening of pulmonary symptoms. Discontinue GILOTRIF if ILD is diagnosed.
  4. Hepatic toxicity: Fatal hepatic impairment occurs in 0.18% of patients. Monitor with periodic liver testing. Withhold or discontinue GILOTRIF for severe or worsening liver tests.
  5. Keratitis: Occurs in 0.8% of patients. Withhold GILOTRIF for keratitis evaluation. Withhold or discontinue GILOTRIF for confirmed ulcerative keratitis.
  6. Embryofetal toxicity: Can cause fetal harm. Advise females of the potential hazard to the fetus and to use highly effective contraception.

Adverse reactions

ADVERSE REACTIONS:
Most common adverse reactions (≥20%) are diarrhea, rash/dermatitis acneiform, stomatitis, paronychia, dry skin, decreased appetite, pruritus.

To report SUSPECTED ADVERSE REACTIONS, contact Boehringer Ingelheim Pharmaceuticals, Inc. at (800) 542-6257 or (800) 459-9906 TTY or FDA at 1-800-FDA-1088 or www.fda.gov/medwatch.

DRUG INTERACTIONS
Co-administration of P-gp inhibitors can increase afatinib exposure. Reduce GILOTRIF by 10 mg per day if not tolerated. Co-administration of chronic P-gp inducers orally can decrease afatinib exposure. Increase GILOTRIF by 10 mg per day as tolerated.

USE IN SPECIFIC POPULATIONS
Nursing mothers: Discontinue drug or nursing.

See PACKAGE INSERT for PATIENT COUNSELING INFORMATION and Medication Guide.

Dosage and administration 

DOSAGE AND ADMINISTRATION:
Recommended dose: 40 mg orally, once daily.
Instruct patients to take GILOTRIF at least 1 hour before or 2 hours after a meal.

How supplied

DOSAGE FORMS AND STRENGTHS

Tablets: 40 mg, 30 mg, and 20 mg

Reference

Package insert data:   [Accessed: Jan 2014].

Distributed by:
Boehringer Ingelheim Pharmaceuticals, Inc.
Ridgefield, CT 06877 USA

Licensed from:
Boehringer Ingelheim International GmbH
GILOTRIF is a trademark of and used under license from Boehringer Ingelheim International GmbH.

Copyright 2013 Boehringer Ingelheim International GmbH
ALL RIGHTS RESERVED
Revised: November 2013

IT5562EK252013
302972-03

Gilotrif™ 20 mg Tablets
NDC: 0597-0141-30

DRUG UPDATE
Drug:  GILOTRIF ® (afatinib) tablets, for oral use
[Drug information  /  PDF]  
Dosing:  Click (+) next to Dosage and Administration section (drug info link)

Initial U.S. Approval:  2013

Reference(s)

National Institutes of Health, U.S. National Library of Medicine, DailyMed Database.
Provides access to the latest drug monographs submitted to the Food and Drug Administration (FDA). Please review the latest applicable package insert for additional information and possible updates.  A local search option of this data can be found here.

GILOTRIF™ (afatinib) tablets

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