WARNINGS
Included as part of the "PRECAUTIONS" Section
PRECAUTIONS
Hepatotoxicity
Elevations of AST greater than 5 times the upper limit of normal (ULN) occurred in 4.6% of patients, and elevations of ALT greater than 5 times the ULN occurred in 5.3% of the 405 patients in Studies NP28761, NP28673 and ALEX who received ALECENSA at a dose of 600 mg BID. Elevations of bilirubin greater than 3 times the ULN occurred in 3.7% of patients. The majority (69% of the patients with hepatic transaminase elevations and 68% of the patients with bilirubin elevations) of these events occurred during the first 3 months of treatment. Six patients discontinued ALECENSA for Grades 3–4 AST and/or ALT elevations, and 4 patients discontinued ALECENSA for Grade 3 bilirubin elevations. Concurrent elevations in ALT or AST greater than or equal to 3 times the ULN and total bilirubin greater than or equal to 2 times the ULN, with normal alkaline phosphatase, occurred in less than 1% of patients treated with ALECENSA across clinical trials. Three patients with Grades 3–4 AST/ALT elevations had drug-induced liver injury (documented by liver biopsy in two cases).
Monitor liver function tests including ALT, AST, and total bilirubin every 2 weeks during the first 3 months of treatment, then once a month and as clinically indicated, with more frequent testing in patients who develop transaminase and bilirubin elevations. Based on the severity of the adverse drug reaction, withhold ALECENSA and resume at a reduced dose or permanently discontinue ALECENSA as described in Table 2 [see DOSAGE AND ADMINISTRATION].
Interstitial Lung Disease (ILD)/Pneumonitis
ILD/pneumonitis occurred in three (0.7%) patients treated with ALECENSA in Studies NP28761, NP28673 and ALEX. One (0.2%) of these events was severe (Grade 3).
Promptly investigate for ILD/pneumonitis in any patient who presents with worsening of respiratory symptoms indicative of ILD/pneumonitis (e.g., dyspnea, cough, and fever). Immediately withhold ALECENSA treatment in patients diagnosed with ILD/pneumonitis and permanently discontinue ALECENSA if no other potential causes of ILD/pneumonitis have been identified [see DOSAGE AND ADMINISTRATION and ADVERSE REACTIONS].
Renal Impairment
Renal impairment occurred in 8% of patients in Studies NP28761, NP28673, and ALEX. The incidence of Grade ≥ 3 renal impairment was 1.7%, of which 0.5% were fatal events. Dose modifications for renal impairment were required in 3.2% of patients. Median time to Grade ≥ 3 renal impairment was 3.7 months (range 0.5 to 14.7 months).
Permanently discontinue ALECENSA for Grade 4 renal toxicity. Withhold ALECENSA for Grade 3 renal toxicity until recovery to less than or equal to 1.5 times ULN, then resume at reduced dose [see DOSAGE AND ADMINISTRATION].
Bradycardia
Symptomatic bradycardia can occur with ALECENSA. Cases of bradycardia (8.6%) have been reported in patients treated with ALECENSA in Studies NP28761, NP28673 and ALEX. Eighteen percent of 365 patients treated with ALECENSA for whom serial ECGs were available had heart rates of less than 50 beats per minute (bpm).
Monitor heart rate and blood pressure regularly. Dose modification is not required in cases of asymptomatic bradycardia. In cases of symptomatic bradycardia that is not life-threatening, withhold ALECENSA until recovery to asymptomatic bradycardia or to a heart rate of 60 bpm or above and evaluate concomitant medications known to cause bradycardia, as well as anti-hypertensive medications. If attributable to a concomitant medication, resume ALECENSA at a reduced dose (see Table 1) upon recovery to asymptomatic bradycardia or to a heart rate of 60 bpm or above, with frequent monitoring as clinically indicated. Permanently discontinue ALECENSA in case of recurrence. Permanently discontinue ALECENSA in cases of life-threatening bradycardia if no contributing concomitant medication is identified [see DOSAGE AND ADMINISTRATION].
Severe Myalgia And Creatine Phosphokinase (CPK) Elevation
Myalgia or musculoskeletal pain occurred in 26% of patients in Studies NP28761, NP28673 and ALEX. The incidence of Grade 3 myalgia/musculoskeletal pain was 0.7%. Dose modifications for myalgia/musculoskeletal pain were required in 0.5% of patients.
Elevations of CPK occurred in 41% of 347 patients with CPK laboratory data available in Studies NP28761, NP28673 and ALEX. The incidence of Grade 3 elevations of CPK was 4.0%. Median time to Grade 3 CPK elevation was 14 days (interquartile range 13-28 days). Dose modifications for elevation of CPK occurred in
3.2 % of patients.
Advise patients to report any unexplained muscle pain, tenderness, or weakness. Assess CPK levels every 2 weeks for the first month of treatment and as clinically indicated in patients reporting symptoms. Based on the severity of the CPK elevation, withhold ALECENSA, then resume or reduce dose [see DOSAGE AND ADMINISTRATION].
Embryo-Fetal Toxicity
Based on findings from animal studies and its mechanism of action, ALECENSA can cause fetal harm when administered to pregnant women. Administration of alectinib to pregnant rats and rabbits during the period of organogenesis resulted in embryo-fetal toxicity and abortion at maternally toxic doses with exposures approximately 2.7 times those observed in humans with alectinib 600 mg twice daily. Advise pregnant women of the potential risk to a fetus.
Advise females of reproductive potential to use effective contraception during treatment with ALECENSA and for 1 week following the final dose [see Use In Specific Populations and CLINICAL PHARMACOLOGY].
Patient Counseling Information
Advise the patient to read the FDA-approved patient labeling (PATIENT INFORMATION).
Inform patients of the following:
Hepatotoxicity
Inform patients of the signs and symptoms of bilirubin and hepatic transaminase elevations. Advise patients to
contact their healthcare provider immediately for signs or symptoms of bilirubin and hepatic transaminase
elevations [see WARNINGS AND PRECAUTIONS].
Interstitial Lung Disease (ILD)/Pneumonitis
Inform patients of the risks of severe ILD/pneumonitis. Advise patients to contact their healthcare provider
immediately to report new or worsening respiratory symptoms [see WARNINGS AND PRECAUTIONS].
Renal Impairment
Inform patients of the risk of severe and potentially fatal renal impairment. Advise patients to contact their
health care provider for change in urine color, reduced urine output, or swelling in the legs and feet [see WARNINGS AND PRECAUTIONS].
Bradycardia
Inform patients that symptoms of bradycardia including dizziness, lightheadedness, and syncope can occur
while taking ALECENSA. Advise patients to contact their healthcare provider to report these symptoms and to
inform their healthcare provider about the use of any heart or blood pressure medications [see WARNINGS AND PRECAUTIONS].
Severe Myalgia/CPK Elevation
Inform patients of signs and symptoms of myalgia, including unexplained and/or persistent muscle pain,
tenderness, or weakness. Advise patients to contact their healthcare provider immediately to report new or
worsening symptoms of muscle pain or weakness [see WARNINGS AND PRECAUTIONS].
Photosensitivity
Inform patients of the signs and symptoms of photosensitivity. Advise patients to avoid prolonged sun exposure
while taking ALECENSA and for at least 7 days after study drug discontinuation and to use proper protection
from the sun. Advise patients to use a broad spectrum ultraviolet A (UVA)/ultraviolet B (UVB) sunscreen and lip balm (SPF ≥ 50) to help protect against potential sunburn [see ADVERSE REACTIONS].
Embryo-Fetal Toxicity
ALECENSA can cause fetal harm if taken during pregnancy. Advise a pregnant woman of the potential risk to a fetus [see WARNINGS AND PRECAUTIONS and Use In Specific Populations].
Advise females of reproductive potential to use effective contraception during treatment with ALECENSA and for at least 1 week after the last dose of ALECENSA. Advise patients to inform their healthcare provider of a known or suspected pregnancy [see WARNINGS AND PRECAUTIONS and Use In Specific Populations].
Advise male patients with female partners of reproductive potential to use effective contraception during treatment with ALECENSA and for 3 months after the last dose [see Use In Specific Populations and Nonclinical Toxicology].
Lactation
Advise women not to breastfeed during treatment with ALECENSA and for one week after the last dose [see Use In Specific Populations].
Administration
Instruct patients to take ALECENSA twice a day. Advise patients to take ALECENSA with food and to swallow ALECENSA capsules whole [see DOSAGE AND ADMINISTRATION].
Missed Dose
Advise patients that if a dose of ALECENSA is missed or if the patient vomits after taking a dose of ALECENSA, patients should be advised not to take an extra dose, but to take the next dose at the regular time
[see DOSAGE AND ADMINISTRATION].
Nonclinical Toxicology
Carcinogenesis, Mutagenesis, Impairment Of Fertility
Carcinogenicity studies with alectinib have not been conducted.
Alectinib was not mutagenic in vitro in the bacterial reverse mutation (Ames) assay, but was positive with an increased number of micronuclei in a rat bone marrow micronucleus test. The mechanism of micronucleus induction was abnormal chromosome segregation (aneugenicity) and not a clastogenic effect on chromosomes.
No studies in animals have been performed to evaluate the effect of alectinib on fertility. No adverse effects on male and female reproductive organs were observed in general toxicology studies conducted in rats and monkeys.
Use In Specific Populations
Pregnancy
Risk Summary
Based on animal studies and its mechanism of action, ALECENSA can cause fetal harm when administered to a pregnant woman [see CLINICAL PHARMACOLOGY]. There are no available data on ALECENSA use in pregnant women.
Administration of alectinib to pregnant rats and rabbits by oral gavage during the period of organogenesis resulted in embryo-fetal toxicity and abortion at maternally toxic doses with exposures approximately 2.7 times those observed in humans treated with alectinib at 600 mg twice daily (see Data). Advise pregnant women of the potential risk to a fetus.
In the U.S. general population, the estimated background risk of major birth defects and miscarriage in clinically recognized pregnancies is 2% to 4% and 15% to 20%, respectively.
Data
Animal Data
In a preliminary rabbit embryo-fetal study, administration of alectinib by oral gavage during the period of organogenesis resulted in abortion or complete embryo-fetal mortality at a maternally toxic dose of 27 mg/kg/day (approximately 2.9-fold the estimated area under the curve (AUC0-24h,ss) in humans treated with alectinib 600 mg BID) in three of six pregnant rabbits. The remaining three pregnant rabbits in this group had few live fetuses, decreased fetal and placental weights, and retroesophageal subclavian artery. In a rat preliminary embryo-fetal development study, administration of alectinib during organogenesis resulted in complete litter loss in all pregnant rats at 27 mg/kg/day (approximately 4.5-fold the estimated AUC0-24h,ss in humans treated with alectinib 600 mg BID). Doses greater than or equal to 9 mg/kg/day (approximately 2.7-fold the estimated human AUC0-24h,ss in humans treated with alectinib 600 mg BID), resulted in maternal toxicity as well as developmental toxicities including decreased fetal weight, dilated ureter, thymic cord, small ventricle and thin ventricle wall, and reduced number of sacral and caudal vertebrae.
Lactation
Risk Summary
There are no data on the presence of alectinib or its metabolites in human milk, the effects of alectinib on the breastfed infant, or its effects on milk production. Because of the potential for serious adverse reactions in breastfed infants from alectinib, advise a lactating woman not to breastfeed during treatment with ALECENSA and for 1 week after the final dose.
Females And Males Of Reproductive Potential
Contraception
Females
ALECENSA can cause fetal harm when administered to a pregnant woman. Advise females of reproductive potential to use effective contraception during treatment with ALECENSA and for 1 week after the final dose [see Pregnancy].
Males
Based on genotoxicity findings, advise males with female partners of reproductive potential to use effective contraception during treatment with ALECENSA and for 3 months following the final dose [see Nonclinical Toxicology].
Pediatric Use
The safety and effectiveness of ALECENSA in pediatric patients have not been established.
Animal Data
Juvenile animal studies have not been conducted using alectinib. In general toxicology studies, treatment of rats with doses of alectinib resulting in exposures greater than or equal to approximately 4.5 times those in humans treated with alectinib at 600 mg twice daily resulted in changes in the growing teeth and bones. Findings in teeth included discoloration and changes in tooth size along with histopathological disarrangement of the ameloblast and odontoblast layers. There were also decreases in the trabecular bone and increased osteoclast activity in the femur and sternum.
Geriatric Use
Clinical studies of ALECENSA did not include sufficient number of subjects aged 65 and older to determine whether they respond differently from younger subjects.
Renal Impairment
No dose adjustment is recommended for patients with mild or moderate renal impairment. The safety of ALECENSA in patients with severe renal impairment (creatinine clearance less than 30 mL/min) or end-stage renal disease has not been studied [see CLINICAL PHARMACOLOGY].
Hepatic Impairment
No dose adjustment is recommended for patients with mild (Child-Pugh A) or moderate (Child-Pugh B) hepatic impairment. Increased exposure of alectinib occurred in patients with severe hepatic impairment (Child-Pugh C). The recommended dose of ALECENSA in patients with severe hepatic impairment (Child-Pugh C) is 450 mg orally twice daily [see DOSAGE AND ADMINISTRATION and CLINICAL PHARMACOLOGY].