Warnings for Blincyto
Included as part of the PRECAUTIONS section.
Precautions for Blincyto
Cytokine Release Syndrome
Cytokine Release Syndrome (CRS), which may be life-threatening or fatal, occurred in patients receiving BLINCYTO. The median time to onset of CRS was 2 days after the start of infusion and the median time to resolution of CRS was 5 days among cases that resolved. Manifestations of CRS include fever, headache, nausea, asthenia, hypotension, increased alanine aminotransferase (ALT), increased aspartate aminotransferase (AST), increased total bilirubin, and disseminated intravascular coagulation (DIC). The manifestations of CRS after treatment with BLINCYTO overlap with those of infusion reactions, capillary leak syndrome (CLS), and hemophagocytic histiocytosis/macrophage activation syndrome (MAS). Using all of these terms to define CRS in clinical trials of BLINCYTO, CRS was reported in 15% of patients with relapsed or refractory ALL, in 7% of patients with MRD-positive ALL, and in 16% of patients receiving BLINCYTO cycles in the consolidation phase of therapy [see ADVERSE REACTIONS].
Monitor patients for signs or symptoms of these events. Advise outpatients on BLINCYTO to contact their healthcare professional for signs and symptoms associated with CRS. If severe CRS occurs, interrupt BLINCYTO until CRS resolves. Discontinue BLINCYTO permanently if life-threatening CRS occurs. Administer corticosteroids for severe or life-threatening CRS [see DOSAGE AND ADMINISTRATION].
Neurological Toxicities, Including Immune Effector Cell-Associated Neurotoxicity Syndrome
BLINCYTO can cause serious or life-threatening neurologic toxicity, including ICANS [see ADVERSE REACTIONS].
The incidence of neurologic toxicities in clinical trials was approximately 65% [see ADVERSE REACTIONS]. Among patients that experienced a neurologic toxicity, the median time to the first event was within the first 2 weeks of BLINCYTO treatment. The most common (≥ 10%) manifestations of neurological toxicity were headache, and tremor; the neurological toxicity profile varied by age group [see Use In Specific Populations]. Grade 3 or higher neurological toxicities following initiation of BLINCYTO administration occurred in approximately 13% of patients and included encephalopathy, convulsions, speech disorders, disturbances in consciousness, confusion and disorientation, and coordination and balance disorders. Manifestations of neurological toxicity included cranial nerve disorders. The majority of neurologic toxicities resolved following interruption of BLINCYTO, but some resulted in treatment discontinuation.
The incidence of signs and symptoms consistent with ICANS in clinical trials was 7.5%. The onset of ICANS can be concurrent with CRS, following resolution of CRS, or in the absence of CRS.
There is limited experience with BLINCYTO in patients with active ALL in the central nervous system (CNS) or a history of neurologic events. Patients with a history or presence of clinically relevant CNS pathology were excluded from clinical studies. Patients with Down Syndrome may have a higher risk of seizures with BLINCYTO therapy; consider seizure prophylaxis prior to initiation of BLINCYTO for these patients.
Monitor patients receiving BLINCYTO for signs and symptoms of neurological toxicities, including ICANS. Advise outpatients on BLINCYTO to contact their healthcare professional if they develop signs or symptoms of neurological toxicities. Management of neurologic toxicity may require interruption or discontinuation of BLINCYTO as recommended and/or treatment with corticosteroids [see DOSAGE AND ADMINISTRATION].
Infections
In patients with ALL receiving BLINCYTO in clinical studies, serious infections such as sepsis, pneumonia, bacteremia, opportunistic infections, and catheter-site infections were observed in approximately 25% of patients, some of which were life-threatening or fatal [see ADVERSE REACTIONS]. As appropriate, administer prophylactic antibiotics and employ surveillance testing during treatment with BLINCYTO. Monitor patients for signs and symptoms of infection and treat appropriately.
Tumor Lysis Syndrome
Tumor lysis syndrome (TLS), which may be life-threatening or fatal, has been observed in patients receiving BLINCYTO [see ADVERSE REACTIONS]. Appropriate prophylactic measures, including pretreatment nontoxic cytoreduction and on-treatment hydration, should be used for the prevention of TLS during BLINCYTO treatment. Monitor for signs or symptoms of TLS. Management of these events may require either temporary interruption or discontinuation of BLINCYTO [see DOSAGE AND ADMINISTRATION].
Neutropenia And Febrile Neutropenia
Neutropenia and febrile neutropenia, including life-threatening cases, have been observed in patients receiving BLINCYTO [see ADVERSE REACTIONS]. Monitor laboratory parameters (including, but not limited to, white blood cell count and absolute neutrophil count) during BLINCYTO infusion. Interrupt BLINCYTO if prolonged neutropenia occurs.
Effects On Ability To Drive And Use Machines
Due to the potential for neurologic events, including seizures and ICANS, patients receiving BLINCYTO are at risk for loss of consciousness [see WARNINGS AND PRECAUTIONS]. Advise patients to refrain from driving and engaging in hazardous occupations or activities such as operating heavy or potentially dangerous machinery while BLINCYTO is being administered.
Elevated Liver Enzymes
Treatment with BLINCYTO was associated with transient elevations in liver enzymes [see ADVERSE REACTIONS]. In patients with ALL receiving BLINCYTO in clinical studies, the median time to onset of elevated liver enzymes was 3 days.
The majority of these transient elevations in liver enzymes were observed in the setting of CRS. For the events that were observed outside the setting of CRS, the median time to onset was 19 days. Grade 3 or greater elevations in liver enzymes occurred in approximately 7% of patients outside the setting of CRS and resulted in treatment discontinuation in less than 1% of patients.
Monitor alanine aminotransferase (ALT), aspartate aminotransferase (AST), gamma-glutamyl transferase (GGT), and total blood bilirubin prior to the start of and during BLINCYTO treatment. Interrupt BLINCYTO if the transaminases rise to greater than 5 times the upper limit of normal or if total bilirubin rises to more than 3 times the upper limit of normal.
Pancreatitis
Fatal pancreatitis has been reported in patients receiving BLINCYTO in combination with dexamethasone in clinical studies and the postmarketing setting [see ADVERSE REACTIONS].
Evaluate patients who develop signs and symptoms of pancreatitis. Management of pancreatitis may require either temporary interruption or discontinuation of BLINCYTO and dexamethasone [see DOSAGE AND ADMINISTRATION].
Leukoencephalopathy
Cranial magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) changes showing leukoencephalopathy have been observed in patients receiving BLINCYTO, especially in patients with prior treatment with cranial irradiation and antileukemic chemotherapy (including systemic high-dose methotrexate or intrathecal cytarabine). The clinical significance of these imaging changes is unknown.
Preparation And Administration Errors
Preparation and administration errors have occurred with BLINCYTO treatment. Follow instructions for preparation (including admixing) and administration strictly to minimize medication errors (including underdose and overdose) [see DOSAGE AND ADMINISTRATION and Instructions for Use].
Immunization
The safety of immunization with live viral vaccines during or following BLINCYTO therapy has not been studied. Vaccination with live virus vaccines is not recommended for at least 2 weeks prior to the start of BLINCYTO treatment, during treatment, and until immune recovery following last cycle of BLINCYTO.
Benzyl Alcohol Toxicity In Neonates
Serious adverse reactions, including fatal reactions and the “gasping syndrome,” have been reported in very low birth weight (VLBW) neonates born weighing less than 1500 g, and early preterm neonates (infants born less than 34 weeks gestational age) who received intravenous drugs containing benzyl alcohol as a preservative. Early preterm VLBW neonates may be more likely to develop these reactions, because they may be less able to metabolize benzyl alcohol [see Use In Specific Populations].
Use the preservative-free preparations of BLINCYTO where possible in neonates. When prescribing BLINCYTO (with preservative) for neonatal patients, consider the combined daily metabolic load of benzyl alcohol from all sources including BLINCYTO (with preservative), other products containing benzyl alcohol or other excipients (e.g., ethanol, propylene glycol) which compete with benzyl alcohol for the same metabolic pathway.
Monitor neonatal patients receiving BLINCYTO (with preservative) for new or worsening metabolic acidosis. The minimum amount of benzyl alcohol at which serious adverse reactions may occur in neonates is not known. The BLINCYTO 72-Hour bag (with preservative) and 96-Hour bag (with preservative) contain 2.5 mg of benzyl alcohol per mL, and the 7-Day bag (with preservative) contains 7.4 mg of benzyl alcohol per mL. The administration of BLINCYTO as a 72-hour, 96-hour, and 7-day infusion is not recommended for patients weighing less than 5.4 kg [see Use In Specific Populations].
Embryo-Fetal Toxicity
Based on its mechanism of action, BLINCYTO may cause fetal harm when administered to a pregnant woman. Advise pregnant women of the potential risk to the fetus. Advise females of reproductive potential to use effective contraception during treatment with BLINCYTO and for 48 hours after the last dose [see Use In Specific Populations].
Patient Counseling Information
Advise the patient to read the FDA-approved patient labeling (Medication Guide).
Cytokine Release Syndrome (CRS)
Advise patients of the risk of CRS and infusion reactions, and to contact their healthcare professional for signs and symptoms associated with CRS or infusion reactions (pyrexia, fatigue, nausea, vomiting, chills, hypotension, rash, and wheezing) [see WARNINGS AND PRECAUTIONS and ADVERSE REACTIONS].
Neurological Toxicities, Including Immune Effector Cell-Associated Neurotoxicity Syndrome
Advise patients of the risk of neurological toxicities, including ICANS, and to contact their healthcare professional for signs and symptoms associated with this event (including convulsions, speech disorders, and confusion) [see WARNINGS AND PRECAUTIONS and ADVERSE REACTIONS].
Infections
Advise patients of the risk of infections, and to contact their healthcare professional for signs or symptoms of infection [see WARNINGS AND PRECAUTIONS and ADVERSE REACTIONS].
Inform patients of the importance of keeping the skin clean around the intravenous catheter to reduce the risk of infection.
Pancreatitis
Advise patients of the risk of pancreatitis and to contact their healthcare provider for signs or symptoms of pancreatitis, which include severe and persistent stomach pain, with or without nausea and vomiting [see WARNINGS AND PRECAUTIONS and ADVERSE REACTIONS].
Driving And Engaging In Hazardous Occupations
Advise patients to refrain from driving and engaging in hazardous occupations or activities such as operating heavy or potentially dangerous machinery while BLINCYTO is being administered. Patients should be advised that they may experience neurological events, including seizures and ICANS [see WARNINGS AND PRECAUTIONS].
Infusion Pump Errors
Inform patients they should not adjust the setting on the infusion pump. Any changes to pump function may result in dosing errors. If there is a problem with the infusion pump or the pump alarms, patients should contact their doctor or nurse immediately.
Embryo-Fetal Toxicity
Advise pregnant women of the potential risk to a fetus. Advise females of reproductive potential to inform their healthcare provider if they are pregnant or become pregnant [see WARNINGS AND PRECAUTIONS and Use In Specific Populations]. Advise females of reproductive potential to use effective contraception during treatment with BLINCYTO and for 48 hours after the last dose [see WARNINGS AND PRECAUTIONS and Use In Specific Populations].
Lactation
Advise women not to breastfeed during treatment with BLINCYTO and for 48 hours after the last dose [see Use In Specific Populations].
Nonclinical Toxicology
Carcinogenesis, Mutagenesis, Impairment Of Fertility
No carcinogenicity or genotoxicity studies have been conducted with blinatumomab.
No studies have been conducted to evaluate the effects of blinatumomab on fertility. A murine surrogate molecule had no adverse effects on male and female reproductive organs in a 13-week repeat-dose toxicity study in mice.
Use In Specific Populations
Pregnancy
Risk Summary
Based on its mechanism of action, BLINCYTO may cause fetal harm when administered to a pregnant woman [see CLINICAL PHARMACOLOGY]. There are no available data on the use of BLINCYTO in pregnant women to evaluate for a drug-associated risk. In animal reproduction studies, a murine surrogate molecule administered to pregnant mice crossed the placental barrier (see Data).
Blinatumomab causes T-cell activation and cytokine release; immune activation may compromise pregnancy maintenance. In addition, based on expression of CD19 on B-cells and the finding of B-cell depletion in non-pregnant animals, blinatumomab can cause B-cell lymphocytopenia in infants exposed to blinatumomab in-utero. 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 2-4% and 15-20%, respectively.
Clinical Considerations
Fetal/Neonatal Adverse Reactions
Due to the potential for B-cell lymphocytopenia in infants following exposure to BLINCYTO in utero, the infant’s B lymphocytes should be monitored before the initiation of live virus vaccination [see WARNINGS AND PRECAUTIONS].
Data
Animal Data
Animal reproduction studies have not been conducted with blinatumomab. In embryo-fetal developmental toxicity studies, a murine surrogate molecule was administered intravenously to pregnant mice during the period of organogenesis. The surrogate molecule crossed the placental barrier and did not cause embryo-fetal toxicity or teratogenicity. The expected depletions of B and T cells were observed in the pregnant mice, but hematological effects were not assessed in fetuses.
Lactation
Risk Summary
There is no information regarding the presence of blinatumomab in human milk, the effects on the breastfed infant, or the effects on milk production. Because many drugs are excreted in human milk and because of the potential for serious adverse reactions in breastfed infants from BLINCYTO, including B-cell lymphocytopenia, advise patients not to breastfeed during treatment with BLINCYTO and for 48 hours after the last dose.
Females And Males Of Reproductive Potential
BLINCYTO may cause fetal harm when administered to a pregnant woman [see Use In Specific Populations].
Pregnancy Testing
Verify the pregnancy status of females of reproductive potential prior to initiating BLINCYTO treatment.
Contraception
Females
Advise females of reproductive potential to use effective contraception during treatment with BLINCYTO and for 48 hours after the last dose.
Pediatric Use
The safety and efficacy of BLINCYTO in pediatric patients less than 1 month of age have not been established for any indication [see INDICATIONS AND USAGE].
Minimal Residual Disease (MRD)-Positive B-cell Precursor ALL
The safety and efficacy of BLINCYTO for the treatment of CD19-positive B-cell precursor acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL) in first or second complete remission with minimal residual disease (MRD) greater than or equal to 0.1% have been established in pediatric patients one month and older. Use of BLINCYTO is supported by evidence from two randomized, controlled trials (Study AALL1331, NCT02101853 and Study 20120215, NCT02393859) [see Clinical Studies] in pediatric patients with first relapsed B-cell precursor ALL. Both studies included pediatric patients with MRD-positive B-cell precursor ALL. The studies included pediatric patients treated with BLINCYTO in the following age groups: 6 infants (1 month up to less than 2 years), 165 children (2 years up to less than 12 years), and 70 adolescents (12 years to less than 17 years). In general, the adverse reactions in BLINCYTO-treated pediatric patients were similar in type to those seen in adult patients with MRD-positive ALL [see ADVERSE REACTIONS], and no differences in safety were observed between the different pediatric age subgroups.
Relapsed or Refractory B-cell Precursor ALL
The safety and efficacy of BLINCYTO have been established in pediatric patients one month and older with relapsed or refractory B-cell precursor ALL. Use of BLINCYTO is supported by a single-arm trial in pediatric patients with relapsed or refractory B-cell precursor ALL. This study included pediatric patients in the following age groups: 10 infants (1 month up to less than 2 years), 40 children (2 years up to less than 12 years), and 20 adolescents (12 years to less than 18 years). No differences in efficacy were observed between the different age subgroups [see Clinical Studies].
In general, the adverse reactions in BLINCYTO-treated pediatric patients with relapsed or refractory ALL were similar in type to those seen in adult patients with relapsed or refractory B-cell precursor ALL [see ADVERSE REACTIONS]. Adverse reactions that were observed more frequently (≥ 10% difference) in the pediatric population compared to the adult population were pyrexia (80% vs. 61%), hypertension (26% vs. 8%), anemia (41% vs. 24%), infusion-related reaction (49% vs. 34%), thrombocytopenia (34% vs. 21%), leukopenia (24% vs. 11%), and weight increased (17% vs. 6%).
In pediatric patients less than 2 years old (infants) with relapsed or refractory ALL, the incidence of neurologic toxicities was not significantly different than for the other age groups, but its manifestations were different; the only event terms reported were agitation, headache, insomnia, somnolence, and irritability. Infants also had an increased incidence of hypokalemia (50%) compared to other pediatric age cohorts (15-20%) or adults (17%).
B-cell Precursor ALL In The Consolidation Phase
The safety and efficacy of BLINCYTO for the treatment of Philadelphia-chromosome negative B-cell precursor ALL in the consolidation phase have been established in pediatric patients one month and older. Use of BLINCYTO for this indication is supported by extrapolation from a randomized controlled study in adults (Study E1910, NCT02003222) and evidence from two randomized, controlled studies in pediatric patients (Study 20120215 and Study AALL1331) [see ADVERSE REACTIONS, Use In Specific Populations, CLINICAL PHARMACOLOGY, and Clinical Studies].
Benzyl Alcohol Toxicity In Neonates
Serious and fatal adverse reactions, including “gasping syndrome,” can occur in very low birth weight (VLBW) neonates born weighing less than 1500 g, and early preterm neonates (infants born less than 34 weeks gestational age) treated with benzyl alcohol-preserved drugs intravenously. The “gasping syndrome” is characterized by central nervous system depression, metabolic acidosis, and gasping respirations. In these cases, benzyl alcohol dosages of 99 to 234 mg/kg/day produced high concentrations of benzyl alcohol and its metabolite in the blood and urine (blood concentration of benzyl alcohol were 0.61 to 1.378 mmol/L). Additional adverse reactions included gradual neurological deterioration, seizures, intracranial hemorrhage, hematologic abnormalities, skin breakdown, hepatic and renal failure, hypotension, bradycardia, and cardiovascular collapse. The minimum amount of benzyl alcohol at which serious adverse reactions may occur in neonates is not known [see WARNINGS AND PRECAUTIONS].
Use the preservative-free formulations of BLINCYTO where possible in neonates. When prescribing BLINCYTO (with preservative) in neonatal patients, consider the combined daily metabolic load of benzyl alcohol from all sources including BLINCYTO (with preservative). The BLINCYTO 72-Hour bag (with preservative) and 96-Hour bag (with preservative) contain 2.5 mg of benzyl alcohol per mL, and the 7-Day bag (with preservative) contains 7.4 mg of benzyl alcohol per mL. The administration of BLINCYTO as a 72-hour, 96-hour, and 7-day infusion is not recommended for patients weighing less than 5.4 kg [see WARNINGS AND PRECAUTIONS].
Benzyl alcohol administration may contribute to metabolic acidosis in pediatric patients, particularly those with immaturity of the metabolic pathway for alcohol, or those with underlying conditions or receiving concomitant medications that could predispose to acid base imbalance. Monitor these patients during use of BLINCYTO (with preservative) for new or worsening metabolic acidosis.
Geriatric Use
There were 158 (7%) patients 65 years and older in clinical studies of BLINCYTO for patients with MRD positive, CD19-positive B-cell precursor ALL in first or second complete remission, relapsed or refractory CD19-positive B-cell precursor ALL, and CD19-positive, Philadelphia-chromosome negative B-cell precursor ALL in the consolidation phase. Of the total number of BLINCYTO-treated patients in these studies, 123 (8%) were 65 years of age and older and 21 (1%) were 75 years of age or older. No overall differences in safety or effectiveness were observed between these patients and younger patients, and other reported clinical experience has not identified differences in responses between the elderly and younger patients. However, elderly patients experienced a higher rate of serious infections and neurological toxicities, including cognitive disorder, encephalopathy, and confusion [see WARNINGS AND PRECAUTIONS].