WARNINGS
Included as part of the "PRECAUTIONS" Section
PRECAUTIONS
Hemorrhage
Fatal and serious hemorrhagic events have occurred in patients with hematological malignancies treated with BRUKINSA monotherapy. Grade 3 or higher bleeding events including intracranial and gastrointestinal hemorrhage, hematuria, and hemothorax have been reported in 2% of patients treated with BRUKINSA monotherapy. Bleeding events of any grade, including purpura and petechiae, occurred in 50% of patients treated with BRUKINSA monotherapy.
Bleeding events have occurred in patients with and without concomitant antiplatelet or anticoagulation therapy. Co-administration of BRUKINSA with antiplatelet or anticoagulant medications may further increase the risk of hemorrhage.
Monitor for signs and symptoms of bleeding. Discontinue BRUKINSA if intracranial hemorrhage of any grade occurs. Consider the benefit-risk of withholding BRUKINSA for 3-7 days pre-and post-surgery depending upon the type of surgery and the risk of bleeding.
Infections
Fatal and serious infections (including bacterial, viral, or fungal) and opportunistic infections have occurred in patients with hematological malignancies treated with BRUKINSA monotherapy. Grade 3 or higher infections occurred in 23% of patients treated with BRUKINSA monotherapy. The most common Grade 3 or higher infection was pneumonia. Infections due to hepatitis B virus (HBV) reactivation have occurred.
Consider prophylaxis for herpes simplex virus, pneumocystis jiroveci pneumonia, and other infections according to standard of care in patients who are at increased risk for infections. Monitor and evaluate patients for fever or other signs and symptoms of infection and treat appropriately.
Cytopenias
Grade 3 or 4 cytopenias, including neutropenia (27%), thrombocytopenia (10%), and anemia (8%) based on laboratory measurements, were reported in patients treated with BRUKINSA monotherapy.
Monitor complete blood counts during treatment and treat using growth factor or transfusions, as needed.
Second Primary Malignancies
Second primary malignancies, including non-skin carcinoma, have occurred in 9% of patients treated with BRUKINSA monotherapy. The most frequent second primary malignancy was skin cancer (basal cell carcinoma and squamous cell carcinoma of skin), reported in 6% of patients. Advise patients to use sun protection.
Cardiac Arrhythmias
Atrial fibrillation and atrial flutter have occurred in 2% of patients treated with BRUKINSA monotherapy. Patients with cardiac risk factors, hypertension, and acute infections may be at increased risk. Grade 3 or higher events were reported in 0.6% of patients treated with BRUKINSA monotherapy. Monitor signs and symptoms for atrial fibrillation and atrial flutter and manage as appropriate.
Embryo-Fetal Toxicity
Based on findings in animals, BRUKINSA can cause fetal harm when administered to a pregnant woman. Administration of zanubrutinib to pregnant rats during the period of organogenesis caused embryo-fetal toxicity, including malformations at exposures that were 5 times higher than
those reported in patients at the recommended dose of 160 mg twice daily. Advise women to avoid becoming pregnant while taking BRUKINSA and for at least 1 week after the last dose. Advise men to avoid fathering a child during treatment and for at least 1 week after the last dose. If this drug is used during pregnancy, or if the patient becomes pregnant while taking this drug, the patient should be apprised of the potential hazard to a fetus [see Use In Specific Populations].
Patient Counseling Information
Advise patients to read the FDA-approved patient labeling (PATIENT INFORMATION).
Hemorrhage
Inform patients to report signs or symptoms of severe bleeding. Inform patients that BRUKINSA
may need to be interrupted for major surgeries or procedures [see WARNINGS AND PRECAUTIONS].
Infections
Inform patients to report signs or symptoms suggestive of infection [see WARNINGS AND PRECAUTIONS].
Cytopenias
Inform patients that they will need periodic blood tests to check blood counts during treatment
with BRUKINSA [see WARNINGS AND PRECAUTIONS].
Second Primary Malignancies
Inform patients that other malignancies have been reported in patients who have been treated
with BRUKINSA, including skin cancer. Advise patients to use sun protection [see WARNINGS AND PRECAUTIONS].
Cardiac Arrhythmias
Counsel patients to report any signs of palpitations, lightheadedness, dizziness, fainting,
shortness of breath, and chest discomfort [see WARNINGS AND PRECAUTIONS].
Embryo-Fetal Toxicity
Advise women of the potential hazard to a fetus and to avoid becoming pregnant during treatment and for at least 1 week after the last dose of BRUKINSA [see WARNINGS AND PRECAUTIONS].
Advise males with female sexual partners of reproductive potential to use effective contraception during BRUKINSA treatment and for at least 1 week after the last dose of BRUKINSA [see Use In Specific Populations].
Lactation
Advise females not to breastfeed during treatment with BRUKINSA and for at least 2 weeks after the last dose [see Use In Specific Populations].
Administration Instructions
BRUKINSA may be taken with or without food. Advise patients that BRUKINSA capsules should be swallowed whole with a glass of water, without being opened, broken, or chewed [see DOSAGE AND ADMINISTRATION].
Missed Dose
Advise patients that if they miss a dose of BRUKINSA, they may still take it as soon as possible on the same day with a return to the normal schedule the following day [see DOSAGE AND ADMINISTRATION].
Drug Interactions
Advise patients to inform their healthcare providers of all concomitant medications, including
over-the-counter medications, vitamins, and herbal products [see DRUG INTERACTIONS].
Nonclinical Toxicology
Carcinogenesis, Mutagenesis, Impairment Of Fertility
Carcinogenicity studies have not been conducted with zanubrutinib.
Zanubrutinib was not mutagenic in a bacterial mutagenicity (Ames) assay, was not clastogenic in a chromosome aberration assay in mammalian (CHO) cells, nor was it clastogenic in an in vivo bone marrow micronucleus assay in rats.
A combined male and female fertility and early embryonic development study was conducted in rats at oral zanubrutinib doses of 30 to 300 mg/kg/day. Male rats were dosed 4 weeks prior to mating and through mating and female rats were dosed 2 weeks prior to mating and to gestation day 7. No effect on male or female fertility was noted but at the highest dose tested, morphological abnormalities in sperm and increased post-implantation loss were noted. The high dose of 300 mg/kg/day is approximately 10 times the human recommended dose, based on body surface area.
Use In Specific Populations
Pregnancy
Risk Summary
Based on findings in animals, BRUKINSA can cause fetal harm when administered to pregnant women. There are no available data on BRUKINSA use in pregnant women to evaluate for a drug-associated risk of major birth defects, miscarriage or adverse maternal or fetal outcomes. In animal reproduction studies, oral administration of zanubrutinib to pregnant rats during the period of organogenesis was associated with fetal heart malformation at approximately 5-fold human exposures (see Data). Women should be advised to avoid pregnancy while taking BRUKINSA. If BRUKINSA is used during pregnancy, or if the patient becomes pregnant while taking BRUKINSA, the patient should be apprised of the potential hazard to the fetus.
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, 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
Embryo-fetal development toxicity studies were conducted in both rats and rabbits. Zanubrutinib was administered orally to pregnant rats during the period of organogenesis at doses of 30, 75, and 150 mg/kg/day. Malformations in the heart (2-or 3-chambered hearts) were noted at all dose levels in the absence of maternal toxicity. The dose of 30 mg/kg/day is approximately 5 times the exposure (AUC) in patients receiving the recommended dose of 160 mg twice daily.
Administration of zanubrutinib to pregnant rabbits during the period of organogenesis at 30, 70, and 150 mg/kg/day resulted in post-implantation loss at the highest dose. The dose of 150 mg/kg is approximately 32 times the exposure (AUC) in patients at the recommended dose and was associated with maternal toxicity.
In a pre-and post-natal developmental toxicity study, zanubrutinib was administered orally to rats at doses of 30, 75, and 150 mg/kg/day from implantation through weaning. The offspring from the middle and high dose groups had decreased body weights preweaning, and all dose groups had adverse ocular findings (e.g. cataract, protruding eye). The dose of 30 mg/kg/day is approximately 5 times the AUC in patients receiving the recommended dose.
Lactation
Risk Summary
There are no data on the presence of zanubrutinib or its metabolites in human milk, the effects on the breastfed child, or the effects on milk production. Because of the potential for serious adverse reactions from BRUKINSA in a breastfed child, advise lactating women not to breastfeed during treatment with BRUKINSA and for at least two weeks following the last dose.
Females And Males Of Reproductive Potential
Pregnancy Testing
Pregnancy testing is recommended for females of reproductive potential prior to initiating BRUKINSA therapy.
Contraception
Females
BRUKINSA can cause embryo-fetal harm when administered to pregnant women [see Pregnancy]. Advise female patients of reproductive potential to use effective contraception during treatment with BRUKINSA and for at least 1 week following the last dose of BRUKINSA. If this drug is used during pregnancy, or if the patient becomes pregnant while taking this drug, the patient should be informed of the potential hazard to a fetus.
Males
Advise men to avoid fathering a child while receiving BRUKINSA and for at least 1 week following the last dose of BRUKINSA.
Pediatric Use
Safety and effectiveness in pediatric patients have not been established.
Geriatric Use
Of the 641 patients in clinical studies with BRUKINSA, 49% were ≥ 65 years of age, while 16% were ≥ 75 years of age. No overall differences in safety or effectiveness were observed between younger and older patients.
Renal Impairment
No dosage modification is recommended in patients with mild to moderate renal impairment (CLcr ≥ 30 mL/min, estimated by Cockcroft-Gault). Monitor for BRUKINSA adverse reactions in patients with severe renal impairment (CLcr < 30 mL/min) or on dialysis [see CLINICAL PHARMACOLOGY].
Hepatic Impairment
Dosage modification of BRUKINSA is recommended in patients with severe hepatic impairment [see DOSAGE AND ADMINISTRATION]. The safety of BRUKINSA has not been evaluated in patients with severe hepatic impairment. No dosage modification is recommended in patients with mild to moderate hepatic impairment. Monitor for BRUKINSA adverse reactions in patients with hepatic impairment [see CLINICAL PHARMACOLOGY].