SIDE EFFECTS
The following adverse drug reactions are discussed in greater detail in other sections of the label:
- Hemorrhage [see DOSAGE AND ADMINISTRATION and WARNINGS AND PRECAUTIONS].
- Arterial Thromboembolic Events [see DOSAGE AND ADMINISTRATION and WARNINGS AND PRECAUTIONS].
- Hypertension [see DOSAGE AND ADMINISTRATION and WARNINGS AND PRECAUTIONS].
- Infusion-Related Reactions [see DOSAGE AND ADMINISTRATION and WARNINGS AND PRECAUTIONS].
- Gastrointestinal Perforation [see DOSAGE AND ADMINISTRATION and WARNINGS AND PRECAUTIONS].
- Impaired Wound Healing [see DOSAGE AND ADMINISTRATION and WARNINGS AND PRECAUTIONS].
- Patients with Child-Pugh B or C Cirrhosis [see WARNINGS AND PRECAUTIONS].
- Reversible Posterior Leukoencephalopathy Syndrome [see WARNINGS AND PRECAUTIONS].
- Proteinuria Including Nephrotic Syndrome [see WARNINGS AND PRECAUTIONS].
- Thyroid Dysfunction [see WARNINGS AND PRECAUTIONS].
Clinical Trials Experience
Because clinical trials are conducted under widely varying conditions, adverse reaction rates observed in the
clinical trials of a drug cannot be directly compared to rates in the clinical trials of another drug and may not reflect the
rates observed in practice.
Gastric Cancer
Safety data are presented from two randomized, placebo controlled clinical trials in which patients received
CYRAMZA: Study 1, a randomized (2:1), double-blind, clinical trial in which 351 patients received either CYRAMZA
8 mg/kg intravenously every two weeks or placebo every two weeks and Study 2, a double-blind, randomized (1:1) clinical
trial in which 656 patients received paclitaxel 80 mg/m2 on days 1, 8, and 15 of each 28-day cycle plus either CYRAMZA
8 mg/kg intravenously every two weeks or placebo every two weeks. Both trials excluded patients with Eastern
Cooperative Oncology Group (ECOG) performance status (PS) of 2 or greater, uncontrolled hypertension, major surgery
within 28 days, or patients receiving chronic anti-platelet therapy other than once daily aspirin. Study 1 excluded patients
with bilirubin ≥1.5 mg/dL and Study 2 excluded patients with bilirubin >1.5 times the upper limit of normal.
CYRAMZA Administered as a Single Agent
Among 236 patients who received CYRAMZA (safety population) in Study 1, median age was 60 years, 28% were
women, 76% were White, and 16% were Asian. Patients in Study 1 received a median of 4 doses of CYRAMZA; the
median duration of exposure was 8 weeks, and 32 (14% of 236) patients received CYRAMZA for at least six months.
In Study 1, the most common adverse reactions (all grades) observed in CYRAMZA-treated patients at a rate of
≥10% and ≥2% higher than placebo were hypertension and diarrhea. The most common serious adverse events with
CYRAMZA were anemia (3.8%) and intestinal obstruction (2.1%). Red blood cell transfusions were given to 11% of
CYRAMZA-treated patients versus 8.7% of patients who received placebo.
Table 2 provides the frequency and severity of adverse reactions in Study 1.
Table 2: Adverse Reactions Occurring at Incidence Rate ≥5% and a ≥2% Difference Between Arms in Patients
Receiving CYRAMZA in Study 1
Adverse Reactions (MedDRA)
System Organ Class |
CYRAMZA (8 mg/kg)
N=236 |
Placebo
N=115 |
All Grades
(Frequency %) |
Grade 3-4
(Frequency %) |
All Grades
(Frequency %) |
Grade 3-4
(Frequency %) |
Gastrointestinal Disorders |
Diarrhea |
14 |
1 |
9 |
2 |
Metabolism and Nutrition Disorders |
Hyponatremia |
6 |
3 |
2 |
1 |
Nervous System Disorders |
Headache |
9 |
0 |
3 |
0 |
Vascular Disorders |
Hypertension |
16 |
8 |
8 |
3 |
Clinically relevant adverse reactions reported in ≥1% and <5% of CYRAMZA-treated patients in Study 1 were:
neutropenia (4.7% CYRAMZA versus 0.9% placebo), epistaxis (4.7% CYRAMZA versus 0.9% placebo), rash (4.2%
CYRAMZA versus 1.7% placebo), intestinal obstruction (2.1% CYRAMZA versus 0% placebo), and arterial
thromboembolic events (1.7% CYRAMZA versus 0% placebo) [see DOSAGE AND ADMINISTRATION and WARNINGS AND PRECAUTIONS].
Across clinical trials of CYRAMZA administered as a single agent, clinically relevant adverse reactions (including
Grade ≥3) reported in CYRAMZA-treated patients included proteinuria, gastrointestinal perforation, and infusion-related
reactions.
In Study 1, according to laboratory assessment, 8% of CYRAMZA-treated patients developed proteinuria versus
3% of placebo-treated patients. Two patients discontinued CYRAMZA due to proteinuria. The rate of gastrointestinal
perforation in Study 1 was 0.8% and the rate of infusion-related reactions was 0.4% [see DOSAGE AND ADMINISTRATION and WARNINGS AND PRECAUTIONS].
CYRAMZA Administered in Combination with Paclitaxel
Among 327 patients who received CYRAMZA (safety population) in Study 2, median age was 61 years, 31% were
women, 63% were White, and 33% were Asian. Patients in Study 2 received a median of 9 doses of CYRAMZA; the
median duration of exposure was 18 weeks, and 93 (28% of 327) patients received CYRAMZA for at least six months.
In Study 2, the most common adverse reactions (all grades) observed in patients treated with CYRAMZA plus
paclitaxel at a rate of ≥30% and ≥2% higher than placebo plus paclitaxel were fatigue, neutropenia, diarrhea, and
epistaxis. The most common serious adverse events with CYRAMZA plus paclitaxel were neutropenia (3.7%) and febrile
neutropenia (2.4%); 19% of patients treated with CYRAMZA plus paclitaxel received granulocyte colony-stimulating
factors. Adverse reactions resulting in discontinuation of any component of the CYRAMZA plus paclitaxel combination in
2% or more patients in Study 2 were neutropenia (4%) and thrombocytopenia (3%).
Table 3 provides the frequency and severity of adverse reactions in Study 2.
Table 3: Adverse Reactions Occurring at Incidence Rate ≥5% and a ≥2% Difference Between Arms in Patients
Receiving CYRAMZA plus Paclitaxel in Study 2
Adverse Reactions (MedDRA)
System Organ Class |
CYRAMZA plus Paclitaxel
(N=327) |
Placebo plus Paclitaxel
(N=329) |
All Grades
(Frequency %) |
Grade ≥3
(Frequency %) |
All Grades
(Frequency %) |
Grade ≥3
(Frequency %) |
Blood and Lymphatic System Disorders |
Neutropenia |
54 |
41 |
31 |
19 |
Thrombocytopenia |
13 |
2 |
6 |
2 |
Gastrointestinal Disorders |
Diarrhea |
32 |
4 |
23 |
2 |
Gastrointestinal hemorrhage events |
10 |
4 |
6 |
2 |
Stomatitis |
20 |
1 |
7 |
1 |
General Disorders and Administration Site Disorders |
Fatigue/Asthenia |
57 |
12 |
44 |
6 |
Peripheral edema |
25 |
2 |
14 |
1 |
Metabolism and Nutrition Disorders |
Hypoalbuminemia |
11 |
1 |
5 |
1 |
Renal and Urinary Disorders |
Proteinuria |
17 |
1 |
6 |
0 |
Respiratory, Thoracic, and Mediastinal Disorders |
Epistaxis |
31 |
0 |
7 |
0 |
Vascular Disorder |
Hypertension |
25 |
15 |
6 |
3 |
Clinically relevant adverse reactions reported in ≥1% and <5% of the CYRAMZA plus paclitaxel treated patients in
Study 2 were sepsis (3.1% CYRAMZA plus paclitaxel versus 1.8% placebo plus paclitaxel) and gastrointestinal
perforations (1.2% CYRAMZA plus paclitaxel versus 0.3% for placebo plus paclitaxel).
Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer
CYRAMZA Administered in Combination with Docetaxel
Study 3 was a multinational, randomized, double-blind study conducted in patients with NSCLC with disease
progression on or after one platinum-based therapy for locally advanced or metastatic disease. Patients received either
CYRAMZA 10 mg/kg intravenously plus docetaxel 75 mg/m2 intravenously every 3 weeks or placebo plus docetaxel
75 mg/m2 intravenously every 3 weeks. Due to an increased incidence of neutropenia and febrile neutropenia in patients
enrolled in East Asian sites, Study 3 was amended and 24 patients (11 CYRAMZA plus docetaxel, 13 placebo plus
docetaxel) at East Asian sites received a starting dose of docetaxel at 60 mg/m2 every 3 weeks.
Study 3 excluded patients with an ECOG PS of 2 or greater, bilirubin greater than the upper limit of normal (ULN),
uncontrolled hypertension, major surgery within 28 days, radiographic evidence of major airway or blood vessel invasion
by cancer, radiographic evidence of intra-tumor cavitation, or gross hemoptysis within the preceding 2 months, and
patients receiving therapeutic anticoagulation or chronic anti-platelet therapy other than once daily aspirin. The study also
excluded patients whose only prior treatment for advanced NSCLC was a tyrosine kinase (epidermal growth factor
receptor [EGFR] or anaplastic lymphoma kinase [ALK]) inhibitor.
The data described below reflect exposure to CYRAMZA plus docetaxel in 627 patients in Study 3. Demographics
and baseline characteristics were similar between treatment arms. Median age was 62 years; 67% of patients were men;
84% were White and 12% were Asian; 33% had ECOG PS 0; 74% had non-squamous histology and 25% had squamous
histology. Patients received a median of 4.5 doses of CYRAMZA; the median duration of exposure was 3.5 months, and
195 (31% of 627) patients received CYRAMZA for at least six months.
In Study 3, the most common adverse reactions (all grades) observed in CYRAMZA plus docetaxel-treated
patients at a rate of ≥30% and ≥2% higher than placebo plus docetaxel were neutropenia, fatigue/asthenia, and
stomatitis/mucosal inflammation. Treatment discontinuation due to adverse reactions occurred more frequently in
CYRAMZA plus docetaxel-treated patients (9%) than in placebo plus docetaxel-treated patients (5%). The most common
adverse events leading to treatment discontinuation of CYRAMZA were infusion-related reaction (0.5%) and epistaxis
(0.3%). For patients with non-squamous histology, the overall incidence of pulmonary hemorrhage was 7% and the
incidence of ≥Grade 3 pulmonary hemorrhage was 1% for CYRAMZA plus docetaxel compared to 6% overall incidence
and 1% for ≥Grade 3 pulmonary hemorrhage for placebo plus docetaxel. For patients with squamous histology, the overall
incidence of pulmonary hemorrhage was 10% and the incidence of ≥Grade 3 pulmonary hemorrhage was 2% for
CYRAMZA plus docetaxel compared to 12% overall incidence and 2% for ≥Grade 3 pulmonary hemorrhage for placebo
plus docetaxel.
The most common serious adverse events with CYRAMZA plus docetaxel were febrile neutropenia (14%),
pneumonia (6%), and neutropenia (5%). The use of granulocyte colony-stimulating factors was 42% in CYRAMZA plus
docetaxel-treated patients versus 37% in patients who received placebo plus docetaxel. In patients ≥65 years, there were
18 (8%) deaths on treatment or within 30 days of discontinuation for CYRAMZA plus docetaxel and 9 (4%) deaths for
placebo plus docetaxel. In patients <65 years, there were 13 (3%) deaths on treatment or within 30 days of
discontinuation for CYRAMZA plus docetaxel and 26 (6%) deaths for placebo plus docetaxel.
Table 4 provides the frequency and severity of adverse reactions in Study 3.
Table 4: Adverse Reactions Occurring at Incidence Rate ≥5% and a ≥2% Difference Between Arms in Patients
Receiving CYRAMZA in Study 3
Adverse Reactions (MedDRA)
System Organ Class |
CYRAMZA plus docetaxel
(N=627) |
Placebo plus docetaxel
(N=618) |
All Grades
(Frequency %) |
Grade 3-4
(Frequency %) |
All Grades
(Frequency %) |
Grade 3-4
(Frequency %) |
Blood and Lymphatic System Disorders |
Febrile neutropenia |
16 |
16 |
10 |
10 |
Neutropenia |
55 |
49 |
46 |
40 |
Thrombocytopenia |
13 |
3 |
5 |
<1 |
Gastrointestinal Disorders` |
Stomatitis/Mucosal inflammation |
37 |
7 |
19 |
2 |
Eye Disorders |
Lacrimation increased |
13 |
<1 |
5 |
0 |
General Disorders and Administration Site Disorders |
Fatigue/Asthenia |
55 |
14 |
50 |
11 |
Peripheral edema |
16 |
0 |
9 |
<1 |
Respiratory, Thoracic, and Mediastinal Disorders |
Epistaxis |
19 |
<1 |
7 |
<1 |
Vascular Disorders |
Hypertension |
11 |
6 |
5 |
2 |
Clinically relevant adverse drug reactions reported in ≥1% and <5% of the CYRAMZA plus docetaxel-treated
patients in Study 3 were hyponatremia (4.8% CYRAMZA plus docetaxel versus 2.4% for placebo plus docetaxel) and
proteinuria (3.3% CYRAMZA plus docetaxel versus 0.8% placebo plus docetaxel).
Colorectal Cancer
CYRAMZA Administered in Combination with FOLFIRI
Study 4 was a multinational, randomized, double-blind study conducted in patients with metastatic colorectal
cancer with disease progression on or after therapy with bevacizumab, oxaliplatin, and a fluoropyrimidine. Patients
received either CYRAMZA 8 mg/kg intravenously plus FOLFIRI intravenously every 2 weeks or placebo plus FOLFIRI
intravenously every 2 weeks.
Study 4 excluded patients with an ECOG PS of 2 or greater, uncontrolled hypertension, major surgery within 28
days, and those who experienced any of the following during first-line therapy with a bevacizumab-containing regimen: an
arterial thrombotic/thromboembolic event; Grade 4 hypertension; Grade 3 proteinuria; a Grade 3-4 bleeding event; or
bowel perforation.
Demographics and baseline characteristics for the treated population were similar between treatment arms
(n=1057). Median age was 62 years; 57% of patients were men; 76% were White and 20% were Asian; 48% had ECOG
PS 0.
The data described in this section reflect exposure to CYRAMZA plus FOLFIRI in 529 patients in Study 4. Patients
received a median of 8 doses (range 1-68) of CYRAMZA; the median duration of exposure was 4.4 months, and 169
(32% of 529) patients received CYRAMZA for at least six months. The most common adverse reactions (all grades)
observed in CYRAMZA plus FOLFIRI-treated patients at a rate of ≥30% and ≥2% higher than placebo plus FOLFIRI were
diarrhea, neutropenia, decreased appetite, epistaxis, and stomatitis. Twenty percent of patients treated with CYRAMZA
plus FOLFIRI received granulocyte colony-stimulating factors. Treatment discontinuation of any study drug due to adverse
reactions occurred more frequently in CYRAMZA plus FOLFIRI-treated patients (29%) than in placebo plus FOLFIRItreated
patients (13%).
The most common adverse reactions leading to discontinuation of any component of CYRAMZA plus FOLFIRI as
compared to placebo plus FOLFIRI, were neutropenia (12.5% versus 5.3%) and thrombocytopenia (4.2% versus 0.8%).
The most common adverse reactions leading to treatment discontinuation of CYRAMZA were proteinuria (1.5%) and
gastrointestinal perforation (1.7%).
The most common serious adverse events with CYRAMZA plus FOLFIRI were diarrhea (3.6%), intestinal
obstruction (3.0%), and febrile neutropenia (2.8%).
Table 5 provides the frequency and severity of adverse reactions in Study 4.
Table 5: Adverse Reactions Occurring at Incidence Rate ≥5% and a ≥2% Difference Between Arms in Patients
Receiving CYRAMZA in Study 4
Adverse Reactions (MedDRA)
System Organ Class |
CYRAMZA plus FOLFIRI
N=529 |
Placebo plus FOLFIRI
N=528 |
All Grades
(Frequency %) |
Grade ≥3
(Frequency %) |
All Grades
(Frequency %) |
Grade ≥3
(Frequency %) |
Blood and Lymphatic System Disorders |
Neutropenia |
59 |
38 |
46 |
23 |
Thrombocytopenia |
28 |
3 |
14 |
<1 |
Gastrointestinal Disorders |
Decreased appetite |
37 |
2 |
27 |
2 |
Diarrhea |
60 |
11 |
51 |
10 |
Gastrointestinal hemorrhage events |
12 |
2 |
7 |
1 |
Stomatitis |
31 |
4 |
21 |
2 |
General Disorders and Administration Site Disorders |
Peripheral edema |
20 |
<1 |
9 |
0 |
Metabolism and Nutrition Disorders |
Hypoalbuminemia |
6 |
1 |
2 |
0 |
Renal and Urinary Disorders |
Proteinuriaa |
17 |
3 |
5 |
<1 |
Respiratory, Thoracic, and Mediastinal Disorders |
Epistaxis |
33 |
0 |
15 |
0 |
Skin and Subcutaneous Tissue Disorders |
Palmar-plantar erythrodysesthesia
syndrome |
13 |
1 |
5 |
<1 |
Vascular Disorders |
Hypertension |
26 |
11 |
9 |
3 |
a Includes 3 patients with nephrotic syndrome in the CYRAMZA plus FOLFIRI treatment group. |
Clinically relevant adverse reactions reported in ≥1% and <5% of CYRAMZA plus FOLFIRI-treated patients in
Study 4 consisted of gastrointestinal perforation (1.7% CYRAMZA plus FOLFIRI versus 0.6% for placebo plus FOLFIRI).
Thyroid stimulating hormone (TSH) levels were evaluated in 224 patients (115 CYRAMZA plus FOLFIRI-treated
patients and 109 placebo plus FOLFIRI-treated patients) with normal baseline TSH levels. Patients underwent periodic
TSH laboratory assessments until 30 days after the last dose of study treatment. Increased TSH levels were observed in
53 (46%) patients treated with CYRAMZA plus FOLFIRI compared with 4 (4%) patients treated with placebo plus
FOLFIRI.
Immunogenicity
As with all therapeutic proteins, there is the potential for immunogenicity. In 23 clinical trials, 86/2890 (3.0%) of
CYRAMZA-treated patients tested positive for treatment-emergent anti-ramucirumab antibodies by an enzyme-linked
immunosorbent assay (ELISA). Neutralizing antibodies were detected in 14 of the 86 patients who tested positive for
treatment-emergent anti-ramucirumab antibodies.
The detection of antibody formation is highly dependent on the sensitivity and specificity of the assay. Additionally,
the observed incidence of antibody (including neutralizing antibody) positivity in an assay may be influenced by several
factors including assay methodology, sample handling, timing of sample collection, concomitant medications, and
underlying disease. For these reasons, comparison of incidence of antibodies to CYRAMZA with the incidences of
antibodies to other products may be misleading.
Postmarketing Experience
The following adverse reactions have been identified during post-approval use of CYRAMZA. Because such
reactions are reported voluntarily from a population of uncertain size, it is not always possible to reliably estimate their
frequency or establish a causal relationship to drug exposure.
- Blood and lymphatic system: Thrombotic microangiopathy
- Neoplasms benign, malignant and unspecified: Hemangioma
DRUG INTERACTIONS
No pharmacokinetic interactions were observed between ramucirumab and paclitaxel, between ramucirumab and
docetaxel, or between ramucirumab and irinotecan or its active metabolite, SN-38 [see CLINICAL PHARMACOLOGY].