SIDE EFFECTS
The following adverse reactions are described in detail in other sections of the label:
- Infusion reaction [see WARNINGS AND PRECAUTIONS].
- Infections [see WARNINGS AND PRECAUTIONS].
- Second Primary Malignancies [see WARNINGS AND PRECAUTIONS].
- Hepatotoxicity [see WARNINGS AND PRECAUTIONS].
- Interference with determination of complete response [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.
EMPLICITI In Combination With Lenalidomide And Dexamethasone [ELOQUENT-2]
The safety data described in this section are based on the ELOQUENT-2 study, a randomized, open-label clinical trial in patients with previously treated multiple myeloma. In ELOQUENT-2, EMPLICITI 10 mg/kg was administered with lenalidomide and dexamethasone [see Clinical Studies]. For adverse reaction evaluation, EMPLICITI combined with lenalidomide and dexamethasone was compared with lenalidomide and dexamethasone alone.
The mean age of the population was 66 years and 57% of patients were 65 years of age or older. Sixty percent (60%) of the population were male, 84% were white, 10% were Asian, and 4%
were black. The Eastern Cooperative Oncology Group (ECOG) performance status was 0 in 47%, 1 in 44%, and 2 in 9% of patients.
These data reflect exposure of 318 patients to EMPLICITI and 317 to control with a median number of cycles of 19 for EMPLICITI and 14 for control.
Serious adverse reactions were reported in 65% of patients treated on the EMPLICITI arm and 57% for patients treated on the control arm. The most frequent serious adverse reactions in the EMPLICITI arm compared to the control arm were: pneumonia (15% vs. 11%), pyrexia (7% vs. 5%), respiratory tract infection (3.1% vs. 1.3%), anemia (2.8% vs. 1.9%), pulmonary embolism (3.1% vs. 2.5%), and acute renal failure (2.5% vs. 1.9%).
The proportion of patients who discontinued any component of the treatment regimen due to adverse reactions as listed below was similar for both treatment arms; 6.0% for patients treated on the EMPLICITI arm and 6.3% for patients treated on the control.
Adverse reactions occurring at a frequency of 10% or higher in the EMPLICITI arm and 5% or higher than the lenalidomide and dexamethasone arm for the randomized trial in multiple myeloma are presented in Table 6.
Table 6: ELOQUENT-2: Adverse Reactions with a 10% or Higher Incidence for EMPLICITI-Treated Patients and a 5% or Higher Incidence than Lenalidomide and Dexamethasone-Treated Patients [All Grades]
Primary Term |
EMPLICITI + Lenalidomide and Dexamethasone N=318 |
Lenalidomide and Dexamethasone N=317 |
All Grades |
Grade 3/4 |
All Grades |
Grade 3/4 |
Fatigue* |
62 |
13 |
52 |
12 |
Diarrhea |
47 |
5.0 |
36 |
4.1 |
Pyrexia |
37 |
2.5 |
25 |
2.8 |
Constipation |
36 |
1.3 |
27 |
0.3 |
Cough† |
34 |
0.3 |
19 |
0 |
Peripheral Neuropathy‡ |
27 |
3.8 |
21 |
2.2 |
Nasopharyngitis |
25 |
0 |
19 |
0 |
Upper Respiratory Tract Infection |
23 |
0.6 |
17 |
1.3 |
Decreased Appetite |
21 |
1.6 |
13 |
1.3 |
Pneumonia§ |
20 |
14 |
14 |
9 |
Pain in Extremities |
16 |
0.9 |
10 |
0.3 |
Headache |
15 |
0.3 |
8 |
0.3 |
Vomiting |
14 |
0.3 |
9 |
0.9 |
Weight Decreased |
14 |
1.3 |
6 |
0 |
Lymphopenia |
13 |
9 |
7 |
3.2 |
Cataracts |
12 |
6 |
6 |
2.8 |
Oropharyngeal Pain |
10 |
0 |
4 |
0 |
* The term fatigue is a grouping of the following terms: fatigue and asthenia.
† The term cough is a grouping of the following terms: cough, productive cough, and upper airway cough.
‡ The term peripheral neuropathy is a grouping of the following terms: peripheral neuropathy, axonal neuropathy,
peripheral motor neuropathy, peripheral sensory neuropathy, and polyneuropathy.
§ The term pneumonia is a grouping of the following terms: pneumonia, atypical pneumonia, bronchopneumonia, lobar pneumonia, bacterial pneumonia, fungal pneumonia, pneumonia influenza, and pneumococcal pneumonia. |
Laboratory abnormalities worsening from baseline and occurring at a frequency of 10% or higher in the EMPLICITI group and 5% or higher than the lenalidomide and dexamethasone group (criteria met for all Grades or Grade 3/4) for ELOQUENT-2 are presented in Table 7.
Table 7: ELOQUENT-2: Laboratory Abnormalities Worsening from Baseline and with a 10% or Higher Incidence for EMPLICITI-Treated Patients and a 5% Higher Incidence than Lenalidomide and Dexamethasone-Treated Patients [Criteria met for All Grades or Grade 3/4]
Laboratory Parameter |
EMPLICITI + Lenalidomide and Dexamethasone N=318 |
Lenalidomide and Dexamethasone N=317 |
All Grades |
Grade 3/4 |
All Grades |
Grade 3/4 |
Hematology |
|
|
|
|
Lymphopenia |
99 |
77 |
98 |
49 |
Leukopenia |
91 |
32 |
88 |
26 |
Thrombocytopenia |
84 |
19 |
78 |
20 |
Liver and Renal Function Tests |
|
|
|
|
Hypoalbuminemia |
73 |
3.9 |
66 |
2.3 |
Elevated Alkaline Phosphatase |
39 |
1.3 |
30 |
0 |
Chemistry |
|
|
|
|
Hyperglycemia |
89 |
17 |
85 |
10 |
Hypocalcemia |
78 |
11 |
77 |
4.7 |
Low Bicarbonate |
63 |
0.4 |
45 |
0 |
Hyperkalemia |
32 |
7 |
22 |
1.6 |
Vital sign abnormalities were assessed by treatment arm for the randomized trial in multiple myeloma and are presented in Table 8. Percentages are based on patients who had at least one vital sign abnormality any time during the course of study.
Table 8: ELOQUENT-2 Vital Sign Abnormalities
Vital Sign Parameter |
EMPLICITI + Lenalidomide and Dexamethasone
N=318 % |
Lenalidomide and Dexamethasone
N=317
% |
Systolic Blood Pressure ≥160 mmHg |
33 |
21 |
Diastolic Blood Pressure ≥100 mmHg |
17 |
12 |
Systolic Blood Pressure <90 mmHg |
29 |
8 |
Heart Rate ≥100 bpm |
48 |
30 |
Heart Rate <60 bpm |
66 |
31 |
EMPLICITI In Combination With Pomalidomide And Dexamethasone [ELOQUENT-3]
The safety data described in this section are based on ELOQUENT-3, a randomized, open-label clinical trial in patients with previously treated multiple myeloma. In ELOQUENT-3, EMPLICITI 10 mg/kg and 20 mg/kg was administered with pomalidomide and dexamethasone [see Clinical Studies]. For adverse reaction evaluation, EMPLICITI combined with pomalidomide and dexamethasone was compared with pomalidomide and dexamethasone alone.
The mean age of the population was 66 years and 63% of patients were 65 years of age or older. Fifty-seven percent of the population were male, 78% were white, 20% were Asian, and none were black. The ECOG performance status was 0 in 43%, 1 in 46%, and 2 in 10% of patients. These data reflect exposure of 60 patients to EMPLICITI and 55 to control with a median number of cycles of 9 for EMPLICITI and 5 for control.
Serious adverse reactions were reported in 22% of patients treated on the EMPLICITI arm and 15% for patients treated on the control arm. The most frequent serious adverse reactions in the EMPLICITI arm compared to the control arm were: pneumonia (13% vs. 11%) and respiratory tract infection (7% vs. 3.6%). The proportion of patients who discontinued any component of the treatment regimen due to adverse reactions were 5.0% of the patients in the EMPLICITI arm and 1.8% of the patients in the control arm.
Adverse reactions occurring at a frequency of 10% or higher in the EMPLICITI arm and 5% or higher than the pomalidomide and dexamethasone arm for the randomized trial in multiple myeloma are presented in Table 9.
Table 9: ELOQUENT-3: Adverse Reactions with a 10% or Higher Incidence
for EMPLICITI-Treated Patients and a 5% or Higher Incidence than
Pomalidomide and Dexamethasone-Treated Patients [All Grades]
Adverse Reaction |
EMPLICITI + Pomalidomide and Dexamethasone N=60 |
Pomalidomide and Dexamethasone N=55 |
All Grades |
Grade 3/4 |
All Grades |
Grade 3/4 |
Constipation |
22 |
1.7 |
11 |
0 |
Hyperglycemia |
20 |
8 |
15 |
7 |
Pneumonia* |
18 |
10 |
13 |
11 |
Diarrhea |
18 |
0 |
9 |
0 |
Respiratory Tract Infection |
17 |
0 |
9 |
1.8 |
Bone Pain |
15 |
3.3 |
9 |
0 |
Dyspnea |
15 |
3.3 |
7 |
1.8 |
Muscle Spasms |
13 |
0 |
5 |
0 |
Edema Peripheral |
13 |
0 |
7 |
0 |
Lymphopenia |
10 |
8 |
1.8 |
1.8 |
* The term pneumonia is grouping of the following terms: pneumonia, atypical pneumonia, lower respiratory tract infection, pneumoccocal sepsis, pneumonia bacterial, pneumonia influenza. |
Other clinically important adverse reactions reported in patients treated with EMPLICITI that did not meet the criteria for inclusion in Table 6 and 9 but occurred at a frequency of 5% or greater in the EMPLICITI group and at a frequency at least twice the control rate for the randomized trial in multiple myeloma are listed below:
General disorders and administration site conditions: chest pain, night sweats
Immune system disorders: hypersensitivity
Nervous system disorders: hypoesthesia
Psychiatric disorders: mood altered
Laboratory abnormalities worsening from baseline and occurring at a frequency of 10% or higher in ELOQUENT-3 in the EMPLICITI group and 5% or higher than the pomalidomide and dexamethasone group (criteria met for all Grades or Grade 3/4) for the randomized trial in multiple myeloma are presented in Table 10.
Table 10: ELOQUENT-3: Laboratory Abnormalities Worsening from Baseline and with a 10% or Higher Incidence for EMPLICITI-Treated Patients and a 5% Higher Incidence than Pomalidomide and Dexamethasone-Treated Patients [Criteria met for All Grades or Grade 3/4]
Laboratory Parameter |
EMPLICITI + Pomalidomide and Dexamethasone N=60 |
Pomalidomide and Dexamethasone N=55 |
All Grades |
Grade 3/4 |
All Grades |
Grade 3/4 |
Hematology |
|
|
|
|
Lymphopenia |
98 |
70 |
91 |
35 |
Leukopenia |
80 |
52 |
87 |
35 |
Thrombocytopenia |
78 |
17 |
73 |
20 |
Liver and Renal Function Tests |
|
|
|
|
Hypoalbuminemia |
65 |
1.7 |
56 |
1.8 |
Chemistry |
|
|
|
|
Hypocalcemia |
58 |
3.3 |
40 |
1.8 |
Hyperglycemia |
40 |
3.3 |
25 |
1.8 |
Hyponatremia |
40 |
5 |
18 |
0 |
Hypokalemia |
23 |
5 |
16 |
3.6 |
Vital sign abnormalities were assessed by treatment arm for the randomized trial in multiple myeloma and are presented in Table 11. Percentages are based on all treated patients
Table 11: ELOQUENT-3: Vital Sign Abnormalities
Vital Sign Parameter |
EMPLICITI + Pomalidomide and Dexamethasone
N=60 % |
Pomalidomide and Dexamethasone
N=55
% |
Systolic Blood Pressure ≥160 mmHg |
18 |
13 |
Diastolic Blood Pressure ≥100 mmHg |
8 |
4.0 |
Systolic Blood Pressure <90 mmHg |
7 |
7 |
Heart Rate ≥100 bpm |
23 |
24 |
Heart Rate <60 bpm |
43 |
22 |
Immunogenicity
As with all therapeutic proteins, there is a potential for immunogenicity to EMPLICITI. 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 EMPLICITI in the studies described below with the incidences of antibodies in other studies or to other products may be misleading.
Of 390 patients across four clinical studies including ELOQUENT-2 and in 53 patients in the ELOQUENT-3 trial, who were treated with EMPLICITI and evaluable for the presence of anti-product antibodies, 72 patients (18.5%) in the four clinical trials and 19 patients (36%) in the ELOQUENT-3 trial tested positive for treatment-emergent anti-product antibodies by an electrochemiluminescent (ECL) assay. In 63 (88%) of the 72 patients in the four clinical trials, anti-product antibodies occurred within the first 2 months of the initiation of EMPLICITI treatment and resolved by 2 to 4 months in 49 (78%) patients. In the ELOQUENT-3 trial, in all 19 patients, anti-product antibodies occurred within the first 2 months of the initiation of EMPLICITI treatment and were resolved by 2 to 3 months in 18 (85%) patients.
Neutralizing antibodies post-treatment were detected in 19 of 299 patients in the four clinical trials and 2 of 53 patients in the ELOQUENT-3 trial who were evaluable for the presence of neutralizing antibodies.
DRUG INTERACTIONS
Drug Interactions
For important drug interactions involving lenalidomide, pomalidomide and dexamethasone, refer to their respective prescribing information.
Laboratory Test Interference
EMPLICITI may be detected in the SPEP and serum immunofixation assays of myeloma patients and could interfere with correct response classification. A small peak in the early gamma region on SPEP that is IgGκ on serum immunofixation may potentially be attributed to EMPLICITI, particularly in patients whose endogenous myeloma protein is IgA, IgM, IgD, or lambda light chain restricted. This interference can impact the determination of complete response and possibly relapse from complete response in patients with IgG kappa myeloma protein [see WARNINGS AND PRECAUTIONS].