Warnings for Epkinly
Included as part of the "PRECAUTIONS" Section
Precautions for Epkinly
Cytokine Release Syndrome
EPKINLY can cause CRS, including serious or life-threatening reactions [see ADVERSE REACTIONS].
Cytokine release syndrome occurred in 51% of patients receiving EPKINLY at the recommended dose in the clinical trial, with Grade 1 CRS occurring in 37%, Grade 2 in 17%, and Grade 3 in 2.5% of patients. Recurrent CRS occurred in 16% of patients. Of all the CRS events, most (92%) occurred during Cycle 1. In Cycle 1, 9% of CRS events occurred after the 0.16 mg dose on Cycle 1 Day 1, 16% after the 0.8 mg dose on Cycle 1 Day 8, 61% after the 48 mg dose on Cycle 1 Day 15, and 6% after the 48 mg dose on Cycle 1 Day 22.
The median time to onset of CRS from the most recent administered EPKINLY dose across all doses was 24 hours (range: 0 to 10 days). The median time to onset after the first full 48 mg dose was 21 hours (range: 0 to 7 days). CRS resolved in 98% of patients and the median duration of CRS events was 2 days (range: 1 to 27 days).
In patients who experienced CRS, the signs and symptoms included pyrexia, hypotension, hypoxia, dyspnea, chills, and tachycardia. Concurrent neurological adverse reactions associated with CRS occurred in 2.5% of patients and included headache, confusional state, tremors, dizziness, and ataxia.
Initiate therapy according to EPKINLY step-up dosing schedule. Administer pretreatment medications to reduce the risk of CRS and monitor patients for potential CRS following EPKINLY accordingly. Following administration of the first 48 mg dose, patients should be hospitalized for 24 hours [see DOSAGE AND ADMINISTRATION]. At the first signs or symptoms of CRS, immediately evaluate patients for hospitalization, manage per current practice guidelines, and administer supportive care as appropriate. Withhold or discontinue EPKINLY based on the severity of CRS [see DOSAGE AND ADMINISTRATION].
Patients who experience CRS (or other adverse reactions that impair consciousness) should be evaluated and advised not to drive and to refrain from operating heavy or potentially dangerous machinery until resolution.
Immune Effector Cell-Associated Neurotoxicity Syndrome
EPKINLY can cause life-threatening and fatal immune effector cell-associated neurotoxicity syndrome (ICANS) [see ADVERSE REACTIONS].
Immune Effector Cell-Associated Neurotoxicity Syndrome occurred in 6% (10/157) of patients receiving EPKINLY at the recommended dose in the clinical trial, with Grade 1 ICANS in 4.5% and Grade 2 ICANS in 1.3% of patients. There was one (0.6%) fatal ICANS occurrence. Of the 10 ICANS events, 9 occurred within Cycle 1 of EPKINLY treatment, with a median time to onset of ICANS of 16.5 days (range: 8 to 141 days) from the start of treatment. Relative to the most recent administration of EPKINLY, the median time to onset of ICANS was 3 days (range: 1 to 13 days). The median duration of ICANS was 4 days (range: 0 to 8 days) with ICANS resolving in 90% of patients with supportive care. Clinical manifestations of ICANS included, but were not limited to, confusional state, lethargy, tremor, dysgraphia, aphasia, and non-convulsive status epilepticus. The onset of ICANS can be concurrent with CRS, following resolution of CRS, or in the absence of CRS.
Monitor patients for potential ICANS following EPKINLY. At the first signs or symptoms of ICANS, immediately evaluate patient and provide supportive therapy based on severity.
Withhold or discontinue EPKINLY per recommendations and consider further management per current practice guidelines [see DOSAGE AND ADMINISTRATION].
Patients who experience signs or symptoms of ICANS or any other adverse reactions that impair cognition or consciousness should be evaluated, including potential neurology evaluation, and patients at increased risk should be advised not to drive and to refrain from operating heavy or potentially dangerous machinery until resolution.
Infections
EPKINLY can cause serious and fatal infections [see ADVERSE REACTIONS].
In the clinical trial, serious infections, including opportunistic infections, were reported in 15% of patients treated with EPKINLY at the recommended dose with Grade 3 or 4 infections in 14% and fatal infections in 1.3%. The most common Grade 3 or greater infections were sepsis, COVID-19, urinary tract infection, pneumonia, and upper respiratory tract infection.
Monitor patients for signs and symptoms of infection prior to and during treatment with EPKINLY and treat appropriately. Avoid administration of EPKINLY in patients with active infections. Provide PJP prophylaxis prior to initiating treatment with EPKINLY; consider initiating prophylaxis against herpes virus prior to starting EPKINLY [see DOSAGE AND ADMINISTRATION].
Withhold or consider permanent discontinuation of EPKINLY based on severity [see DOSAGE AND ADMINISTRATION].
Cytopenias
EPKINLY can cause serious or severe cytopenias, including neutropenia, anemia, and thrombocytopenia [see ADVERSE REACTIONS].
Among patients who received the recommended dosage in the clinical trial, Grade 3 or 4 decreased neutrophils occurred in 32%, decreased hemoglobin in 12%, and decreased platelets in 12% of patients. Febrile neutropenia occurred in 2.5%.
Monitor complete blood counts throughout treatment. Based on the severity of cytopenias, temporarily withhold or permanently discontinue EPKINLY [see DOSAGE AND ADMINISTRATION]. Consider prophylactic granulocyte colony-stimulating factor administration as applicable.
Embryo-Fetal Toxicity
Based on its mechanism of action, EPKINLY 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 EPKINLY and for 4 months 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)
Inform patients of the risk of CRS, and to immediately contact their healthcare provider should signs and symptoms associated with CRS (e.g., pyrexia, hypotension, hypoxia, chills, tachycardia, headache, and dyspnea) occur at any time. Advise patients that they should be hospitalized for 24 hours after administration of the Cycle 1 Day 15 dosage of 48 mg. Advise patients who experience symptoms that impair consciousness not to drive and refrain from operating heavy or potentially dangerous machinery until events resolve [see WARNINGS AND PRECAUTIONS].
Immune Effector Cell-Associated Neurotoxicity Syndrome (ICANS)
Advise patients of the risk of ICANS, to immediately contact their healthcare provider for signs and symptoms associated with ICANS, which may manifest, for example, as confusional state, lethargy, tremor, dysgraphia, aphasia, and non-convulsive status epilepticus, and that the onset of events may be delayed. Advise patients who experience symptoms of ICANS that impair consciousness to refrain from driving or operating heavy or potentially dangerous machinery until symptoms of ICANS resolve [see WARNINGS AND PRECAUTIONS].
Infections
Advise patients of the risk of serious infections, and to contact their healthcare professional for signs or symptoms of serious infection [see WARNINGS AND PRECAUTIONS].
Cytopenias
Discuss the signs and symptoms associated with cytopenias, including neutropenia and febrile neutropenia, anemia, and thrombocytopenia [see WARNINGS AND PRECAUTIONS].
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 Use In Specific Populations]. Advise females of reproductive potential to use effective contraception during treatment with EPKINLY and for 4 months after the last dose [see Use In Specific Populations].
Lactation
Advise women not to breastfeed during treatment with EPKINLY and for 4 months 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 epcoritamab-bysp. No dedicated studies have been conducted to evaluate the effects of epcoritamab-bysp on fertility.
Use In Specific Populations
Pregnancy
Risk Summary
Based on the mechanism of action, EPKINLY may cause fetal harm when administered to a pregnant woman [see CLINICAL PHARMACOLOGY]. There are no available data on the use of EPKINLY in pregnant women to evaluate for a drug-associated risk. No animal reproductive or developmental toxicity studies have been conducted with epcoritamab-bysp.
Epcoritamab-bysp causes T-cell activation and cytokine release; immune activation may compromise pregnancy maintenance. In addition, based on expression of CD20 on B-cells and the finding of B-cell depletion in non-pregnant animals, epcoritamab-bysp can cause B-cell lymphocytopenia in infants exposed to epcoritamab-bysp in-utero. Human immunoglobulin G (IgG) is known to cross the placenta; therefore, EPKINLY has the potential to be transmitted from the mother to the developing fetus. Advise women of the potential risk to the 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.
Lactation
Risk Summary
There is no information regarding the presence of epcoritamab-bysp in human milk, the effect on the breastfed child, or milk production. Because maternal IgG is present in human milk, and there is potential for epcoritamab-bysp absorption leading to serious adverse reactions in a breastfed child, advise women not to breastfeed during treatment with EPKINLY and for 4 months after the last dose.
Females And Males Of Reproductive Potential
EPKINLY may cause fetal harm when administered to a pregnant woman [see Pregnancy].
Pregnancy Testing
Verify pregnancy status in females of reproductive potential prior to initiating EPKINLY.
Contraception
Females
Advise females of reproductive potential to use effective contraception during treatment with EPKINLY and for 4 months after the last dose.
Pediatric Use
The safety and efficacy of EPKINLY in pediatric patients have not been established.
Geriatric Use
In patients with relapsed or refractory LBCL who received EPKINLY in the clinical trial, 49% were 65 years of age or older, and 19% were 75 years of age or older. No clinically meaningful differences in safety or efficacy were observed between patients 65 years of age or older compared with younger adult patients.