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EVOMELA
(melphalan) for Injection, for Intravenous Use
WARNING
SEVERE BONE MARROW SUPPRESSION, HYPERSENSITIVITY, and LEUKEMOGENICITY
Evomela contains melphalan hydrochloride, an alkylating drug, as the active ingredient. The chemical name of melphalan hydrochloride is 4-[bis(2-chloroethyl)amino]-L-phenylalanine hydrochloride. Its molecular formula is C13H18Cl2N2O2 • HCl and the molecular weight is 341.67. The structural formula is:
 |
Melphalan hydrochloride is a white to off-white powder, with a melting range of 199°C - 201°C. It is practically insoluble in water, but freely soluble in 1 N HCl and methanol.
Evomela (melphalan) for injection is supplied as a sterile white to off-white lyophilized powder in a single-dose vial for intravenous use. Each vial contains 50 mg melphalan free base equivalent to 56 mg melphalan hydrochloride and 2700 mg Betadex Sulfobutyl Ether Sodium, NF.
Evomela is indicated for use as a high-dose conditioning treatment prior to hematopoietic progenitor (stem) cell transplantation in patients with multiple myeloma.
Evomela is indicated for the palliative treatment of patients with multiple myeloma for whom oral therapy is not appropriate.
The recommended dose of Evomela for conditioning treatment is 100 mg/m²/day administered over 30 minutes by intravenous infusion for 2 consecutive days (Day -3 and Day -2) prior to autologous stem cell transplantation (ASCT, Day 0). For patients who weigh more than 130% of their ideal body weight, body surface area should be calculated based on adjusted ideal body weight.
Administer prophylactic antiemetics [see WARNINGS AND PRECAUTIONS].
The recommended dose of Evomela for palliative treatment is 16 mg/m² administered as a single intravenous infusion over 15-20 minutes at 2-week intervals for 4 doses, then, after adequate recovery from toxicity, at 4-week intervals.
Administer prophylactic anti-emetics [see WARNINGS AND PRECAUTIONS].
No dose adjustment is necessary.
Dosage reduction of up to 50% should be considered in patients with renal impairment (BUN ≥30 mg/dL) [see Use In Specific Populations].
Evomela is a cytotoxic drug. Follow applicable special handling and disposal procedures1.
Evomela is light sensitive. Retain in original carton until use.
Do not mix Evomela with other melphalan hydrochloride for injection drug products.
1. Use normal saline solution (0.9% Sodium Chloride Injection, USP) (8.6 mL as directed) to reconstitute Evomela and make a 50 mg/10 mL (5 mg/ mL) nominal concentration of melphalan. The normal saline used to reconstitute each vial should appear to be assisted or pulled into the vial by the negative pressure (partial vacuum) present in the vial. Discard any vial (and replace with another vial) if there is no vacuum present when reconstituting the vial with normal saline.
The reconstituted Evomela drug product is stable for 24 hours at refrigerated temperature (5°C) without any precipitation due to the high solubility.
The reconstituted Evomela drug product is stable for 1 hour at room temperature.
2. Calculate the required volume of Evomela needed for a patient's dose and withdraw that volume from the vial(s).
3. Add the required volume of Evomela to the appropriate volume of 0.9% Sodium Chloride Injection, USP to a final concentration of 0.45 mg/mL.
The Evomela admixture solution is stable for 4 hours at room temperature in addition to the 1 hour following reconstitution.
4. Infuse over 30 minutes via an injection port or central venous catheter.
Evomela may cause local tissue damage should extravasation occur. Do not administer by direct injection into a peripheral vein. Administer Evomela by injecting slowly into a fast-running IV infusion via a central venous access line.
Parenteral drug products should be inspected visually for particulate matter and discoloration prior to administration, whenever solution and container permit.
For injection: 50 mg, white to off-white lyophilized powder in single-dose vial for reconstitution (after reconstitution the solution is clear and colorless to light yellow). Each vial contains 50 mg melphalan free base equivalent to 56 mg melphalan hydrochloride.
Evomela is supplied in a single carton containing one (1) vial. Each 50 mg vial contains a white to off-white lyophilized powder in single-dose vial for reconstitution (after reconstitution the solution is clear and colorless to light yellow). Each vial contains 50 mg melphalan free base equivalent to 56 mg melphalan hydrochloride.
NDC 68152-109-00: Individual carton of Evomela 20 mL single-dose vial containing 50 mg melphalan free base.
Store Evomela at room temperature 25°C (77°F). Temperature excursions are permitted between 15-30°C (59- 86°F). [see USP Controlled Room Temperature]
Evomela is light sensitive. Retain in original carton until use.
Melphalan is a cytotoxic drug. Follow special handling and disposal procedures [see REFERENCES].
REFERENCES
1 OSHA Hazardous Drugs. OSHA. [Accessed on 9 December 2014, from http://www.osha.gov/SLTC/hazardousdrugs/index.html].
Manufactured for: Spectrum Pharmaceuticals, Inc., Irvine, CA 92618. Revised: Mar 2016
The following serious adverse reactions are described in more detail in other sections of the prescribing information.
Because clinical studies are conducted under widely varying conditions, adverse reaction rates observed in the clinical studies of Evomela may not reflect the rates observed in practice.
The most common adverse reactions observed in at least 50% of patients with multiple myeloma treated with Evomela were neutrophil count decreased, white blood cell count decreased, lymphocyte count decreased, platelet count decreased, diarrhea, nausea, fatigue, hypokalemia, anemia, and vomiting.
The safety of Evomela was evaluated in 61 patients with multiple myeloma in a single arm clinical trial in which patients were administered Evomela at a dosage of 100 mg/m /day administered over ~30 minutes (range: 24-48 minutes) by intravenous (IV) infusion for 2 consecutive days (Day -3 and Day -2) prior to autologous stem cell transplant (ASCT, Day 0).
Table 1 summarizes the adverse reactions from the single-arm trial in patients with multiple myeloma. Severe myelosuppression is expected and these adverse reactions are not listed below.
Table 1: Non-hematologic Adverse Reactions in ≥
25% of Patients with Multiple Myeloma Who Received Evomela Conditioning for
ASCT
| Adverse Reactions | Number (%) of Patients (N 61) |
|
| All Grades | Grade 3 or 4 | |
| All Adverse Reactions | 61 | 61 |
| Diarrhea | 57 (93%) | 2 (3%) |
| Nausea | 55 (90%) | 1 (2%) |
| Fatigue | 47 (77%) | 1 (2%) |
| Hypokalemia | 45 (74%) | 17 (28%) |
| Vomiting | 39 (64%) | 0 (0%) |
| Hypophosphatemia | 30 (49%) | 29 (48%) |
| Decreased Appetite | 30 (49%) | 0 (0%) |
| Pyrexia | 29 (48%) | 2 (3%) |
| Constipation | 29 (48%) | 0 (0%) |
| Febrile Neutropenia | 25 (41%) | 17 (28%) |
| Mucosal Inflammation | 23 (38%) | 6 (10%) |
| Dizziness | 23 (38%) | 0 (0%) |
| Edema Peripheral | 20 (33%) | 0 (0%) |
| Stomatitis | 17 (28%) | 3 (5%) |
| Abdominal Pain | 17 (28%) | 0 (0%) |
| Dysgeusia | 17 (28%) | 0 (0%) |
| Dyspepsia | 16 (26%) | 0 (0%) |
Twelve (20%) patients experienced a treatment emergent serious adverse reaction while on study. The most common serious adverse reactions (>1 patient, 1.6%) were pyrexia, hematochezia, febrile neutropenia, and renal failure. Treatment-related serious adverse reactions reported in >1 patient were pyrexia (n=2, 3%), febrile neutropenia (n=2, 3%), and hematochezia (n=2, 3%).
The safety of melphalan was evaluated in 295 patients with multiple myeloma in the randomized clinical trial. One hundred and ninety-five patients were administered IV melphalan at a dosage of 16 mg/m² q 2 weeks x 4 (over 6 weeks) followed by the same dose every 4 weeks. One hundred patients were administered oral melphalan at a dosage of 0.15 mg/kg/day x 7 followed by 0.05 mg/kg/day when WBC counts began to rise.
Severe myelotoxicity (WBC ≤1,000 and/or platelets ≤25,000) was more common in the IV melphalan arm (28%) than in the oral melphalan arm (11%).
An association was noted between poor renal function and myelosuppression; consequently, an amendment to the protocol required a 50% reduction in IV melphalan dose if the BUN was ≥30 mg/dL. The rate of severe leukopenia in the IV arm in the patients with BUN over 30 mg/dL decreased from 50% (8/16) before protocol amendment to 11% (3/28) after the amendment.
Before the dosing amendment, there was a 10% (8/77) incidence of drug-related death in the IV arm. After the dosing amendment, this incidence was 3% (3/108). This compares to an overall 1% (1/100) incidence of drugrelated death in the oral melphalan arm.
No formal drug interaction studies have been conducted. The development of severe renal impairment has been reported in patients treated with a single dose of intravenous melphalan 140-250 mg/m² followed by standard oral doses of cyclosporine. Intravenous melphalan may also reduce the threshold for BCNU lung toxicity. When nalidixic acid and IV melphalan are given simultaneously, the incidence of severe hemorrhagic necrotic enterocolitis has been reported to increase in pediatric patients.
Included as part of the PRECAUTIONS section.
For patients receiving Evomela as part of a conditioning regimen, myeloablation occurs in all patients. Do not begin the conditioning regimen if a stem cell product is not available for rescue. Monitor complete blood counts, provide supportive care for infections, anemia and thrombocytopenia until there is adequate hematopoietic recovery.
For patients receiving Evomela as palliative treatment, if the bone marrow has been compromised by prior irradiation, prior chemotherapy or is recovering from chemotherapy, the risk of severe myelosuppression with Evomela is increased. Perform periodic complete blood counts during the course of treatment with Evomela. Provide supportive care for infections, bleeding, and symptomatic anemia [see ADVERSE REACTIONS].
For patients receiving Evomela as part of a conditioning regimen, nausea, vomiting, mucositis, and diarrhea may occur in over 50% of patients. Use prophylactic antiemetic medication. Provide supportive care for nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, and mucositis. The frequency of grade 3/4 mucositis in clinical studies was 13%. Provide nutritional support and analgesics for patients with severe mucositis. [see DOSAGE AND ADMINISTRATION and ADVERSE REACTIONS].
For patients receiving Evomela as palliative treatment, nausea and vomiting, diarrhea, and oral ulceration may occur. Use prophylactic antiemetics. Provide supportive care for nausea, vomiting, diarrhea and mucositis.
Hepatic disorders ranging from abnormal liver function tests to clinical manifestations such as hepatitis and jaundice have been reported after treatment with melphalan. Hepatic veno-occlusive disease has also been reported. Monitor liver chemistries.
Acute hypersensitivity reactions, including anaphylaxis, have occurred in approximately 2% of patients who received an intravenous formulation of melphalan. Symptoms may include urticaria, pruritus, edema, and skin rashes and, in some patients, tachycardia, bronchospasm, dyspnea, and hypotension. Discontinue treatment with Evomela for serious hypersensitivity reactions.
Melphalan has been shown to cause chromatid or chromosome damage in humans. Secondary malignancies such as myeloproliferative syndrome or acute leukemia have been reported in multiple myeloma patients treated with melphalan-containing chemotherapy regimens. The potential benefit of Evomela therapy must be considered against the possible risk of the induction of a secondary malignancy.
Based on its mechanism of action, Evomela can cause fetal harm when administered to a pregnant woman. Melphalan is genotoxic, targets actively dividing cells, and was embryolethal and teratogenic in rats. Advise females of reproductive potential to avoid pregnancy during and after treatment with Evomela. If this drug is used during pregnancy or if the patient becomes pregnant while taking this drug, advise the patient of potential risk to the fetus [see Use In Specific Populations].
Melphalan-based chemotherapy regimens have been reported to cause suppression of ovarian function in premenopausal women, resulting in persistent amenorrhea in approximately 9% of patients. Reversible or irreversible testicular suppression has also been reported [see Use In Specific Populations].
Advise the patient to read the FDA-approved patient labeling (PATIENT INFORMATION).
Advise patients or their caregivers of the following:
To immediately report symptoms of hypersensitivity reactions including changes involving the skin, breathing or heart rate, so that antihistamine or corticosteroid therapy can be administered [see WARNINGS AND PRECAUTIONS].
Adequate and well-controlled carcinogenicity studies have not been conducted in animals. However, intraperitoneal (IP) administration of melphalan in rats (5.4 to 10.8 mg/m²) and in mice (2.25 to 4.5 mg/m²) 3 times per week for 6 months followed by 12 months post-dose observation produced peritoneal sarcomas and lung tumors, respectively.
Intramuscular administration of melphalan at 6 and 60 mg/m² produced structural aberrations of the chromatid and chromosomes in bone marrow cells of Wistar rats.
Based on its mechanism of action, Evomela can cause fetal harm when administered to a pregnant woman, including teratogenicity and/or embryo-fetal lethality. Melphalan is a genotoxic drug and can cause chromatid or chromosome damage in humans [see Nonclinical Toxicology]. In animal studies, melphalan was embryolethal and teratogenic in rats at doses below the recommended clinical doses [see Data]. Advise a pregnant woman of the potential risk to a fetus.
The background risk of major birth defects and miscarriage for the indicated populations are unknown. However, the background risk in the U.S. general population of major birth defects is 2-4% and of miscarriage is 15-20% of clinically recognized pregnancies.
Animal Data
Adequate animal studies have not been conducted with intravenous melphalan. Melphalan was embryolethal and teratogenic in rats following oral administration of 6 to 18 mg/m²/day for 10 days (0.06 to 0.18 times the highest recommended clinical dose of 100 mg/m²/day) and intraperitoneal a2dministration of 18 mg/m² (0.18 times the highest recommended clinical dose). Malformations resulting from melphalan administration included alterations of the brain (underdevelopment, deformation, meningocele, and encephalocele) and eye (anophthalmia and microphthalmos), reduction of the mandible and tail, and hepatocele (exomphaly).
It is not known whether melphalan is present in human milk. Because many drugs are excreted in human milk and because of the potential for serious adverse reactions in nursing infants from melphalan, breastfeeding is not recommended during treatment with Evomela.
Females
Evomela administration can cause fetal harm when administered to a pregnant woman. Advise females of reproductive potential to avoid pregnancy, which may include the use of effective contraception methods, during and after treatment with Evomela.
Males
Evomela administration may damage spermatozoa and testicular tissue, resulting in possible genetic fetal abnormalities. Advise males with female sexual partners of reproductive potential to use effective contraception during and after treatment with Evomela [see Nonclinical Toxicology].
Females
Melphalan causes suppression of ovarian function in premenopausal women, resulting in amenorrhea in a significant number of patients.
Males
Reversible and irreversible testicular suppression has been reported in male patients after administration of melphalan.
Pediatric patients were not included in clinical trials. Safety and effectiveness have not been established in pediatric patients.
Of the total number of subjects in the single-arm pivotal study of Evomela, 30% were 65 and over, but no patients were 75 and over. No overall differences in safety or effectiveness were observed between these subjects and younger subjects. A greater incidence of engraftment syndrome was observed in older patients; 7% (3 of 43) of patients younger than 65 years old versus 28% (5 of 18) of patients 65 years old and over.
For Conditioning Treatment, renal impairment is not a criterion for dose reduction or exclusion from Evomela therapy.
For Palliative Treatment, consider dose reduction for patients with renal impairment receiving Evomela. Bone marrow suppression has been observed in patients with BUN levels ≥30 mg/dL. A 50% reduction in the IV melphalan dose decreased the incidence of severe bone marrow suppression in the latter portion of this study [see DOSAGE AND ADMINISTRATION].
Overdoses resulting in death have been reported with melphalan. Overdoses, including doses up to 290 mg/m², have produced the following symptoms: severe nausea and vomiting, decreased consciousness, convulsions, muscular paralysis, and cholinomimetic effects. Severe mucositis, stomatitis, colitis, diarrhea, and hemorrhage of the gastrointestinal tract occur at high doses (>100 mg/m²). Elevations in liver enzymes and veno-occlusive disease occur infrequently. Significant hyponatremia, caused by an associated inappropriate secretion of ADH syndrome, has been observed. Nephrotoxicity and adult respiratory distress syndrome have been reported rarely.
The principal toxic effect is bone marrow suppression leading to leucopenia, thrombocytopenia and anemia. Hematologic parameters should be closely followed for 3 to 6 weeks. An uncontrolled study suggests that administration of autologous bone marrow or hematopoietic growth factors (i.e., sargramostim, filgrastim) may shorten the period of pancytopenia. General supportive measures together with appropriate blood transfusions and antibiotics should be instituted as deemed necessary by the physician. This drug is not removed from plasma to any significant degree by hemodialysis or hemoperfusion. A pediatric patient survived a 254 mg/m² overdose treated with standard supportive care.
History of serious allergic reaction to melphalan.
Melphalan is an alkylating agent of the bischloroethylamine type. As a result, its cytotoxicity appears to be related to the extent of its interstrand cross-linking with DNA, probably by binding at the N7 position of guanine. Like other bifunctional alkylating agents, it is active against both resting and rapidly dividing tumor cells.
Pharmacokinetic-pharmacodynamic analysis showed that Evomela administration increased heart rate-corrected QT interval. The mean change from baseline for QTcF at the mean Cmax of 4701 ng/mL was 8.0 msec. Patients treated with 200 mg/m² Evomela showed an increase of heart rate (mean change of 7.5 bpm from baseline).
Following injection, drug plasma concentrations declined rapidly in a biexponential manner with distribution phase and terminal elimination phase half-lives of approximately 10 and 75 minutes, respectively. Estimates of average total body clearance (CL) varied among studies, but typical values of approximately 7 to 9 mL/min/kg (250 to 325 mL/min/m²) were observed. One study reported that on repeat dosing of 0.5 mg/kg every 6 weeks, the clearance of melphalan decreased from 8.1 mL/min/kg after the first course, to 5.5 mL/min/kg after the third course, but did not decrease appreciably after the third course. Mean (±SD) peak melphalan plasma concentrations in myeloma patients given IV melphalan at doses of 10 or 20 mg/m² were 1.2 ± 0.4 and 2.8 ± 1.9 mcg/mL, respectively.
The steady-state volume of distribution of melphalan is 0.5 L/kg. Melphalan penetrates into cerebrospinal fluid (CSF). Average melphalan binding to plasma proteins ranges from approximately 50% to 90%. Serum albumin is the major binding protein, accounting for approximately 40% to 60% of the plasma protein binding, while α1-acid glycoprotein accounts for about 20% of the plasma protein binding. Approximately 30% of melphalan is (covalently) irreversibly bound to plasma proteins.
Metabolism
Melphalan is eliminated from plasma primarily by chemical hydrolysis to inactive monohydroxymelphalan and dihydroxymelphalan.
Excretion
The contribution of renal excretion to melphalan clearance appears to be low (mean values of amount of melphalan excreted in urine range from 5.8-21.3%).
A typical patient with an ideal body weight (IBW) of 45 kg has a 28% decrease in clearance relative to a patient with IBW of 70 kg, while a patient with an IBW of 100 kg has a 31% increase in clearance as compared to a patient with an IBW of 70 kg.
A decrease in estimated creatinine CL from 100 mL/min to 30 mL/min results in 28.2% reduction in CL for a typical person with an IBW of 70 kg.
An open-label, single-arm, non-randomized trial of Evomela was conducted at 5 US centers. The 61 patients enrolled had symptomatic multiple myeloma, and had at least 2 x 106 CD34+ cells/kg cryopreserved stem cells available. The median age was 62 years (range 32 to 73); 57% male, 80% white, 18% black, 2% Asian. Evomela was administered at 100 mg/m²/day over 30 minutes by IV infusion for two consecutive days (Day -3 and Day -2) prior to ASCT (Day 0).
The objective of the trial was to determine the overall safety and toxicity profile of 200 mg/m² of Evomela in patients with multiple myeloma undergoing ASCT. [See ADVERSE REACTIONS] The efficacy was evaluated by the International Myeloma Working Group response criteria comparing the disease response immediately prior to the ASCT procedure to the disease response assessed 90 to 100 days post-transplant. In addition, successful myeloablation, and time to engraftment were evaluated.
The overall response rate (partial response or better) improved from 79% (48 of 61) prior to the ASCT procedure to 95% (58 of 61) at 90 to 100 days post-transplant. There was also an increase in the number of patients with a stringent complete response from 0 patients prior to the ASCT procedure to 16% (10 of 61) at 90 to 100 days post-transplant.
Myeloablation and engraftment were evaluated by complete blood cell count tests daily until neutrophil and platelet engraftment, and then weekly until Day 30, and at Day 60 and Day 90-100. Myeloablation was defined as any of the following: absolute neutrophil count (ANC) < 500/mm³, absolute lymphocyte count < 100/mm³, or platelet count < 20,000/mm³. Neutrophil engraftment was defined as ANC > 500/mm³ x3 consecutive daily assessments. Platelet engraftment was defined as untransfused platelet counts > 20,000/mm³ x3 consecutive daily assessments. Nonengraftment was defined as failure to reach an ANC > 500/mm³ x3 consecutive daily assessments by Day 90-100.
Myeloablation, neutrophil engraftment and platelet engraftment were achieved by all 61 patients. Myeloablation occurred on ASCT Day 5 (range ASCT days -1 to 6) with the median time to myeloablation from dosing of 8 days. The median time to neutrophil engraftment was 12 days (range ASCT days 10 to 16). The median time to platelet engraftment was 13 days (range ASCT days 10 to 28).
A randomized trial compared prednisone plus IV melphalan to prednisone plus oral melphalan in the treatment of multiple myeloma. As discussed below, Overall Response Rates at Week 22 were comparable; however, because of changes in trial design, conclusions as to the relative activity of the 2 formulations after Week 22 are impossible to make.
Both arms received oral prednisone starting at 0.8 mg/kg/day with doses tapered over 6 weeks. Melphalan doses in each arm were:
Arm 1: Oral melphalan 0.15 mg/kg/day x 7 followed by 0.05 mg/kg/day when WBC began to rise.
Arm 2: IV melphalan 16 mg/m q 2 weeks x 4 (over 6 weeks) followed by the same dose every 4 weeks.
One hundred seven patients were randomized to the oral melphalan arm and 203 patients to the IV melphalan arm. More patients had a poor-risk classification (58% versus 44%) and high tumor load (51% versus 34%) on the oral arm compared to the IV arm (P<0.04). Response rates at Week 22 are shown in the following table:
Table 2: Response Rates at Week 22 for Patients with
Multiple Myeloma Who Received Oral or IV Melphalan with Prednisone
| Initial Arm | Evaluable Patients | Responders n (%) | P |
| Oral melphalan | 100 | 44 (44%) | P>0.2 |
| IV melphalan | 195 | 74 (38%) |
Because of changes in protocol design after Week 22, other efficacy parameters such as Response Duration and Survival could not be compared.
EVOMELA
(ev-o-meh-lah)
(melphalan) for Injection, for Intravenous Use
What is Evomela?
Evomela is a prescription medicine used in people with a type of cancer called multiple myeloma:
It is not known if Evomela is safe and effective in children.
Do not receive Evomela if you are allergic to melphalan or any of the ingredients in Evomela. See the end of this leaflet for a complete list of ingredients in Evomela.
Before you receive Evomela, tell your doctor about all of your medical conditions, including if you:
Tell your doctor about all the medicines you take, including prescription and over-the-counter medicines, vitamins, and herbal supplements.
How will I receive Evomela?
What are the possible side effects of Evomela?
Evomela may cause serious side effects, including:
The most common side effects of Evomela include tiredness and low potassium level.
These are not all the possible side effects of Evomela. Call your doctor for medical advice about side effects. You may report side effects to FDA at 1-800-FDA-1088.
General information about the safe and effective use of Evomela.
Medicines are sometimes prescribed for purposes other than those listed in a Patient Information leaflet. Do not use Evomela for a condition for which it was not prescribed. Do not give Evomela to other people, even if they have the same symptoms that you have. It may harm them. You can ask your pharmacist or doctor for information about Evomela that is written for health professionals.
What are the ingredients in Evomela?
Active ingredient: melphalan hydrochloride
Inactive ingredient: Betadex Sulfobutyl Ether Sodium
This Patient Information has been approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration.
