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WARNING
SEVERE BONE MARROW SUPPRESSION, HYPERSENSITIVITY and LEUKEMOGENICITY
IVRA contains melphalan which is an alkylating drug. The chemical name of melphalan hydrochloride is 4-[bis(2-chloroethyl)amino]-L-phenylalanine hydrochloride. The molecular formula is C13H18Cl2N2O2 • HCl and the molecular weight is 341.67. The structural formula is:
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Melphalan hydrochloride is a white to off-white powder, with a melting range of 199°C to 201°C. It is practically insoluble in water, but freely soluble in 1N HCl and methanol.
IVRA is supplied as a sterile, clear colorless to yellow solution in a multiple-dose vial for intravenous use. Each mL contains 90 mg melphalan free base equivalent to 100.75 mg melphalan hydrochloride, 170 mg propylene glycol, 5 mg monothioglycerol, 0.5 mg (1,4,7,10- tetraazacyclododecane-1,4,7,10-tetraacetic acid dihydrate), and 0.025 mL water for injection in polyethylene glycol 400. May contain hydrochloric acid and/or sodium hydroxide for pH adjustment. The pH of the drug product solution after dilution with 0.9% sodium chloride ranges from 2.4 - 3.5. Each mL contains 90 mg melphalan free base equivalent to 100.75 mg melphalan hydrochloride.
IVRA is indicated for the palliative treatment of patients with multiple myeloma for whom oral therapy is not appropriate.
The recommended dosage is 16 mg/m² intravenously over 15 to 20 minutes at 2-week intervals for 4 doses, then at 4-week intervals until unacceptable toxicity.
Administer prophylactic antiemetics [see WARNINGS AND PRECAUTIONS].
See Table 1 for dosage modifications for adverse reactions related to bone marrow suppression [see WARNINGS AND PRECAUTIONS].
Table 1: Dosage Modifications for Adverse Reaction: Bone Marrow Suppression
| Parameter | Dosing Recommendations | |
| White Blood Cell Count (WBC/mm³) | Platelet Count (Per mcL) | |
| Greater than or equal to 4,000 | Greater than or equal to 100,000 | Continue full IVRA dose |
| Greater than or equal to 3,000 | Greater than or equal to 75,000 | Reduce IVRA to 75% of full dose |
| Greater than or equal to 2,000 | Greater than or equal to 50,000 | Reduce IVRA to 50% of full dose |
| Less than 2,000 | Less than 50,000 | Withhold IVRA |
Consider a dosage reduction of up to 50% in patients with renal insufficiency (BUN ≥30 mg/dL) [see Use In Specific Populations].
Injection: 90 mg/mL melphalan as a clear colorless to yellow solution in a multiple-dose vial for dilution.
IVRA (melphalan) injection is a clear colorless to yellow solution supplied in a carton containing one 90 mg/mL amber glass multiple-dose vial for dilution. (NDC 60505-6258-1).
Store IVRA refrigerated at 2°C to 8°C (36°F to 46°F). IVRA is light sensitive. Retain in original carton when not in use.
IVRA is a hazardous drug1. Follow special handling and disposal procedures1.
REFERENCES
1. OSHA Hazardous Drugs https://www.osha.gov/hazardous-drugs
Manufactured by: AqVida GmbH, 23942 Dassow Germany. Manufactured for: Apotex Corp., Toronto, Ontario M9L 1T9 Canada. Revised: Jul 2024
The following clinically significant adverse reactions are described elsewhere in the labeling:
Because clinical studies are conducted under widely varying conditions, adverse reaction rates observed in the clinical studies of melphalan 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 melphalan 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 melphalan was evaluated in 295 patients with multiple myeloma in the randomized clinical trial [see Clinical Studies]. One hundred and ninety-five patients were administered intravenous 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 intravenous melphalan arm (28%) than in the oral melphalan arm (11%).
Concomitant use with cisplatin may alter melphalan clearance by inducing renal dysfunction. Consider intravenous IVRA dosage reduction in patients with renal insufficiency following concomitant use with cisplatin [see DOSAGE AND ADMINISTRATION].
Concomitant use with BCNU may reduce the threshold for lung toxicity. Monitor for increased lung toxicity.
Concomitant use with cyclosporine may increase the risk of developing severe renal failure [see CLINICAL PHARMACOLOGY]. Consider intravenous IVRA dosage reduction in patients with renal insufficiency following concomitant use with cyclosporine [see DOSAGE AND ADMINISTRATION].
Included as part of the PRECAUTIONS section.
IVRA causes bone marrow suppression in most patients.
Obtain complete blood counts with differential at the start of therapy and prior to each subsequent dose of IVRA. Withhold treatment for grade 3 thrombocytopenia and/ or leukopenia until blood counts have returned to grade 2 [see DOSAGE AND ADMINISTRATION]. Consider dose adjustment on the basis of blood counts at the nadir and day of treatment.
Gastrointestinal disturbances such as nausea and vomiting, diarrhea, and oral ulceration can occur with melphalan treatment.
Severe mucositis, stomatitis, colitis, diarrhea, and hemorrhage of the gastrointestinal tract occur at high doses (greater than 100 mg/m² 6 times the recommended approved dose).
Use prophylactic antiemetics [see DOSAGE AND ADMINISTRATION]. 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 during treatment with melphalan. Hepatic venoocclusive disease has been reported. Monitor liver enzymes as clinically indicated.
Acute hypersensitivity reactions including anaphylaxis were reported in 2.4% of 425 patients receiving melphalan injection for myeloma. These reactions were characterized by urticaria, pruritus, edema, skin rashes, and in some patients, tachycardia, bronchospasm, dyspnea, and hypotension. These patients appeared to respond to antihistamine and corticosteroid therapy. If a hypersensitivity reaction occurs, intravenous or oral melphalan should not be readministered since hypersensitivity reactions have also been reported with oral melphalan. Cardiac arrest has also been reported in association with such reports.
Discontinue treatment with IVRA for serious hypersensitivity reactions.
Melphalan has been shown to cause chromatid or chromosome damage in humans. Secondary malignancies, including acute nonlymphocytic leukemia, myeloproliferative syndrome, and carcinoma, have been reported in patients with cancer treated with alkylating agents (including melphalan). Some patients also received other chemotherapeutic agents or radiation therapy. The potential benefits from melphalan therapy must be weighed on an individual basis against the possible risk of the induction of a second malignancy.
Based on its mechanism of action, IVRA can cause fetal harm when administered to a pregnant woman. Melphalan is genotoxic, targets actively dividing cells, and was embryolethal and teratogenic in rats. While adequate animal studies have not been conducted with intravenous melphalan, oral (6 to 18 mg/m²/day for 10 days) and IP (18 mg/m²) administration in rats was embryolethal and teratogenic. Malformations resulting from melphalan included alterations of the brain (underdevelopment, deformation, meningocele, and encephalocele) and eye (anophthalmia and microphthalmos), reduction of the mandible and tail, as well as hepatocele (exomphaly).
If this drug is used during pregnancy or if the patient becomes pregnant while taking this drug, advise a pregnant woman of the of potential risk to the fetus. Advise females of reproductive potential to use effective contraception during treatment with IVRA and for 6 months after the last dose. Advise males with female partners of reproductive potential to use effective contraception during treatment with IVRA and for 3 months after the last dose [see Use In Specific Populations].
Melphalan causes suppression of ovarian function in premenopausal women, resulting in amenorrhea in a significant number of patients. Reversible and irreversible testicular suppression have also been reported [see Use In Specific Populations].
Adequate and well-controlled carcinogenicity studies with melphalan 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 sarcoma 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 and findings from animal studies, IVRA can cause fetal harm when administered to a pregnant woman. There are no available data on IVRA use in pregnant women to evaluate for a drug-associated risk. In rats, melphalan was embryolethal and teratogenic at doses lower than the highest recommended clinical dose (see Data). 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 risk to the fetus.
The background risk in the U.S. general population of major birth defects is 2 to 4% and of miscarriage is 15 to 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 administration 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).
There are no data on the presence of melphalan in human milk, the effects on the breastfed child, or the effects on milk production. Because of the potential for serious adverse reactions in a breastfed child, advise women not to breastfeed during treatment with IVRA and for 1 week following the last dose.
IVRA can cause fetal harm when administered to a pregnant woman [see Use In Specific Populations].
Females
Advise females of reproductive potential to use effective contraception during treatment with IVRA and for 6 months after the last dose.
Males
Melphalan may damage spermatozoa and testicular tissue, resulting in possible genetic fetal abnormalities. Advise males with female partners of reproductive potential to use effective contraception during treatment with IVRA and for 3 months after the last dose [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.
The safety and effectiveness of IVRA in pediatric patients have not been established.
Clinical studies of melphalan did not include sufficient numbers of subjects aged 65 and over to determine whether they respond differently from younger subjects. Other reported clinical experience has not identified differences in responses between the elderly and younger patients. In general, dose selection for an elderly patient should be cautious, usually starting at the low end of the dosing range, reflecting the greater frequency of decreased hepatic, renal, or cardiac function, and of concomitant disease or other drug therapy.
Consider a dosage reduction in patients with renal insufficiency receiving intravenous IVRA [see DOSAGE AND ADMINISTRATION]. In one trial, increased bone marrow suppression was observed in patients with elevated BUN [see CLINICAL PHARMACOLOGY].
Overdoses resulting in death have been reported. Overdoses, including doses up to 290 mg/m² (18 times the recommended dose), 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 (greater than 100 mg/m² 6 times the recommended dose). Elevations in liver enzymes and veno-occlusive disease have occurred. Significant hyponatremia caused by an associated inappropriate secretion of ADH syndrome has been observed. Nephrotoxicity and adult respiratory distress syndrome have been reported.
The principal toxic effect is bone marrow suppression. In the event of an overdosage, monitor hematologic parameters for 3 to 6 weeks. 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.
IVRA is contraindicated in patients with a history of severe hypersensitivity to melphalan. Reactions have included anaphylaxis [see WARNINGS AND PRECAUTIONS].
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.
Due to lack of information, melphalan exposure-response relationships and the time course of pharmacodynamic response are unknown.
The mean ±SD melphalan peak plasma concentration is 1.2 ± 0.4 following an intravenous dosage of 10 mg/m² (0.62 times the approved recommended dosage) and 2.8 ± 1.9 mcg/mL following an intravenous dosage of 20 mg/m² (1.25 times the approved recommended dosage) in myeloma patients.
The melphalan steady-state volume of distribution is 0.5 L/kg. Melphalan penetration into cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) is low.
The mean melphalan plasma protein binding ranges from 53% to 92% with approximately 30% irreversible (covalent). Serum albumin accounts for approximately 40% to 60% and α1- acid glycoprotein approximately 20% of the plasma protein binding.
The melphalan elimination half-life is approximately 75 minutes. Mean total body melphalan clearance varied among studies, but typical values of approximately 7 to 9 mL/min/kg (250 to 325 mL/min/m²) were observed.
Metabolism
Melphalan primarily metabolized by hydrolysis to monohydroxymelphalan and dihydroxymelphalan, which are inactive.
Excretion
Following a radiolabeled dose of intravenous melphalan in 9 patients with cancer, the mean (± SD) excretion of melphalan over 24 hours was 13% ± 5.4% of the total dose.
Although melphalan renal clearance appears to be low, one study reported an increase in the occurrence of severe leukopenia in patients with BUN levels ≥30 mg/dL after 10 weeks of therapy. A 50% reduction in the IV melphalan dosage decreased the incidence of severe bone marrow suppression in the latter portion of this study.
Patients treated with a single dose of intravenous melphalan followed by standard oral doses of cyclosporine were reported to develop severe renal failure.
Interactions between melphalan and immunoglobulins are negligible.
A randomized trial compared prednisone plus intravenous melphalan to prednisone plus oral melphalan in the treatment of myeloma. 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: Intravenous melphalan 16 mg/m² 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 intravenous melphalan arm. More patients had a poor-risk classification (58% versus 44%) and high tumor load (51% versus 34%) on the oral compared to the intravenous arm (P<0.04). Response rates at week 22 are shown in the following table:
Table 2: Response Rates at Week 22 In Patients with Multiple Myeloma Who Received Oral or Intravenous Melphalan with Prednisone
| Initial Arm | Evaluable Patients | Responders n (%) | P |
| Oral melphalan | 100 | 44 (44%) | P>0.2 |
| Intravenous melphalan | 195 | 74 (38%) |
Because of changes in protocol design after week 22, other efficacy parameters such as response duration and survival cannot be compared.
Advise patients to report any signs or symptoms of thrombocytopenia, leukopenia (neutropenia and lymphopenia), and anemia. Inform patients of the need for routine blood counts [see WARNINGS AND PRECAUTIONS].
Inform patients of the signs and symptoms of mucositis. Instruct patients on ways to reduce the risk of its development, and on ways to maintain nutrition and control discomfort if it occurs [see WARNINGS AND PRECAUTIONS].
Advise patients 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].
Advise patients of the potential long-term risks related to secondary malignancy [see WARNINGS AND PRECAUTIONS].
