Side Effects for Onivyde
The following adverse drug reactions are discussed in greater detail in other sections of the label:
- Severe Neutropenia [see WARNINGS AND PRECAUTIONS]
- Severe Diarrhea [see WARNINGS AND PRECAUTIONS]
- Interstitial Lung Disease [see WARNINGS AND PRECAUTIONS]
- Severe Hypersensitivity Reactions [see WARNINGS AND PRECAUTIONS]
Clinical Trials Experience
Because clinical trials are conducted under widely varying conditions, adverse reaction rates observed in clinical trials of ONIVYDE cannot be directly compared to rates in clinical trials of other drugs and may not reflect the rates observed in practice.
Pancreatic Adenocarcinoma
In Combination With Oxaliplatin, Fluorouracil And Leucovorin For First-Line Treatment
The safety of ONIVYDE in patients with metastatic pancreatic adenocarcinoma who had not previously received chemotherapy was evaluated in NAPOLI 3 [see Clinical Studies]. Patients received ONIVYDE 50 mg/m² in combination with oxaliplatin 60 mg/m², leucovorin 400 mg/m² and fluorouracil 2400 mg/m² over 46 hours every 2 weeks (NALIRIFOX; N=383) or nab-paclitaxel 125 mg/m² over 35 minutes and gemcitabine 1000 mg/m² over 30 minutes on Day 1, 8 and 15 of each 28-day cycle (Gem+NabP; N=387). The median duration of exposure to ONIVYDE in combination with oxaliplatin, fluorouracil, and leucovorin was 24 weeks (range: 0 to 101 weeks).
Serious adverse reactions occurred in 54% of patients who received ONIVYDE in combination with oxaliplatin, fluorouracil and leucovorin. Serious adverse reactions in ≥2% of patients included infections including COVID-19 (14%), diarrhea (9%), vomiting (6%), nausea (4.9%), fatigue (3.8%), embolism (3.5%), gastrointestinal tract stenosis or obstruction (3.5%), hemorrhage (3%), abdominal pain (2.7%), cerebrovascular accident (2.7%), dehydration (2.7%), liver function test abnormalities (2.2%), and pyrexia (2.2%). Fatal adverse reactions occurred in 6% of patients who received ONIVYDE in combination with oxaliplatin, fluorouracil and leucovorin including cerebrovascular accident (1.1%), hemorrhage (0.5%), pneumonia (0.5%), sepsis (0.5%) and sudden death (0.5%).
Permanent discontinuation of ONIVYDE due to an adverse reaction occurred in 17% of patients. Adverse reactions which resulted in permanent discontinuation of ONIVYDE in ≥1% of patients included neutropenia, thrombocytopenia, diarrhea, fatigue, infections and cerebrovascular accident.
Dosage reduction of ONIVYDE due to an adverse reaction occurred in 52% of patients. Adverse reactions which required dosage reduction in ≥1% of patients included anemia, decreased appetite, diarrhea, fatigue, febrile neutropenia, hypokalemia, liver function test abnormalities, nausea, mucosal inflammation, neutropenia, peripheral neuropathy, vomiting, thrombocytopenia and weight decreased.
Dosage interruptions of ONIVYDE due to an adverse reaction occurred in 1.9% of patients. Adverse reactions which required dosage interruption in ≥0.5% of patients included hypersensitivity and infusion related reaction.
The most common adverse reactions (≥20% with a difference between arms of ≥ 5% for all grades or ≥ 2% for Grades 3 or 4 compared to Gem+NabP) of ONIVYDE in combination with oxaliplatin, fluorouracil, and leucovorin were diarrhea, fatigue, nausea, vomiting, decreased appetite, abdominal pain, mucosal inflammation, constipation and decreased weight. The most common laboratory abnormalities (≥10% Grade 3 or 4) were decreased neutrophils, decreased potassium, decreased lymphocyte and decreased hemoglobin.
Table 3 and 4 summarize the adverse reactions and laboratory abnormalities, respectively, in the NAPOLI 3 study.
Table 3 : Adverse Reactions* (≥ 20%) in Patients with Metastatic Pancreatic Adenocarcinoma who Received NALIRIFOX** with a Difference Between Arms of ≥5% for All Grades or ≥ 2% for Grades 3 and 4 versus Gem+NabP in NAPOLI 3*
| Adverse Reaction |
NALIRIFOX
N=370 |
Gem+NabP
N=379 |
| All Grades (%) |
Grade 3 or4 (%) |
All Grades (%) |
Grade 3 or4 (%) |
| Gastrointestinal disorders |
| Diarrhea1 |
72 |
22 |
37 |
5 |
| Nausea |
59 |
12 |
43 |
2.6 |
| Vomiting1 |
40 |
7 |
27 |
2.1 |
| Abdominal pain1 |
35 |
4.3 |
25 |
4.7 |
| Constipation |
25 |
0.8 |
30 |
2.1 |
| General disorders and administration site condition |
| Fatigue1 |
62 |
15 |
63 |
10 |
| Mucosal inflammation1 |
28 |
3.8 |
17 |
0.8 |
| Peripheral edema1 |
16 |
0.3 |
34 |
2.4 |
| Pyrexia1 |
11 |
0.8 |
24 |
1.6 |
| Investigations |
| Weight decreased |
22 |
3 |
9 |
0.3 |
| Metabolism and nutrition disorders |
| Decreased appetite |
37 |
9 |
28 |
2.6 |
| Dehydration |
11 |
3.2 |
9 |
1.1 |
| Skin and subcutaneous tissue disorders |
| Alopecia |
14 |
0 |
31 |
0.5 |
| Rash1 |
11 |
0.3 |
22 |
1.6 |
| Nail disorder |
0.3 |
0 |
7 |
0.3 |
| Vascular disorders |
| Hemorrhage1 |
11 |
2.4 |
18 |
3.4 |
| Embolism1 |
11 |
7 |
11 |
5 |
| Respiratory, thoracic and mediastinal disorders |
| Dyspnea1 |
8 |
0.5 |
13 |
2.1 |
| Musculoskeletal and connective tissue disorders |
| Musculoskeletal pain1 |
18 |
1.6 |
27 |
1.1 |
| Infections and infestations |
| Pneumonia |
2.4 |
1.6 |
6 |
4 |
| Sepsis1 |
1.6 |
1.1 |
6 |
3.4 |
*NCI CTCAE v5.0
**NALIRIFOX=ONIVYDE+oxaliplatin/5-fluorouracil/leucovorin; Gem+NabP=gemcitabine+nab-paclitaxel
1 Includes multiple related terms |
Table 4 : Laboratory Abnormalities in Patients with Metastatic Pancreatic Adenocarcinoma who Received NALIRIFOX* with a difference between arms of ≥ 5% versus Gem+NabP in NAPOLI 3 **
| Laboratory abnormality |
NALIRIFOX |
Gem-NabP |
| All Grades (%) |
Grade 3-or 4 (%) |
All Grades (%) |
Grade 3 or4 (%) |
| Hematology |
| Hemoglobin decreased |
91 |
10 |
96 |
15 |
| Lymphocytes decreased |
64 |
11 |
76 |
19 |
| Leukocytes decreased |
62 |
8 |
77 |
28 |
| Neutrophils decreased |
56 |
26 |
65 |
37 |
| Platelets decreased |
55 |
1.7 |
75 |
7 |
| Hepatic |
| Alkaline phosphatase increased |
45 |
2.9 |
35 |
2.7 |
| Alanine aminotransferase increased |
40 |
2.6 |
56 |
4.6 |
| Aspartate aminotransferase increased |
38 |
2 |
49 |
2.4 |
| Metabolic |
| Potassium decreased |
62 |
22 |
29 |
8 |
| Sodium increased |
11 |
0 |
5 |
0.3 |
| Potassium increased |
8 |
0.6 |
21 |
3 |
*NALIRIFOX=ONIVYDE+oxaliplatin/5-fluorouracil/leucovorin ; Gem+NabP=gemcitabine+nab-paclitaxel
** Each test incidence is based on the number of patients who had both baseline and at least one on-study laboratory measurement available: NALIRIFOX (range: 294 to 351 patients) and Gem+NabP (range: 303 to 373 patients). |
In Combination With Fluorouracil And Leucovorin after Progresssion On Gemcitabine Or Gemcitabine-Based Therapy
The safety data described below are derived from patients with metastatic pancreatic adenocarcinoma previously treated with gemcitabine-based therapy who received any part of protocol-specified therapy in NAPOLI-1, an international, randomized, active-controlled, open-label trial. Protocol-specified therapy consisted of ONIVYDE 70 mg/m² with leucovorin 400 mg/m² and fluorouracil 2400 mg/m² over 46 hours every 2 weeks (ONIVYDE/FU/LV; N=117), ONIVYDE 100 mg/m² every 3 weeks (N=147), or leucovorin 200 mg/m² and fluorouracil 2000 mg/m² over 24 hours weekly for 4 weeks followed by 2 week rest (FU/LV; N=134) [see Clinical Studies]. Serum bilirubin within the institutional normal range, albumin ≥ 3 g/dL, and Karnofsky Performance Status (KPS) ≥ 70 were required for study entry. The median duration of exposure was 9 weeks in the ONIVYDE/FU/LV arm, 9 weeks in the ONIVYDE monotherapy arm, and 6 weeks in the FU/LV arm. The most common adverse reactions (≥ 20%) of ONIVYDE were diarrhea, fatigue/asthenia, vomiting, nausea, decreased appetite, stomatitis, and pyrexia. The most common, severe laboratory abnormalities (≥ 10% Grade 3 or 4) were lymphopenia and neutropenia. The most common serious adverse reactions (≥ 2%) of ONIVYDE were diarrhea, vomiting, neutropenic fever or neutropenic sepsis, nausea, pyrexia, sepsis, dehydration, septic shock, pneumonia, acute renal failure, and thrombocytopenia.
Adverse reactions led to permanent discontinuation of ONIVYDE in 11% of patients receiving ONIVYDE/FU/LV; the most frequent adverse reactions resulting in discontinuation of ONIVYDE were diarrhea, vomiting, and sepsis. Dose reductions of ONIVYDE for adverse reactions occurred in 33% of patients receiving ONIVYDE/FU/LV; the most frequent adverse reactions requiring dose reductions were neutropenia, diarrhea, nausea, and anemia. ONIVYDE was withheld or delayed for adverse reactions in 62% of patients receiving ONIVYDE/FU/LV; the most frequent adverse reactions requiring interruption or delays were neutropenia, diarrhea, fatigue, vomiting, and thrombocytopenia.
Table 5 provides the frequency and severity of adverse reactions in NAPOLI-1 that occurred with higher incidence (≥5% difference for Grades 1-4 or ≥2% difference for Grades 3-4) in patients who received ONIVYDE/FU/LV compared to patients who received FU/LV.
Table 5 : Adverse Reactions with Higher Incidence (≥5% Difference for Grades 1-4* or ≥2% Difference for Grades 3 and 4) in the ONIVYDE/FU/LV Arm
| Adverse Reaction |
ONIVYDE/FU/LV
N=117 |
FU/LV
N=134 |
| Grades 1-4 (%) |
Grades 3-4 (%) |
Grades 1-4 (%) |
Grades 3-4 (%) |
| Gastrointestinal disorders |
| Diarrhea |
59 |
13 |
26 |
4 |
| Early diarrhea‡ |
30 |
3 |
15 |
0 |
| Late diarrhea‡ |
43 |
9 |
17 |
4 |
| Vomiting |
52 |
11 |
26 |
3 |
| Nausea |
51 |
8 |
34 |
4 |
| Stomatitis§ |
32 |
4 |
12 |
1 |
| Infections and infestations |
38 |
17 |
15 |
10 |
| Sepsis |
4 |
3 |
2 |
1 |
| Neutropenic fever/neutropenic sepsis♣ |
3 |
3 |
1 |
0 |
| Gastroenteritis |
3 |
3 |
0 |
0 |
| Intravenous catheter-related infection |
3 |
3 |
0 |
0 |
| General disorders and administration site conditions |
| Fatigue/asthenia |
56 |
21 |
43 |
10 |
| Pyrexia |
23 |
2 |
11 |
1 |
| Metabolism and nutrition disorders |
| Decreased appetite |
44 |
4 |
32 |
2 |
| Weight loss |
17 |
2 |
7 |
0 |
| Dehydration |
8 |
4 |
7 |
2 |
| Skin and subcutaneous tissue disorders |
| Alopecia |
14 |
1 |
5 |
0 |
* NCI CTCAE v4.0
† Early diarrhea: onset within 24 hours of ONIVYDE administration
‡ Late diarrhea: onset >1 day after ONIVYDE administration
§ Includes stomatitis, aphthous stomatitis, mouth ulceration, mucosal inflammation.
♣ Includes febrile neutropenia |
Other Adverse Reactions
Clinically relevant adverse reactions occurring in <5% of patients include:
Cholinergic Reactions: ONIVYDE can cause cholinergic reactions manifesting as rhinitis, increased salivation, flushing, bradycardia, miosis, lacrimation, diaphoresis, and intestinal hyperperistalsis with abdominal cramping and early onset diarrhea. In NAPOLI-1, Grade 1 or 2 cholinergic symptoms other than early diarrhea occurred in 12 (4.5%) ONIVYDE-treated patients. Six of these 12 patients received atropine and in 1 of the 6 patients, atropine was administered for cholinergic symptoms other than diarrhea.
Infusion Reactions: Infusion reactions, consisting of rash, urticaria, periorbital edema, or pruritus, occurring on the day of ONIVYDE administration were reported in 3% of patients receiving ONIVYDE or ONIVYDE/FU/LV.
Laboratory abnormalities that occurred with higher incidence in the ONIVYDE/FU/LV arm compared to the FU/LV arm (≥5% difference) are summarized in the following table.
Table 6 : Laboratory Abnormalities with Higher Incidence (≥5% Difference) in the ONIVYDE/FU/LV Arm*#
| Laboratory abnormality |
ONIVYDE/FU/LV
N=117 |
FU/LV
N=134 |
| Grades 1-4 (%) |
Grades 3-4 (%) |
Grades 1-4 (%) |
Grades 3-4 (%) |
| Hematology |
| Anemia |
97 |
6 |
86 |
5 |
| Lymphopenia |
81 |
27 |
75 |
17 |
| Neutropenia |
52 |
20 |
6 |
2 |
| Thrombocytopenia |
41 |
2 |
33 |
0 |
| Hepatic |
| Increased alanine aminotransferase (ALT) |
51 |
6 |
37 |
1 |
| Hypoalbuminemia |
43 |
2 |
30 |
0 |
| Metabolic |
| Hypomagnesemia |
35 |
0 |
21 |
0 |
| Hypokalemia |
32 |
2 |
19 |
2 |
| Hypocalcemia |
32 |
1 |
20 |
0 |
| Hypophosphatemia |
29 |
4 |
18 |
1 |
| Hyponatremia |
27 |
5 |
12 |
3 |
| Renal |
| Increased creatinine |
18 |
0 |
13 |
0 |
* NCI CTCAE v4.0, worst grade shown.
# Percent based on number of patients with a baseline and at least one post-baseline measurement. |
Postmarketing Experience
The following adverse reactions have been identified during post approval use of ONIVYDE. Because these 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.
Immune system disorders: Hypersensitivity (including Anaphylactic reaction and Angioedema)