Warnings for Onureg
Included as part of the "PRECAUTIONS" Section
Precautions for Onureg
Risks Of Substitution With Other Azacitidine Products
Due to substantial differences in the pharmacokinetic parameters [see CLINICAL PHARMACOLOGY], the recommended dose and schedule for ONUREG are different from those for the intravenous or subcutaneous azacitidine products. Treatment of patients using intravenous or subcutaneous azacitidine at the recommended dosage of ONUREG may result in a fatal adverse reaction. Treatment of patients using ONUREG at the doses recommended for intravenous or subcutaneous azacitidine may not be effective.
Do not substitute ONUREG for intravenous or subcutaneous azacitidine [see DOSAGE AND ADMINISTRATION].
Myelosuppression
New or worsening Grade 3 or 4 neutropenia and thrombocytopenia occurred in 49% and 22% of patients who received ONUREG, respectively. Febrile neutropenia occurred in 12%. A dose reduction was required for 7% and 2% of patients due to neutropenia and thrombocytopenia, respectively. Less than 1% of patients discontinued ONUREG due to either neutropenia or thrombocytopenia.
Monitor complete blood counts and modify the dosage as recommended [see DOSAGE AND ADMINISTRATION]. Provide standard supportive care, including hematopoietic growth factors, if myelosuppression occurs.
Increased Early Mortality In Patients With Myelodysplastic Syndromes
In AZA-MDS-003 (NCT01566695), 216 patients with red blood cell transfusion-dependent anemia and thrombocytopenia due to myelodysplastic syndromes were randomized to ONUREG or placebo. One-hundred and seven patients received a median of 5 cycles of ONUREG 300 mg daily for 21 days of a 28-day cycle. Enrollment was discontinued early due to a higher incidence of early fatal and/or serious adverse reactions in patients who received ONUREG compared with placebo. The most frequent fatal adverse reaction was sepsis. The safety and effectiveness of ONUREG for treatment of myelodysplastic syndromes have not been established. Treatment of patients with myelodysplastic syndromes with ONUREG is not recommended outside of controlled trials.
Embryo-Fetal Toxicity
Based on the mechanism of action and findings in animals, ONUREG can cause fetal harm when administered to a pregnant woman. Azacitidine administered to pregnant rats via a single intraperitoneal dose less than the recommended human daily dose of oral azacitidine on a mg/m2 basis caused fetal death and anomalies.
Advise pregnant women of the potential risk to a fetus. Advise females of reproductive potential to use effective contraception during treatment with ONUREG and for at least 6 months after the last dose. Advise males with female partners of reproductive potential to use effective contraception during treatment with ONUREG and for at least 3 months after the last dose [see Use In Specific Populations].
Patient Counseling Information
Advise the patient to read the FDA-approved patient labeling (PATIENT INFORMATION).
Myelosuppression
Advise patients of the risk of myelosuppression with ONUREG and of the need to monitor complete blood counts before and during treatment [see WARNINGS AND PRECAUTIONS].
Gastrointestinal Toxicity
Advise patients of the risk of gastrointestinal toxicity with ONUREG and of the potential need to use anti-emetic or anti-diarrheal medications during treatment [see ADVERSE REACTIONS].
Embryo-Fetal Toxicity
Advise pregnant women of the potential risk to a fetus. Advise females of reproductive potential to inform their healthcare provider of a known or suspected pregnancy [see WARNINGS AND PRECAUTIONS, Use In Specific Populations].
Advise females of reproductive potential to use effective contraception during treatment with ONUREG and for at least 6 months after the last dose [see Use In Specific Populations].
Advise males with female partners of reproductive potential to use effective contraception during treatment with ONUREG and for at least 3 months after the last dose [see Use In Specific Populations].
Lactation
Advise women not to breastfeed during treatment with ONUREG and for 1 week after the last dose [see Use In Specific Populations].
Administration
Advise patients to take ONUREG with or without food at about the same time each day and how to make up a missed or vomited dose. Advise patients to swallow tablets whole. Advise patients not to cut, crush, or chew the tablets [see DOSAGE AND ADMINISTRATION].
Storage Instructions
Advise patients to keep ONUREG in the original container (bottles or blisters). If bottles are dispensed, advise patients to keep the container tightly closed with both desiccant canisters inside and to not eat the desiccant canisters [see HOW SUPPLIED].
Nonclinical Toxicology
Carcinogenesis, Mutagenesis, Impairment Of Fertility
The potential carcinogenicity of azacitidine was evaluated in mice and rats. Azacitidine induced tumors of the hematopoietic system in female mice at 2.2 mg/kg (6.6 mg/m2, approximately 4% of the recommended human daily dose of oral azacitidine on a mg/m2 basis) administered intraperitoneal 3 times per week for 52 weeks. An increased incidence of tumors in the lymphoreticular system, lung, mammary gland, and skin was seen in mice treated with intraperitoneal azacitidine at 2 mg/kg (6 mg/m2, approximately 3% of the recommended human daily dose of oral azacitidine on a mg/m2 basis) once a week for 50 weeks. A tumorigenicity study in rats dosed twice weekly at 15 or 60 mg/m2 (approximately 8% to 32% of the recommended human daily dose of oral azacitidine on a mg/m2 basis) revealed an increased incidence of testicular tumors compared with controls.
The mutagenic and clastogenic potential of azacitidine was tested in in vitro bacterial systems Salmonella typhimurium strains TA100 and several strains of trpE8, Escherichia coli strains WP14 Pro, WP3103P, WP3104P, and CC103; in an in vitro forward gene mutation assay in mouse lymphoma cells and human lymphoblast cells; and in an in vitro micronucleus assay in mouse L5178Y lymphoma cells and Syrian hamster embryo cells. Azacitidine was mutagenic in bacterial and mammalian cell systems. The clastogenic effect of azacitidine was shown by the induction of micronuclei in L5178Y mouse cells and Syrian hamster embryo cells.
Administration of azacitidine by intraperitoneal injection to male mice at 9.9 mg/m2 (at doses less than the recommended human daily dose on a mg/m2 basis) daily for 3 days prior to mating with untreated female mice resulted in decreased fertility and loss of offspring during subsequent embryonic and postnatal development. Treatment of male rats 3 times per week for 11 or 16 weeks at doses of 15 to 30 mg/m2 (at doses less than the recommended human daily dose on a mg/m2 basis) resulted in decreased weight of the testes and epididymides, decreased sperm counts accompanied by decreased pregnancy rates, and increased loss of embryos in mated females. In a related study, male rats treated for 16 weeks at 24 mg/m2 resulted in an increase in abnormal embryos in mated females when examined on Day 2 of gestation.
Use In Specific Populations
Pregnancy
Risk Summary
Based on its mechanism of action [see CLINICAL PHARMACOLOGY] and findings in animals, ONUREG can cause fetal harm when administered to a pregnant woman. There are no available data on ONUREG use in pregnant women to evaluate for a drugassociated risk. Azacitidine was teratogenic and caused embryo-fetal lethality in animals at doses less than the recommended human daily dose of oral azacitidine on a mg/m2 basis (see Data). Advise pregnant women of the potential risk to the fetus.
The estimated background of major birth defects and miscarriage for the indicated population is unknown. All pregnancies have a background risk of birth defect, loss, or other adverse outcomes. 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.
Data
Animal Data
No reproductive or developmental toxicity studies have been conducted with oral azacitidine.
Early embryotoxicity studies in mice revealed a 44% frequency of intrauterine embryonal death (increased resorption) after a single intraperitoneal injection of 6 mg/m2 azacitidine (at doses less than the recommended human daily dose of oral azacitidine on a mg/m2 basis) on gestation Day 10. Developmental abnormalities in the brain have been detected in mice given azacitidine on or before gestation Day 15 at doses of approximately 3 to 12 mg/m2 (at doses less than the recommended human daily dose on a mg/m2 basis).
In rats, azacitidine was clearly embryotoxic when given an intraperitoneal injection on gestation Days 4 to 8 (postimplantation) at a dose of 6 mg/m2 (at doses less than the recommended human daily dose on a mg/m2 basis), although treatment in the preimplantation period (on gestation Days 1 to 3) had no adverse effect on the embryos. Azacitidine caused multiple fetal abnormalities in rats after a single intraperitoneal dose of 3 to 12 mg/m2 (at doses less than the recommended human daily dose on a mg/m2 basis) given on gestation Days 9, 10, 11, or 12. In this study, azacitidine caused fetal death when administered at 3 to 12 mg/m2 on gestation Days 9 and 10; average live animals per litter was reduced to 9% of control at the highest dose on gestation Day 9. Fetal anomalies included: CNS anomalies (exencephaly/encephalocele), limb anomalies (micromelia, club foot, syndactyly, oligodactyly), and others (micrognathia, gastroschisis, edema, and rib abnormalities).
Lactation
Risk Summary
There are no data regarding the presence of azacitidine in human milk or the effects on the breastfed child or milk production. Because of the potential for serious adverse reactions in the breastfed child, advise women not to breastfeed during treatment with ONUREG and for 1 week after the last dose.
Females And Males Of Reproductive Potential
ONUREG can cause embryo-fetal harm when administered to pregnant women [see Pregnancy].
Pregnancy Testing
Pregnancy testing is recommended for females of reproductive potential before starting ONUREG.
Contraception
Females
Advise females of reproductive potential to use effective contraception during treatment with ONUREG and for at least 6 months after the last dose.
Males
Advise males with female partners of reproductive potential to use effective contraception during treatment with ONUREG and for at least 3 months after the last dose.
Infertility
Based on animal data, ONUREG may impair male or female fertility [see Nonclinical Toxicology].
Pediatric Use
The safety and effectiveness of ONUREG in pediatric patients have not been established.
Geriatric Use
Of the 238 patients in QUAZAR who received ONUREG, 72% were 65 years of age or older, while 12% were 75 years of age or older. No overall differences in safety or effectiveness of ONUREG were observed between these patients and younger patients.
Renal Impairment
Monitor patients with severe renal impairment (creatinine clearance [CLcr] 15 to 29 mL/min calculated by Cockcroft-Gault formula) more frequently for adverse reactions and modify the ONUREG dosage for adverse reactions [see DOSAGE AND ADMINISTRATION].
No dose adjustment of ONUREG is recommended for patients with mild to severe renal impairment (CLcr 15 to 89 mL/min) [see CLINICAL PHARMACOLOGY].
Hepatic Impairment
ONUREG has not been studied in patients with pre-existing severe hepatic impairment (total bilirubin > 3 × ULN).
A recommended dosage of ONUREG has not been established for patients with moderate hepatic impairment (total bilirubin > 1.5 to 3 × ULN).
No dose adjustment of ONUREG is recommended for patients with mild hepatic impairment (total bilirubin ≤ ULN and AST > ULN, or total bilirubin 1 to 1.5 × ULN and any AST) [see CLINICAL PHARMACOLOGY].