Warnings for Polivy
Included as part of the "PRECAUTIONS" Section
Precautions for Polivy
Peripheral Neuropathy
POLIVY can cause peripheral neuropathy, including severe cases. Peripheral neuropathy occurs as early as the first cycle of treatment and is a cumulative effect [see ADVERSE REACTIONS]. POLIVY may exacerbate pre-existing peripheral neuropathy.
In POLARIX, of 435 patients treated with POLIVY plus R-CHP, 53% reported new or worsening peripheral neuropathy, with a median time to onset of 2.3 months. Peripheral neuropathy was Grade 1 in 39% of patients, Grade 2 in 12%, and Grade 3 in 1.6%. Peripheral neuropathy resulted in dose reduction in 4% of treated patients and treatment discontinuation in 0.7%. Among patients with peripheral neuropathy after POLIVY, 58% reported resolution after a median of 4 months.
In Study GO29365, of 173 patients treated with POLIVY, 40% reported new or worsening peripheral neuropathy, with a median time to onset of 2.1 months. Peripheral neuropathy was Grade 1 in 26% of patients, Grade 2 in 12%, and Grade 3 in 2.3%. Peripheral neuropathy resulted in POLIVY dose reduction in 2.9% of treated patients, dose delay in 1.2%, and permanent discontinuation in 2.9%. Sixty-five percent of patients reported improvement or resolution of peripheral neuropathy after a median of 1 month, and 48% reported complete resolution.
The peripheral neuropathy is predominantly sensory; however, motor and sensorimotor peripheral neuropathy also occur. Monitor for symptoms of peripheral neuropathy such as hypoesthesia, hyperesthesia, paresthesia, dysesthesia, neuropathic pain, burning sensation, weakness, or gait disturbance. Patients experiencing new or worsening peripheral neuropathy may require a delay, dose reduction, or discontinuation of POLIVY [see DOSAGE AND ADMINISTRATION].
Infusion-Related Reactions
POLIVY can cause infusion-related reactions, including severe cases. Delayed infusion-related reactions as late as 24 hours after receiving POLIVY have occurred.
With premedication, 13% of patients (58/435) in POLARIX reported infusion-related reactions after the administration of POLIVY plus R-CHP. The reactions were Grade 1 in 4.4% of patients, Grade 2 in 8%, and Grade 3 in 1.1%.
With premedication, 7% of patients (12/173) in Study GO29365 reported infusion-related reactions after the administration of POLIVY. The reactions were Grade 1 in 4.6% of patients, Grade 2 in 1.7%, and Grade 3 in 0.6%.
Symptoms occurring in ≥1% of patients included chills, dyspnea, pyrexia, pruritus, rash, and chest discomfort. Administer an antihistamine and antipyretic prior to the administration of POLIVY, and monitor patients closely throughout the infusion. If an infusion-related reaction occurs, interrupt the infusion and institute appropriate medical management [see DOSAGE AND ADMINISTRATION].
Myelosuppression
Treatment with POLIVY can cause serious or severe myelosuppression, including neutropenia, thrombocytopenia, and anemia.
In POLARIX, 90% of patients treated with POLIVY plus R-CHP had primary prophylaxis with G-CSF. Grade 3–4 hematologic adverse reactions included lymphopenia (44%), neutropenia (39%), febrile neutropenia (15%), anemia (14%), and thrombocytopenia (8%) [see ADVERSE REACTIONS].
In Study GO29365, in patients treated with POLIVY plus BR (n = 45), 42% received primary prophylaxis with G-CSF. Grade 3 or higher hematologic adverse reactions included neutropenia (42%), thrombocytopenia (40%), anemia (24%), lymphopenia (13%), and febrile neutropenia (11%) [see ADVERSE REACTIONS]. Grade 4 hematologic adverse reactions included neutropenia (24%), thrombocytopenia (16%), lymphopenia (9%), and febrile neutropenia (4.4%). Cytopenias were the most common reason for treatment discontinuation (18% of all patients).
Monitor complete blood counts throughout treatment. Cytopenias may require a delay, dose reduction, or discontinuation of POLIVY [see DOSAGE AND ADMINISTRATION]. Administer prophylactic G-CSF for neutropenia in patients receiving POLIVY plus R-CHP. Consider prophylactic G-CSF administration in patients receiving POLIVY plus bendamustine and a rituximab product.
Serious And Opportunistic Infections
Fatal and/or serious infections, including opportunistic infections such as sepsis, pneumonia (including Pneumocystis jiroveci and other fungal pneumonia), herpesvirus infection, and cytomegalovirus infection have occurred in patients treated with POLIVY [see ADVERSE REACTIONS].
In POLARIX, Grade 3–4 infections occurred in 14% (61/435) of patients treated with POLIVY plus R-CHP and infection-related deaths were reported in 1.1% of patients.
In Study GO29365, Grade 3 or higher infections occurred in 32% (55/173) of patients treated with POLIVYand infection-related deaths were reported in 2.9% of patients within 90 days of last treatment.
Closely monitor patients during treatment for signs of infection. Administer prophylaxis for Pneumocystis jiroveci pneumonia and herpesvirus. Administer prophylactic G-CSF for neutropenia as recommended [see DOSAGE AND ADMINISTRATION].
Progressive Multifocal Leukoencephalopathy (PML)
PML has been reported after treatment with POLIVY plus bendamustine and obinutuzumab in study GO29365 (0.6%, 1/173). Monitor for new or worsening neurological, cognitive, or behavioral changes. Hold POLIVY and any concomitant chemotherapy if PML is suspected, and permanently discontinue if the diagnosis is confirmed.
Tumor Lysis Syndrome
POLIVY may cause tumor lysis syndrome. Patients with high tumor burden and rapidly proliferative tumor may be at increased risk of tumor lysis syndrome. Monitor closely and take appropriate measures, including tumor lysis syndrome prophylaxis.
Hepatotoxicity
Serious cases of hepatotoxicity that were consistent with hepatocellular injury, including elevations of transaminases and/or bilirubin, have occurred in patients treated with POLIVY.
In recipients of POLIVY plus R-CHP, Grade 3–4 elevation of ALT and AST developed in 1.4% and 0.7% of patients, respectively.
In Study GO29365, Grade 3 and Grade 4 transaminase elevations each developed in 1.9% of patients.
Preexisting liver disease, elevated baseline liver enzymes, and concomitant medications may increase the risk of hepatotoxicity. Monitor liver enzymes and bilirubin level.
Embryo-Fetal Toxicity
Based on the mechanism of action and findings from animal studies, POLIVY can cause fetal harm when administered to a pregnant woman. The small molecule component of POLIVY, MMAE, administered to rats caused adverse developmental outcomes, including embryo-fetal mortality and structural abnormalities, at exposures below those occurring clinically at the recommended dose.
Advise pregnant women of the potential risk to a fetus. Advise females of reproductive potential to use effective contraception during treatment with POLIVY and for 3 months after the last dose. Advise male patients with female partners of reproductive potential to use effective contraception during treatment with POLIVY and for 5 months after the last dose [see Use In Specific Populations, CLINICAL PHARMACOLOGY].
Nonclinical Toxicology
Carcinogenesis, Mutagenesis, Impairment Of Fertility
Carcinogenicity studies in animals have not been performed with polatuzumab vedotin-piiq or MMAE.
MMAE was positive for genotoxicity in the in vivo rat bone marrow micronucleus study through an aneugenic mechanism. MMAE was not mutagenic in the bacterial reverse mutation (Ames) assay or the L5178Y mouse lymphoma forward mutation assay.
Fertility studies in animals have not been performed with polatuzumab vedotin-piiq or MMAE. However, results of repeat-dose toxicity indicate the potential for polatuzumab vedotin-piiq to impair female and male fertility. In the 4-week repeat-dose toxicity study in rats with weekly dosing of 2, 6, and 10 mg/kg, dose-dependent testicular seminiferous tubule degeneration with abnormal lumen contents in the epididymis was observed. Findings in the testes and epididymis did not reverse and correlated with decreased testes weight and gross findings of small and/or soft testes at recovery necropsy in males given doses ≥2 mg/kg (below the exposure at the recommended dose based on unconjugated MMAE AUC).
MMAE-containing ADCs have been associated with adverse ovarian effects when administered to sexually immature animals. Adverse effects included decrease in, or absence of, secondary and tertiary ovarian follicles after weekly administration to cynomolgus monkeys in studies of 4-week duration. These effects showed a trend towards recovery 6 weeks after the end of dosing; no changes were observed in primordial follicles.
Use In Specific Populations
Pregnancy
Risk Summary
Based on findings from animal studies and its mechanism of action [see CLINICAL PHARMACOLOGY], POLIVY can cause fetal harm. There are no available data in pregnant women to inform the drug-associated risk. In animal reproduction studies, administration of the small molecule component of POLIVY, MMAE, to pregnant rats during organogenesis at exposures below the clinical exposure at the recommended dose of 1.8 mg/kg POLIVY every 21 days resulted in embryo-fetal mortality and structural abnormalities (see Data). Advise a pregnant woman of the potential risks to a fetus.
The estimated background risk 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 2–4% and 15–20%, respectively.
Data
Animal Data
No embryo-fetal development studies in animals have been performed with polatuzumab vedotin-piiq. In an embryo-fetal developmental study in pregnant rats, administration of two intravenous doses of MMAE, the small molecule component of POLIVY, on gestational days 6 and 13 caused embryo-fetal mortality and structural abnormalities, including protruding tongue, malrotated limbs, gastroschisis, and agnathia compared to controls at a dose of 0.2 mg/kg (approximately 0.5-fold the human area under the curve [AUC] at the recommended dose).
Lactation
Risk Summary
There is no information regarding the presence of polatuzumab vedotin-piiq in human milk, the effects on the breastfed child, or milk production. Because of the potential for serious adverse reactions in breastfed children, advise women not to breastfeed during treatment with POLIVY and for 2 months after the last dose.
Females And Males Of Reproductive Potential
POLIVY can cause embryo-fetal harm when administered to pregnant women [see Pregnancy].
Pregnancy Testing
Verify pregnancy status in females of reproductive potential prior to initiating POLIVY [see Pregnancy].
Contraception
Females
Advise females of reproductive potential to use effective contraception during treatment with POLIVY and for 3 months after the last dose [see Nonclinical Toxicology].
Males
Based on genotoxicity findings, advise males with female partners of reproductive potential to use effective contraception during treatment with POLIVY and for 5 months after the final dose [see Nonclinical Toxicity].
Infertility
Females
Based on findings in animal studies with MMAE-containing antibody-drug conjugates (ADCs), POLIVY may impair female fertility. The effect on fertility is reversible [see Nonclinical Toxicology].
Males
Based on findings from animal studies, POLIVY may impair male fertility. The reversibility of this effect is unknown [see Nonclinical Toxicology].
Pediatric Use
Safety and effectiveness of POLIVY have not been established in pediatric patients.
Geriatric Use
Among 435 patients treated with POLIVY plus R-CHP in POLARIX, 227 (52%) were ≥65 years of age. No overall differences in safety or efficacy were observed between patients aged ≥65 years and younger patients.
Among 173 patients treated with POLIVY plus BR in Study GO29365, 95 (55%) were ≥65 years of age. Patients aged ≥65 had a numerically higher incidence of serious adverse reactions (64%) than patients aged <65 (53%). This study did not include sufficient numbers of patients to determine whether efficacy differed in patients aged ≥65 and younger patients.
Hepatic Impairment
Avoid the administration of POLIVY in patients with moderate or severe hepatic impairment (total bilirubin greater than 1.5 × ULN and any AST). Patients with moderate or severe hepatic impairment are likely to have increased exposure to MMAE, which may increase the risk of adverse reactions. POLIVY has not been studied in patients with moderate or severe hepatic impairment [see CLINICAL PHARMACOLOGY and WARNINGS AND PRECAUTIONS].
No adjustment in the starting dose is required when administering POLIVY to patients with mild hepatic impairment (total bilirubin 1 to 1.5 × ULN or AST greater than ULN).