Warnings for Turalio
Included as part of the "PRECAUTIONS" Section
Precautions for Turalio
Hepatotoxicity
TURALIO can cause serious and potentially fatal liver injury and is available only through a restricted program under a Risk Evaluation and Mitigation Strategy (REMS) [see TURALIO REMS Program].
Hepatotoxicity, including liver failure and life-threatening vanishing bile duct syndrome (VBDS), ductopenia, and symptomatic cholestasis (including severe pruritis) can occur in patients treated with TURALIO and can occur despite monitoring and prompt drug cessation. The mechanism of cholestatic hepatotoxicity is unknown and its occurrence cannot be predicted. It is unknown whether liver injury can also occur in the absence of increased transaminases.
Of the first 609 patients who received TURALIO under the REMS program, 32 (5.3%) developed a liver injury event of concern (LIEC), defined as any serious liver-related outcome or any liver abnormality that triggers drug discontinuation per the US Prescribing Information [see DOSAGE AND ADMINISTRATION]. These 32 patients developed liver toxicity within 71 days of the first dose of TURALIO; ten required hospitalization, and two developed VBDS. Sixteen of the 32 patients had not fully recovered at the time of the analysis, including 6 patients followed for at least 6 months after discontinuation.
Among 768 patients who received TURALIO in clinical trials, there were two irreversible cases of cholestatic liver injury. One patient with advanced cancer and ongoing liver toxicity died and one patient with a confirmed case of VBDS required a liver transplant.
In ENLIVEN, 3 of 61 (5%) patients who received TURALIO developed signs of serious liver injury, defined as ALT or AST ≥3 × ULN with total bilirubin ≥2 × ULN. In these patients, peak ALT ranged from 6 to 9 × ULN, peak total bilirubin ranged from 2.5 to 15 × ULN, and alkaline phosphatase (ALP) was ≥2 × ULN. ALT, AST, and total bilirubin improved to <2 × ULN in these three patients 1 to 7 months after discontinuing TURALIO.
Avoid TURALIO in patients with pre-existing increased serum transaminases; total bilirubin or direct bilirubin (>ULN); or active liver or biliary tract disease, including increased ALP. Monitor liver tests, including AST, ALT, total bilirubin, direct bilirubin, ALP, and gamma-glutamyl transferase (GGT) prior to initiation of TURALIO, weekly for the first 8 weeks, every 2 weeks for the next month and every 3 months thereafter. Withhold and dose reduce, or permanently discontinue TURALIO based on the severity of the hepatotoxicity [see DOSAGE AND ADMINISTRATION]. Refer patients to a hepatologist if liver tests do not return to normal. Rechallenge with a reduced dose of TURALIO may result in a recurrence of increased serum transaminases, bilirubin, ALP, or other signs of liver injury. Monitor liver tests weekly for the first month after rechallenge.
TURALIO REMS Program
TURALIO is only available through a restricted program under a REMS, because of the risk of hepatotoxicity [see Hepatotoxicity].
Notable requirements of the TURALIO REMS Program include the following:
- Prescribers must be certified with the program by enrolling and completing training.
- Patients must complete and sign an enrollment form for inclusion in a patient registry.
- Pharmacies must be certified with the program and must only dispense to patients who are authorized to receive TURALIO.
Further information is available at www.TURALIOREMS.com or 1-833-887-2546.
Embryo-Fetal Toxicity
Based on animal studies and its mechanism of action, TURALIO may cause fetal harm when administered to a pregnant woman. Oral administration of pexidartinib to pregnant rats and rabbits during the period of organogenesis resulted in malformations, increased post-implantation loss, and abortion at exposures approximately equal to the human exposure at the recommended dose based on area under the curve (AUC).
Advise pregnant women of the potential risk to a fetus. Advise females of reproductive potential to use effective non-hormonal contraception, since TURALIO can render hormonal contraceptives ineffective, during treatment with TURALIO and for 1 month after the final dose. Advise males with female partners of reproductive potential to use effective contraception during treatment with TURALIO and for 1 week after the final dose [see DRUG INTERACTIONS and Use In Specific Populations].
Potential Risks Associated With A High-Fat Meal
Taking TURALIO with a high-fat meal increases pexidartinib concentrations, which may increase the incidence and severity of adverse reactions, including hepatotoxicity [see CLINICAL PHARMACOLOGY].
Instruct patients to take TURALIO with a low-fat meal (approximately 11 to 14 grams of total fat) and to avoid taking TURALIO with a high-fat meal (approximately 55 to 65 grams of total fat). Consider referring patients to a dietician as deemed necessary [see DOSAGE AND ADMINISTRATION, Hepatotoxicity, DRUG INTERACTIONS].
Patient Counseling Information
Advise the patient to read the FDA-approved patient labeling (Medication Guide).
Hepatotoxicity
Advise patients of the risk of hepatotoxicity that could be fatal and that they will need to undergo monitoring for liver injury. Advise patients to immediately report any signs or symptoms of severe liver injury to their healthcare provider and that liver testing and prompt cessation of TURALIO may not eliminate the risk of severe or life-threatening liver injury [see WARNINGS AND PRECAUTIONS].
TURALIO REMS Program
- TURALIO is available only through a restricted program called TURALIO REMS Program and patients are required to be part of the patient registry [see WARNINGS AND PRECAUTIONS].
- TURALIO is available only from certified pharmacies participating in the program. Therefore, provide patients with the telephone number and website for information on how to obtain the product.
Embryo-Fetal Toxicity
- Advise pregnant women and females of reproductive potential 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 and Use In Specific Populations].
- Advise females of reproductive potential to use effective non-hormonal contraception during treatment with TURALIO and for 1 month after the final dose [see DRUG INTERACTIONS and Use In Specific Populations].
- Advise male patients with female partners of reproductive potential to use effective contraception during treatment and for 1 week after the final dose [see Use In Specific Populations and Nonclinical Toxicology].
Lactation
Advise females not to breastfeed during treatment with TURALIO and for 1 week after the final dose [see Use In Specific Populations].
Infertility
Advise females and males of reproductive potential that TURALIO may impair fertility [see Use In Specific Populations and Nonclinical Toxicology].
Administration
- Instruct patients to take TURALIO with a low-fat meal (approximately 11 to 14 grams of total fat) and to avoid taking TURALIO with a high-fat meal (approximately 55 to 65 grams of total fat). Consider referring patients to a dietician as deemed necessary [see DOSAGE AND ADMINISTRATION, WARNINGS AND PRECAUTIONS, DRUG INTERACTIONS].
- Instruct patients to swallow capsules whole (do not open, break, or chew) [see DOSAGE AND ADMINISTRATION].
Drug Interactions
Advise patients to inform their healthcare providers of all concomitant products, including over-thecounter products and supplements [see DOSAGE AND ADMINISTRATION and DRUG INTERACTIONS].
Photosensitivity
Inform patients of the signs and symptoms of photosensitivity. Advise patients to avoid prolonged sun exposure and to use sunscreen and protective clothing during treatment with TURALIO [see ADVERSE REACTIONS].
Nonclinical Toxicology
Carcinogenesis, Mutagenesis, Impairment Of Fertility
Carcinogenicity studies were performed in mice and rats. Both studies were negative for carcinogenic findings at exposures up to 9 times the human exposure at the recommended daily dose based on AUC.
Pexidartinib was not mutagenic in an in vitro bacterial reverse mutation (AMES) assay or clastogenic in either an in vitro human peripheral blood lymphocyte chromosomal aberrations assay or in an in vivo mouse bone marrow micronucleus assay.
Based on nonclinical findings, TURALIO may impair male and female fertility. In a fertility study in which pexidartinib was administered orally to male and female rats, there were reductions in pregnancy, as well as increases in pre- and post-implantation loss with a corresponding reduction in viable embryos at 40 mg/kg (approximately 1.3 times the human exposure at the recommended dose). Males at this dose level displayed reductions in spermatogenic parameters and adverse effects on sperm concentration, production, motility, and morphology. Lower testicular and epididymal weights occurred in this study at doses of ≥10 mg/kg/day (approximately 0.3 times the human exposure at the recommended dose). This is consistent with findings in chronic toxicology studies of germ cell depletion of the testes and hypospermia and cellular debris in the epididymis in male reproductive tissues of both rats and dogs at respective doses as low as 20 and 30 mg/kg/day (approximately 0.6 and 0.1 times the human exposure at the recommended dose). In rats, these changes persisted following a 16-week recovery period at the 60 mg/kg/day dose level (approximately 1.5 times the human exposure at the recommended dose).
In female rats, necrosis of corpora lutea occurred at doses ≥0.5 mg/kg/day (approximately 0.01 times the human exposure at the recommended dose) with pigment deposition within the interstitium of the ovaries, an increased incidence of luteal cysts and incidence/severity of hemorrhage of corpora lutea, and a decreased incidence of retained antral follicles and decreased corpora lutea at 60 mg/kg (approximately 1.8 times the human exposure at the recommended dose). In female dogs there were decreased follicle numbers and moderate atrophy of the oviduct, uterus, and cervix at doses as low as 1 mg/kg (approximately 0.01 times the human exposure at the recommended dose).
Use In Specific Populations
Pregnancy
Risk Summary
Based on findings from animal studies and its mechanism of action [see CLINICAL PHARMACOLOGY], TURALIO may cause embryo-fetal harm when administered to a pregnant woman. The available human data do not establish the presence or absence of major birth defects or miscarriage related to the use of TURALIO. Oral administration of pexidartinib to pregnant animals during the period of organogenesis resulted in malformations, post-implantation loss, and abortion at maternal exposures that were approximately equal to the human exposure at the recommended dose (see Data). Advise pregnant women of the potential risk to a fetus.
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
Embryo-fetal development studies investigating the administration of pexidartinib during the period of organogenesis were conducted in rats and rabbits. In rats, pexidartinib resulted in increased postimplantation loss and fetal malformations including localized fetal edema, absence of kidney and ureter, abnormalities of the reproductive tract, and developmental variations including misshapen kidney, decreased skeletal ossification and higher mean litter proportions of slightly or moderately malaligned sternebrae at doses of 40 mg/kg (approximately equal to the human exposure at the recommended dose). In rabbits, administration of pexidartinib resulted in increased post-implantation loss, abortion, and fetal malformations including absence of kidney or ureter, rudimentary, misshapen or malpositioned kidney, rib abnormalities, and skeletal variations of accessory skull bones at doses of 60 mg/kg (approximately equal to the human exposure at the recommended dose).
Lactation
Risk Summary
There are no data on the presence of pexidartinib or its metabolites in either human or animal milk or its effects on a breastfed child or on milk production. Because of the potential for serious adverse reactions in the breastfed child, advise women not to breastfeed during treatment with TURALIO and for at least 1 week after the final dose.
Females And Males Of Reproductive Potential
TURALIO may cause fetal harm when administered to a pregnant woman [see Pregnancy].
Pregnancy Testing
Verify pregnancy status in females of reproductive potential prior to the initiation of TURALIO [see Pregnancy].
Contraception
Females
Advise females of reproductive potential to use effective non-hormonal contraception during treatment with TURALIO and for 1 month after the final dose. Counsel patients to use non-hormonal method(s) of contraception, since TURALIO can render hormonal contraceptives ineffective [see DRUG INTERACTIONS and Nonclinical Toxicology].
Males
Advise male patients with female partners of reproductive potential to use effective contraception during treatment with TURALIO and for 1 week after the final dose [see Nonclinical Toxicology].
Infertility
Based on findings from animal studies, TURALIO may impair both male and female fertility [see Nonclinical Toxicology].
Pediatric Use
The safety and effectiveness of TURALIO in pediatric patients have not been established.
Geriatric Use
Clinical studies of TURALIO did not include sufficient numbers of subjects aged 65 and over to determine whether they respond differently from younger subjects.
Renal Impairment
Reduce the dosage when administering TURALIO to patients with mild to severe renal impairment (CLcr 15 to 89 mL/min, estimated by Cockcroft-Gault [C-G]) [see DOSAGE AND ADMINISTRATION and CLINICAL PHARMACOLOGY].
Hepatic Impairment
No dosage adjustment is recommended for patients with mild hepatic impairment (total bilirubin ≤ upper limit of normal [ULN] with AST > ULN or total bilirubin >1 to 1.5 × ULN with any AST) [see CLINICAL PHARMACOLOGY].
Reduce the dosage of TURALIO for patients with moderate hepatic impairment (total bilirubin >1.5 to 3 × ULN, not due to Gilbert’s syndrome, with any AST) [see DOSAGE AND ADMINISTRATION and CLINICAL PHARMACOLOGY].
TURALIO has not been studied in patients with severe hepatic impairment (total bilirubin >3 to 10 × ULN and any AST).