SIDE EFFECTS
Use of Xolair has been associated with:
- Anaphylaxis [see BOXED WARNING and WARNINGS AND
PRECAUTIONS]
- Malignancies [see WARNINGS AND PRECAUTIONS]
Clinical Trials Experience
Because clinical trials are conducted under widely
varying conditions, adverse reaction rates observed in the clinical trials of a
drug cannot be directly compared to rates in the clinical trials of another
drug and may not reflect the rates observed in clinical practice.
Adverse Reactions From Clinical Studies In Adult And Adolescent
Patients 12 Years Of Age And Older With Asthma
The data described below reflect Xolair exposure for 2076
adult and adolescent patients ages 12 and older, including 1687 patients
exposed for six months and 555 exposed for one year or more, in either
placebo-controlled or other controlled asthma studies. The mean age of patients
receiving Xolair was 42 years, with 134 patients 65 years of age or older; 60%
were women, and 85% Caucasian. Patients received Xolair 150 to 375 mg every 2
or 4 weeks or, for patients assigned to control groups, standard therapy with
or without a placebo.
The adverse events most frequently resulting in clinical
intervention (e.g., discontinuation of Xolair, or the need for concomitant
medication to treat an adverse event) were injection site reaction (45%), viral
infections (23%), upper respiratory tract infection (20%), sinusitis (16%),
headache (15%), and pharyngitis (11%). These events were observed at similar
rates in Xolair-treated patients and control patients.
Table 5 shows adverse reactions from four
placebo-controlled asthma trials that occurred ≥ 1% and more frequently
in adult and adolescent patients 12 years of age and older receiving Xolair
than in those receiving placebo. Adverse events were classified using preferred
terms from the International Medical Nomenclature (IMN) dictionary. Injection site
reactions were recorded separately from the reporting of other adverse events.
Table 5: Adverse Reactions ≥ 1% More Frequent in
Xolair-Treated Adult or Adolescent Patients 12 years of Age and Older in Four
Placebo-controlled Asthma Trials
Adverse reaction |
Xolair
n = 738 |
Placebo
n = 717 |
Body as a whole |
Pain |
7% |
5% |
Fatigue |
3% |
2% |
Musculoskeletal system |
Arthralgia |
8% |
6% |
Fracture |
2% |
1% |
Leg pain |
4% |
2% |
Arm pain |
2% |
1% |
Nervous system |
Dizziness |
3% |
2% |
Skin and appendages |
Pruritus |
2% |
1% |
Dermatitis |
2% |
1% |
Special senses |
Earache |
2% |
1% |
There were no differences in the incidence of adverse
reactions based on age (among patients under 65), gender or race.
Anaphylaxis Case Control Study
A retrospective case-control study investigated risk
factors for anaphylaxis to Xolair among patients treated with Xolair for
asthma. Cases with an adjudicated history of anaphylaxis to Xolair were
compared to controls with no such history. The study found that a self-reported
history of anaphylaxis to foods, medications or other causes was more common
among patients with Xolair anaphylaxis (57% of 30 cases) compared to controls
(23% of 88 controls) [OR 8.1, 95% CI 2.7 to 24.3]. Because this is a case control
study, the study cannot provide the incidence of anaphylaxis among Xolair
users. From other sources, anaphylaxis to Xolair was observed in 0.1% of
patients in clinical trials and at least 0.2% of patients based upon
postmarketing reports [see WARNINGS AND PRECAUTIONS, ADVERSE
REACTIONS].
Injection Site Reactions
In adults and adolescents, injection site reactions of
any severity occurred at a rate of 45% in Xolair-treated patients compared with
43% in placebo-treated patients. The types of injection site reactions
included: bruising, redness, warmth, burning, stinging, itching, hive formation,
pain, indurations, mass, and inflammation.
Severe injection site reactions occurred more frequently
in Xolair-treated patients compared with patients in the placebo group (12%
versus 9%).
The majority of injection site reactions occurred within
1 hour-post injection, lasted less than 8 days, and generally decreased in
frequency at subsequent dosing visits.
Adverse Reactions From Clinical Studies In Pediatric
Patients 6 To < 12 Years Of Age With Asthma
The data described below reflect Xolair exposure for 926
patients 6 to < 12 years of age, including 583 patients exposed for six
months and 292 exposed for one year or more, in either placebo-controlled or
other controlled asthma studies. The mean age of pediatric patients receiving
Xolair was 8.8 years; 69% were male, and 64% were Caucasian. Pediatric patients
received Xolair 75 mg to 375 mg every 2 or 4 weeks or, for patients assigned to
control groups, standard therapy with or without a placebo. No cases of
malignancy were reported in patients treated with Xolair in these trials.
The most common adverse reactions occurring at ≥ 3%
in the pediatric patients receiving Xolair and more frequently than in patients
treated with placebo were nasopharyngitis, headache, pyrexia, upper abdominal
pain, pharyngitis streptococcal, otitis media, viral gastroenteritis, arthropod
bite, and epistaxis.
The adverse events most frequently resulting in clinical
intervention (e.g., discontinuation of Xolair, or the need for concomitant
medication to treat an adverse event) were bronchitis (0.2%), headache (0.2%)
and urticaria (0.2%). These events were observed at similar rates in Xolair-treated
patients and control patients.
Adverse Reactions From Clinical Studies In Patients With Chronic
Idiopathic Urticaria (CIU)
The safety of Xolair for the treatment of CIU was
assessed in three placebo-controlled, multiple-dose clinical trials of 12
weeks' (CIU Trial 2) and 24 weeks' duration (CIU Trials 1 and 3). In CIU Trials
1 and 2, patients received Xolair 75, 150, or 300 mg or placebo every 4 weeks
in addition to their baseline level of H1 antihistamine therapy throughout the
treatment period. In CIU Trial 3 patients were randomized to Xolair 300 mg or
placebo every 4 weeks in addition to their baseline level of H1 antihistamine
therapy. The data described below reflect Xolair exposure for 733 patients
enrolled and receiving at least one dose of Xolair in the three clinical
trials, including 684 patients exposed for 12 weeks and 427 exposed for 24 weeks.
The mean age of patients receiving Xolair 300 mg was 43 years, 75% were women, and
89% were white. The demographic profiles for patients receiving Xolair 150 mg
and 75 mg were similar.
Table 6 shows adverse reactions that occurred in ≥
2% of patients receiving Xolair (150 or 300 mg) and more frequently than those
receiving placebo. Adverse reactions are pooled from Trial 2 and the first 12
weeks of Trials 1 and 3.
Table 6: Adverse Reactions Occurring in ≥ 2% in
Xolair-Treated Patients and More Frequently than in Patients Treated with
Placebo (Day 1 to Week 12) in CIU Trials
Adverse Reactions* |
CIU Trials 1, 2 and 3 Pooled |
150 mg
(n=175) |
300 mg
(n=412) |
Placebo
(n=242) |
Gastrointestinal disorders |
Nausea |
2 (1.1%) |
11 (2.7%) |
6 (2.5%) |
Infections and infestations |
Nasopharyngitis |
16 (9.1%) |
27 (6.6%) |
17 (7.0%) |
Sinusitis |
2 (1.1%) |
20 (4.9%) |
5 (2.1%) |
Upper respiratory tract infection |
2 (1.1%) |
14 (3.4%) |
5 (2.1%) |
Viral upper respiratory tract infection |
4 (2.3%) |
2 (0.5%) |
(0.0%) |
Musculoskeletal and connective tissue disorders |
Arthralgia |
5 (2.9%) |
12 (2.9%) |
1 (0.4%) |
Nervous system disorders |
Headache |
21 (12.0%) |
25 (6.1%) |
7 (2.9%) |
Respiratory, thoracic, and mediastinal disorders |
Cough |
2 (1.1%) |
9 (2.2%) |
3 (1.2%) |
* by MedDRA (15.1) System Organ Class and Preferred Term |
Additional reactions reported during the 24 week treatment
period in Trials 1 and 3 [ ≥ 2% of patients receiving Xolair (150 or 300
mg) and more frequently than those receiving placebo] included: toothache,
fungal infection, urinary tract infection, myalgia, pain in extremity, musculoskeletal
pain, peripheral edema, pyrexia, migraine, sinus headache, anxiety, oropharyngeal
pain, asthma, urticaria, and alopecia.
Injection Site Reactions
Injection site reactions of any severity occurred during
the studies in more Xolair-treated patients [11 patients (2.7%) at 300 mg, 1
patient (0.6%) at 150 mg] compared with 2 placebo-treated patients (0.8%). The
types of injection site reactions included: swelling, erythema, pain, bruising,
itching, bleeding and urticaria. None of the events resulted in study discontinuation
or treatment interruption.
Cardiovascular And Cerebrovascular Events From Clinical
Studies In Patients With Asthma
A 5-year observational cohort study was conducted in
patients ≥ 12 years of age with moderate to severe persistent asthma and
a positive skin test reaction to a perennial aeroallergen to evaluate the long
term safety of Xolair, including the risk of malignancy [see WARNINGS AND
PRECAUTIONS]. A total of 5007 Xolair-treated and 2829 non-Xolairtreated patients
enrolled in the study. Similar percentages of patients in both cohorts were current
(5%) or former smokers (29%). Patients had a mean age of 45 years and were followed
for a mean of 3.7 years. More Xolair-treated patients were diagnosed with severe
asthma (50%) compared to the non-Xolair-treated patients (23%) and 44% of
patients prematurely discontinued the study. Additionally, 88% of patients in
the Xolair-treated cohort had been previously exposed to Xolair for a mean of 8
months.
A higher incidence rate (per 1000 patient-years) of
overall cardiovascular and cerebrovascular serious adverse events (SAEs) was
observed in Xolair-treated patients (13.4) compared to non-Xolair-treated
patients (8.1). Increases in rates were observed for transient ischemic attack
(0.7 versus 0.1), myocardial infarction (2.1 versus 0.8), pulmonary hypertension
(0.5 versus 0), pulmonary embolism/venous thrombosis (3.2 versus 1.5), and unstable
angina (2.2 versus 1.4), while the rates observed for ischemic stroke and cardiovascular
death were similar among both study cohorts. The results suggest a potential increased
risk of serious cardiovascular and cerebrovascular events in patients treated
with Xolair. However, the observational study design, the inclusion of patients
previously exposed to Xolair (88%), baseline imbalances in cardiovascular risk
factors between the treatment groups, an inability to adjust for unmeasured
risk factors, and the high study discontinuation rate limit the ability to
quantify the magnitude of the risk.
A pooled analysis of 25 randomized double-blind,
placebo-controlled clinical trials of 8 to 52 weeks in duration was conducted
to further evaluate the imbalance in cardiovascular and cerebrovascular SAEs
noted in the above observational cohort study. A total of 3342 Xolairtreated patients
and 2895 placebo-treated patients were included in the pooled analysis. The patients
had a mean age of 38 years, and were followed for a mean duration of 6.8
months. No notable imbalances were observed in the rates of cardiovascular and
cerebrovascular SAEs listed above. However, the results of the pooled analysis
were based on a low number of events, slightly younger patients, and shorter
duration of follow-up than the observational cohort study; therefore, the
results are insufficient to confirm or reject the findings noted in the
observational cohort study.
Immunogenicity
Antibodies to Xolair were detected in approximately
1/1723 ( < 0.1%) of patients treated with Xolair in the clinical studies
evaluated for approval of asthma in patients 12 years of age and older. In
three pediatric studies, antibodies to Xolair were detected in one patient out
of 581 patients 6 to < 12 years of age treated with Xolair and evaluated for
antibodies. There were no detectable antibodies in the patients treated in the
phase 3 CIU clinical trials, but due to levels of Xolair at the time of
anti-therapeutic antibody sampling and missing samples for some patients,
antibodies to Xolair could only have been determined in 88% of the 733 patients
treated in these clinical studies. The data reflect the percentage of patients
whose test results were considered positive for antibodies to Xolair in ELISA
assays and are highly dependent on the sensitivity and specificity of the assays.
Additionally, the observed incidence of antibody positivity in the assay may be
influenced by several factors including sample handling, timing of sample
collection, concomitant medications, and underlying disease. Therefore,
comparison of the incidence of antibodies to Xolair with the incidence of antibodies
to other products may be misleading.
Postmarketing Experience
The following adverse reactions have been identified
during post-approval use of Xolair in adult and adolescent patients 12 years of
age and older. 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.
Anaphylaxis: Based on spontaneous reports and an estimated exposure of
about 57,300 patients from June 2003 through December 2006, the frequency of
anaphylaxis attributed to Xolair use was estimated to be at least 0.2% of patients.
Diagnostic criteria of anaphylaxis were skin or mucosal tissue involvement,
and, either airway compromise, and/or reduced blood pressure with or without
associated symptoms, and a temporal relationship to Xolair administration with
no other identifiable cause. Signs and symptoms in these reported cases
included bronchospasm, hypotension, syncope, urticaria, angioedema of the
throat or tongue, dyspnea, cough, chest tightness, and/or cutaneous angioedema.
Pulmonary involvement was reported in 89% of the cases. Hypotension or syncope
was reported in 14% of cases. Fifteen percent of the reported cases resulted in
hospitalization. A previous history of anaphylaxis unrelated to Xolair was
reported in 24% of the cases.
Of the reported cases of anaphylaxis attributed to
Xolair, 39% occurred with the first dose, 19% occurred with the second dose,
10% occurred with the third dose, and the rest after subsequent doses. One case
occurred after 39 doses (after 19 months of continuous therapy, anaphylaxis
occurred when treatment was restarted following a 3 month gap). The time to onset
of anaphylaxis in these cases was up to 30 minutes in 35%, greater than 30 and
up to 60 minutes in 16%, greater than 60 and up to 90 minutes in 2%, greater
than 90 and up to 120 minutes in 6%, greater than 2 hours and up to 6 hours in
5%, greater than 6 hours and up to 12 hours in 14%, greater than 12 hours and
up to 24 hours in 8%, and greater than 24 hours and up to 4 days in 5%. In 9%
of cases the times to onset were unknown.
Twenty-three patients who experienced anaphylaxis were
rechallenged with Xolair and 18 patients had a recurrence of similar symptoms
of anaphylaxis. In addition, anaphylaxis occurred upon rechallenge with Xolair
in 4 patients who previously experienced urticaria only.
Eosinophilic Conditions: Eosinophilic conditions
have been reported [see WARNINGS AND PRECAUTIONS].
Fever, Arthralgia, and Rash: A constellation of
signs and symptoms including arthritis/arthralgia, rash (urticaria or other
forms), fever and lymphadenopathy similar to serum sickness have been reported
in post-approval use of Xolair [see WARNINGS AND PRECAUTIONS].
Hematologic: Severe thrombocytopenia has been
reported.
Skin: Hair loss has been reported.
DRUG INTERACTIONS
No formal drug interaction studies have been performed
with Xolair.
In patients with asthma the concomitant use of Xolair and
allergen immunotherapy has not been evaluated.
In patients with CIU the use of Xolair in combination
with immunosuppressive therapies has not been studied.