Arsenic Trioxide (Page 3 of 5)

6.2 Postmarketing Experience

The following adverse reactions have been identified during postapproval use of Arsenic Trioxide Injection. Because these reactions are reported voluntarily from a population of uncertain size, it is not always possible to reliably estimate the frequency or establish a causal relationship to drug exposure.

Cardiac disorders: Ventricular extrasystoles in association with QT prolongation, ventricular tachycardia in association with QT prolongation, including torsade de pointes, atrioventricular block, and congestive heart failure

Ear and labyrinth disorders: Deafness

Hematologic disorders: Pancytopenia, bone marrow necrosis

Infections: Herpes zoster

Investigations: Gamma-glutamyltransferase increased

Musculoskeletal and connective tissue disorders: Bone pain, myalgia, rhabdomyolysis

Neoplasms benign, malignant and unspecified: Melanoma, pancreatic cancer, squamous cell carcinoma

Nervous system disorders: Peripheral neuropathy, paresis, seizures, confusion, encephalopathy, Wernicke’s encephalopathy, posterior reversible encephalopathy syndrome

Skin and subcutaneous tissue disorders: Toxic epidermal necrolysis

7. DRUG INTERACTIONS

Drugs That Can Prolong the QT/QTc Interval

Concomitant use of these drugs and Arsenic Trioxide Injection may increase the risk of serious QT/QTc interval prolongation [see Warnings and Precautions (5.1)]. Discontinue or replace with an alternative drug that does not prolong the QT/QTc interval while the patient is using Arsenic Trioxide Injection. Monitor ECGs more frequently in patients when it is not feasible to avoid concomitant use.

Drugs That Can Lead to Electrolyte Abnormalities

Electrolyte abnormalities increase the risk of serious QT/QTc interval prolongation [see Warnings and Precautions (5.1)]. Avoid concomitant use of drugs that can lead to electrolyte abnormalities. Monitor electrolytes more frequently in patients who must receive concomitant use of these drugs and Arsenic Trioxide Injection.

Drugs That Can Lead to Hepatotoxicity

Concomitant use of these drugs and Arsenic Trioxide Injection may increase the risk of serious hepatotoxicity [see Warnings and Precautions (5.4)]. Discontinue or replace with an alternative drug that does not cause hepatotoxicity while the patient is using Arsenic Trioxide Injection. Monitor liver function tests more frequently in patients when it is not feasible to avoid concomitant use.

8. USE IN SPECIFIC POPULATIONS

8.1 Pregnancy

Risk Summary

Based on the mechanism of action [see Clinical Pharmacology (12.1)] and findings in animal studies, Arsenic Trioxide Injection can cause fetal harm when administered to a pregnant woman. Arsenic trioxide was embryolethal and teratogenic in rats when administered on gestation day 9 at a dose approximately 10 times the recommended human daily dose on a mg/m² basis (see Data). A related trivalent arsenic, sodium arsenite, produced teratogenicity when administered during gestation in mice at a dose approximately 5 times the projected human dose on a mg/m² basis and in hamsters at an intravenous dose approximately equivalent to the projected human daily dose on a mg/m² basis. There are no studies with the use of Arsenic Trioxide Injection in pregnant women, and limited published data on arsenic trioxide use during pregnancy are insufficient to inform a drug-associated risk of major birth defects and miscarriage. Advise pregnant women of the potential risk 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% to 4% and 15% to 20%, respectively.

Data

Human Data

One patient was reported to deliver a live infant with no reported congenital anomalies after receiving arsenic trioxide during the first five months of pregnancy. A second patient became pregnant three months after discontinuing arsenic trioxide and was reported to have a normal pregnancy outcome. A third patient was a pregnant healthcare provider who experienced dermal contact with liquid arsenic trioxide and had a normal pregnancy outcome after treatment and monitoring. A fourth patient who became pregnant while receiving arsenic trioxide had a miscarriage.

Animal Data

Studies in pregnant mice, rats, hamsters, and primates have shown that inorganic arsenicals cross the placental barrier when given orally or by injection. An increase in resorptions, neural-tube defects, anophthalmia and microphthalmia were observed in rats administered 10 mg/kg of arsenic trioxide on gestation day 9 (approximately 10 times the recommended human daily dose on a mg/m² basis). Similar findings occurred in mice administered a 10 mg/kg dose of a related trivalent arsenic, sodium arsenite (approximately 5 times the projected human dose on a mg/m² basis), on gestation days 6, 7, 8, or 9. Intravenous injection of 2 mg/kg sodium arsenite (approximately equivalent to the projected human daily dose on a mg/m² basis) on gestation day 7 (the lowest dose tested) resulted in neural-tube defects in hamsters.

8.2 Lactation

Risk Summary

Arsenic trioxide is excreted in human milk. There are no data on the effects of arsenic trioxide on the breastfed child or on milk production. Because of the potential for serious adverse reactions in a breastfed child, advise women not to breastfeed during treatment with Arsenic Trioxide Injection and for 2 weeks after the final dose.

8.3 Females and Males of Reproductive Potential

Arsenic Trioxide Injection can cause fetal harm when administered to a pregnant woman [see Use in Specific Populations (8.1)].

Pregnancy Testing

Conduct pregnancy testing in females of reproductive potential prior to initiation of Arsenic Trioxide Injection.

Contraception

Females

Advise females of reproductive potential to use effective contraception during treatment with Arsenic Trioxide Injection and for 6 months after the final dose.

Males

Advise males with female partners of reproductive potential to use effective contraception during treatment with Arsenic Trioxide Injection and for 3 months after the final dose.

Infertility

Males

Based on testicular toxicities including decreased testicular weight and impaired spermatogenesis observed in animal studies, Arsenic Trioxide Injection may impair fertility in males of reproductive potential [see Nonclinical Toxicology (13.1)].

8.4 Pediatric Use

The safety and efficacy of Arsenic Trioxide Injection as a single agent for treatment of pediatric patients with relapsed or refractory APL is supported by the pivotal phase 2 study in 40 patients with relapsed or refractory APL. Five patients below the age of 18 years (age range: 5 to 16 years) were treated with Arsenic Trioxide Injection at the recommended dose of 0.15 mg/kg/day. A literature review included an additional 17 patients treated with arsenic trioxide for relapsed or refractory APL, with ages ranging from 4 to 21 years. No differences in efficacy and safety were observed by age.

8.5 Geriatric Use

Use of Arsenic Trioxide Injection as monotherapy in patients with relapsed or refractory APL is supported by the open-label, single-arm trial that included 6 patients aged 65 and older (range: 65 to 73 years). A literature review included an additional 4 patients aged 69 to 72 years who were treated with arsenic trioxide for relapsed or refractory APL. No overall differences in safety or effectiveness were observed between these patients and younger patients.

8.6 Renal Impairment

Exposure of arsenic trioxide may be higher in patients with severe renal impairment [see Clinical Pharmacology (12.3)]. Monitor patients with severe renal impairment (creatinine clearance [CLcr] less than 30 mL/min) frequently for toxicity; a dose reduction may be warranted.

The use of Arsenic Trioxide Injection in patients on dialysis has not been studied.

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