ZOLEDRONIC ACID (Page 3 of 8)

6 ADVERSE REACTIONS

6.1 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 practice.

Hypercalcemia of Malignancy

The safety of Zoledronic acid Injection was studied in 185 patients with hypercalcemia of malignancy (HCM) who received either Zoledronic acid Injection 4 mg given as a 5-minute intravenous infusion (n=86) or pamidronate 90 mg given as a 2-hour intravenous infusion (n=103). The population was aged 33-84 years, 60% male and 81% Caucasian, with breast, lung, head and neck, and renal cancer as the most common forms of malignancy. NOTE: pamidronate 90 mg was given as a 2-hour intravenous infusion. The relative safety of pamidronate 90 mg given as a 2-hour intravenous infusion compared to the same dose given as a 24-hour intravenous infusion has not been adequately studied in controlled clinical trials.

Renal Toxicity

Administration of Zoledronic acid Injection 4 mg given as a 5-minute intravenous infusion has been shown to result in an increased risk of renal toxicity, as measured by increases in serum creatinine, which can progress to renal failure. The incidence of renal toxicity and renal failure has been shown to be reduced when Zoledronic acid Injection 4 mg is given as a 15-minute intravenous infusion. Zoledronic acid Injection should be administered by intravenous infusion over no less than 15 minutes [ see Warnings and Precautions (5.3) Dosage and Administration (2.4)].

The most frequently observed adverse events were fever, nausea, constipation, anemia, and dyspnea (see Table 3).

Table 3 provides adverse events that were reported by 10% or more of the 189 patients treated with Zoledronic acid Injection 4 mg or pamidronate 90 mg from the two HCM trials. Adverse events are listed regardless of presumed causality to study drug.

Table 3: Percentage of Patients with Adverse Events greater than or equal to 10% Reported in Hypercalcemia of Malignancy Clinical Trials by Body System
Zoledronic acid Injection Pamidronate
4 mg 90 mg
n (%) n (%)
Patients Studied
Total No. of Patients Studied 86 (100) 103 (100)
Total No. of Patients with any AE 81 (94) 95 (92)
Body as a Whole
Fever 38 (44) 34 (33)
Progression of Cancer 14 (16) 21 (20)
Cardiovascular
Hypotension 9 (11) 2 (2)
Digestive
Nausea 25 (29) 28 (27)
Constipation 23 (27) 13 (13)
Diarrhea 15 (17) 17 (17)
Abdominal Pain 14 (16) 13 (13)
Vomiting 12 (14) 17 (17)
Anorexia 8 (9) 14 (14)
Hemic and Lymphatic System
Anemia 19 (22) 18 (18)
Infections
Moniliasis 10 (12) 4 (4)
Laboratory Abnormalities
Hypophosphatemia 11 (13) 2 (2)
Hypokalemia 10 (12) 16 (16)
Hypomagnesemia 9 (11) 5 (5)
Musculoskeletal
Skeletal Pain 10 (12) 10 (10)
Nervous
Insomnia 13 (15) 10 (10)
Anxiety 12 (14) 8 (8)
Confusion 11 (13) 13 (13)
Agitation 11 (13) 8 (8)
Respiratory
Dyspnea 19 (22) 20 (19)
Coughing 10 (12) 12 (12)
Urogenital
Urinary Tract Infection 12 (14) 15 (15)

The following adverse events from the two controlled multicenter HCM trials (n=189) were reported by a greater percentage of patients treated with Zoledronic acid Injection 4 mg than with pamidronate 90 mg and occurred with a frequency of greater than or equal to 5% but less than 10%. Adverse events are listed regardless of presumed causality to study drug: asthenia, chest pain, leg edema, mucositis, dysphagia, granulocytopenia, thrombocytopenia, pancytopenia, nonspecific infection, hypocalcemia, dehydration, arthralgias, headache and somnolence.

Rare cases of rash, pruritus, and chest pain have been reported following treatment with Zoledronic acid Injection.

Acute Phase Reaction

Within three days after Zoledronic acid Injection administration, an acute phase reaction has been reported in patients, with symptoms including pyrexia, fatigue, bone pain and/or arthralgias, myalgias, chills, and influenza-like illness. These symptoms usually resolve within a few days. Pyrexia has been the most commonly associated symptom, occurring in 44% of patients.

Mineral and Electrolyte Abnormalities

Electrolyte abnormalities, most commonly hypocalcemia, hypophosphatemia and hypomagnesemia, can occur with bisphosphonate use.

Grade 3 and Grade 4 laboratory abnormalities for serum creatinine, serum calcium, serum phosphorus, and serum magnesium observed in two clinical trials of Zoledronic acid Injection in patients with HCM are shown in Table 4 and 5.

Table 4: Grade 3 Laboratory Abnormalities for Serum Creatinine, Serum Calcium, Serum Phosphorus, and Serum Magnesium in Two Clinical Trials in Patients with HCM
Grade 3
Laboratory Parameter Zoledronic acid Injection Pamidronate
4 mg 90 mg
n/N (%) n/N (%)
Serum Creatinine 1 2/86 (2%) 3/100 (3%)
Hypocalcemia 2 1/86 (1%) 2/100 (2%)
Hypophosphatemia 3 36/70 (51%) 27/81 (33%)
Hypomagnesemia 4 0/71 0/84
Table 5: Grade 4 Laboratory Abnormalities for Serum Creatinine, Serum Calcium, Serum Phosphorus, and Serum Magnesium in Two Clinical Trials in Patients with HCM
Grade 4
Laboratory Parameter Zoledronic acid Injection Pamidronate
4 mg 90 mg
n/N (%) n/N (%)
Serum Creatinine 1 0/86 1/100 (1%)
Hypocalcemia 2 0/86 0/100
Hypophosphatemia 3 1/70 (1%) 4/81 (5%)
Hypomagnesemia 4 0/71 1/84 (1%)

Injection Site Reactions

Local reactions at the infusion site, such as redness or swelling, were observed infrequently. In most cases, no specific treatment is required and the symptoms subside after 24-48 hours.

Ocular Adverse Events

Ocular inflammation such as uveitis and scleritis can occur with bisphosphonate use, including Zoledronic acid Injection. No cases of iritis, scleritis or uveitis were reported during these clinical trials. However, cases have been seen in postmarketing use [see Adverse Reaction (6.2)].

Multiple Myeloma and Bone Metastases of Solid Tumors

The safety analysis includes patients treated in the core and extension phases of the trials. The analysis includes the 2042 patients treated with Zoledronic acid Injection 4 mg, pamidronate 90 mg, or placebo in the three controlled multicenter bone metastases trials, including 969 patients completing the efficacy phase of the trial, and 619 patients that continued in the safety extension phase. Only 347 patients completed the extension phases and were followed for 2 years (or 21 months for the other solid tumor patients). The median duration of exposure for safety analysis for Zoledronic acid Injection 4 mg (core plus extension phases) was 12.8 months for breast cancer and multiple myeloma, 10.8 months for prostate cancer, and 4.0 months for other solid tumors.

Table 6 describes adverse events that were reported by 10% or more of patients. Adverse events are listed regardless of presumed causality to study drug.

Table 6: Percentage of Patients with Adverse Events greater than or equal to 10% Reported in Three Bone Metastases Clinical Trials by Body System
Zoledronic acid Injection Pamidronate Placebo
4 mg 90 mg
n (%) n (%) n (%)
Patients Studied
Total No. of Patients 1031 (100) 556 (100) 455 (100)
Total No. of Patients with any AE 1015 (98) 548 (99) 445 (98)
Blood and Lymphatic
Anemia 344 (33) 175 (32) 128 (28)
Neutropenia 124 (12) 83 (15) 35 (8)
Thrombocytopenia 102 (10) 53 (10) 20 (4)
Gastrointestinal
Nausea 476 (46) 266 (48) 171 (38)
Vomiting 333 (32) 183 (33) 122 (27)
Constipation 320 (31) 162 (29) 174 (38)
Diarrhea 249 (24) 162 (29) 83 (18)
Abdominal Pain 143 (14) 81 (15) 48 (11)
Dyspepsia 105 (10) 74 (13) 31 (7)
Stomatitis 86 (8) 65 (12) 14 (3)
Sore Throat 82 (8) 61 (11) 17 (4)
General Disorders and Administration Site
Fatigue 398 (39) 240 (43) 130 (29)
Pyrexia 328 (32) 172 (31) 89 (20)
Weakness 252 (24) 108 (19) 114 (25)
Edema Lower Limb 215 (21) 126 (23) 84 (19)
Rigors 112 (11) 62 (11) 28 (6)
Infections
Urinary Tract Infection 124 (12) 50 (9) 41 (9)
Upper Respiratory Tract Infection 101 (10) 82 (15) 30 (7)
Metabolism
Anorexia 231 (22) 81 (15) 105 (23)
Weight Decreased 164 (16) 50 (9) 61 (13)
Dehydration 145 (14) 60 (11) 59 (13)
Appetite Decreased 130 (13) 48 (9) 45 (10)
Musculoskeletal
Bone Pain 569 (55) 316 (57) 284 (62)
Myalgia 239 (23) 143 (26) 74 (16)
Arthralgia 216 (21) 131 (24) 73 (16)
Back Pain 156 (15) 106 (19) 40 (9)
Pain in Limb 143 (14) 84 (15) 52 (11)
Neoplasms
Malignant Neoplasm Aggravated 205 (20) 97 (17) 89 (20)
Nervous
Headache 191 (19) 149 (27) 50 (11)
Dizziness (excluding vertigo) 180 (18) 91 (16) 58 (13)
Insomnia 166 (16) 111 (20) 73 (16)
Paresthesia 149 (15) 85 (15) 35 (8)
Hypoesthesia 127 (12) 65 (12) 43 (10)
Psychiatric
Depression 146 (14) 95 (17) 49 (11)
Anxiety 112 (11) 73 (13) 37 (8)
Confusion 74 (7) 39 (7) 47 (10)
Respiratory
Dyspnea 282 (27) 155 (28) 107 (24)
Cough 224 (22) 129 (23) 65 (14)
Skin
Alopecia 125 (12) 80 (14) 36 (8)
Dermatitis 114 (11) 74 (13) 38 (8)

Grade 3 and Grade 4 laboratory abnormalities for serum creatinine, serum calcium, serum phosphorus, and serum magnesium observed in three clinical trials of Zoledronic acid Injection in patients with bone metastases are shown in Tables 7 and 8.

Table 7: Grade 3 Laboratory Abnormalities for Serum Creatinine, Serum Calcium, Serum Phosphorus, and Serum Magnesium in Three Clinical Trials in Patients with Bone Metastases

Laboratory Parameter

Grade 3

Zoledronic acid Injection

Pamidronate

Placebo

4 mg

90 mg

n/N

(%)

n/N

(%)

n/N

(%)

Serum Creatinine 1*

7/529

(1%)

4/268

(2%)

4/241

(2%)

Hypocalcemia 2

6/973

(<1%)

4/536

(<1%)

0/415

Hypophosphatemia 3

115/973

(12%)

38/537

(7%)

14/415

(3%)

Hypermagnesemia 4

19/971

(2%)

2/535

(<1%)

8/415

(2%)

Hypomagnesemia 5

1/971

(<1%)

0/535

1/415

(<1%)

1 Grade 3 (greater than 3x Upper Limit of Normal); Grade 4 (greater than 6x Upper Limit of Normal) * Serum creatinine data for all patients randomized after the 15-minute infusion amendment 2 Grade 3 (less than 7 mg/dL); Grade 4 (less than 6 mg/dL) 3 Grade 3 (less than 2 mg/dL); Grade 4 (less than 1 mg/dL) 4 Grade 3 (greater than 3 mEq/L); Grade 4 (greater than 8 mEq/L) 5 Grade 3 (less than 0.9 mEq/L); Grade 4 (less than 0.7 mEq/L)

Table 8: Grade 4 Laboratory Abnormalities for Serum Creatinine, Serum Calcium, Serum Phosphorus, and Serum Magnesium in Three Clinical Trials in Patients with Bone Metastases

Laboratory Parameter

Grade 4

Zoledronic acid Injection

Pamidronate

Placebo

4 mg

90 mg

n/N

(%)

n/N

(%)

n/N

(%)

Serum Creatinine 1*

2/529

(<1%)

1/268

(<1%)

0/241

Hypocalcemia 2

7/973

(<1%)

3/536

(<1%)

2/415

(<1%)

Hypophosphatemia 3

5/973

(<1%)

0/537

1/415

(<1%)

Hypermagnesemia 4

0/971

0/535

2/415

(<1%)

Hypomagnesemia 5

2/971

(<1%)

1/535

(<1%)

0/415

1 Grade 3 (greater than 3x Upper Limit of Normal); Grade 4 (greater than 6x Upper Limit of Normal) * Serum creatinine data for all patients randomized after the 15-minute infusion amendment 2 Grade 3 (less than 7 mg/dL); Grade 4 (less than 6 mg/dL) 3 Grade 3 (less than 2 mg/dL); Grade 4 (less than 1 mg/dL) 4 Grade 3 (greater than 3 mEq/L); Grade 4 (greater than 8 mEq/L) 5 Grade 3 (less than 0.9 mEq/L); Grade 4 (less than 0.7 mEq/L)

Among the less frequently occurring adverse events (less than 15% of patients), rigors, hypokalemia, influenza-like illness, and hypocalcemia showed a trend for more events with bisphosphonate administration (Zoledronic acid Injection 4 mg and pamidronate groups) compared to the placebo group.

Less common adverse events reported more often with Zoledronic acid Injection 4 mg than pamidronate included decreased weight, which was reported in 16% of patients in the Zoledronic acid Injection 4 mg group compared with 9% in the pamidronate group. Decreased appetite was reported in slightly more patients in the Zoledronic acid Injection 4 mg group (13%) compared with the pamidronate (9%) and placebo (10%) groups, but the clinical significance of these small differences is not clear.

Renal Toxicity

In the bone metastases trials, renal deterioration was defined as an increase of 0.5 mg/dL for patients with normal baseline creatinine (less than 1.4 mg/dL) or an increase of 1.0 mg/dL for patients with an abnormal baseline creatinine (greater than or equal to 1.4 mg/dL). The following are data on the incidence of renal deterioration in patients receiving Zoledronic acid Injection 4 mg over 15 minutes in these trials (see Table 9).

Table 9: Percentage of Patients with Treatment Emergent Renal Function Deterioration by Baseline Serum Creatinine *
Patient Population/Baseline Creatinine
*
Table includes only patients who were randomized to the trial after a protocol amendment that lengthened the infusion duration of Zoledronic acid Injection to 15 minutes.
Multiple Myeloma and Breast Cancer Zoledronic acid Injection 4 mg Pamidronate 90 mg
n/N (%) n/N (%)
Normal 27/246 (11%) 23/246 (9%)
Abnormal 2/26 (8%) 2/22 (9%)
Total 29/272 (11%) 25/268 (9%)
Solid Tumors Zoledronic acid Injection 4 mg Placebo
n/N (%) n/N (%)
Normal 17/154 (11%) 10/143 (7%)
Abnormal 1/11 (9%) 1/20 (5%)
Total 18/165 (11%) 11/163 (7%)
Prostate Cancer Zoledronic acid Injection 4 mg Placebo
n/N (%) n/N (%)
Normal 12/82 (15%) 8/68 (12%)
Abnormal 4/10 (40%) 2/10 (20%)
Total 16/92 (17%) 10/78 (13%)

The risk of deterioration in renal function appeared to be related to time on study, whether patients were receiving Zoledronic acid Injection (4 mg over 15 minutes), placebo, or pamidronate.

In the trials and in postmarketing experience, renal deterioration, progression to renal failure, and dialysis have occurred in patients with normal and abnormal baseline renal function, including patients treated with 4 mg infused over a 15-minute period. There have been instances of this occurring after the initial Zoledronic acid Injection dose.

All MedLibrary.org resources are included in as near-original form as possible, meaning that the information from the original provider has been rendered here with only typographical or stylistic modifications and not with any substantive alterations of content, meaning or intent.

This site is provided for educational and informational purposes only, in accordance with our Terms of Use, and is not intended as a substitute for the advice of a medical doctor, nurse, nurse practitioner or other qualified health professional.

Privacy Policy | Copyright © 2024. All Rights Reserved.