Imlygic

Administer IMLYGIC by injection into cutaneous, subcutaneous, and/or nodal lesions that are visible, palpable, or detectable by ultrasound guidance.

IMLYGIC is provided in single-dose vials of 1 mL each in two different dose strengths:

• 10⁶ (1 million) plaque-forming units (PFU) per mL (light green cap) – for initial dose only
  
• 10⁸ (100 million) PFU per mL (royal blue cap) – for all subsequent doses

Recommended Dose and Schedule

The total injection volume for each treatment visit should not exceed 4 mL for all injected lesions combined. It may not be possible to inject all lesions at each treatment visit or over the full course of treatment. Previously injected and/or uninjected lesion(s) may be injected at subsequent treatment visits. The initial recommended dose is up to 4 mL of IMLYGIC at a concentration of 10⁶  (1 million) PFU per mL. The recommended dose for subsequent administrations is up to 4 mL of IMLYGIC at a concentration of 10⁸ (100 million) PFU per mL. The recommended dosing schedule for IMLYGIC is shown in Table 1.

Dose Volume Determination (per Lesion)

Use Table 2 to determine the volume of IMLYGIC injection for each lesion.

When lesions are clustered together, inject them as a single lesion according to Table 2.

Continue IMLYGIC treatment for at least 6 months unless other treatment is required or until there are no injectable lesions to treat.

Reinitiate IMLYGIC treatment if new unresectable cutaneous, subcutaneous, or nodal lesions appear after a complete response.

Healthcare providers who are immunocompromised or pregnant should not prepare or administer IMLYGIC and should not come into direct contact with the IMLYGIC injection sites, dressings, or body fluids of treated patients [see Warnings and Precautions ( 5.1 )].

Avoid accidental exposure to IMLYGIC and follow below instructions for preparation, administration, and handling of IMLYGIC:

• Wear personal protective equipment (protective gown or laboratory coat, safety glasses or face shield, and gloves) while preparing or administering IMLYGIC.
  
• Avoid accidental exposure to IMLYGIC, especially contact with skin, eyes, and mucous membranes.
  ○ Cover any exposed wounds before handling.
  ○ In the event of an accidental occupational exposure (e.g., through a splash to the eyes or mucous membranes), flush with clean water for at least 15 minutes.
  ○ In the event of exposure to broken skin or needle stick, clean the affected area thoroughly with soap and water and/or a disinfectant.
  
• Clean all surfaces that may have come in contact with IMLYGIC and treat all IMLYGIC spills with a virucidal agent such as 1% sodium hypochlorite or 70% isopropyl alcohol and blot using absorbent materials.
  
• Dispose of all materials that may have come in contact with IMLYGIC (e.g., vial, syringe, needle, cotton gauze, gloves, masks, or dressings) as biohazardous waste.
  
• Advise patients to place used dressings and cleaning materials into a sealed plastic bag and dispose in household waste.

Thawing IMLYGIC Vials

• 1.Determine the total volume required for injection, up to 4 mL [see Dosage and Administration (2.1)].
• 2. Thaw frozen IMLYGIC vials at room temperature [20°C to 25°C (68°F to 77°F)] until IMLYGIC is liquid. The time to achieve complete vial thaw is expected to be 30 to 70 minutes, depending on the ambient temperature. Do not expose the vial to higher temperatures. Keep the vial in original carton during thawing.
• 3.Swirl gently. Do NOT shake.
• 4.After thawing, administer IMLYGIC immediately or store in its original vial and carton, as follows:
  • Thawed IMLYGIC is stable when stored at temperatures of 2°C (36°F) up to 25°C (77°F) protected from light in its original vial and carton for the storage times specified in Table 3. Do not exceed the storage times specified in Table 3.
  • IMLYGIC must not be refrozen once it is thawed. Discard any thawed IMLYGIC in the vial stored longer than the specified times in Table 3.

• 5.Prepare sterile syringes and needles. A detachable 18-26 G needle or nondetachable 22-26 G staked needle (which minimizes hold up volume) may be used for IMLYGIC withdrawal and a detachable or nondetachable staked needle of 22–26 G may be used for injection. Small unit syringes (e.g., 0.5 mL insulin syringes) are recommended for better injection control.
• 6.Using aseptic technique, remove the vial cap and withdraw the product from the vial into the syringe(s), noting the total volume. Avoid generating aerosols when loading syringes with product and use a biologic safety cabinet if available.

Follow the steps below to administer IMLYGIC to patients:

IMLYGIC is a live, attenuated herpes simplex virus and may cause life-threatening disseminated herpetic infection in patients who are immunocompromised. Do not administer IMLYGIC to immunocompromised patients, including those with a history of primary or acquired immunodeficient states, leukemia, lymphoma, AIDS or other clinical manifestations of infection with human immunodeficiency viruses, and those on immunosuppressive therapy [see Nonclinical Toxicology ( 13.2 )].

Do not administer IMLYGIC to pregnant patients.

Accidental exposure may lead to transmission of IMLYGIC and herpetic infection. Accidental needle stick and splashback to the eyes have been reported in healthcare providers during preparation and administration of IMLYGIC.  

Healthcare providers, close contacts (household members, caregivers, sex partners, or persons sharing the same bed), pregnant women, and newborns should avoid direct contact with injected lesions, dressings, or body fluids of treated patients [ see Dosage and Administration ( 2.2 )]. Healthcare providers who are immunocompromised or pregnant should not prepare or administer IMLYGIC.

Caregivers should wear protective gloves when assisting patients in applying or changing occlusive dressings and observe safety precautions for disposal of used dressings, gloves, and cleaning materials [ see Dosage and Administration ( 2.2 ) ].

In the event of an accidental exposure to IMLYGIC, exposed individuals should clean the affected area thoroughly with soap and water and/or a disinfectant. If signs or symptoms of herpetic infection develop, the exposed individuals should contact their healthcare provider for appropriate treatment [ see Warnings and Precautions ( 5.2 )].

Patients should avoid touching or scratching injection sites or their occlusive dressings, as doing so could lead to inadvertent transfer of IMLYGIC to other areas of the body.

Herpetic infections (including but not limited to cold sores and herpetic keratitis) and serious cases of disseminated herpetic infections have been reported in patients treated with IMLYGIC, including fatal disseminated herpetic infection in the immunocompromised patient population [see Clinical Trials Experience (6.1) and Postmarketing Experience (6.2)]. Immunocompromised patients may be at increased risk of life-threatening disseminated herpetic infection [see Contraindications (4.1)].

Patients who develop suspicious herpes-like lesions should follow standard hygienic practices to prevent viral transmission. Patients or close contacts with suspected herpetic infections should also contact their healthcare provider to evaluate the lesions. Suspected herpetic lesions should be reported to Amgen at 1-855-IMLYGIC (1-855-465-9442); patients or close contacts have the option of follow-up testing for further characterization of the infection.

IMLYGIC is sensitive to acyclovir. Acyclovir or other antiviral agents may interfere with the effectiveness of IMLYGIC. Therefore, consider the risks and benefits of IMLYGIC treatment before administering antiviral agents to manage herpetic infection.

Necrosis or ulceration of tumor tissue may occur during IMLYGIC treatment. Cellulitis and systemic bacterial infection have been reported in clinical studies. Careful wound care and infection precautions are recommended, particularly if tissue necrosis results in open wounds.

In clinical studies, impaired healing at the injection site has been reported. IMLYGIC may increase the risk of impaired healing in patients with underlying risk factors (e.g., previous radiation at the injection site or lesions in poorly vascularized areas). One patient had an amputation of a lower extremity 6 months after IMLYGIC injection due to an infected non-healing wound. This wound area had been treated with surgery and radiation prior to IMLYGIC treatment and had previous wound complications.

If there is persistent infection or delayed healing of the injection site(s), consider the risks and benefits of IMLYGIC before continuing treatment with IMLYGIC.

IMLYGIC may result in immune-mediated events. In clinical studies, immune-mediated events, including glomerulonephritis, vasculitis, pneumonitis, worsening psoriasis, and vitiligo have been reported in patients treated with IMLYGIC.

Consider the risks and benefits of IMLYGIC before initiating treatment in patients who have underlying autoimmune disease or before continuing treatment in patients who develop immune-mediated events.

In a clinical study, a plasmacytoma has been reported in proximity to the injection site after administration of IMLYGIC in a patient with smoldering multiple myeloma.

Consider the risks and benefits of IMLYGIC in patients with multiple myeloma or in whom plasmacytoma develops during treatment.

Obstructive airway disorder has been reported following IMLYGIC treatment. Use caution when injecting lesions close to major airways.

IMLYGIC is not indicated for transcutaneous intrahepatic route of administration. In clinical studies, cases of hepatic hemorrhage resulting in hospitalization and death have been reported in patients receiving transcutaneous intrahepatic IMLYGIC injections.

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.

The safety of IMLYGIC was evaluated in 419 patients who received at least 1 dose of either IMLYGIC (n = 292) or subcutaneously administered granulocyte-macrophage colony-stimulating factor (GM-CSF) (n = 127) in an open-label, randomized clinical study of patients with stage IIIB, IIIC, and IV melanoma that was not considered to be surgically resectable [see Clinical Studies ( 14 )]. The median duration of exposure to IMLYGIC was 23 weeks (5.3 months). Twenty-six patients were exposed to IMLYGIC for at least 1 year.

Most adverse reactions reported were mild or moderate in severity and generally resolved within 72 hours. The most common grade 3 or higher adverse reaction was cellulitis [see Warnings and Precautions ( 5.3 )].

Pyrexia, chills, and influenza-like illness can occur any time during IMLYGIC treatment but were more frequent during the first 3 months of treatment. 

Table 4 below lists adverse reactions with a 5% or greater incidence in the IMLYGIC arm compared to the GM-CSF arm in the clinical study [see Clinical Studies ( 14 )].

Other adverse reactions associated with IMLYGIC in the open-label, randomized study include rash, dermatitis, glomerulonephritis, vitiligo, worsening psoriasis, cellulitis, pneumonitis, vasculitis, herpetic keratitis, obstructive airway disorder, plasmacytoma at the injection site, deep vein thrombosis, and oral herpes.

The following adverse reactions have been identified during postapproval use of IMLYGIC. 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.

• Herpetic infections including disseminated herpetic infections [see Warnings and Precautions (5.2)]. Serious including fatal disseminated herpetic infections in immunocompromised patient population [see Contraindications (4.1) and Warnings and Precautions (5.2)].

Risk Summary

Adequate and well-controlled studies with IMLYGIC have not been conducted in pregnant women. No effects on embryo-fetal development have been observed in a study conducted in pregnant mice. The design of the study limits application of the animal data to humans [see Data].

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.

Clinical Considerations

If the patient becomes pregnant while taking IMLYGIC, the patient should be apprised of the potential hazards to the fetus and neonate. Women of childbearing potential should be advised to use an effective method of contraception to prevent pregnancy during treatment with IMLYGIC.

If a pregnant woman has an infection with wild-type Herpes Simplex Virus Type 1 (HSV-1) (primary or reactivation), there is potential for the virus to cross the placental barrier and also a risk of transmission during birth due to viral shedding. Infections with wild-type HSV-1 have been associated with serious adverse effects, including multi-organ failure and death, if a fetus or neonate contracts the wild-type herpes infection. While there are no clinical data to date on IMLYGIC infections in pregnant women, there could be a risk to the fetus or neonate if IMLYGIC were to act in the same manner.

Data

Animal Data

No effects on embryo-fetal development were observed when IMLYGIC was intravenously administered during organogenesis to immunocompetent pregnant mice at doses up to 4 x 10⁸ (400 million) PFU per kg (60-fold higher, on a PFU per kg basis, compared to the maximum clinical dose). Levels of IMLYGIC DNA in pooled fetal blood were at or below the assay detection level. Study design limitations included: 1) administration of IMLYGIC expressing human granulocyte-macrophage colony-stimulating factor (huGM-CSF), which is not biologically active in mice; 2) unknown transplacental kinetics of IMLYGIC following intravenous administration in pregnant mice; and 3) unknown significance of IMLYGIC dose extrapolation from animal to human based on body weight.

Risk Summary

There is no information regarding the presence of IMLYGIC in human milk, the effects on the breastfed infant, or the effects on milk production. The developmental and health benefits of breastfeeding should be considered along with the mother's clinical need for IMLYGIC and any potential adverse effects on the breastfed infant from IMLYGIC or from the underlying maternal condition.

Clinical Considerations

Because medicinal products can be found in human milk, a decision should be made whether to discontinue nursing or to discontinue IMLYGIC while nursing.

No nonclinical or clinical studies were performed to evaluate the effect of IMLYGIC on fertility.

Safety and effectiveness of IMLYGIC have not been established in pediatric patients.

In clinical studies, no overall differences in safety or efficacy were observed between geriatric patients (≥ 65 years old) and younger patients.

No clinical studies have been conducted to evaluate the effect of renal impairment on the pharmacokinetics of IMLYGIC.

No clinical studies have been conducted to evaluate the effect of hepatic impairment on the pharmacokinetics of IMLYGIC.

IMLYGIC has been genetically modified to replicate within tumors and to produce the immune stimulatory protein GM-CSF. IMLYGIC causes lysis of tumors, followed by release of tumor-derived antigens, which together with virally derived GM-CSF may promote an antitumor immune response. However, the exact mechanism of action is unknown.

Biodistribution (within the body) and Viral Shedding (excretion/secretion)

IMLYGIC viral DNA levels in various tissues and secretions were determined using a quantitative polymerase chain reaction (qPCR) assay. Infectious IMLYGIC at the injection sites and at some potential herpetic lesions was also quantified using viral infectivity assays.

Nonclinical data

Following repeat intratumoral administration in mice, IMLYGIC DNA was primarily detected in the tumor, blood, spleen, lymph node, liver, heart, and kidney. IMLYGIC DNA was not detected in bone marrow, eyes, lachrymal glands, nasal mucosa, or feces. The highest level of IMLYGIC DNA was found in the injected tumor. IMLYGIC DNA was found in the injected tumor through 84 days and in blood samples through 14 days after the last administration of IMLYGIC.

Clinical data

The biodistribution and shedding of intralesionally administered IMLYGIC were investigated in a clinical study that measured IMLYGIC DNA in blood, urine, injection site, occlusive dressings, oral mucosa, anogenital area, and suspected herpetic lesions. Occlusive dressings samples were collected during treatment. Blood and urine samples were collected during treatment and for up to 30 days after the end of treatment. Injection site, oral mucosa, and anogenital area samples were collected during treatment and for up to 60 days after the end of treatment. Suspected herpetic lesion samples were collected any time a patient experienced lesions of suspected herpetic origin. If the qPCR testing for IMLYGIC DNA was positive, then a TCID₅₀ assay was performed to measure viral infectivity. In the 60 patients with melanoma who received IMLYGIC intralesional injection at a dose and schedule same as the clinical study [see Clinical Studies ( 14 )], data indicate that IMLYGIC DNA was present in all sites during the study (see Table 5).

The proportion of samples and subjects with IMLYGIC DNA was highest during cycle 2 of treatment for the blood, urine, injection site, and occlusive dressings; highest in cycle 1 of treatment for the oral mucosa; and highest in cycles 1 and 2 for the anogenital area. Among patients with detectable IMLYGIC DNA in the blood, urine, oral mucosa and anogenital area, no samples had detectable IMLYGIC DNA 30 days after the end of treatment. For patients with detectable DNA in injected lesions, no samples had detectable IMLYGIC DNA 60 days after the end of treatment.

Overall 3 of 19 patients with lesions of suspected herpetic origin had IMLYGIC DNA present at any time during the study. Of the three subjects who had lesions of suspected herpetic origin that had IMLYGIC DNA detected during the study, none of the suspected lesions were injected with IMLYGIC. None of the subjects with the lesions of the suspected herpetic origin with IMLYGIC DNA had disseminated lesions or received antiviral therapy and these events were non-serious, lasting from 16 days to 4 months. The data suggest that IMLYGIC may cause herpetic lesions in treated patients.

In addition to the presence of IMLYGIC DNA, viral activity was measured in samples that were positive for IMLYGIC DNA from the injection site, occlusive dressings, oral mucosa, anogenital area, and suspected herpetic lesions. No viral activity was detected in samples of the occlusive dressings, oral mucosa, anogenital area, and suspected herpetic lesions. Infectious IMLYGIC virus was detected at the site of injection in 7 (11%) patients at multiple time points in the study; no samples were positive for viral infectivity after cycle 2 or after the end of treatment.

Repeated intratumoral administration at 2 x 10⁸ (200 million) PFU per kg (30-fold maximum proposed clinical dose, extrapolated based on body weight) did not demonstrate any adverse effects in immunocompetent mice. Severe combined immunodeficient (SCID) mice administered repeat intratumoral injections of IMLYGIC at a dose of 30-fold maximum proposed clinical dose developed systemic viral infection (viral inclusion bodies or necrosis in enteric neurons in the gastrointestinal tract, adrenal gland, skin, pancreatic islet cells, eye, pineal gland, and brain).