Nexavar

NEXAVAR^® is indicated for the treatment of patients with unresectable hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC).

NEXAVAR is indicated for the treatment of patients with advanced renal cell carcinoma (RCC).

NEXAVAR is indicated for the treatment of patients with locally recurrent or metastatic, progressive, differentiated thyroid carcinoma (DTC) that is refractory to radioactive iodine treatment.

The recommended dosage of NEXAVAR is 400 mg orally twice daily without food (at least 1 hour before or 2 hours after a meal) until the patient is no longer clinically benefiting from therapy or until unacceptable toxicity.

In the SHARP (HCC) study, the incidence of cardiac ischemia/infarction was 2.7% in NEXAVAR-treated patients compared with 1.3% in those receiving placebo; in the TARGET (RCC) study, the incidence of cardiac ischemia/infarction was higher in the NEXAVAR-treated group (2.9%) compared with patients receiving placebo (0.4%), and in the DECISION (DTC) study, the incidence of cardiac ischemia/infarction was 1.9% in the NEXAVAR-treated group compared with 0% in patients receiving placebo. Patients with unstable coronary artery disease or recent myocardial infarction were excluded from this study. In multiple clinical trials, congestive heart failure has been reported in 1.9% of NEXAVAR-treated patients (N=2276) [see Adverse Reactions (6.2)].

Consider temporary or permanent discontinuation of NEXAVAR in patients who develop cardiovascular events [see Dosage and Administration (2.2)].

An increased risk of bleeding may occur following NEXAVAR administration. In the SHARP (HCC) study, the rates of bleeding from esophageal varices (2.4% and 4%) and of bleeding with a fatal outcome from any site (2.4% and 4%) were similar in NEXAVAR-treated patients and those receiving placebo, respectively . In the TARGET (RCC) study, bleeding was reported in 15.3% of patients in the NEXAVAR-treated group and 8.2% of patients receiving placebo. The incidence of Grade 3 and 4 bleeding was 2% and 0%, respectively, in NEXAVAR-treated patients, and 1.3% and 0.2%, respectively, in those receiving placebo. There was one fatal hemorrhage in each treatment group in the TARGET (RCC) study. In the DECISION (DTC) study, bleeding was reported in 17.4% of NEXAVAR-treated patients and 9.6% of those receiving placebo; however, the incidence of Grade 3 bleeding was similar (1% and 1.4%) in NEXAVAR-treated patients and in those receiving placebo.

If any bleeding necessitates medical intervention, consider permanent discontinuation of NEXAVAR [see Dosage and Administration (2.2)]. Due to the potential risk of bleeding, treat tracheal, bronchial, and esophageal infiltration with local therapy prior to administering NEXAVAR in patients with DTC.

In the SHARP (HCC) study, hypertension was reported in 9.4% of NEXAVAR-treated patients and 4.3% of patients receiving placebo. In the TARGET (RCC) study, hypertension was reported in 16.9% of NEXAVAR-treated patients and 1.8% of patients receiving placebo. In the DECISION (DTC) study, hypertension was reported in 40.6% of NEXAVAR-treated patients and 12.4% of patients receiving placebo. Hypertension was usually mild to moderate, occurred early in the course of treatment, and was managed with standard antihypertensive therapy. Permanent discontinuation due to hypertension occurred in 1 of 297 NEXAVAR-treated patients in the SHARP (HCC) study, 1 of 451 NEXAVAR-treated patients in the TARGET (RCC) study, and 1 of 207 NEXAVAR-treated patients in the DECISION (DTC) study.

Monitor blood pressure weekly during the first 6 weeks of NEXAVAR. Thereafter, monitor blood pressure and treat hypertension, if required, in accordance with standard medical practice. In cases of severe or persistent hypertension despite institution of antihypertensive therapy, consider temporary or permanent discontinuation of NEXAVAR [see Dosage and Administration (2.2)].

Hand-foot skin reaction and rash represent the most common adverse reactions attributed to NEXAVAR. Rash and hand-foot skin reaction are usually Grade 1 and 2 and generally appear during the first six weeks of treatment with NEXAVAR. Permanent discontinuation of therapy due to hand-foot skin reaction occurred in 4 (1.3%) of 297 NEXAVAR-treated patients with HCC, 3 (0.7%) of 451 NEXAVAR-treated patients with RCC, and 11 (5.3%) of 207 NEXAVAR-treated patients with DTC.

Management of dermatologic toxicities may include topical therapies for symptomatic relief, temporary treatment interruption and/or dose reduction of NEXAVAR, or in severe or persistent cases, permanent discontinuation of NEXAVAR [see Dosage and Administration (2.2)].

There have been reports of severe dermatologic toxicities, including Stevens-Johnson syndrome (SJS) and toxic epidermal necrolysis (TEN). These cases may be life-threatening. Discontinue NEXAVAR if SJS or TEN are suspected.

Gastrointestinal perforation has been reported in less than 1% of patients taking NEXAVAR. In some cases this was not associated with apparent intra-abdominal tumor. In the event of a gastrointestinal perforation, permanently discontinue NEXAVAR.

Infrequent bleeding or elevations in the International Normalized Ratio (INR) have been reported in some patients taking warfarin while on NEXAVAR. Monitor patients taking concomitant warfarin regularly for changes in prothrombin time (PT), INR or clinical bleeding episodes.

Impaired wound healing can occur in patients who receive drugs that inhibit the VEGF signaling pathway. Therefore, NEXAVAR has the potential to adversely affect wound healing.

Withhold NEXAVAR for at least 10 days prior to elective surgery. Do not administer for at least 2 weeks following major surgery and until adequate wound healing. The safety of resumption of NEXAVAR after resolution of wound healing complications has not been established.

In a subset analysis of two randomized controlled trials in chemo-naive patients with Stage IIIB-IV non-small cell lung cancer, patients with squamous cell carcinoma experienced higher mortality with the addition of NEXAVAR compared to those treated with carboplatin/paclitaxel alone (HR 1.81; 95% CI 1.19, 2.74) and gemcitabine/cisplatin alone (HR 1.22; 95% CI 0.82, 1.80). The use of NEXAVAR in combination with carboplatin/paclitaxel is contraindicated in patients with squamous cell lung cancer. NEXAVAR in combination with gemcitabine/cisplatin is not recommended in patients with squamous cell lung cancer. The safety and effectiveness of NEXAVAR has not been established in patients with non-small cell lung cancer.

NEXAVAR can prolong the QT/QTc interval. QT/QTc interval prolongation increases the risk for ventricular arrhythmias.

Avoid NEXAVAR in patients with congenital long QT syndrome. Monitor electrolytes and electrocardiograms in patients with congestive heart failure, bradyarrhythmias, drugs known to prolong the QT interval, including Class Ia and III antiarrhythmics. Correct electrolyte abnormalities (magnesium, potassium, calcium). Interrupt NEXAVAR if QTc interval is greater than 500 milliseconds or for an increase from baseline of 60 milliseconds or greater [see Clinical Pharmacology (12.2)].

Sorafenib-induced hepatitis is characterized by a hepatocellular pattern of liver damage with significant increases of transaminases which may result in hepatic failure and death. Increases in bilirubin and INR may also occur. The incidence of severe drug-induced liver injury, defined as elevated transaminase levels above 20 times the upper limit of normal or transaminase elevations with significant clinical sequelae (for example, elevated INR, ascites, fatal, or transplantation), was two of 3,357 patients (0.06%) in a global monotherapy database.

Monitor liver function tests regularly. In case of significantly increased transaminases without alternative explanation, such as viral hepatitis or progressing underlying malignancy, discontinue NEXAVAR [see Dosage and Administration (2.2)].

Based on its mechanism of action and findings in animals, NEXAVAR may cause fetal harm when administered to a pregnant woman. Sorafenib caused embryo-fetal toxicities in animals at maternal exposures that were significantly lower than the human exposures at the recommended dose of 400 mg twice daily. Advise pregnant women and females of reproductive potential of the potential risk to a fetus. Advise females of reproductive potential to use effective contraception during treatment and for 6 months following the last dose of NEXAVAR. Advise male patients with female partners of reproductive potential and pregnant partners to use effective contraception during treatment and for 3 months following the last dose of NEXAVAR [see Use in Specific Populations (8.1, 8.3)].

NEXAVAR impairs exogenous thyroid suppression. In the DECISION (DTC) study, 99% of patients had a baseline thyroid stimulating hormone (TSH) level less than 0.5 mU/L. Elevation of TSH level above 0.5 mU/L was observed in 41% of NEXAVAR-treated patients as compared with 16% of those receiving placebo patients. For patients with impaired TSH suppression while receiving NEXAVAR, the median maximal TSH was 1.6 mU/L and 25% had TSH levels greater than 4.4 mU/L.

Monitor TSH levels monthly and adjust thyroid replacement medication as needed in patients with DTC.

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 data described reflect exposure to NEXAVAR in 955 patients who participated in placebo-controlled studies in hepatocellular carcinoma (N=297), advanced renal cell carcinoma (N=451), or differentiated thyroid carcinoma (N = 207). The most common adverse reactions (≥20%), which were considered to be related to NEXAVAR, in patients with HCC, RCC or DTC are diarrhea, fatigue, infection, alopecia, hand-foot skin reaction, rash, weight loss, decreased appetite, nausea, gastrointestinal and abdominal pains, hypertension, and hemorrhage.

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

Blood and lymphatic disorders: Thrombotic microangiopathy (TMA)

Dermatologic: Stevens-Johnson syndrome and toxic epidermal necrolysis (TEN)

Hypersensitivity: Angioedema

Musculoskeletal: Rhabdomyolysis, osteonecrosis of the jaw

Respiratory: Interstitial lung disease-like events (which may have a life-threatening or fatal outcome)

Vascular: Arterial (including aortic) aneurysms, dissections, and rupture

The concomitant use of NEXAVAR and warfarin may increase the risk of bleeding or increased the INR. Monitor INR and for clinical bleeding episodes in patients taking warfarin while receiving NEXAVAR [see Warnings and Precautions (5.6)].

NEXAVAR is associated with QTc interval prolongation. Avoid coadministration of NEXAVAR with medicinal products with a known potential to prolong QT/QTc interval [see Warnings and Precautions (5.9), Clinical Pharmacology (12.2)].

The safety and effectiveness of NEXAVAR have not been established in pediatric patients.

In total, 59% of HCC patients treated with NEXAVAR were age 65 years or older and 19% were 75 and older. In total, 32% of RCC patients treated with NEXAVAR were age 65 years or older and 4% were 75 and older. No differences in safety or efficacy were observed between older and younger patients, and other reported clinical experience has not identified differences in responses between the elderly and younger patients, but greater sensitivity of some older individuals cannot be ruled out.

No dose adjustment is necessary for patients with mild, moderate or severe renal impairment who are not on dialysis.The pharmacokinetics of sorafenib have not been studied in patients who are on dialysis [see Clinical Pharmacology (12.3)].

No dose adjustment is necessary for patients with mild or moderate hepatic impairment. The pharmacokinetics of sorafenib have not been studied in patients with severe (Child-Pugh C) hepatic impairment [see Clinical Pharmacology (12.3)].

Sorafenib is a kinase inhibitor that decreases tumor cell proliferation in vitro. Sorafenib was shown to inhibit multiple intracellular (c-CRAF, BRAF and mutant BRAF) and cell surface kinases (KIT, FLT- 3, RET, RET/PTC, VEGFR-1, VEGFR- 2, VEGFR- 3, and PDGFR-ß). Several of these kinases are thought to be involved in tumor cell signaling, angiogenesis and apoptosis. Sorafenib inhibited tumor growth of HCC, RCC, and DTC human tumor xenografts in immunocompromised mice. Reductions in tumor angiogenesis were seen in models of HCC and RCC upon sorafenib treatment, and increases in tumor apoptosis were observed in models of HCC, RCC, and DTC.

Multiple doses of NEXAVAR for 7 days resulted in a 2.5- to 7-fold accumulation compared to a single dose. Steady-state plasma sorafenib concentrations were achieved within 7 days, with a peak-to-trough ratio of mean concentrations of less than 2.

The steady-state concentrations of sorafenib following administration of NEXAVAR 400 mg twice daily were evaluated in DTC, RCC and HCC patients. Patients with DTC have mean steady-state concentrations that are 1.8-fold higher than patients with HCC and 2.3-fold higher than those with RCC. The reason for increased sorafenib concentrations in DTC patients is unknown.

Mean C_max and AUC increased less than proportionally beyond oral doses of 400 mg administered twice daily.

Carcinogenicity studies have not been performed with sorafenib. Sorafenib was clastogenic when tested in an in vitro mammalian cell assay (Chinese hamster ovary) in the presence of metabolic activation. Sorafenib was not mutagenic in the in vitro Ames bacterial cell assay or clastogenic in an in vivo mouse micronucleus assay. One intermediate in the manufacturing process, which is also present in the final drug substance (<0.15%), was positive for mutagenesis in an in vitro bacterial cell assay (Ames test) when tested independently.

No specific studies with sorafenib have been conducted in animals to evaluate the effect on fertility. However, results from the repeat-dose toxicity studies suggest there is a potential for sorafenib to impair reproductive function and fertility. Multiple adverse effects were observed in male and female reproductive organs, with the rat being more susceptible than mice or dogs. Typical changes in rats consisted of testicular atrophy or degeneration, degeneration of epididymis, prostate, and seminal vesicles, central necrosis of the corpora lutea and arrested follicular development. Sorafenib-related effects on the reproductive organs of rats were manifested at daily oral doses ≥ 5 mg/kg (30 mg/m²). This dose results in an exposure (AUC) that is approximately 0.5 times the AUC in patients at the recommended human dose. Dogs showed tubular degeneration in the testes at 30 mg/kg/day (600 mg/m²/day). This dose results in an exposure that is approximately 0.3 times the AUC at the recommended human dose. Oligospermia was observed in dogs at 60 mg/kg/day (1200 mg/m²/day) of sorafenib.

The SHARP (HCC) study (NCT00105443) was an international, multicenter, randomized, double blind, placebo-controlled trial in patients with unresectable hepatocellular carcinoma. Overall survival was the primary endpoint. A total of 602 patients were randomized; 299 to NEXAVAR 400 mg twice daily and 303 to matching placebo. All 602 randomized subjects were included in the ITT population for the efficacy analyses.

Demographics and baseline disease characteristics were similar between the NEXAVAR and placebo arms with regard to age, gender, race, performance status, etiology (including hepatitis B, hepatitis C and alcoholic liver disease), TNM stage (stage I: <1% vs. <1%; stage II: 10.4% vs. 8.3%; stage III: 37.8% vs. 43.6%; stage IV: 50.8% vs. 46.9%), absence of both macroscopic vascular invasion and extrahepatic tumor spread (30.1% vs. 30.0%), and Barcelona Clinic Liver Cancer stage (stage B: 18.1% vs. 16.8%; stage C: 81.6% vs. 83.2%; stage D: <1% vs. 0%). Liver impairment by Child-Pugh score was comparable between the NEXAVAR and placebo arms (Class A: 95% vs. 98%; B: 5% vs. 2%). Only one patient with Child-Pugh class C was entered. Prior treatments included surgical resection procedures (19.1% vs. 20.5%), locoregional therapies (including radiofrequency ablation, percutaneous ethanol injection and transarterial chemoembolization; 38.8% vs. 40.6%), radiotherapy (4.3% vs. 5.0%) and systemic therapy (3.0% vs. 5.0%).

The trial was stopped for efficacy following a pre-specified second interim analysis for survival showing a statistically significant advantage for NEXAVAR over placebo for overall survival (HR: 0.69, p= 0.00058) (see Table 10 and Figure 1). This advantage was consistent across all subsets analyzed.

Final analysis of time to tumor progression (TTP) based on data from an earlier time point (by independent radiologic review) also was significantly longer in the NEXAVAR arm (HR: 0.58, p=0.000007) (see Table 10).

CI=Confidence interval

1. 1Hazard ratio, sorafenib/placebo, stratified Cox model
2. 2Stratified log rank (for the interim analysis of survival, the stopping boundary one-sided alpha = 0.0077)
3. 3The time-to-progression (TTP) analysis, based on independent radiologic review, was based on data from an earlier time point than the survival analysis

The safety and efficacy of NEXAVAR in the treatment of advanced renal cell carcinoma (RCC) were studied in the following two randomized controlled clinical trials.

The safety and effectiveness of NEXAVAR was evaluated in a multicenter, randomized (1:1), double-blind, placebo-controlled trial (DECISION; NCT00984282) conducted in 417 patients with locally recurrent or metastatic, progressive differentiated thyroid carcinoma (DTC) refractory to radioactive iodine (RAI) treatment. Randomization was stratified by age (< 60 years versus ≥ 60 years) and geographical region (North America, Europe, and Asia). All 417 subjects were included in the ITT population for the efficacy analyses

All patients were required to have actively progressing disease defined as progression within 14 months of enrollment. RAI-refractory disease was defined based on four criteria that were not mutually exclusive. All RAI treatments and diagnostic scans were to be performed under conditions of a low iodine diet and adequate TSH stimulation. Following are the RAI-refractory criteria and the proportion of patients in the study that met each one: a target lesion with no iodine uptake on RAI scan (68%); tumors with iodine uptake and progression after RAI treatment within 16 months of enrollment (12%); tumors with iodine uptake and multiple RAI treatments with the last treatment greater than 16 months prior to enrollment, and disease progression after each of two RAI treatments administered within 16 months of each other (7%); cumulative RAI dose ≥ 600 mCi administered (34%). The major efficacy outcome measure was progression-free survival (PFS) as determined by a blinded, independent radiological review using a modified Response Evaluation Criteria in Solid Tumors v. 1.0 (RECIST). RECIST was modified by inclusion of clinical progression of bone lesions based on the need for external beam radiation (4.4% of progression events). Additional efficacy outcomes measures included overall survival (OS), tumor response rate, and duration of response.

Patients were randomized to receive NEXAVAR 400 mg twice daily (n=207) or placebo (n=210). Of the 417 patients randomized, 48% were male, the median age was 63 years, 61% were 60 years or older, 60% were white, 62% had an ECOG performance status of 0, and 99% had undergone thyroidectomy. The histological diagnoses were papillary carcinoma in 57%, follicular carcinoma (including Hürthle cell) in 25%, and poorly differentiated carcinoma in 10%, and other in 8% of the study population. Metastases were present in 96% of the patients: lungs in 86%, lymph nodes in 51%, and bone in 27%. The median cumulative RAI activity administered prior to study entry was 400 mCi.

A statistically significant prolongation of PFS was demonstrated for NEXAVAR-treated patients compared to those receiving placebo (Figure 3); no statistically significant difference was seen in the final overall survival (OS) analysis (Table 12). Crossover to open label NEXAVAR occurred in 161 (77%) patients randomized to placebo after investigator-determined disease progression

Figure 3: Kaplan-Meier Curve of Progression-Free Survival in DECISION (DTC)