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 in Warnings and Precautions reflect exposure to AZEDRA in 88 patients with iobenguane-scan positive recurrent or unresectable, locally advanced or metastatic pheochromocytoma or paraganglioma (PPGL) who received a therapeutic dose of AZEDRA in one of two clinical studies (IB12 or IB12B). The Warnings and Precautions also include data from 11 patients enrolled in an expanded access program for Study IB12B [see Warnings and Precautions (5)].
The safety data below was evaluated in two studies in patients with recurrent or unresectable, locally advanced or metastatic PPGL. Study IB12 was an open-label, multi-center, single-arm dose-finding study in adult patients with malignant or recurrent PPGL. The study consisted of a 12-month efficacy phase with a 1 year follow-up. Twenty-one patients received a dosimetric dose (~5 mCi), followed by one therapeutic dose (~500 mCi) of AZEDRA. Study IB12B was an open-label, multi-center, single-arm study in 68 adult and pediatric patients age 12 years and older with recurrent or unresectable, locally advanced or metastatic PPGL [see Clinical Studies (14)].
Patients with evidence of liver dysfunction (aspartate aminotransferase or alanine aminotransferase ≥ 2.5 times the upper limit of normal or total bilirubin > 1.5 times the upper limit of normal), a history of liver disease (including hepatitis and chronic alcohol abuse), or severe renal impairment (creatinine clearance < 30 mL/min) were excluded. Patients who had received external beam radiation to > 25% of bone marrow, received whole body radiotherapy, or who had received any systemic radiotherapy resulting in myelosuppression within 3 months of study entry, were also excluded. The safety data described below are based on pooled safety data from studies IB12 and IB12B. A total of 88 patients received at least one therapeutic dose of AZEDRA and 50 patients received two therapeutic doses (one patient received treatment in both studies).
Adverse reactions from studies IB12 and IB12B are presented in Table 5. The most common severe (Grade 3-4) adverse reactions were lymphopenia (78%), neutropenia (59%), thrombocytopenia (50%), fatigue (26%), anemia (24%), increased international normalized ratio (18%), nausea (16%), dizziness (13%), hypertension (11%), and vomiting (10%). Twelve percent of patients discontinued treatment due to adverse reactions (thrombocytopenia, anemia, lymphopenia, nausea and vomiting, multiple hematologic adverse reactions).
Table 5: Adverse Reactions Occurring in ≥10% of Patients with PPGL Receiving Therapeutic Dose of AZEDRA in Studies IB12B and IB12 |
| Adverse Reaction | All Gradesa, (%) | Gradesa 3 - 4, (%) |
| Hematologicb
| | |
| Lymphopenia | 96 | 78 |
| Anemia | 93 | 24 |
| Thrombocytopenia | 91 | 50 |
| Neutropenia | 84 | 59 |
| Gastrointestinal | | |
| Nausea | 78 | 16 |
| Vomitingc
| 58 | 10 |
| Dry mouth | 48 | 2 |
| Sialadenitisd
| 39 | 1 |
| Diarrhea | 25 | 3 |
| Abdominal paine
| 23 | 6 |
| Constipation | 19 | 7 |
| Oropharyngeal pain | 14 | 0 |
| Dyspepsia | 10 | 0 |
| General | | |
| Fatiguef
| 71 | 26 |
| Pyrexia | 14 | 2 |
| Injection site pain | 10 | 0 |
| Hyperhidrosis | 10 | 0 |
| Alopecia | 10 | 0 |
| Infections | | |
| Upper respiratory tract infectiong
| 16 | 2 |
| Urinary tract infection | 11 | 1 |
| Investigationsb
| | |
| Increased international normalized ratioh
| 85 | 18 |
| Increased blood alkaline phosphatase | 53 | 5 |
| Increased aspartate aminotransferase | 50 | 2 |
| Increased alanine aminotransferase | 43 | 2 |
| Metabolism and nutrition | | |
| Decreased appetite | 30 | 5 |
| Dehydration | 16 | 4 |
| Decreased weight | 16 | 1 |
| Musculoskeletal and connective tissue disorders | | |
| Back pain | 17 | 2 |
| Pain in extremity | 15 | 0 |
| Nervous system | | |
| Dizzinessi
| 34 | 13 |
| Headache | 32 | 6 |
| Dysgeusiaj
| 24 | 1 |
| Respiratory, thoracic, and mediastinal disorders | | |
| Cough | 18 | 0 |
| Dyspnea | 18 | 7 |
| Vascular | | |
| Hypotension | 24 | 4 |
| Hypertensionk
| 20 | 11 |
| Tachycardia | 10 | 3 |
The following clinically significant adverse reactions were observed in < 10% of patients treated with AZEDRA:
Cardiac: palpitations (9%), syncope and presyncope (8%)
Endocrine: decreased TSH (5%), hypothyroidism (3%)
Gastrointestinal: dysphagia (7%), abdominal distension (6%), gastroesophageal reflux disease (6%), stomatitis (3%)
General: insomnia (9%), chills (8%), chest pain (6%)
Infections: candida infection (6%)
Investigations: prolonged prothrombin time (9%)
Musculoskeletal and connective tissue: arthralgia (8%), neck pain (8%), pain in jaw (7%), muscle spasms (6%)
Renal and urinary disorders: proteinuria (9%), renal failure (7%),
Respiratory: epistaxis (9%), nasal congestion (7%), pulmonary embolism (3%)
Skin and subcutaneous tissue: dry skin (8%), rash (8%), petechiae (7%)
Vascular: orthostatic hypotension (9%)