TASIGNA(R) (nilotinib) 150 mg  
 
  Dear Health Care Provider,

3-year clinical data from ENESTnd is available1

ENESTnd is an ongoing clinical trial evaluating TASIGNA® (nilotinib) vs imatinib for the treatment of patients with newly diagnosed Ph+ CML-CP.

For more information, visit TASIGNA.com
 
Less than 1% of patients taking TASIGNA progressed to AP/BC at 3 years1
 
  Progression
to AP/BC at
3 years1
    2 patients (0.7%, TASIGNA 300 mg bid [n=282])
            vs
17 patients (6%, imatinib 400 mg qd [n=283])

More TASIGNA patients vs imatinib patients reached MMR (1 year: 44% vs 22%; 2 years: 62% vs 38%) and CCyR (1 year: 80% vs 65%; 2 years: 87% vs 77%)1

TASIGNA had a consistent hematologic AE profile through 3 years of follow-up1-3

 
  Grade 3/4 myelosuppression1,2
TASIGNA 300 mg bid (n=279) Imatinib 400 mg qd (n=280) Change between
2 and 3 years
Neutropenia 12% 21% No change
Thrombocytopenia 10% 9% No change
Anemia 4% 6% +1% imatinib

Grade 3/4 biochemical abnormalities1,2
TASIGNA 300 mg bid (n=279) Imatinib 400 mg
qd (n=280)
Change between
2 and 3 years
Elevated lipase 8% 4% +1% both arms
Hyperglycemia 6% 0% No change
Increased SGPT (ALT) 4% 3% No change
Elevated SGOT (AST) 1% 1% No change
Elevated total bilirubin 4% <1% No change

ENESTnd study design: A randomized, controlled, open-label, multicenter Phase III trial of 846 patients with newly diagnosed Ph+ CML-CP. Patients were randomized to receive either TASIGNA 400 mg bid (n=281), TASIGNA 300 mg bid (n=282), or imatinib 400 mg qd (n=283). The daily dose of imatinib could be escalated to 800 mg (400 mg bid), but no dose escalation was permitted with TASIGNA. A centralized laboratory was used for RQ-PCR testing. The primary end point was MMR at 12 months.1,4


TASIGNA Indication
TASIGNA (nilotinib) is indicated for the treatment of newly diagnosed adult patients with Philadelphia chromosome positive chronic myeloid leukemia (Ph+ CML) in chronic phase. The effectiveness of TASIGNA is based on major molecular response and cytogenetic response rates. The study is ongoing and further data will be required to determine long-term outcome.

TASIGNA® (nilotinib) capsules Important Safety Information
  WARNING: QT PROLONGATION AND SUDDEN DEATHS  
   •  TASIGNA prolongs the QT interval. Prior to TASIGNA administration and periodically, monitor for hypokalemia or hypomagnesemia and correct deficiencies. Obtain ECGs to monitor the QTc at baseline, 7 days after initiation, and periodically thereafter, and follow any dose adjustments  
   •  Sudden deaths have been reported in patients receiving nilotinib. Do not administer TASIGNA to patients with hypokalemia, hypomagnesemia, or long QT syndrome  
   •  Avoid use of concomitant drugs known to prolong the QT interval and strong CYP3A4 inhibitors  
   •  Patients should avoid food 2 hours before and 1 hour after taking dose  

CONTRAINDICATIONS
Do not use in patients with hypokalemia, hypomagnesemia, or long QT syndrome.

WARNINGS AND PRECAUTIONS

Myelosuppression
Treatment with TASIGNA can cause Grade 3/4 thrombocytopenia, neutropenia, and anemia. Perform complete blood counts every 2 weeks for the first 2 months and then monthly thereafter, or as clinically indicated. Myelosuppression was generally reversible and usually managed by withholding TASIGNA temporarily or dose reduction.

QT Prolongation
TASIGNA prolongs the QT interval. ECGs should be performed at baseline, 7 days after initiation, periodically as clinically indicated, and following dose adjustments. Correct hypokalemia or hypomagnesemia prior to administration and monitor periodically.

Significant prolongation of the QT interval may occur when TASIGNA is inappropriately taken with food and/or strong CYP3A4 inhibitors and/or medicinal products with a known potential to prolong QT. Therefore, co-administration with food must be avoided and concomitant use with strong CYP3A4 inhibitors and/or medicinal products with a known potential to prolong QT should be avoided. The presence of hypokalemia and hypomagnesemia may further enhance this effect.

Sudden Deaths
Sudden deaths have been reported in patients with CML treated with TASIGNA in clinical studies (n=5661; 0.3%). The relative early occurrence of some of these deaths relative to the initiation of TASIGNA suggests the possibility that ventricular repolarization abnormalities may have contributed to their occurrence.

Elevated Serum Lipase
Caution is recommended in patients with a history of pancreatitis. If lipase elevations are accompanied by abdominal symptoms, interrupt dosing and consider appropriate diagnostics to exclude pancreatitis. Test serum lipase levels monthly or as clinically indicated.

Hepatotoxicity
Serum bilirubin and hepatic transaminases
The use of TASIGNA may result in elevations in bilirubin, AST/ALT, and alkaline phosphatase. Hepatic function tests should be checked monthly or as clinically indicated.

Electrolyte Abnormalities
TASIGNA can cause hypophosphatemia, hypokalemia, hyperkalemia, hypocalcemia, and hyponatremia. Electrolyte abnormalities must be corrected prior to initiating TASIGNA and these electrolytes should be monitored periodically during therapy.

Drug Interactions
The concomitant use of QT-prolonging drugs and strong inhibitors or inducers of CYP3A4 should be avoided as they may affect serum concentration of TASIGNA.

Concomitant strong CYP3A4 inhibitors
The concomitant use of strong CYP3A4 inhibitors or anti-arrhythmic drugs (including, but not limited to, amiodarone, disopyramide, procainamide, quinidine, and sotalol) and other drugs that may prolong the QT interval (including, but not limited to, chloroquine, clarithromycin, haloperidol, methadone, moxifloxacin, and pimozide) should be avoided. Should treatment with any of these agents be required, it is recommended that therapy with TASIGNA be interrupted.

If interruption of treatment with TASIGNA is not possible, patients who require treatment with a drug that prolongs QT or strongly inhibits CYP3A4 should be closely monitored for prolongation of the QT interval. If patients must be co-administered a strong CYP3A4 inhibitor, based on pharmacokinetic studies, consider a dose reduction to 300 mg once daily in patients with resistant or intolerant Ph+ CML or to 200 mg once daily in patients with newly diagnosed Ph+ CML-CP. If the strong inhibitor is discontinued, a washout period should be allowed before TASIGNA is adjusted upward to the indicated dose. Close monitoring for prolongation of the QT interval is indicated for patients who cannot avoid strong CYP3A4 inhibitors. Grapefruit products and other foods that are known to inhibit CYP3A4 should also be avoided.

Concomitant strong CYP3A4 inducers
The concomitant use of strong CYP3A4 inducers should be avoided (including, but not limited to, dexamethasone, phenytoin, carbamazepine, rifampin, rifabutin, rifapentin, and phenobarbital). Patients should also refrain from taking St. John’s wort. Based on the nonlinear pharmacokinetic profile of nilotinib, increasing the dose of TASIGNA when co-administered with such agents is unlikely to compensate for the loss of exposure.

TASIGNA is a competitive inhibitor of CYP3A4, CYP2C8, CYP2C9, CYP2D6, and UGT1A1. In vitro studies also suggest that nilotinib may induce CYP2B6, CYP2C8, and CYP2C9 and decrease the concentrations of drugs that are eliminated by these enzymes. Single-dose administration of TASIGNA to healthy subjects did not change the pharmacokinetics and pharmacodynamics of warfarin (a CYP2C9 substrate). The ability of TASIGNA to induce metabolism has not been determined in vivo. Caution should be exercised when co-administering TASIGNA with substrates for these enzymes that have a narrow therapeutic index. TASIGNA inhibits human P-glycoprotein (Pgp). If TASIGNA is administered with drugs that are substrates of Pgp, increased concentrations of the substrate are likely and caution should be exercised.

Proton pump inhibitors
Since proton pump inhibitors affect pH of the upper GI tract for an extended period, separation of doses may not eliminate the interaction. The concomitant use of proton pump inhibitors with TASIGNA should be used with caution.

Food Effects
Food increases blood levels of TASIGNA. Patients should avoid food for at least 2 hours before and for at least 1 hour after the dose is taken.

Hepatic Impairment
Nilotinib exposure is increased in patients with impaired hepatic function.

Tumor Lysis Syndrome
Cases of tumor lysis syndrome have been reported in TASIGNA treated patients with resistant or intolerant CML. Malignant disease progression, high WBC counts, and/or dehydration were present in the majority of these cases. Due to potential for tumor lysis syndrome, maintain adequate hydration and correct uric acid levels prior to initiating therapy with TASIGNA.

Total Gastrectomy
The exposure of nilotinib is reduced in patients with total gastrectomy. More frequent follow-up of these patients should be considered. Dose increase or alternative therapy may be considered in patients with total gastrectomy.

Lactose
Since the capsules contain lactose, TASIGNA is not recommended for patients with rare hereditary problems of galactose intolerance, severe lactase deficiency with a severe degree of intolerance to lactose-containing products, or of glucose-galactose malabsorption.

Use in Pregnancy
There are no adequate and well-controlled studies of TASIGNA in pregnant women. However, TASIGNA may cause fetal harm when administered to a pregnant woman. Women of childbearing potential should avoid becoming pregnant while taking TASIGNA and should be advised of the potential hazard to the fetus if they do.

ADVERSE REACTIONS

In Patients with Newly Diagnosed Ph+ CML-CP
The most common (>10%) nonhematologic adverse drug reactions (ADRs) were rash, pruritus, headache, nausea, fatigue, and myalgia. Upper abdominal pain, alopecia, constipation, diarrhea, dry skin, muscle spasms, arthralgia, abdominal pain, peripheral edema, vomiting, pain in extremity, dyspepsia, and asthenia were observed less commonly (<10% and >5%) and have been mild to moderate in severity, manageable, and generally did not require dose reduction. Pleural and pericardial effusions occurred in 1% and <1% of patients, respectively. Gastrointestinal hemorrhage was reported in 2.5% of patients.

The most common hematologic ADR (all grades) was myelosuppression, including thrombocytopenia (18%), neutropenia (15%), and anemia (7%).

DOSE ADJUSTMENTS OR MODIFICATIONS
TASIGNA may need to be temporarily withheld and/or dose reduced for QT prolongation, hematologic toxicities that are not related to underlying leukemia, clinically significant moderate or severe nonhematologic toxicities, laboratory abnormalities, or concomitant use of strong CYP3A4 inhibitors.

For Grade 3 to 4 lipase elevations, dosing should be withheld, and may be resumed at 400 mg once daily. For Grade 3 to 4 bilirubin or hepatic transaminase elevations, dosing should be withheld, and may be resumed at 400 mg once daily.

Hepatic Impairment
If possible, consider alternative therapies. If TASIGNA must be administered to patients with hepatic impairment, a lower starting dose is recommended and QT interval should be monitored. The following dose reductions should be considered:

Newly diagnosed Ph+ CML-CP
For patients with mild (Child-Pugh Class A), moderate (Child-Pugh Class B), and severe hepatic impairment (Child-Pugh Class C), an initial dosing regimen of 200 mg twice daily followed by dose escalation to 300 mg twice daily based on tolerability should be considered.

OTHER PATIENTS IN WHOM TASIGNA SHOULD BE USED WITH CAUTION
TASIGNA should not be used during pregnancy. Sexually active female patients should use effective contraception during treatment. Women should not breast-feed while taking TASIGNA. The safety and effectiveness of TASIGNA in pediatric patients have not been established.

Please see Important Safety Information, including Boxed WARNING, and Indication above. Please click here for full Prescribing Information.

Visit TASIGNA.com
to review updated TASIGNA Prescribing Information with 3-year data

ENESTnd, Evaluating Nilotinib Efficacy and Safety in Clinical Trials Newly Diagnosed Patients; Ph+ CML, Philadelphia chromosome–positive chronic myeloid leukemia; CP, chronic phase; AP/BC, accelerated phase or blast crisis; MMR, major molecular response; CCyR, complete cytogenetic response; AE, adverse event; SGPT, serum glutamic-pyruvic transaminase; ALT, alanine aminotransferase; SGOT, serum glutamic-oxaloacetic transaminase; AST, aspartate aminotransferase; RQ-PCR, real-time quantitative polymerase chain reaction.

References: 1. TASIGNA [prescribing information]. East Hanover, NJ: Novartis Pharmaceuticals Corp; December 2012. 2. Data on file. TASIGNA [prescribing information]. East Hanover, NJ: Novartis Pharmaceuticals Corp; May 2012. 3. Data on file. TASIGNA [prescribing information]. East Hanover, NJ: Novartis Pharmaceuticals Corp; June 2010. 4. Larson RA, Hochhaus A, Hughes TP, et al. Nilotinib vs imatinib in patients with newly diagnosed Philadelphia chromosome-positive chronic myeloid leukemia in chronic phase: ENESTnd 3-year follow-up. Leukemia. 2012;26(10):2197-2203.


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