Other
Hypersensitivity Reactions
Elitek can cause serious and fatal hypersensitivity reactions including anaphylaxis. Immediately and permanently discontinue Elitek in patients who experience a serious hypersensitivity reaction [see Contraindications (4), Warnings and Precautions (5.1), Adverse Reactions (6.2)].
Hemolysis
Do not administer Elitek to patients with glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase (G6PD) deficiency. Immediately and permanently discontinue Elitek in patients developing hemolysis. Screen patients at higher risk for G6PD deficiency (e.g., patients of African or Mediterranean ancestry) prior to starting Elitek [see Contraindications (4), Warnings and Precautions (5.2)].
Methemoglobinemia
Elitek can result in methemoglobinemia in some patients. Immediately and permanently discontinue Elitek in patients developing methemoglobinemia [see Contraindications (4), Warnings and Precautions (5.3)].
Interference with Uric Acid Measurements
Elitek enzymatically degrades uric acid in blood samples left at room temperature. Collect blood samples in prechilled tubes containing heparin and immediately immerse and maintain sample in an ice water bath. Assay plasma samples within 4 hours of collection [see Warnings and Precautions (5.4)].
Limitations of Use
Elitek is indicated only for a single course of treatment [see Warnings and Precautions (5.1)].
Laboratory Test Interference
At room temperature, Elitek causes enzymatic degradation of the uric acid in blood/plasma/serum samples potentially resulting in spuriously low plasma uric acid assay readings. The following special sample handling procedure must be followed to avoid ex vivo uric acid degradation.
Uric acid must be analyzed in plasma. Blood must be collected into prechilled tubes containing heparin anticoagulant. Immediately immerse plasma samples for uric acid measurement in an ice water bath. Plasma samples must be prepared by centrifugation in a precooled centrifuge (4°C). Finally, the plasma must be maintained in an ice water bath and analyzed for uric acid within four hours of collection [see Boxed Warning].
Rasburicase does not metabolize allopurinol, cytarabine, methylprednisolone, methotrexate, 6-mercaptopurine, thioguanine, etoposide, daunorubicin, cyclophosphamide or vincristine in vitro. No metabolic-based drug interactions are therefore anticipated with these agents in patients.
Risk Summary
Based on findings in animals, Elitek may cause fetal harm when administered to pregnant women. In animal reproduction studies, intravenous administration of rasburicase to pregnant rabbits during organogenesis at 5-times the human exposure (based on AUC) at the recommended human dose of 0.2 mg/kg resulted in adverse developmental outcomes, including structural abnormalities, embryo-fetal mortality, and alterations to growth (see Data). The limited available data with Elitek use in pregnant women are insufficient to inform a drug-associated risk of major birth defects, miscarriage, or adverse maternal fetal outcomes. Consider the benefits and risks of Elitek and possible risks to the fetus when prescribing Elitek to a pregnant woman.
The estimated background risk of major birth defects and miscarriage in the indicated population is unknown. All pregnancies have a background risk of birth defect, miscarriage, or other adverse outcomes. In the U.S. general population, the estimated background risk of major birth defects and miscarriages in clinically recognized pregnancies is 2% to 4% and 15% to 20%, respectively.
Data
Animal data
Intravenous administration of rasburicase at doses of 10, 20, or 50 mg/kg/day (approximately 14, 34, and 100 times the exposure at the recommended human dose of 0.2 mg/kg) to pregnant rats from gestation days (GD) 6 to 17 produced multiple heart and great vessel malformations at 50 mg/kg/day (approximately 100 times the exposure at the recommended human dose). Intravenous administration of rasburicase from GD 6 to 19 at doses of 2, 10, or 20 mg/kg/day (approximately 5, 26, and 54 times the exposure at the recommended human dose) to pregnant rabbits produced increased pre and postimplantation loss, abortion, decreased uterine weight, decreased fetal body weights, and heart and great vessel malformations at all dose levels.
Risk Summary
There are no available data on the presence of rasburicase in human breast milk, the effects on the breastfed child, or the effects on milk production. Because of the potential for serious adverse reactions in the breastfed child, advise patients that breastfeeding is not recommended during treatment with Elitek, and for 2 weeks after the last dose.
Study 1
Study 1 was a randomized, open-label, controlled study conducted at six institutions, in which 52 pediatric patients were randomized to receive either Elitek (n=27) or allopurinol (n=25). The dose of allopurinol varied according to local institutional practice. Elitek was administered as an intravenous infusion over 30 minutes once (n=26) or twice (n=1) daily at a dose of 0.2 mg/kg/dose (total daily dose 0.2–0.4 mg/kg/day). Initiation of dosing was permitted at any time between 4 to 48 hours before the start of antitumor therapy and could be continued for 5 to 7 days after initiation of antitumor therapy. Patients were stratified at randomization on the basis of underlying malignant disease (leukemia or lymphoma) and baseline serum or plasma uric acid levels (<8 mg/dL and ≥8 mg/dL). The primary study objective was to demonstrate a greater reduction in uric acid concentration over 96 hours (AUC0–96 hr) in the Elitek group as compared to the allopurinol group. Uric acid AUC0–96 hr was defined as the area under the curve for plasma uric acid levels (mg hr/dL), measured from the last value prior to the first dose of Elitek until 96 hours after that first dose. Plasma uric acid levels were used for all uric acid AUC0–96 hr calculations [see Warnings and Precautions (5.4)].
The demographics of the two study arms (Elitek vs allopurinol) were as follows: age <13 years (82% vs 76%), males (59% vs 72%), Caucasian (59% vs 72%), ECOG performance status 0 (89% vs 84%), and leukemia (74% vs 76%). The median interval, in hours, between initiation of Elitek and of antitumor treatment was 20 hours, with a range of 70 hours before to 10 hours after the initiation of antitumor treatment (n=24, data not reported for 3 patients).
The uric acid AUC0–96 hr was significantly lower in the Elitek group (128 ± s.e. 14 mg hr/dL) as compared to the allopurinol group (328 ± s.e. 26 mg hr/dL). All but one patient in the Elitek arm had reduction and maintenance of uric acid levels to within or below the normal range during the treatment. The incidence of renal dysfunction was similar in the two study arms; one patient in the allopurinol arm developed acute renal failure.
Study 2
Study 2 was a multi-institutional, single-arm study conducted in 89 pediatric and 18 adult patients with hematologic malignancies. Patients received Elitek at a dose of 0.15 mg/kg/day. The primary efficacy objective was determination of the proportion of patients with maintained plasma uric acid concentration at 48 hours where maintenance of uric acid concentration was defined as: 1) achievement of uric acid concentration ≤6.5 mg/dL (patients <13 years) or ≤7.5 mg/dL (patients ≥13 years) within a designated time point (48 hours) from initiation of Elitek and maintained until 24 hours after the last administration of study drug; and 2) control of uric acid level without the need for allopurinol or other agents.
The study population demographics were: age <13 years (76%), males (61%), Caucasian (91%), ECOG performance status=0 (92%), and leukemia (89%).
The proportion of patients with maintenance of uric acid concentration at 48 hours in Study 2 was 99% (106/107).
Study 3
Study 3 was a multi-institutional, single-arm study conducted in 130 pediatric patients and 1 adult patient with hematologic malignancies. Patients received Elitek at either a dose of 0.15 mg/kg/day (n=12) or 0.2 mg/kg/day (n=119). The primary efficacy objective was determination of the proportion of patients with maintained plasma uric acid concentration at 48 hours as defined for Study 2 above.
The study population demographics were: age <13 years (76%), Caucasian (83%), males (67%), ECOG=0 (67%), and leukemia (88%).
The proportion of patients with maintenance of uric acid concentration at 48 hours in Study 3 was 92% in the 0.15 mg/kg group (n=12) and 95% in the 0.2 mg/kg group (n=119).
Pooled Analyses of Studies 1, 2, and 3
Data from the 3 studies (n=265) were pooled and analyzed according to the plasma uric acid levels over time. The pretreatment plasma uric acid concentration was ≥8 mg/dL in 61 patients and was <8 mg/dL in 200 patients. The median uric acid concentration at baseline, at 4 hours following the first dose of Elitek, and the per-patient fall in plasma uric acid concentration from baseline to 4 hours, were calculated in those patients with both pretreatment and 4-hour post-treatment values. Among patients with pretreatment uric acid ≥8 mg/dL (baseline median 10.6 mg/dL [range 8.1-36.4]), the median per-patient change in plasma uric acid concentration by 4 hours after the first dose was a decrease of 9.1 mg/dL (0.3-19.3 mg/dL). Among the patients with a pretreatment plasma uric acid level <8 mg/dL (baseline median 4.6 mg/dL [range 0.2-7.9 mg/dL]), the median per-patient change in plasma uric acid concentration by 4 hours after the first dose was a decrease of 4.1 mg/dL (0.1-7.6 mg/dL).
Figure 1: Box and Whisker Plot of Uric Acid Concentration at Designated Time Blocks – Elitek Administration Began Immediately after Baseline
Figure 1 is a box and whisker plot of plasma uric acid levels inclusive of 261 of the 265 Elitek-treated patients from Studies 1, 2, and 3. Of the 261 evaluable patients, plasma uric acid concentration was maintained (see Study 2 for the definition of uric acid concentration maintenance) by 4 hours for 92% of patients (240/261), by 24 hours for 93% of patients (245/261), by 48 hours for 97% of patients (254/261), by 72 hours for 99% of patients (260/261), and by 96 hours for 100% of patients (261/261). Of the subset of 61 patients whose plasma uric acid level was elevated at baseline (≥8 mg/dL), plasma uric acid concentration was maintained by 4 hours for 72% of patients (44/61), by 24 hours for 80% of patients (49/61), by 48 hours for 92% of patients (56/61), by 72 hours for 98% of patients (60/61), and by 96 hours for 100% (61/61).
Tumor Lysis Syndrome (TLS)
Clinical TLS was defined by changes in at least two or more laboratory parameters for hyperuricemia, hyperkalemia, hyperphosphatemia and hypocalcemia and at least one of the following events occurring within 7 days of treatment: renal failure/injury, need for renal dialysis, and/or serum creatinine increase >1.5 ULN, arrhythmia or seizure. Clinical TLS occurred in 3% of Elitek-treated patients, 3% of Elitek/allopurinol-treated patients, and 4% of allopurinol-treated patients.
How Supplied
NDC 0024-5150-10: One carton contains 3 single-dose vials each containing 1.5 mg of rasburicase and 3 ampules each containing 1 mL diluent.
NDC 0024-5151-75: One carton contains 1 single-dose vial containing 7.5 mg of rasburicase and 1 ampule containing 5 mL diluent.
Hypersensitivity Reactions
Instruct patients to notify their physician immediately if any of the following occur: allergic reaction, bronchospasm, chest pain or tightness, dyspnea, hypoxia, hypotension, shock or urticaria [see Boxed Warning, Warnings and Precautions (5.1)].
Lactation
Advise females not to breastfeed during treatment with Elitek and for at least 2 weeks after the last dose [see Use in Specific Populations (8.2)].
Manufactured by:
sanofi-aventis U.S. LLC
Bridgewater, NJ 08807
U.S. License No. 1752
©2019 sanofi-aventis U.S. LLC