Monitor patients for signs and symptoms of neurologic toxicities (ICANS and other neurologic toxicities) (Table 2). Rule out other causes of neurologic signs or symptoms. Provide intensive care and supportive therapy for severe or life-threatening neurologic toxicities. Please see section 5.2 for non ICANS neurologic toxicities. If ICANS is suspected, manage according to the recommendations in Table 2.
- Corticosteroids according to the more aggressive intervention based on the CRS and neurologic toxicity grades in Tables 1 and 2
- Tocilizumab according to CRS grade in Table 1
- Anti-seizure medication according to neurologic toxicity in Table 2
Table 2: Guideline for management of ICANS| ICANS Grade ASTCT 2019 criteria for grading Neurologic Toxicity (Lee et.al, 2019). | Corticosteroids |
|---|
| Note: ICANS grade and management is determined by the most severe event (ICE score, level of consciousness, seizure, motor findings, raised ICP/cerebral edema), not attributable to any other cause. |
Grade 1 ICE score 7–9If patient is arousable and able to perform Immune Effector Cell-Associated Encephalopathy (ICE) Assessment, assess: Orientation (oriented to year, month, city, hospital = 4 points); Naming (name 3 objects, e.g., point to clock, pen, button = 3 points); Following Commands (e.g., "show me 2 fingers" or "close your eyes and stick out your tongue" = 1 point); Writing (ability to write a standard sentence = 1 point); and Attention (count backwards from 100 by ten = 1 point). If patient is unarousable and unable to perform ICE Assessment (Grade 4 ICANS) = 0 points. or depressed level of consciousness: awakens spontaneously. | Consider dexamethasone All references to dexamethasone administration are dexamethasone or equivalent. 10 mg IV every 12 to 24 hours for 2 to 3 days. Consider non-sedating, anti-seizure medicines (e.g., levetiracetam) for seizure prophylaxis. |
Grade 2 ICE score-3–6 or depressed level of consciousness: awakens to voice | Administer dexamethasone 10 mg IV every 12 hours for 2–3 days, or longer for persistent symptoms. Consider steroid taper if total corticosteroid exposure is greater than 3 days. If no improvement after 24 hours or worsening of neurologic toxicity, increase the dose and/or frequency of dexamethasone up to a maximum of 20 mg IV every 6 hours. Consider non-sedating, anti-seizure medicines (e.g., levetiracetam) for seizure prophylaxis. |
Grade 3 ICE score-0–2 (If ICE score is 0, but the patient is arousable (e.g., awake with global aphasia) and able to perform assessment) or depressed level of consciousness: awakens only to tactile stimulus, or seizures, either: - any clinical seizure, focal or generalized, that resolves rapidly, or
- non-convulsive seizures on EEG that resolve with intervention,
or raised intracranial pressure (ICP): focal/local edema on neuroimagingIntracranial hemorrhage with or without associated edema is not considered a neurotoxicity feature and is excluded from ICANS grading. It may be graded according to NCI CTCAE v5.0. .
| Administer dexamethasone 10 mg-20 mg IV every 6 hours. If no improvement after 24 hours or worsening of neurologic toxicity, escalate dexamethasone dose to at least 20 mg IV every 6 hours, OR escalate to high-dose methylprednisolone (1–2 g/day, repeat every 24 hours if needed; taper as clinically indicated) Consider non-sedating, anti-seizure medicines (e.g., levetiracetam) for seizure prophylaxis. If cerebral edema is suspected, consider hyperventilation and hyperosmolar therapy. Give high-dose methylprednisolone (1–2 g, repeat every 24 hours if needed; taper as clinically indicated). |
Grade 4 ICE score-0 (Patient is unarousable and unable to perform ICE assessment) or depressed level of consciousness either: | Administer dexamethasone 20 mg IV every 6 hours. If no improvement after 24 hours or worsening of neurologic toxicity, escalate to high-dose methylprednisolone (1–2 g/day, repeated every 24 hours if needed; taper as clinically indicated). Consider non-sedating, anti-seizure medicines (e.g., levetiracetam) for seizure prophylaxis. If raised ICP/cerebral edema is suspected, consider hyperventilation and hyperosmolar therapy. Give high-dose methylprednisolone (1–2 g/day, repeat every 24 hours if needed; taper as clinically indicated), and consider neurology and/or neurosurgery consultation. |
Immune Effector Cell-associated Neurotoxicity Syndrome (ICANS)
Patients receiving CARVYKTI may experience fatal or life-threatening ICANS following treatment with CARVYKTI, including before CRS onset, concurrently with CRS, after CRS resolution, or in the absence of CRS.
ICANS occurred in 23% (22/97) of patients receiving ciltacabtagene autoleucel including Grade 3 or 4 events in 3% (3/97) and Grade 5 (fatal) events in 2% (2/97). Two patients had ongoing Grade 3 and Grade 1 ICANS at last known alive date and one patient had Grade 1 ICANS ongoing at time of death from neurologic toxicity with parkinsonian features. The median time to onset of ICANS was 8 days (range: 1 to 28 days). ICANS resolved in 17 of 22 patients (77%), and the median time to resolution was 6 days (range: 2 to 143 days). Median duration of ICANS in all patients, including those with fatal ICANS, ICANS ongoing at time of death from other causes or ongoing at last known alive date, was 7.5 days (range: 2 to 927 days). All 22 patients with ICANS had CRS. The onset of ICANS occurred during CRS in 16 patients, before the onset of CRS in 3 patients, and after the CRS event in 3 patients.
The most frequent (≥5%) manifestation of ICANS included encephalopathy (23%), aphasia (8%) and headache (6%).
Monitor patients at least daily for 10 days following CARVYKTI infusion at the REMS-certified healthcare facility for signs and symptoms of ICANS. Rule out other causes of ICANS symptoms. Monitor patients for signs or symptoms of ICANS for at least 4 weeks after infusion and treat promptly. Neurologic toxicity should be managed with supportive care and/or corticosteroids as needed [see Dosage and Administration (2.3)].
Parkinsonism
Of the 25 patients in the CARTITUDE-1 study experiencing any neurotoxicity, five male patients had neurologic toxicity with several signs and symptoms of parkinsonism, distinct from ICANS. Neurologic toxicity with parkinsonism has been reported in other ongoing trials of ciltacabtagene autoleucel. Patients had parkinsonian and non-parkinsonian symptoms that included tremor, bradykinesia, involuntary movements, stereotypy, loss of spontaneous movements, masked facies, apathy, flat affect, fatigue, rigidity, psychomotor retardation, micrographia, dysgraphia, apraxia, lethargy, confusion, somnolence, loss of consciousness, delayed reflexes, hyperreflexia, memory loss, difficulty swallowing, bowel incontinence, falls, stooped posture, shuffling gait, muscle weakness and wasting, motor dysfunction, motor and sensory loss, akinetic mutism and frontal lobe release signs. Symptoms did not respond to one or more of the following treatments attempted in one or more patients – systemic chemotherapy, intrathecal chemotherapy and steroids, dopaminergic agents, systemic corticosteroids, plasmapheresis, and intravenous immunoglobulin and dasatinib. One patient experienced partial resolution with residual gait disturbance without treatment for parkinsonism, immunosuppressants or chemotherapy. The median onset of parkinsonism in the 5 patients in CARTITUDE-1 was 43 days (range: 15 to 108 days) from infusion of ciltacabtagene autoleucel. One patient died of neurologic toxicity with parkinsonism 247 days after administration of ciltacabtagene autoleucel; two patients with ongoing parkinsonism died of infectious causes 162 and 119 days after administration of ciltacabtagene autoleucel; in the remaining 2 patients, symptoms of parkinsonism were ongoing up to 530 days after administration of ciltacabtagene autoleucel. Maximum toxicity grade was 2, 3, 4 and 5 in 1, 2, 1 and 1 patient respectively. All 5 patients had a history of prior CRS (n=4 Grade 2; n=1 Grade 3), while 4 of 5 patients had prior ICANS (n=3 Grade 1; n=1 Grade 2).
Monitor patients for signs and symptoms of parkinsonism that may be delayed in onset and managed with supportive care measures. There is limited efficacy information with medications used for the treatment of Parkinson's disease for the improvement or resolution of parkinsonism symptoms following CARVYKTI treatment.
Guillain-Barré Syndrome
A fatal outcome following Guillain-Barré Syndrome (GBS) has occurred in another ongoing study of ciltacabtagene autoleucel despite treatment with intravenous immunoglobulins. Symptoms reported include those consistent with Miller-Fisher variant of GBS, encephalopathy, motor weakness, speech disturbances, and polyradiculoneuritis.
Monitor for GBS. Evaluate patients presenting with peripheral neuropathy for GBS. Consider treatment of GBS with supportive care measures and in conjunction with immunoglobulins and plasma exchange, depending on severity of GBS.
Peripheral Neuropathy
Six patients in CARTITUDE-1 developed peripheral neuropathy. These neuropathies presented as sensory, motor or sensorimotor neuropathies. Median time of onset of symptoms was 62 days (range: 4 to 136 days), median duration of peripheral neuropathies was 256 days (range: 2 to 465 days) including those with ongoing neuropathy. Of these six patients, two patients experienced Grade 3 peripheral neuropathy, and 3 had resolution of neuropathy. Treatment with corticosteroids in one patient was not associated with improvement of peripheral neuropathy. Patients who experienced peripheral neuropathy also experienced cranial nerve palsies or GBS in other ongoing trials of ciltacabtagene autoleucel.
Cranial Nerve Palsies
Three patients (3.1%) experienced cranial nerve palsies in CARTITUDE-1. All 3 patients had 7th cranial nerve palsy; one patient had 5th cranial nerve palsy as well. Median time to onset was 26 days (range: 21 to 101 days) following infusion of ciltacabtagene autoleucel. All three patients received systemic corticosteroids and had resolution of symptoms; one patient received valacyclovir in addition to corticosteroids. Median time to resolution was 70 days (range: 1 to 79 days) following onset of symptoms. Occurrence of 3rd and 6th cranial nerve palsy, bilateral 7th cranial nerve palsy, worsening of cranial nerve palsy after improvement and occurrence of peripheral neuropathy in patients with cranial nerve palsy have also been reported in ongoing trials of ciltacabtagene autoleucel.
Monitor patients for signs and symptoms of cranial nerve palsies. Consider management with systemic corticosteroids, depending on the severity and progression of signs and symptoms.
Viral Reactivation
Hepatitis B virus (HBV) reactivation, in some cases resulting in fulminant hepatitis, hepatic failure and death, can occur in patients with hypogammaglobulinemia.
Perform screening for Cytomegalovirus (CMV), HBV, hepatitis C virus (HCV), and human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) or any other infectious agents if clinically indicated in accordance with clinical guidelines before collection of cells for manufacturing.
Consider antiviral therapy to prevent viral reactivation per local institutional guidelines/clinical practice.
Use of Live Vaccines
The safety of immunization with live viral vaccines during or following CARVYKTI treatment has not been studied. Vaccination with live virus vaccines is not recommended for at least 6 weeks prior to the start of lymphodepleting chemotherapy, during CARVYKTI treatment, and until immune recovery following treatment with CARVYKTI.
Laboratory Abnormalities
Table 4 presents the most common Grade 3 or 4 laboratory abnormalities based on laboratory data, occurring in at least 10% of patients.
Table 4: Grade 3 or 4 laboratory abnormalities in at least 10% of patients treated with ciltacabtagene autoleucel in Study CARTITUDE-1 (N=97)| Laboratory Abnormality | Grade 3 or 4 (%) |
|---|
| Laboratory abnormalities graded using NCI Common Terminology Criteria for Adverse Events version 5.0. Laboratory abnormalities are sorted by decreasing frequency in the Grade column. |
| Lymphopenia | 99 |
| Neutropenia | 98 |
| White blood cell decreased | 98 |
| Anemia | 72 |
| Thrombocytopenia | 63 |
| Aspartate aminotransferase increased | 21 |
Other clinically important Grade 3 or 4 laboratory abnormalities (based on laboratory data) that occurred in less than 10% of patients treated with ciltacabtagene autoleucel include the following: fibrinogen decreased, hypoalbuminemia, alanine aminotransferase increased, hyponatremia, hypocalcemia, gamma glutamyl transferase increased, alkaline phosphatase increased, hypokalemia, blood bilirubin increased.
Risk Summary
There are no available data on the use of CARVYKTI in pregnant women. No reproductive and developmental toxicity studies in animals have been conducted with CARVYKTI to assess whether it can cause fetal harm when administered to a pregnant woman. It is not known whether CARVYKTI has the potential to be transferred to the fetus and cause fetal toxicity. Based on the mechanism of action, if the transduced cells cross the placenta, they may cause fetal toxicity, including B-cell lymphocytopenia and hypogammaglobulinemia. Therefore, CARVYKTI is not recommended for women who are pregnant, or for women of childbearing potential not using contraception. Pregnant women should be advised that there may be risks to the fetus. Pregnancy after CARVYKTI therapy should be discussed with the treating physician.
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.
Risk Summary
There is no information regarding the presence of CARVYKTI in human milk, the effect on the breastfed infant, and the effects on milk production. The developmental and health benefits of breastfeeding should be considered along with the mother's clinical need for CARVYKTI and any potential adverse effects on the breastfed infant from CARVYKTI or from the underlying maternal condition.
Pregnancy Testing
Pregnancy status for females of child-bearing age should be verified prior to starting treatment with CARVYKTI.
Contraception
There are insufficient data to provide a recommendation concerning duration of contraception following treatment with CARVYKTI.
In clinical trials, female patients of childbearing potential were advised to practice a highly effective method of contraception and male patients with partners of childbearing potential or whose partners were pregnant were instructed to use a barrier method of contraception, until one year after the patient has received CARVYKTI infusion.
See the prescribing information for lymphodepleting chemotherapy for information on the need for contraception in patients who receive the lymphodepleting chemotherapy.
Infertility
There are no data on the effect of CARVYKTI on fertility.
Specific Populations
The pharmacokinetics of ciltacabtagene autoleucel (Cmax and AUC0–28d) were not impacted by age (43 to 78 years), gender, body weight, race, mild hepatic dysfunction [(total bilirubin ≤ upper limit of normal (ULN) and aspartate aminotransferase > ULN) or (ULN < total bilirubin ≤1.5 times ULN)] or aspartate aminotransferase > ULN), or mild renal dysfunction (60 mL/min ≤ creatinine clearance [CRCL] <90 mL/min). Formal renal and hepatic impairment studies of CARVYKTI were not conducted.
Cytokine Release Syndrome (CRS)
Signs or symptoms of CRS, including fever, chills, fatigue, headache, tachycardia, hypotension, hypoxia, dizziness/lightheadedness or organ toxicities [see Warnings and Precautions (5.1), Adverse Reactions (6.1)].
Neurologic Toxicities
Signs or symptoms associated with neurologic events, some of which occur days, weeks or months following the infusion including [see Warnings and Precautions (5.2), Adverse Reactions (6.1)]:
- ICANS: e.g., aphasia, encephalopathy, depressed level of consciousness, seizures, delirium, dysgraphia
- Parkinsonism: e.g., tremor, micrographia, bradykinesia, rigidity, shuffling gait, stooped posture, masked facies, apathy, flat affect, lethargy, somnolence
- Guillain Barré Syndrome: e.g., motor weakness and polyradiculoneuritis
- Peripheral neuropathy: e.g., peripheral motor and/or sensory nerve dysfunction
- Cranial Nerve Palsies: e.g., facial paralysis, facial numbness
Prolonged and Recurrent Cytopenias
Signs or symptoms associated with bone marrow suppression including neutropenia, thrombocytopenia, anemia, or febrile neutropenia for several weeks or months. Signs or symptoms associated with bone marrow suppression may recur [see Warnings and Precautions (5.5), Adverse Reactions (6.1)].
Infections
Signs or symptoms associated with infection [see Warnings and Precautions (5.6), Adverse Reactions (6.1)].
Hypersensitivity Reactions
Signs or symptoms associated with hypersensitivity reactions including flushing, chest tightness, tachycardia, and difficulty breathing [see Warnings and Precautions (5.8)].
Advise patients of the need to:
- Have periodic monitoring of blood counts before and after CARVYKTI infusion [see Warnings and Precautions (5.5)].
- Contact Janssen Biotech, Inc. at 1-800-526-7736 if they are diagnosed with a secondary malignancy [see Warnings and Precautions (5.9)].
- Refrain from driving and engaging in hazardous occupations or activities, such as operating heavy or potentially dangerous machinery, for at least 8 weeks after treatment and in the event of any new onset of neurologic toxicities [see Warnings and Precautions (5.10)].
- Tell their physician about their treatment with CARVYKTI before receiving a live virus vaccine [see Warnings and Precautions (5.7)].
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