Other
Cytopenias: Serious, including fatal, pancytopenia/marrow hypoplasia, autoimmune idiopathic thrombocytopenia, and autoimmune hemolytic anemia can occur in patients receiving CAMPATH. Single doses of CAMPATH greater than 30 mg or cumulative doses greater than 90 mg per week increase the incidence of pancytopenia [see Warnings and Precautions (5.1)].
Infusion-Related Reactions: CAMPATH administration can result in serious, including fatal, infusion-related reactions. Carefully monitor patients during infusions and withhold CAMPATH for Grade 3 or 4 infusion-related reactions. Gradually escalate CAMPATH to the recommended dose at the initiation of therapy and after interruption of therapy for 7 or more days [see Dosage and Administration (2.1) and Warnings and Precautions (5.2)].
Immunosuppression/Infections: Serious, including fatal, bacterial, viral, fungal, and protozoan infections can occur in patients receiving CAMPATH. Administer prophylaxis against Pneumocystis jirovecii pneumonia (PCP) and herpes virus infections [see Dosage and Administration (2.2) and Warnings and Precautions (5.3)].
Lymphopenia
Severe lymphopenia and a rapid and sustained decrease in lymphocyte subsets occurred in previously untreated and previously treated patients following administration of CAMPATH. In previously untreated patients, the median CD4+ was 0 cells/μL at one month after treatment and 238 cells/μL [25%–75% interquartile range 115 to 418 cells/μL at 6 months post treatment [see Warnings and Precautions (5.3)].
Neutropenia
In previously untreated patients, the incidence of Grade 3 or 4 neutropenia was 42% with a median time to onset of 31 days and a median duration of 37 days. In previously treated patients, the incidence of Grade 3 or 4 neutropenia was 64% with a median duration of 28 days. Ten percent of previously untreated patients and 17% of previously treated patients received granulocyte colony stimulating factors.
Anemia
In previously untreated patients, the incidence of Grade 3 or 4 anemia was 12% with a median time to onset of 31 days and a median duration of 8 days. In previously treated patients, the incidence of Grade 3 or 4 anemia was 38%. Seventeen percent of previously untreated patients and 66% of previously treated patients received either erythropoiesis stimulating agents, transfusions or both.
Thrombocytopenia
In previously untreated patients, the incidence of Grade 3 or 4 thrombocytopenia was 14% with a median time to onset of 9 days and a median duration of 14 days. In previously treated patients, the incidence of Grade 3 or 4 thrombocytopenia was 52% with a median duration of 21 days. Autoimmune thrombocytopenia was reported in 2% of previously treated patients with one fatality.
Infusion-Related Reactions
Infusion-related reactions, which included pyrexia, chills, hypotension, urticaria, and dyspnea, were common. Grade 3 and 4 pyrexia and/or chills occurred in approximately 10% of previously untreated patients and in approximately 35% of previously treated patients. The occurrence of infusion-related reactions was greatest during the initial week of treatment and decreased with subsequent doses of CAMPATH. All patients were pretreated with antipyretics and antihistamines; additionally, 43% of previously untreated patients received glucocorticoid pre-treatment.
Infections
In the study of previously untreated patients, patients were tested weekly for CMV using a PCR assay from initiation through completion of therapy, and every 2 weeks for the first 2 months following therapy. CMV infection occurred in 16% (23/147) of previously untreated patients; approximately one-third of these infections were serious or life threatening. In studies of previously treated patients in which routine CMV surveillance was not required, CMV infection was documented in 6% (9/149) of patients; nearly all of these infections were serious or life threatening.
Other infections were reported in approximately 50% of patients across all studies. Grade 3 to 5 sepsis ranged from 3% to 10% across studies and was higher in previously treated patients. Grade 3 to 4 febrile neutropenia ranged from 5% to 10% across studies and was higher in previously treated patients. Infection-related fatalities occurred in 2% of previously untreated patients and 16% of previously treated patients. There were 198 episodes of other infection in 109 previously untreated patients; 16% were bacterial, 7% were fungal, 4% were other viral, and in 73% the organism was not identified.
Cardiac
Cardiac dysrhythmias occurred in approximately 14% of previously untreated patients. The majority were tachycardias and were temporally associated with infusion; dysrhythmias were Grade 3 or 4 in 1% of patients.
Previously Untreated Patients
Table 1 contains selected adverse reactions observed in 294 patients randomized (1:1) to receive CAMPATH or chlorambucil as first line therapy for B-CLL. CAMPATH was administered at a dose of 30 mg intravenously three times weekly for up to 12 weeks. The median duration of therapy was 11.7 weeks with a median weekly dose of 82 mg (25%–75% interquartile range: 69–90 mg).
| CAMPATH (n=147) | Chlorambucil (n=147) | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| All Grades NCI CTC version 2.0 for adverse reactions; NCI CTCAE version 3.0 for laboratory values % | Grades 3–4 % | All Grades % | Grades 3–4 % | ||
| Blood and Lymphatic System Disorders | Lymphopenia | 97 | 97 | 9 | 1 |
| Neutropenia | 77 | 42 | 51 | 26 | |
| Anemia | 76 | 13 | 54 | 18 | |
| Thrombocytopenia | 71 | 13 | 70 | 14 | |
| General Disorders and Administration Site Conditions | Pyrexia | 69 | 10 | 11 | 1 |
| Chills | 53 | 3 | 1 | 0 | |
| Infections and Infestations | CMV viremia CMV viremia (without evidence of symptoms) includes both cases of single PCR positive test results and of confirmed CMV viremia (≥2 occasions in consecutive samples 1 week apart). For the latter, ganciclovir (or equivalent) was initiated per protocol. | 55 | 4 | 8 | 0 |
| CMV infection | 16 | 5 | 0 | 0 | |
| Other infections | 74 | 21 | 65 | 10 | |
| Skin and Subcutaneous Tissue Disorders | Urticaria | 16 | 2 | 1 | 0 |
| Rash | 13 | 1 | 4 | 0 | |
| Erythema | 4 | 0 | 1 | 0 | |
| Vascular Disorders | Hypotension | 16 | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| Hypertension | 14 | 5 | 2 | 1 | |
| Nervous System Disorders | Headache | 14 | 1 | 8 | 0 |
| Tremor | 3 | 0 | 1 | 0 | |
| Respiratory, Thoracic and Mediastinal Disorders | Dyspnea | 14 | 4 | 7 | 3 |
| Gastrointestinal Disorders | Diarrhea | 10 | 1 | 4 | 0 |
| Psychiatric Disorders | Insomnia | 10 | 0 | 3 | 0 |
| Anxiety | 8 | 0 | 1 | 0 | |
| Cardiac Disorders | Tachycardia | 10 | 0 | 1 | 0 |
Previously Treated Patients
Additional safety information was obtained from 3 single arm studies of 149 previously treated patients with CLL administered 30 mg CAMPATH intravenously three times weekly for 4 to 12 weeks (median cumulative dose 673 mg [range 2–1106 mg]; median duration of therapy 8.0 weeks). Adverse reactions in these studies not listed in Table 1 that occurred at an incidence rate of >5% were fatigue, nausea, emesis, musculoskeletal pain, anorexia, dysesthesia, mucositis, and bronchospasm.
CAMPATH
The following adverse reactions have been identified during postapproval use of CAMPATH. 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.
General Disorders and Administration Site Conditions: Fatal infusion-related reactions.
Cardiovascular Disorders: Congestive heart failure, cardiomyopathy, decreased ejection fraction (some patients had been previously treated with cardiotoxic agents).
Cerebrovascular Disorders: Cervicocephalic arterial dissection, stroke, including hemorrhagic and ischemic stroke.
Gastrointestinal Disorders: Acute acalculous cholecystitis.
Immune System Disorders: Goodpasture's syndrome, Graves' disease, aplastic anemia, Guillain-Barré syndrome, chronic inflammatory demyelinating polyradiculoneuropathy, serum sickness, fatal transfusion associated graft versus host disease, hemophagocytic lymphohistiocytosis (HLH).
Infections: Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) infection, progressive multifocal leukoencephalopathy (PML), reactivation of latent viruses.
Metabolism and Nutrition Disorders: Tumor lysis syndrome.
Neoplasms: EBV-associated lymphoproliferative disorder.
Nervous System Disorders: Optic neuropathy.
Renal and Urinary Disorders: Glomerular nephropathies.
Other Alemtuzumab Products
The following adverse reactions have been identified during postapproval use of another alemtuzumab product. 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.
Endocrine Disorders: Hypothyroidism, hyperthyroidism, and thyroiditis.
Nervous System Disorders: Autoimmune encephalitis.
Risk Summary
Based on findings from animal studies, CAMPATH may cause fetal harm when administered to a pregnant woman. Available data from published cohort studies in pregnant women are insufficient to establish a CAMPATH-associated risk of major birth defects, miscarriage or adverse maternal or fetal outcomes. Alemtuzumab was embryolethal in pregnant huCD52 transgenic mice when administered during organogenesis (see Data). Human IgG antibodies are known to cross the placental barrier; therefore, CAMPATH may be transmitted from the mother to the developing fetus. Advise women of the potential risk to the fetus. Infants born to pregnant women treated with CAMPATH may be at increased risk of infection (see Clinical Considerations).
The background risk of major birth defects and miscarriage for the indicated population is unknown. All pregnancies have a background risk of birth defect, loss, or other adverse outcomes. In the U.S. general population, the estimated background risk of major birth defects and miscarriage in clinically recognized pregnancies is 2% to 4% and 15% to 20%, respectively.
Clinical Considerations
Fetal/Neonatal adverse reactions
Monoclonal antibodies are transported across the placenta as pregnancy progresses, with the largest amount transferred during the third trimester. Consider the risks and benefits of administering live or live-attenuated vaccines to infants exposed to CAMPATH in utero [see Warnings and Precautions (5.3, 5.4)].
Data
Animal data
When alemtuzumab was administered to pregnant huCD52 transgenic mice during organogenesis (gestation days [GD] 6–10 or GD 11–15) at intravenous doses of 3 or 10 mg/kg, no teratogenic effects were observed. However, there was an increase in embryolethality (increased postimplantation loss and the number of dams with all fetuses dead or resorbed) in pregnant animals dosed during GD 11–15. In a separate study in pregnant huCD52 transgenic mice, administration of alemtuzumab during organogenesis (GD 6–10 or GD 11–15) at intravenous doses of 3 or 10 mg/kg, decreases in B-lymphocyte and T-lymphocyte populations were observed in the offspring at both doses tested.
In pregnant huCD52 transgenic mice administered alemtuzumab at intravenous doses of 3 or 10 mg/kg/day throughout gestation and lactation, there was an increase in pup deaths during the lactation period at 10 mg/kg. Decreases in T-lymphocyte and B-lymphocyte populations and in antibody response were observed in offspring at both doses tested.
Risk Summary
There are no data on the presence of alemtuzumab in human milk, effects on milk production, or the breastfed child. The effects of local gastrointestinal exposure and limited systemic exposure in the breastfed infant to alemtuzumab are unknown. Alemtuzumab was detected in the milk of lactating huCD52 transgenic mice administered alemtuzumab (see Data). Maternal IgG is known to be present in human milk and when a drug is present in animal milk, it is likely that the drug will be present in human milk.
Because of the potential for serious adverse reactions from CAMPATH in a breastfed child, including reduced lymphocyte counts, advise lactating women not to breastfeed during treatment with CAMPATH and for at least 3 months following the last dose.
Data
Alemtuzumab was detected in the milk of lactating huCD52 transgenic mice following intravenous administration of alemtuzumab at a dose of 10 mg/kg on postpartum days 8–12. Serum levels of alemtuzumab were similar in lactating mice and offspring on postpartum day 13 and were associated with evidence of pharmacological activity (decrease in lymphocyte counts) in the offspring.
Pregnancy Testing
Pregnancy testing is recommended for females of reproductive potential prior to initiating CAMPATH therapy.
Contraception
Females
Advise female patients of reproductive potential to use effective contraception during treatment with CAMPATH and for at least 3 months after the last dose.
Infertility
Based on findings from animal studies, alemtuzumab may impair fertility in females and males of reproductive potential [see Nonclinical Toxicology (13.1)]. The reversibility of the effect on fertility is unknown.
Cardiac Electrophysiology
The effect of multiple doses of alemtuzumab (12 mg/day for 5 days) on the QTc interval was evaluated in a single-arm study in 53 patients without malignancy. No large changes in the mean QTc interval (i.e., >20 ms) were detected in the study. A mean increase in heart rate of 22 to 26 beats/min was observed for at least 2 hours following the initial infusion of alemtuzumab. This increase in heart rate was not observed with subsequent doses.
Distribution
After the last 30 mg dose, the mean volume of distribution at steady-state was 0.18 L/kg (range 0.1 to 0.4 L/kg).
Elimination
CAMPATH pharmacokinetics displayed nonlinear elimination kinetics. Systemic clearance decreased with repeated administration due to decreased receptor-mediated clearance (i.e., loss of CD52 receptors in the periphery). Mean half-life was 11 hours (range 2 to 32 hours) after the first 30 mg dose and was 6 days (range 1 to 14 days) after the last 30 mg dose.
Specific Populations
The effects of renal or hepatic impairment on the pharmacokinetics of CAMPATH have not been studied.
Cytopenias
Advise patients to report any signs or symptoms such as bleeding, easy bruising, petechiae or purpura, pallor, weakness or fatigue [see Warnings and Precautions (5.1) and Adverse Reactions (6.1)].
Infusion-Related Reactions
Advise patients of the signs and symptoms of infusion-related reactions and of the need to take premedications as prescribed [see Warnings and Precautions (5.2) and Adverse Reactions (6.1)].
Immunosuppression/Infections
Advise patients to immediately report symptoms of infection (e.g., pyrexia) and to take prophylactic anti-infectives for PCP (trimethoprim/sulfamethoxazole DS or equivalent) and for herpes virus (famciclovir or equivalent) as prescribed [see Warnings and Precautions (5.3) and Adverse Reactions (6.1)].
Advise patients that irradiation of blood products is required [see Warnings and Precautions (5.3)].
Immunization
Advise patients that they should not be immunized with live viral vaccines if they have recently been treated with CAMPATH. Advise females with infants exposed to CAMPATH in utero to inform the pediatrician of the exposure [see Warnings and Precautions (5.4)].
Embryo-Fetal Toxicity
Advise pregnant women and females of reproductive potential of the potential risk to a fetus. Advise females to inform their healthcare provider of a known or suspected pregnancy [see Use in Specific Populations (8.1, 8.3)].
Advise female patients of reproductive potential to use effective contraception during treatment with CAMPATH and for 3 months after the final dose [see Use in Specific Populations (8.1, 8.3)].
Lactation
Advise females not to breastfeed during treatment with CAMPATH and for 3 months after the final dose [see Use in Specific Populations (8.2)].
Infertility
Advise females and males of reproductive potential that CAMPATH may impair fertility [see Use in Specific Populations (8.3) and Nonclinical Toxicology (13.1)].
Glomerular Nephropathies
Advise patients on signs and symptoms of glomerular nephropathies that may occur months to years after receiving CAMPATH [see Adverse Reactions (6.2)].
Manufactured and distributed by:
Genzyme Corporation, Cambridge, MA 02141
A SANOFI COMPANY
US License Number: 1596
CAMPATH is a registered trademark of Genzyme Corporation.
©2023 Genzyme Corporation.