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.
An estimated total of 1,557 patients received mycophenolate mofetil during pivotal clinical trials in the prevention of acute organ rejection. Of these, 991 were included in the three renal studies, 277 were included in one hepatic study, and 289 were included in one cardiac study. Patients in all study arms also received cyclosporine and corticosteroids.
The data described below primarily derive from five randomized, active-controlled double-blind 12-month trials of mycophenolate mofetil in de novo kidney (3) heart (1) and liver (1) transplant patients [see Clinical Studies (14.1, 14.2, 14.3)].
Mycophenolate Mofetil Oral
The incidence of adverse reactions for mycophenolate mofetil was determined in five randomized, comparative, double-blind trials in the prevention of rejection in kidney, heart and liver transplant patients (two active- and one placebo-controlled trials, one active-controlled trial, and one active-controlled trial, respectively) [see Clinical Studies (14.1, 14.2 and 14.3)].
The three de novo kidney studies with 12-month duration compared two dose levels of oral mycophenolate mofetil (1 g twice daily and 1.5 g twice daily) with azathioprine (2 studies) or placebo (1 study) when administered in combination with cyclosporine (Sandimmune®) and corticosteroids to prevent acute rejection episodes. One study also included anti-thymocyte globulin (ATGAM®) induction therapy.
In the de novo heart transplantation study with 12-month duration, patients received mycophenolate mofetil 1.5 g twice daily (n=289) or azathioprine 1.5 to 3 mg/kg/day (n=289), in combination with cyclosporine (Sandimmune® or Neoral®) and corticosteroids as maintenance immunosuppressive therapy.
In the de novo liver transplantation study with 12-month duration, patients received CellCept 1 g twice daily intravenously for up to 14 days followed by mycophenolate mofetil 1.5 g twice daily orally or azathioprine 1 to 2 mg/kg/day intravenously followed by azathioprine 1 to 2 mg/kg/day orally, in combination with cyclosporine (Neoral®) and corticosteroids as maintenance immunosuppressive therapy. The total number of patients enrolled was 565.
Approximately 53% of the kidney transplant patients, 65% of the heart transplant patients, and 48% of the liver transplant patients were treated for more than 1 year. Adverse reactions reported in ≥ 20% of patients in the mycophenolate mofetil treatment groups are presented below. The safety data of three kidney transplantation studies are pooled together.
Table 3 Adverse Reactions in Controlled Studies of De Novo Kidney, Heart or Liver Transplantation Reported in ≥20% of Patients in the Mycophenolate Mofetil Group |
Adverse drug reaction (MedDRA)
System Organ Class | Kidney Studies | Heart Study | Liver Study |
Mycophenolate Mofetil 2g/day (n=501) or 3 g/day (n=490) | AZA 1 to 2 mg/kg/day or 100 to 150 mg/day | Placebo | Mycophenolate Mofetil 3 g/day | AZA 1.5 to 3 mg/kg/day | Mycophenolate Mofetil 3 g/day | AZA 1 to 2 mg/kg/day |
(n=991) | (n=326) | (n=166) | (n=289) | (n=289) | (n=277) | (n=287) |
% | % | % | % | % | % | % |
Infections and infestations |
Bacterial infections | 39.9 | 33.7 | 37.3 | - | - | 27.4 | 26.5 |
Viral infections | -a | - | - | 31.1 | 24.9 | - | - |
Blood and lymphatic system disorders |
Anemia | 20.0 | 23.6 | 2.4 | 45.0 | 47.1 | 43.0 | 53.0 |
Ecchymosis | - | - | - | 20.1 | 9.7 | - | - |
Leukocytosis | - | - | - | 42.6 | 37.4 | 22.4 | 21.3 |
Leukopenia | 28.6 | 24.8 | 4.2 | 34.3 | 43.3 | 45.8 | 39.0 |
Thrombocytopenia | - | - | - | 24.2 | 28.0 | 38.3 | 42.2 |
Metabolism and nutrition disorders |
Hypercholesterolemia | - | - | - | 46.0 | 43.9 | - | - |
Hyperglycemia | - | - | - | 48.4 | 53.3 | 43.7 | 48.8 |
Hyperkalemia | - | - | - | - | - | 22.0 | 23.7 |
Hypocalcemia | - | - | - | - | - | 30.0 | 30.0 |
Hypokalemia | - | - | - | 32.5 | 26.3 | 37.2 | 41.1 |
Hypomagnesemia | - | - | - | 20.1 | 14.2 | 39.0 | 37.6 |
Psychiatric disorders |
Depression | - | - | - | 20.1 | 15.2 | - | - |
Insomnia | - | - | - | 43.3 | 39.8 | 52.3 | 47.0 |
Nervous system disorders |
Dizziness | - | - | - | 34.3 | 33.9 | - | - |
Headache | - | - | - | 58.5 | 55.4 | 53.8 | 49.1 |
Tremor | - | - | - | 26.3 | 25.6 | 33.9 | 35.5 |
Cardiac disorders |
Tachycardia | - | - | - | 22.8 | 21.8 | 22.0 | 15.7 |
Vascular disorders |
Hypertension | 27.5 | 32.2 | 19.3 | 78.9 | 74.0 | 62.1 | 59.6 |
Hypotension | - | - | - | 34.3 | 40.1 | - | - |
Respiratory, thoracic and mediastinal disorders |
Cough | - | - | - | 40.5 | 32.2 | - | - |
Dyspnea | - | - | - | 44.3 | 44.3 | 31.0 | 30.3 |
Pleural effusion | - | - | - | - | - | 34.3 | 35.9 |
Gastrointestinal disorders |
Abdominal pain | 22.4 | 23.0 | 11.4 | 41.9 | 39.4 | 62.5 | 51.2 |
Constipation | - | - | - | 43.6 | 38.8 | 37.9 | 38.3 |
Decreased appetite | - | - | - | - | - | 25.3 | 17.1 |
Diarrhea | 30.4 | 20.9 | 13.9 | 52.6 | 39.4 | 51.3 | 49.8 |
Dyspepsia | - | - | - | 22.1 | 22.1 | 22.4 | 20.9 |
Nausea | - | - | - | 56.1 | 60.2 | 54.5 | 51.2 |
Vomiting | - | - | - | 39.1 | 34.6 | 32.9 | 33.4 |
Hepatobiliary disorders |
Blood lactate dehydrogenase increased | - | - | - | 23.5 | 18.3 | - | - |
Hepatic enzyme increased | - | - | - | - | - | 24.9 | 19.2 |
Skin and subcutaneous tissues disorders |
Rash | - | - | - | 26.0 | 20.8 | - | - |
Renal and urinary disorders |
Blood creatinine increased | - | - | - | 42.2 | 39.8 | - | - |
Blood urea increased | - | - | - | 36.7 | 34.3 | - | - |
General disorders and administration site conditions |
Asthenia | - | - | - | 49.1 | 41.2 | 35.4 | 33.8 |
Edemab | 21.0 | 28.2 | 8.4 | 67.5 | 55.7 | 48.4 | 47.7 |
Painc | 24.8 | 32.2 | 9.6 | 79.2 | 77.5 | 74.0 | 77.5 |
Pyrexia | - | - | - | 56.4 | 53.6 | 52.3 | 56.1 |
a: “-” Indicates that the incidence was below the cutoff value of 20% for inclusion in the table. |
b: “Edema” includes peripheral edema, facial edema, scrotal edema. |
c: “Pain” includes musculoskeletal pain (myalgia, neck pain, back pain). |
In the three de novo kidney studies, patients receiving 2 g/day of mycophenolate mofetil had an overall better safety profile than did patients receiving 3 g/day of mycophenolate mofetil.
Post-transplant lymphoproliferative disease (PTLD, pseudolymphoma) developed in 0.4% to 1% of patients receiving mycophenolate mofetil (2 g or 3 g daily) with other immunosuppressive agents in controlled clinical trials of kidney, heart and liver transplant patients followed for at least 1 year [see Warnings and Precautions (5.2)]. Non-melanoma skin carcinomas occurred in 1.6% to 4.2% of patients, other types of malignancy in 0.7% to 2.1% of patients. Three-year safety data in kidney and heart transplant patients did not reveal any unexpected changes in incidence of malignancy compared to the 1-year data. In pediatric patients, PTLD was observed in 1.35% (2/148) by 12 months post-transplant.
Cytopenias, including leukopenia, anemia, thrombocytopenia and pancytopenia are a known risk associated with mycophenolate and may lead or contribute to the occurrence of infections and hemorrhages [see Warnings and Precautions (5.3)]. Severe neutropenia (ANC <0.5 x 103/µL) developed in up to 2% of kidney transplant patients, up to 2.8% of heart transplant patients and up to 3.6% of liver transplant patients receiving mycophenolate mofetil 3 g daily [see Warnings and Precautions (5.4) and Dosage and Administration (2.5)].
The most common opportunistic infections in patients receiving mycophenolate mofetil with other immunosuppressants were mucocutaneous candida, CMV viremia/syndrome, and herpes simplex. The proportion of patients with CMV viremia/syndrome was 13.5%. In patients receiving mycophenolate mofetil (2 g or 3 g) in controlled studies for prevention of kidney, heart or liver rejection, fatal infection/sepsis occurred in approximately 2% of kidney and heart patients and in 5% of liver patients [see Warnings and Precautions (5.3)].
The most serious gastrointestinal disorders reported were ulceration and hemorrhage, which are known risks associated with mycophenolate mofetil. Mouth, esophageal, gastric, duodenal, and intestinal ulcers often complicated by hemorrhage, as well as hematemesis, melena, and hemorrhagic forms of gastritis and colitis were commonly reported during the pivotal clinical trials, while the most common gastrointestinal disorders were diarrhea, nausea and vomiting. Endoscopic investigation of patients with mycophenolate mofetil-related diarrhea revealed isolated cases of intestinal villous atrophy [see Warnings and Precautions (5.5)].
The following adverse reactions were reported with 3% to <20% incidence in kidney, heart, and liver transplant patients treated with mycophenolate mofetil, in combination with cyclosporine and corticosteroids.
Table 4 Adverse Reactions in Controlled Studies of De Novo Kidney, Heart or Liver Transplantation Reported in 3% to <20% of Patients Treated with Mycophenolate Mofetil in Combination with Cyclosporine and Corticosteroids |
System Organ Class | Adverse Reactions |
Body as a Whole | cellulitis, chills, hernia, malaise |
Infections and Infestations | fungal infections |
Hematologic and Lymphatic | coagulation disorder, ecchymosis, pancytopenia |
Urogenital | hematuria |
Cardiovascular | hypotension |
Metabolic and Nutritional | acidosis, alkaline phosphatase increased, hyperlipemia, hypophosphatemia, weight loss |
Digestive | esophagitis, flatulence, gastritis, gastrointestinal hemorrhage, hepatitis, ileus, nausea and vomiting, stomach ulcer, stomatitis |
Neoplasm benign, malignant and unspecified | neoplasm |
Skin and Appendages | skin benign neoplasm, skin carcinoma |
Psychiatric | confusional state |
Nervous | hypertonia, paresthesia, somnolence |
Musculoskeletal | arthralgia, myasthenia |
Pediatric Study
The type and frequency of adverse events in a clinical study for prevention of kidney allograft rejection in 100 pediatric patients 3 months to 18 years of age dosed with mycophenolate mofetil for oral suspension 600 mg/m2 twice daily (up to 1 g twice daily) were generally similar to those observed in adult patients dosed with CellCept capsules at a dose of 1 g twice daily with the exception of abdominal pain, fever, infection, pain, sepsis, diarrhea, vomiting, pharyngitis, respiratory tract infection, hypertension, leukopenia, and anemia, which were observed in a higher proportion in pediatric patients.
Geriatrics
Geriatric patients (≥65 years), particularly those who are receiving mycophenolate mofetil as part of a combination immunosuppressive regimen, may be at increased risk of certain infections (including cytomegalovirus [CMV] tissue invasive disease) and possibly gastrointestinal hemorrhage and pulmonary edema, compared to younger individuals [see Warnings and Precautions (5.3) and Adverse Reactions (6.1)].