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.
Multiple Myeloma (MM)
In Trial 1, data were evaluated from 219 patients (safety population) who received treatment with pomalidomide capsules + Low-dose Dex (112 patients) or pomalidomide capsules alone (107 patients). Median number of treatment cycles was 5. Sixty-seven percent of patients in the study had a dose interruption of either drug due to adverse reactions. Forty-two percent of patients in the study had a dose reduction of either drug due to adverse reactions. The discontinuation rate due to adverse reactions was 11%.
In Trial 2, data were evaluated from 450 patients (safety population) who received treatment with pomalidomide capsules + Low-dose Dex (300 patients) or High-dose Dexamethasone (High-dose Dex) (150 patients). The median number of treatment cycles for the pomalidomide capsules + Low-dose Dex arm was 5. In the pomalidomide capsules + Low-dose Dex arm, 67% of patients had a dose interruption of pomalidomide capsules, the median time to the first dose interruption of pomalidomide capsules was 4.1 weeks. Twenty-seven percent of patients had a dose reduction of pomalidomide capsules, the median time to the first dose reduction of pomalidomide was 4.5 weeks. Eight percent of patients discontinued pomalidomide capsules due to adverse reactions.
Tables 3 and 4 summarize the adverse reactions reported in Trials 1 and 2, respectively.
Table 3: Adverse Reactions in Any Pomalidomide Capsules Treatment Arm in Trial 1*
| All Adverse Reactions ≥ 10% in Either Arm | Grade 3 or 4 ≥ 5% in Either Arm |
Body System Adverse Reaction | Pomalidomide Capsules
a(N=107)
| Pomalidomide Capsules + Low-dose Dex (N=112) | Pomalidomide Capsules (N=107) | Pomalidomide Capsules + Low-dose Dex (N=112) |
Number (%) of patients with at least one adverse reaction | 107 (100) | 112 (100) | 98 (92) | 102 (91) |
Blood and lymphatic system disorders |
Neutropenia
b | 57 (53) | 55 (49) | 51 (48) | 46 (41) |
Anemia
b | 41 (38) | 47 (42) | 25 (23) | 24 (21) |
Thrombocytopenia
b | 28 (26) | 26 (23) | 24 (22) | 21 (19) |
Leukopenia | 14 (13) | 22 (20) | 7 (7) | 11 (10) |
Febrile neutropenia
b | < 10% | < 10% | 6 (6) | 3 (3) |
Lymphopenia | 4 (4) | 17 (15) | 2 (2) | 8 (7) |
General disorders and administration site conditions |
Fatigue and asthenia
b | 62 (58) | 70 (63) | 13 (12) | 19 (17) |
Edema peripheral | 27 (25) | 19 (17) | 0 (0.0) | 0 (0.0) |
Pyrexia
b | 25 (23) | 36 (32) | < 5% | < 5% |
Chills | 11 (10) | 14 (13) | 0 (0.0) | 0 (0.0) |
Gastrointestinal disorders |
Nausea
b | 39 (36) | 27 (24) | < 5% | < 5% |
Constipation
b | 38 (36) | 41 (37) | < 5% | < 5% |
Diarrhea | 37 (35) | 40 (36) | < 5% | < 5% |
Vomiting
b | 15 (14) | 16 (14) | < 5% | 0 (0.0) |
Musculoskeletal and connective tissue disorders |
Back pain b | 37 (35) | 36 (32) | 15 (14) | 11 (10) |
Musculoskeletal chest pain | 25 (23) | 22 (20) | < 5% | 0 (0.0) |
Muscle spasms | 23 (21) | 22 (20) | < 5% | < 5% |
Arthralgia | 18 (17) | 17 (15) | < 5% | < 5% |
Muscular weakness | 15 (14) | 15 (13) | 6 (6) | 4 (4) |
Bone pain | 13 (12) | 8 (7) | < 5% | < 5% |
Musculoskeletal pain | 13 (12) | 19 (17) | < 5% | < 5% |
Pain in extremity | 8 (7) | 16 (14) | 0 (0.0) | < 5% |
Infections and infestations |
Upper respiratory tract infection | 40 (37) | 32 (29) | < 5% | < 5% |
Pneumonia
b | 30 (28) | 38 (34) | 21 (20) | 32 (29) |
Urinary tract infection
b | 11 (10) | 19 (17) | 2 (2) | 10 (9) |
Sepsis
b | < 10% | < 10% | 6 (6) | 5 (4) |
Metabolism and nutrition disorders |
Decreased appetite | 25 (23) | 21 (19) | < 5% | 0 (0.0) |
Hypercalcemia
b | 23 (21) | 13 (12) | 11 (10) | 1 (< 1) |
Hypokalemia | 13 (12) | 13 (12) | < 5% | < 5% |
Hyperglycemia | 12 (11) | 17 (15) | < 5% | < 5% |
Hyponatremia | 12 (11) | 14 (13) | < 5% | < 5% |
Dehydration
b | < 10% | < 10% | 5 (4.7) | 6 (5.4) |
Hypocalcemia | 6 (6) | 13 (12) | 0 (0.0) | < 5% |
Respiratory, thoracic and mediastinal disorders |
Dyspnea
b | 38 (36) | 50 (45) | 8 (7) | 14 (13) |
Cough | 18 (17) | 25 (22) | 0 (0.0) | 0 (0.0) |
Epistaxis | 18 (17) | 12 (11) | < 5% | 0 (0.0) |
Productive cough | 10 (9) | 14 (13) | 0 (0.0) | 0 (0.0) |
Oropharyngeal pain | 6 (6) | 12 (11) | 0 (0.0) | 0 (0.0) |
Nervous system disorders |
Dizziness | 24 (22) | 20 (18) | < 5% | < 5% |
Peripheral neuropathy | 23 (21) | 20 (18) | 0 (0.0) | 0 (0.0) |
Headache | 16 (15) | 15 (13) | 0 (0.0) | < 5% |
Tremor | 11 (10) | 15 (13) | 0 (0.0) | 0 (0.0) |
Skin and subcutaneous tissue disorders |
Rash | 22 (21) | 18 (16) | 0 (0.0) | < 5% |
Pruritus | 16 (15) | 10 (9) | 0 (0.0) | 0 (0.0) |
Dry skin | 10 (9) | 12 (11) | 0 (0.0) | 0 (0.0) |
Hyperhidrosis | 8 (7) | 18 (16) | 0 (0.0) | 0 (0.0) |
Night sweats | 5 (5) | 14 (13) | 0 (0.0) | 0 (0.0) |
Investigations |
Blood creatinine increased
b | 20 (19) | 11 (10) | 6 (6) | 3 (3) |
Weight decreased | 16 (15) | 10 (9) | 0 (0.0) | 0 (0.0) |
Weight increased | 1 (< 1) | 12 (11) | 0 (0.0) | 0 (0.0) |
Psychiatric disorders |
Anxiety | 14 (13) | 8 (7) | 0 (0.0) | 0 (0.0) |
Confusional state
b | 13 (12) | 15 (13) | 6 (6) | 3 (3) |
Insomnia | 7 (7) | 18 (16) | 0 (0.0) | 0 (0.0) |
Renal and urinary disorders |
Renal failure
b | 16 (15) | 11 (10) | 9 (8) | 8 (7) |
* Regardless of attribution of relatedness to pomalidomide capsules.
aPomalidomide capsules alone arm includes all patients randomized to the pomalidomide capsules alone arm who took study drug; 61 of the 107 patients had dexamethasone added during the treatment period.
bSerious adverse reactions were reported in at least 2 patients in any pomalidomide capsules treatment arm.
Data cutoff: 01 March 2013
Table 4: Adverse Reactions in Trial 2
| All Adverse Reactions (≥ 5% in Pomalidomide Capsules + Low-dose Dex arm, and at least 2% higher than the High-dose-Dex arm) | Grade 3 or 4 (≥ 1% in Pomalidomide Capsules + Low-dose Dex arm, and at least 1% higher than the High-dose-Dex arm) |
Body System Adverse Reaction | Pomalidomide Capsules + Low-dose Dex (N=300) | High-dose Dex (N=150) | Pomalidomide Capsules + Low-dose Dex (N=300) | High-dose Dex (N=150) |
Number (%) of patients with at least one adverse reaction | 297 (99) | 149 (99) | 259 (86) | 127 (85) |
Blood and lymphatic system disorders |
Neutropenia
b | 154 (51) | 31 (21) | 145 (48) | 24 (16) |
Thrombocytopenia | 89 (30) a | 44 (29) a | 66 (22) a | 39 (26) a |
Leukopenia | 38 (13) | 8 (5) | 27 (9) | 5 (3) |
Febrile neutropenia
b | 28 (9) | 0 (0.0) | 28 (9) | 0 (0.0) |
General disorders and administration site conditions |
Fatigue and asthenia | 140 (47) | 64 (43) | 26 (9) a | 18 (12) a |
Pyrexia
b | 80 (27) | 35 (23) | 9 (3) a | 7 (5) a |
Edema peripheral | 52 (17) | 17 (11) | 4 (1) a | 3 (2) a |
Pain | 11 (4) a | 3 (2) a | 5 (2) | 1 (< 1) |
Infections and infestations |
Upper respiratory tract infection
b | 93 (31) | 19 (13) | 9 (3) | 1 (< 1) |
Pneumonia
b | 58 (19) | 20 (13) | 47 (16) | 15 (10) |
Neutropenic sepsis
b | 3 (1) a | 0 (0.0) a | 3 (1) | 0 (0.0) |
Gastrointestinal disorders |
Diarrhea | 66 (22) | 28 (19) | 3 (1) a | 2 (1) a |
Constipation | 65 (22) | 22 (15) | 7 (2) | 0 (0.0) |
Nausea | 45 (15) | 17 (11) | 3 (1) a | 2 (1) a |
Vomiting | 23 (8) | 6 (4) | 3 (1) | 0 (0.0) |
Musculoskeletal and connective tissue disorders |
Back pain
b | 59 (20) | 24 (16) | 15 (5) | 6 (4) |
Bone pain
b | 54 (18) | 21 (14) | 22 (7) | 7 (5) |
Muscle spasms | 46 (15) | 11 (7) | 1 (< 1) a | 1 (< 1) a |
Arthralgia | 26 (9) | 7 (5) | 2 (< 1) a | 1 (< 1) a |
Pain in extremity | 20 (7) a | 9 (6) a | 6 (2) | 0 (0.0) |
Respiratory, thoracic and mediastinal disorders |
Dyspnea
b | 76 (25) | 25 (17) | 17 (6) | 7 (5) |
Cough | 60 (20) | 15 (10) | 2 (< 1) a | 1 (< 1) a |
Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease
b | 5 (2) a | 0 (0.0) a | 4 (1) | 0 (0.0) |
Nervous system disorders |
Peripheral neuropathy | 52 (17) | 18 (12) | 5 (2) a | 2 (1) a |
Dizziness | 37 (12) | 14 (9) | 4 (1) a | 2 (1) a |
Headache | 23 (8) | 8 (5) | 1 (< 1) a | 0 (0.0) a |
Tremor | 17 (6) | 2 (1) | 2 (< 1) a | 0 (0.0) a |
Depressed level of consciousness | 5 (2) a | 0 (0.0) a | 3 (1) | 0 (0.0) |
Metabolism and nutrition disorders |
Decreased appetite | 38 (13) | 12 (8) | 3 (1) a | 2 (1) a |
Hypokalemia | 28 (9) a | 12 (8) a | 12 (4) | 4 (3) |
Hypocalcemia | 12 (4) a | 9 (6) a | 5 (2) | 1 (< 1) |
Skinand subcutaneous tissue disorders |
Rash | 23 (8) | 2 (1) | 3 (1) | 0 (0.0) |
Pruritus | 22 (7) | 5 (3) | 0 (0.0) a | 0 (0.0) a |
Hyperhidrosis | 15 (5) | 1 (< 1) | 0 (0.0) a | 0 (0.0) a |
Investigations |
Neutrophil count decreased | 15 (5) | 1 (< 1) | 14 (5) | 1 (< 1) |
Platelet count decreased | 10 (3) a | 3 (2) a | 8 (3) | 2 (1) |
White blood cell count decreased | 8 (3) a | 1 (< 1) a | 8 (3) | 0 (0.0) |
Alanine aminotransferase increased | 7 (2) a | 2 (1) a | 5 (2) | 0 (0.0) |
Aspartate aminotransferase increased | 4 (1) a | 2 (1) a | 3 (1) | 0 (0.0) |
Lymphocyte count decreased | 3 (1) a | 1 (< 1) a | 3 (1) | 0 (0.0) |
Renal and urinary disorders |
Renal failure | 31 (10) a | 18 (12) a | 19 (6) | 8 (5) |
Injury, poisoning and procedural complications |
Femur fracture
b | 5 (2) a | 1 (< 1) a | 5 (2) | 1 (< 1) |
Reproductive system and breast disorders |
Pelvic pain | 6 (2)
a | 3 (2)
a | 4 (1) | 0 (0.0) |
aPercentage did not meet the criteria to be considered as an adverse reaction for pomalidomide capsules for that category of event (i.e., all adverse events or Grade 3 or 4 adverse events).
bSerious adverse reactions were reported in at least 3 patients in the POM + Low-dose Dex arm, AND at least 1% higher than the High-dose-Dex arm percentage.
Data cutoff: 01 March 2013
Other Adverse Reactions
Other adverse reactions of pomalidomide capsules in patients with MM, not described above, and considered important:
Cardiac Disorders: Myocardial infarction, Atrial fibrillation, Angina pectoris, Cardiac failure congestive
Ear and Labyrinth Disorders: Vertigo
Gastrointestinal Disorders: Abdominal pain
General Disorders and Administration Site Conditions: General physical health deterioration, Non-cardiac chest pain, Multi-organ failure
Hepatobiliary Disorders: Hyperbilirubinemia
Infections and Infestations: Pneumocystis jiroveci pneumonia, Respiratory syncytial virus infection, Neutropenic sepsis, Bacteremia, Pneumonia respiratory syncytial viral, Cellulitis, Urosepsis, Septic shock, Clostridium difficile colitis, Pneumonia streptococcal, Lobar pneumonia, Viral infection, Lung infection
Investigations: Alanine aminotransferase increased, Hemoglobin decreased
Injury, Poisoning and Procedural Complications: Fall, Compression fracture, Spinal compression fracture
Metabolism and Nutritional Disorders: Hyperkalemia, Failure to thrive
Nervous System Disorders: Depressed level of consciousness, Syncope
Psychiatric Disorders: Mental status change
Renal and Urinary Disorders: Urinary retention, Hyponatremia
Reproductive System and Breast Disorders: Pelvic pain
Respiratory, Thoracic, and Mediastinal Disorders:Interstitial lung disease, Pulmonary embolism, Respiratory failure, Bronchospasm
Vascular Disorders:Hypotension