CALQUENCE Capsule Ref.[10764] Active ingredients: Acalabrutinib

5.1 Serious and Opportunistic Infections

Fatal and serious infections, including opportunistic infections, have occurred in patients with hematologic malignancies treated with CALQUENCE.

Serious or Grade 3 or higher infections (bacterial, viral, or fungal) occurred in 19% of 1029 patients exposed to CALQUENCE in clinical trials, most often due to respiratory tract infections (11% of all patients, including pneumonia in 6%). These infections predominantly occurred in the absence of Grade 3 or 4 neutropenia, with neutropenic infection reported in 1.9% of all patients. Opportunistic infections in recipients of CALQUENCE have included, but are not limited to, hepatitis B virus reactivation, fungal pneumonia, Pneumocystis jiroveci pneumonia, Epstein-Barr virus reactivation, cytomegalovirus, and progressive multifocal leukoencephalopathy (PML). Consider prophylaxis in patients who are at increased risk for opportunistic infections. Monitor patients for signs and symptoms of infection and treat promptly.

5.2 Hemorrhage

Fatal and serious hemorrhagic events have occurred in patients with hematologic malignancies treated with CALQUENCE. Major hemorrhage (serious or Grade 3 or higher bleeding or any central nervous system bleeding) occurred in 3.0% of patients, with fatal hemorrhage occurring in 0.1% of 1029 patients exposed to CALQUENCE in clinical trials. Bleeding events of any grade, excluding bruising and petechiae, occurred in 22% of patients.

Use of antithrombotic agents concomitantly with CALQUENCE may further increase the risk of hemorrhage. In clinical trials, major hemorrhage occurred in 2.7% of patients taking CALQUENCE without antithrombotic agents and 3.6% of patients taking CALQUENCE with antithrombotic agents. Consider the risks and benefits of antithrombotic agents when co-administered with CALQUENCE. Monitor patients for signs of bleeding.

Consider the benefit-risk of withholding CALQUENCE for 3-7 days pre- and post-surgery depending upon the type of surgery and the risk of bleeding.

5.3 Cytopenias

Grade 3 or 4 cytopenias, including neutropenia (23%), anemia (8%), thrombocytopenia (7%), and lymphopenia (7%), developed in patients with hematologic malignancies treated with CALQUENCE. Grade 4 neutropenia developed in 12% of patients. Monitor complete blood counts regularly during treatment. Interrupt treatment, reduce the dose, or discontinue treatment as warranted [see Dose Modifications for Adverse Reactions (2.4)].

5.4 Second Primary Malignancies

Second primary malignancies, including skin cancers and other solid tumors, occurred in 12% of 1029 patients exposed to CALQUENCE in clinical trials. The most frequent second primary malignancy was skin cancer, reported in 6% of patients. Monitor patients for skin cancers and advise protection from sun exposure.

5.5 Atrial Fibrillation and Flutter

Grade 3 atrial fibrillation or flutter occurred in 1.1% of 1029 patients treated with CALQUENCE, with all grades of atrial fibrillation or flutter reported in 4.1% of all patients. The risk may be increased in patients with cardiac risk factors, hypertension, previous arrhythmias, and acute infection. Monitor for symptoms of arrhythmia (e.g., palpitations, dizziness, syncope, dyspnea) and manage as appropriate.

The following clinically significant adverse reactions are discussed in greater detail in other sections of the labeling:

• Serious and Opportunistic Infections [see Warnings and Precautions (5.1)]
• Hemorrhage [see Warnings and Precautions (5.2)]
• Cytopenias [see Warnings and Precautions (5.3)]
• Second Primary Malignancies [see Warnings and Precautions (5.4)]
• Atrial Fibrillation and Flutter [see Warnings and Precautions (5.5)]

As 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.

The data in the Warnings and Precautions reflect exposure to CALQUENCE 100 mg approximately every 12 hours in 1029 patients with hematologic malignancies. Treatment includes CALQUENCE monotherapy in 820 patients in 6 trials, and CALQUENCE with obinutuzumab in 209 patients in 2 trials. Among these recipients of CALQUENCE, 88% were exposed for at least 6 months and 79% were exposed for at least one year. In this pooled safety population, adverse reactions in ≥30% of 1029 patients were anemia, neutropenia, upper respiratory tract infection, thrombocytopenia, headache, diarrhea, and musculoskeletal pain.

Mantle Cell Lymphoma

The safety data described in this section reflect exposure to CALQUENCE (100 mg approximately every 12 hours) in 124 patients with previously treated MCL in Trial LY-004 [see Clinical Studies (14.1)]. The median duration of treatment with CALQUENCE was 16.6 (range: 0.1 to 26.6) months. A total of 91 (73.4%) patients were treated with CALQUENCE for ≥6 months and 74 (59.7%) patients were treated for ≥1 year.

The most common adverse reactions (≥20%) of any grade were anemia, thrombocytopenia, headache, neutropenia, diarrhea, fatigue, myalgia, and bruising. Grade 1 severity for the non-hematologic, most common events were as follows: headache (25%), diarrhea (16%), fatigue (20%), myalgia (15%), and bruising (19%). The most common Grade ≥3 non-hematological adverse reaction (reported in at least 2% of patients) was diarrhea.

Dose reductions and discontinuation due to any adverse reaction were reported in 1.6% and 6.5% of patients, respectively.

Tables 3 and 4 present the frequency category of adverse reactions observed in patients with MCL treated with CALQUENCE.

Table 3. Non-Hematologic Adverse Reactions in ≥5% (All Grades) of Patients with MCL in Trial LY-004:

* Per NCI CTCAE version 4.03.
^a Bruising: Includes all terms containing ‘bruise,’ ‘contusion,’ ‘petechiae,’ or 'ecchymosis'
^b Rash: Includes all terms containing 'rash'
^c Hemorrhage: Includes all terms containing ‘hemorrhage’ or 'hematoma'

Table 4. Hematologic Adverse Reactions Reported in ≥20% of Patients with MCL in Trial LY-004:

* Per NCI CTCAE version 4.03; based on laboratory measurements and adverse reactions.

Increases in creatinine 1.5 to 3 times the upper limit of normal occurred in 4.8% of patients.

Chronic Lymphocytic Leukemia

The safety data described below reflect exposure to CALQUENCE (100 mg approximately every 12 hours, with or without obinutuzumab) in 511 patients with CLL from two randomized controlled clinical trials [see Clinical Studies (14.2)].

The most common adverse reactions (≥30%) of any grade in patients with CLL were anemia, neutropenia, thrombocytopenia, headache, upper respiratory tract infection, and diarrhea.

ELEVATE-TN

The safety of CALQUENCE plus obinutuzumab (CALQUENCE+G), CALQUENCE monotherapy, and obinutuzumab plus chlorambucil (GClb) was evaluated in a randomized, multicenter, open-label, actively controlled trial in 526 patients with previously untreated CLL [see Clinical Studies (14.2)].

Patients randomized to the CALQUENCE+G arm were treated with CALQUENCE and obinutuzumab in combination for six cycles, then with CALQUENCE as monotherapy until disease progression or unacceptable toxicity. Patients initiated obinutuzumab on Day 1 of Cycle 2, continuing for a total of 6 cycles. Patient randomized to CALQUENCE monotherapy received CALQUENCE approximately every 12 hours until disease progression or unacceptable toxicity. The trial required age ≥65 years of age or 18 to <65 years of age with a total Cumulative Illness Rating Scale (CIRS) >6 or creatinine clearance of 30 to 69 mL/min, hepatic transaminases ≤3 times upper limit of normal (ULN) and total bilirubin ≤1.5 times ULN, and allowed patients to receive antithrombotic agents other than warfarin or equivalent vitamin K antagonists.

During randomized treatment, the median duration of exposure to CALQUENCE in the CALQUENCE+G and CALQUENCE monotherapy arms was 27.7 months (range 0.3 to 40 months), with 95% and 92% and 89% and 86% of patients with at least 6 months and 12 months of exposure, respectively. In the obinutuzumab and chlorambucil arm the median number of cycles was 6 with 84% of patients receiving at least 6 cycles of obinutuzumab, 70% of patients received at least 6 cycles of chlorambucil. Eighty-five percent of patients in the CALQUENCE+G arm received at least 6 cycles of obinutuzumab.

In the CALQUENCE+G and CALQUENCE monotherapy arms, fatal adverse reactions that occurred in the absence of disease progression and with onset within 30 days of the last study treatment were reported in 2% for each treatment arm, most often from infection. Serious adverse reactions were reported in 39% of patients in the CALQUENCE+G arm and 32% in the CALQUENCE monotherapy arm, most often due to events of pneumonia (2.8% to 7%).

In the CALQUENCE+G arm, adverse reactions led to treatment discontinuation in 11% of patients and a dose reduction of CALQUENCE in 7% of patients. In the CALQUENCE monotherapy arm, adverse reactions led to discontinuation in 10% and dose reduction in 4% of patients.

Tables 5 and 6 presents adverse reactions and laboratory abnormalities identified in the ELEVATE-TN trial.

Table 5. Common Adverse Reactions (≥15% Any Grade) with CALQUENCE in Patients with CLL (ELEVATE-TN):

* Per NCI CTCAE version 4.03
^† Includes any adverse reactions involving infection or febrile neutropenia
^‡ Includes 3 fatal cases in the CALQUENCE plus obinutuzumab arm, 3 fatal cases in the CALQUENCE monotherapy arm and 1 fatal case in the obinutuzumab plus chlorambucil arm
^§ Derived from adverse reaction and laboratory data
^a Upper respiratory tract infection, nasopharyngitis and sinusitis
^b Includes pneumonia, lower respiratory tract infection, bronchitis, bronchiolitis, tracheitis, and lung infection
^c Includes neutropenia, neutrophil count decreased, and related laboratory data
^d Includes anemia, red blood cell count decreased, and related laboratory data
^e Includes thrombocytopenia, platelet count decreased, and related laboratory data
^f Includes lymphocytosis, lymphocyte count increased, and related laboratory data
^g Includes back pain, bone pain, musculoskeletal chest pain, musculoskeletal pain, musculoskeletal discomfort, myalgia, neck pain, pain in extremity and spinal pain
^h Includes asthenia, fatigue, and lethargy
ⁱ Includes bruise, contusion, and ecchymosis
^j Includes rash, dermatitis, and other related terms
^k Includes hemorrhage, hematoma, hemoptysis, hematuria, menorrhagia, hemarthrosis, and epistaxis

Other clinically relevant adverse reactions (all grades incidence <15%) in recipients of CALQUENCE (CALQUENCE in combination with obinutuzumab and monotherapy) included:

• Neoplasms: second primary malignancy (10%), non-melanoma skin cancer (5%)
• Cardiac disorders: atrial fibrillation or flutter (3.6%), hypertension (5%)
• Infection: herpesvirus infection (6%)

Table 6. Select Non-Hematologic Laboratory Abnormalities (≥15% Any Grade), New or Worsening from Baseline in Patients Receiving CALQUENCE (ELEVATE-TN):

* Per NCI CTCAE version 4.03
^a Excludes electrolytes

Increases in creatinine 1.5 to 3 times the upper limit of normal occurred in 3.9% and 2.8% of patients in the CALQUENCE combination arm and monotherapy arm, respectively.

ASCEND

The safety of CALQUENCE in patients with relapsed or refractory CLL was evaluated in a randomized, open-label study (ASCEND) [see Clinical Studies (14.2)]. The trial enrolled patients with relapsed or refractory CLL after at least one prior therapy and required hepatic transaminases ≤2 times upper limit of normal (ULN), total bilirubin ≤1.5 times ULN, and an estimated creatinine clearance ≥30 mL/min. The trial excluded patients having an absolute neutrophil count <500/μL, platelet count <30,000/μL, prothrombin time or activated partial thromboplastin time >2 times ULN, significant cardiovascular disease, or a requirement for strong CYP3A inhibitors or inducers. Patients were allowed to receive antithrombotic agents other than warfarin or equivalent vitamin K antagonist.

In ASCEND, 154 patients received CALQUENCE (100 mg approximately every 12 hours until disease progression or unacceptable toxicity), 118 received idelalisib (150 mg approximately every 12 hours until disease progression or unacceptable toxicity) with up to 8 infusions of a rituximab product, and 35 received up to 6 cycles of bendamustine and a rituximab product. The median age overall was 68 years (range: 32-90); 67% were male; 92% were white; and 88% had an ECOG performance status of 0 or 1.

In the CALQUENCE arm, serious adverse reactions occurred in 29% of patients. Serious adverse reactions in >5% of patients who received CALQUENCE included lower respiratory tract infection (6%). Fatal adverse reactions within 30 days of the last dose of CALQUENCE occurred in 2.6% of patients, including from second primary malignancies and infection.

In recipients of CALQUENCE, permanent discontinuation due to an adverse reaction occurred in 10% of patients, most frequently due to second primary malignancies followed by infection. Adverse reactions led to dosage interruptions of CALQUENCE in 34% of patients, most often due to respiratory tract infections followed by neutropenia, and dose reduction in 3.9% of patients.

Selected adverse reactions are described in Table 7 and non-hematologic laboratory abnormalities are described in Table 8. These tables reflect exposure to CALQUENCE with median duration of 15.7 months with 94% of patients on treatment for greater than 6 months and 86% of patients on treatment for greater than 12 months. The median duration of exposure to idelalisib was 11.5 months with 72% of patients on treatment for greater than 6 months and 48% of patients on treatment for greater than 12 months. Eighty-three percent of patients completed 6 cycles of bendamustine and rituximab product.

Table 7. Common Adverse Reactions (≥15% Any Grade) with CALQUENCE in Patients with CLL (ASCEND):

* Per NCI CTCAE version 4.03
^† Includes any adverse reactions involving infection or febrile neutropenia
^‡ Includes 1 fatal case in the CALQUENCE monotherapy arm and 1 fatal case in the Idelalisib plus Rituximab arm
^§ Derived from adverse reaction and laboratory data
^a Upper respiratory tract infection, rhinitis and nasopharyngitis
^b Includes pneumonia, lower respiratory tract infection, bronchitis, bronchiolitis, tracheitis, and lung infection.
^c Includes neutropenia, neutrophil count decreased, and related laboratory data
^d Includes anemia, red blood cell decreased, and related laboratory data
^e Includes thrombocytopenia, platelet count decreased, and related laboratory data
^f Includes lymphocytosis, lymphocyte count increased and related laboratory data
^g Includes colitis, diarrhea, and enterocolitis ^h Includes hemorrhage, hematoma, hemoptysis, hematuria, menorrhagia, hemarthrosis, and epistaxis
ⁱ Includes asthenia, fatigue, and lethargy
^j Includes back pain, musculoskeletal chest pain, musculoskeletal pain, musculoskeletal discomfort, pain in extremity, myalgia, spinal pain and bone pain

Other clinically relevant adverse reactions (all grades incidence <15%) in recipients of CALQUENCE included:

• Skin and subcutaneous disorders: bruising (10%), rash (9%)
• Neoplasms: second primary malignancy (12%), non-melanoma skin cancer (6%)
• Musculoskeletal and connective tissue disorders: arthralgia (8%)
• Cardiac disorders: atrial fibrillation or flutter (5%), hypertension (3.2%)
• Infection: herpesvirus infection (4.5%)

Table 8. Select Non-Hematologic Laboratory Abnormalities (≥10% Any Grade), New or Worsening from Baseline in Patients Receiving CALQUENCE (ASCEND):

Per NCI CTCAE version 5
^a Excludes electrolytes

Increases in creatinine to 1.5 to 3 times ULN occurred in 1.3% of patients who received CALQUENCE.

Risk Summary

Based on findings in animals, CALQUENCE may cause fetal harm and dystocia when administered to a pregnant woman. There are no available data in pregnant women to inform the drug-associated risk. In animal reproduction studies, administration of acalabrutinib to animals during organogenesis resulted in dystocia in rats and reduced fetal growth in rabbits at maternal exposures (AUC) 2 times exposures in patients at the recommended dose of 100 mg approximately every 12 hours (see Data). Advise pregnant women of the potential risk to a fetus.

The estimated 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 2-4% and 15-20%, respectively.

Data

Animal Data

In a combined fertility and embryo-fetal development study in female rats, acalabrutinib was administered orally at doses up to 200 mg/kg/day starting 14 days prior to mating through gestational day [GD] 17. No effects on embryo-fetal development and survival were observed. The AUC at 200 mg/kg/day in pregnant rats was approximately 9-times the AUC in patients at the recommended dose of 100 mg approximately every 12 hours. The presence of acalabrutinib and its active metabolite were confirmed in fetal rat plasma.

In an embryo-fetal development study in rabbits, pregnant animals were administered acalabrutinib orally at doses up to 200 mg/kg/day during the period of organogenesis (from GD 6-18). Administration of acalabrutinib at doses ≥ 100 mg/kg/day produced maternal toxicity and 100 mg/kg/day resulted in decreased fetal body weights and delayed skeletal ossification. The AUC at 100 mg/kg/day in pregnant rabbits was approximately 2-times the AUC in patients at 100 mg approximately every 12 hours.

In a pre- and postnatal development study in rats, acalabrutinib was administered orally to pregnant animals during organogenesis, parturition and lactation, at doses of 50, 100, and 150 mg/kg/day. Dystocia (prolonged or difficult labor) and mortality of offspring were observed at doses ≥ 100 mg/kg/day. The AUC at 100 mg/kg/day in pregnant rats was approximately 2-times the AUC in patients at 100 mg approximately every 12 hours. Underdeveloped renal papilla was also observed in F1 generation offspring at 150 mg/kg/day with an AUC approximately 5-times the AUC in patients at 100 mg approximately every 12 hours.

Risk Summary

No data are available regarding the presence of acalabrutinib or its active metabolite in human milk, its effects on the breastfed child, or on milk production. Acalabrutinib and its active metabolite were present in the milk of lactating rats. Due to the potential for adverse reactions in a breastfed child from CALQUENCE, advise lactating women not to breastfeed while taking CALQUENCE and for at least 2 weeks after the final dose.

Pregnancy

Pregnancy testing is recommended for females of reproductive potential prior to initiating CALQUENCE therapy.

Contraception

Females

CALQUENCE may cause embryo-fetal harm and dystocia when administered to pregnant women [see Use in Specific Populations (8.1)]. Advise female patients of reproductive potential to use effective contraception during treatment with CALQUENCE and for at least 1 week following the last dose of CALQUENCE. If this drug is used during pregnancy, or if the patient becomes pregnant while taking this drug, the patient should be informed of the potential hazard to a fetus.

The safety and efficacy of CALQUENCE in pediatric patients have not been established.

Of the 929 patients with CLL or MCL in clinical trials of CALQUENCE, 68% were 65 years of age or older, and 24% were 75 years of age or older. Among patients 65 years of age or older, 59% had Grade 3 or higher adverse reactions and 39% had serious adverse reactions. Among patients younger than age 65, 45% had Grade 3 or higher adverse reactions and 25% had serious adverse reactions. No clinically relevant differences in efficacy were observed between patients ≥65 years and younger.

Avoid administration of CALQUENCE in patients with severe hepatic impairment. The safety of CALQUENCE has not been evaluated in patients with moderate or severe hepatic impairment [see Recommended Dosage for Hepatic Impairment (2.2) and Clinical Pharmacology (12.3)].