Ga-68-DOTATOC Solution for injection Ref.[10295] Active ingredients: Gallium ⁶⁸Ga edotreotide

5.1 Radiation Risk

Ga 68 DOTATOC Injection contributes to a patient’s overall long-term cumulative radiation exposure. Long-term cumulative radiation exposure is associated with an increased risk of cancer. Ensure safe handling and preparation procedures to protect patients and health care workers from unintentional radiation exposure. Advise patients to hydrate before and after administration and to void frequently after administration [see Dosage and Administration (2.1, 2.3)].

5.2 Risk for Image Misinterpretation

The uptake of Ga 68 DOTATOC Injection reflects the level of somatostatin receptor density in NETs, however, uptake can also be seen in a variety of other tumors that also express somatostatin receptors. Increased uptake might also be seen in other non-cancerous pathologic conditions that express somatostatin receptors including thyroid disease or in subacute inflammation, or might occur as a normal physiologic variant (e.g. uncinate process of the pancreas) [see Dosage and Administration (2.5)].

A negative scan after the administration of Ga 68 DOTATOC Injection in patients who do not have a history of NET disease does not rule out disease [see Clinical Studies (14)].

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.

The safety of Ga-68 DOTATOC injection was evaluated in 334 patients in clinical trials of patients receiving a single dose of Ga-68 DOTATOC injection for imaging known or suspected NET.

The following adverse reactions occurred at a rate of <2%:

Gastrointestinal Disorders: nausea

The following adverse reactions occurred at a rate of a <1%:

Skin and Subcutaneous Tissue Disorders: pruritus
Vascular Disorders: flushing

Non-radioactive somatostatin analogs bind to the same somatostatin receptors as Ga 68 DOTATOC Injection. Image patients with Ga 68 DOTATOC Injection just prior to dosing with long-acting analogs of somatostatin. Short-acting analogs of somatostatin can be used up to 24 hours before imaging with Ga 68 DOTATOC Injection [see Dosage and Administration (2.3)].

Risk Summary

There are no available data on the use of Ga 68 DOTATOC Injection in pregnant women to identify a risk of major birth defects, miscarriage or adverse maternal or fetal outcomes. Animal reproduction studies have not been conducted with Ga 68 DOTATOC. However, all radiopharmaceuticals, including Ga 68 DOTATOC Injection have the potential to cause fetal harm depending on the fetal stage of development and the magnitude of the radiation dose. If considering Ga 68 DOTATOC Injection administration to a pregnant woman, inform the patient of the potential for adverse pregnancy outcomes based on the radiation dose from Ga 68 DOTATOC Injection and the gestational timing of exposure.

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 risks of major birth defects and miscarriage in clinically recognized pregnancies are 2-4% and 15-20%, respectively.

Risk Summary

There is no information on the presence of Ga 68 DOTATOC in human milk, the effect on the breastfed infant, or the effect on milk production. The developmental and health benefits of breastfeeding should be considered along with the mother’s clinical need for Ga 68 DOTATOC Injection and any potential adverse effects on the breastfed child from Ga 68 DOTATOC Injection or from the underlying maternal condition.

Clinical Considerations

To decrease exposure to the breastfed infant, advise a lactating woman to interrupt breastfeeding and pump and discard breast milk for 8 hours after Ga 68 DOTATOC Injection administration.

The safety and efficacy of Ga 68 DOTATOC Injection have been established in pediatric patients with neuroendocrine tumors. Efficacy is based on data from 14 patients in Study A and B demonstrating the ability of Ga 68 DOTATOC to image NETs [see Clinical Studies (14)]. The safety profile of Ga 68 DOTATOC Injection is similar in adult and pediatric patients with somatostatin receptor positive tumors. The recommended Ga 68 DOTATOC injected dose in pediatric patients is weight based [see Dosage and Administration (2.2)].

Clinical studies of Ga 68 DOTATOC did not include sufficient numbers of subjects aged 65 and over to determine whether they respond differently from younger subjects. Other reported clinical experience has not identified differences in responses between the elderly and younger patients. In general, dose selection for an elderly patient should be cautious, usually starting at the low end of the dosing range, reflecting the greater frequency of decreased hepatic, renal, or cardiac function, and of concomitant disease or other drug therapy.