Imetelstat

Molecular mass: 4,610.18 g/mol  PubChem compound: 72941969

Interactions

Imetelstat interacts in the following cases:

BCRP, OAT1, OATP1B1 and OATP1B3 substrates

In vitro imetelstat is an inhibitor of BCRP, OAT1, OATP1B1 and OATP1B3 at concentrations similar to those reached on the day of imetelstat administration. The risk for an interaction, causing increased plasma concentrations of a co-administrated substrate, declines with the rapidly declining plasma concentrations of imetelstat and is likely not relevant on the following days of the dose interval.

Severe renal impairment

There is insufficient data in patients with severe renal impairment (CrCL 15 to ˂30 mL/min) or end-stage renal disease to support a dose recommendation.

Severe hepatic impairment

There is insufficient data in patients with severely abnormal liver function tests (total bilirubin ˃3× ULN (Grade 3) and any AST) to support a dose recommendation.

Pregnancy

There are no data on the use of imetelstat in pregnant women. Studies in animals have shown that imetelstat may cause embryonic or foetal loss. Imetelstat is not recommended during pregnancy and in women of childbearing potential not using contraception.

Nursing mothers

It is unknown whether imetelstat is excreted in human milk.

There is no data on the presence of imetelstat in human milk, the effects on the breastfed child, or the effects on milk production. A risk to the breast-feeding child cannot be excluded. Because of the potential for adverse reactions in breast-fed children, women should be advised not to breastfeed during treatment with imetelstat and for 1 week after the last dose.

Carcinogenesis, mutagenesis and fertility

Women of childbearing potential/Contraception in women

The pregnancy status of females of reproductive potential should be verified before starting treatment with imetelstat.

Women of childbearing potential should be advised to use effective contraception during treatment with imetelstat and for at least 1 week after the last dose.

Fertility

Based on findings in animals, imetelstat may impair fertility in females of reproductive potential. No human data on the effect of imetelstat on fertility are available.

Effects on ability to drive and use machines

Imetelstat may have a minor influence on the ability to drive and use machines. The ability to react when performing these tasks may be impaired due to the potential effects of asthenia and infusion-related reactions, such as malaise, chest pain, and hypertensive crisis following treatment administration.

Patients should be advised to use caution until any symptoms affecting their ability to drive or operate machines have resolved.

Adverse reactions


Summary of the safety profile

The most common adverse reactions with imetelstat were thrombocytopenia (94%), leukopenia (93%), neutropenia (92%), aspartate aminotransferase (AST) increased (48%), alanine aminotransferase (ALT) increased (42%), alkaline phosphatase (ALP) increased (41%), asthenia (26%) and headache (16%).

The most commonly reported severe adverse reactions (Grade ≥ 3) were neutropenia (69%) and thrombocytopenia (63%).

The most commonly reported serious adverse reactions were sepsis (1.7%), urinary tract infection (1.7%), atrial fibrillation (1.1%), oesophageal varices haemorrhage (1.1%), syncope (1.1%), and thrombocytopenia (1.1%).

The frequency of treatment discontinuation due to adverse reactions was 13%. The most common adverse reactions leading to treatment discontinuation were thrombocytopenia (6.3%) and neutropenia (6.3%).

The frequency of dose reduction or dose delay due to adverse reactions is 65%. The most common adverse reactions leading to dose modification or interruption were neutropenia (51%) and thrombocytopenia (45%).

Tabulated list of adverse reactions

The frequencies of adverse reactions are based on pooled data from the clinical trials in 175 patients with low to intermediate-1 risk MDS, transfusion-dependent anaemia and were either relapsed or refractory to or ineligible for ESA treatment and treated with imetelstat at the recommended dose. Patients were treated with imetelstat for a median of 7.8 months.

The adverse reactions are listed below by MedDRA system organ class and by frequency within each system organ class, with the most frequent adverse reactions listed first. Frequencies were defined as: very common (≥1/10); common (≥1/100 to ˂1/10); uncommon (≥1/1 000 to ˂1/100); rare (≥1/10 000 to ˂1/1 000); very rare (˂1/10 000); not known (cannot be estimated from the available data). Within each frequency grouping, adverse reactions are presented in decreasing order of seriousness.

Adverse reactions in low to intermediate-1 risk MDS patients treated with imetelstat in Phase 2 and 3 MDS3001 study:

System organ class Adverse reaction Frequency
(all grades)
All grades
(N=175)
Grades ≥ 3
(N=175)
Infections and infestations Urinary tract
infectiona
Very common12% 2.3%
Sepsisb Common 4.0% 4.0%
Blood and lymphatic
system disorders
Thrombocytopeniac Very common 94% 63%
Neutropeniac Very common 92% 69%
Leukopeniac Very common 93% 56%
Immune system disorders Infusion-related
reactionsd
Common 8.6% 3.4%
Nervous system disorders Headache Very common 16% 1.7%
Syncopee Common 4.6% 1.7%
Cardiac disorders Atrial fibrillationf Common 3.4% 1.1%
Vascular disorders Haematoma Common 5.7% 0.6%
Respiratory, thoracic and
mediastinal disorders
Epistaxis Common 5.1% 0
Gastrointestinal disorders Gastrointestinal
bleedingg
Common 6.3% 1.7%
Hepatobiliary disorders Aspartate
aminotransferase
increasedc
Very common 48% 2.3%
Alanine
aminotransferase
increasedc
Very common 42% 4.0%
Alkaline
phosphatase
increasedc
Very common 41% 0
Skin and subcutaneous
tissue disorders
Pruritus Common 5.1% 0
Musculoskeletal and
connective tissue disorders
Arthralgia Common 6.9% 0
Renal and urinary
disorders
Haematuria Common 4.6% 1.1%
General disorders and
administration site
conditions
Astheniah Very common 26% 0.6%

a Urinary tract infection includes urinary tract infection, Escherichia urinary tract infection, and cystitis.
b Sepsis includes sepsis, enterococcal sepsis, escherichia sepsis, neutropenic sepsis, and urosepsis.
c Thrombocytopenia (platelet count decreased), neutropenia (neutrophil count decreased), leukopenia (white blood cell count decreased), AST increased, ALP increased, and ALT increased are based on laboratory values.
d Infusion-related reactions include abdominal pain, abdominal pain upper, arthralgia, asthenia, back pain, bone pain, chest pain, diarrhoea, discomfort, dyspnoea, erythema, flushing, headache, hyperhidrosis, hypertension, hypertensive crisis, hypotension, illness, malaise, nausea, non-cardiac chest pain, oedema peripheral, palmar erythema, pruritus, pyrexia, spinal pain, urticaria, and vomiting. Only events considered related to infusion-related reactions are included.
e Syncope includes loss of consciousness, presyncope, and syncope.
f Atrial fibrillation includes atrial fibrillation and atrial flutter.
g Gastrointestinal bleeding includes anal haemorrhage, gastric haemorrhage, gastrointestinal haemorrhage, haematochezia, haemorrhoidal haemorrhage, intestinal haemorrhage, rectal haemorrhage, and oesophageal varices haemorrhage.
h Asthenia includes asthenia and fatigue.

Description of selected adverse reactions

Thrombocytopenia

Thrombocytopenia occurred in 94.3% of patients receiving imetelstat. Incidences of Grade 3 or Grade 4 thrombocytopenia were 62.9%. Median time to first onset of ≥ Grade 3 events was 5 (range: 1.7, 89.7) weeks. Median duration of thrombocytopenia for ≥ Grade 3 events was 1.4 (range: 0.1, 15.0) weeks. Thrombocytopenia (treatment-emergent adverse events of any Grade) led to dose reduction or cycle delay in 24.6% and 44.6% of patients, respectively. Treatment was permanently discontinued in 6.3% of patients.

Neutropenia

Neutropenia occurred in 92.0% of patients receiving imetelstat. Incidences of Grade 3 or Grade 4 neutropenia were 69.1%. Median time to first onset of ≥ Grade 3 events was 4.3 (range: 1.0, 118.6) weeks. Median duration of neutropenia for ≥ Grade 3 events was 2.0 (range:0.0, 16.7) weeks. Neutropenia (treatment-emergent adverse events of any Grade) led to dose reduction or cycle delay in 36.6% and 50.3% of patients, respectively. Treatment was permanently discontinued in 6.3% of patients.

Infusion-related reactions

Infusion-related reactions occurred in 8.6% of patients receiving imetelstat. Incidences of Grade 3 or Grade 4 infusion-related reactions were 3.4%. Infusion-related reactions were generally mild or moderate in severity. The most common infusion-related reactions were headache (3.4%) and back pain (2.3%). Other notable infusion-related reactions were Grade 3 events of hypotension (0.6%), hypertension (0.6%), hypertensive crisis (0.6%), and non-cardiac chest pain (0.6%). Infusion-related reactions usually occurred during or shortly after the end of the infusion. Infusion-related reactions led to dose reduction or cycle delay in 0.6% of patients or in temporary interruption or termination of the infusion in 5.7% of patients. Treatment was permanently discontinued in 0.6% of patients.

Hepatobiliary disorders

AST increased, ALT increased, and ALP increased occurred in 48.0%, 41.7%, and 41.1% of patients receiving imetelstat, respectively. Incidences of Grade 3 or Grade 4 events were 2.3%, 4.0%, and 0%, respectively. Median time to first onset of Grade ≥ 3 events was 30.4 (range: 25.9, 63.1) weeks for AST increased and 32.0 (range: 1.0, 84.1) weeks for ALT increased. Median duration of Grade ≥ 3 events was 1.2 (range: 0.4, 2.4) weeks for AST increased and 1.5 (range: 0.7, 4.0) weeks for ALT increased. Events (treatment-emergent adverse events of any Grade) led to cycle delay in 1.7% of patients for AST increased and 0.6% for ALT increased. No event led to discontinuation of treatment.

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