Aprepitantside effects

Most common adverse reactions (≥3%) are: Adults: fatigue, diarrhea, asthenia, dyspepsia, abdominal pain, hiccups, white blood cell count decreased, dehydration, and alanine aminotransferase increased.

Pediatrics: neutropenia, headache, diarrhea, decreased appetite, cough, fatigue, hemoglobin decreased, dizziness, and hiccups. To report SUSPECTED ADVERSE REACTIONS, contact Merck Sharp & Dohme LLC at 1-877-888-4231 or FDA at 1-800-FDA-1088 or www.fda.gov/medwatch.

6.1 Clinical

Trials Experience 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 clinical practice. The overall safety of EMEND was evaluated in approximately 6800 individuals. Adults In 2 active-controlled, double-blind clinical trials in patients receiving highly emetogenic chemotherapy (HEC) (Studies 1 and 2), EMEND in combination with ondansetron and dexamethasone (EMEND regimen) was compared to ondansetron and dexamethasone alone (standard therapy). In 2 active-controlled clinical trials in patients receiving moderately emetogenic chemotherapy (MEC) (Studies 3 and 4), EMEND in combination with ondansetron and dexamethasone (EMEND regimen) was compared to ondansetron and dexamethasone alone (standard therapy). The most common adverse reaction reported in patients who received MEC in pooled Studies 3 and 4 was dyspepsia (6% versus 4%). Across these 4 studies there were 1412 patients treated with the EMEND regimen during Cycle 1 of chemotherapy and 1099 of these patients continued into the Multiple-Cycle extension for up to 6 cycles of chemotherapy. The most common adverse reactions reported in patients who received HEC and MEC in pooled Studies 1, 2, 3 and 4 are listed in Table 5.

Table 5: Most Common Adverse Reactions in Patients Receiving HEC and MEC from a Pooled Analysis of HEC and MEC Studies Reported in ≥ 3% of patients treated with the EMEND regimen and at a greater incidence than standard therapy. EMEND, ondansetron, and dexamethasone EMEND regimen (N=1412) Ondansetron and dexamethasone Standard therapy (N=1396) fatigue 13% 12% diarrhea 9% 8% asthenia 7% 6% dyspepsia 7% 5% abdominal pain 6% 5% hiccups 5% 3% white blood cell count decreased 4% 3% dehydration 3% 2% alanine aminotransferase increased 3% 2% In a pooled analysis of the HEC and MEC studies, less common adverse reactions reported in patients treated with the EMEND regimen are listed in Table 6.

Table 6: Less Common Adverse Reactions in EMEND-Treated Patients from a Pooled Analysis of HEC and MEC Studies Reported in > 0.5% of patients treated with the EMEND regimen, at a greater incidence than standard therapy and not previously described in Table 5. Infection and Infestations oral candidiasis, pharyngitis Blood and the Lymphatic System Disorders anemia, febrile neutropenia, neutropenia, thrombocytopenia Metabolism and Nutrition Disorders decreased appetite, hypokalemia Psychiatric Disorders anxiety Nervous System Disorders dizziness, dysgeusia, peripheral neuropathy Cardiac Disorders palpitations Vascular Disorders flushing, hot flush Respiratory, Thoracic and Mediastinal Disorders cough, dyspnea, oropharyngeal pain Gastrointestinal Disorders dry mouth, eructation, flatulence, gastritis, gastroesophageal reflux disease, nausea, vomiting Skin and Subcutaneous Tissue Disorders alopecia, hyperhidrosis, rash Musculoskeletal and Connective Tissue Disorders musculoskeletal pain General Disorders and Administration Site Condition edema peripheral, malaise Investigations aspartate aminotransferase increased, blood alkaline phosphatase increased, blood sodium decreased, blood urea increased, proteinuria, weight decreased In an additional active-controlled clinical study in 1169 patients receiving EMEND and HEC, the adverse reactions were generally similar to that seen in the other HEC studies with EMEND. In another CINV study, Stevens-Johnson syndrome was reported as a serious adverse reaction in a patient receiving the EMEND regimen with cancer chemotherapy. Adverse reactions in the Multiple-Cycle extensions of HEC and MEC studies for up to 6 cycles of chemotherapy were generally similar to that observed in Cycle 1. Pediatric Patients 6 Months to 17 Years of Age In a pooled analysis of 2 active-controlled clinical trials in pediatric patients aged 6 months to 17 years who received highly or moderately emetogenic cancer chemotherapy (Study 5 and a safety study, Study 6), EMEND in combination with ondansetron with or without dexamethasone (EMEND regimen) was compared to ondansetron with or without dexamethasone (control regimen). There were 184 patients treated with the EMEND regimen during Cycle 1 and 215 patients received open-label EMEND for up to 9 additional cycles of chemotherapy. In Cycle 1, the most common adverse reactions reported in pediatric patients treated with the EMEND regimen in pooled Studies 5 and 6 are listed in Table 7.

Table 7: Most Common Adverse Reactions in EMEND-Treated Pediatric Patients in HEC and MEC Pooled Studies 5 and 6 Reported in ≥3% of patients treated with the EMEND regimen and at a greater incidence than control regimen. EMEND and ondansetron EMEND regimen (N=184) Ondansetron Control regimen (N=168) neutropenia 13% 11% headache 9% 5% diarrhea 6% 5% decreased appetite 5% 4% cough 5% 3% fatigue 5% 2% hemoglobin decreased 5% 4% dizziness 5% 1% hiccups 4% 1% Forty-nine patients were treated with ifosfamide chemotherapy in each arm. Two of the patients treated with ifosfamide in the aprepitant arm developed behavioral changes (agitation = 1; abnormal behavior = 1), whereas no patient treated with ifosfamide in the control arm developed behavioral changes. Aprepitant has the potential for increasing ifosfamide-mediated neurotoxicity through induction of CYP3A4. Non-CINV Studies Serious adverse reactions reported in adult patients receiving a non-recommended dosage of EMEND in non-CINV studies include single cases of each of the following: angioedema and urticaria, constipation, and sub-ileus. EMEND is only approved in the CINV population.

6.2 Postmarketing

Experience The following adverse reactions have been identified during post-approval use of EMEND. Because these reactions are reported voluntarily from a population of uncertain size, it is not always possible to reliably estimate their frequency or establish a causal relationship to drug exposure. Skin and subcutaneous tissue disorders: pruritus, rash, urticaria, Stevens-Johnson syndrome/toxic epidermal necrolysis.

Immune system disorders: hypersensitivity reactions including anaphylactic reactions.

Nervous system disorders: ifosfamide-induced neurotoxicity reported after EMEND and ifosfamide coadministration.