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ELITEK (rasburicase) Prescribing Information Sanofi Oncology




Elitek® is indicated for the initial management of plasma uric acid levels in pediatric and adult patients with leukemia, lymphoma, and solid tumor malignancies who are receiving anti-cancer therapy expected to result in tumor lysis and subsequent elevation of plasma uric acid. ELITEK is indicated for only a single course of treatment.

Tumor Lysis Syndrome (TLS)

Tumor lysis syndrome, also known as TLS, is a potentially fatal metabolic complication resulting from the rapid destruction of malignant cells by cancer treatment and the release of intracellular contents into extracellular space. Signs of tumor lysis syndrome may include3:

  • Hyperuricemia3 - the single most common finding in TLS4
  • Hyperkalemia - which can result in life-threatening arrhythmias and cardiac arrest3,5,6
  • Hyperphosphatemia - along with hyperuricemia, one of the 2 characteristic signs of TLS. The presence of hyperphosphatemia heralds the potential for acute renal failure3
  • Hypocalcemia - a secondary sign of TLS associated with severe muscle cramping, tetany, and cardiac arrhythmias 3,5

Tumor lysis syndrome may be classified as Laboratory TLS (LTLS) or Clinical TLS (CTLS).7

LTLS is defined as laboratory results with 2 or more abnormal readings during the 3-day period prior to or up to 7 days after chemotherapy initiation7.

Laboratory TLS (LTLS)

CTLS is the presence of LTLS and one or more of the following criteria:7

  • Creatinine: x ≥ 1.5 Upper Limit of Normal (ULN) (age >12 years or age-adjusted)
  • Cardiac arrhythmias/sudden death
  • Seizure

IMPORTANT SAFETY INFORMATION INCLUDING BOXED WARNING

Anaphylaxis: ELITEK can cause severe hypersensitivity reactions including anaphylaxis. Immediately and permanently discontinue ELITEK in patients who experience a serious hypersensitivity reaction.

Hemolysis: Do not administer ELITEK to patients with glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase (G6PD) deficiency. Immediately and permanently discontinue ELITEK in patients developing hemolysis. Screen patients at higher risk for G6PD deficiency (e.g., patients of African or Mediterranean ancestry) prior to starting ELITEK.

Methemoglobinemia: ELITEK can result in methemoglobinemia in some patients. Immediately and permanently discontinue ELITEK in patients developing methemoglobinemia.

Interference With Uric Acid Measurements: ELITEK enzymatically degrades uric acid in blood samples left at room temperature. Collect blood samples in pre-chilled tubes containing heparin and immediately immerse and maintain sample in an ice water bath. Assay plasma samples within 4 hours of collection.

Important Safety Information

BOXED WARNINGS

Anaphylaxis:
ELITEK can cause severe hypersensitivity reactions including anaphylaxis. Immediately and permanently discontinue ELITEK in patients who experience a serious hypersensitivity reaction.

Hemolysis:
Do not administer ELITEK to patients with glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase (G6PD) deficiency. Immediately and permanently discontinue ELITEK in patients developing hemolysis. Screen patients at higher risk for G6PD deficiency (e.g., patients of African or Mediterranean ancestry) prior to starting ELITEK.

Methemoglobinemia:
ELITEK can result in methemoglobinemia in some patients. Immediately and permanently discontinue ELITEK in patients developing methemoglobinemia.

Interference With Uric Acid Measurements:
ELITEK enzymatically degrades uric acid in blood samples left at room temperature. Collect blood samples in pre-chilled tubes containing heparin and immediately immerse and maintain sample in an ice water bath. Assay plasma samples within 4 hours of collection.


Among the 347 (265 pediatric; 82 adult) patients for whom all adverse reactions regardless of severity were assessed in Studies 1, 2 and 3, as well as an uncontrolled safety trial, the most frequently observed adverse reactions (incidence ≥10%) were vomiting (50%), fever (46%), nausea (27%), headache (26%), abdominal pain (20%), constipation (20%), diarrhea (20%), mucositis (15%), and rash (13%).

Among the 275 adult patients in Study 4, hypersensitivity reactions occurred in 4.3% of patients treated with the ELITEK alone and 1.1% of patients treated with the ELITEK/oral allopurinol combination. Hypersensitivity reactions included arthralgia, injection site irritation, peripheral edema, and rash. The most common Grade 3 or 4 adverse reactions regardless of relationship to study drug in the 3 arms of Study 4 (ELITEK alone; ELITEK combined with oral allopurinol; oral allopurinol alone) were sepsis (5.4%; 6.5%; 4.4%), hypophosphatemia (4.3%; 6.5%; 6.6%), anxiety (3.3%; 0%; 0%), abdominal pain (3.3%; 4.3%; 2.2%), hyperbilirubinemia (3.3%; 2.2%; 4.4%), and increased alanine aminotransferase (3.3%; 4.3%; 2.2%), respectively.

The following serious adverse reactions occurred with a difference in incidence of greater than or equal to 2% in patients receiving ELITEK compared to patients receiving oral allopurinol in randomized studies (Study 1 and Study 4): pulmonary hemorrhage, respiratory failure, supraventricular arrhythmias, ischemic coronary artery disorders, and abdominal and gastrointestinal infections.

Indication

ELITEK® is indicated for the initial management of plasma uric acid levels in pediatric and adult patients with leukemia, lymphoma, and solid tumor malignancies who are receiving anticancer therapy expected to result in tumor lysis and subsequent elevation of plasma uric acid. ELITEK is indicated for only a single course of treatment.

Please see accompanying full Prescribing Information, including Boxed WARNING.

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US.RAS.10.03.020  Last Update: April 2010