Pregnancy warning
Lenalidomide is structurally related to thalidomide. Thalidomide is a known human teratogenic active substance that causes severe life-threatening birth defects. Lenalidomide induced in monkeys malformations similar to those described with thalidomide (see sections 4.6 and 5.3). If lenalidomide is taken during pregnancy, a teratogenic effect of lenalidomide in humans is expected.
The conditions of the Pregnancy Prevention Programme must be fulfilled for all patients unless there is reliable evidence that the patient does not have childbearing potential.
Criteria for women of non-childbearing potential
A female patient or a female partner of a male patient is considered to have childbearing potential unless she meets at least one of the following criteria:
• Age 50 years and naturally amenorrhoeic for 1 year*
• Premature ovarian failure confirmed by a specialist gynaecologist
• Previous bilateral salpingo-oophorectomy, or hysterectomy
• XY genotype, Turner syndrome, uterine agenesis.
*Amenorrhoea following cancer therapy does not rule out childbearing potential.
Counselling
For women of childbearing potential, lenalidomide is contraindicated unless all of the following are met:
• She understands the expected teratogenic risk to the unborn child
• She understands the need for effective contraception, without interruption, 4 weeks before starting treatment, throughout the entire duration of treatment, and 4 weeks after the end of treatment
• Even if a woman of childbearing potential has amenorrhea she must follow all the advice on effective contraception
• She should be capable of complying with effective contraceptive measures
• She is informed and understands the potential consequences of pregnancy and the need to rapidly consult if there is a risk of pregnancy
• She understands the need to commence the treatment as soon as lenalidomide is dispensed following a negative pregnancy test
• She understands the need and accepts to undergo pregnancy testing every 4 weeks except in case of confirmed tubal sterilisation
• She acknowledges that she understands the hazards and necessary precautions associated with the use of lenalidomide.
For male patients taking lenalidomide, pharmacokinetic data has demonstrated that lenalidomide is present in human semen at extremely low levels during treatment and is undetectable in human semen 3 days after stopping the drug in the healthy subject (see section 5.2). As a precaution, all male patients taking lenalidomide must meet the following conditions:
• Understand the expected teratogenic risk if engaged in sexual activity with a pregnant woman or a woman of childbearing potential
• Understand the need for the use of a condom if engaged in sexual activity with a pregnant woman or a woman of childbearing potential.
The prescriber must ensure that for women of childbearing potential:
• The patient complies with the conditions of the Pregnancy Prevention Programme, including confirmation that she has an adequate level of understanding
• The patient has acknowledged the aforementioned conditions.
Contraception
Women of childbearing potential must use one effective method of contraception for 4 weeks before therapy, during therapy, and until 4 weeks after lenalidomide therapy and even in case of dose interruption unless the patient commits to absolute and continuous abstinence confirmed on a monthly basis. If not established on effective contraception, the patient must be referred to an appropriately trained health care professional for contraceptive advice in order that contraception can be initiated.
The following can be considered to be examples of suitable methods of contraception:
• Implant
• Levonorgestrel-releasing intrauterine system (IUS)
• Medroxyprogesterone acetate depot
• Tubal sterilisation
• Sexual intercourse with a vasectomised male partner only; vasectomy must be confirmed by two negative semen analyses
• Ovulation inhibitory progesterone-only pills (i.e., desogestrel)
Because of the increased risk of venous thromboembolism in patients with multiple myeloma taking lenalidomide and dexamethasone, combined oral contraceptive pills are not recommended (see also section 4.5). If a patient is currently using combined oral contraception the patient should switch to one of the effective method listed above. The risk of venous thromboembolism continues for 4−6 weeks after discontinuing combined oral contraception. The efficacy of contraceptive steroids may be reduced during co-treatment with dexamethasone (see section 4.5).
Implants and levonorgestrel-releasing intrauterine systems are associated with an increased risk of infection at the time of insertion and irregular vaginal bleeding. Prophylactic antibiotics should be considered particularly in patients with neutropenia.
Copper-releasing intrauterine devices are generally not recommended due to the potential risks of infection at the time of insertion and menstrual blood loss which may compromise patients with neutropenia or thrombocytopenia.
Pregnancy testing
According to local practice, medically supervised pregnancy tests with a minimum sensitivity of 25 mIU/ml must be performed for women of childbearing potential as outlined below. This requirement includes women of childbearing potential who practice absolute and continuous abstinence. Ideally, pregnancy testing, issuing a prescription and dispensing should occur on the same day. Dispensing of lenalidomide to women of childbearing potential should occur within 7 days of the prescription.
Prior to starting treatment
A medically supervised pregnancy test should be performed during the consultation, when lenalidomide is prescribed, or in the 3 days prior to the visit to the prescriber once the patient had been using effective contraception for at least 4 weeks. The test should ensure the patient is not pregnant when she starts treatment with lenalidomide.
Follow-up and end of treatment
A medically supervised pregnancy test should be repeated every 4 weeks, including 4 weeks after the end of treatment, except in the case of confirmed tubal sterilisation. These pregnancy tests should be performed on the day of the prescribing visit or in the 3 days prior to the visit to the prescriber.
Men
Lenalidomide is present in human semen at extremely low levels during treatment and is undetectable in human semen 3 days after stopping the drug in the healthy subject (see section 5.2). As a precaution, and taking into account special populations with prolonged eliminati |