DESCRIPTION
The active ingredient in ZOFRAN Injection is ondansetron hydrochloride (HCl), the racemic form of ondansetron and a selective blocking agent of the serotonin 5-HT3 receptor type. Chemically it is (±) 1, 2, 3, 9-tetrahydro-9-methyl-3-[(2-methyl-1H-imidazol-1-yl)methyl]-4H-carbazol-4-one, monohydrochloride, dihydrate. It has the following structural formula:
The empirical formula is C18H19N3O•HCl•2H2O, representing a molecular weight of 365.9.
Ondansetron HCl is a white to off-white powder that is soluble in water and normal saline.
Sterile Injection for Intravenous (I.V.) or Intramuscular (I.M.) Administration
Each 1 mL of aqueous solution in the 2-mL single-dose vial contains 2 mg of ondansetron as the hydrochloride dihydrate; 9.0 mg of sodium chloride, USP; and 0.5 mg of citric acid monohydrate, USP and 0.25 mg of sodium citrate dihydrate, USP as buffers in Water for Injection, USP.
Each 1 mL of aqueous solution in the 20-mL multidose vial contains 2 mg of ondansetron as the hydrochloride dihydrate; 8.3 mg of sodium chloride, USP; 0.5 mg of citric acid monohydrate, USP and 0.25 mg of sodium citrate dihydrate, USP as buffers; and 1.2 mg of methylparaben, NF and 0.15 mg of propylparaben, NF as preservatives in Water for Injection, USP.
ZOFRAN Injection is a clear, colorless, nonpyrogenic, sterile solution. The pH of the injection solution is 3.3 to 4.0.
CLINICAL PHARMACOLOGY
Pharmacodynamics
Ondansetron is a selective 5-HT3 receptor antagonist. While ondansetron’s mechanism of action has not been fully characterized, it is not a dopamine-receptor antagonist. Serotonin receptors of the 5-HT3 type are present both peripherally on vagal nerve terminals and centrally in the chemoreceptor trigger zone of the area postrema. It is not certain whether ondansetron's antiemetic action in chemotherapy-induced nausea and vomiting is mediated centrally, peripherally, or in both sites. However, cytotoxic chemotherapy appears to be associated with release of serotonin from the enterochromaffin cells of the small intestine. In humans, urinary 5-HIAA (5-hydroxyindoleacetic acid) excretion increases after cisplatin administration in parallel with the onset of vomiting. The released serotonin may stimulate the vagal afferents through the 5-HT3 receptors and initiate the vomiting reflex.
In animals, the emetic response to cisplatin can be prevented by pretreatment with an inhibitor of serotonin synthesis, bilateral abdominal vagotomy and greater splanchnic nerve section, or pretreatment with a serotonin 5-HT3 receptor antagonist.
In normal volunteers, single I.V. doses of 0.15 mg/kg of ondansetron had no effect on esophageal motility, gastric motility, lower esophageal sphincter pressure, or small intestinal transit time. In another study in six normal male volunteers, a 16-mg dose infused over 5 minutes showed no effect of the drug on cardiac output, heart rate, stroke volume, blood pressure, or electrocardiogram (ECG). Multiday administration of ondansetron has been shown to slow colonic transit in normal volunteers. Ondansetron has no effect on plasma prolactin concentrations.
In a gender-balanced pharmacodynamic study (n = 56), ondansetron 4 mg administered intravenously or intramuscularly was dynamically similar in the prevention of nausea and vomiting using the ipecacuanha model of emesis.
Ondansetron does not alter the respiratory depressant effects produced by alfentanil or the degree of neuromuscular blockade produced by atracurium. Interactions with general or local anesthetics have not been studied.
Pharmacokinetics
Ondansetron is extensively metabolized in humans, with approximately 5% of a radiolabeled dose recovered as the parent compound from the urine. The primary metabolic pathway is hydroxylation on the indole ring followed by glucuronide or sulfate conjugation.
Although some nonconjugated metabolites have pharmacologic activity, these are not found in plasma at concentrations likely to significantly contribute to the biological activity of ondansetron.
In vitro metabolism studies have shown that ondansetron is a substrate for human hepatic cytochrome P-450 enzymes, including CYP1A2, CYP2D6, and CYP3A4. In terms of overall ondansetron turnover, CYP3A4 played the predominant role. Because of the multiplicity of metabolic enzymes capable of metabolizing ondansetron, it is likely that inhibition or loss of one enzyme (e.g., CYP2D6 genetic deficiency) will be compensated by others and may result in little change in overall rates of ondansetron elimination. Ondansetron elimination may be affected by cytochrome P-450 inducers. In a pharmacokinetic study of 16 epileptic patients maintained chronically on CYP3A4 inducers, carbamazepine, or phenytoin, reduction in AUC, Cmax, and T½ of ondansetron was observed.1 This resulted in a significant increase in clearance. However, on the basis of available data, no dosage adjustment for ondansetron is recommended (see PRECAUTIONS: Drug Interactions).
In humans, carmustine, etoposide, and cisplatin do not affect the pharmacokinetics of ondansetron.
In normal adult volunteers, the following mean pharmacokinetic data have been determined following a single 0.15-mg/kg I.V. dose.
Table 1. Pharmacokinetics in Normal Adult Volunteers
Age-group
(years) |
n |
Peak Plasma
Concentration
(ng/mL) |
Mean Elimination Half-life (h) |
Plasma Clearance
(L/h/kg) |
19-40 |
11 |
102 |
3.5 |
0.381 |
61-74 |
12 |
106 |
4.7 |
0.319 |
≥ 75 |
11 |
170 |
5.5 |
0.262 |
A reduction in clearance and increase in elimination half-life are seen in patients over 75 years of age. In clinical trials with cancer patients, safety and efficacy were similar in patients over 65 years of age and those under 65 years of age; there was an insufficient number of patients over 75 years of age to permit conclusions in that age-group. No dosage adjustment is recommended in the elderly.
In patients with mild-to-moderate hepatic impairment, clearance is reduced 2-fold and mean half-life is increased to 11.6 hours compared to 5.7 hours in normals. In patients with severe hepatic impairment (Child-Pugh2 score of 10 or greater), clearance is reduced 2-fold to 3-fold and apparent volume of distribution is increased with a resultant increase in half-life to 20 hours. In patients with severe hepatic impairment, a total daily dose of 8 mg should not be exceeded.
Due to the very small contribution (5%) of renal clearance to the overall clearance, renal impairment was not expected to significantly influence the total clearance of ondansetron. However, ondansetron mean plasma clearance was reduced by about 41% in patients with severe renal impairment (creatinine clearance < 30 mL/min). This reduction in clearance is variable and was not consistent with an increase in half-life. No reduction in dose or dosing frequency in these patients is warranted.
In adult cancer patients, the mean elimination half-life was 4.0 hours, and there was no difference in the multidose pharmacokinetics over a 4-day period. In a study of 21 pediatric cancer patients (4 to 18 years of age) who received three I.V. doses of 0.15 mg/kg of ondansetron at 4-hour intervals, patients older than 15 years of age exhibited ondansetron pharmacokinetic parameters similar to those of adults. Patients 4 to 12 years of age generally showed higher clearance and somewhat larger volume of distribution than adults. Most pediatric patients younger than 15 years of age with cancer had a shorter (2.4 hours) ondansetron plasma half-life than patients older than 15 years of age. It is not known whether these differences in ondansetron plasma half-life may result in differences in efficacy between adults and some young pediatric patients (see CLINICAL TRIALS: Pediatric Studies).
Pharmacokinetic samples were collected from 74 cancer patients 6 to 48 months of age, who received a dose of 0.15 mg/kg of I.V. ondansetron every 4 hours for 3 doses during a safety and efficacy trial. These data were combined with sequential pharmacokinetics data from 41 surgery patients 1 month to 24 months of age, who received a single dose of 0.1 mg/kg of I.V. ondansetron prior to surgery with general anesthesia, and a population pharmacokinetic analysis was performed on the combined data set. The results of this analysis are included in Table 2 and are compared to the pharmacokinetic results in cancer patients 4 to 18 years of age.
Table 2. Pharmacokinetics in Pediatric Cancer Patients 1 Month to 18 Years of Age
Subjects and Age Group |
N |
CL
(L/h/kg) |
Vdss
(L/kg) |
T½
(h) |
|
|
Geometric Mean |
Mean |
Pediatric Cancer Patients
4 to 18 years of age |
N = 21 |
0.599 |
1.9 |
2.8 |
Population PK Patientsa
1 month to 48 months of age |
N = 115 |
0.582 |
3.65 |
4.9 |
a Population PK (Pharmacokinetic) Patients: 64% cancer patients and 36% surgery patients.
Based on the population pharmacokinetic analysis, cancer patients 6 to 48 months of age who receive a dose of 0.15 mg/kg of I.V. ondansetron every 4 hours for 3 doses would be expected to achieve a systemic exposure (AUC) consistent with the exposure achieved in previous pediatric studies in cancer patients (4 to 18 years of age) at similar doses.
In a study of 21 pediatric patients (3 to 12 years of age) who were undergoing surgery requiring anesthesia for a duration of 45 minutes to 2 hours, a single I.V. dose of ondansetron, 2 mg (3 to 7 years) or 4 mg (8 to 12 years), was administered immediately prior to anesthesia induction. Mean weight-normalized clearance and volume of distribution values in these pediatric surgical patients were similar to those previously reported for young adults. Mean terminal half-life was slightly reduced in pediatric patients (range, 2.5 to 3 hours) in comparison with adults (range, 3 to 3.5 hours).
In a study of 51 pediatric patients (1 month to 24 months of age) who were undergoing surgery requiring general anesthesia, a single I.V. dose of ondansetron, 0.1 or 0.2 mg/kg, was administered prior to surgery. As shown in Table 3, the 41 patients with pharmacokinetic data were divided into 2 groups, patients 1 month to 4 months of age and patients 5 to 24 months of age, and are compared to pediatric patients 3 to 12 years of age.
Table 3. Pharmacokinetics in Pediatric Surgery Patients 1 Month to 12 Years of Age
Subjects and Age Group |
N |
CL
(L/h/kg) |
Vdss
(L/kg) |
T½
(h) |
|
|
Geometric Mean |
Mean |
Pediatric Surgery Patients
3 to 12 years of age |
N = 21 |
0.439 |
1.65 |
2.9 |
Pediatric Surgery Patients
5 to 24 months of age |
N = 22 |
0.581 |
2.3 |
2.9 |
Pediatric Surgery Patients
1 month to 4 months of age |
N = 19 |
0.401 |
3.5 |
6.7 |
In general, surgical and cancer pediatric patients younger than 18 years tend to have a higher ondansetron clearance compared to adults leading to a shorter half-life in most pediatric patients. In patients 1 month to 4 months of age, a longer half-life was observed due to the higher volume of distribution in this age group.
In normal volunteers (19 to 39 years old, n = 23), the peak plasma concentration was 264 ng/mL following a single 32-mg dose administered as a 15-minute I.V. infusion. The mean elimination half-life was 4.1 hours. Systemic exposure to 32 mg of ondansetron was not proportional to dose as measured by comparing dose-normalized AUC values to an 8-mg dose. This is consistent with a small decrease in systemic clearance with increasing plasma concentrations.
A study was performed in normal volunteers (n = 56) to eva luate the pharmacokinetics of a single 4-mg dose administered as a 5-minute infusion compared to a single intramuscular injection. Systemic exposure as measured by mean AUC was equivalent, with values of 156 [95% CI 136, 180] and 161 [95% CI 137, 190] ng•h/mL for I.V. and I.M. groups, respectively. Mean peak plasma concentrations were 42.9 [95% CI 33.8, 54.4] ng/mL at 10 minutes after I.V. infusion and 31.9 [95% CI 26.3, 38.6] ng/mL at 41 minutes after I.M. injection. The mean elimination half-life was not affected by route of administration.
Plasma protein binding of ondansetron as measured in vitro was 70% to 76%, with binding constant over the pharmacologic concentration range (10 to 500 ng/mL). Circulating drug also distributes into erythrocytes.
A positive lymphoblast transformation test to ondansetron has been reported, which suggests immunologic sensitivity to ondansetron.
CLINICAL TRIALS
Chemotherapy-Induced Nausea and Vomiting
Adult Studies: In a double-blind study of three different dosing regimens of ZOFRAN Injection, 0.015 mg/kg, 0.15 mg/kg, and 0.30 mg/kg, each given three times during the course of cancer chemotherapy, the 0.15-mg/kg dosing regimen was more effective than the 0.015-mg/kg dosing regimen. The 0.30-mg/kg dosing regimen was not shown to be more effective than the 0.15-mg/kg dosing regimen.
Cisplatin-Based Chemotherapy:In a double-blind study in 28 patients, ZOFRAN Injection (three 0.15-mg/kg doses) was significantly more effective than placebo in preventing nausea and vomiting induced by cisplatin-based chemotherapy. Treatment response was as shown in Table 4.
Table 4. Prevention of Chemotherapy-Induced Nausea and Vomiting in Single-Day Cisplatin Therapy a in Adults
|
ZOFRAN Injection |
Placebo |
P Valueb |
Number of patients |
14 |
14 |
|
Treatment response
0 Emetic episodes
1-2 Emetic episodes
3-5 Emetic episodes
More than 5 emetic episodes/rescued |
2 (14%)
8 (57%)
2 (14%)
2 (14%) |
0 (0%)
0 (0%)
1 (7%)
13 (93%) |
0.001 |
Median number of emetic episodes |
1.5 |
Undefinedc |
|
Median time to first emetic episode (h) |
11.6 |
2.8 |
0.001 |
Median nausea scores (0-100)d |
3 |
59 |
0.034 |
Global satisfaction with control of nausea and vomiting (0-100)e |
96 |
10.5 |
0.009 |
a Chemotherapy was high dose (100 and 120 mg/m2; ZOFRAN Injection n = 6, placebo n = 5) or moderate dose (50 and 80 mg/m2; ZOFRAN Injection n = 8, placebo n = 9). Other chemotherapeutic agents included fluorouracil, doxorubicin, and cyclophosphamide. There was no difference between treatments in the types of chemotherapy that would account for differences in response.
b Efficacy based on "all patients treated" analysis.
c Median undefined since at least 50% of the patients were rescued or had more than five emetic episodes.
d Visual analog scale assessment of nausea: 0 = no nausea, 100 = nausea as bad as it can be.
e Visual analog scale assessment of satisfaction: 0 = not at all satisfied, 100 = totally satisfied.
Ondansetron was compared with metoclopramide in a single-blind trial in 307 patients receiving cisplatin ≥ 100 mg/m2 with or without other chemotherapeutic agents. Patients received the first dose of ondansetron or metoclopramide 30 minutes before cisplatin. Two additional ondansetron doses were administered 4 and 8 hours later, or five additional metoclopramide doses were administered 2, 4, 7, 10, and 13 hours later. Cisplatin was administered over a period of 3 hours or less. Episodes of vomiting and retching were tabulated over the period of 24 hours after cisplatin. The results of this study are summarized in Table 5.
Table 5. Prevention of Vomiting Induced by Cisplatin (≥ 100 mg/m 2) Single-Day Therapy a in Adults
|
ZOFRAN Injection |
Metoclopramide |
P Value |
Dose |
0.15 mg/kg x 3 |
2 mg/kg x 6 |
|
Number of patients in efficacy population |
136 |
138 |
|
Treatment response
0 Emetic episodes
1-2 Emetic episodes
3-5 Emetic episodes
More than 5 emetic episodes/rescued |
54 (40%)
34 (25%)
19 (14%)
29 (21%) |
41 (30%)
30 (22%)
18 (13%)
49 (36%) |
|
Comparison of treatments with respect to
0 Emetic episodes
More than 5 emetic episodes/rescued |
54/136
29/136 |
41/138
49/138 |
0.083
0.009 |
Median number of emetic episodes |
1 |
2 |
0.005 |
Median time to first emetic episode (h) |
20.5 |
4.3 |
< 0.001 |
Global satisfaction with control of nausea and vomiting (0-100)b |
85 |
63 |
0.001 |
Acute dystonic reactions |
0 |
8 |
0.005 |
Akathisia |
0 |
10 |
0.002 |
a In addition to cisplatin, 68% of patients received other chemotherapeutic agents, including cyclophosphamide, etoposide, and fluorouracil. There was no difference between treatments in the types of chemotherapy that would account for differences in response.
b Visual analog scale assessment: 0 = not at all satisfied, 100 = totally satisfied.
In a stratified, randomized, double-blind, parallel-group, multicenter study, a single 32-mg dose of ondansetron was compared with three 0.15-mg/kg doses in patients receiving cisplatin doses of either 50 to 70 mg/m2 or ≥ 100 mg/m2. Patients received the first ondansetron dose 30 minutes before cisplatin. Two additional ondansetron doses were administered 4 and 8 hours later to the group receiving three 0.15-mg/kg doses. In both strata, significantly fewer patients on the single 32-mg dose than those receiving the three-dose regimen failed.
Table 6. Prevention of Chemotherapy-Induced Nausea and Vomiting in Single-Dose Therapy in Adults
|
|
Ondansetron Dose |
|
0.15 mg/kg x 3 |
32 mg x 1 |
P Value |
High-dose cisplatin (≥ 100 mg/m2) |
|
|
|
Number of patients |
100 |
102 |
|
Treatment response
0 Emetic episodes
1-2 Emetic episodes
3-5 Emetic episodes
More than 5 emetic episodes/rescued |
41 (41%)
19 (19%)
4 (4%)
36 (36%) |
49 (48%)
25 (25%)
8 (8%)
20 (20%) |
0.315
0.009 |
Median time to first emetic episode (h) |
21.7 |
23 |
0.173 |
Median nausea scores (0-100)a |
28 |
13 |
0.004 |
Medium-dose cisplatin (50-70 mg/m2) |
|
|
|
Number of patients |
101 |
93 |
|
Treatment response
0 Emetic episodes
1-2 Emetic episodes
3-5 Emetic episodes
More than 5 emetic episodes/rescued |
62 (61%)
11 (11%)
6 (6%)
22 (22%) |
68 (73%)
14 (15%)
3 (3%)
8 (9%) |
0.083
0.011 |
Median time to first emetic episode (h) |
Undefinedb |
Undefined |
|
Median nausea scores (0-100)a |
9 |
3 |
0.131 |
a Visual analog scale assessment: 0 = no nausea, 100 = nausea as bad as it can be.
b Median undefined since at least 50% of patients did not have any emetic episodes.
Cyclophosphamide-Based Chemotherapy: In a double-blind, placebo-controlled study of ZOFRAN Injection (three 0.15-mg/kg doses) in 20 patients receiving cyclophosphamide (500 to 600 mg/m2) chemotherapy, ZOFRAN Injection was significantly more effective than placebo in preventing nausea and vomiting. The results are summarized in Table 7.
Table 7. Prevention of Chemotherapy-Induced Nausea and Vomiting in Single-Day Cyclophosphamide Therapy a in Adults
|
ZOFRAN Injection |
Placebo |
P Valueb |
Number of patients |
10 |
10 |
|
Treatment response
0 Emetic episodes
1-2 Emetic episodes
3-5 Emetic episodes
More than 5 emetic episodes/rescued |
7 (70%)
0 (0%)
2 (20%)
1 (10%) |
0 (0%)
2 (20%)
4 (40%)
4 (40%) |
0.001
0.131 |
Median number of emetic episodes |
0 |
4 |
0.008 |
Median time to first emetic episode (h) |
Undefinedc |
8.79 |
|
Median nausea scores (0-100)d |
0 |
60 |
0.001 |
Global satisfaction with control of nausea and vomiting (0-100)e |
100 |
52 |
0.008 |
a Chemotherapy consisted of cyclophosphamide in all patients, plus other agents, including fluorouracil, doxorubicin, methotrexate, and vincristine. There was no difference between treatments in the type of chemotherapy that would account for differences in response.
b Efficacy based on "all patients treated" analysis.
c Median undefined since at least 50% of patients did not have any emetic episodes.
d Visual analog scale assessment of nausea: 0 = no nausea, 100 = nausea as bad as it can be.
e Visual analog scale assessment of satisfaction: 0 = not at all satisfied, 100 = totally satisfied.
Re-treatment: In uncontrolled trials, 127 patients receiving cisplatin (median dose, 100 mg/m2) and ondansetron who had two or fewer emetic episodes were re-treated with ondansetron and chemotherapy, mainly cisplatin, for a total of 269 re-treatment courses (median, 2; range, 1 to 10). No emetic episodes occurred in 160 (59%), and two or fewer emetic episodes occurred in 217 (81%) re-treatment courses.
Pediatric Studies:Four open-label, noncomparative (one US, three foreign) trials have been performed with 209 pediatric cancer patients 4 to 18 years of age given a variety of cisplatin or noncisplatin regimens. In the three foreign trials, the initial ZOFRAN Injection dose ranged from 0.04 to 0.87 mg/kg for a total dose of 2.16 to 12 mg. This was followed by the oral administration of ondansetron ranging from 4 to 24 mg daily for 3 days. In the US trial, ZOFRAN was administered intravenously (only) in three doses of 0.15 mg/kg each for a total daily dose of 7.2 to 39 mg. In these studies, 58% of the 196 eva luable patients had a complete response (no emetic episodes) on day 1. Thus, prevention of vomiting in these pediatric patients was essentially the same as for patients older than 18 years of age.
An open-label, multicenter, noncomparative trial has been performed in 75 pediatric cancer patients 6 to 48 months of age receiving at least one moderately or highly emetogenic chemotherapeutic agent. Fifty-seven percent (57%) were females; 67% were white, 18% were American Hispanic, and 15% were black patients. ZOFRAN was administered intravenously over 15 minutes in three doses of 0.15 mg/kg. The first dose was administered 30 minutes before the start of chemotherapy, the second and third doses were administered 4 and 8 hours after the first dose, respectively. Eighteen patients (25%) received routine prophylactic dexamethasone (i.e., not given as rescue). Of the 75 eva luable patients, 56% had a complete response (no emetic episodes) on day 1. Thus, prevention of vomiting in these pediatric patients was comparable to the prevention of vomiting in patients 4 years of age and older.
Postoperative Nausea and Vomiting: Prevention of Postoperative Nausea and Vomiting
Adult Studies:Adult surgical patients who received ondansetron immediately before the induction of general balanced anesthesia (barbiturate: thiopental, methohexital, or thiamylal; opioid: alfentanil or fentanyl; nitrous oxide; neuromuscular blockade: succinylcholine/curare and/or vecuronium or atracurium; and supplemental isoflurane) were eva luated in two double-blind US studies involving 554 patients. ZOFRAN Injection (4 mg) I.V. given over 2 to 5 minutes was significantly more effective than placebo. The results of these studies are summarized in Table 8.
Table 8. Prevention of Postoperative Nausea and Vomiting in Adult Patients
|
Ondansetro |