These highlights do not include all the information needed to use FASLODEX® safely and effectively. See full prescribing information for FASLODEX. FASLODEX® (fulvestrant) injection INITIAL U.S. APPROVAL: 2002

FASLODEX is indicated for the treatment of hormone receptor positive metastatic breast cancer in postmenopausal women with disease progression following antiestrogen therapy.

The recommended dose is 500 mg to be administered intramuscularly into the buttocks slowly (1 - 2 minutes per injection) as two 5 mL injections, one in each buttock, on days 1, 15, 29 and once monthly thereafter [see Clinical Studies (14)].

Hepatic Impairment: A dose of 250 mg is recommended for patients with moderate hepatic impairment (Child-Pugh class B) to be administered intramuscularly into the buttock slowly (1 - 2 minutes) as one 5 mL injection on days 1, 15, 29 and once monthly thereafter.

FASLODEX has not been eva luated in patients with severe hepatic impairment (Child-Pugh class C) [see Warnings and Precautions (5.2) and Use in Specific Populations (8.6)].

The proper method of administration of FASLODEX for intramuscular use is described in the instructions that follow:

How To Use FASLODEX.

For the 2 x 5 mL syringe package, the contents of both syringes must be injected to receive the 500 mg recommended dose.

SAFETYGLIDE™ INSTRUCTIONS FROM BECTON DICKINSON

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CAUTION CONCERNING SAFETYGLIDE™

Federal (USA) law restricts this device to sale by or on the order of a physician. To help avoid HIV (AIDS), HBV (Hepatitis), and other infectious diseases due to accidental needlesticks, contaminated needles should not be recapped or removed, unless there is no alternative or that such action is required by a specific medical procedure.

WARNING CONCERNING SAFETYGLIDE™

Do not autoclave SafetyGlide™ Needle before use. Hands must remain behind the needle at all times during use and disposal.

DIRECTIONS FOR USE OF SAFETYGLIDE™

For each syringe:

Remove glass syringe barrel from tray and check that it is not damaged.

Peel apart packaging of the SafetyGlide™, break the seal of the white plastic cover on the syringe Luer connector and attach the SafetyGlide™ needle to the Luer Lock of the syringe by twisting.

Transport filled syringe to point of administration.

Pull shield straight off needle to avoid damaging needle point.

Administer injection following package instruction.

For user convenience, the needle ‘bevel up’ position is orientated to the lever arm, as shown in Figure 3.

Immediately activate needle protection device upon withdrawal from patient by pushing lever arm completely forward until needle tip is fully covered (Figure 2).

Visually confirm that the lever arm has fully advanced and the needle tip is covered. If unable to activate, discard immediately into an approved sharps collector.

Activation of the protective mechanism may cause minimal splatter of fluid that may remain on the needle after injection.

For greatest safety, use a one-handed technique and activate away from self and others.

After single use, discard in an approved sharps collector in accordance with applicable regulations and institutional policy.

Becton Dickinson guarantees the contents of their unopened or undamaged packages to be sterile, non-toxic and non-pyrogenic.

Figure 1

Figure 2

Figure 3

FASLODEX, an injection for intramuscular administration, is supplied as 5-mL prefilled syringes containing 50 mg/mL fulvestrant.

FASLODEX is contraindicated in patients with a known hypersensitivity to the drug or to any of its components. Hypersensitivity reactions, including urticaria and angioedema, have been reported in association with FASLODEX.

Because FASLODEX is administered intramuscularly, it should be used with caution in patients with bleeding diatheses, thrombocytopenia, or anticoagulant use.

The safety and pharmacokinetics of FASLODEX were eva luated in a study in seven subjects with moderate hepatic impairment (Child-Pugh class B) and seven subjects with normal hepatic function. Exposure was increased in patients with moderate hepatic impairment, therefore a dose of 250 mg is recommended [see Dosage and Administration (2.2)].

FASLODEX has not been studied in patients with severe hepatic impairment (Child-Pugh class C) [see Use in Specific Populations (8.6)].

Based on its mechanism of action and findings in animals, FASLODEX can cause fetal harm when administered to a pregnant woman. Fulvestrant caused fetal loss or abnormalities in animals when administered during the period of organogenesis at doses significantly smaller than the maximum recommended human dose based on the body surface area. There are no adequate and well-controlled studies in pregnant women using FASLODEX. Women of childbearing potential should be advised not to become pregnant while receiving FASLODEX. If FASLODEX is used during pregnancy, or if the patient becomes pregnant while receiving this drug, the patient should be apprised of the potential hazard to the fetus [see Use in Specific Populations (8.1)].

Because clinical trials are conducted under widely varying conditions, the adverse reaction rates observed cannot be directly compared to rates in other trials and may not reflect the rates observed in clinical practice.

Comparison of FASLODEX 500 mg and FASLODEX 250 mg

The following frequency categories for adverse reactions (ARs) were calculated based on the safety analysis of Study 1 that compared FASLODEX 500 mg with FASLODEX 250 mg. The most frequently reported adverse reactions in the fulvestrant 500 mg group were injection site pain (11.6% of patients), nausea (9.7% of patients) and bone pain (9.4% of patients); the most frequently reported adverse reactions in the fulvestrant 250 mg group were nausea (13.6% of patients), back pain (10.7% of patients) and injection site pain (9.1% of patients).

Table 1 lists adverse reactions reported with an incidence of 5% or greater, regardless of assessed causality, from the controlled clinical trial Study 1 comparing the administration of FASLODEX 500 mg intramuscularly once a month with FASLODEX 250 mg intramuscularly once a month.

In the pooled safety population (N=1127) from clinical trials comparing FASLODEX 500 mg to FASLODEX 250 mg, post-baseline increases of ≥1 CTC grade in either AST, ALT, or alkaline phosphatase were observed in > 15% of patients receiving FASLODEX. Grade 3-4 increases were observed in 1-2% of patients. The incidence and severity of increased hepatic enzymes (ALT, AST, ALP) did not differ between the 250 mg and the 500 mg FASLODEX arms.

Comparison of FASLODEX 250 mg and Anastrozole 1 mg in Combined Trials (Studies 2 and 3)

The most commonly reported adverse reactions in the FASLODEX and anastrozole treatment groups, regardless of the investigator’s assessment of causality, were gastrointestinal symptoms (including nausea, vomiting, constipation, diarrhea and abdominal pain), headache, back pain, vasodilatation (hot flashes), and pharyngitis.

Injection site reactions with mild transient pain and inflammation were seen with FASLODEX and occurred in 7% of patients (1% of treatments) given the single 5 mL injection (predominantly European Trial Study 3) and in 27% of patients (4.6% of treatments) given the 2 x 2.5 mL injections (North American Trial Study 2).

Table 2 lists adverse reactions reported with an incidence of 5% or greater, regardless of assessed causality, from the two controlled clinical trials comparing the administration of FASLODEX 250 mg intramuscularly once a month with anastrozole 1 mg orally once a day.

For FASLODEX 250 mg, other adverse reactions reported as drug-related and seen infrequently (<1%) include thromboembolic phenomena, myalgia, vertigo, leukopenia, and hypersensitivity reactions including angioedema and urticaria.

Vaginal bleeding has been reported infrequently (<1%), mainly in patients during the first 6 weeks after changing from existing hormonal therapy to treatment with FASLODEX. If bleeding persists, further eva luation should be considered.

There are no known drug-drug interactions. Although, fulvestrant is metabolized by CYP 3A4 in vitro, drug interactions studies with ketoconazole or rifampin did not alter fulvestrant pharmacokinetics. Dose adjustment is not needed in patients co-prescribed CYP3A4 inhibitors or inducers [see Clinical Pharmacology (12.3)].

Pregnancy Category D [see ‘Warnings and Precautions’ section]

FASLODEX can cause fetal harm when administered to a pregnant woman. Fulvestrant caused fetal loss or abnormalities in animals when administered during the period of organogenesis at doses significantly smaller than the maximum recommended human dose based on the body surface area (BSA). Women of childbearing potential should be advised not to become pregnant while receiving FASLODEX. If FASLODEX is used during pregnancy, or if the patient becomes pregnant while receiving this drug, the patient should be apprised of the potential hazard to the fetus.

In studies in female rats at intramuscular doses ≥ 0.01 mg/kg/day (0.6% of the human recommended dose based on BSA), fulvestrant caused a reversible reduction in female fertility, as well as effects on embryo-fetal development consistent with its antiestrogenic activity. Fulvestrant caused an increased incidence of fetal abnormalities in rats (tarsal flexure of the hind paw at 2 mg/kg/day; equivalent to the human dose based on BSA) and non-ossification of the odontoid and ventral tubercle of the first cervical vertebra at doses ≥ 0.1 mg/kg/day (6% the human dose based on BSA) when administered during the period of organogenesis. Rabbits failed to maintain pregnancy when dosed intramuscularly with 1 mg/kg/day fulvestrant (equivalent to the human dose based on BSA) during the period of organogenesis. Further, in rabbits dosed at 0.25 mg/kg/day (30% the human dose based on BSA), increases in placental weight and post-implantation loss were observed. Fulvestrant was associated with an increased incidence of fetal variations in rabbits (backwards displacement of the pelvic girdle, and 27 pre-sacral vertebrae at 0.25 mg/kg/day; 30% the human dose based on BSA) when administered during the period of organogenesis. Because pregnancy could not be maintained in the rabbit following doses of fulvestrant of 1 mg/kg/day and above, this study was inadequate to fully define the possible adverse effects on fetal development at clinically relevant exposures.

It is not known if fulvestrant is excreted in human milk. Fulvestrant is found in rat milk at levels significantly higher (approximately 12-fold) than plasma after administration of 2 mg/kg. Drug exposure in rodent pups from fulvestrant-treated lactating dams was estimated as 10% of the administered dose. Because many drugs are excreted in human milk and because of the potential for serious adverse reactions in nursing infants from FASLODEX, a decision should be made whether to discontinue nursing or to discontinue the drug, taking into account the importance of the drug to the mother.

Safety and effectiveness in pediatric patients have not been established.

For FASLODEX 250 mg, when tumor response was considered by age, objective responses were seen in 22% and 24% of patients under 65 years of age and in 11% and 16% of patients 65 years of age and older, who were treated with FASLODEX in Study 2 and Study 3, respectively.

FASLODEX is metabolized primarily in the liver.

The pharmacokinetics of fulvestrant were eva luated after a single dose of 100 mg in subjects with mild and moderate hepatic impairment and normal hepatic function (n = 7 subjects/group), using a shorter-acting intramuscular injection formulation. Subjects with mild hepatic impairment (Child- Pugh class A) had comparable mean AUC and clearance values to those with normal hepatic function. In subjects with moderate hepatic impairment (Child-Pugh class B) the average AUC of fulvestrant increased by 70% compared to patients with normal hepatic function. AUC was positively correlated with total bilirubin concentration (p = 0.012). FASLODEX has not been studied in patients with severe hepatic impairment (Child-Pugh class C).

A dose of FASLODEX 250 mg is recommended in patients with moderate hepatic impairment (Child-Pugh class B) [see Dosage and Administration (2.2) and Warning and Precautions (5.2)].

Negligible amounts of fulvestrant are eliminated in urine; therefore, a study in patients with renal impairment was not conducted. In the advanced breast cancer trials, fulvestrant concentrations in women with estimated creatinine clearance as low as 30 mL/min were similar to women with normal creatinine.

Animal studies have shown no effects other than those related directly or indirectly to antiestrogen activity with intramuscular doses of fulvestrant higher than the recommended human dose. There is no clinical experience with overdosage in humans. No adverse reactions were seen in healthy male and female volunteers who received intravenous fulvestrant, which resulted in peak plasma concentrations at the end of the infusion, that were approximately 10 to 15 times those seen after intramuscular injection.

FASLODEX® (fulvestrant) Injection for intramuscular administration is an estrogen receptor antagonist. The chemical name is 7-alpha-[9-(4,4,5,5,5-penta fluoropentylsulphinyl) nonyl]estra-1,3,5-(10)- triene-3,17-beta-diol. The molecular formula is CHFOS and its structural formula is:

Fulvestrant is a white powder with a molecular weight of 606.77. The solution for injection is a clear, colorless to yellow, viscous liquid.

Each injection contains as inactive ingredients: 10% w/v Alcohol, USP, 10% w/v Benzyl Alcohol, NF, and 15% w/v Benzyl Benzoate, USP, as co-solvents, and made up to 100% w/v with Castor Oil, USP as a co-solvent and release rate modifier. 

Many breast cancers have estrogen receptors (ER) and the growth of these tumors can be stimulated by estrogen. Fulvestrant is an estrogen receptor antagonist that binds to the estrogen receptor in a competitive manner with affinity comparable to that of estradiol and downregulates the ER protein in human breast cancer cells.

In vitro studies demonstrated that fulvestrant is a reversible inhibitor of the growth of tamoxifen-resistant, as well as estrogen-sensitive human breast cancer (MCF-7) cell lines. In in vivo tumor studies, fulvestrant delayed the establishment of tumors from xenografts of human breast cancer MCF-7 cells in nude mice. Fulvestrant inhibited the growth of established MCF-7 xenografts and of tamoxifen-resistant breast tumor xenografts.

Fulvestrant showed no agonist-type effects in in vivo uterotropic assays in immature or ovariectomized mice and rats. In in vivo studies in immature rats and ovariectomized monkeys, fulvestrant blocked the uterotrophic action of estradiol. In postmenopausal women, the absence of changes in plasma concentrations of FSH and LH in response to fulvestrant treatment (250 mg monthly) suggests no peripheral steroidal effects.

In a clinical study in postmenopausal women with primary breast cancer treated with single doses of FASLODEX 15-22 days prior to surgery, there was evidence of increasing down-regulation of ER with increasing dose. This was associated with a dose-related decrease in the expression of the progesterone receptor, an estrogen-regulated protein. These effects on the ER pathway were also associated with a decrease in Ki67 labeling index, a marker of cell proliferation.

Absorption: The single dose and multiple dose PK parameters for the 500 mg dosing regimen with an additional dose (AD) at Day 15 are reported in Table 3. The additional dose of FASLODEX given two weeks after the initial dose allows for steady state concentrations to be reached within the first month of dosing.

Distribution:

The apparent volume of distribution at steady state is approximately 3 to 5 L/kg. This suggests that distribution is largely extravascular. Fulvestrant is highly (99%) bound to plasma proteins; VLDL, LDL and HDL lipoprotein fractions appear to be the major binding components. The role of sex hormone-binding globulin, if any, could not be determined.

Metabolism:

Biotransformation and disposition of fulvestrant in humans have been determined following intramuscular and intravenous administration of C-labeled fulvestrant. Metabolism of fulvestrant appears to involve combinations of a number of possible biotransformation pathways analogous to those of endogenous steroids, including oxidation, aromatic hydroxylation, conjugation with glucuronic acid and/or sulphate at the 2, 3 and 17 positions of the steroid nucleus, and oxidation of the side chain sulphoxide. Identified metabolites are either less active or exhibit similar activity to fulvestrant in antiestrogen models.

Studies using human liver preparations and recombinant human enzymes indicate that cytochrome P-450 3A4 (CYP 3A4) is the only P-450 isoenzyme involved in the oxidation of fulvestrant; however, the relative contribution of P-450 and non-P-450 routes in vivo is unknown.

Excretion:

Fulvestrant was rapidly cleared by the hepatobiliary route with excretion primarily via the feces (approximately 90%). Renal elimination was negligible (less than 1%). After an intramuscular injection of 250 mg, the clearance (Mean ± SD) was 690 ± 226 mL/min with an apparent half-life about 40 days.

Special Populations:

Geriatric:

In patients with breast cancer, there was no difference in fulvestrant pharmacokinetic profile related to age (range 33 to 89 years).

Gender:

Following administration of a single intravenous dose, there were no pharmacokinetic differences between men and women or between premenopausal and postmenopausal women. Similarly, there were no differences between men and postmenopausal women after intramuscular administration.

Race:

In the advanced breast cancer treatment trials, the potential for pharmacokinetic differences due to race have been eva luated in 294 women including 87.4% Caucasian, 7.8% Black, and 4.4% Hispanic. No differences in fulvestrant plasma pharmacokinetics were observed among these groups. In a separate trial, pharmacokinetic data from postmenopausal ethnic Japanese women were similar to those obtained in non-Japanese patients.

Pediatric:

The pharmacokinetics of fulvestrant have not been eva luated in pediatric patients.

Drug-Drug Interactions:

There are no known drug-drug interactions. Fulvestrant does not significantly inhibit any of the major CYP isoenzymes, including CYP 1A2, 2C9, 2C19, 2D6, and 3A4 in vitro, and studies of co-administration of fulvestrant with midazolam indicate that therapeutic doses of fulvestrant have no inhibitory effects on CYP 3A4 or alter blood levels of drug metabolized by that enzyme. Although fulvestrant is partly metabolized by CYP 3A4, a clinical study with rifampin, an inducer of CYP 3A4, showed no effect on the pharmacokinetics of fulvestrant. Also results from a healthy volunteer study with ketoconazole, a potent inhibitor of CYP3A4, indicated that ketoconazole had no effect on the pharmacokinetics of fulvestrant and dosage adjustment is not necessary in patients co-prescribed CYP 3A4 inhibitors or inducers [see Drug Interactions (7)].

A two-year carcinogenesis study was conducted in female and male rats, at intramuscular doses of 15 mg/kg/30 days, 10 mg/rat/30 days and 10 mg/rat/15 days.

These doses correspond to 0.9-, 1.5-, and 3-fold (in females) and 0.8-, 0.8-, and 2-fold (in males) the systemic exposure [AUCdays] achieved in women receiving the recommended dose of 500 mg/month. An increased incidence of benign ovarian granulosa cell tumors and testicular Leydig cell tumors was evident, in females dosed at 10 mg/rat/15 days and males dosed at 15 mg/rat/30 days, respectively. Induction of such tumors is consistent with the pharmacology-related endocrine feedback alterations in gonadotropin levels caused by an antiestrogen.

Fulvestrant was not mutagenic or clastogenic in multiple in vitro tests with and without the addition of a mammalian liver metabolic activation factor (bacterial mutation assay in strains of Salmonella typhimurium and Escherichia coli, in vitro cytogenetics study in human lymphocytes, mammalian cell mutation assay in mouse lymphoma cells and in vivo micronucleus test in rat).

In female rats, fulvestrant administered at doses ≥ 0.01 mg/kg/day (0.6% the human recommended dose based on body surface area [BSA]), for 2 weeks prior to and for 1 week following mating, caused a reduction in fertility and embryonic survival. No adverse effects on female fertility and embryonic survival were evident in female animals dosed at 0.001 mg/kg/day (0.06% the human dose based on BSA). Restoration of female fertility to values similar to controls was evident following a 29-day withdrawal period after dosing at 2 mg/kg/day (equivalent to the human dose based on BSA). The effects of fulvestrant on the fertility of female rats appear to be consistent with its antiestrogenic activity. The potential effects of fulvestrant on the fertility of male animals were not studied but, in a 6-month toxicology study, male rats treated with intramuscular doses of 15 mg/kg/30 days, 10 mg/rat/30 days, or 10 mg/rat/15 days fulvestrant showed a loss of spermatozoa from the seminiferous tubules, seminiferous tubular atrophy, and degenerative changes in the epididymides. Changes in the testes and epididymides had not recovered 20 weeks after cessation of dosing. These fulvestrant doses correspond to 1.3-, 1.2- and 3.5-fold the systemic exposure [AUC days] achieved in women receiving the recommended dose of 500 mg/month.

The efficacy of FASLODEX 500 mg versus FASLODEX 250 mg was compared in Study 1. The efficacy of FASLODEX 250 mg was compared to anastrozole in Studies 2 and 3.

Comparison of FASLODEX 500 mg and FASLODEX 250 mg (Study 1)

A Phase 3 randomized, double-blind, controlled clinical trial (Study 1) was completed in 736 postmenopausal women with advanced breast cancer who had disease recurrence on or after adjuvant endocrine therapy or progression following endocrine therapy for advanced disease. This trial compared the efficacy and safety of FASLODEX 500 mg (n=362) with FASLODEX 250 mg (n=374).

FASLODEX 500 mg was administered as two 5 mL injections each containing FASLODEX 250 mg/5mL, one in each buttock, on Days 1, 15, 29 and every 28 (+/- 3) days thereafter. FASLODEX 250 mg was administered as two 5 mL injections (one containing FASLODEX 250 mg/5mL injection plus one placebo injection), one in each buttock, on Days 1, 15 (2 placebo injections only), 29 and every 28 (+/- 3) days thereafter.

The median age of study participants was 61. All patients had ER+ advanced breast cancer. Approximately 30% of subjects had no measurable disease. Approximately 64% of patients had visceral disease.

Results of Study 1 after a minimum follow-up duration of 18 months are summarized in Table 4. The efficacy of FASLODEX 500 mg was compared to that of FASLODEX 250 mg. Figure 1 shows a Kaplan-Meier plot of the Progression Free Survival (PFS) data demonstrating statistically significant superiority of FASLODEX 500 mg vs FASLODEX 250 mg. Figure 2 shows a Kaplan-Meier plot of the Overall Survival (OS) data. There was no statistically significant difference in OS between the two treatment groups.

Figure 1: Kaplan-Meier PFS: Study 1 ITT Population

Figure 2: Kaplan-Meier OS: Study 1 ITT Population

Comparison of FASLODEX 250 mg and Anastrozole 1 mg in Combined Data (Studies 2 and 3)

Efficacy of FASLODEX was established by comparison to the selective aromatase inhibitor anastrozole in two randomized, controlled clinical trials (one conducted in North America, Study 2; the other predominantly in Europe, Study 3) in postmenopausal women with locally advanced or metastatic breast cancer. All patients had progressed after previous therapy with an antiestrogen or progestin for breast cancer in the adjuvant or advanced disease setting.

The median age of study participants was 64. 81.6% of patients had ER+ and/or PgR+ tumors. Patients with ER- /PgR- or unknown tumors were required to have demonstrated a prior response to endocrine therapy. Sites of metastases occurred as follows: visceral only 18.2%; viscera – liver involvement 23.0%; lung involvement 28.1%; bone only 19.7%; soft tissue only 5.2%; skin and soft tissue 18.7%.

In both trials, eligible patients with measurable and/or eva luable disease were randomized to receive either FASLODEX 250 mg intramuscularly once a month (28 days + 3 days) or anastrozole 1 mg orally once a day. All patients were assessed monthly for the first three months and every three months thereafter. Study 2 was a double-blind, randomized trial in 400 postmenopausal women. Study 3 was an open-label, randomized trial conducted in 451 postmenopausal women. Patients on the FASLODEX arm of Study 2 received two separate injections (2 X 2.5 mL), whereas FASLODEX patients received a single injection (1 X 5 mL) in Study 3. In both trials, patients were initially randomized to a 125 mg per month dose as well, but interim analysis showed a very low response rate, and low dose groups were dropped.

Results of the trials, after a minimum follow-up duration of 14.6 months, are summarized in Table 5. The effectiveness of FASLODEX 250 mg was determined by comparing Objective Response Rate (ORR) and Time to Progressi

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AstraZeneca Pharmaceuticals LP

Active Ingredients

Source

• U.S. National Library of Medicine
• DailyMed
•  Last Updated: 2nd of March 2011