SYMBENDA SIDE EFFECTS
- Generic Name: bendamustine hydrochloride
- Brand Name: Symbenda
- Drug Class: Antineoplastics, Alkylating
SIDE EFFECTS
The data described below reflect exposure to SYMBENDA in 349 patients who participated in an actively-controlled trial (N=153) for the treatment of CLL and two single-arm studies (N=176) for the treatment of indolent B-cell NHL. 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 practice.
The following serious adverse reactions have been associated with SYMBENDA in clinical trials and are discussed in greater detail in other sections of the label.
- Myelosuppression.
- Infections.
- Infusion Reactions and Anaphylaxis.
- Tumor Lysis Syndrome.
- Skin Reactions.
- Other Malignancies.
- Hepatitis B Virus Reactivation.
Clinical Trials Experience In CLL
The data described below reflect exposure to SYMBENDA in 153 patients. SYMBENDA was studied in an active-controlled trial. The population was 45-77 years of age, 63% male, 100% white, and had treatment naïve CLL. All patients started the study at a dose of 100 mg/m2 intravenously over 30 minutes on days 1 and 2 every 28 days.
Adverse reactions were reported according to NCI CTC v.2.0. In the randomized CLL clinical study, non-hematologic adverse reactions (any grade) in the SYMBENDA group that occurred with a frequency greater than 15% were pyrexia (24%), nausea (20%), and vomiting (16%).
Other adverse reactions seen frequently in one or more studies included asthenia, fatigue, malaise, and weakness; dry mouth; somnolence; cough; constipation; headache; mucosal inflammation and stomatitis.
Worsening hypertension was reported in 4 patients treated with SYMBENDA in the randomized CLL clinical study and none treated with chlorambucil. Three of these 4 adverse reactions were described as a hypertensive crisis and were managed with oral medications and resolved.
The most frequent adverse reactions leading to study withdrawal for patients receiving SYMBENDA were hypersensitivity (2%) and pyrexia (1%).
Table 1 contains the treatment emergent adverse reactions, regardless of attribution, that were reported in ≥ 5% of patients in either treatment group in the randomized CLL clinical study.
Table 1: Non-Hematologic Adverse Reactions Occurring in Randomized CLL Clinical Study in at Least 5% of Patients
| System organ class Preferred term | Number (%) of patients | |||
| SYMBENDA (N=153) |
Chlorambucil (N=143) |
|||
| All Grades | Grade 3/4 | All Grades | Grade 3/4 | |
| Total number of patients with at least 1 adverse reaction | 121 (79) | 52 (34) | 96 (67) | 25 (17) |
| Gastrointestinal disorders | ||||
| Nausea | 31 (20) | 1(<1) | 21 (15) | 1(<1) |
| Vomiting | 24 (16) | 1(<1) | 9 (6) | 0 |
| Diarrhea | 14 (9) | 2 (1) | 5 (3) | 0 |
| General disorders and administration site conditions | ||||
| Pyrexia | 36 (24) | 6 (4) | 8 (6) | 2 (1) |
| Fatigue | 14 (9) | 2 (1) | 8 (6) | 0 |
| Asthenia | 13 (8) | 0 | 6 (4) | 0 |
| Chills | 9 (6) | 0 | 1(<1) | 0 |
| Immune system disorders | ||||
| Hypersensitivity | 7 (5) | 2 (1) | 3 (2) | 0 |
| Infections and infestations | ||||
| Nasopharyngitis | 10 (7) | 0 | 12 (8) | 0 |
| Infection | 9 (6) | 3 (2) | 1(<1) | 1(<1) |
| Herpes simplex | 5 (3) | 0 | 7 (5) | 0 |
| Investigations | ||||
| Weight decreased | 11 (7) | 3 (2) | 5 (3) | 0 |
| Metabolism and nutrition disorders | ||||
| Hyperuricemia | 11 (7) | 2 (1) | 0 | |
| Respiratory, thoracic and mediastinal disorders | ||||
| Cough | 6 (4) | 1(<1) | 7 (5) | 1(<1) |
| Skin and subcutaneous tissue disorders | ||||
| Rash | 12 (8) | 4 (3) | 7 (5) | 0 |
| Pruritus | 8 (5) | 0 | 2 (1) | 0 |
The Grade 3 and 4 hematology laboratory test values by treatment group in the randomized CLL clinical study are described in Table 2. These findings confirm the myelosuppressive effects seen in patients treated with SYMBENDA. Red blood cell transfusions were administered to 20% of patients receiving SYMBENDA compared with 6% of patients receiving chlorambucil.
Table 2: Incidence of Hematology Laboratory Abnormalities in Patients Who Received SYMBENDA and Chlorambucil in the Randomized CLL Clinical Study
| Laboratory Abnormality | SYMBENDA (N=150) |
Chlorambucil (N=141) |
||
| All Grades n (%) |
Grade 3/4 n (%) |
All Grades n (%) |
Grade 3/4 n (%) |
|
| Hemoglobin Decreased | 134 (89) | 20 (13) | 115 (82) | 12 (9) |
| Platelets Decreased | 116 (77) | 16 (11) | 110 (78) | 14 (10) |
| Leukocytes Decreased | 92 (61) | 42 (28) | 26 (18) | 4 (3) |
| Lymphocytes Decreased | 102 (68) | 70 (47) | 27 (19) | 6 (4) |
| Neutrophils Decreased | 113 (75) | 65 (43) | 86 (61) | 30 (21) |
In the randomized CLL clinical study, 34% of patients had bilirubin elevations, some without associated significant elevations in AST and ALT. Grade 3 or 4 increased bilirubin occurred in 3% of patients. Increases in AST and ALT of Grade 3 or 4 were limited to 1% and 3% of patients, respectively. Patients treated with SYMBENDA may also have changes in their creatinine levels. If abnormalities are detected, monitoring of these parameters should be continued to ensure that significant deterioration does not occur.
Clinical Trials Experience In NHL
The data described below reflect exposure to SYMBENDA in 176 patients with indolent B-cell NHL treated in two single-arm studies. The population was 31-84 years of age, 60% male, and 40% female. The race distribution was 89% White, 7% Black, 3% Hispanic, 1% other, and < 1% Asian. These patients received SYMBENDA at a dose of 120 mg/m2 intravenously on Days 1 and 2 for up to 8 21-day cycles.
The adverse reactions occurring in at least 5% of the NHL patients, regardless of severity, are shown in Table 3. The most common non-hematologic adverse reactions (≥ 30%) were nausea (75%), fatigue (57%), vomiting (40%), diarrhea (37%) and pyrexia (34%). The most common non-hematologic Grade 3 or 4 adverse reactions (≥ 5%) were fatigue (11%), febrile neutropenia (6%), and pneumonia, hypokalemia and dehydration, each reported in 5% of patients.
Table 3: Non-Hematologic Adverse Reactions Occurring in at Least 5% of NHL Patients Treated with SYMBENDA by System Organ Class and Preferred Term (N=176)
| System organ class Preferred term |
Number (%) of patients* | |
| All Grades | Grade 3/4 | |
| Total number of patients with at least 1 adverse reaction | 176 (100) | 94 (53) |
| Cardiac disorders | ||
| Tachycardia | 13 (7) | 0 |
| Gastrointestinal disorders | ||
| Nausea | 132 (75) | 7 (4) |
| Vomiting | 71 (40) | 5 (3) |
| Diarrhea | 65 (37) | 6 (3) |
| Constipation | 51 (29) | 1(<1) |
| Stomatitis | 27 (15) | 1(<1) |
| Abdominal pain | 22 (13) | 2 (1) |
| Dyspepsia | 20 (11) | 0 |
| Gastroesophageal reflux disease | 18 (10) | 0 |
| Dry mouth | 15 (9) | 1(<1) |
| Abdominal pain upper | 8 (5) | 0 |
| Abdominal distension | 8 (5) | 0 |
| General disorders and administration site conditions | ||
| Fatigue | 101 (57) | 19 (11) |
| Pyrexia | 59 (34) | 3 (2) |
| Chills | 24 (14) | 0 |
| Edema peripheral | 23 (13) | 1(<1) |
| Asthenia | 19 (11) | 4 (2) |
| Chest pain | 11 (6) | 1(<1) |
| Infusion site pain | 11 (6) | 0 |
| Pain | 10 (6) | 0 |
| Catheter pain | 8 (5) | 0 |
| Infections and infestations | ||
| Herpes zoster | 18 (10) | 5 (3) |
| Upper respiratory tract infection | 18 (10) | 0 |
| Urinary tract infection | 17 (10) | 4 (2) |
| Sinusitis | 15 (9) | 0 |
| Pneumonia | 14 (8) | 9 (5) |
| Febrile Neutropenia | 11 (6) | 11 (6) |
| Oral Candidiasis | 11 (6) | 2 (1) |
| Nasopharyngitis | 11 (6) | 0 |
| Investigations | ||
| Weight decreased | 31 (18) | 3 (2) |
| Metabolism and nutrition disorders | ||
| Anorexia | 40 (23) | 3 (2) |
| Dehydration | 24 (14) | 8 (5) |
| Decreased appetite | 22 (13) | 1(<1) |
| Hypokalemia | 15 (9) | 9 (5) |
| Musculoskeletal and connective tissue disorders | ||
| Back pain | 25 (14) | 5 (3) |
| Arthralgia | 11 (6) | 0 |
| Pain in extremity | 8 (5) | 2 (1) |
| Bone pain | 8 (5) | 0 |
| Nervous system disorders | ||
| Headache | 36 (21) | 0 |
| Dizziness | 25 (14) | 0 |
| Dysgeusia | 13 (7) | 0 |
| Psychiatric disorders | ||
| Insomnia | 23 (13) | 0 |
| Anxiety | 14 (8) | 1(<1) |
| Depression | 10 (6) | 0 |
| Respiratory, thoracic and mediastinal disorders | ||
| Cough | 38 (22) | 1(<1) |
| Dyspnea | 28 (16) | 3 (2) |
| Pharyngolaryngeal pain | 14 (8) | 1(<1) |
| Wheezing | 8 (5) | 0 |
| Nasal congestion | 8 (5) | 0 |
| Skin and subcutaneous tissue disorders | ||
| Rash | 28 (16) | 1(<1) |
| Pruritus | 11 (6) | 0 |
| Dry skin | 9 (5) | 0 |
| Night sweats | 9 (5) | 0 |
| Hyperhidrosis | 8 (5) | 0 |
| Vascular disorders | ||
| Hypotension | 10 (6) | 2 (1) |
| *Patients may have reported more than 1 adverse reaction. NOTE: Patients counted only once in each preferred term category and once in each system organ class category. |
||
Hematologic toxicities, based on laboratory values and CTC grade, in NHL patients treated in both single arm studies combined are described in Table 4. Clinically important chemistry laboratory values that were new or worsened from baseline and occurred in >1% of patients at grade 3 or 4, in NHL patients treated in both single arm studies combined were hyperglycemia (3%), elevated creatinine (2%), hyponatremia (2%), and hypocalcemia (2%).
Table 4: Incidence of Hematology Laboratory Abnormalities in Patients Who Received SYMBENDA in the NHL Studies
| Hematology variable | Percent of patients | |
| All Grades | Grades 3/4 | |
| Lymphocytes Decreased | 99 | 94 |
| Leukocytes Decreased | 94 | 56 |
| Hemoglobin Decreased | 88 | 11 |
| Neutrophils Decreased | 86 | 60 |
| Platelets Decreased | 86 | 25 |
In both studies, serious adverse reactions, regardless of causality, were reported in 37% of patients receiving SYMBENDA. The most common serious adverse reactions occurring in ≥ 5% of patients were febrile neutropenia and pneumonia. Other important serious adverse reactions reported in clinical trials and/ or post-marketing experience were acute renal failure, cardiac failure, hypersensitivity, skin reactions, pulmonary fibrosis, and myelodysplastic syndrome.
Serious drug-related adverse reactions reported in clinical trials included myelosuppression, infection, pneumonia, tumor lysis syndrome and infusion reactions . Adverse reactions occurring less frequently but possibly related to SYMBENDA treatment were hemolysis, dysgeusia/taste disorder, atypical pneumonia, sepsis, herpes zoster, erythema, dermatitis, and skin necrosis.
Post-Marketing Experience
The following adverse reactions have been identified during post-approval use of SYMBENDA. 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: anaphylaxis; and injection or infusion site reactions including pruritus, irritation, pain, and swelling.
Skin reactions including SJS and TEN have occurred when SYMBENDA was administered concomitantly with allopurinol and other medications known to cause these syndromes.
Hepatitis due to reactivation of hepatitis B virus may occur.
SRC: NLM .