U.S. FDA Oncologic Drugs Advisory Committee votes in favor of the benefit-risk profile of DARZALEX FASPRO® (daratumumab and hyaluronidase-fihj) for high-risk smoldering multiple myeloma
ODAC recommendation based on the positive progression-free survival and clinical benefit in the Phase 3 AQUILA study
If approved, DARZALEX FASPRO® would be the first treatment to potentially delay or prevent progression to multiple myeloma
The vote highlights a pivotal moment in the care of patients most likely to develop active multiple myeloma (MM), potentially altering the course of disease and treatment. DARZALEX
No treatments are approved specifically to treat HR-SMM. In 2024, it was estimated that more than 35,000 people would be diagnosed with MM in the
"Early intervention in high-risk smoldering multiple myeloma demonstrated a reduction in the risk of progression or death," said
The committee reviewed data from the AQUILA study, a Phase 3, randomized, open-label trial which evaluated the efficacy and safety of DARZALEX
"High-risk smoldering multiple myeloma remains a challenging clinical conundrum with no approved therapies, and earlier intervention may delay or even prevent progression to active multiple myeloma," said Peter Voorhees, M.D.,
The recommendation reinforces
The ODAC is convened upon request of the FDA to review and evaluate safety and efficacy data of human drug products for use in the treatment of oncologic diseases. The committee provides non-binding recommendations based on its evaluation; however, final decisions on approval of the drug are made by the FDA.
About the AQUILA Study
AQUILA (NCT03301220) is a randomized, multicenter Phase 3 study comparing treatment with DARZALEX
About Multiple Myeloma
Multiple myeloma is a blood cancer that affects a type of white blood cell called plasma cells, which are found in the bone marrow.3 In multiple myeloma, these malignant plasma cells proliferate and replace normal cells in the bone marrow.4 Multiple myeloma is the second most common blood cancer worldwide and remains an incurable disease.5 In 2024, it is estimated that more than 35,000 people will be diagnosed with multiple myeloma in the
About Smoldering Multiple Myeloma
Smoldering multiple myeloma (SMM) is an asymptomatic intermediate disease state of multiple myeloma characterized by abnormal monoclonal bone marrow plasma cell (BMPC) proliferation and abnormally high levels of circulating M proteins with absence of myeloma-defining events. SMM is associated with a 10 percent annual risk of progressing to multiple myeloma (MM) or a related disorder, but half of patients with high-risk SMM progress to MM and are at risk of developing severe symptoms and organ damage within just two years of diagnosis.
About DARZALEX
DARZALEX
DARZALEX® (daratumumab) received
DARZALEX® is the first CD38-directed antibody approved to treat MM.9 DARZALEX®-based regimens have been used in the treatment of more than 618,000 patients worldwide.
In
For more information, visit https://www.darzalexhcp.com.
DARZALEX
INDICATIONS
DARZALEX
- In combination with bortezomib, lenalidomide, and dexamethasone for induction and consolidation in newly diagnosed patients who are eligible for autologous stem cell transplant
- In combination with bortezomib, melphalan, and prednisone in newly diagnosed patients who are ineligible for autologous stem cell transplant
- In combination with lenalidomide and dexamethasone in newly diagnosed patients who are ineligible for autologous stem cell transplant and in patients with relapsed or refractory MM who have received at least one prior therapy
- In combination with bortezomib, thalidomide, and dexamethasone in newly diagnosed patients who are eligible for autologous stem cell transplant
- In combination with pomalidomide and dexamethasone in patients who have received at least one prior line of therapy including lenalidomide and a proteasome inhibitor (PI)
- In combination with carfilzomib and dexamethasone in patients with relapsed or refractory MM who have received one to three prior lines of therapy
- In combination with bortezomib and dexamethasone in patients who have received at least one prior therapy
- As monotherapy in patients who have received at least three prior lines of therapy including a PI and an immunomodulatory agent or who are double refractory to a PI and an immunomodulatory agent
IMPORTANT SAFETY INFORMATION
CONTRAINDICATIONS
DARZALEX
WARNINGS AND PRECAUTIONS
Hypersensitivity and Other Administration Reactions
Both systemic administration-related reactions, including severe or life-threatening reactions, and local injection-site reactions can occur with DARZALEX
Systemic Reactions
In a pooled safety population of 1249 patients with MM (N=1056) or light chain (AL) amyloidosis (N=193) who received DARZALEX
Severe reactions included hypoxia, dyspnea, hypertension, tachycardia, and ocular adverse reactions, including choroidal effusion, acute myopia, and acute angle closure glaucoma. Other signs and symptoms of systemic administration-related reactions may include respiratory symptoms, such as bronchospasm, nasal congestion, cough, throat irritation, allergic rhinitis, and wheezing, as well as anaphylactic reaction, pyrexia, chest pain, pruritus, chills, vomiting, nausea, hypotension, and blurred vision.
Pre-medicate patients with histamine-1 receptor antagonist, acetaminophen, and corticosteroids. Monitor patients for systemic administration-related reactions, especially following the first and second injections. For anaphylactic reaction or life-threatening (Grade 4) administration-related reactions, immediately and permanently discontinue DARZALEX
Ocular adverse reactions, including acute myopia and narrowing of the anterior chamber angle due to ciliochoroidal effusions with potential for increased intraocular pressure or glaucoma, have occurred with daratumumab-containing products. If ocular symptoms occur, interrupt DARZALEX
Local Reactions
In this pooled safety population, injection-site reactions occurred in 7 percent of patients, including Grade 2 reactions in 0.8 percent. The most frequent (>1 percent) injection-site reaction was injection-site erythema. These local reactions occurred a median of 5 minutes (range: 0 minutes to 6.5 days) after starting administration of DARZALEX
Neutropenia
Daratumumab may increase neutropenia induced by background therapy. Monitor complete blood cell counts periodically during treatment according to manufacturer's prescribing information for background therapies. Monitor patients with neutropenia for signs of infection. Consider withholding DARZALEX
Thrombocytopenia
Daratumumab may increase thrombocytopenia induced by background therapy. Monitor complete blood cell counts periodically during treatment according to manufacturer's prescribing information for background therapies. Consider withholding DARZALEX
Embryo-Fetal Toxicity
Based on the mechanism of action, DARZALEX
The combination of DARZALEX
Interference With Serological Testing
Daratumumab binds to CD38 on red blood cells (RBCs) and results in a positive indirect antiglobulin test (indirect Coombs test). Daratumumab-mediated positive indirect antiglobulin test may persist for up to 6 months after the last daratumumab administration. Daratumumab bound to RBCs masks detection of antibodies to minor antigens in the patient's serum. The determination of a patient's ABO and Rh blood type are not impacted.
Notify blood transfusion centers of this interference with serological testing and inform blood banks that a patient has received DARZALEX
Interference With Determination of Complete Response
Daratumumab is a human immunoglobulin G (IgG) kappa monoclonal antibody that can be detected on both the serum protein electrophoresis (SPE) and immunofixation (IFE) assays used for the clinical monitoring of endogenous M-protein. This interference can impact the determination of complete response and of disease progression in some DARZALEX
ADVERSE REACTIONS
In MM, the most common adverse reaction (≥20 percent) with DARZALEX
The most common hematology laboratory abnormalities (≥40 percent) with DARZALEX
Please
click here
to see the full Prescribing Information for DARZALEX
DARZALEX® INDICATIONS AND IMPORTANT SAFETY INFORMATION
INDICATIONS
DARZALEX® (daratumumab) is indicated for the treatment of adult patients with MM:
- In combination with bortezomib, melphalan, and prednisone in newly diagnosed patients who are ineligible for autologous stem cell transplant
- In combination with lenalidomide and dexamethasone in newly diagnosed patients who are ineligible for autologous stem cell transplant and in patients with relapsed or refractory MM who have received at least one prior therapy
- In combination with bortezomib, thalidomide, and dexamethasone in newly diagnosed patients who are eligible for autologous stem cell transplant
- In combination with pomalidomide and dexamethasone in patients who have received at least one prior line of therapy including lenalidomide and a proteasome inhibitor
- In combination with carfilzomib and dexamethasone in patients with relapsed or refractory MM who have received one to three prior lines of therapy
- In combination with bortezomib and dexamethasone in patients who have received at least one prior therapy
- As monotherapy in patients who have received at least three prior lines of therapy including a proteasome inhibitor (PI) and an immunomodulatory agent or who are double-refractory to a PI and an immunomodulatory agent
CONTRAINDICATIONS
DARZALEX® is contraindicated in patients with a history of severe hypersensitivity (eg, anaphylactic reactions) to daratumumab or any of the components of the formulation.
WARNINGS AND PRECAUTIONS
Infusion-Related Reactions
DARZALEX® can cause severe and/or serious infusion-related reactions including anaphylactic reactions. These reactions can be life-threatening, and fatal outcomes have been reported. In clinical trials (monotherapy and combination: N=2066), infusion-related reactions occurred in 37 percent of patients with the Week 1 (16 mg/kg) infusion, 2 percent with the Week 2 infusion, and cumulatively 6 percent with subsequent infusions. Less than 1 percent of patients had a Grade 3/4 infusion-related reaction at Week 2 or subsequent infusions. The median time to onset was 1.5 hours (range: 0 to 73 hours). Nearly all reactions occurred during infusion or within 4 hours of completing DARZALEX®. Severe reactions have occurred, including bronchospasm, hypoxia, dyspnea, hypertension, tachycardia, headache, laryngeal edema, pulmonary edema, and ocular adverse reactions, including choroidal effusion, acute myopia, and acute angle closure glaucoma. Signs and symptoms may include respiratory symptoms, such as nasal congestion, cough, throat irritation, as well as chills, vomiting, and nausea. Less common signs and symptoms were wheezing, allergic rhinitis, pyrexia, chest discomfort, pruritus, hypotension and blurred vision.
When DARZALEX® dosing was interrupted in the setting of ASCT (CASSIOPEIA) for a median of 3.75 months (range: 2.4 to 6.9 months), upon re-initiation of DARZALEX®, the incidence of infusion-related reactions was 11 percent for the first infusion following ASCT. Infusion-related reactions occurring at re-initiation of DARZALEX® following ASCT were consistent in terms of symptoms and severity (Grade 3 or 4: <1 percent) with those reported in previous studies at Week 2 or subsequent infusions. In EQUULEUS, patients receiving combination treatment (n=97) were administered the first 16 mg/kg dose at Week 1 split over two days, ie, 8 mg/kg on Day 1 and Day 2, respectively. The incidence of any grade infusion-related reactions was 42 percent, with 36 percent of patients experiencing infusion-related reactions on Day 1 of Week 1, 4 percent on Day 2 of Week 1, and 8 percent with subsequent infusions.
Pre-medicate patients with antihistamines, antipyretics, and corticosteroids.
Frequently monitor patients during the entire infusion. Interrupt DARZALEX® infusion for reactions of any severity and institute medical management as needed. Permanently discontinue DARZALEX® therapy if an anaphylactic reaction or life-threatening (Grade 4) reaction occurs and institute appropriate emergency care. For patients with Grade 1, 2, or 3 reactions, reduce the infusion rate when re-starting the infusion.
To reduce the risk of delayed infusion-related reactions, administer oral corticosteroids to all patients following DARZALEX® infusions. Patients with a history of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease may require additional post-infusion medications to manage respiratory complications. Consider prescribing short- and long-acting bronchodilators and inhaled corticosteroids for patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease.
Ocular adverse reactions, including acute myopia and narrowing of the anterior chamber angle due to ciliochoroidal effusions with potential for increased intraocular pressure or glaucoma, have occurred with DARZALEX® infusion. If ocular symptoms occur, interrupt DARZALEX® infusion and seek immediate ophthalmologic evaluation prior to restarting DARZALEX®.
Interference With Serological Testing
Daratumumab binds to CD38 on red blood cells (RBCs) and results in a positive indirect antiglobulin test (indirect Coombs test). Daratumumab-mediated positive indirect antiglobulin test may persist for up to 6 months after the last daratumumab infusion. Daratumumab bound to RBCs masks detection of antibodies to minor antigens in the patient's serum. The determination of a patient's ABO and Rh blood type is not impacted. Notify blood transfusion centers of this interference with serological testing and inform blood banks that a patient has received DARZALEX®. Type and screen patients prior to starting DARZALEX®.
Neutropenia and Thrombocytopenia
DARZALEX® may increase neutropenia and thrombocytopenia induced by background therapy. Monitor complete blood cell counts periodically during treatment according to manufacturer's prescribing information for background therapies. Monitor patients with neutropenia for signs of infection. Consider withholding DARZALEX® until recovery of neutrophils or for recovery of platelets.
Interference With Determination of Complete Response
Daratumumab is a human immunoglobulin G (IgG) kappa monoclonal antibody that can be detected on both the serum protein electrophoresis (SPE) and immunofixation (IFE) assays used for the clinical monitoring of endogenous M-protein. This interference can impact the determination of complete response and of disease progression in some patients with IgG kappa myeloma protein.
Embryo-Fetal Toxicity
Based on the mechanism of action, DARZALEX® can cause fetal harm when administered to a pregnant woman. DARZALEX® may cause depletion of fetal immune cells and decreased bone density. Advise pregnant women of the potential risk to a fetus. Advise females with reproductive potential to use effective contraception during treatment with DARZALEX® and for 3 months after the last dose.
The combination of DARZALEX® with lenalidomide, pomalidomide, or thalidomide is contraindicated in pregnant women because lenalidomide, pomalidomide, and thalidomide may cause birth defects and death of the unborn child. Refer to the lenalidomide, pomalidomide, or thalidomide prescribing information on use during pregnancy.
ADVERSE REACTIONS
The most frequently reported adverse reactions (incidence ≥20 percent) were: upper respiratory infection, neutropenia, infusion related reactions, thrombocytopenia, diarrhea, constipation, anemia, peripheral sensory neuropathy, fatigue, peripheral edema, nausea, cough, pyrexia, dyspnea, and asthenia. The most common hematologic laboratory abnormalities (≥40 percent) with DARZALEX® are: neutropenia, lymphopenia, thrombocytopenia, leukopenia, and anemia.
Please click here to see the full Prescribing Information.
About
At
Cautions Concerning Forward-Looking Statements
This press release contains "forward-looking statements" as defined in the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995 regarding product development and the potential benefits and treatment impact of DARZALEX
‡
Media contact: Oncology Media Relations |
Investor contact:
|
1 Dimopoulos, M.-A. Phase 3 randomized study of daratumumab monotherapy versus active monitoring in patients with high-risk smoldering multiple myeloma: primary results of the AQUILA study. Abstract #773 [Oral Presentation]. Presented at the 2024 American Society of Hematology Annual Meeting.
2 Dimopoulos, M.-A., et al. Daratumumab or Active Monitoring for High-Risk Smoldering Multiple Myeloma.
3 Rajkumar SV. Multiple Myeloma: 2020 Update on Diagnosis, Risk-Stratification and Management. Am J Hematol. 2020;95(5):548-5672020;95(5):548-567. http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/32212178
4
5 Multiple Myeloma.
6
7
8
View original content to download multimedia:https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/us-fda-oncologic-drugs-advisory-committee-votes-in-favor-of-the-benefit-risk-profile-of-darzalex-faspro-daratumumab-and-hyaluronidase-fihj-for-high-risk-smoldering-multiple-myeloma-302461151.html
SOURCE