Tafinlar Adverse Reactions

Summary of the safety profile: The safety of dabrafenib monotherapy is based on the integrated safety population from five clinical trials, BRF113683 (BREAK-3), BRF113929 (BREAK-MB), BRF113710 (BREAK-2), BRF113220, and BRF112680, which included 578 patients with BRAF V600 mutant unresectable or metastatic melanoma treated with dabrafenib 150 mg twice daily. The most common adverse reactions (incidence ≥15%) reported with dabrafenib were hyperkeratosis, headache, pyrexia, arthralgia, fatigue, nausea, papilloma, alopecia, rash, and vomiting.
The safety of dabrafenib in combination with trametinib has been evaluated in the integrated safety population of 1076 patients with BRAF V600 mutant unresectable or metastatic melanoma, Stage III BRAF V600 mutant melanoma following complete resection (adjuvant treatment) and advanced NSCLC treated with dabrafenib 150 mg twice daily and trametinib 2 mg once daily. Of these patients, 559 were treated with the combination for BRAF V600 mutant melanoma in two randomised Phase III clinical trials, MEK115306 (COMBI-d) and MEK116513 (COMBI-v), 435 were treated with the combination in the adjuvant treatment of Stage III BRAF V600 mutant melanoma after complete resection in a randomised Phase III study BRF115532 (COMBI-AD) and 82 were treated with the combination for BRAF V600 mutant NSCLC in a multi-cohort, non-randomised Phase II study BRF113928 (see Pharmacology: Pharmacodynamics under Actions).
The most common adverse reactions (incidence ≥20%) for dabrafenib in combination with trametinib were: pyrexia, fatigue, nausea, chills, headache, diarrhoea, vomiting, arthralgia and rash.
Tabulated list of adverse reactions: Adverse reactions associated with dabrafenib obtained from clinical studies and post-marketing surveillance are tabulated as follows for dabrafenib monotherapy (Table 14) and dabrafenib in combination with trametinib (Table 15). Adverse drug reactions are listed as follows by MedDRA system organ class ranked by frequency using the following convention: very common (≥1/10), common (≥1/100 to <1/10), uncommon (≥1/1,000 to <1/100), rare (≥1/10,000 to <1/1,000), very rare (<1/10,000) and not known (cannot be estimated from the available data). Within each frequency grouping, adverse reactions are presented in order of decreasing seriousness. (See Tables 14 and 15.)

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Description of selected adverse reactions: Cutaneous squamous cell carcinoma: For dabrafenib monotherapy in study MEK115306, cutaneous squamous cell carcinomas (including those classified as keratoacanthoma or mixed keratoacanthoma subtype) occurred in 10% of patients and approximately 70% of the events occurred within the first 12 weeks of treatment with a median time to onset of 8 weeks. In the integrated safety population for dabrafenib in combination with trametinib, 2% of patients developed cuSCC and the events occurred later than with dabrafenib monotherapy with a median time to onset of 18-31 weeks. All patients receiving dabrafenib as monotherapy or in combination with trametinib who developed cuSCC continued on treatment without dose modification.
New primary melanoma: New primary melanomas have been reported in clinical trials with dabrafenib as monotherapy and in combination with trametinib in melanoma studies. Cases were managed with excision and did not require treatment modification (see Precautions). No new primary melanoma was reported from the Phase II NSCLC study (BRF113928).
Non-cutaneous malignancy: Activation of MAP-kinase signalling in BRAF wild type cells which are exposed to BRAF inhibitors may lead to increased risk of non-cutaneous malignancies, including those with RAS mutations (see Precautions). Non-cutaneous malignancies were reported in 1% (6/586) of patients in the integrated safety population of dabrafenib monotherapy, and <1% (8/1076) of patients in the integrated safety population of dabrafenib in combination with trametinib. Cases of RAS-driven malignancies have been seen with dabrafenib as monotherapy and in combination with trametinib. Patients should be monitored as clinically appropriate.
Haemorrhage: Haemorrhagic events, including major haemorrhagic events and fatal haemorrhages, have occurred in patients taking dabrafenib in combination with trametinib. Refer to the trametinib SmPC.
LVEF reduction/Left ventricular dysfunction: Decreased LVEF has been reported in 6% (65/1076) of patients in the integrated safety population of dabrafenib in combination with trametinib. Most cases were asymptomatic and reversible. Patients with LVEF lower than the institutional lower limit of normal were not included in clinical trials with dabrafenib. Dabrafenib in combination with trametinib should be used with caution in patients with conditions that could impair left ventricular function. Refer to the trametinib SmPC.
Pyrexia: Fever has been reported in clinical trials with dabrafenib as monotherapy and in combination with trametinib; the incidence and severity of pyrexia are increased with the combination therapy (see Precautions). For patients who received dabrafenib in combination with trametinib and developed pyrexia, approximately half of the first occurrences of pyrexia happened within the first month of therapy and approximately one-third of the patients had 3 or more events. In 1% of patients receiving dabrafenib as monotherapy in the integrated safety population, serious non-infectious febrile events were identified as fever accompanied by severe rigors, dehydration, hypotension and/or acute renal insufficiency or pre-renal origin in subjects with normal baseline renal function. The onset of these serious non-infectious febrile events was typically within the first month of therapy. Patients with serious non-infectious febrile events responded well to dose interruption and/or dose reduction and supportive care (see Dosage & Administration and Precautions).
Hepatic events: Hepatic adverse events have been reported in clinical trials with dabrafenib in combination with trametinib. Refer to the trametinib SmPC.
Hypertension: Elevations in blood pressure have been reported in association with dabrafenib in combination with trametinib, in patients with or without pre-existing hypertension. Blood pressure should be measured at baseline and monitored during treatment, with control of hypertension by standard therapy as appropriate.
Arthralgia: Arthralgia was reported very commonly in the integrated safety population of dabrafenib monotherapy (25%) and dabrafenib in combination with trametinib (25%) although these were mainly Grade 1 and 2 in severity with Grade 3 occurring uncommonly (<1%) and no Grade 4 occurrences being reported.
Hypophosphataemia: Hypophosphataemia has been reported commonly in the integrated safety population of dabrafenib monotherapy (7%) and of dabrafenib in combination with trametinib (4%). It should be noted that approximately half of these occurrences with dabrafenib monotherapy (4%) and 1% with dabrafenib in combination with trametinib were Grade 3 in severity.
Pancreatitis: Pancreatitis has been reported in dabrafenib monotherapy and in combination with trametinib. Unexplained abdominal pain should be promptly investigated to include measurement of serum amylase and lipase. Patients should be closely monitored when re-starting dabrafenib after an episode of pancreatitis (see Precautions).
Renal failure: Renal failure due to pyrexia-associated pre-renal azotaemia or granulomatous nephritis was uncommon; however dabrafenib has not been studied in patients with renal insufficiency (defined as creatinine >1.5 x ULN). Caution should be used in this setting (see Precautions).
Special populations: Elderly: Of the total number of patients in the integrated safety population of dabrafenib monotherapy (n=578), 22% were 65 years of age and older, and 6% were 75 years of age and older. Compared with younger subjects (<65), more subjects ≥65 years old had adverse reactions that led to study drug dose reductions (22% versus 12%) or interruptions (39% versus 27%). In addition, older patients experienced more serious adverse reactions compared to younger patients (41% versus 22%). No overall differences in efficacy were observed between these subjects and younger subjects.
In the integrated safety population of dabrafenib in combination with trametinib (n=1076), 265 patients (25%) were ≥65 years of age, 62 patients (6%) were ≥75 years of age. The proportion of patients experiencing AEs was similar in those aged <65 years and those aged ≥65 years in all clinical trials. Patients ≥65 years were more likely to experience SAEs and AEs leading to permanent discontinuation of medicinal product, dose reduction and dose interruption than those <65 years.
Dabrafenib in combination with trametinib in patients with brain metastases: The safety and efficacy of the combination of dabrafenib and trametinib have been evaluated in a multi-cohort, open-label, Phase II study in patients with BRAF V600 mutant melanoma with brain metastases. The safety profile observed in these patients appears to be consistent with the integrated safety profile of the combination.
Reporting of suspected adverse reactions: Reporting suspected adverse reactions after authorisation of the medicinal product is important. It allows continued monitoring of the benefit/risk balance of the medicinal product. Healthcare professionals are asked to report any suspected adverse reactions.