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Erlotinib

Also sold as: Tarceva

Protein Kinase InhibitorsPrescription OnlyGeneric Available

Related Medications

Important: Only drugs listed as "Exact Equivalents" (FDA AB-rated) are confirmed interchangeable. All other listings are for informational reference only and do NOT indicate that drugs can be substituted without a physician's explicit guidance.
Same Pharmacologic Class

These drugs share a pharmacologic classification but are NOT interchangeable. Listing here does not imply clinical equivalence. A physician must evaluate each drug individually for the patient's specific condition.

Classification: Protein Kinase Inhibitors (source: RxClass/NLM)

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Drug Information

Mechanism of Action

12.1 Mechanism of Action Epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) is expressed on the cell surface of both normal and cancer cells. In some tumor cells signaling through this receptor plays a role in tumor cell survival and proliferation irrespective of EGFR mutation status. Erlotinib reversibly inhibits the kinase activity of EGFR, preventing autophosphorylation of tyrosine residues associated with the receptor and thereby inhibiting further downstream signaling. Erlotinib binding affinity for EGFR exon 19 deletion or exon 21 (L858R) mutations is higher than its affinity for the wild type receptor. Erlotinib inhibition of other tyrosine kinase receptors has not been fully characterized.

Indications & Uses

1 INDICATIONS AND USAGE Erlotinib tablet is a kinase inhibitor indicated for: The treatment of patients with metastatic non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) whose tumors have epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) exon 19 deletions or exon 21 (L858R) substitution mutations as detected by an FDA-approved test receiving first-line, maintenance, or second or greater line treatment after progression following at least one prior chemotherapy regimen ( 1.1 ) First-line treatment of patients with locally advanced, unrespectable or metastatic pancreatic cancer, in combination with gemcitabine. ( 1.2 ) Limitations of Use: Safety and efficacy of erlotinib tablets have not been established in patients with NSCLC whose tumors have other EGFR mutations. ( 1.1 ) Erlotinib tablets are not recommended for use in combination with platinum-based chemotherapy. ( 1.1 ) 1.1 Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer (NSCLC) Erlotinib Tablets was indicated for: The treatment of patients with metastatic non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) whose tumors have epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) exon 19 deletions or exon 21 (L858R) substitution mutations as detected by an FDA-approved test receiving first-line, maintenance, or second or greater line treatment after progression following at least one prior chemotherapy regimen [see Clinical Studies (14.1 , 14.3) ] . Limitations of use: Safety and efficacy of erlotinib have not been established in patients with NSCLC whose tumors have other EGFR mutations [see Clinical Studies (14.1, 14.2) ]. Erlotinib tablet is not recommended for use in combination with platinum-based chemotherapy [see Clinical Studies ( 14.4 )]. 1.2 Pancreatic Cancer Erlotinib tablet in combination with gemcitabine is indicated for the first-line treatment of patients with locally advanced, unresectable or metastatic pancreatic cancer [see Clinical Studies (14.5) ] .

Dosage & Administration

2 DOSAGE AND ADMINISTRATION NSCLC: 150mg orally, on an empty stomach, once daily ( 2.2 ) Pancreatic cancer: 100 mg orally, on an empty stomach, once daily. ( 2.3 ) 2.1 Selection of Patients with Metastatic NSCLC Select patients for the treatment of metastatic NSCLC with erlotinib tablets based on the presence of EGFR exon 19 deletions or exon 21 (L858R) substitution mutations in tumor or plasma specimens [see Clinical Studies (14.1 , 14.2) ] . If these mutations are not detected in a plasma specimen, test tumor tissue if available. Information on FDA-approved tests for the detection of EGFR mutations in NSCLC is available at: http://www.fda.gov/CompanionDiagnostics . 2.2 Recommended Dose – NSCLC The recommended daily dose of erlotinib tablets for NSCLC is 150 mg taken on an empty stomach, i.e., at least one hour before or two hours after the ingestion of food. Treatment should continue until disease progression or unacceptable toxicity occurs. 2.3 Recommended Dose – Pancreatic Cancer The recommended daily dose of erlotinib tablets for pancreatic cancer is 100 mg taken once daily in combination with gemcitabine. Take erlotinib tablet on an empty stomach, i.e., at least one hour before or two hours after the ingestion of food. Treatment should continue until disease progression or unacceptable toxicity occurs [see Clinical Studies (14.5) ] . 2.4 Dose Modifications Adverse Reactions Pulmonary † Interstitial Lung Disease (ILD) Discontinue Erlotinib tablet During diagnostic evaluation for possible ILD Withhold Erlotinib tablet * Hepatic † Severe hepatic toxicity that does not improve significantly or resolve within three weeks Discontinue Erlotinib tablets In patients with pre-existing hepatic impairment or biliary obstruction for doubling of bilirubin or tripling of transaminases values over baseline Withhold Erlotinib tablet * and consider discontinuation In patients without pre-existing hepatic impairment for total bilirubin levels greater than 3 times the upper limit of normal or transaminases greater than 5 times the upper limit of normal Withhold Erlotinib tablet * and consider discontinuation Renal † For severe (CTCAE grade 3 to 4) renal toxicity Withhold Erlotinib tablet * and consider discontinuation Gastrointestinal † Gastrointestinal perforation Discontinue Erlotinib tablet For persistent severe diarrhea not responsive to medical management (e.g., loperamide) Withhold Erlotinib tablet * Skin † Severe bullous, blistering or exfoliating skin conditions Discontinue Erlotinib tablet For severe rash not responsive to medical management Withhold Erlotinib tablet * Ocular † Corneal perforation or severe ulceration Discontinue Erlotinib tablet For keratitis of (NCI-CTC version 4.0) grade 3-4 or for grade 2 lasting more than 2 weeks Withhold Erlotinib tablet * For acute/worsening ocular disorders such as eye pain Withhold Erlotinib tablet * and consider discontinuation Drug Interactions CYP3A4 inhibitors ‡ If severe reactions occur with concomitant use of strong \ CYP3A4 inhibitors [such as atazanavir, clarithromycin, indinavir, itraconazole, ketoconazole, nefazodone, nelfinavir, ritonavir, saquinavir, telithromycin, troleandomycin (TAO), voriconazole, or grapefruit or grapefruit juice] or when using concomitantly with an inhibitor of both CYP3A4 and CYP1A2 (e.g., ciprofloxacin Reduce erlotinib by 50 mg decrements; avoid concomitant use if possible CYP3A4 inducers ‡ Concomitant use with CYP3A4 inducers, such as rifampin, rifabutin, rifapentine, phenytoin, carbamazepine, phenobarbital, or St. John's Wort Increase erlotinib by 50 mg increments at 2-week intervals to a maximum of 450 mg as tolerated. Avoid concomitant use if possible Concurrent Cigarette Smoking ‡§ Concurrent cigarette smoking Increase erlotinib by 50 mg increments at 2-week intervals to a maximum of 300 mg. Immediately reduce the dose of erlotinib tablet to the recommended dose (150 mg or 100 mg daily) upon cessation of smoking Proton Pump inhibitors Separation of doses may not eliminate the interaction since proton pump inhibitors affect the pH of the upper GI tract for an extended period Avoid concomitant use if possible H2-receptor antagonists If treatment with an H2-receptor antagonist such as ranitidine is required, separate dosing. Erlotinib tablet must be taken 10 hours after the H2-receptor antagonist dosing and at least 2 hours before the next dose of the H2 receptor antagonist Antacids The effect of antacids on erlotinib pharmacokinetics has not been evaluated The antacid dose and the erlotinib dose should be separated by several hours, if an antacid is necessary † For additional information see Warnings and Precautions ( 5 ). * Reduce erlotinib by 50 mg decrements when restarting therapy following withholding treatment for a dose-limiting toxicity that has resolved to baseline or grade ≤ 1. ‡ For additional information see Drug Interactions ( 7 ). § For additional information see Clinical Pharmacology ( 12.3 )

Side Effects (Adverse Reactions)

6 ADVERSE REACTIONS The following serious adverse reactions, which may include fatalities, are discussed in greater detail in other sections of the labeling: Interstitial Lung Disease (ILD) [see Warnings and Precautions (5.1) ] Renal Failure [see Warnings and Precautions (5.2) ] Hepatotoxicity with or without Hepatic Impairment [see Warnings and Precautions (5.3) ] Gastrointestinal Perforation [see Warnings and Precautions (5.4) ] Bullous and Exfoliative Skin Disorders [see Warnings and Precautions (5.5) ] Cerebrovascular Accident [see Warnings and Precautions (5.6) ] Microangiopathic Hemolytic Anemia with Thrombocytopenia [see Warnings and Precautions (5.7) ] Ocular Disorders [see Warnings and Precautions (5.8) ] Hemorrhage in Patients Taking Warfarin [see Warnings and Precautions (5.9) ] The most common adverse reactions (≥20%) with erlotinib tablets from a pooled analysis in patients with NSCLC across all approved lines of therapy, with and without EGFR mutations, and in patients with pancreatic cancer were rash, diarrhea, anorexia, fatigue, dyspnea, cough, nausea, and vomiting. ( 6.1 ) To report SUSPECTED ADVERSE REACTIONS, contact 1-888-557-1212 or FDA at 1-800-FDA-1088 or http://www.fda.gov/medwatch 6.1 Clinical Trials Safety Experience 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. Safety evaluation of erlotinib tablet is based on more than 1200 cancer patients who received erlotinib tablet as monotherapy, more than 300 patients who received erlotinib tablet 100 or 150 mg plus gemcitabine, and 1228 patients who received erlotinib tablet concurrently with other chemotherapies. The most common adverse reactions with erlotinib tablet are rash and diarrhea usually with onset during the first month of treatment. The incidences of rash and diarrhea from clinical studies of erlotinib tablet for the treatment of NSCLC and pancreatic cancer were 70% for rash and 42% for diarrhea. Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer First-Line Treatment of Patients with EGFR Mutations The most frequent (≥ 30%) adverse reactions in erlotinib tablets-treated patients were diarrhea, asthenia, rash, cough, dyspnea, and decreased appetite. In erlotinib tablets-treated patients the median time to onset of rash was 15 days and the median time to onset of diarrhea was 32 days. The most frequent Grade 3-4 adverse reactions in erlotinib tablets-treated patients were rash and diarrhea. Dose interruptions or reductions due to adverse reactions occurred in 37% of erlotinib tabletstreated patients, and 14.3% of erlotinib tablets-treated patients discontinued therapy due to adverse reactions. In erlotinib tablets-treated patients, the most frequently reported adverse reactions leading to dose modification were rash (13%), diarrhea (10%), and asthenia (3.6%). Common adverse reactions in Study 1,occurring in at least 10% of patients who received erlotinib tablets or chemotherapy and an increase in ≥ 5% in the erlotinib tablets-treated group, are graded by National Cancer Institute Common Toxicity Criteria for Adverse Events version 3.0 (NCI-CTCAE v3.0) Grade in Table 1. The median duration of erlotinib tablets treatment was 9.6 months in Study 1. Table 1: Adverse Reactions with an Incidence Rate ≥ 10% and an Increase of ≥ 5% in the erlotinib tablets-Treated Group (Study 1) Erlotinib Tablets N = 84 Chemotherapy † N = 83 Adverse Reaction All Grades % Grades 3-4 % All Grades % Grades 3-4 % Rash ‡ 85 14 5 0 Diarrhea 62 5 21 1 Cough 48 1 40 0 Dyspnea 45 8 30 4 Dry skin 21 1 2 0 Back pain 19 2 5 0 Chest pain 18 1 12 0 Conjunctivitis 18 0 0 0 Mucosal inflammation 18 1 6 0 Pruritus 16 0 1 0 Paronychia 14 0 0 0 Arthralgia 13 1 6 1 Musculoskeletal pain 11 1 1 0 † Platinum-based chemotherapy (cisplatin or carboplatin with gemcitabine or docetaxel). ‡ Rash as a composite term includes rash, acne, folliculitis, erythema, acneiform dermatitis, dermatitis, palmarplantar erythrodysesthesia syndrome, exfoliative rash, erythematous rash, rash pruritic, skin toxicity, eczema, follicular rash, skin ulcer. Hepatic Toxicity: One erlotinib-treated patient experienced fatal hepatic failure and four additional patients experienced grade 3-4 liver test abnormalities in Study 1 [see Warnings and Precautions (5.3) ] . Maintenance Treatment Adverse reactions, regardless of causality, that occurred in at least 3% of patients treated with single-agent erlotinib tablets at 150 mg and at least 3% more often than in the placebo group in the randomized maintenance trial (Study 3) are summarized by NCI-CTCAE v3.0 Grade in Table 2. The most common adverse reactions in patients receiving single-agent erlotinib tablets 150 mg were rash and diarrhea. Grade 3-4 rash and diarrhea occurred in 9% and 2%, respectively, in erlotinib tablets-treated patients. Rash and diarrhea resulted in

Drug Interactions

7 DRUG INTERACTIONS CYP3A4 Inhibitors Co-administration of erlotinib tablets with a strong CYP3A4 inhibitor or a combined CYP3A4 and CYP1A2 inhibitor increased erlotinib exposure. Erlotinib is metabolized primarily by CYP3A4 and to a lesser extent by CYP1A2. Increased erlotinib exposure may increase the risk of exposure-related toxicity [see Clinical Pharmacology (12.3) ] . Avoid co-administering erlotinib tablets with strong CYP3A4 inhibitors (e.g., boceprevir, clarithromycin, conivaptan, indinavir, itraconazole, ketoconazole, lopinavir/ritonavir, nefazodone, nelfinavir, posaconazole, ritonavir, saquinavir, telithromycin, voriconazole, grapefruit or grapefruit juice) or a combined CYP3A4 and CYP1A2 inhibitor (e.g., ciprofloxacin). Reduce the erlotinib tablets dosage when co-administering with a strong CYP3A4 inhibitor or a combined CYP3A4 and CYP1A2 inhibitor if co-administration is unavoidable [see Dosage and Administration (2.4) ] . CYP3A4 Inducers Pre-treatment with a CYP3A4 inducer prior to erlotinib tablets decreased erlotinib exposure [see Clinical Pharmacology (12.3) ] . Increase the erlotinib tablets dosage if co-administration with CYP3A4 inducers (e.g., carbamazepine, phenytoin, rifampin, rifabutin, rifapentine, phenobarbital and St. John's wort) is unavoidable [see Dosage and Administration (2.4) ]. CYP1A2 Inducers and Cigarette Smoking Cigarette smoking decreased erlotinib exposure. Avoid smoking tobacco (CYP1A2 inducer) and avoid concomitant use of erlotinib tablets with moderate CYP1A2 inducers (e.g., teriflunomide, rifampin, or phenytoin). Increase the erlotinib tablets dosage in patients that smoke tobacco or when co-administration with moderate CYP1A2 inducers is unavoidable [see Dosage and Administration (2.4) and Clinical Pharmacology (12.3) ] . Drugs the Increase Gastric pH Co-administration of erlotinib tablets with proton pump inhibitors (e.g., omeprazole) and H-2 receptor antagonists (e.g., ranitidine) decreased erlotinib exposure [see Clinical Pharmacology (12.3) ] . For proton pump inhibitors, avoid concomitant use if possible. For H-2 receptor antagonists and antacids, modify the dosing schedule [see Dosage and Administration (2.4) ]. Increasing the dose of erlotinib when co-administered with gastric PH elevating agents is not likely to compensate for the loss of exposure. Anticoagulants Interaction with coumarin-derived anticoagulants, including warfarin, leading to increased International Normalized Ratio (INR) and bleeding adverse reactions, which in some cases were fatal, have been reported in patients receiving erlotinib tablets. Regularly monitor prothrombin time or INR in patients taking coumarin-derived anticoagulants. Dose modifications of erlotinib tablets are not recommended [see Warnings and Precautions (5.9) and Adverse Reactions (6.1) ] . CYP3A4 inhibitors or a combined CYP3A4 and CYP1A2 inhibitor increase erlotinib plasma concentrations. Avoid concomitant use. If not possible, reduce erlotinib dose. ( 2.4 , 7 ) CYP3A4 inducers decrease erlotinib plasma concentrations. Avoid concomitant use. If not possible, increase erlotinib dose. ( 2.4 , 7 ) Cigarette smoking and CYP1A2 inducers decrease erlotinib plasma concentrations. Avoid concomitant use. If not possible, increase erlotinib dose. ( 2.4, 7 ) Drugs that increase gastric pH decrease erlotinib plasma concentrations. For proton pump inhibitors avoid concomitant use if possible. For H-2 receptor antagonists, take erlotinib 10 hours after H-2 receptor antagonist dosing. For use with antacids, separate dosing by several hours. ( 2.4 , 7 )

Contraindications

4 CONTRAINDICATIONS None None ( 4 )

Verify with Primary Sources

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