Summary of Product Characteristics (SmPC) - Fludarabine Phosphate 25 mg / ml concentrate for solution for injection or infusion
1. NAME OF THE MEDICINAL PRODUCT
Fludarabine Phosphate 25 mg/ml Concentrate for Solution for Injection/Infusion
2 QUALITATIVE AND QUANTITATIVE COMPOSITION
1 ml of concentrate contains 25 mg fludarabine phosphate.
Each vial of 2 ml contains 50 mg fludarabine phosphate.
For the full list of excipients, see section 6.1.
3. PHARMACEUTICAL form
Concentrate for solution for injection/infusion.
Fludarabine phosphate 25 mg/ml is a clear, colourless or slightly brownish-yellow solution, essentially free from particles.
4 CLINICAL PARTICULARS
4.1 Therapeutic indications
Treatment of B-cell chronic lymphocytic leukaemia (CLL) in adult patients with sufficient bone marrow reserves.
First line treatment with fludarabine should only be initiated in adult patients with advanced disease, Rai stages III/IV (Binet stage C), or Rai stages I/II (Binet stage A/B) where the patient has disease related symptoms or evidence of progressive disease.
4.2 Posology and method of administration
Posology
The recommended dose is 25 mg fludarabine phosphate/m² body surface area given daily for 5 consecutive days every 28 days by intravenous route. The required dose (calculated on the basis of the patient's body surface area) is drawn up into a syringe. For intravenous bolus injection this dose is further diluted in 10 ml of 0.9 % sodium chloride. Alternatively, for infusion, the required dose may be diluted in 100 ml 0.9 % sodium chloride and infused over approximately 30 minutes (see also section 6.6).
The duration of treatment depends on the treatment success and the tolerability of the drug. In CLL patients, fludarabine should be administered up to the achievement of best response (complete or partial remission, usually 6 cycles) and then the drug should be discontinued.
Special populations
Renal impairment
Doses should be adjusted for patients with reduced kidney function. If creatinine clearance is between 30 and 70 ml/min, the dose should be reduced by up to 50% and close haematological monitoring should be used to assess toxicity (see section 4.4). Fludarabine treatment is contraindicated, if creatinine clearance is < 30 ml/min (see section 4.3).
Hepatic impairment
No data are available concerning the use of fludarabine in patients with hepatic impairment. In this group of patients, fludarabine should be used with caution (see also section 4.4).
Paediatric population
The safety and efficacy of fludarabine in children below the age of 18 years have not been established. Therefore, fludarabine is not recommended for use in children.
Elderly
Since there are limited data for the use of fludarabine in elderly persons (> 75 years), caution should be exercised with the administration of fludarabine in these patients (see also section 4.4). In patients over the age of 65 years, creatinine clearance should be measured (see “Renal impairment” and section 4.4).
Method of administration
Fludarabine should be administered under the supervision of a qualified physician experienced in the use of antineoplastic therapy.
It is strongly recommended that fludarabine should be only administered intravenously. No cases have been reported in which paravenously administered fludarabine led to severe local adverse reactions. However, unintentional paravenous administration must be avoided.
For instructions on dilution of the medicinal product before administration, see section 6.6.
4.3 Contraindications
- Hypersensitivity to the active substance or to any of the excipients listed in section 6.1.
- Renal impairment with creatinine clearance < 30 ml/min.
- Decompensated haemolytic anaemia.
- Lactation.
4.4 Special warnings and precautions for use
Myelosuppression
Severe bone marrow suppression, notably anaemia, thrombocytopenia and neutropenia, has been reported in patients treated with fludarabine. In a Phase I intravenous study in adult solid tumour patients, the median time to nadir counts was 13 days (range 3 – 25 days) for granulocytes and 16 days (range 2 - 32 days) for platelets. Most patients had haematologic impairment at baseline either as a result of disease or as a result of prior myelosuppressive therapy.
Cumulative myelosuppression may be seen. While chemotherapy-induced myelosuppression is often reversible, administration of fludarabine phosphate requires careful haematologic monitoring.
Fludarabine phosphate is a potent antineoplastic agent with potentially significant toxic side effects. Patients undergoing therapy should be closely observed for signs of haematologic and non-haematologic toxicity. Periodic assessment of peripheral blood counts is recommended to detect the development of anaemia, neutropenia and thrombocytopenia.
Several instances of trilineage bone marrow hypoplasia or aplasia resulting in pancytopenia, sometimes resulting in death, have been reported in adult patients. The duration of clinically significant cytopenia in the reported cases has ranged from approximately 2 months to approximately 1 year. These episodes have occurred both in previously treated or untreated patients.
As with other cytotoxics, caution should be exercised with fludarabine phosphate, when further haematopoietic stem cell sampling is considered.
Autoimmune disorders
Irrespective of any previous history of autoimmune processes or Coombs test status, life-threatening and sometimes fatal autoimmune phenomena (see section 4.8) have been reported to occur during or after treatment with fludarabine. The majority of patients experiencing haemolytic anaemia developed a recurrence in the haemolytic process after rechallenge with fludarabine. Patients treated with fludarabine should be closely monitored for signs of haemolysis.
Discontinuation of therapy with fludarabine is recommended in case of haemolysis. Blood transfusion (irradiated, see below) and adrenocorticoid preparations are the most common treatment measures for autoimmune haemolytic anaemia.
Neurotoxicity
The effect of chronic administration of fludarabine on the central nervous system is unknown. However, patients tolerated the recommended dose in some studies for relatively long treatment times (for up to 26 courses of therapy).
Patients should be closely observed for signs of neurological effects.
When used at high doses in dose-ranging studies in patients with acute leukaemia, intravenous fludarabine was associated with severe neurological effects, including blindness, coma and death. Symptoms appeared from 21 to 60 days from last dose. This severe central nervous system toxicity occurred in 36 % of patients treated intravenously with doses approximately four times greater (96 mg/m²/day for 5-7 days) than the recommended dose. In patients treated at doses in the range of the dose recommended for CLL, severe central nervous system toxicity occurred rarely (coma, seizures and agitation) or uncommonly (confusion) (see section 4.8).
In post-marketing experience neurotoxicity has been reported to occur earlier or later than in clinical trials.
Administration of fludarabine can be associated with leukoencephalopathy (LE), acute toxic leukoencephalopathy (ATL) or reversible posterior leukoencephalopathy syndrome (RPLS). These may occur:
at the recommended dose
- when fludarabine is given following, or in combination with, medications known to be associated with LE, ATL or RPLS,
- or when fludarabine is given in patients with other risk factors such as cranial or total body irradiation, Hematopoietic Cell Transplantation, Graft versus Host Disease, renal impairment, or hepatic encephalopathy.
- at doses higher than the recommended dose
LE, ATL or RPLS symptoms may include headache, nausea and vomiting, seizures, visual disturbances such as vision loss, altered sensorium, and focal neurological deficits. Additional effects may include optic neuritis, and papillitis, confusion, somnolence, agitation, paraparesis/ quadriparesis, muscle spasticity and incontinence.
LE/ ATL/ RPLS may be irreversible, life-threatening, or fatal.
Whenever LE, ATL or RPLS is suspected, fludarabine treatment should be stopped. Patients should be monitored and should undergo brain imaging, preferably utilizing MRI. If the diagnosis is confirmed, fludarabine therapy should be permanently discontinued.
Tumour lysis syndrome
Tumour lysis syndrome has been reported in CLL patients with large tumour burdens. Since fludarabine can induce a response as early as the first week of treatment, precautions should be taken in those patients at risk of developing this complication, and hospitalisation may be recommended for these patients during the first course of treatment.
Transfusion-associated graft-versus-host disease
Transfusion-associated graft-versus-host disease (reaction by the transfused immunocompetent lymphocytes to the host) has been observed after transfusion of non-irradiated blood in fludarabine treated patients. Fatal outcome as a consequence of this disease has been reported with a high frequency. Therefore, to minimise the risk of transfusion-associated graft-versus-host disease, patients who require blood transfusion and who are undergoing, or who have received treatment with fludarabine should receive irradiated blood only.
Skin cancer
The worsening or flare-up of pre-existing skin cancer lesions as well as new onset of skin cancer have been reported in some patients during or after fludarabine therapy.
Impaired state of health
In patients with impaired state of health, fludarabine should be given with caution and after careful risk/benefit consideration. This applies especially for patients with severe impairment of bone marrow function (thrombocytopenia, anaemia, and/or granulocytopenia), immunodeficiency or with a history of opportunistic infection.
Renal impairment
The total body clearance of the principle plasma metabolite 2-F-ara-A shows a correlation with creatinine clearance, indicating the importance of the renal excretion pathway for the elimination of the compound. Patients with reduced renal function demonstrated an increased total body exposure (AUC of 2F-ara-A). There are limited clinical data available in patients with impairment of renal function (creatinine clearance <70 ml/min).
Fludarabine must be administered cautiously in patients with renal insufficiency. In patients with moderate impairment of renal function (creatinine clearance between 30 and 70 ml/min), the dose should be reduced by up to 50 % and the patient should be monitored closely (see section 4.2). Fludarabine treatment is contraindicated if creatinine clearance is < 30 ml/min (see section 4.3).
Hepatic impairment
In patients with hepatic impairment fludarabine should be used with caution because it can cause hepatic toxicity. Fludarabine should only be administered if the perceived benefit outweighs any potential risk. Such patients should be monitored closely for excessive toxicity and dosage modified or the drug discontinued accordingly (see also section 4.2).
Elderly
Since there are limited data for the use of fludarabine in elderly persons (> 75 years), caution should be exercised with the administration of fludarabine in these patients (see also section 4.2).
In patients aged 65 years or older, creatinine clearance should be measured before start of treatment, see “Renal impairment” and section 4.2.
Pregnancy
Fludarabine phosphate has been shown to be genotoxic. Fludarabine phosphate has also been shown to be both embryotoxic and fetotoxic in rabbits and rats (see sections 5.3). Fludarabine may cause foetal harm when administered to pregnant females. Therefore, fludarabine must not be used during pregnancy unless the potential benefit for the mother outweighs the potential risks to the foetus.
Females of childbearing potential receiving fludarabine should be advised to avoid becoming pregnant, and to inform the treating physician immediately should this occur (see sections 4.6 and 5.3).
Contraception in males and females
Due to the genotoxic risk of fludarabine phosphate, females of child-bearing potential must take effective contraceptive measures during and at least for 6 months after cessation of therapy. Male patients must use effective methods of contraception and be advised to not father a child while receiving fludarabine, and at least for 3 months following completion of treatment (see section 4.6).
Vaccination
During and after treatment with fludarabine vaccination with live vaccines should be avoided.
Retreatment options after initial fludarabine treatment
A crossover from initial treatment with fludarabine to chlorambucil for non-responders to fludarabine should be avoided because most patients who have been resistant to fludarabine have shown resistance to chlorambucil.
Excipients
This medicinal product contains less than 1 mmol sodium (23 mg) per vial, that is to say essentially ‘sodium-free’.
4.5 Interaction with other medicinal products and other forms of interaction
In a clinical investigation using intravenous fludarabine in combination with pentostatin (deoxycoformycin) for the treatment of refractory chronic lymphocytic leukaemia (CLL), there was an unacceptably high incidence of fatal pulmonary toxicity. Therefore, the use of fludarabine in combination with pentostatin is not recommended.
Dipyridamole and other inhibitors of adenosine uptake may reduce the therapeutic efficacy of fludarabine.
Clinical studies and in vitro experiments showed that during use of fludarabine in combination with cytarabine the intracellular peak concentration and intracellular exposure of Ara-CTP (active metabolite of cytarabine) increased in leukaemic cells. Plasma concentrations of Ara-C and the elimination rate of Ara-CTP were not affected.
4.6 Fertility, pregnancy and lactation
Women of childbearing potential/Contraception in males and females
Women of childbearing potential must be apprised of the potential hazard to the foetus.
Due to the genotoxic risk of fludarabine phosphate women of childbearing potential must take effective contraceptive measures during and at least for 6 months after cessation of therapy. Male patients must use effective methods of contraception and be advised to not father a child while receiving fludarabine, and at least for 3 months following completion of treatment.
Pregnancy
There are limited data from the use of fludarabine phosphate in pregnant women. Fludarabine phosphate has been shown to be genotoxic. Studies in animals have shown reproductive toxicity (see section 5.3). Fludarabine may cause foetal harm when administered to pregnant females. Therefore, fludarabine must not be used during pregnancy, unless the potential benefit for the mother outweighs the potential risks to the foetus. Women of childbearing potential receiving fludarabine should be advised to avoid becoming pregnant, and to inform the treating physician immediately should this occur (see section 5.3).
Breast-feeding
It is not known whether fludarabine phosphate or its metabolites are excreted in human milk.
However, there is evidence from preclinical data that fludarabine phosphate and/or metabolites transfer from maternal blood to milk.
Because of the potential for serious adverse reactions to fludarabine in breast-fed infants, fludarabine is contraindicated during breast-feeding (see section 4.3).
Fertility
Fludarabine affects fertility in both males and females. Before fludarabine treatment, patients planning pregnancy are advised to seek genetic counselling. Prior to fludarabine treatment, male patients must seek advice on fertility preservation options.
4.7 Effects on ability to drive and use machines
Fludarabine may reduce the ability to drive and use machines, since e.g. fatigue, weakness, visual disturbances, confusion, agitation and seizures have been observed.
4.8 Undesirable effects
Summary of safety profile
Based on the experience with the use of fludarabine, the most common adverse events include myelosuppression (neutropenia, thrombocytopenia and anaemia), infection including pneumonia, cough, fever, fatigue, weakness, nausea, vomiting and diarrhoea. Other commonly reported events include chills, oedema, malaise, peripheral neuropathy, visual disturbance, anorexia, mucositis, stomatitis and skin rash.
Serious opportunistic infections have occurred in patients treated with fludarabine. Fatalities as a consequence of serious adverse events have been reported.
Tabulated list of adverse reactions
The table below reports adverse events by MedDRA system organ classes (MedDRA SOCs). The frequencies are based on clinical trial data regardless of the causal relationship with fludarabine. The rare adverse reactions were mainly identified from the post-marketing experience.
System Organ Class MedDRA | 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 | Not known cannot be estimated from the available data |
| Infections and infestations | Infections / opportunistic infections (like latent viral reactivation, e.g. progressive multifocal leucoencephalo pathy, Herpes zoster virus Epstein-Barr-virus), pneumonia | Lymphoproliferat ive disorder (EBV-associated) | |||
Neoplasms benign, malignant and unspecified (incl cysts and polyps) | Myelodysplastic syndrome and acute myeloid leukaemia (mainly associated with prior, concomitant or subsequent treatment with alkylating agents, topoisomerase inhibitors or irradiation) | ||||
Blood and lymphatic system disorders | Neutropenia, anaemia, thrombocytope nia | Myelosuppressio n |
System Organ Class MedDRA | 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 | Not known cannot be estimated from the available data |
| Immune system disorders | Autoimmune disorder (including autoimmune haemolytic anaemia, Evans syndrome, thrombocytope nic purpura, acquired haemophilia, pemphigus) | ||||
| Metabolism and nutrition disorders | Anorexia | Tumour lysis syndrome (including renal failure, metabolic acidosis, hyperkalaemia, hypocalcemia, hyperuricemia, haematuria, urate crystalluria, hyperphosphat emia) | |||
| Nervous system disorders | Neuropathy peripheral | Confusion | Coma, seizures, agitation | Cerebral haemorrhage, leukoencephalo pathy (see section 4.4), acute toxic leukoencephalo pathy (see section 4.4), reversible posterior leukoencephalo pathy syndrome (RPLS) (see section 4.4) | |
| Eye disorders | Visual disturbance | Blindness, optic neuritis, optic neuropathy |
System Organ Class MedDRA | 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 | Not known cannot be estimated from the available data |
| Cardiac disorders | Heart failure, arrhythmia | ||||
| Respiratory, thoracic and mediastinal disorders | Cough | Pulmonary toxicity (including pulmonary fibrosis, pneumonitis, dyspnoea) | Pulmonary haemorrhage | ||
| Gastrointestina l disorders | Vomiting, diarrhoea, nausea | Stomatitis | Gastrointestina l haemorrhage, pancreatic enzymes abnormal | ||
| Hepatobiliary disorders | Hepatic enzyme abnormal | ||||
Skin and subcutaneous tissue disorders | Rash | Skin cancer, necrolysis epidermal toxic (Lyell type), Stevens- Johnson syndrome | |||
| Renal and urinary disorder | Haemorrhagic cystitis | ||||
General disorders and administration site conditions | Fever, fatigue, weakness | Oedema, mucositis, chills, malaise |
The most appropriate MedDRA term to describe a certain adverse event is listed. Synonyms or related conditions are not listed, but should be taken into account as well. Adverse event term representation is based on MedDRA version 12.0.
Within each frequency grouping, undesirable effects are presented in order of decreasing seriousness.
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 via the Yellow Card Scheme at: www.mhra.gov.uk/yellowcard or search for MHRA Yellow Card in the Google Play or Apple App Store.
4.9 Overdose
High doses of fludarabine have been associated with leukoencephalopathy, acute toxic leukoencephalopathy, or reversible posterior leukoencephalopathy syndrome (RPLS). Symptoms may include headache, nausea and vomiting, seizures, visual disturbances such as vision loss, altered sensorium, and focal neurological deficits. Additional effects may include optic neuritis, and papillitis, confusion, somnolence, agitation, paraparesis/ quadriparesis, muscle spasticity, incontinence, irreversible central nervous system toxicity characterised by delayed blindness, coma, and death. High doses are also associated with severe thrombocytopenia and neutropenia due to bone marrow suppression. There is no known specific antidote for fludarabine overdosage. Treatment consists of drug discontinuation and supportive therapy.
5.1 Pharmacodynamic properties
Pharmacotherapeutic group: antineoplastic agents , purine analogues
ATC code: L01B B05
Mechanism of action
Fludarabine phosphate 25 mg/ml concentrate for solution for injection/infusion contains fludarabine phosphate, a water-soluble fluorinated nucleotide analogue of the antiviral agent vidarabine, 9-β
-D-arabinofuranosyladenine (ara-A) that is relatively resistant to deamination by adenosine deaminase.
Fludarabine phosphate is rapidly dephosphorylated to 2F-ara-A which is taken up by cells and then phosphorylated intracellularly by deoxycytidine kinase to the active triphosphate, 2F-ara-ATP. This metabolite has been shown to inhibit ribonucleotide reductase, DNA polymerase α
/δ
and ε
, DNA primase and DNA ligase thereby inhibiting DNA synthesis. Furthermore, partial inhibition of RNA polymerase II and consequent reduction in protein synthesis occur.
While some aspects of the mechanism of action of 2F-ara-ATP are as yet unclear, it is assumed that effects on DNA, RNA and protein synthesis all contribute to inhibition of cell growth with inhibition of DNA synthesis being the dominant factor. In addition, in vitro studies have shown that exposure of CLL lymphocytes to 2F-ara-A triggers extensive DNA fragmentation and cell death characteristic of apoptosis.
Clinical efficacy and safety
A phase III trial in patients with previously untreated B-chronic lymphocytic leukaemia comparing treatment with fludarabine vs. chlorambucil (40 mg/m² q4 weeks) in 195 and 199 patients respectively showed the following outcome: statistically significant higher overall response rates and complete response rates after 1st line treatment with fludarabine compared to chlorambucil (61.1% vs. 37.6% and 14.9% vs. 3.4%, respectively); statistically significant longer duration of response (19 vs. 12.2 months) and time to progression (17 vs. 13.2 months) for the patients in the fludarabine group. The median survival of the two patient groups was 56.1 months for fludarabine and 55.1 months for chlorambucil, a non-significant difference was also shown with performance status. The proportion of patients reported to have toxicities were comparable between fludarabine patients (89.7%) and chlorambucil patients (89.9%). While the difference in the overall incidence of haematological toxicities was not significant between the two treatment groups, significantly greater proportions of fludarabine patients experienced white blood cell (p=0.0054) and lymphocyte (p=0.0240) toxicities than chlorambucil patients. The proportions of patients who experienced nausea, vomiting, and diarrhoea were significantly lower for fludarabine patients (p<0.0001, p<0.0001, and p=0.0489, respectively) than chlorambucil patients. Toxicities of the liver were also reported for significantly (p=0.0487) less proportions of patients in the fludarabine group than in the chlorambucil group.
Patients who initially respond to fludarabine have a chance of responding again to fludarabine monotherapy.
A randomised trial of fludarabine vs. cyclophosphamide, adriamycin (doxorubicin) and prednisone (CAP) in 208 patients with CLL Binet stage B or C revealed the following results in the subgroup of 103 previously treated patients: the overall response rate and the complete response rate were higher with fludarabine compared to CAP (45% vs. 26% and 13% vs. 6%, respectively); response duration and overall survival were similar with fludarabine and CAP. Within the stipulated treatment period of 6 months the number of deaths was 9 (fludarabine) vs. 4 (CAP).
Post-hoc analyses using only data of up to 6 months after start of treatment revealed a difference between survival curves of fludarabine and CAP in favour of CAP in the subgroup of pretreated Binet stage C patients.
5.2 Pharmacokinetic properties
Plasma and urinary pharmacokinetics of fludarabine (2F-ara-A)
The pharmacokinetics of fludarabine (2F-ara-A) have been studied after intravenous administration by rapid bolus injection and short-term infusion as well as following continuous infusion of fludarabine phosphate (fludarabine, 2F-ara-AMP).
No clear correlation was found between 2F-ara-A pharmacokinetics and treatment efficacy in cancer patients.
However, occurrence of neutropenia and haematocrit changes indicated that the cytotoxicity of fludarabine phosphate depresses the haematopoiesis in a dose-dependent manner.
Distribution and biotransformation
2F-ara-AMP is a water-soluble prodrug, which is rapidly and quantitatively dephosphorylated in the human organism to the nucleoside fludarabine (2F-ara-A). Another metabolite, 2F-ara-hypoxanthine, which represents the major metabolite in the dog, was observed in humans only to a minor extent.
After single dose infusion of 25 mg 2F-ara-AMP per m² to CLL patients for 30 minutes 2F-ara-A reached mean maximum concentrations in the plasma of 3.5 - 3.7 μ
M at the end of the infusion. Corresponding 2F-ara-A levels after the fifth dose showed a moderate accumulation with mean maximum levels of 4.4 - 4.8 μ
M at the end of infusion. During a 5-day treatment schedule 2F-ara-A plasma trough levels increased by a factor of about 2. An accumulation of 2F-ara-A over several treatment cycles can be excluded. Postmaximum levels decayed in three disposition phases with an initial half-life of approximately 5 minutes, an intermediate half-life of 1 - 2 hours and a terminal half-life of approximately 20 hours.
An interstudy comparison of 2F-ara-A pharmacokinetics resulted in a mean total plasma clearance (CL) of 79 ± 40 ml/min/m² (2.2 ± 1.2 ml/min/kg) and a mean volume of distribution (Vss) of 83 ± 55 l/m² (2.4 ± 1.6 l/kg). Data showed a high interindividual variability. Plasma levels of 2F-ara-A and areas under the plasma level time curves increased linearly with the dose, whereas half-lives, plasma clearance and volumes of distribution remained constant independent of the dose indicating a dose linear behaviour.
Elimination
2F-ara-A elimination is largely by renal excretion. 40 to 60 % of the administered i.v. dose was excreted in the urine. Mass balance studies in laboratory animals with ³H-2F-ara-AMP showed a complete recovery of radio-labelled substances in the urine.
Characteristics in patients
Individuals with impaired renal function exhibit a reduced total body clearance, indicating the need for a dose reduction. In vitro investigations with human plasma proteins revealed no pronounced tendency of 2F-ara-A protein binding.
Cellular pharmacokinetics of fludarabine triphosphate
2F-ara-A is actively transported into leukaemic cells, whereupon it is rephosphorylated to the monophosphate and subsequently to the di- and triphosphate. The triphosphate 2F-ara-ATP is the major intracellular metabolite and the only metabolite known to have cytotoxic activity. Maximum 2F-ara-ATP levels in leukaemic lymphocytes of CLL patients were observed at a median of 4 hours and exhibited a considerable variation with a median peak concentration of approximately 20 μ
M. 2F-ara-ATP levels in leukaemic cells were always considerably higher than maximum 2F-ara-A levels in the plasma indicating an accumulation at the target sites. In-vitro incubation of leukaemic lymphocytes showed a linear relationship between extracellular 2F-ara-A exposure (product of 2F-ara-A concentration and duration of incubation) and intracellular 2F-ara-ATP enrichment. 2F-ara-ATP elimination from target cells showed median half-life values of 15 and 23 hours.
5.3 Preclinical safety data
Systemic toxicity
In acute toxicity studies, single doses of fludarabine phosphate produced severe intoxication symptoms or death at dosages about two orders of magnitude above the therapeutic dose. As expected for a cytotoxic compound, the bone marrow, lymphoid organs, gastrointestinal mucosa, kidneys and male gonads were affected. In patients, severe side effects were observed closer to the recommended therapeutic dose (factor 3 to 4) and included severe neurotoxicity partly with lethal outcome (see section 4.9).
Systemic toxicity studies following repeated administration of fludarabine phosphate showed also the expected effects on rapidly proliferating tissues above a threshold dose. The severity of morphological manifestations increased with dose levels and duration of dosing and the observed changes were generally considered to be reversible. In principle, the available experience from the therapeutic use of fludarabine points to a comparable toxicological profile in humans, although additional undesirable effects such as neurotoxicity were observed in patients (see section 4.8).
Embryotoxicity
The results from intravenous animal embryotoxicity studies in rats and rabbits indicated an embryolethal and teratogenic potential of fludarabine phosphate as manifested in skeletal malformations, foetal weight loss and post implantation loss. In view of the small safety margin between the teratogenic doses in animals and the human therapeutic dose as well as in analogy to other antimetabolites which are assumed to interfere with the process of differentiation, the therapeutic use of fludarabine is associated with a relevant risk of teratogenic effects in humans (see section 4.6).
Genotoxic potential, tumorigenicity
Fludarabine phosphate has been shown to cause DNA-damage in a sister chromatid exchange test, to induce chromosomal aberrations in an in vitro cytogenetic assay and to increase the rate of micronuclei in the mouse micronucleus test in vivo, but was negative in gene mutation assays and in the dominant lethal test in male mice. Thus, the mutagenic potential was demonstrated in somatic cells but could not be shown in germ cells.
The known activity of fludarabine phosphate at the DNA-level and the mutagenicity test results form the basis for the suspicion of a tumorigenic potential. No animal studies which directly address the question of tumorigenicity have been conducted, because the suspicion of an increased risk of second tumours due to fludarabine therapy can exclusively be verified by epidemiological data.
Local tolerance
According to the results from animal experiments following intravenous administration of fludarabine phosphate, no remarkable local irritation has to be expected at the injection site. Even in case of misplaced injections, no relevant local irritation was observed after paravenous, intraarterial, and intramuscular administration of an aqueous solution containing 7.5 mg fludarabine phosphate/ml.
The similarity in nature of the observed lesions in the gastrointestinal tract after intravenous or intragastric dosing in animal experiments supports the assumption that the fludarabine phosphate induced enteritis is a systemic effect.
6 PHARMACEUTICAL PARTICULARS
6.1 List of excipients
Mannitol (E421)
Sodium hydroxide (E524, for pH adjustment)
Water for injections
6.2 Incompatibilities
In the absence of compatibility studies, this medicinal product must not be mixed with other medicinal products except those mentioned in section 6.6 .
6.3 Shelf life
Vial before opening
3 years
After dilution
Chemical and physical in-use stability of the solution prepared for injection or infusion has been demonstrated as:
| Storage in | Medium | Concentration | Stability for |
| Non-PVC bag | 0.9% sodium chloride | 0.3 - 6 mg/ml | 5 days in a refrigerator (2 °C - 8 °C) or at ambient temperature/light |
| 5% glucose | 0.3 - 6 mg/ml | 5 days in a refrigerator (2 °C - 8 °C) or at ambient temperature/light | |
| Glass bottle | 0.9% sodium chloride | 0.3 - 6 mg/ml | 5 days in a refrigerator (2 °C - 8 °C) or at ambient temperature/light |
| 5 % glucose |
0.3 mg/ml
| 5 days in a refrigerator (2 °C - 8 °C) |
| or at ambient temperature/light | |||
| 6 mg/ml | 5 days in a refrigerator (2 °C - 8 °C) or 3 days at ambient temperature/light |
From a microbiological point of view, the product should be used immediately. If not used immediately, in-use storage times and conditions prior to use are the responsibility of the user and would normally not be longer than 24 hours at 2 to 8 °C, unless dilution has taken place in controlled and validated aseptic conditions
6.4 Special precautions for storage
Store in a refrigerator (2 °C - 8°C).
Do not freeze.
For storage conditions after dilution of the medicinal product, see section 6.3.
6.5 Nature and contents of container
Glass vial with bromobutyl rubber stopper, aluminium seal and polypropylene snap-cap containing 2 ml of solution.
6.6 Special precautions for disposal
Dilution
The required dose (calculated on the basis of the patient’s body surface area) is drawn up into a syringe.
For intravenous bolus injection this dose is further diluted in 10 ml of 0.9% sodium chloride. Alternatively, for infusion, the required dose may be diluted in 100 ml of 0.9% sodium chloride and infused over approximately 30 minutes.
In clinical studies, fludarabine has been diluted in 100 ml or 125 ml of 5% dextrose injection or 0.9% sodium chloride.
Inspection prior to use
Only clear and colourless solutions without particles should be used. The product should not be used in case of a defective container.
Handling and disposal
Fludarabine should not be handled by pregnant staff.
Procedures for proper handling should be followed according to local requirements for cytotoxic drugs.
Caution should be exercised in the handling of the fludarabine solution. The use of latex gloves and safety glasses is recommended to avoid exposure in case of breakage of the vial or other accidental spillage. If the solution comes into contact with the skin or mucous membranes, the area should be washed thoroughly with soap and water. In the event of contact with the eyes, rinse them thoroughly with copious amounts of water. Exposure by inhalation should be avoided.
The medicinal product is for single use only. Any unused medicinal product, spillage or waste material should be disposed of in accordance with local requirements for cytotoxic agents.
7. MARKETING AUTHORISATION HOLDER
TEVA UK Limited
Ridings Point, Whistler Drive,
Castleford, WF10 5HX,
United Kingdom
8 MARKETING AUTHORISATION NUMBER(S)
PL 00289/0938
9 DATE OF FIRST AUTHORISATION/RENEWAL OF THE
AUTHORISATION
28/07/2012
10 DATE OF REVISION OF THE TEXT
06/01/2025