Drug Interactions between abrocitinib and nintedanib

ADJUST DOSING INTERVAL: Food enhances the oral bioavailability of nintedanib. After food intake, nintedanib exposure increased by approximately 20% compared to administration under fasted conditions. Absorption was also delayed, as indicated by an increase in the median time to reach maximum plasma concentration (Tmax) from 2 hours in the fasted state to approximately 4 hours under fed conditions, irrespective of the type of food ingested. In an in vitro study, mixing nintedanib capsules with a small amount of apple sauce or chocolate pudding for up to 15 minutes did not have any impact on their pharmaceutical quality, but swelling and deformation of the capsules were observed with longer exposure time due to water uptake of the gelatin capsule shell. Therefore, administration with soft food would not be expected to alter the clinical effect of nintedanib when taken immediately.

GENERALLY AVOID: Grapefruit and grapefruit juice may increase the plasma concentrations of nintedanib, which has been shown to be a substrate of the P-glycoprotein (P-gp) efflux transporter and a minor substrate of the CYP450 3A4 isoenzyme. The proposed mechanism is inhibition of both P-gp-mediated efflux in the gut wall as well as CYP450 3A4-mediated first-pass metabolism in the intestinal tract by certain compounds present in grapefruit.

MANAGEMENT: Nintedanib should be administered with food to reduce the incidence of gastrointestinal effects. Nintedanib capsules may be taken with water or a small amount (teaspoonful) of cold or room temperature soft food, such as apple sauce or chocolate pudding, and must be swallowed whole (unchewed) immediately, to ensure the capsule stays intact. Food containing grapefruit, grapefruit juice, Seville orange (a citrus relative of the grapefruit), or Seville orange juice should be avoided during treatment with nintedanib.

MONITOR: Smoking during treatment with abrocitinib may increase the risk of major adverse cardiovascular events (MACE) and the risk of developing malignancies. During abrocitinib clinical studies, current or past smokers had an additional increased risk of overall malignancies. Also, abrocitinib may increase patients' risk of MACE, including myocardial infarction, stroke, and cardiovascular death.

Administration of abrocitinib with high-fat, high-calorie food increased abrocitinib peak plasma concentration (Cmax) and systemic exposure (AUC) by 29% and 26%, respectively, and prolonged the time to reach Cmax by 2 hours. These changes are not considered clinically relevant.

MANAGEMENT: Caution is advised if abrocitinib is prescribed to current or past smokers. Patients should be informed about the symptoms of serious cardiovascular events and the steps to take if they occur. The manufacturer recommends discontinuing abrocitinib in patients that have experienced a myocardial infarction or stroke. Abrocitinib may be taken with or without food.