Drug Interactions between etranacogene dezaparvovec and morphine / naltrexone

CONTRAINDICATED: Naltrexone can antagonize the effects of opioids via competitive inhibition of opioid receptors. Patients receiving naltrexone may not benefit from opioid-containing medications such as cough and cold products, antidiarrheal preparations, and narcotic analgesics. Likewise, patients dependent on opioids may experience withdrawal symptoms when given naltrexone. Following use of naltrexone, patients may have increased sensitivity to opioids.

**Note: This warning does not apply to opioid products that are specifically formulated with naltrexone to deter abuse via snorting or intravenous injection when crushed.**

MANAGEMENT: The use of naltrexone is considered contraindicated in patients receiving opioids or dependent on opioids, including those maintained on opiate agonists (e.g., methadone) or partial agonists (e.g., buprenorphine). Naltrexone should also not be given to patients in acute opioid withdrawal. In an urgent situation when analgesia may be required in a patient who has received full blocking doses of naltrexone, consideration should be given to regional analgesia, conscious sedation with a benzodiazepine, use of non-opioid analgesics, or general anesthesia. If opioid analgesia is required, the amount of opioid needed may be greater than usual, and the resulting respiratory depression may be deeper and more prolonged. A rapidly-acting opioid analgesic that minimizes the duration of respiratory depression is preferred. Clinicians should be aware that reversal of full naltrexone blockade by administration of large doses of opiates can cause histamine release. Therefore, patients may experience non-opioid receptor-mediated effects such as facial swelling, itching, generalized erythema, and bronchoconstriction. Irrespective of the drug chosen to reverse naltrexone blockade, the patient should be monitored closely by appropriately trained personnel in a setting equipped and staffed for cardiopulmonary resuscitation.

MONITOR: Coadministration with other hepatotoxic agents may increase the risk of liver injury and decrease the therapeutic efficacy of fidanacogene elaparvovec and etranacogene dezaparvovec, liver-directed adeno-associated virus (AAV) vectors designed to help replace missing coagulation factor IX. Increased transaminase levels, particularly those observed in the first 3 to 4 months after administration of these agents, have been attributed to immune-mediated injury of transduced hepatocytes, which may decrease its therapeutic efficacy. In a prospective, open-label, single-arm, multinational clinical study of adult male patients with moderately severe to severe hemophilia B (n=45) receiving a single dose of fidanacogene elaparvovec (5 x 10[11] vector genomes [vg]/kg), 29 patients experienced increased transaminase levels greater than or equal to 1.5 times baseline. Of these patients, 28 received treatment with corticosteroids due to increased transaminases and/or a decline in factor IX activity, with a mean initiation time to corticosteroid therapy reported at 45 days. However, no serious adverse reactions were reported. Likewise, clinical studies with etranacogene dezaparvovec have also reported asymptomatic and mostly mild elevations in transaminases. The majority of elevated ALT levels returned to baseline; however, there were cases where they remained between 48 IU/L to 193 IU/L at two years post-administration of etranacogene dezaparvovec.

MANAGEMENT: As part of monitoring post-administration of fidanacogene elaparvovec, the manufacturer generally recommends monitoring of ALT and factor IX activity levels (e.g., one to two times a week for at least 4 months). The manufacturer of etranacogene dezaparvovec advises weekly transaminase level monitoring at weekly intervals for 3 months after its administration and, in patients with elevated levels, until those enzymes return to baseline. Initiation of corticosteroid therapy and monitoring of Factor IX activity should be considered in cases where ALT levels rise above the upper limit of normal or double baseline levels. The risk of additive hepatotoxicity and decreased therapeutic efficacy of fidanacogene elaparvovec should be considered after coadministration with other hepatotoxic agents. Alternative treatment may be required if an interaction is suspected. The manufacturer of etranacogene dezaparvovec does not provide specific recommendations concerning coadministration with other hepatotoxic agents. Local protocols and/or the product labeling of the concomitant drug(s) should be consulted for additional guidance.