Drug Interactions between thioguanine and valoctocogene roxaparvovec

GENERALLY AVOID: Coadministration with other hepatotoxic agents such as alcohol may increase the risk of liver injury and decrease the therapeutic efficacy of valoctocogene roxaparvovec, a liver-directed adeno-associated virus (AAV) vector designed to help replace missing coagulation factor VIII. Most of the patients treated with valoctocogene roxaparvovec in clinical studies experienced ALT elevations, presumably due to immune-mediated injury of transduced hepatocytes, which may decrease the therapeutic efficacy of valoctocogene roxaparvovec. In a clinical trial of adults with severe hemophilia (n=134) receiving a single dose of valoctocogene roxaparvovec (6 x 10[13] vector genomes [vg]/kg), 107 patients (96%) experienced increased ALT levels greater than or equal to 1.5 times baseline or greater than the upper limit of normal (ULN), while 12 patients (9%) experienced increased ALT levels greater than 5 to 20 times ULN. Some of the ALT elevations were associated with decreased factor VIII activity, and some were attributed to alcohol consumption. Most patients treated with valoctocogene roxaparvovec required immunosuppressive medications, including corticosteroids, to control elevations in transaminases and prevent loss of transgene expression.

MANAGEMENT: After administration of valoctocogene roxaparvovec, alcohol consumption should be avoided for at least 1 year and limited thereafter.

MONITOR: The concomitant or sequential use of other agents known to induce hepatotoxicity may potentiate the risk of liver injury associated with thioguanine. A high risk of liver toxicity characterized by vascular endothelial damage has been reported with long-term continuous use of thioguanine, particularly in children receiving the drug as part of maintenance therapy for acute lymphoblastic leukemia and in other conditions associated with continuous use. Liver toxicity usually presents as the clinical syndrome of hepatic veno-occlusive disease (hyperbilirubinemia, tender hepatomegaly, weight gain due to fluid retention, and ascites) or with signs of portal hypertension (splenomegaly, thrombocytopenia, and esophageal varices). Histopathological features include hepatoportal sclerosis, nodular regenerative hyperplasia, peliosis hepatitis, and periportal fibrosis.

MANAGEMENT: The risk of hepatic injury should be considered when thioguanine is used with other potentially hepatotoxic agents (e.g., acetaminophen; alcohol; androgens and anabolic steroids; antituberculous agents; azole antifungal agents; ACE inhibitors; cyclosporine (high dosages); disulfiram; endothelin receptor antagonists; interferons; ketolide and macrolide antibiotics; kinase inhibitors; minocycline; nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory agents; nucleoside reverse transcriptase inhibitors; proteasome inhibitors; retinoids; sulfonamides; tamoxifen; thiazolidinediones; tolvaptan; vincristine; zileuton; anticonvulsants such as carbamazepine, hydantoins, felbamate, and valproic acid; lipid-lowering medications such as fenofibrate, lomitapide, mipomersen, niacin, and statins; herbals and nutritional supplements such as black cohosh, chaparral, comfrey, DHEA, kava, pennyroyal oil, and red yeast rice). Patients should be advised to seek medical attention if they experience potential signs and symptoms of hepatotoxicity such as fever, rash, itching, anorexia, nausea, vomiting, fatigue, malaise, right upper quadrant pain, dark urine, pale stools, and jaundice. Baseline and regular monitoring of hepatic function is recommended. Thioguanine therapy should be discontinued if there is evidence of toxic hepatitis or biliary stasis, as reversal of signs and symptoms of liver toxicity have been reported upon withdrawal. Early indications of liver toxicity are signs associated with portal hypertension such as thrombocytopenia out of proportion with neutropenia and splenomegaly. Elevations of liver enzymes have also been reported, but do not always occur.