Drug Interaction Report

Coadministration with mild or moderate inhibitors of CYP450 3A4 may modestly increase the plasma concentrations of ruxolitinib, which is primarily metabolized by the isoenzyme. In healthy subjects, administration of a single 10 mg dose of ruxolitinib following pretreatment with the moderate CYP450 3A4 inhibitor erythromycin (500 mg twice daily for four days) resulted in an 8% increase in ruxolitinib peak plasma concentration (Cmax) and a 27% increase in systemic exposure (AUC) compared to administration of ruxolitinib alone. The change in the pharmacodynamic marker, pSTAT3 inhibition, was consistent with the corresponding exposure information. No dosage adjustment is recommended when ruxolitinib is coadministered with mild or moderate CYP450 3A4 inhibitors. However, clinical data for topical ruxolitinib are not available. Consultation with individual package labeling, as well as relevant institutional protocols, may be advisable for further guidance.

MONITOR: Due to their gastrointestinal pharmacologic effects, somatostatin analogs (e.g., octreotide, lanreotide) may variously affect the absorption of dietary nutrients and concomitantly administered oral medications. Somatostatin analogs have been shown to prolong gastrointestinal transit time and inhibit intestinal absorption of some nutrients such as fat. Clinical data are limited, however. In case reports, octreotide has been reported to reduce the relative bioavailability of cyclosporine. Transplant rejection and significant reductions in cyclosporine levels, sometimes to undetectable levels, have been reported in association with the interaction. Vitamin K absorption was not affected when concomitantly administered with lanreotide according to the manufacturer.

MANAGEMENT: Clinicians should be aware of the potential for altered absorption of concomitantly administered oral medications during treatment with somatostatin analogs. Blood levels and clinical response should be monitored, particularly for drugs that have a narrow therapeutic index, and the dosages adjusted as necessary.

GENERALLY AVOID: Grapefruit juice may increase the plasma concentrations of ruxolitinib. The proposed mechanism is inhibition of CYP450 3A4-mediated first-pass metabolism in the gut wall by certain compounds present in grapefruits.

MANAGEMENT: Patients treated with ruxolitinib should avoid consumption of grapefruit, grapefruit juice, and any supplement containing grapefruit extract. Ruxolitinib may be administered with or without food.