Drug Interaction Report

CONTRAINDICATED: Talimogene laherparepvec is a live, attenuated herpes simplex virus. Administration during immunosuppressant or intense antineoplastic therapy may be associated with a risk of potentially life-threatening disseminated herpetic infection due to enhanced virus replication in the presence of diminished immune competence. Patients may be immunosuppressed if they have recently received or are receiving alkylating agents, antimetabolites, radiation, some antirheumatic agents, high dosages of corticosteroids or adrenocorticotropic agents, or long-term topical or inhaled corticosteroids.

MANAGEMENT: Talimogene laherparepvec should not be used in patients receiving immunosuppressive therapy or cancer chemotherapy. Treatment with talimogene laherparepvec may need to be deferred until after such therapy is discontinued and the patient's immune system has sufficiently recovered.

MONITOR CLOSELY: Smoking during treatment with topical ruxolitinib may increase the risk of major adverse cardiovascular events (MACE) and the risk of developing malignancies, including lymphomas. During clinical trials, patients who were current or past smokers and received oral Janus Kinase (JAK) inhibitors to treat inflammatory conditions had an additional increased risk of overall malignancies. Additionally, oral JAK inhibitors reportedly increase patients' risk of MACE, including cardiovascular death, myocardial infarction, and stroke, particularly in patients who are current or past smokers or patients with other cardiovascular risk factors.

MANAGEMENT: The potential risks and benefits of topical ruxolitinib should be carefully weighed prior to initiating therapy, particularly in patients with cardiovascular risk factors, as well as those with a history of malignancy, those who develop a malignancy while on treatment, and/or patients who are 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 topical ruxolitinib in patients who have experienced a myocardial infarction or stroke.