Drug Interaction Report

GENERALLY AVOID: Coadministration of encorafenib with a drug that is both a substrate as well as a moderate inhibitor of CYP450 3A4 may result in increased plasma concentrations of encorafenib and significantly decreased plasma concentrations of the other drug. Encorafenib itself is a substrate and a potent inducer of CYP450 3A4. When a single 50 mg dose of encorafenib (equivalent to 0.1 times the recommended dose) was administered with diltiazem, a moderate CYP450 3A4 inhibitor, encorafenib peak plasma concentration (Cmax) increased by 45% and systemic exposure (AUC) increased by 2-fold. Increased exposure to encorafenib may increase the risk of serious and life-threatening adverse effects such as hemorrhage, uveitis, QT prolongation, hepatotoxicity, dermatologic reactions, and new malignancies. Conversely, administration of a single 2 mg dose of the sensitive CYP450 3A4 substrate midazolam after repeated administration of encorafenib 450 mg once daily and binimetinib 45 mg twice daily resulted in decreased systemic exposure (AUC) and peak plasma concentration (Cmax) of midazolam by approximately 82% and 74%, respectively, compared to midazolam alone. Reduced plasma concentrations may potentially lead to decreased efficacy of the CYP450 3A4 substrate.

MANAGEMENT: Concomitant use of encorafenib with moderate CYP450 3A4 inhibitors that are also sensitive CYP450 3A4 substrates should generally be avoided. If coadministration is required, the manufacturer recommends reducing the encorafenib dose to one-half of the dose used prior to addition of the moderate CYP450 3A4 inhibitor. After the inhibitor has been discontinued for 3 to 5 elimination half-lives, the encorafenib dose that was taken prior to initiating the inhibitor may be resumed. If the concomitant medication also carries a risk of prolonging the QT interval, then obtaining more frequent electrocardiograms (ECGs) to monitor the QT interval may be advisable. Patients should be counseled to seek immediate medical attention if they experience symptoms that could indicate the occurrence of torsade de pointes such as dizziness, lightheadedness, syncope, palpitations, irregular heartbeat, and/or shortness of breath. The prescribing information for any concomitant medication should be consulted for further guidance and assessment of benefits versus risks of coadministration, as well as any dosage adjustments that may be required during coadministration and/or following the discontinuation of the potent CYP450 3A4 inducer.

GENERALLY AVOID: Coadministration with potent or moderate inhibitors of CYP450 3A4 may significantly increase the plasma concentrations of encorafenib, which is primarily metabolized by the isoenzyme. When a single 50 mg dose of encorafenib (equivalent to 0.1 times the recommended dose) was administered with posaconazole, a potent CYP450 3A4 inhibitor, encorafenib peak plasma concentration (Cmax) increased by 68% and systemic exposure (AUC) increased by 3-fold. When the same dose of encorafenib was administered with diltiazem, a moderate CYP450 3A4 inhibitor, encorafenib Cmax increased by 45% and AUC increased by 2-fold. Increased exposure to encorafenib may increase the risk of serious and life-threatening adverse effects such as hemorrhage, uveitis, QT prolongation, hepatotoxicity, dermatologic reactions, and new malignancies.

MANAGEMENT: Concomitant use of encorafenib with grapefruit or grapefruit juice should generally be avoided. If coadministration is required, the manufacturer recommends reducing the encorafenib dose to one-third of the dose used prior to addition of a potent CYP450 3A4 inhibitor or one-half of the dose used prior to addition of a moderate CYP450 3A4 inhibitor. After the inhibitor has been discontinued for 3 to 5 elimination half-lives, the encorafenib dose that was taken prior to initiating the inhibitor may be resumed.

GENERALLY AVOID: Coadministration of imatinib with strong CYP450 3A4 inhibitors such as grapefruit juice, may significantly increase the plasma concentrations of imatinib, a known substrate of CYP450 3A4. The proposed mechanism is inhibition of CYP450 3A4-mediated metabolism of imatinib by certain compounds present in grapefruits. Because grapefruit juice inhibits primarily intestinal rather than hepatic CYP450 3A4, the magnitude of interaction is greatest for those drugs that undergo significant presystemic metabolism by CYP450 3A4 (i.e., drugs with low oral bioavailability). In general, the effect of grapefruit juice is concentration-, dose- and preparation-dependent, and can vary widely among brands. Certain preparations of grapefruit juice (e.g., high dose, double strength) have sometimes demonstrated potent inhibition of CYP450 3A4, while other preparations (e.g., low dose, single strength) have typically demonstrated moderate inhibition. Pharmacokinetic interactions involving grapefruit juice are also subject to a high degree of interpatient variability, thus the extent to which a given patient may be affected is difficult to predict. In a single-dose study, coadministration of imatinib with ketoconazole (a strong CYP450 3A4 inhibitor) increased imatinib peak plasma concentration (Cmax) and systemic exposure (AUC) by 26% and 40%, respectively.

MANAGEMENT: Patients treated with imatinib should preferably avoid the consumption of grapefruit or grapefruit juice. If coadministration is unavoidable, monitor for prolonged and/or increased pharmacologic effects of imatinib, including edema, hematologic toxicity and immunosuppression.