Drug Interaction Report

MONITOR: Coadministration of metformin with an insulin secretagogue (e.g., sulfonylurea, meglitinide) or insulin may potentiate the risk of hypoglycemia. Although metformin alone generally does not cause hypoglycemia under normal circumstances of use, the added therapeutic effect when combined with other antidiabetic agents may result in hypoglycemia. The risk is further increased when caloric intake is deficient or when strenuous exercise is not compensated by caloric supplementation.

MANAGEMENT: A lower dosage of the insulin secretagogue or insulin may be required when used with metformin. Blood glucose should be closely monitored, and patients should be educated on the potential signs and symptoms of hypoglycemia (e.g., headache, dizziness, drowsiness, nervousness, confusion, tremor, hunger, weakness, perspiration, palpitation, tachycardia) and appropriate remedial actions to take if it occurs. Patients should also be advised to take precautions to avoid hypoglycemia while driving or operating hazardous machinery.

MONITOR: Coadministration with pralsetinib may increase the plasma concentrations of drugs that are P-glycoprotein (P-gp), breast cancer resistance protein (BCRP), organic anion transporting polypeptide 1B1 (OATP1B1), OATP1B3, organic anion transporter 1 (OAT1), multidrug and toxin extrusion 1 (MATE1), and/or MATE2-K substrates. Based on in vitro studies, pralsetinib may decrease clearance via inhibition of these transporters, resulting in increased plasma concentrations of agents that are carried by one or more of these transporters. Clinical and pharmacokinetic data are currently lacking.

MANAGEMENT: Caution is advised if pralsetinib is used concomitantly with drugs that are substrates of P-gp, BCRP, OATP1B1, OATP1B3, OAT1, MATE1, and/or MATE2-K, particularly sensitive substrates or those with a narrow therapeutic range. Some authorities recommend avoiding coadministration of pralsetinib with substrates of these transporters for which minimal concentration changes may lead to therapeutic failure or serious toxicities. If coadministration is required, dosage adjustments as well as clinical and laboratory monitoring may be appropriate whenever pralsetinib is added to or withdrawn from therapy. The prescribing information for concomitant medications should be consulted to assess the benefits versus risks of coadministration and for any dosage adjustments that may be required.

MONITOR: Coadministration with pralsetinib may alter the plasma concentrations of drugs that are substrates of CYP450 2C8, 2C9, 3A4, and/or 3A5. In vitro studies indicate that pralsetinib is both an inhibitor as well as an inducer of CYP450 2C8, 2C9, 3A4, and 3A5. Therefore, pralsetinib may decrease clearance via inhibition or increase clearance via induction of these isoenzymes, resulting in increased or decreased plasma concentrations of agents that are metabolized by one or more of these isoenzymes. Clinical and pharmacokinetic data are currently lacking.

MANAGEMENT: Caution is advised if pralsetinib is used concomitantly with drugs that are substrates of CYP450 2C8, 2C9, 3A4, and/or 3A5, particularly sensitive substrates or those with a narrow therapeutic range. Some authorities recommend avoiding coadministration of pralsetinib with CYP450 2C8, 2C9, 3A4, and/or 3A5 substrates for which minimal concentration changes may lead to therapeutic failure or serious toxicities. If coadministration is required, dosage adjustments as well as clinical and laboratory monitoring may be appropriate whenever pralsetinib is added to or withdrawn from therapy. The prescribing information for concomitant medications should be consulted to assess the benefits versus risks of coadministration and for any dosage adjustments that may be required.

GENERALLY AVOID: Alcohol can potentiate the effect of metformin on lactate metabolism and increase the risk of lactic acidosis. In addition, alcohol may cause hypoglycemia or hyperglycemia in patients with diabetes. Although hypoglycemia rarely occurs during treatment with metformin alone, the risk may increase with acute consumption of alcohol. Even modest amounts can lower blood sugar significantly, especially when the alcohol is ingested on an empty stomach or following exercise. The mechanism involves inhibition of both gluconeogenesis as well as the counter-regulatory response to hypoglycemia. Episodes of hypoglycemia may last for 8 to 12 hours after ethanol ingestion. By contrast, chronic alcohol abuse can cause impaired glucose tolerance and hyperglycemia. Moderate alcohol consumption generally does not affect blood glucose levels in patients with well controlled diabetes.

Food may have varying effects on the absorption of metformin from immediate-release versus extended-release formulations. When a single 850 mg dose of immediate-release metformin was administered with food, mean peak plasma concentration (Cmax) and systemic exposure (AUC) decreased by 40% and 25%, respectively, and time to peak plasma concentration (Tmax) increased by 35 minutes compared to administration under fasting conditions. By contrast, administration of extended-release metformin with food increased AUC by 50% without affecting Cmax or Tmax, and both high- and low-fat meals had the same effect. These data may not be applicable to formulations that contain metformin with other oral antidiabetic agents.

MANAGEMENT: Metformin should be taken with meals, and excessive alcohol intake should be avoided during treatment. Diabetes patients in general should avoid consuming alcohol if their blood glucose is not well controlled, or if they have hypertriglyceridemia, neuropathy, or pancreatitis. Alcohol should not be consumed on an empty stomach or following exercise, as it may increase the risk of hypoglycemia. Patients should contact their physician immediately if they experience potential signs and symptoms of lactic acidosis such as malaise, myalgia, respiratory distress, increasing somnolence, and nonspecific abdominal distress (especially after stabilization of metformin therapy, when gastrointestinal symptoms are uncommon). With more marked acidosis, there may also be associated hypothermia, hypotension, and resistant bradyarrhythmias. Metformin should be withdrawn promptly if lactic acidosis is suspected. Serum electrolytes, ketones, blood glucose, blood pH, lactate levels, and blood metformin levels may be useful in establishing a diagnosis. Lactic acidosis should be suspected in any diabetic patient with metabolic acidosis lacking evidence of ketoacidosis (ketonuria and ketonemia).

ADJUST DOSING INTERVAL: Food significantly increases the oral bioavailability of pralsetinib. According to the product labeling, administration of pralsetinib (200 mg) with a high-fat meal (approximately 800 to 1000 calories; 50% to 60% from fat) increased mean pralsetinib peak plasma concentration (Cmax) and systemic exposure (AUC) by 104% and 122%, respectively. The median time to maximum concentration (Tmax) was delayed from 4 hours to 8.5 hours, when compared to the fasted state.

GENERALLY AVOID: The juice of grapefruit and/or Seville oranges may increase the plasma concentrations of pralsetinib. The proposed mechanism is inhibition of CYP450 3A4-mediated first-pass metabolism in the gut wall by certain compounds present in grapefruit and Seville oranges. 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. Increased exposure to pralsetinib may increase the risk of adverse effects such as interstitial lung disease/pneumonitis, liver transaminase elevations, hypertension, and hemorrhage. Some clinical trials have also observed prolongation of the QT interval in patients on pralsetinib, though this was not observed in a study of 34 patients with rearranged during transfection (RET)-altered solid tumors on pralsetinib at the recommended dosage.

MANAGEMENT: Pralsetinib should be administered on an empty stomach, with no food intake recommended for at least 2 hours before and at least 1 hour after taking the medication. Patients should avoid consumption of grapefruit, grapefruit juice, Seville oranges, or Seville orange juice during treatment with pralsetinib.

MONITOR: Grapefruit juice may increase the plasma concentrations of orally administered drugs that are substrates of the CYP450 3A4 isoenzyme. The proposed mechanism is inhibition of CYP450 3A4-mediated first-pass metabolism in the gut wall by certain compounds present in grapefruit. 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.

MANAGEMENT: Patients who regularly consume grapefruit or grapefruit juice should be monitored for adverse effects and altered plasma concentrations of drugs that undergo significant presystemic metabolism by CYP450 3A4. Grapefruit and grapefruit juice should be avoided if an interaction is suspected. Orange juice is not expected to interact with these drugs.