Brand name: NexAVAR
Drug class: Antineoplastic Agents
- Kinase Inhibitors
- Receptor Tyrosine Kinase Inhibitors
- Tyrosine Kinase Inhibitors
VA class: AN900
Chemical name: 4-(4-{3-[4-Chloro-3-(trifluoromethyl)phenyl]ureido}phenoxy)-N2-methylpyridine-2-carboxamide
Molecular formula: C₂₁H₁₆ClF₃N₄O₃
CAS number: 284461-73-0

Medically reviewed by Drugs.com on Jul 22, 2022. Written by ASHP.

Introduction

Antineoplastic agent; inhibitor of several serine/threonine and receptor tyrosine kinases.

Uses for SORAfenib

Hepatocellular Carcinoma

Treatment of unresectable hepatocellular carcinoma (designated an orphan drug by FDA for this use).

American Society of Clinical Oncology (ASCO) guideline states that lenvatinib or sorafenib may be offered as first-line therapy for patients with advanced hepatocellular carcinoma, Child-Pugh class A, and an ECOG performance status of 0 or 1 if therapy with atezolizumab and/or bevacizumab is contraindicated. ASCO also states that tyrosine kinase inhibitors (i.e., cabozantinib, lenvatinib, regorafenib, sorafenib) may be used as second-line therapy^{† [off-label]} following therapy with atezolizumab in combination with bevacizumab.

Base decision to pursue second-line therapy and choice of treatment on patient and clinician preferences and other factors (i.e., comorbidities, liver function, performance status, and potential for benefit and risk of harm).

Renal Cell Carcinoma

Treatment of advanced renal cell carcinoma (designated an orphan drug by FDA for this use).

Combination regimens (e.g., immune checkpoint inhibitor in combination with a tyrosine kinase inhibitor) have generally become a standard for the treatment of advanced renal cell carcinoma.

Some experts also state that subsequent monotherapy with a tyrosine kinase inhibitor (e.g., sunitinib, pazopanib) may be offered to patients who experience a treatment-limiting immune-mediated adverse effect following combination therapy with an immune checkpoint inhibitor or as a second-line option following disease progression during immune checkpoint inhibitor-based therapy.

Differentiated Thyroid Carcinoma

Treatment of locally recurrent or metastatic, progressive, differentiated thyroid carcinoma refractory to radioactive iodine treatment (designated an orphan drug by FDA for the treatment of medullary, anaplastic, and recurrent or metastatic follicular or papillary thyroid cancer).

Other Uses

Has been studied in patients with acute myeloid leukemia (AML) harboring fms-like tyrosine kinase 3 (FLT3) internal tandem duplication (ITD) mutations who have undergone allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplant (HSCT)^{† [off-label]}, advanced or metastatic GI stromal tumor^{† [off-label]}, and recurrent or metastatic angiosarcoma^{† [off-label]}.

Related/similar drugs

Keytruda, pembrolizumab, Avastin, doxorubicin, Armour Thyroid, bevacizumab, nivolumab

SORAfenib Dosage and Administration

General

Pretreatment Screening

• Verify pregnancy status in females of reproductive potential.

Patient Monitoring

• Monitor electrolytes and ECG in patients with congestive heart failure or bradyarrhythmias and in those receiving concomitant therapy with drugs known to prolong the QT interval (e.g., class Ia and III antiarrhythmics); correct electrolyte abnormalities (magnesium, potassium, calcium).

• Monitor BP weekly during the first 6 weeks of therapy and periodically thereafter.

• Monitor liver function tests regularly.

• In patients with differentiated thyroid carcinoma, monitor TSH levels monthly and adjust thyroid replacement therapy as needed.

Other General Considerations

• Withhold therapy for at least 10 days prior to elective surgery. Do not administer for ≥2 weeks following major surgery and until adequate wound healing has occurred.

• If sorafenib is used in patients receiving a coumarin-derivative anticoagulant (e.g., warfarin), monitor international normalized ratio (INR) more frequently.

• Due to the potential risk of bleeding, treat tracheal, bronchial, and esophageal infiltration with local therapy prior to initiating sorafenib in patients with differentiated thyroid carcinoma.

Administration

Oral Administration

Administer ≥1 hour before or 2 hours after a meal, since administration with a high-fat meal may decrease oral bioavailability.

If a dose is missed, skip the missed dose and take the next dose at the regularly scheduled time.

Dosage

Available as sorafenib tosylate; dosage expressed in terms of sorafenib.

Adults

Hepatocellular Carcinoma

Oral

400 mg twice daily.

Continue therapy for as long as the patient derives clinical benefit from the drug or until unacceptable toxicity occurs.

Renal Cell Carcinoma

Oral

400 mg twice daily.

Continue therapy for as long as the patient derives clinical benefit from the drug or until unacceptable toxicity occurs.

Differentiated Thyroid Carcinoma

Oral

400 mg twice daily.

Continue therapy for as long as the patient derives clinical benefit from the drug or until unacceptable toxicity occurs.

Dosage Modification for Toxicity

If dosage modification is required, the dosage of sorafenib should be reduced as described in Table 1 in patients with hepatocellular carcinoma, renal cell carcinoma, or differentiated thyroid carcinoma.

Temporary interruption of therapy, dosage reduction, and/or permanent discontinuance of sorafenib may be necessary in patients experiencing certain adverse effects (see Table 2) or cutaneous toxicity (see Table 3).

In addition, any grade increased alkaline phosphatase in the absence of known bone pathology and grade 2 or worse increased bilirubin; any one of the following: INR of ≥1.5, ascites and/or encephalopathy in the absence of underlying cirrhosis or other organ failure considered to be due to drug-induced liver injury.

Following improvement of grade 2 or 3 cutaneous toxicity to grade 0 or 1 for at least 28 days or a reduced sorafenib dosage, the dosage may be increased one dose level from the reduced dosage. Approximately 50% of patients requiring a dosage reduction for cutaneous toxicity are expected to meet the criteria for resumption of the higher dosage and about 50% of patients resuming the previous dosage are expected to tolerate the higher dosage without recurrent grade 2 or higher cutaneous toxicity.

Special Populations

Hepatic Impairment

No dosage adjustment required in patients with mild or moderate (Child-Pugh class A or B) hepatic impairment. Pharmacokinetics not studied in patients with severe (Child-Pugh class C) hepatic impairment.

Renal Impairment

No dosage adjustment required in patients with mild to severe renal impairment who are not receiving dialysis. Not studied in patients with renal impairment requiring dialysis.

Geriatric Patients

No specific dosage recommendations.

Cautions for SORAfenib

Contraindications

• Known severe hypersensitivity to sorafenib or any ingredient in the formulation.

• In combination with carboplatin and paclitaxel in patients with squamous cell lung cancer.

Warnings/Precautions

Hypertension

Hypertension reported, usually mild to moderate in severity and occurring early in the course of treatment; generally managed with standard antihypertensive therapy.

Monitor BP weekly during the first 6 weeks of therapy and periodically thereafter; treat hypertension, if required, in accordance with established medical practice.

If hypertension is severe or persistent despite use of antihypertensive therapy, consider temporary or permanent discontinuance of sorafenib.

Cardiovascular Events

Cardiac ischemia or infarction and CHF reported; consider temporary or permanent discontinuance of therapy in patients who develop cardiovascular events.

QT-Interval Prolongation

Prolongation of QT interval may occur.

Avoid use in patients with congenital long QT syndrome.

Monitor ECG and serum electrolytes (calcium, potassium, magnesium) in patients with CHF or bradyarrhythmias, and in those receiving drugs known to prolong the QT interval (e.g., class IA and III antiarrhythmic agents). Correct electrolyte (magnesium, potassium, calcium) abnormalities. Interrupt sorafenib therapy if QT interval is >500 msec or an increase of ≥60 msec from baseline occurs.

Hemorrhage

Increased risk of bleeding; consider permanent discontinuance of therapy if any bleeding episode requiring medical attention occurs. Because of the potential risk of bleeding, treat tracheal, bronchial, and esophageal infiltration with local therapy prior to initiating sorafenib in patients with differentiated thyroid carcinoma.

Monitor patients receiving concomitant therapy with warfarin and sorafenib regularly for changes in PT or INR and monitor for clinical bleeding episodes.

Dermatologic Effects

Palmar-plantar erythrodysesthesia (i.e., hand-foot syndrome) and rash occur frequently.

Reactions (generally grade 1 or 2) typically appear during the first 6 weeks of therapy.

Management includes topical symptomatic therapy, temporary interruption of therapy, and/or dosage modification; consider permanent discontinuance of therapy in severe or persistent cases.

Severe, possibly life-threatening dermatologic toxicities (e.g., Stevens-Johnson syndrome, toxic epidermal necrolysis) reported; discontinue therapy if Stevens-Johnson syndrome or toxic epidermal necrolysis is suspected.

GI Effects

GI perforation, sometimes associated with intra-abdominal tumor, reported rarely; permanently discontinue sorafenib if GI perforation occurs.

Wound-healing Complications

May impair wound healing. Withhold sorafenib for ≥10 days prior to elective surgery and do not administer for ≥2 weeks following major surgery and until adequate healing has occurred. Safety of resuming sorafenib therapy after resolution of wound healing complications not established.

Increased Mortality in Squamous Cell Carcinoma of the Lung

Increased risk of mortality reported in patients with previously untreated, advanced squamous cell carcinoma of the lung receiving sorafenib in combination with carboplatin and paclitaxel or in combination with gemcitabine and cisplatin.

Contraindicated in combination with carboplatin and paclitaxel in patients with squamous cell carcinoma of the lung.

Not recommended for use in combination with gemcitabine and cisplatin in patients with squamous cell carcinoma of the lung.

Safety and efficacy not established in patients with non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC).

Hepatic Effects

Drug-induced hepatitis (serious or fatal), increased serum concentrations of bilirubin, and/or increased INR may occur. Drug-induced hepatitis is characterized by a hepatocellular pattern of injury with substantially elevated serum aminotransferase concentrations.

Monitor liver function tests regularly. Discontinue therapy if substantially elevated serum aminotransferase concentrations occur and other possible causes (i.e., viral hepatitis, malignancy progression) have been ruled out.

Fetal/Neonatal Morbidity and Mortality

May cause fetal harm; teratogenicity and embryolethality demonstrated in animals.

Verify pregnancy status of females of reproductive potential prior to initiation of therapy. Females of reproductive potential receiving the drug should use an effective contraceptive method during treatment and for ≥6 months following discontinuance of sorafenib therapy. Male patients with female partners of reproductive potential and pregnant partners should use an effective contraceptive method during treatment and for ≥3 months following discontinuance of sorafenib therapy.

Specific Populations

Pregnancy

May cause fetal harm.

Lactation

Distributed into milk in rats; not known whether sorafenib or its metabolites distributed into human milk. Also not known if sorafenib has effects on the breast-fed infant or on milk production. Do not breast-feed during treatment with sorafenib and for 2 weeks following discontinuance of the drug.

Females and Males of Reproductive Potential

Females of reproductive potential should be advised to use effective contraceptive methods while receiving sorafenib and for ≥6 months after discontinuance of the drug.

Male patients with female partners of reproductive potential and pregnant partners should use an effective contraceptive method during sorafenib treatment and for ≥3 months following discontinuance of the drug.

Males should be advised that sorafenib may impair fertility.

Pediatric Use

Safety and efficacy not established in pediatric patients <18 years of age.

Geriatric Use

No substantial differences in safety and efficacy relative to younger adults, but increased sensitivity cannot be ruled out.

Hepatic Impairment

Systemic exposure in patients with mild or moderate (Child-Pugh class A or B) hepatic impairment, with or without hepatocellular carcinoma, similar to that in individuals without hepatic impairment.

Limited safety and efficacy data in patients with hepatocellular carcinoma and moderate hepatic impairment; some data suggest shorter overall survival in patients with moderate hepatic impairment compared with those with mild hepatic impairment.

Pharmacokinetics not studied in patients with severe (Child-Pugh class C) hepatic impairment.

Renal Impairment

Pharmacokinetics not affected by mild (Cl_cr 50–80 mL/minute), moderate (Cl_cr 30 to <50 mL/minute), or severe (Cl_cr <30 mL/minute) renal impairment.

Pharmacokinetics have not been evaluated in patients with renal impairment requiring dialysis.

Common Adverse Effects

Adverse reactions occurring in ≥20% of patients: Diarrhea, fatigue, infection, alopecia, palmar-plantar erythrodysesthesia (hand-foot skin reaction), rash, decreased weight, decreased appetite, nausea, GI and abdominal pain, hypertension, and hemorrhage.

Drug Interactions

Metabolized by CYP3A4 and uridine diphosphate-glucuronosyltransferase (UGT) 1A9.

Inhibits CYP isoenzymes 2B6, 2C8, 2C9, 2C19, 2D6, and 3A4 in vitro. Unlikely to induce CYP1A2 or CYP3A4.

Inhibits glucuronidation by UGT1A1 and UGT1A9 in vitro.

Drugs Affecting Hepatic Microsomal Enzymes

CYP3A4 inhibitors: Unlikely to alter metabolism of sorafenib.

CYP3A4 inducers: Potential pharmacokinetic interaction (decreased plasma concentrations of sorafenib). When possible, avoid concomitant use of potent CYP3A4 inducers.

Drugs Metabolized by Hepatic Microsomal Enzymes

Substrates of CYP isoenzymes 2B6 or 2C8: At recommended sorafenib dosage, clinically important inhibition of CYP2B6 or CYP2C8 may be unlikely.

Substrates of CYP isoenzymes 2C19, 2D6, or 3A4: Clinically important pharmacokinetic interactions unlikely.

CYP2C9 substrates: Risk for clinically important inhibition of CYP2C9 by sorafenib may be low.

Drugs Metabolized by Uridine Diphosphate-glucuronosyltransferase

Substrates of UGT1A1 or UGT1A9: Potential pharmacokinetic interaction (increased systemic exposure to the substrate). Caution is advised.

Drugs Affecting Gastric Acidity

Potential pharmacokinetic interaction (decreased solubility of sorafenib) with drugs that increase gastric pH. However, manufacturer states adjustment of sorafenib dosage is not necessary.

Drugs that Prolong the QT Interval

Sorafenib can prolong the QT interval. Avoid concomitant use with other drugs that can prolong the QT interval.

Substrates of P-glycoprotein Transport System

Substrates of P-gp: Potential pharmacokinetic interaction (increased systemic exposure to the substrate).

Specific Drugs

SORAfenib Pharmacokinetics

Absorption

Bioavailability

Mean relative bioavailability of oral tablets is 38–49% when compared with oral solution. Peak plasma concentrations attained in approximately 3 hours.

Food

High-fat meal reduces bioavailability by about 29%.

Special Populations

Mild or moderate hepatic impairment (Child-Pugh class A or B) does not substantially affect pharmacokinetics; peak concentration and AUC slightly higher in moderate than in mild hepatic impairment, but differences are not clinically meaningful. Not studied in patients with severe (Child-Pugh class C) hepatic impairment.

Mild to severe renal impairment (Cl_cr ≤80 mL/minute) does not affect pharmacokinetics; not studied in patients with renal impairment requiring dialysis.

Age and gender do not substantially affect pharmacokinetics.

AUC is 30% lower in Asians than in Caucasians.

Distribution

Extent

Not known whether sorafenib or its metabolites are distributed into milk.

Plasma Protein Binding

99.5%.

Elimination

Metabolism

Metabolized mainly in the liver via oxidation by CYP3A4 and glucuronidation by UGT1A9.

At least 8 metabolites identified. The main circulating metabolite, a pyridine N-oxide derivative, is pharmacologically active and accounts for approximately 9–16% of total plasma concentrations of the drug.

Elimination Route

Excreted in feces (77%) and urine (19%).

51% of a dose recovered in feces as unchanged drug; unchanged drug not recovered in urine.

Half-life

Approximately 25–48 hours.

Stability

Storage

Oral

Tablets

20–25°C (excursions permitted between 15–30°C). Store in a dry place.

Actions

• Mechanism of action not fully elucidated; appears to inhibit signal transduction pathways involving multiple intracellular (e.g., c-Raf, b-Raf, mutant b-Raf) and cell surface kinases (e.g., c-Kit, Flt-3, RET, RET/PTC, vascular endothelial growth factor receptors 1, 2 and 3, platelet-derived growth factor receptor-β) in vitro.

Advice to Patients

• Instruct patients to read the manufacturer’s patient information before starting sorafenib therapy and each time their prescription is filled.

• If a dose is missed, importance of administering the next dose at the regularly scheduled time; do not administer a double dose to make up for a missed dose.

• Importance of females informing clinicians if they are or plan to become pregnant or plan to breast-feed. Necessity of advising females to avoid pregnancy during therapy and for ≥6 months following completion of sorafenib therapy. Necessity of advising females to use effective contraceptive methods during sorafenib therapy and for ≥6 months following completion of therapy. Necessity of advising men with female partners of reproductive potential or who have partners who are pregnant to use effective contraceptive methods during therapy and for at least 3 months following completion of sorafenib therapy. Advise females of the potential risk to the fetus (e.g., birth defects) and/or the potential risk for loss of the pregnancy.

• Advise females to discontinue breast-feeding during sorafenib therapy and for ≥2 weeks following completion of sorafenib therapy.

• Risk of hand-foot syndrome and rash. Importance of advising patient about appropriate countermeasures.

• Risk of hypertension, particularly during the first 6 weeks of sorafenib therapy. Importance of monitoring BP regularly during therapy.

• Risk of bleeding. Importance of patients promptly informing clinicians of any episodes of bleeding.

• Risk of bleeding or INR elevation in patients receiving concomitant therapy with warfarin and sorafenib. Importance of monitoring INR regularly during concomitant therapy.

• Risk of potential GI perforation. Importance of informing clinician immediately if high fever, nausea, vomiting, or severe stomach or abdominal pain occurs.

• Risk of potential cardiac ischemia and/or infarction and CHF. Importance of patients immediately informing clinicians or to seek emergency medical care if any episodes of chest pain or other symptoms of cardiac ischemia or CHF occur.

• Risk of wound healing complications. Importance of informing clinician of any scheduled surgery.

• Risk of QT-interval prolongation. Importance of informing clinicians immediately if an abnormal heartbeat or feelings of dizziness or faintness occur. Inform patients with a history of prolonged QT interval that sorafenib can worsen the condition and that ECGs and/or serum electrolytes may be monitored during sorafenib therapy.

• Risk of hepatitis and importance of regular liver function test monitoring. Importance of informing clinician if signs and symptoms of hepatitis (e.g., jaundice, dark tea-colored urine, light-colored stool, worsening nausea or vomiting, abdominal pain) occur.

• Importance of informing clinicians of existing or contemplated concomitant therapy, including prescription and OTC drugs and herbal supplements (e.g., St. John’s wort), as well as any concomitant illnesses (e.g., cardiovascular disease [including congenital long QT syndrome]).

• Importance of informing patients of other important precautionary information. (See Cautions.)

Preparations

Excipients in commercially available drug preparations may have clinically important effects in some individuals; consult specific product labeling for details.

Please refer to the ASHP Drug Shortages Resource Center for information on shortages of one or more of these preparations.

Sorafenib can only be obtained through designated specialty pharmacies. Contact the manufacturer for more information.

* available from one or more manufacturer, distributor, and/or repackager by generic (nonproprietary) name

Reload page with references included

Frequently asked questions

• How does Nexavar work? Is it a chemo drug?
• Is Nexavar cost covered by Medicare?
• How effective is Nexavar? Does it shrink tumors?
• Lenvatinib vs sorafenib: for first line treatment in HCC?

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