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Pralsetinib (Monograph)

Brand name: Gavreto
Drug class: Antineoplastic Agents
- Kinase Inhibitors
- Receptor Tyrosine Kinase Inhibitors
- Tyrosine Kinase Inhibitors
- Rearranged During Transfection
- RET Inhibitor
Chemical name: N-[(1S)-1-[6-(4-fluoropyrazol-1-yl)pyridin-3-yl]ethyl]-1-methoxy-4-[4-methyl-6-[(5-methyl-1H-pyrazol-3-yl)amino]pyrimidin-2-yl]cyclohexane-1-carboxamide
Molecular formula: C27H32FN9O2
CAS number: 2097132-93-7

Medically reviewed by Drugs.com on Feb 15, 2024. Written by ASHP.

Introduction

Antineoplastic agent; inhibitor of multiple receptor tyrosine kinases, including wild-type and mutated rearranged during transfection (RET) isoforms.

Uses for Pralsetinib

Non-small Cell Lung Cancer (NSCLC)

Treatment of adults with metastatic RET fusion-positive NSCLC.

Accelerated approval based on objective response rate and duration of response; continued approval may be contingent on verification and description of clinical benefit in confirmatory studies.

Designated an orphan drug by FDA for the treatment JAK1/2-positive or TRKC-positive NSCLC.

Confirmation of RET fusion necessary prior to initiation of therapy. In clinical studies, presence of RET fusion was determined by next generation sequencing (NGS), fluorescence in situ hybridization (FISH), or other tests.

Medullary Thyroid Cancer

Treatment of advanced or metastatic RET mutation-positive medullary thyroid cancer in adult and pediatric patients 12 years of age or older who require systemic therapy.

Accelerated approval based on objective response rate and duration of response; continued approval may be contingent on verification and description of clinical benefit in confirmatory studies.

Designated an orphan drug by FDA for the treatment of this cancer.

Confirmation of specific RET gene mutation necessary prior to initiation of therapy. In clinical studies, presence of RET mutation was determined by NGS, FISH, or other tests.

Thryoid Cancer

Treatment of advanced or metastatic RET fusion-positive thyroid cancer in adult and pediatric patients 12 years of age or older who require systemic therapy and are refractory to radioactive iodine (iodine-131) (for whom such therapy is appropriate).

Accelerated approval based on objective response rate and duration of response; continued approval may be contingent on verification and description of clinical benefit in confirmatory studies.

Designated an orphan drug by FDA for the treatment of this cancer.

Confirmation of specific RET gene fusion or mutation necessary prior to initiation of therapy. In clinical studies, presence of RET fusion was determined by NGS, FISH, or other tests.

Pralsetinib Dosage and Administration

General

Pretreatment Screening

Patient Monitoring

Administration

Oral Administration

Administer orally once daily on an empty stomach (i.e., at least 2 hours after and at least 1 hour before food).

If a dose is missed, administer the missed dose as soon as it is remembered on the same day. Take the next dose at the regularly scheduled time.

If a dose is vomited following administration, do not administer an additional dose to make up for the vomited dose; administer the next dose at the regularly scheduled time.

Dosage

Pediatric Patients

Medullary Thyroid Cancer
Oral

≥12 years of age: 400 mg once daily. Continue therapy until disease progression or unacceptable toxicity occurs.

Thyroid Cancer
Oral

≥12 years of age: 400 mg once daily. Continue therapy until disease progression or unacceptable toxicity occurs.

Adults

NSCLC
Oral

400 mg once daily. Continue therapy until disease progression or unacceptable toxicity occurs.

Medullary Thyroid Cancer
Oral

400 mg once daily. Continue therapy until disease progression or unacceptable toxicity occurs.

Thyroid Cancer
Oral

400 mg once daily. Continue therapy until disease progression or unacceptable toxicity occurs.

Dosage Modification

If adverse reactions occur during pralsetinib therapy, temporary interruption of therapy, dosage reduction, and/or permanent discontinuance of the drug may be necessary. If dosage reduction is required, the dosage of pralsetinib should be reduced as described in Table 1.

Table 1. Dosage Reduction for Pralsetinib Toxicity.1

Dose Reduction Level

Recommended Dosage Reduction

First

300 mg once daily

Second

200 mg once daily

Third

100 mg once daily

Fourth

Permanently discontinue pralsetinib

The following Dosage Modification for Pralsetinib Toxicity table indicates the recommended dosage modification (i.e., temporary interruption of therapy, dosage reduction, discontinuance of therapy) for certain adverse effects according to severity.

Table 2. Dosage Modification for Pralsetinib Toxicity1

Adverse Reaction and Severity

Modification

Pulmonary Effects

Grade 1 or 2 interstitial lung disease or pneumonitis

Withhold therapy; when interstitial lung disease or pneumonitis resolves, resume at reduced dosage (see Table 1)

If grade 1 or 2 interstitial lung disease or pneumonitis recurs, permanently discontinue therapy

Grade 3 or 4 interstitial lung disease or pneumonitis

Permanently discontinue therapy

Hepatotoxicity

Grade 3 or 4

Withhold therapy and monitor AST and ALT concentrations once weekly

When the toxicity resolves to baseline or grade 1, resume at reduced dosage (see Table 1)

If toxicity recurs at grade 3 or higher, discontinue therapy

Hypertension

Grade 3

Withhold therapy if grade 3 hypertension occurs despite optimal antihypertensive therapy

When hypertension is controlled, resume at reduced dosage (see Table 1)

Grade 4

Discontinue therapy

Hemorrhagic Events

Grade 3 or 4

Withhold therapy until toxicity improves to baseline or grade 1 or less

If severe or life-threatening hemorrhagic events occur, discontinue therapy

Growth Plate Abnormality

Any grade

Consider interrupting or discontinuing therapy based on severity and individual risk-benefit assessment (see Pediatric Use under Cautions)

Other Toxicity

Grade 3 or 4

Withhold therapy until toxicity improves to baseline or grade 2 or less; resume at reduced dosage (see Table 1)

If grade 4 toxicity recurs, permanently discontinue therapy

Concomitant Use with Combined P-glycoprotein and Strong CYP3A Inhibitors

Concomitant use of pralsetinib with combined P-glycoprotein (P-gp) and strong cytochrome P-450 (CYP) isoenzyme 3A inhibitors should be avoided. If concomitant use cannot be avoided, the manufacturer recommends reducing the dosage of pralsetinib as described in Table 3. When concomitant use of the combined P-gp or strong CYP3A inhibitor is discontinued, the pralsetinib dosage should be returned (after 3–5 elimination half-lives of the combined P-gp or CYP3A inhibitor) to the dosage used prior to initiation of the combined P-gp and strong CYP3A inhibitor.

Table 3: Recommended Dosage Reduction for Concomitant Use with Combined P-gp or Strong CYP3A Inhibitors1

Current Dosage

Recommended Pralsetinib Dosage

400 mg once daily

200 mg once daily

300 mg once daily

200 mg once daily

200 mg once daily

100 mg once daily

Concomitant Use with Strong CYP3A Inducers

Concomitant use of pralsetinib with strong CYP3A inducers should be avoided. If concomitant use cannot be avoided, double the current pralsetinib dosage starting on day 7 of concomitant use of pralsetinib with a strong CYP3A inducer. After the strong CYP3A inducer has been discontinued for at least 14 days, the pralsetinib dosage should be returned to the dosage used prior to initiation of the strong CYP3A inducer.

Prescribing Limits

Pediatric Patients

Medullary Thyroid Cancer
Oral

Dosage <100 mg once daily not recommended.

Thyroid Cancer
Oral

Dosage <100 mg once daily not recommended.

Adults

NSCLC
Oral

Dosage <100 mg once daily not recommended.

Medullary Thyroid Cancer
Oral

Dosage <100 mg once daily not recommended.

Thyroid Cancer
Oral

Dosage <100 mg once daily not recommended.

Special Populations

Hepatic Impairment

Mild hepatic impairment (total bilirubin concentrations not exceeding the ULN with AST concentrations exceeding the ULN, or total bilirubin concentrations exceeding 1 but not exceeding 1.5 times the ULN with any AST concentration): No dosage adjustment necessary.

Moderate or severe hepatic impairment: No specific dosage recommendations at this time.

Renal Impairment

No specific dosage recommendations at this time.

Geriatric Patients

No specific dosage recommendations at this time.

Cautions for Pralsetinib

Contraindications

Warnings/Precautions

Interstitial Lung Disease (ILD)/Pneumonitis

Severe, life-threatening, and fatal ILD or pneumonitis reported. Pneumonitis occurred in 10% (grade 3 or 4 in 2.7%) of patients who received pralsetinib; 0.5% resulted in fatality.

Monitor for pulmonary symptoms indicative of ILD or pneumonitis such as cough, dyspnea, and fever. Withhold pralsetinib and promptly investigate for ILD in any patient who presents with acute or worsening of respiratory symptoms suggestive of ILD (e.g., dyspnea, cough, and fever). If ILD is confirmed, temporary interruption of pralsetinib therapy, dosage reduction, or discontinuance of therapy may be necessary.

Hypertension

Hypertension, including grade 3 and 4 hypertension, reported. Treatment-emergent hypertension commonly managed with antihypertensive therapy.

Do not initiate pralsetinib in patients with uncontrolled hypertension. Assess BP prior to initiation of therapy, and monitor after 1 week of therapy, at least monthly thereafter, and as clinically indicated. Initiate antihypertensive therapy or adjust as appropriate to control BP during therapy. If hypertension occurs, interruption of drug therapy, dosage reduction, or permanent discontinuance of therapy may be necessary.

Hepatotoxicity

Serious hepatic adverse reactions reported. Median time to onset of increased AST or ALT concentration is 15 (range: 5 days to 1.5 years) or 22 days (range: 7 days to 1.7 years), respectively.

Monitor ALT and AST concentrations prior to initiating pralsetinib, every 2 weeks during the first 3 months of therapy, monthly thereafter, and as clinically indicated. If hepatotoxicity occurs, interruption of drug therapy, dosage reduction, or permanent discontinuance of therapy may be necessary.

Hemorrhagic Events

Serious, including fatal, hemorrhagic events reported.

Permanently discontinue therapy in patients with severe or life-threatening hemorrhage.

Tumor Lysis Syndrome

Tumor lysis syndrome reported in patients with medullary thyroid carcinoma receiving pralsetinib.

Closely monitor patients at risk for tumor lysis syndrome (e.g., those with rapidly growing tumors, high tumor burden, renal dysfunction, dehydration). Consider appropriate prophylaxis (e.g., adequate hydration). If tumor lysis syndrome occurs, treat patients as clinically indicated.

Wound Healing Complications

Inhibitors of vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) signaling pathway, such as pralsetinib, may impair wound healing.

Withhold pralsetinib therapy for ≥5 days prior to elective surgery. Do not administer pralsetinib for ≥2 weeks following major surgery and until adequate wound healing has occurred. Safety of resuming pralsetinib therapy following resolution of wound healing complications not established.

Fetal/Neonatal Morbidity and Mortality

May cause fetal harm. Embryotoxicity and malformations observed in animals.

Verify pregnancy status prior to initiating therapy. Avoid pregnancy during therapy. Females of reproductive potential should use effective nonhormonal methods of contraception while receiving pralsetinib and for 2 weeks after the final dose. Advise males who are partners of such females to use effective methods of contraception while receiving the drug and for 1 week after the final dose. If used during pregnancy, apprise patient of the potential fetal hazard.

Specific Populations

Pregnancy

May cause fetal harm.

Verify pregnancy status prior to initiating therapy. If used during pregnancy, apprise patient of the potential fetal hazard.

Lactation

Not known whether pralsetinib or its metabolites are distributed into milk, affect milk production, or affect nursing infants. Women should not breast-feed during therapy and for 1 week following the final dose.

Pediatric Use

Safety and efficacy not established for treatment of metastatic RET fusion-positive NSCLC.

Safety and efficacy in pediatric patients ≥12 years of age with RET fusion-positive thyroid cancer and RET mutation-positive medullary thyroid cancer supported by extrapolation of data from clinical studies evaluating pralsetinib in adults and pharmacokinetic data in pediatric patients ≥12 years of age.

Skeletal (i.e., physeal hypertrophy) and tooth abnormalities (i.e., malocclusion, tooth discoloration, tooth dysplasia) observed in immature animals receiving pralsetinib. Monitor growth plates in adolescents with open growth plates. If growth plate abnormalities occur, consider interrupting or discontinuing therapy based on severity of the abnormality and individual risk-benefit assessment.

Geriatric Use

No overall differences in safety relative to younger adults observed.

Hepatic Impairment

Mild hepatic impairment (total bilirubin concentrations not exceeding the ULN with AST concentrations exceeding the ULN, or total bilirubin concentrations exceeding 1 but not exceeding 1.5 times the ULN with any AST concentration): Pharmacokinetics not substantially altered; no dosage adjustment needed.

Moderate (total bilirubin concentration exceeding 1.5 but no more than 3 times the ULN and any AST concentration) or severe (total bilirubin concentration exceeding 3 times the ULN and any AST concentration) hepatic impairment: Not studied.

Renal Impairment

Population pharmacokinetic analysis suggests that mild or moderate renal impairment (Clcr30–89 mL/minute) does not affect exposure of pralsetinib.

Severe renal impairment (Clcr <15 mL/minute): Not studied.

Common Adverse Effects

The most common adverse reactions (≥25%) were fatigue, constipation, musculoskeletal pain, and hypertension. The most common grade 3 or 4 laboratory abnormalities (≥2%) were decreased lymphocytes, decreased neutrophils, decreased phosphate, decreased hemoglobin, decreased sodium, decreased calcium (corrected), increased ALT/AST concentrations, decreased platelets, increased alkaline phosphatase.

Drug Interactions

Metabolized principally by CYP3A4; lesser extent by CYP isoenzymes 2D6 and 1A2. In vitro, drug is a substrate and inhibitor of P-gp and breast cancer resistance protein (BCRP). Also, inhibits organic anion transporting peptide (OATP) 1B1, OATP1B3, organic anion transporter (OAT) 1, multidrug and toxin extrusion (MATE) 1, MATE2-K, and bile salt efflux pump (BSEP). Does not inhibit organic cation transporter (OCT) 1, OCT2, and OAT1A3.

In vitro, a time-dependent inhibitor of CYP3A4/5 and an inhibitor of CYP isoenzymes 2C8, 2C9, and 3A4/5; inducer of CYP isoenzymes 2C8, 2C9, and 3A4/5. Does not inhibit CYP isoenzymes 1A2, 2B6, 2C19, or 2D6.

Drugs Affecting or Affected by Hepatic Microsomal Enzymes

P-gp and/or Strong CYP3A Inhibitors: Potential increased pralsetinib exposure and increased risk or severity of adverse reactions to pralsetinib. Avoid concomitant use with strong CYP3A inhibitors, including combined P-gp and strong CYP3A inhibitors. If concomitant use with combined P-gp and strong CYP3A inhibitors cannot be avoided, reduce the dose of pralsetinib as described in Table 4. When concomitant use of the combined P-gp or strong CYP3A inhibitor is discontinued, return pralsetinib dosage (after 3–5 elimination half-lives of the combined P-gp or CYP3A inhibitor) to dosage used prior to initiation of the combined P-gp and strong CYP3A inhibitor.

Table 4: Recommended Dosage Reduction for Concomitant Use with Combined P-gp or Strong CYP3A Inhibitors1

Current Dosage

Recommended Pralsetinib Dosage

400 mg once daily

200 mg once daily

300 mg once daily

200 mg once daily

200 mg once daily

100 mg once daily

Strong CYP3A Inducers: Potential decreased pralsetinib exposure and decreased efficacy of pralsetinib. Avoid concomitant use. If concomitant use cannot be avoided, double the current pralsetinib dosage starting on day 7 of concomitant use of pralsetinib with a strong CYP3A inducer. After the strong CYP3A inducer has been discontinued for at least 14 days, return pralsetinib dosage to dosage used prior to initiation of the strong CYP3A inducer.

Weak CYP3A Inducers: No clinically meaningful effect on pharmacokinetics of pralsetinib.

Specific Drugs

Drug

Interaction

Comments

Antacids

No clinically meaningful effect on pralsetinib absorption

Histamine H2-receptor antagonists

No clinically meaningful effect on pralsetinib absorption

Itraconazole

Increased pralsetinib AUC and peak plasma concentration by 251 or 84%, respectively

Avoid concomitant use with strong CYP3A inhibitors, including combined P-gp and strong CYP3A inhibitors (e.g., itraconazole); if concomitant use with combined P-gp and strong CYP3A inhibitors cannot be avoided, reduce the dose of pralsetinib as described in Table 3

When concomitant use of combined P-gp or strong CYP3A inhibitor is discontinued, return pralsetinib dosage (after 3–5 elimination half-lives of the combined P-gp or CYP3A inhibitor) to dosage used prior to initiation of the combined P-gp and strong CYP3A inhibitor

Proton-pump inhibitors

No clinically meaningful effect on pralsetinib absorption

Esomeprazole: No clinically significant differences in pharmacokinetics of pralsetinib observed

Rifampin

Decreased pralsetinib AUC and peak plasma concentration decreased by 68 or 30%, respectively

Avoid concomitant use; if concomitant use cannot be avoided, double current pralsetinib dosage starting on day 7 of concomitant use

After the strong CYP3A inducer has been discontinued for ≥14 days, return pralsetinib dosage to dosage used prior to initiation of the strong CYP3A inducer

Pralsetinib Pharmacokinetics

Absorption

Bioavailability

Peak plasma concentrations achieved at a median of 2–4 hours.

Food

High-fat meal increased peak plasma concentration and AUC, and delayed median time to peak concentration.

Special Populations

Age, sex, body weight, and race/ethnicity: No clinically important effects on pharmacokinetics.

Distribution

Extent

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

Plasma Protein Binding

97.1% bound to plasma proteins (independent of pralsetinib concentration).

Elimination

Metabolism

Metabolized principally by CYP3A4 and to a lesser extent by CYP2D6 and CYP1A2. Minor pathways: oxidation and glucuronidation.

Elimination Route

Eliminated in feces (73%; 66% as unchanged drug) and urine (6%; 4.8% as unchanged drug).

Half-life

Single dose: 15.7 hours.

Repeated dosing: 20 hours.

Stability

Storage

Oral

Capsules

20–25°C (excursions permitted between 15–30°C).

Actions

Advice to Patients

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.

Distribution of pralsetinib is restricted. Contact manufacturer for additional information.

Pralsetinib

Routes

Dosage Forms

Strengths

Brand Names

Manufacturer

Oral

Capsule

100 mg

Gavreto

Genentech

AHFS DI Essentials™. © Copyright 2024, Selected Revisions February 25, 2022. American Society of Health-System Pharmacists, Inc., 4500 East-West Highway, Suite 900, Bethesda, Maryland 20814.

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