Akynzeo (netupitant/palonosetron HCl)

Antiemetic Intravenous Vial (Ea); Intravenous Vial (Ml); Oral Capsule

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Last reviewed · Source: First Databank (FDB) drug data

Overview

Netupitant and palonosetron hydrochloride (netupitant/palonosetron) is a fixed combination of 2 antiemetic agents; netupitant is a selective antagonist at substance P/neurokinin-1 (NK1) receptors and palonosetron is a selective, second-generation inhibitor of type 3 serotonergic (5-HT3) receptors.

Fosnetupitant and palonosetron hydrochloride (fosnetupitant/palonosetron) is a fixed combination of fosnetupitant, the prodrug of netupitant, and palonosetron.

Netupitant and palonosetron hydrochloride is a fixed oral combination of 2 antiemetic agents: netupitant, a selective antagonist at substance P/neurokinin-1 (NK1) receptors, and palonosetron, a selective inhibitor of type 3 serotonergic (5-HT3) receptors. Palonosetron has strong binding affinity for the 5-HT3 receptor and exhibits little or no affinity for other receptors. Palonosetron is also available in fixed combination with fosnetupitant, the prodrug of netupitant; this fixed combination is available for parenteral administration.

Palonosetron prevents nausea and vomiting during the acute phase after chemotherapy, and netupitant or fosnetupitant prevents nausea and vomiting during both the acute and delayed phase after chemotherapy. Current evidence suggests that chemotherapeutic agents produce nausea and vomiting by increasing endogenous serotonin release from the enterochromaffin cells of the small intestine. Serotonin then stimulates 5-HT3 receptors on vagal afferents to initiate the vomiting reflex.

Thus, the development of acute emesis is dependent on serotonin, and its 5-HT3 receptors selectively stimulate the emetic response. The antiemetic activity of palonosetron for acute nausea and vomiting appears to be mediated via inhibition of serotonin activity both centrally and peripherally. Delayed emesis has been mainly associated with the activation of tachykinin family NK1 receptors, which are widely distributed in the central and peripheral nervous systems, by substance P.

Netupitant has been shown to inhibit substance P-mediated responses in in vitro and in vivo studies. Netupitant crosses the blood-brain barrier and occupies NK1 receptors in the brain.

Following single-dose, oral administration of fixed-combination netupitant and palonosetron in healthy individuals, levels of netupitant and palonosetron were measurable within 1 hour and peak plasma concentrations were achieved within approximately 4-5 hours. The absolute bioavailability of palonosetron was approximately 97% following oral administration. When fixed-combination netupitant and palonosetron hydrochloride capsules were administered under fed conditions, the systemic exposure to netupitant and palonosetron was similar to that observed under fasting conditions.

A greater than dose-proportional increase in the systemic exposure of oral netupitant was observed when the dose of netupitant was increased from 10 mg to 300 mg, and a dose-proportional increase in the systemic exposure was observed when the netupitant dose was increased from 300 mg to 450 mg. After administration of single oral doses of palonosetron ranging from 0.25-6.8 mg using a buffered solution, the peak plasma concentration and AUC of the drug were dose proportional in healthy subjects.

Following single IV doses of fixed-combination fosnetupitant and palonosetron in patients, or fosnetupitant in healthy subjects, the peak plasma concentrations of netupitant and palonosetron were achieved at the end of the 30-minute infusion. In healthy subjects, a dose-proportional increase in the systemic exposure was observed when the dose of fosnetupitant was increased from 17.6 mg to 353 mg.

After administration of fixed-combination netupitant and palonosetron capsules (single dose), netupitant and palonosetron were widely distributed throughout the body. Plasma protein binding of netupitant is greater than 99.5% at drug concentrations ranging from 10-1300 ng/mL and protein binding of its principal metabolites is greater than 97% at drug concentrations ranging from 100-2000 ng/mL. Approximately 62% of palonosetron is bound to plasma proteins.

The human plasma protein binding of fosnetupitant was 92% and 95% at 1 micromolar and 10 micromolar, respectively.

Netupitant is extensively metabolized to form 3 principal metabolites: a desmethyl derivative (M1), an N-oxide derivative (M2), and a OH-methyl derivative (M3). Metabolism of netupitant is primarily mediated by cytochrome P-450 (CYP) isoenzyme 3A4 and, to a lesser extent, by CYP2C9 and CYP2D6. The metabolites M1, M2, and M3 bind to the substance P/NK1 receptor.

The time to peak plasma concentrations was 5 hours for the M2 metabolite and approximately 17 to 32 hours for metabolites M1 and M3, respectively. Fosnetupitant is converted to netupitant in vivo by metabolic hydrolysis. In patients receiving fixed-combination fosnetupitant and palonosetron, netupitant exposure was 17-fold fosnetupitant exposure.

Netupitant metabolites M1, M2, and M3 were generated from the released netupitant, and their exposures were 32, 21, and 28% of netupitant exposure, respectively. The median time to peak plasma concentrations for the M1, M2, and M3 metabolites was 12, 2, and 12 hours, respectively, following administration of fixed-combination fosnetupitant and palonosetron. Palonosetron is eliminated by several routes with approximately 50% metabolized to form 2 primary metabolites: N-oxide-palonosetron and 6-hydroxypalonosetron; these metabolites each have <1% of the 5-HT receptor antagonist activity of palonosetron.

Metabolism of palonosetron is primarily mediated by CYP2D6 and, to a lesser extent, by CYP3A4 and CYP1A2.

Approximately 50% of a single, oral radiolabeled dose of netupitant was recovered in urine and feces within 120 hours following oral administration. A total of approximately 4% and 71% of a radiolabeled dose of netupitant was recovered in urine and feces collected over 336 hours, respectively; less than 1% of the dose was recovered in urine as unchanged drug. Following IV administration of fixed-combination fosnetupitant and palonosetron, fosnetupitant plasma concentrations decreased in a biexponential manner.

Thirty minutes following the end of the infusion, the mean plasma concentration of fosnetupitant was <1% of the peak plasma concentration. Following oral administration of a single dose of radiolabeled palonosetron in healthy individuals, 85-93% of the dose was excreted in urine and 5-8% was excreted in feces; approximately 40% of the dose was recovered in urine as unchanged drug.

After a single dose of fixed-combination netupitant and palonosetron capsules, the mean apparent elimination half-life of netupitant was 96 hours in healthy subjects and 80 hours in patients with cancer. Following IV infusion of fixed-combination fosnetupitant and palonosetron, the terminal half-life of netupitant was 144 hours. Following a single IV dose of fixed-combination fosnetupitant and palonosetron, the mean terminal half-life of fosnetupitant was 0.75 hours in patients with cancer.

The half-life of fosnetupitant was 0.96 hours in healthy subjects after a single IV dose of fosnetupitant. Following administration of fixed-combination netupitant and palonosetron capsules, the mean half-life of palonosetron was 44 hours in healthy subjects and 50 hours in patients with cancer. Following IV infusion of fixed-combination fosnetupitant and palonosetron, the terminal half-life of palonosetron was 58 hours.

In a pooled analysis of data following administration of fixed-combination netupitant and palonosetron, peak plasma concentration of netupitant was 35% higher in females than in males, while AUC was similar between males and females. In females, mean AUC and peak plasma concentration of palonosetron were 35 and 26% higher, respectively, compared with males. The pharmacokinetics of fosnetupitant, netupitant, netupitant metabolites and palonosetron were not affected by sex after a single IV dose of fixed-combination fosnetupitant and palonosetron.

There was no effect of sex on the pharmacokinetics of fosnetupitant, netupitant, and its metabolites after a single IV dose of fosnetupitant alone in healthy subjects.

USES: This product contains 2 medications: netupitant and palonosetron. It is used to prevent nausea and vomiting caused by cancer drug treatment (chemotherapy). Netupitant and palonosetron work by blocking natural substances in the body (such as substance P/neurokinin 1, serotonin) that cause vomiting.

Generic name: netupitant/palonosetron HCl
Pronunciation: (net-UE-pi-tant/PAL-oh-NOE-se-tron)
Drug class: Antiemetic
Therapeutic class: Gastrointestinal Therapy Agents

Reference product & biosimilars

No reference, biosimilar or interchangeable associated with this drug.

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Indications

The following indications are listed for Akynzeo:

  • Prevention Of Cancer Chemotherapy-Induced Nausea And Vomiting

Also known as: Cancer Chemotherapy-Induced N & V Prophylaxis.

Dosing

Netupitant and palonosetron hydrochloride is a fixed combination capsule preparation containing 300 mg of netupitant and 0.5 mg of palonosetron per capsule. Fosnetupitant chloride hydrochloride and palonosetron hydrochloride is a fixed combination preparation for IV administration; each vial contains 235 mg of fosnetupitant and 0.25 mg of palonosetron.

Dosages of palonosetron hydrochloride and fosnetupitant chloride hydrochloride are expressed in terms of palonosetron and fosnetupitant, respectively.

Drug interactions

Metabolism of netupitant is primarily mediated by cytochrome P-450 (CYP) isoenzyme 3A4 and, to a lesser extent, by CYP2C9 and CYP2D6. Netupitant is a CYP3A4 substrate.

Based on in vitro studies and confirmed in an in vivo study, netupitant is a moderate inhibitor of CYP3A4; its M1 metabolite also is an inhibitor of CYP3A4 based on in vitro studies.

Based on in vitro studies, netupitant and its metabolites are unlikely to have clinically important pharmacokinetic drug interactions via inhibition of CYP isoenzymes 1A2, 2B6, 2C8, 2C9, 2C19, and 2D6 at the usual clinical oral dosage.

Netupitant and its metabolites (M1, M2, and M3) do not induce CYP isoenzymes 1A2, 2B6, 2C9, 2C19, and 3A4.

Based on in vitro studies, netupitant inhibits P-glycoprotein (P-gp) and breast cancer resistance protein (BCRP) transporters. Netupitant is not a substrate for P-gp, but its M2 metabolite is a P-gp substrate.

In vitro studies indicate that netupitant and its 3 major metabolites are unlikely to have clinically important drug interactions with human efflux transporters bile salt export pump (BSEP), multidrug resistance protein (MRP) 2, and human uptake transporters organic anion transport protein (OATP) 1B1 or 1B3, organic anion transporter (OAT) 1 or 3, and organic cation transporter (OCT) 1 or 2 at the usual clinical dose of 300 mg.

In vitro studies indicate that fosnetupitant is an inhibitor of OATP1B1, OATP1B3, and P-gp transporters. However, an in vivo interaction between fixed-combination fosnetupitant/palonosetron and OATP1B1, OATP1B3, and P-gp substrates is considered unlikely.

In vitro studies indicate that fosnetupitant is not an inhibitor of multidrug and toxin extrusion (MATE) 2-K transporter, and not a substrate of BCRP, BSEP, multidrug resistance (MDR) 1 and MATE1, MATE2-K, OAT1, OAT3, OATP2B1, OCT1, and OCT2.

In vitro studies suggest that CYP2D6 and, to a lesser extent, CYP3A4 and CYP1A2 are involved in the metabolism of palonosetron. Palonosetron does not inhibit CYP isoenzymes 1A2, 2A6, 2B6, 2C9, 2D6, 2E1, and 3A4/5 or induce CYP isoenzymes 1A2, 2D6, or 3A4/5 based on in vitro studies; CYP2C19 was not studied. Palonosetron is a CYP3A4 substrate.

In vitro studies indicate that palonosetron is an inhibitor of MATE1, MATE2-K, OCT1, OCT2, and OAT3 transporters. An in vivo interaction between fixed-combination netupitant/palonosetron or fosnetupitant/palonosetron and transporter substrates is considered unlikely.

Contraindications

*None.

Adverse reactions

Adverse effects reported in >=3% patients receiving the oral fixed combination of netupitant and palonosetron include headache, asthenia, dyspepsia, fatigue, constipation, and erythema.

The safety profile of fixed-combination fosnetupitant/palonosetron is generally comparable to that observed with the oral netupitant/palonosetron capsules.

Precautions

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ICD codes

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Formulary status

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Last reviewed · Source: First Databank (FDB) drug data