Vyxeos (daunorubicin/cytarabine liposomal)

Anthracycline Antibiotics Intravenous Vial (Ea)

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

Overview

The fixed liposomal combination of daunorubicin and cytarabine (daunorubicin/cytarabine liposomal) contains 2 antineoplastic agents coencapsulated in liposomes; daunorubicin is an anthracycline and cytarabine is an antimetabolite.

The fixed liposomal combination of daunorubicin and cytarabine (daunorubicin/cytarabine liposomal) contains 2 antineoplastic agents in a fixed molar ratio coencapsulated in liposomes. Daunorubicin is an anthracycline antineoplastic antibiotic produced by Streptomyces coeruleorubidusthat exhibits antimitotic and cytotoxic activity. The drug forms a complex with DNA by intercalation between base pairs.

By stabilizing the complex between DNA and topoisomerase II, daunorubicin inhibits the activity of this enzyme, resulting in single-strand and double-strand breaks in DNA. Daunorubicin also may inhibit polymerase activity, affect regulation of gene expression, and be involved in free radical damage to DNA. Cytarabine is a cycle-phase specific antineoplastic agent, inducing G1-phase arrest and preferentially killing cells in the S phase.

Although the exact mechanism(s) of action of cytarabine has not been fully elucidated, the drug appears to act primarily through inhibition of DNA polymerase.

In vitro studies indicate that efficacy of combination chemotherapy is dependent on the molar ratio of the component drugs. The fixed liposomal combination of daunorubicin and cytarabine is formulated in a 1:5 molar ratio, which has been shown to provide the greatest synergistic effect with the least antagonism. (See Uses: Acute Myeloid Leukemia.) The liposomes encapsulating the drug combination are composed of distearoylphosphatidylcholine (DSPC), distearoylphosphatidylglycerol (DSPG), and cholesterol in a molar ratio of 7:2:1. In addition to maintaining favorable drug ratios in the plasma after administration, preclinical studies also indicate that liposomes can penetrate and sustain higher concentrations of the drugs at the tumor site (specifically the bone marrow).

Following administration of daunorubicin/cytarabine liposomal in leukemia-bearing mice, the liposomes are preferentially internalized by leukemic cells. Following cellular internalization and degradation of the liposomes, daunorubicin and cytarabine are released into the intracellular environment.

Following IV infusion of daunorubicin/cytarabine liposomal over 90 minutes on days 1, 3, and 5 in adults, the accumulation ratio of daunorubicin and cytarabine is 1.3 and 1.4, respectively. The pharmacokinetics of the drugs are dose proportional over the dose range of 1.3-59 mg/m2 for daunorubicin and 3-134 mg/m2 for cytarabine. Following release from liposomes, daunorubicin is mainly catalyzed by aldo-keto reductase and carbonyl reductase enzymes to the active metabolite daunorubicinol, and cytarabine is metabolized by the enzyme cytidine deaminase to the inactive metabolite 1-beta-d-arabinofuranosyluracil (ara-U, uracil arabinoside).

Following administration of daunorubicin/cytarabine liposomal, approximately 9% of the daunorubicin dose is eliminated as unchanged drug and daunorubicinol in urine, and approximately 71% of the cytarabine dose is eliminated as unchanged drug and 1-beta-d-arabinofuranosyluracil in urine. When administered as the daunorubicin/cytarabine liposomal combination, the half-lives of the drugs are prolonged (to 31.5 hours for daunorubicin and 40.4 hours for cytarabine) with more than 99% of daunorubicin and cytarabine in plasma remaining encapsulated in liposomes.

Data from a population pharmacokinetic analysis indicate that age, gender, race, body weight, body mass index, and leukocyte count do not have clinically important effects on the systemic exposure of total daunorubicin or cytarabine.

USES: This medication is a combination product of daunorubicin and cytarabine liposome and is used to treat leukemia. It is a chemotherapy drug that works by slowing or stopping the growth of cancer cells.

Generic name: daunorubicin/cytarabine liposomal
Pronunciation: (DAW-noe-ROO-bi-sin/sye-TAR-abeen)
Drug class: Anthracycline Antibiotics
Therapeutic class: Antineoplastics

Reference product & biosimilars

No reference, biosimilar or interchangeable associated with this drug.

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Indications

The following indications are listed for Vyxeos:

  • Acute Myeloid Leukemia
  • Acute Myeloid Leukemia With Myelodysplasia-Related Changes

Also known as: Acute Granulocytic Leukemia, Acute Leukemic Myelosis, Acute Myelocytic Leukemia, Acute Myelogenic Leukemia, Acute Myelogenous Leukemia, Acute Myeloid Leukemia With Multilineage Dysplasia, Acute Non-Lymphoblastic Leukemia, Acute Non-Lymphocytic Leukemia.

Dosing

Daunorubicin/cytarabine liposomal is a fixed-combination preparation containing a 1:5 molar ratio of daunorubicin to cytarabine coencapsulated in liposomes. Each single-dose vial of daunorubicin/cytarabine liposomal contains 44 mg of daunorubicin and 100 mg of cytarabine coencapsulated in liposomes. Dosage of the fixed-combination preparation should be calculated based on the daunorubicin component.

Drug interactions

Specific drug interaction studies have not been performed to date with daunorubicin/cytarabine liposomal; however, interactions mediated by inhibitors or inducers of cytochrome P-450 (CYP) isoenzymes or common transporters are not likely based on available clinical data with other liposomal or nonliposomal cytarabine and daunorubicin preparations.

Contraindications

History of serious hypersensitivity reactions to cytarabine, daunorubicin, or any component of the formulation.

Adverse reactions

Adverse effects reported in 20% or more of adults receiving daunorubicin/cytarabine liposomal as induction therapy for newly diagnosed t-AML or AML-MRC include hemorrhage, febrile neutropenia, rash, edema, nausea, diarrhea/colitis, mucositis, constipation, musculoskeletal pain, abdominal pain, cough, headache, dyspnea, fatigue, arrhythmia, loss of appetite, pneumonia (excluding fungal pneumonia), sleep disorders, bacteremia (excluding sepsis), vomiting, chills, hypotension, and non-conduction cardiotoxicity. Similar adverse effects were observed with daunorubicin/cytarabine liposomal in the consolidation phase; however, adverse effects with the exception of chills, dizziness, and pyrexia were reported at a lower incidence during consolidation therapy.

Laboratory abnormalities reported in 10% or more of patients with newly diagnosed t-AML and AML-MRC receiving daunorubicin/cytarabine liposomal during induction and consolidation therapy include prolonged (defined as persisting beyond 42 days in the absence of active leukemia) thrombocytopenia and neutropenia; however, hyponatremia also occurred in patients receiving daunorubicin/cytarabine liposomal during induction therapy.

Precautions

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ICD codes

CodeTypeDescription
Acute myeloid leukemia
C92.0ICD10CMAcute myeloblastic leukemia
C92.00ICD10CMAcute myeloblastic leukemia, not having achieved remission
C92.02ICD10CMAcute myeloblastic leukemia, in relapse
C92.4ICD10CMAcute promyelocytic leukemia
C92.40ICD10CMAcute promyelocytic leukemia, not having achieved remission
C92.42ICD10CMAcute promyelocytic leukemia, in relapse
C92.5ICD10CMAcute myelomonocytic leukemia
C92.50ICD10CMAcute myelomonocytic leukemia, not having achieved remission
C92.52ICD10CMAcute myelomonocytic leukemia, in relapse
C92.6ICD10CMAcute myeloid leukemia with 11q23-abnormality
C92.60ICD10CMAcute myeloid leukemia with 11q23-abnormality not having achieved remission
C92.62ICD10CMAcute myeloid leukemia with 11q23-abnormality in relapse
C93.0ICD10CMAcute monoblastic/monocytic leukemia
C93.00ICD10CMAcute monoblastic/monocytic leukemia, not having achieved remission
C93.02ICD10CMAcute monoblastic/monocytic leukemia, in relapse
C94.4ICD10CMAcute panmyelosis with myelofibrosis
C94.40ICD10CMAcute panmyelosis with myelofibrosis not having achieved remission
C94.42ICD10CMAcute panmyelosis with myelofibrosis, in relapse
Acute myeloid leukemia with myelodysplasia-related changes
C92.AICD10CMAcute myeloid leukemia with multilineage dysplasia
C92.A0ICD10CMAcute myeloid leukemia with multilineage dysplasia, not having achieved remission

ICD code information from First Databank (FDB).

Formulary status

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