Deferasirox Tablets

Dosage Forms And Strengths

• 90 mg JADENU tablets
  Light blue oval biconvex film-coated tablet with beveled edges, debossed with 'NVR' on one side and '90' on a slight upward slope in between two debossed curved lines on the other side.
• 180 mg JADENU tablets
  Medium blue oval biconvex film-coated tablet with beveled edges, debossed with 'NVR' on one side and '180' on a slight upward slope in between two debossed curved lines on the other side.
• 360 mg JADENU tablets
  Dark blue oval biconvex film-coated tablet with beveled edges, debossed with 'NVR' on one side and '360' on a slight upward slope in between two debossed curved lines on the other side.
• 90 mg JADENU Sprinkle granules
  Supplied in cartons containing 30 child resistant foil sachets. Each sachet contains 162 mg of white to almost white granules, equivalent to 90 mg deferasirox.
• 180 mg JADENU Sprinkle granules
  Supplied in cartons containing 30 child resistant foil sachets. Each sachet contains 324 mg of white to almost white granules, equivalent to 180 mg deferasirox.
• 360 mg JADENU Sprinkle granules
  Supplied in cartons containing 30 child resistant foil sachets. Each sachet contains 648 mg of white to almost white granules, equivalent to 360 mg deferasirox.

Storage And Handling

JADENU 90 mg tablets are light blue in color, film-coated, oval biconvex tablets with beveled edges, debossed with 'NVR' on one side and '90' on a slight upward slope in between two debossed curved lines on the other side. They are available in bottles of 30 tablets (NDC 0078-0654-15).

JADENU 180 mg tablets are medium blue in color, film-coated, oval biconvex tablet with beveled edges, debossed with 'NVR' on one side and '180' on a slight upward slope in between two debossed curved lines on the other side. They are available in bottles of 30 tablets (NDC 0078-0655-15).

JADENU 360 mg tablets are dark blue in color, film-coated, oval biconvex tablet with beveled edges, debossed with 'NVR' on one side and '360' on a slight upward slope in between two debossed curved lines on the other side. They are available in bottles of 30 tablets (NDC 0078-0656-15).

Store JADENU tablets at 25°C (77°F); excursions are permitted to 15°C to 30°C (59°F to 86°F) [see USP Controlled Room Temperature]. Protect from moisture.

JADENU Sprinkle 90 mg granules are white to almost white granules in sachet. They are available in cartons of 30 sachets. (NDC 0078-0727-15).

JADENU Sprinkle 180 mg granules are white to almost white granules in sachet. They are available in cartons of 30 sachets. (NDC 0078-0713-15).

JADENU Sprinkle 360 mg granules are white to almost white granules in sachet. They are available in cartons of 30 sachets. (NDC 0078-0720-15).

Store JADENU Sprinkle granules at 25°C (77°F); excursions are permitted to 15°C to 30°C (59°F to 86°F) [see USP Controlled Room Temperature]. Protect from moisture.

Distributed by: Novartis Pharmaceuticals Corporation East Hanover, New Jersey 07936. Revised: May 2017

Blood Testing

Advise patients that blood tests will be performed frequently to check for damage to kidneys, liver, or blood cells [see WARNINGS AND PRECAUTIONS].

Gastrointestinal Ulceration And Hemorrhage

Caution patients about the potential for the development of GI ulcers or bleeding when taking JADENU in combination with drugs that have ulcerogenic or hemorrhagic potential, such as NSAIDs, corticosteroids, oral bisphosphonates, or anticoagulants [see WARNINGS AND PRECAUTIONS].

Skin And Allergic Reactions

Skin rashes may occur during JADENU treatment and if severe, interrupt treatment. Serious allergic reactions (which include swelling of the throat) have been reported in patients taking JADENU, usually within the first month of treatment. If reactions are severe, advise patients to stop taking JADENU and contact their doctor immediately [see WARNINGS AND PRECAUTIONS].

Auditory And Ocular Testing

Because auditory and ocular disturbances have been reported with deferasirox, conduct auditory testing and ophthalmic testing before starting JADENU treatment and thereafter at regular intervals [see WARNINGS AND PRECAUTIONS].

Drug Interactions

Caution patients not to take aluminum containing antacids and JADENU tablets or granules simultaneously [see DRUG INTERACTIONS].

Caution patients about potential loss of effectiveness of drugs metabolized by CYP3A4 (e.g., cyclosporine, simvastatin, hormonal contraceptive agents) when JADENU is administered with these drugs [see DRUG INTERACTIONS].

Caution patients about potential loss of effectiveness of JADENU when administered with drugs that are potent UGT inducers (e.g., rifampicin, phenytoin, phenobarbital, ritonavir). Based on serum ferritin levels and clinical response, consider increases in the dose of JADENU when concomitantly used with potent UGT inducers [see DRUG INTERACTIONS].

Caution patients about potential loss of effectiveness of JADENU when administered with drugs that are bile acid sequestrants (e.g., cholestyramine, colesevelam, colestipol). Based on serum ferritin levels and clinical response, consider increases in the dose of JADENU when concomitantly used with bile acid sequestrants [see DRUG INTERACTIONS].

Advise patients to take JADENU tablets with water or other liquids. Advise patients to swallow JADENU tablets once daily with water or other liquids, preferably at the same time each day. Advise patients to take JADENU tablets on an empty stomach or with a light meal (contains less than 7% fat content and approximately 250 calories). Examples of light meals include 1 whole wheat English muffin, 1 packet jelly (0.5 ounces), and skim milk (8 fluid ounces) or a turkey sandwich (2 oz. turkey on whole wheat bread w/lettuce, tomato, and 1 packet mustard). For patients who have difficulty swallowing whole tablets, JADENU tablets may be crushed and mixed with soft foods (e.g., yogurt or apple sauce) immediately prior to use and administered orally. Advise against the use of commercial crushers with serrated surfaces for crushing a single 90 mg tablet. Advise patients to immediately and completely consume the dose and not store it for future use [see DOSAGE AND ADMINISTRATION].

Advise patients to take JADENU Sprinkle granules by sprinkling the full dose on soft food (e.g., yogurt or apple sauce) immediately prior to use and administered orally. Advise patients to take JADENU Sprinkle granules once a day, preferably at the same time each day. JADENU Sprinkle granules may be taken on an empty stomach or with a light meal.

Advise patients to store JADENU in a dry, room-temperature environment [see HOW SUPPLIED/Storage and Handling].

Caution patients experiencing dizziness to avoid driving or operating machinery [see ADVERSE REACTIONS].

The following adverse reactions are also discussed in other sections of the labeling:

• Renal Toxicity, Renal Failure, and Proteinuria [see WARNINGS AND PRECAUTIONS]
• Hepatic Toxicity and Failure [see WARNINGS AND PRECAUTIONS]
• Gastrointestinal (GI) Hemorrhage [see WARNINGS AND PRECAUTIONS]
• Bone Marrow Suppression [see WARNINGS AND PRECAUTIONS]
• Hypersensitivity [see WARNINGS AND PRECAUTIONS]
• Severe Skin Reactions [see WARNINGS AND PRECAUTIONS]
• Skin Rash [see WARNINGS AND PRECAUTIONS]
• Auditory and Ocular Abnormalities [see WARNINGS AND PRECAUTIONS]

Clinical Trials Experience

Because clinical trials are conducted under widely varying conditions, adverse reaction rates observed in the clinical trials of a drug cannot be directly compared to rates in the clinical trials of another drug and may not reflect the rates observed in practice. JADENU was evaluated in healthy volunteer trials. Currently, there are no clinical data in patients with JADENU tablets and JADENU Sprinkle granules. JADENU contains the same active ingredient as Exjade (deferasirox) tablets for oral suspension. The following adverse reactions have been reported with Exjade tablets for oral suspension.

A total of 700 adult and pediatric patients were treated with deferasirox for 48 weeks in premarketing studies. These included 469 patients with beta-thalassemia, 99 with rare anemias, and 132 with sickle cell disease. Of these patients, 45% were male, 70% were Caucasian and 292 patients were less than 16 years of age. In the sickle cell disease population, 89% of patients were black. Median treatment duration among the sickle cell patients was 51 weeks. Of the 700 patients treated, 469 (403 beta-thalassemia and 66 rare anemias) were entered into extensions of the original clinical protocols. In ongoing extension studies, median durations of treatment were 88 to 205 weeks.

Six hundred twenty-seven patients with MDS were enrolled across 5 uncontrolled trials. These studies varied in duration from 1 to 5 years. The discontinuation rate across studies in the first year was 46% (AEs 20%, withdrawal of consent 10%, death 8%, other 4%, lab abnormalities 3%, and lack of efficacy 1%). Among 47 patients enrolled in the study of 5-year duration, 10 remained on deferasirox at the completion of the study.

Table 1 displays adverse reactions occurring in greater than 5% of deferasirox-treated beta-thalassemia patients (Study 1), sickle cell disease patients (Study 3), and patients with MDS (MDS pool). Abdominal pain, nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, skin rashes, and increases in serum creatinine were the most frequent adverse reactions reported with a suspected relationship to deferasirox. Gastrointestinal symptoms, increases in serum creatinine, and skin rash were dose related.

Table 1: Adverse Reactions* Occurring in > 5% of Deferasirox-treated Patients in Study 1, Study 3, and MDS Pool

In Study 1, a total of 113 (38%) patients treated with deferasirox had increases in serum creatinine greater than 33% above baseline on 2 separate occasions (Table 2) and 25 (8%) patients required dose reductions. Increases in serum creatinine appeared to be dose related [see WARNINGS AND PRECAUTIONS]. In this study, 17 (6%) patients treated with deferasirox developed elevations in SGPT/ALT levels greater than 5 times the ULN at 2 consecutive visits. Of these, 2 patients had liver biopsy proven drug-induced hepatitis and both discontinued deferasirox therapy [see WARNINGS AND PRECAUTIONS]. An additional 2 patients, who did not have elevations in SGPT/ALT greater than 5 times the ULN, discontinued deferasirox because of increased SGPT/ALT. Increases in transaminases did not appear to be dose related. Adverse reactions that led to discontinuations included abnormal liver function tests (2 patients) and drug-induced hepatitis (2 patients), skin rash, glycosuria/proteinuria, Henoch Sch�nlein purpura, hyperactivity/insomnia, drug fever, and cataract (1 patient each).

In Study 3, a total of 48 (36%) patients treated with deferasirox had increases in serum creatinine greater than 33% above baseline on 2 separate occasions (Table 2) [see WARNINGS AND PRECAUTIONS]. Of the patients who experienced creatinine increases in Study 3, 8 deferasirox-treated patients required dose reductions. In this study, 5 patients in the deferasirox group developed elevations in SGPT/ALT levels greater than 5 times the ULN at 2 consecutive visits and 1 patient subsequently had deferasirox permanently discontinued. Four additional patients discontinued due to adverse reactions with a suspected relationship to study drug, including diarrhea, pancreatitis associated with gallstones, atypical tuberculosis, and skin rash.

In the MDS pool, in the first year, a total of 229 (37%) patients treated with deferasirox had increases in serum creatinine greater than 33% above baseline on 2 consecutive occasions (Table 2) and 8 (3.5%) patients permanently discontinued [see WARNINGS AND PRECAUTIONS]. A total of 5 (0.8%) patients developed SGPT/ALT levels greater than 5 times the ULN at 2 consecutive visits. The most frequent adverse reactions that led to discontinuation included increases in serum creatinine, diarrhea, nausea, rash, and vomiting. Death was reported in the first year in 52 (8%) of patients [see Clinical Studies].

Table 2: Number (%) of Patients with Increases in Serum Creatinine or SGPT/ALT in Study 1, Study 3, and MDS Pool

In Study 4, 110 patients with NTDT received 1 year of treatment with deferasirox 5 or 10 mg/kg/day and 56 patients received placebo in a double-blind, randomized trial. In Study 5, 130 of the patients who completed Study 4 were treated with open-label deferasirox at 5, 10, or 20 mg/kg/day (depending on the baseline LIC) for 1 year [see Clinical Studies]. Table 3 displays adverse reactions occurring in greater than 5% in any group. The most frequent adverse reactions with a suspected relationship to study drug were nausea, rash, and diarrhea.

Table 3: Adverse Reactions Occurring in > 5% in NTDT Patients

In Study 4, 1 patient in the placebo 10 mg/kg/day group experienced an ALT increase to greater than 5 times ULN and greater than 2 times baseline (Table 4). Three deferasirox-treated patients (all in the 10 mg/kg/day group) had 2 consecutive serum creatinine level increases greater than 33% from baseline and greater than ULN. Serum creatinine returned to normal in all 3 patients (in 1 spontaneously and in the other 2 after drug interruption). Two additional cases of ALT increase and 2 additional cases of serum creatinine increase were observed in the 1-year extension of Study 4.

Table 4: Number (%) of NTDT Patients with Increases in Serum Creatinine or SGPT/ALT

In clinical studies, urine protein was measured monthly. Intermittent proteinuria (urine protein/creatinine ratio greater than 0.6 mg/mg) occurred in 18.6% of deferasirox-treated patients compared to 7.2% of deferoxamine-treated patients in Study 1 [see WARNINGS AND PRECAUTIONS].

In the population of more than 5,000 patients with transfusional iron overload who have been treated with deferasirox during clinical trials, adverse reactions occurring in 0.1% to 1% of patients included gastritis, edema, sleep disorder, pigmentation disorder, dizziness, anxiety, maculopathy, cholelithiasis, pyrexia, fatigue, laryngeal pain, cataract, hearing loss, gastrointestinal hemorrhage, gastric ulcer (including multiple ulcers), duodenal ulcer, renal tubular disorder (Fanconi's syndrome), and acute pancreatitis (with and without underlying biliary conditions). Adverse reactions occurring in 0.01% to 0.1% of patients included optic neuritis, esophagitis, and erythema multiforme. Adverse reactions which most frequently led to dose interruption or dose adjustment during clinical trials were rash, gastrointestinal disorders, infections, increased serum creatinine, and increased serum transaminases.

Postmarketing Experience

The following adverse reactions have been spontaneously reported during post-approval use of deferasirox in the transfusional iron overload setting. Because these reactions are reported voluntarily from a population of uncertain size, in which patients may have received concomitant medication, it is not always possible to reliably estimate frequency or establish a causal relationship to drug exposure.

Skin and subcutaneous tissue disorders: Stevens-Johnson syndrome (SJS), leukocytoclastic vasculitis, urticaria, alopecia, toxic epidermal necrolysis (TEN)

Immune system disorders: hypersensitivity reactions (including anaphylactic reaction and angioedema)

Renal and urinary disorders: acute renal failure, tubulointerstitial nephritis

Hepatobiliary disorders: hepatic failure

Gastrointestinal disorders: gastrointestinal perforation

Blood and lymphatic system disorders: worsening anemia

Read the entire FDA prescribing information for Jadenu (Deferasirox Tablets)

All drugs may cause side effects. However, many people have no side effects or only have minor side effects. Call your doctor or get medical help if any of these side effects or any other side effects bother you or do not go away:

• Belly pain.
• Upset stomach or throwing up.
• Loose stools (diarrhea).

These are not all of the side effects that may occur. If you have questions about side effects, call your doctor. Call your doctor for medical advice about side effects.

You may report side effects to the FDA at 1-800-FDA-1088. You may also report side effects at http://www.fda.gov/medwatch.

• Store at room temperature.
• Store in a dry place. Do not store in a bathroom.
• Keep all drugs in a safe place. Keep all drugs out of the reach of children and pets.
• Check with your pharmacist about how to throw out unused drugs.