Navelbine Injection

The following serious adverse reactions, which may include fatalities, are discussed in greater detail in other sections of the label:

• Myelosuppression [see Warnings and Precautions (5.1)]
• Pulmonary Toxicity and Respiratory Failure [see Warnings and Precautions (5.2)]
• Constipation and Bowel Obstruction [see Warnings and Precautions (5.3)]
• Extravasation Tissue Injury [see Warnings and Precautions (5.4)]
• Neurologic Toxicity [see Warnings and Precautions (5.5)]
• Hepatic Toxicity [see Warnings and Precautions (5.6)]

Clinical Trials Experience

Because clinical trials are conducted under varying designs and in different patient populations, the adverse reaction rates reported in one clinical trial may not be easily compared to those rates reported in another clinical trial, and may not reflect the rates actually observed in clinical practice.

Single Agent

The data below reflect exposure to NAVELBINE as a single agent administered at a dose of 30 mg/m2 on a weekly basis to 365 patients enrolled in 3 controlled studies for metastatic NSCLC and advanced breast cancer.  The population included 143 previously untreated metastatic NSCLC patients (Study 3) who received a median of 8 doses of NAVELBINE. The patients were aged 32 to 79 (median 61 years), 71% were male, 91% Caucasian, 48% had adenocarcinoma histology.  The data also reflect exposure to NAVELBINE in 222 patients with previously treated advanced breast cancer who received a median of 10 doses of NAVELBINE.  NAVELBINE is not indicated for the treatment of breast cancer.

Selected adverse reactions reported in these studies are provided in Tables 1 and 2.  The most common adverse reactions (≥ 20%) of single agent NAVELBINE were leukopenia, neutropenia, anemia, Aspartate aminotransferase (AST) elevation, nausea, vomiting, constipation, asthenia, injection site reaction, and peripheral neuropathy.  The most common (≥ 5%) Grade 3 or 4 adverse reactions were neutropenia, leukopenia, anemia, increased total bilirubin, AST elevation, injection site reaction and asthenia. Approximately 49% of NSCLC patients treated with Navelbine experienced at least one dose reduction due to an adverse reaction. Thirteen percent of patients discontinued NAVELBINE due to adverse reactions. The most frequent adverse reactions leading to NAVELBINE discontinuation were asthenia, dyspnea, nausea, constipation, anorexia, myasthenia and fever.

Table 1: Hematologic Adverse Reactions Experienced in > 5% of Patients Receiving NAVELBINE*†:

*Grade based on modified criteria from the National Cancer Institute version 1.

†Patients with NSCLC had not received prior chemotherapy. The majority of the remaining patients had received prior chemotherapy.

Table 2: Non-hematologic Adverse Reactions Experienced in > 5% of Patients Receiving NAVELBINE*†:

*Grade based on modified criteria from the National Cancer Institute version 1.

†Patients with NSCLC had not received prior chemotherapy. The majority of the remaining patients had received prior chemotherapy.

‡ Incidence of paresthesia plus hypesthesia.

Myelosuppression: In clinical trials, Grade 3-4 neutropenia, anemia, and thrombocytopenia occurred in 69%, 9% and 1%, respectively of patients receiving single-agent NAVELBINE.  Neutropenia is the major dose-limiting toxicity.

Neurotoxicity: neurotoxicity was most commonly manifested as constipation, paresthesia, hypersthesia, and hyporeflexia.  Grade 3 and 4 neuropathy was observed in 1% of the patients receiving single-agent NAVELBINE.                

Injection site reactions:  Injection site reactions, including erythema, pain at injection site, and vein discoloration, occurred in approximately one third of patients; 5% were severe. Phlebitis (chemical phlebitis) along the vein proximal to the site of injection was reported in 10% of patients.

Cardiovascular toxicity: Chest pain occurred in 5% of patients;  myocardial infarction occurred in less than 0.1% of patients.

Pulmonary Toxicity and Respiratory Failure: Dyspnea (shortness of breath) was reported in 3% of patients; it was severe in 2%. Interstitial pulmonary changes were documented.

Other: Hemorrhagic cystitis and the syndrome of inappropriate ADH secretion were each reported in <1% of patients.

In Combination with Cisplatin

Table 3 presents the incidence of selected adverse reactions, occurring in ≥ 10% of NAVELBINE treated patients reported in a randomized trial comparing the combination of NAVELBINE 25 mg/m2 administered every week of each 28-day cycle and cisplatin 100 mg/m2 administered on day 1 of each 28-day cycle versus cisplatin alone at the same dose and schedule in patients with previously untreated NSCLC (Study 1).

Patients randomized to NAVELBINE plus cisplatin received a median of 3 cycles of treatment and those randomized to cisplatin alone received a median of 2 cycles of treatment.  Thirty-Five percent of the eligible patients in the combination arm required treatment discontinuation due to an adverse reaction compared to 19% in the cisplatin alone arm. The incidence of Grade 3 and 4 neutropenia was significantly higher in the NAVELBINE plus cisplatin arm (82%) compared to the cisplatin alone arm (5%).  Four patients in the NAVELBINE plus cisplatin arm died of neutropenic sepsis.  Seven additional deaths were reported in the combination arm: 2 from cardiac ischemia, 1 cerebrovascular accident, 1 multisystem failure due to an overdose of NAVELBINE, and 3 from febrile neutropenia.

Table 3: Adverse Reactions Experienced by > 10% of Patients on NAVELBINE plus Cisplatin versus Single-Agent Cisplatin*

*Graded according to the standard SWOG criteria version 1.

†Categorical toxicity grade not specified

Table 4 presents the incidence of selected adverse reactions, occurring in ≥ 10% of NAVELBINE treated patients reported in a randomized trial of NAVELBINE plus cisplatin, vindesine plus cisplatin and NAVELBINE alone in patients with stage III or IV NSCLC who had not received prior chemotherapy.  A total of 604 patients received either NAVELBINE 30 mg/m2 every week plus cisplatin 120 mg/m2 on Day 1 and Day 29, then every 6 weeks thereafter (N=207), vindesine 3 mg/m2 for 6 weeks, then every other week thereafter plus cisplatin 120 mg/m2 on Days 1 and Day 29, then every 6 weeks thereafter (N=193) or NAVELBINE 30mg/m2 every week (N=204).

Patients randomized to NAVELBINE plus cisplatin received a median of 15 weeks of treatment, vindesine plus cisplatin 12 weeks and NAVELBINE received 13 weeks.  Study discontinuation due to an adverse reaction was required in 27, 22 and 10% of the patients randomized to NAVELBINE plus cisplatin, vindesine plus cisplatin and cisplatin alone arms, respectively.  Grade 3 and 4 neutropenia was significantly greater in the NAVELBINE plus cisplatin arm (78%) compared to vindesine plus cisplatin (48%) and NAVELBINE alone (53%).  Neurotoxicity, including peripheral neuropathy and constipation was reported in 44% (Grades 3-4, 7%) of the patients receiving NAVELBINE plus cisplatin, 58% (Grades 3-4, 17%) of the patients receiving vindesine and cisplatin and 44% (Grades 3-4, 8.5%) of the patients receiving NAVELBINE alone.

Table 4: Adverse Reactions Experienced by > 10 % of Patients from a Comparative Trial of NAVELBINE Plus Cisplatin versus Vindesine Plus Cisplatin versus Single-Agent NAVELBINE*

* Grade based on criteria from the World Health Organization (WHO).

† n=194 to 207; all patients receiving NAVELBINE/cisplatin with laboratory and non-laboratory data.

‡ n=173 to 192; all patients receiving vindesine/cisplatin with laboratory and non-laboratory data.

§ n=165 to 201; all patients receiving NAVELBINE with laboratory and non-laboratory data.

¦ Categorical toxicity grade not specified.

¶ Neurotoxicity includes peripheral neuropathy and constipation.

Postmarketing Experience

The following adverse reactions have been identified during post-approval use of NAVELBINE. Because these reactions are reported voluntarily from a population of uncertain size, it is not always possible to reliably estimate their frequency or establish a causal relationship to drug exposure.

Infections and infestations: pneumonia

Immune system disorders: anaphylactic reaction, pruritus, urticaria, angioedema

Nervous system disorders: loss of deep tendon reflexes, muscular weakness, gait disturbance, headache

Ear and labyrinth disorders: vestibular disorder, hearing impaired

Cardiac disorders: tachycardia

Respiratory disorders: pulmonary edema

Vascular disorders: pulmonary embolism, deep vein thrombosis, hypertension, hypotension, flushing, vasodilatation

Gastrointestinal disorders: mucosal inflammation, dysphagia, pancreatitis

Skin disorders: generalized cutaneous reactions (rash)

Musculoskeletal and connective tissue disorders: jaw pain, myalgia, arthralgia

General disorders and administration site conditions: injection site rash, urticaria, blistering, sloughing of skin

Injury, poisoning and procedural complications: radiation recall phenomenon, dermatitis, esophagitis

Laboratory abnormalities: electrolyte imbalance including hyponatremia

Other: tumor pain, back pain, abdominal pain

Pregnancy

Pregnancy Category D

Risk Summary

NAVELBINE can cause fetal harm when administered to a pregnant woman. In animal reproduction studies in mice and rabbits, embryo and fetal toxicity were observed with administration of vinorelbine at doses approximately 0.33 and 0.18 times the human therapeutic dose, respectively.  If this drug is used during pregnancy, or if the patient becomes pregnant while taking this drug, apprise the patient of the potential hazard to a fetus.

Animal Data

In a mouse embryofetal development study, administration of a single dose of vinorelbine at a dose level of 9 mg/m2 or greater (approximately 0.33 times the recommended human dose based on body surface area) was embryotoxic and fetotoxic. Vinorelbine was embryotoxic and fetotoxic to pregnant rabbits when administered every 6 days during the period of organogenesis at doses of 5.5 mg/m2 (approximately 0.18 times the recommended human dose based on body surface area) or greater.  At doses that did not cause maternal toxicity in either species, vinorelbine administration resulted in reduced fetal weight and delayed ossification.

Nursing Mothers

It is not known whether this drug is present in human milk. Because many drugs are present in human milk and because of the potential for serious adverse reactions in nursing infants from vinorelbine, a decision should be made whether to discontinue nursing or discontinue the drug taking into account the importance of the drug to the mother.

Pediatric Use

The safety and effectiveness of NAVELBINE in pediatric patients have not been established. Results from a single-arm study of NAVELBINE administered at the dose of 33.75 mg/m2 (for 35 patients) or at the dose of 30mg/m2 (for 11 patients) every week during 6 weeks followed by 2 weeks of rest was evaluated (courses of 8 weeks).Forty-six patients age 1 to 25 (median 11 years) with recurrent solid malignant tumors, including rhabdomyosarcoma or undifferentiated sarcoma (N=21 patients), neuroblastoma (N= 4 patients), and central nervous system (CNS) tumors (N=21 patients) were enrolled.  The most significant grade 3 or 4 hematological adverse reactions were neutropenia (70%) and anemia (33%). The most significant grade 3 or 4 non-hematological toxicity adverse reactions were motor (15%) or cranial (13%) neuropathy, hypoxia (13%) and dyspnea (11%). Objective tumor response was observed in 2 out of 21 patients with  rhabdomyosarcoma or undifferentiated sarcoma.  No objective tumor response was observed in patients with CNS tumors (N=21) or neuroblastoma (N=4).

Geriatric Use

Of the 769 number of patients who received NAVELBINE alone and NAVELBINE in combination with Cisplatin in studies 1, 2 and 3, 247 patients were 65 years of age or older. No overall differences in safety, efficacy and pharmacokinetic parameters were observed between these patients and younger patients. [see Clinical Pharmacology (12.3)].

Hepatic Impairment

The influence of hepatic impairment on the pharmacokinetics of NAVELBINE has not been evaluated, but the liver plays an important role in the metabolism of NAVELBINE. Elevations of aspartate aminotransferase occur in > 60% of the patients receiving NAVELBINE alone (6% Grade 3-4). Therefore, exercise caution in patients with hepatic impairment. Reduce the dose of NAVELBINE for patients with bilirubin elevation [see Dosage and Administration (2.2)  and Warnings and Precautions (5.2)].

Females and Males of Reproductive Potential

Contraception

Females

NAVELBINE can cause fetal harm when administered to a pregnant woman [see Use in Specific Populations (8.1)].  Advise female patients of reproductive potential to use highly effective contraception during therapy with NAVELBINE.

Males

NAVELBINE may damage spermatozoa [see Nonclinical Toxicology (13.1)].  Males with female sexual partners of reproductive potential should use highly effective contraception during and for 3 months after therapy with NAVELBINE.

Fertility

Males

Based on animal findings, NAVELBINE may cause decreased fertility in males [see Nonclinical Toxicology (13.1)].

Combination Use with Cisplatin

The safety and efficacy of NAVELBINE in combination with cisplatin was evaluated in two randomized, multicenter trials.

Cisplatin 100mg/m2

Study 1 was a randomized, multicenter, open-label trial of NAVELBINE plus cisplatin and cisplatin alone for the treatment of stage IV or stage IIIb NSCLC patients with malignant pleural effusion or multiple lesions in more than one lobe of the ipsilateral lung who had not received prior chemotherapy. A total of 432 patients were randomized 1:1 to receive either NAVELBINE 25 mg/m2 on Day 1 then every week of each 28-day cycle with cisplatin 100 mg/m2 administered on Day 1 of each 28-day cycle (N=214) or cisplatin 100 mg/m2 on Day 1 of each 28-day cycle (N=218).

Patient demographics and disease characteristics were similar between arms. Of the overall study population, the median age was 64 (range 33-84), 66% were male, 80% were Caucasian, 92% had stage IV disease and 8% stage IIIB, 53% had adenocarcinoma, 21% squamous cell, 14% large cell histology. The major efficacy outcome measure was overall survival. The efficacy results are presented in Table 7 and Figure 1.

Table 7. Efficacy Results (Study 1)

Cisplatin 120mg/m2

Study 2 was a randomized, 3-arm, open-label, multicenter trial of NAVELBINE plus cisplatin, vindesine plus cisplatin and NAVELBINE alone for the treatment of patients with stage III or IV NSCLC who had not received prior chemotherapy.  The study was conducted in Europe.  A total of 612 patients were randomized 1:1:1 to receive NAVELBINE 30 mg/m2 every week of a 6-week cycle plus cisplatin 120 mg/m2 on Day 1 and Day 29, then every 6 weeks thereafter (N=206); and vindesine 3 mg/m2 for 6 weeks, then every other week thereafter plus cisplatin 120 mg/m2 on Days 1 and Day 29, then every 6 weeks thereafter (N=200) or NAVELBINE 30mg/m2 every week of a 6-week cycle (N=206). The main efficacy outcome measure was to compare overall survival between NAVELBINE plus cisplatin and vindesine plus cisplatin.  The other efficacy outcome measure was to compare overall survival in the better of the two combination regimens to that of NAVELBINE alone.

Patient demographics were in general similar between arms: the median age of the overall population was 60 years (range 30 to 75), 90% were male, 78% had WHO performance status of 0 or 1. Tumor characteristics were in general similar with the exception of histologic subtype of NSCLC. Adenocarcinoma was the histologic subtype in 32% of patients in the NAVELBINE plus cisplatin arm, 40% of patients in vindesine plus cisplatin arm and 28% of patients on the NAVELBINE alone arm. Ten percent of the patients had stage IIIA disease, 28% stage IIIB and 50% stage IV. Twelve percent of the patients had received prior surgery or radiotherapy.

The efficacy results of Study 2 are presented in Table 8.

Table 8. Efficacy Results (Study 2)

1n/a = not applicable

Single Agent

The safety and efficacy of NAVELBINE as a single agent was evaluated in one randomized multi-center trial.

Study 3 was a randomized, open-label clinical trial of NAVELBINE or 5-Fluorouracil (5-FU) plus leucovorin (LV) in patients with Stage IV NSCLC who had not received prior chemotherapy A total of 211 patients were randomized 2:1 to receive NAVELBINE 30 mg/m2 weekly of a 8-week cycle (N=143) or 5-FU 425 mg/m2 bolus intravenously plus LV 20 mg/m2 bolus intravenously daily for 5 days of a 4-weeks cycle (N=68).  

Patient demographics and disease characteristics were in general similar between arms.  In the overall population, the median age was 61 years (range 32 - 83), 74% were male, 88% were Caucasian, 46% had adenocarcinoma histology. Fifty percent of the patients had Karnofsky performance status ≥ 90 in the NAVELBINE arm compared to 38% in the 5-FU and LV arm. 

The primary efficacy outcome of the study was overall survival. The median survival time was 30 weeks versus 22 weeks for patients receiving NAVELBINE versus 5-FU/LV, respectively (P=0.06). Partial objective responses were observed in 11.1% (95% CI=6.2%, 17.9%) and 3.5% (95% CI=0.4%, 11.9%) of patients who received NAVELBINE and 5-FU/LV, respectively.

Navelbine Injection is a clear, colorless to pale yellow aqueous solution available in single-dose vials with royal blue caps, individually packaged in a carton as:

• 10 mg/1 mL (NDC 64370-532-01).
• 50 mg/5 mL (NDC 64370-532-02).

Store the vials at 2° to 8°C (36° to 46°F) in the carton. Protect from light. DO NOT FREEZE. Unopened vials of NAVELBINE are stable at 25°C (77°F) for up to 72 hours.

NAVELBINE is a cytotoxic drug. Follow applicable special handling and disposal procedures.1