SUBJECT: Risks associated with the use of XGEVA® (denosumab 120 mg)
August 27, 2013
Dear Health Care Professional,
This
letter is issued to notify healthcare providers about risks associated
with
Severe symptomatic hypocalcemia, including fatal casesthe use of Xgeva; severe symptomatic hypocalcemia, including fatal cases, and hypersensitivity, including anaphylactic reactions. Xgeva is indicated for the prevention of skeletal-related events in patients with bone metastases from solid tumors and for the treatment of adults and skeletally mature adolescents with giant cell tumor of bone that is unresectable or where surgical resection is likely to result in severe morbidity. Xgeva is not indicated for the prevention of skeletal-related events in patients with multiple myeloma.
In
the postmarketing setting, in patients with cancer receiving Xgeva for
prevention of skeletal-related events, severe symptomatic hypocalcemia, including fatal cases, has been reported. Signs and symptoms of these cases include altered mental status, tetany, seizures and QTc prolongation, which were temporally associated with Xgeva use and decreased serum calcium levels. The calculated reporting rate of severe symptomatic hypocalcemia suggests that the incidence in the postmarketing setting is similar to the rate observed in clinical trials. During clinical trials, severe hypocalcemia (corrected serum calcium < 7 mg/dL or < 1.75 mmol/L) occurred in 3.1% of patients receiving treatment with Xgeva and 1.4% of patients had hypocalcemia reported as a serious adverse event.
Action being taken by Amgen
To communicate this important safety information, changes have been madeto the US prescribing information (USPI) as described below:
The risk of severe symptomatic hypocalcemia among patients receiving Xgeva can be minimized by the following:
In the postmarketing setting, two spontaneously reported cases of anaphylactic reactions were identified and were considered causally related to Xgeva. The calculated reporting rate of anaphylactic reaction is 5.4 per 100,000 patient-years, which classifies anaphylactic reaction as a very rare event. Action being taken by Amgen To communicate this important safety information, changes have been made to the US prescribing information (USPI) as described below:
Patients with clinically significant hypersensitivity to Xgeva should not receive Xgeva. Further Information These are not the only risks associated with the use of this product. Please see the full prescribing information for more information about the risks associated with the use of this product. This information is also available at www.xgeva.com. Contact details for adverse event reporting or to request further information Any suspected adverse reactions should be reported to FDA’s MedWatch Adverse Event Reporting Program:
use of Xgeva, please contact Amgen’s Medical Information Department at 1-800-77-AMGEN. Sincerely, Michael Severino, MD Senior Vice President, Global Development, and Chief Medical Officer Amgen
Amgen, Inc. | PO Box 681308 | Indianapolis, IN 46268
74864-R1-V1 |
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