Each film-coated tablet contains: Erlotinib Hydrochloride eq. to Erlotinib 150 mg, Excipients q.s.
Erlotinib Hydrochloride is white to off-white crystal powder and sparingly soluble in methanol, ethanol and water, insoluble in ethyl acetate, acetone and Acetonitrile. Chemically it is N-(3-ethynylphenyl)-6,7-bis (2 methoxyethoxy)-4-quinazolinamine. Its molecular formula is C22H23N3O4·HCl and molecular weight is 429.90.
Pharmacological Classification: Antineoplastic (Protein Kinase Inhibitor).
Pharmacology: Pharmacokinetics: Erlotinib is absorbed from the gastrointestinal tract, with a bioavailability of about 60%; this may increase up to almost 100% in the presence of food. Peak plasma concentrations are reached about 4 hours after a dose, and it is about 93% bound to plasma proteins. Erlotinib is metabolize predominantly by the cytochrome P450 isoenzyme CYP3A4, and to a lesser extent by CYP1A2. Metabolic pathways include demethylation, to metabolites OSI-420 and OSI-413, oxidation, and aromatic hydroxylation. Erlotinib has an elimination half-life of about 36 hours. More than 80% of a dose is excreted as metabolites in the feces.
For the treatment of patient with locally advanced or metastatic non-small cell lung cancer after failure of at least one prior chemotherapy regimen.
Uses and Administration: Erlotinib inhibits the intracellular phosphorylation of tyrosine kinase associated with the epidermal growth factor receptor. It is used for the management of locally advanced or metastatic non-small cell lung cancer that is unresponsive to other therapy. It is also used with gemcitabine in the first-line treatment of patients with locally advanced, unresectable, or metastatic pancreatic cancer. It is given orally as the hydrochloride but doses are expressed in terms of the base: erlotinib hydrochloride 109 mg is equivalent to about 100 mg of erlotinib. The usual dose for non-small cell lung cancer is 150 mg daily, taken at least 1 hour before or 2 hours after food. In the treatment of pancreatic cancer, the recommended dose is 100 mg daily, taken at least 1 hour before or 2 hours after food. Treatment is continued until disease progression or unacceptable toxicity occurs. Where dosage adjustment is necessary, reductions are made in 50 mg steps. If concurrent use of potent inhibitors or inducers of cytochrome P450 isoenzyme CYP3A4 inhibitor, the dose of erlotinib may need to be reduced especially if severe adverse effects occur. When given with a potent CYP3A4 inducer, increases in the dose of erlotinib should be considered at 2-week intervals with monitoring. The maximum dose of erlotinib when used with rifampicin is 450 mg. If the inducer is then stopped, the erlotinib dose will need to be immediately reduced to the indicated starting dose. Erlotinib is also under investigation in the treatment of malignant glioma.
Administration in hepatic or renal impairment: Erlotinib is metabolised by the liver. UK licensed product information states that although erlotinib exposure was similar in patients with moderate hepatic impairment (Child-Pugh score 7 to 9) compared with those with adequate hepatic function, caution is advised when using erlotinib in hepatic impairment. Dose reduction or interruption of therapy should be considered if adverse effects occur. Use in severe hepatic impairment is not recommended due to a lack of data.
UK licensed product information also states that no dose adjustments appear necessary in patients with mild to moderate renal impairment, but that use of erlotinib in patients with severe renal impairment is not recommended. There are no data available for patients with a creatinine clearance less than 15 mL/minute or those with a serum creatinine concentration greater than 1.5 times the upper normal limit.
Single oral doses of Erlotinib 150 up to 1,000 mg in healthy subjects and weekly doses up to 1,600 mg in cancer patients have been tolerated. Repeated twice-daily doses of 200 mg single-agent Erlotinib in healthy subjects were poorly tolerated after only a few days of dosing. Based on the data from these studies, an unacceptable incidence of severe adverse reactions, such as diarrhea, rash and liver transaminase elevation, may occur above the recommended dose. In case of suspected overdose, Erlotinib should be withheld and symptomatic treatment instituted.
Erlotinib is contraindicated in patients with severe hypersensitivity to Erlotinib.
Pulmonary Toxicity: There have been infrequent reports of serious Interstitial Lung Disease (ILD)-like events, including fatalities, in patients receiving Erlotinib for treatment of NSCLC, pancreatic cancer or other advanced solid tumors.
Myocardial infarction/ischemia: In the pancreatic carcinoma trial, six patients (incidence of 2.3%) in the Erlotinib/gemcitabine group developed myocardial infarction/ischemia. One of these patients died due to myocardial infarction.
In comparison, 3 patients with the placebo/gemcitabine group developed myocardial infarction (incidence 1.2%) and one died due to myocardial infarction.
Cerebrovascular accident: In the pancreatic carcinoma trial, six patients in the Erlotinib/gemcitabine group developed cerebrovascular accidents (incidence: 2.3%). One of these was hemorrhagic and was the only fatal event.
Microangiopathic Haemolytic Anemia with Thrombocytopenia: In the pancreatic carcinoma trial, two patients in the Erlotinib/gemcitabine group developed microangiopathic haemolytic anemia with thrombocytopenia (incidence: 0.8%).
Use in Pregnancy: Pregnancy Category D: Erlotinib has been shown to cause maternal toxicity with associated embryo/fetal lethality and abortion in rabbits when given at doses that result in plasma drug concentrations of approximately 3 times those in humans (AUCs at 150 mg daily dose).
No teratogenic effects were observed in rabbits or rats.
Hepatotoxicity: Asymptomatic increases in liver transaminases have been observed in Erlotinib treated patients; therefore, periodic liver function testing (transaminases, bilirubin, and alkaline phosphate) should be considered.
Patients with Hepatic Impairment: In vitro and in vivo evidence suggest that erlotinib is cleared primarily by the liver.
Therefore, erlotinib exposures may be increased in patients with hepatic dysfunction.
Carcinogenesis, Mutagenesis, Impairment of Fertility: Erlotinib has been tested for genotoxicity in a series of in vitro assays (bacterial mutation, human lymphocyte chromosome aberration, ad mammalian cell mutation) and in vivo mouse bone marrow micronucleus test and did not cause genetic damage. Erlotinib did not impair fertility in either male or female rats.
Use in Pregnancy: Pregnancy Category D: Erlotinib has been shown to cause maternal toxicity with associated embryo/fetal lethality and abortion in rabbits when given at doses that result in plasma drug concentrations of approximately 3 times those in humans (AUCs at 150 mg daily dose).
No teratogenic effects were observed in rabbits or rats.
The most common adverse effects associated with erlotinib hydrochloride are rash and diarrhoea. Moderate or severe diarrhoea should be treated with an appropriate antidiarrhoeal such as loperamide; dose reduction may be needed. In more severe or persistent cases leading to dehydration, therapy should be stopped temporarily. Other common adverse effects include other gastrointestinal disturbances, gastrointestinal bleeding, fatigue, alopecia, stomatitis, pruritus, dry skin, paronychia, conjunctivitis, keratoconjunctivitis sicca, epistaxis, and abdominal pain. Alterations in liver function tests have occurred. Rare cases of hepatic failure, including fatalities, have been reported. Interstitial lung disease has also been reported; fatalities have occurred. Erlotinib treatment should be interrupted if unexplained pulmonary symptoms occur, such as dyspnoea, cough, and fever.
Inhibitors of the cytochrome P450 isoenzyme CYP3A4, such as ketoconazole, can increase erlotinib concentrations and use with potent inhibitors should be avoided as increased toxicity may occur. Conversely, CYP3A4 inducers, such as rifampicin, can reduce erlotinib concentrations and may reduce its efficacy. Dose adjustments may be required (see Uses and Administration under Dosage & Administration). Caution is also required with ciprofloxacin or potent inhibitors of CYP1A2, as erlotinib exposure may be increased, and dose reductions may be needed if adverse effects occur. Use with P-glycoprotein inhibitors such as ciclosporin and verapamil may cause altered distribution or elimination of erlotinib. Caution is advised when erlotinib is used with antacids, proton pump inhibitors, or histamine H2-receptor antagonists, as erlotinib absorption may be impaired. Exposure to erlotinib is reduced in smokers compared with non-smokers.
Store at temperatures not exceeding 30°C. Protect from light.
Shelf life: 24 months from the date of manufacturing.
L01EB02 - erlotinib ; Belongs to the class of epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) tyrosine kinase inhibitors. Used in the treatment of cancer.
Ervex 150 FC tab 150 mg
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