U.S. flag An official website of the United States government

On Oct. 1, 2024, the FDA began implementing a reorganization impacting many parts of the agency. We are in the process of updating FDA.gov content to reflect these changes.

  1. Home
  2. Drugs
  3. Development & Approval Process | Drugs
  4. Drug Approvals and Databases
  5. Resources for Information | Approved Drugs
  6. FDA approves iobenguane I 131 for rare adrenal gland tumors
  1. Resources for Information | Approved Drugs

FDA approves iobenguane I 131 for rare adrenal gland tumors

On July 30, 2018, the Food and Drug Administration approved iobenguane I 131 (AZEDRA, Progenics Pharmaceuticals, Inc.) for adult and pediatric patients (12 years and older) with iobenguane scan-positive, unresectable, locally advanced or metastatic pheochromocytoma or paraganglioma (PPGL) who require systemic anticancer therapy.

Approval was based on Study IB12B (NCT00874614), an open-label, single-arm, multicenter clinical trial in patients 12 years and older with iobenguane scan-positive, unresectable, locally advanced or metastatic PPGL. Of the 68 evaluable patients, 17 (25%; 95% CI: 16%, 37%) experienced a 50% or greater reduction of all antihypertensive medication for at least six months. Overall tumor response (RECIST 1.0) occurred in 15 patients (22%; 95% CI: 14%, 33%), with 53% achieving a response duration of at least 6 months.

The most common grade 3-4 adverse reactions (≥10%) were lymphopenia, neutropenia, thrombocytopenia, fatigue, anemia, increased international normalized ratio, nausea, dizziness, hypertension, and vomiting. In the pooled safety population, 6.8% of patients who received a therapeutic dose of iobenguane I 131 developed myelodysplastic syndrome or acute leukemia. 

Iobenguane I 131 is administered in an initial dosimetric dose, followed by two therapeutic doses that are adjusted based on dosimetry. The recommended therapeutic dose is 18,500 MBq (500 mCi) for patients weighing more than 62.5 kg and 296 MBq/kg (8 mCi/kg) for patients 62.5 kg or less.

View full prescribing information for AZEDRA.

FDA granted this application priority review, orphan product, fast track status, and breakthrough therapy designation. A description of FDA expedited programs is in the Guidance for Industry: Expedited Programs for Serious Conditions-Drugs and Biologics.

Healthcare professionals should report all serious adverse events suspected to be associated with the use of any medicine and device to FDA’s MedWatch Reporting System or by calling 1-800-FDA-1088.
Follow the Oncology Center of Excellence on Twitter @FDAOncology.
Check out recent approvals at the OCE’s podcast, Drug Information Soundcast in Clinical Oncology.

Back to Top