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  6. FDA approves ivosidenib in combination with azacitidine for newly diagnosed acute myeloid leukemia
  1. Resources for Information | Approved Drugs

FDA approves ivosidenib in combination with azacitidine for newly diagnosed acute myeloid leukemia

On May 25, 2022, the Food and Drug Administration approved ivosidenib (Tibsovo, Servier Pharmaceuticals LLC) in combination with azacitidine (azacitidine for injection) for newly diagnosed acute myeloid leukemia (AML) with a susceptible IDH1 mutation, as detected by an FDA-approved test in adults 75 years or older, or who have comorbidities that preclude use of intensive induction chemotherapy.

Approval was based on a randomized, multicenter, double-blind, placebo-controlled study (AG120-C-009, NCT03173248) that included 146 patients with newly-diagnosed AML with an IDH1 mutation who met at least one of the following criteria: age 75 years or older, baseline Eastern Cooperative Oncology Group performance status of 2, severe cardiac or pulmonary disease, hepatic impairment with bilirubin > 1.5 times the upper limit of normal, creatinine clearance < 45 mL/min, or other comorbidity. Patients were randomized 1:1 to receive ivosidenib, 500 mg daily (N=72), or matched placebo orally once daily (N=74), on Days 1-28 in combination with azacitidine 75 mg/m2/day subcutaneously or intravenously on Days 1-7 or Days 1-5 and 8-9 of each 28-day cycle until disease progression, unacceptable toxicity, or hematopoietic stem cell transplantation.

Tibsovo is approved in combination with azacitidine for injection, not Onureg (azacitidine tablets). Onureg should not be substituted for intravenous or subcutaneous azacitidine. The indications and dosing regimen for Onureg are different from that of intravenous or subcutaneous azacitidine.                                                 

Efficacy was established based on improvements in event-free-survival (EFS), overall survival (OS), and rate and duration of complete remission (CR). EFS was defined as the time from randomization until treatment failure, relapse from remission, or death from any cause, whichever occurred first. Treatment failure was defined as failure to achieve CR by 24 weeks. EFS events occurred in 65% of patients on the ivosidenib plus azacitidine arm and 84% on the placebo plus azacitidine arm (HR 0.35; 95% CI: 0.17, 0.72, p=0.0038). Median OS was 24.0 months (95% CI: 11.3, 34.1) in the ivosidenib plus azacitidine arm and 7.9 months (95% CI: 4.1, 11.3) in the placebo plus azacitidine arm (HR 0.44; 95% CI: 0.27, 0.73; p=0.0010). CR was 47% (95% CI: 35%, 59%) in the ivosidenib plus azacitidine arm and 15% (95% CI: 8%, 25%) in the placebo plus azacitidine arm. Median duration of CR was not estimable (NE) in the ivosidenib plus azacitidine arm (95% CI: 13.0, NE) and 11.2 months (95% CI: 3.2, NE) in the placebo plus azacitidine arm.

The most common adverse reactions of ivosidenib in combination with azacitidine or as monotherapy (≥ 25% in any trial) were diarrhea, fatigue, edema, nausea, vomiting, decreased appetite, leukocytosis, arthralgia, dyspnea, abdominal pain, mucositis, rash, electrocardiogram QT prolonged, differentiation syndrome, and myalgia. Prescribing information contains a Boxed Warning alerting health care professionals and patients about the risk of differentiation syndrome which may be life-threatening or fatal.

The recommended ivosidenib dose is 500 mg taken orally once daily with or without food until disease progression or unacceptable toxicity. Start ivosidenib administration on Cycle 1 Day 1 in combination with azacitidine 75 mg/m2 subcutaneously or intravenously once daily on Days 1-7 (or Days 1-5 and 8-9) of each 28-day cycle. For patients without disease progression or unacceptable toxicity, treatment is recommended for a minimum of 6 months to allow time for clinical response.

View full prescribing information for Tibsovo.

This review used the Real-Time Oncology Review (RTOR) pilot program, which streamlined data submission prior to the filing of the entire clinical application, and the Assessment Aid, a voluntary submission from the applicant to facilitate the FDA’s assessment. The FDA approved this application about 6 weeks ahead of the FDA goal date.

This application was granted priority review and breakthrough designation. A description of FDA expedited programs is in the Guidance for Industry: Expedited Programs for Serious Conditions-Drugs and Biologics. Ivosidenib also received orphan drug designation for AML on June 9, 2015.

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.

For assistance with single-patient INDs for investigational oncology products, healthcare professionals may contact OCE’s Project Facilitate at 240-402-0004 or email OncProjectFacilitate@fda.hhs.gov.

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Follow the Oncology Center of Excellence on Twitter @FDAOncology.

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