SIDE EFFECTS

Clinical Studies Experience

Because clinical trials are conducted under widely varying conditions, adverse reaction rates observed in the clinical trials of a drug cannot be directly compared to rates in the clinical trials of another drug and may not reflect the rates observed in practice.

Most Commonly Occurring Adverse Reactions

neutropenia, thrombocytopenia, anemia, fatigue, pyrexia, nausea, cough, petechiae, constipation, diarrhea, and hyperglycemia.

Adverse Reactions Most Frequently ( ≥ 1%) Resulting in Clinical Intervention in the Phase 3 Trial in the Dacogen (decitabine injection) Arm

• Discontinuation: thrombocytopenia, neutropenia, pneumonia, Mycobacterium avium complex infection, cardio-respiratory arrest, increased blood bilirubin, intracranial hemorrhage, abnormal liver function tests.
• Dose Delayed: neutropenia, pulmonary edema, atrial fibrillation, central line infection, febrile neutropenia.
• Dose Reduced: neutropenia, thrombocytopenia, anemia, lethargy, edema, tachycardia, depression, pharyngitis.

Discussion of Adverse Reactions Information

Dacogen (decitabine injection) was studied in 3 single-arm studies (N = 66, N = 98, N = 99) and 1 controlled supportive care study (N = 83 Dacogen (decitabine injection) , N = 81 supportive care ). The data described below reflect exposure to Dacogen (decitabine injection) in 83 patients in the MDS trial. In the trial, patients received 15 mg/m² intravenously every 8 hours for 3 days every 6 weeks. The median number of Dacogen (decitabine injection) cycles was 3 (range 0 to 9).

Table 1 presents all adverse events regardless of causality occurring in at least 5% of patients in the Dacogen (decitabine injection) group and at a rate greater than supportive care.

Table 1 : Adverse Events Reported in ≥ 5% of Patients in the Dacogen (decitabine injection) Group and at a Rate Greater than Supportive Care in Phase 3 MDS Trial

Discussion of Clinically Important Adverse Reactions

In the controlled trial using Dacogen (decitabine injection) dosed at 15 mg/m², administered by continuous intravenous infusion over 3 hours repeated every 8 hours for 3 days, the highest incidence of Grade 3 or Grade 4 adverse events in the Dacogen (decitabine injection) arm were neutropenia (87%), thrombocytopenia (85%), febrile neutropenia (23%) and leukopenia (22%). Bone marrow suppression was the most frequent cause of dose reduction, delay and discontinuation. Six patients had fatal events associated with their underlying disease and myelosuppression (anemia, neutropenia, and thrombocytopenia) that were considered at least possibly related to drug treatment [See WARNINGS AND PRECAUTIONS]. Of the 83 Dacogen (decitabine injection) -treated patients, 8 permanently discontinued therapy for adverse events; compared to 1 of 81 patients in the supportive care arm.

In a single-arm study (N=99) Dacogen (decitabine injection) was dosed at 20 mg/m² intravenous, infused over one hour daily for 5 consecutive days of a 4 week cycle. Table 2 presents all adverse events regardless of causality occurring in at least 5% of patients.

Table 2 : Adverse Events Reported in ≥ 5% of Patients in a Single-arm Study*

Discussion of Clinically Important Adverse Reactions

In the single-arm study (N=99) when Dacogen (decitabine injection) was dosed at 20 mg/m² intravenous, infused over one hour daily for 5 consecutive days, the highest incidence of Grade 3 or Grade 4 adverse events were neutropenia (37%), thrombocytopenia (24%) and anemia (22%). Seventy-eight percent of patients had dose delays, the median duration of this delay was 7 days and the largest percentage of delays were due to hematologic toxicities. Hematologic toxicities and infections were the most frequent causes of dose delays and discontinuation. Eight patients had fatal events due to infection and/or bleeding (seven of which occurred in the clinical setting of myelosuppression) that were considered at least possibly related to drug treatment. Nineteen of 99 patients permanently discontinued therapy for adverse events.

No overall difference in safety was detected between patients > 65 years of age and younger patients in these myelodysplasia trials. No significant gender differences in safety or efficacy were detected. Patients with renal or hepatic dysfunction were not studied. Insufficient numbers of non-white patients were available to draw conclusions in these clinical trials.

Serious Adverse Events that occurred in patients receiving Dacogen (decitabine injection) regardless of causality, not previously reported in Tables 1 and 2 include:

• Blood and Lymphatic System Disorders: myelosuppression, splenomegaly.
• Cardiac Disorders: myocardial infarction, cardio-respiratory arrest, cardiomyopathy, atrial fibrillation, supraventricular tachycardia.
• Gastrointestinal Disorders: gingival pain, upper gastrointestinal hemorrhage.
• General Disorders and Administrative Site Conditions: chest pain, catheter site hemorrhage.
• Hepatobiliary Disorders: cholecystitis.
• Infections and Infestations: fungal infection, sepsis, bronchopulmonary aspergillosis, peridiverticular abscess, respiratory tract infection, pseudomonal lung infection, Mycobacterium avium complex infection.
• Injury, Poisoning and Procedural Complications: post procedural pain, post procedural hemorrhage.
• Nervous System Disorders: intracranial hemorrhage.
• Psychiatric Disorders: mental status changes.
• Renal and Urinary Disorders: renal failure, urethral hemorrhage.
• Respiratory, Thoracic and Mediastinal Disorders: hemoptysis, lung infiltration, pulmonary embolism, respiratory arrest, pulmonary mass.
• Allergic Reaction: Hypersensitivity (anaphylactic reaction) to Dacogen (decitabine injection) has been reported in a Phase 2 trial.

Post-marketing Experience

The following adverse reactions have been identified during post-approval use of Dacogen (decitabine injection) . 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.

Cases of Sweet's Syndrome (acute febrile neutrophilic dermatosis) have been reported.

Read the entire FDA prescribing information for Dacogen (Decitabine Injection) »