Drug Reference

Pegaspargase

Other antineoplastic agents

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Therapeutic class
Other antineoplastic agents
Action class
Asparagine-specific Enzyme
Chemical class
Asparaginase
Habit forming
No
Availability
Prescription (Rx)

Brand names

Oncaspar

Available as

5 ML · Injection

FDA label sections are from openFDA and may not reflect the most recent labeling — confirm against the current DailyMed label.

Uses
1 INDICATIONS AND USAGE ONCASPAR is an asparagine specific enzyme indicated as a component of a multi-agent chemotherapeutic regimen for treatment of pediatric and adult patients with: First-line acute lymphoblastic leukemia ( 1.1 ) Acute lymphoblastic leukemia and hypersensitivity to asparaginase ( 1.2 ) 1.1 First Line Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia (ALL) ONCASPAR ® is indicated as a component of a multi-agent chemotherapeutic regimen for the first-line treatment of pediatric and adult patients with ALL. 1.2 Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia and Hypersensitivity to Asparaginase ONCASPAR is indicated as a component of a multi-agent chemotherapeutic regimen for the treatment of pediatric and adult patients with ALL and hypersensitivity to native forms of L-asparaginase.
How it works
12.1 Mechanism of Action L-asparaginase is an enzyme that catalyzes the conversion of the amino acid L-asparagine into aspartic acid and ammonia. The pharmacological effect of ONCASPAR is thought to be based on the killing of leukemic cells due to depletion of plasma asparagine. Leukemic cells with low expression of asparagine synthetase have a reduced ability to synthesize asparagine, and therefore depend on an exogenous source of asparagine for survival.
How to use / dosing
2 DOSAGE AND ADMINISTRATION Administered intramuscularly or intravenously no more frequently than every 14 days. ( 2.1 ) Patients ages 21 years and younger: 2,500 International Units/m 2 . ( 2.1 ) Patients ages over 21 years: 2,000 International Units/m 2 . ( 2.1 ) For intramuscular administration, limit the volume at a single injection site to 2 mL; if greater than 2 mL, use multiple injection sites. ( 2.3 ) For intravenous administration, give over a period of 1 to 2 hours in 100 mL of 0.9% Sodium Chloride Injection, USP or 5% Dextrose Injection, USP through an infusion that is already running. ( 2.3 ) Do not administer ONCASPAR if drug has been frozen, stored at room temperature for more than 48 hours, or shaken or vigorously agitated. ( 16 ) 2.1 Recommended Dosage Patients 21 Years of Age or Younger The recommended dose of ONCASPAR for patients up to and including 21 years of age is 2,500 International Units/m 2 intramuscularly or intravenously no more frequently than every 14 days. Patients More Than 21 Years of Age The recommended dose of ONCASPAR for adult patients more than 21 years of age is 2,000 International Units/m 2 intramuscularly or intravenously no more frequently than every 14 days. 2.2 Recommended Premedication Premedicate patients with acetaminophen, an H-1 receptor blocker (such as diphenhydramine), and an H-2 receptor blocker (such as famotidine) 30-60 minutes prior to administration of ONCASPAR to decrease the risk and severity of both infusion and hypersensitivity reactions [see Warnings and Precautions (5.1) ] . 2.3 Recommended Monitoring and Dosage Modifications for Adverse Reactions Monitor patients at least weekly, with bilirubin, transaminases, glucose and clinical examinations until recovery from the cycle of therapy. If an adverse reaction should occur, modify treatment according to Table 1. Table 1. Dosage Modifications Adverse Reaction Severity Grade 1 is mild, grade 2 is moderate, grade 3 is severe, and grade 4 is life-threatening. Action Infusion Reaction/Hypersensitivity Reaction [see Warnings and Precautions (5.1) ] Grade 1 Reduce the infusion rate by 50% Grade 2 Interrupt the infusion of ONCASPAR Treat the symptoms When symptoms resolve, resume the infusion and reduce the infusion rate by 50% Grade 3 to 4 Discontinue ONCASPAR permanently Thrombosis [see Warnings and Precautions (5.2) ] Uncomplicated deep vein thrombosis Hold ONCASPAR Treat with appropriate antithrombotic therapy Upon resolution of symptoms consider resuming ONCASPAR, while continuing antithrombotic therapy Severe or life-threatening thrombosis Discontinue ONCASPAR permanently Treat with appropriate antithrombotic therapy Pancreatitis [see Warnings and Precautions (5.3) ] Grades 3 to 4 Hold ONCASPAR for elevations in lipase or amylase >3 × ULN until enzyme levels stabilize or are declining Discontinue ONCASPAR permanently if clinical pancreatitis is confirmed Hemorrhage [see Warnings and Precautions (5.5) ] Grade 3 to 4 Hold ONCASPAR Evaluate for coagulopathy and consider clotting factor replacement as needed Resume ONCASPAR with the next scheduled dose if bleeding is controlled Hepatotoxicity [see Warnings and Precautions (5.6) ] Total bilirubin more than 3 times to no more than 10 times the ULN Hold ONCASPAR until total bilirubin is ≤1.5 times the ULN Total bilirubin more than 10 times the ULN Discontinue ONCASPAR and do not make up for missed doses 2.4 Preparation and Administration Administer ONCASPAR in a healthcare setting with appropriate medical support and resuscitation equipment to manage hypersensitivity reactions, should they occur [see Warnings and Precautions (5.1) ] . ONCASPAR is a clear and colorless solution. Visually inspect parenteral drug products for particulate matter, cloudiness, or discoloration prior to administration. If any of these are present, discard the vial. When ONCASPAR is administered intramuscularly: Limit the volume at a single injection site to 2 mL. If the volume to be administered is
Side effects
6 ADVERSE REACTIONS The following clinically significant adverse reactions are described elsewhere in the labeling: Anaphylaxis and serious hypersensitivity reactions [see Warnings and Precautions (5.1) ] Thrombosis [see Warnings and Precautions (5.2) ] Pancreatitis [see Warnings and Precautions (5.3) ] Glucose intolerance [see Warnings and Precautions (5.4) ] Hemorrhage [see Warnings and Precautions (5.5) ] Hepatotoxicity, including VOD [see Warnings and Precautions (5.6) ] The most common (>5%) grade > 3 adverse reactions with ONCASPAR are hypoalbuminemia, elevated transaminase, febrile neutropenia, hypertriglyceridemia, hyperglycemia, bilirubin increased, pancreatitis, abnormal clotting studies, embolic and thrombotic events, hypersensitivity, sepsis, and infections. ( 6.1 ) To report SUSPECTED ADVERSE REACTIONS, contact Servier Pharmaceuticals, at 1-800-807-6124 or FDA at 1-800-FDA-1088 or www.fda.gov/medwatch. 6.1 Clinical Trials Experience Because clinical trials are conducted under widely varying conditions, the adverse reaction rates observed cannot be directly compared to rates in other clinical trials and may not reflect the rates observed in clinical practice. The most common grade 3 and 4 adverse reactions (>5%) included: hypoalbuminemia, elevated transaminase, febrile neutropenia, hypertriglyceridemia, hyperglycemia, bilirubin increased, pancreatitis, abnormal clotting studies, embolic and thrombotic events, hypersensitivity, sepsis, and infections. First-Line Treatment of Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia (ALL) Study CCG-1962 was a randomized (1:1), active controlled study that enrolled 118 patients, with a median age of 4.7 years (1.1-9.9 years), of whom 54% were males and 65% White, 14% Hispanic, 8% Black, 8% Asian, and 6% other race. Of the 59 patients in Study 1 who were randomized to ONCASPAR, 48 patients (81%) received all 3 planned doses of ONCASPAR, 6 (10%) received 2 doses, 4 (7%) received 1 dose, and 1 patient (2%) did not receive the assigned treatment. In Study CCG-1962, detailed safety information was collected for pre-specified adverse reactions identified as asparaginase induced adverse reactions and for grade 3 and 4 nonhematologic adverse reactions according to the Children's Cancer Group (CCG) Toxicity and Complication Criteria. The per-patient incidence, by treatment arm, for these selected adverse reactions occurring at a severity of grade 3 or 4 are presented in Table 2: Table 2. Incidence of Selected Grades 3 and 4 Adverse Reactions in Study CCG-1962 ONCASPAR (n=58) Native E. coli L-Asparaginase (n=59) Infection 3 (5%) 3 (5%) Abnormal Liver Tests 3 (5%) 5 (8%) Elevated Transaminases Aspartate aminotransferase, alanine aminotransferase. 2 (3%) 4 (7%) Hyperbilirubinemia 1 (2%) 1 (2%) Hyperglycemia 3 (5%) 2 (3%) Central Nervous System Thrombosis 2 (3%) 2 (3%) Coagulopathy Prolonged prothrombin time or partial thromboplastin time; or hypofibrinogenemia. 1 (2%) 3 (5%) Pancreatitis 1 (2%) 1 (2%) Allergic Reactions to Asparaginase 1 (2%) 0 The safety of ONCASPAR was investigated in Study DFCI 11-001, an open label, randomized, active-controlled multicenter clinical trial that included 119 children and adolescents with newly diagnosed ALL or lymphoblastic lymphoma treated with ONCASPAR in combination with the Dana Farber Cancer Institute (DFCI) ALL Consortium backbone therapy. The median age on enrollment was 4 years (range, 1-18 years). The majority of patients were male (60%) and white (75%). Most patients were considered standard risk ALL (59%) and had B-cell lineage ALL (87%). The median number of doses of ONCASPAR during the study was 16 doses (one dose during induction therapy then administered every two weeks during post induction therapy). The median duration of exposure to ONCASPAR was 8 months. Table 3 summarizes the incidence of selected Grades ≥3 adverse reactions that occurred in 2 or more patients receiving ONCASPAR. Because not all grade 1 and 2 adverse reactions were collected prospective

Safety advice

Conservative summary derived from FDA labeling — defaults to “consult your doctor” unless the label is explicit. Not a substitute for your clinician’s advice.

PregnancyUnsafe
8.1 Pregnancy Risk summary Based on published literature studies with L-asparaginase in pregnant animals, ONCASPAR can cause fetal harm when administered to a pregnant woman. There are no available data on ONCASPAR use in pregnant women to evaluate for a drug-associated risk of major birth defects, miscarriage, or adverse maternal or fetal outcomes. Published literature studies in pregnant animals suggest asparagine depletion may cause harm to the animal offspring (see Data ) . Advise pregnant women of the potential risk to a fetus. In the U.S. general population, the estimated background risks of major birth defects and miscarriage in clinically recognized pregnancies are 2 to 4% and 15 to 20%, respectively. Data Animal Data Animal reproduction studies have not been conducted with ONCASPAR to evaluate its effect on reproduction and fetal development. Published literature studies in which pregnant rabbits were administered L-asparaginase or pregnant rats were deprived of dietary asparagine suggested harm to the animal offspring.
BreastfeedingConsult your doctor
8 USE IN SPECIFIC POPULATIONS Lactation : Advise not to breastfeed.…
AlcoholNo information
No specific information in the FDA label.
DrivingNo information
No specific information in the FDA label.
KidneyNo information
No specific information in the FDA label.
LiverCaution
…( 5.5 ) Hepatotoxicity, including hepatic veno-occlusive disease (VOD) : Monitor for toxicity through recovery from cycle.…
Warnings & precautions
5 WARNINGS AND PRECAUTIONS Anaphylaxis or serious hypersensitivity reactions : Observe patients for 1 hour after administration. Discontinue ONCASPAR in patients with serious hypersensitivity reactions. ( 5.1 ) Thrombosis : Discontinue ONCASPAR in patients with serious thrombotic events. ( 5.2 ) Pancreatitis : Evaluate patients with abdominal pain for pancreatitis. Discontinue ONCASPAR in patients with pancreatitis. ( 5.3 ) Glucose intolerance : Monitor serum glucose. ( 5.4 ) Hemorrhage : Discontinue ONCASPAR for severe or life-threatening hemorrhage. Evaluate for etiology and treat. ( 5.5 ) Hepatotoxicity, including hepatic veno-occlusive disease (VOD) : Monitor for toxicity through recovery from cycle. Discontinue ONCASPAR for severe liver toxicity. ( 5.6 ) 5.1 Anaphylaxis and Serious Hypersensitivity Reactions Anaphylaxis and serious hypersensitivity reactions can occur in patients receiving ONCASPAR. The risk of serious hypersensitivity reactions is higher in patients with known hypersensitivity to ( E.) coli derived L-asparaginase formulations. Other hypersensitivity reactions can include angioedema, lip swelling, eye swelling, erythema, blood pressure decreased, bronchospasm, dyspnea, pruritus, and rash [see Adverse Reactions (6.1) ] . Premedicate patients 30-60 minutes prior to administration of ONCASPAR. [see Dosage and Administration (2.2) ] . Observe patients for 1 hour after administration of ONCASPAR in a setting with resuscitation equipment and other agents necessary to treat anaphylaxis (for example, epinephrine, oxygen, intravenous steroids, antihistamines) [see Dosage and Administration (2.4) ] . Discontinue ONCASPAR in patients with serious hypersensitivity reactions. 5.2 Thrombosis Serious thrombotic events, including sagittal sinus thrombosis can occur in patients receiving ONCASPAR [see Adverse Reactions (6.1) ] . Discontinue ONCASPAR in patients with serious thrombotic events [see Dosage and Administration (2.3) ] . 5.3 Pancreatitis Pancreatitis can occur in patients receiving ONCASPAR. Hemorrhagic or necrotizing pancreatitis with fatal outcomes have been reported [see Adverse Reactions (6.1) ] . Inform patients of the signs and symptoms of pancreatitis, which, if left untreated, could be fatal. Assess serum amylase and/or lipase levels to confirm early signs of pancreatic inflammation. Discontinue ONCASPAR in patients where pancreatitis is suspected. If pancreatitis is confirmed, do not resume ONCASPAR [see Dosage and Administration (2.3) ] . 5.4 Glucose Intolerance Glucose intolerance can occur in patients receiving ONCASPAR [see Adverse Reactions (6.1) ] . In some cases, glucose intolerance is irreversible. Monitor serum glucose [see Dosage and Administration (2.3) ] . 5.5 Hemorrhage Increased prothrombin time, increased partial thromboplastin time, and hypofibrinogenemia can occur in patients receiving ONCASPAR [see Adverse Reactions (6.1) ] . Evaluate patients with signs and symptoms of hemorrhage with coagulation parameters including PT, PTT, fibrinogen. Consider appropriate replacement therapy in patients with severe or symptomatic coagulopathy. Discontinue ONCASPAR for severe or life-threatening hemorrhage [see Dosage and Administration (2.3) ] . 5.6 Hepatotoxicity, Including Hepatic Veno-Occlusive Disease Hepatotoxicity, including severe, life-threatening, and potentially fatal cases of hepatic veno-occlusive disease (VOD), have been observed in patients treated with ONCASPAR in combination with standard chemotherapy, including during the induction phase of multiphase chemotherapy [see Adverse Reactions (6) ]. Do not administer ONCASPAR to patients with severe hepatic impairment [see Contraindications (4) ] . Evaluate bilirubin and transaminases prior to each dose of ONCASPAR and at least weekly, during cycles of treatment that include ONCASPAR, through 6 weeks after the last dose of ONCASPAR. Monitor frequently for signs and symptoms of hepatic VOD, which may include rapid weight gain, fluid rete
Contraindications
4 CONTRAINDICATIONS ONCASPAR is contraindicated in patients with a: History of serious hypersensitivity reactions, including anaphylaxis, to ONCASPAR or to any of the excipients [see Warnings and Precautions (5.1) ] . History of serious thrombosis with prior L-asparaginase therapy [see Warnings and Precautions (5.2) ] . History of pancreatitis, including pancreatitis related to prior L-asparaginase therapy [see Warnings and Precautions (5.3) ] . History of serious hemorrhagic events with prior L-asparaginase therapy [see Warnings and Precautions (5.5) ] . Severe hepatic impairment [see Warnings and Precautions (5.6) ] . History of serious hypersensitivity reactions to ONCASPAR. ( 4 ) History of serious thrombosis with prior L-asparaginase therapy. ( 4 ) History of pancreatitis with prior L-asparaginase therapy. ( 4 ) History of serious hemorrhagic events with prior L-asparaginase therapy. ( 4 ) Severe hepatic impairment. ( 4 )

Pediatric use

8.4 Pediatric Use The safety and effectiveness of ONCASPAR in the treatment of ALL have been established in pediatric patients. Use of ONCASPAR in these age groups is supported by evidence of efficacy as first-line treatment from one adequate and well-controlled trial, and evidence of efficacy for treatment of patients with hypersensitivity to asparaginase from four adequate and well-controlled trials [see Clinical Studies (14.1) ] , and safety data from 7 total trials. The pediatric patients treated with ONCASPAR 2,500 International Units/m 2 on these trials included 26 infants (1 month to <2 years old), 165 children (2 years to <12 years old), and 39 adolescents (12 to 17 years old).

⚑ About half of pediatric medication use is off-label and not described in FDA labels — absence of pediatric information does not mean a medicine is unused or unsafe in children. Confirm with your clinician.

Interactions (label text — not an interaction checker)
7 DRUG INTERACTIONS 7.1 Glucocorticoids Pegaspargase may increase the risk of glucocorticoid-induced toxicities, including osteonecrosis through a potential increase in exposure of dexamethasone [see Adverse Reactions (6.3) ] .
Overdose
10 OVERDOSAGE Three patients received 10,000 International Units/m 2 of ONCASPAR as an intravenous infusion. One patient experienced a slight increase in liver enzymes. A second patient developed a rash 10 minutes after the start of the infusion, which was controlled with the administration of an antihistamine and by slowing down the infusion rate. A third patient did not experience any adverse reactions. There is no specific antidote for ONCASPAR overdosage. In case of overdose, monitor patients closely for signs and symptoms of adverse reactions, and appropriately manage with symptomatic and supportive treatment.
Current FDA labels (DailyMed)

2 marketed products on record (RxNorm)

Reference only — not clinical advice. Verify against current FDA labeling and consult a licensed provider. About half of pediatric drug use is off-label and is not reflected in FDA labels; absence of pediatric information does not mean a medicine is unused or unsafe in children.