Indication
Avastin is indicated for the treatment of recurrent glioblastoma in adults.
Boxed WARNINGS
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Gastrointestinal (GI) perforation
- Serious and sometimes fatal GI perforation occurs at a higher incidence in Avastin-treated patients compared to patients treated with chemotherapy
- The incidence of GI perforation ranged from 0.3% to 3% across clinical studies
- Discontinue Avastin in patients with GI perforation
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Surgery and wound healing complications
- The incidence of wound healing and surgical complications, including serious and fatal complications, is increased in Avastin-treated patients
- Withhold Avastin for at least 28 days prior to elective surgery. Do not administer Avastin for at least 28 days after surgery and until the wound is fully healed
- Discontinue in patients with wound healing complications requiring medical intervention
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Hemorrhage
- Severe or fatal hemorrhage, including hemoptysis, GI bleeding, hematemesis, central nervous system hemorrhage, epistaxis, and vaginal bleeding, occurred up to 5-fold more frequently in patients receiving Avastin. In clinical studies, the incidence of grade ≥3 hemorrhagic events among patients receiving Avastin ranged from 0.4% to 7%
- Do not administer Avastin to patients with serious hemorrhage or a recent history of hemoptysis (≥1/2 tsp of red blood)
- Discontinue Avastin in patients who develop grade 3-4 hemorrhage
Additional serious adverse events
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Additional serious and sometimes fatal adverse events with increased incidence in the Avastin-treated arm vs chemotherapy arm included:
- Non-GI fistulae (<1% to 1.8%, highest in patients with cervical cancer)
- Arterial thromboembolic events (grade ≥3, 5%, highest in patients with GBM)
- Renal injury and proteinuria
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- Grade 3–4 proteinuria ranged from 0.7% to 7% in clinical studies
- Nephrotic syndrome (<1%)
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Additional serious adverse events with increased incidence in the Avastin-treated arm vs chemotherapy arm included:
- Venous thromboembolism (grade ≥3, 11% seen in GOG-0240)
- Hypertension (grade 3–4, 5%–18%)
- Posterior reversible encephalopathy syndrome (PRES) (<0.5%)
- Congestive heart failure (CHF) (1%)
- Infusion reactions with the first dose of Avastin occurred in <3% of patients, and severe reactions occurred in 0.2% of patients
- Inform females of reproductive potential of the risk of ovarian failure prior to starting treatment with Avastin
Pregnancy warning
- Based on the mechanism of action and animal studies, Avastin may cause fetal harm
- Advise female patients that Avastin may cause fetal harm, and to inform their healthcare provider of a known or suspected pregnancy
- Advise females of reproductive potential to use effective contraception during treatment with Avastin and for 6 months after the last dose of Avastin
- Advise nursing women that breastfeeding is not recommended during treatment with Avastin and for 6 months following their last dose of treatment
- Avastin may impair fertility
Most common adverse events
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Across studies, the most common adverse reactions observed in Avastin patients at a rate >10% were:
- Epistaxis
- Proteinuria
- Lacrimation disorder
- Headache
- Taste alteration
- Back pain
- Hypertension
- Dry skin
- Exfoliative dermatitis
- Rhinitis
- Rectal hemorrhage
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Across all studies, Avastin was discontinued in 8% to 22% of patients because of adverse reactions
Indication-specific adverse events
- In rGBM Study EORTC 26101, 22% of patients discontinued treatment in the Avastin with lomustine arm due to adverse reactions compared with 10% of patients in the lomustine arm. In patients receiving Avastin with lomustine, the adverse reaction profile was similar to that observed in other approved indications
You may report side effects to the FDA at (800) FDA-1088 or www.fda.gov/medwatch.
You may also report side effects to Genentech at (888) 835‑2555.
Please see full Prescribing Information, including Boxed WARNINGS, for additional important safety information.
rGBM=recurrent glioblastoma.
Reference: 1. Avastin Prescribing Information. Genentech, Inc. 2018.
©2018 Genentech USA, Inc. All rights reserved. AVG/102617/0002(1)
www.avastin-hcp.com