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Kytril Injection (Granisetron Hydrochloride) - Description and Clinical Pharmacology

 
 



KYTRIL
(granisetron hydrochloride)
INJECTION

DESCRIPTION

KYTRIL (granisetron hydrochloride) Injection is an antinauseant and antiemetic agent. Chemically it is endo -N-(9-methyl-9-azabicyclo [3.3.1] non-3-yl)-1-methyl-1H-indazole-3-carboxamide hydrochloride with a molecular weight of 348.9 (312.4 free base). Its empirical formula is C18H24N4O•HCl, while its chemical structure is:

Granisetron hydrochloride is a white to off-white solid that is readily soluble in water and normal saline at 20ฐC. KYTRIL Injection is a clear, colorless, sterile, nonpyrogenic, aqueous solution for intravenous administration.

KYTRIL 1 mg/1 mL is available in 1 mL single-use and 4 mL multi-use vials. KYTRIL 0.1 mg/1 mL is available in a 1 mL single-use vial.

1 mg/1 mL: Each 1 mL contains 1.12 mg granisetron hydrochloride equivalent to granisetron, 1 mg; sodium chloride, 9 mg; citric acid, 2 mg; and benzyl alcohol, 10 mg, as a preservative. The solution's pH ranges from 4.0 to 6.0.

0.1 mg/1 mL: Each 1 mL contains 0.112 mg granisetron hydrochloride equivalent to granisetron, 0.1 mg; sodium chloride, 9 mg; citric acid, 2 mg. Contains no preservative. The solution's pH ranges from 4.0 to 6.0.

CLINICAL PHARMACOLOGY

Granisetron is a selective 5-hydroxytryptamine3 (5-HT3) receptor antagonist with little or no affinity for other serotonin receptors, including 5-HT1; 5-HT1A; 5-HT1B/C; 5-HT2; for alpha1-, alpha2- or beta-adrenoreceptors; for dopamine-D2; or for histamine-H1; benzodiazepine; picrotoxin or opioid receptors.

Serotonin receptors of the 5-HT3 type are located peripherally on vagal nerve terminals and centrally in the chemoreceptor trigger zone of the area postrema. During chemotherapy-induced vomiting, mucosal enterochromaffin cells release serotonin, which stimulates 5-HT3 receptors. This evokes vagal afferent discharge and may induce vomiting. Animal studies demonstrate that, in binding to 5-HT3 receptors, granisetron blocks serotonin stimulation and subsequent vomiting after emetogenic stimuli such as cisplatin. In the ferret animal model, a single granisetron injection prevented vomiting due to high-dose cisplatin or arrested vomiting within 5 to 30 seconds.

In most human studies, granisetron has had little effect on blood pressure, heart rate or ECG. No evidence of an effect on plasma prolactin or aldosterone concentrations has been found in other studies.

KYTRIL Injection exhibited no effect on oro-cecal transit time in normal volunteers given a single intravenous infusion of 50 mcg/kg or 200 mcg/kg. Single and multiple oral doses slowed colonic transit in normal volunteers.

Pharmacokinetics

Chemotherapy-Induced Nausea and Vomiting

In adult cancer patients undergoing chemotherapy and in volunteers, mean pharmacokinetic data obtained from an infusion of a single 40 mcg/kg dose of KYTRIL Injection are shown in Table 1.

Table 1 Pharmacokinetic Parameters in Adult Cancer Patients Undergoing Chemotherapy and in Volunteers, Following a Single Intravenous 40 mcg/kg Dose of KYTRIL Injection
Peak Plasma Concentration
(ng/mL)
Terminal Phase Plasma Half-Life
(h)
Total Clearance
(L/h/kg)
Volume of Distribution
(L/kg)
Cancer Patients
Mean63.85-minute infusion.8.950.383.07
Range18.0 to 1760.90 to 31.10.14 to 1.540.85 to 10.4
Volunteers
21 to 42 years
Mean64.33-minute infusion.4.910.793.04
Range11.2 to 1820.88 to 15.20.20 to 2.561.68 to 6.13
65 to 81 years
Mean57.07.690.443.97
Range14.6 to 1532.65 to 17.70.17 to 1.061.75 to 7.01

Distribution

Plasma protein binding is approximately 65% and granisetron distributes freely between plasma and red blood cells.

Metabolism

Granisetron metabolism involves N-demethylation and aromatic ring oxidation followed by conjugation. In vitro liver microsomal studies show that granisetron's major route of metabolism is inhibited by ketoconazole, suggestive of metabolism mediated by the cytochrome P-450 3A subfamily. Animal studies suggest that some of the metabolites may also have 5-HT3 receptor antagonist activity.

Elimination

Clearance is predominantly by hepatic metabolism. In normal volunteers, approximately 12% of the administered dose is eliminated unchanged in the urine in 48 hours. The remainder of the dose is excreted as metabolites, 49% in the urine, and 34% in the feces.

Subpopulations

Gender

There was high inter- and intra-subject variability noted in these studies. No difference in mean AUC was found between males and females, although males had a higher Cmax generally.

Elderly

The ranges of the pharmacokinetic parameters in elderly volunteers (mean age 71 years), given a single 40 mcg/kg intravenous dose of KYTRIL Injection, were generally similar to those in younger healthy volunteers; mean values were lower for clearance and longer for half-life in the elderly patients (see Table 1).

Pediatric Patients

A pharmacokinetic study in pediatric cancer patients (2 to 16 years of age), given a single 40 mcg/kg intravenous dose of KYTRIL Injection, showed that volume of distribution and total clearance increased with age. No relationship with age was observed for peak plasma concentration or terminal phase plasma half-life. When volume of distribution and total clearance are adjusted for body weight, the pharmacokinetics of granisetron are similar in pediatric and adult cancer patients.

Renal Failure Patients

Total clearance of granisetron was not affected in patients with severe renal failure who received a single 40 mcg/kg intravenous dose of KYTRIL Injection.

Hepatically Impaired Patients

A pharmacokinetic study in patients with hepatic impairment due to neoplastic liver involvement showed that total clearance was approximately halved compared to patients without hepatic impairment. Given the wide variability in pharmacokinetic parameters noted in patients and the good tolerance of doses well above the recommended 10 mcg/kg dose, dosage adjustment in patients with possible hepatic functional impairment is not necessary.

Postoperative Nausea and Vomiting

In adult patients (age range, 18 to 64 years) recovering from elective surgery and receiving general balanced anesthesia, mean pharmacokinetic data obtained from a single 1 mg dose of KYTRIL Injection administered intravenously over 30 seconds are shown in Table 2.

Table 2 Pharmacokinetic Parameters in 16 Adult Surgical Patients Following a Single Intravenous 1 mg Dose of KYTRIL Injection
Terminal Phase Plasma Half-Life
(h)
Total Clearance
(L/h/kg)
Volume of Distribution
(L/kg)
Mean8.630.282.42
Range1.77 to 17.730.07 to 0.710.71 to 4.13

The pharmacokinetics of granisetron in patients undergoing surgery were similar to those seen in cancer patients undergoing chemotherapy.

CLINICAL TRIALS

Chemotherapy-Induced Nausea and Vomiting

Single-Day Chemotherapy

Cisplatin-Based Chemotherapy

In a double-blind, placebo-controlled study in 28 cancer patients, KYTRIL Injection, administered as a single intravenous infusion of 40 mcg/kg, was significantly more effective than placebo in preventing nausea and vomiting induced by cisplatin chemotherapy (see Table 3).

Table 3 Prevention of Chemotherapy-Induced Nausea and Vomiting — Single-Day Cisplatin TherapyCisplatin administration began within 10 minutes of KYTRIL Injection infusion and continued for 1.5 to 3.0 hours. Mean cisplatin dose was 86 mg/m2 in the KYTRIL Injection group and 80 mg/m2 in the placebo group.
KYTRIL InjectionPlaceboP-Value
Number of Patients1414
Response Over 24 Hours
Complete ResponseNo vomiting and no moderate or severe nausea.93%7%<0.001
No Vomiting93%14%<0.001
No More Than Mild Nausea93%7%<0.001

KYTRIL Injection was also evaluated in a randomized dose response study of cancer patients receiving cisplatin ≥75 mg/m2. Additional chemotherapeutic agents included: anthracyclines, carboplatin, cytostatic antibiotics, folic acid derivatives, methylhydrazine, nitrogen mustard analogs, podophyllotoxin derivatives, pyrimidine analogs, and vinca alkaloids. KYTRIL Injection doses of 10 and 40 mcg/kg were superior to 2 mcg/kg in preventing cisplatin-induced nausea and vomiting, but 40 mcg/kg was not significantly superior to 10 mcg/kg (see Table 4).

Table 4 Prevention of Chemotherapy-Induced Nausea and Vomiting — Single-Day High-Dose Cisplatin TherapyCisplatin administration began within 10 minutes of KYTRIL Injection infusion and continued for 2.6 hours (mean). Mean cisplatin doses were 96 to 99 mg/m2.
KYTRIL Injection
(mcg/kg)
P-Value
(vs. 2 mcg/kg)
210401040
Number of Patients525253
Response Over 24 Hours
Complete ResponseNo vomiting and no moderate or severe nausea.31%62%68%<0.002<0.001
No Vomiting38%65%74%<0.001<0.001
No More Than Mild Nausea58%75%79%NS0.007

KYTRIL Injection was also evaluated in a double-blind, randomized dose response study of 353 patients stratified for high (≥80 to 120 mg/m2) or low (50 to 79 mg/m2) cisplatin dose. Response rates of patients for both cisplatin strata are given in Table 5.

Table 5 Prevention of Chemotherapy-Induced Nausea and Vomiting — Single-Day High-Dose and Low-Dose Cisplatin TherapyCisplatin administration began within 10 minutes of KYTRIL Injection infusion and continued for 2 hours (mean). Mean cisplatin doses were 64 and 98 mg/m2 for low and high strata.
KYTRIL Injection
(mcg/kg)
P-Value
(vs. 5 mcg/kg)
5102040102040
High-Dose Cisplatin
Number of Patients40494847
Response Over 24 Hours
Complete ResponseNo vomiting and no use of rescue antiemetic.18%41%40%47%0.0180.0250.004
No Vomiting28%47%44%53%NSNS0.016
No Nausea15%35%38%43%0.0360.0190.005
Low-Dose Cisplatin
Number of Patients42414046
Response Over 24 Hours
Complete Response29%56%58%41%0.0120.009NS
No Vomiting36%63%65%43%0.0120.008NS
No Nausea29%56%38%33%0.012NSNS

For both the low and high cisplatin strata, the 10, 20, and 40 mcg/kg doses were more effective than the 5 mcg/kg dose in preventing nausea and vomiting within 24 hours of chemotherapy administration. The 10 mcg/kg dose was at least as effective as the higher doses.

Moderately Emetogenic Chemotherapy

KYTRIL Injection, 40 mcg/kg, was compared with the combination of chlorpromazine (50 to 200 mg/24 hours) and dexamethasone (12 mg) in patients treated with moderately emetogenic chemotherapy, including primarily carboplatin >300 mg/m2, cisplatin 20 to 50 mg/m2 and cyclophosphamide >600 mg/m2. KYTRIL Injection was superior to the chlorpromazine regimen in preventing nausea and vomiting (see Table 6).

Table 6 Prevention of Chemotherapy-Induced Nausea and Vomiting—Single-Day Moderately Emetogenic Chemotherapy
KYTRIL InjectionChlorpromazinePatients also received dexamethasone, 12 mg.P-Value
Number of Patients133133
Response Over 24 Hours
Complete ResponseNo vomiting and no moderate or severe nausea.68%47%<0.001
No Vomiting73%53%<0.001
No More Than Mild Nausea77%59%<0.001

In other studies of moderately emetogenic chemotherapy, no significant difference in efficacy was found between KYTRIL doses of 40 mcg/kg and 160 mcg/kg.

Repeat-Cycle Chemotherapy

In an uncontrolled trial, 512 cancer patients received KYTRIL Injection, 40 mcg/kg, prophylactically, for two cycles of chemotherapy, 224 patients received it for at least four cycles, and 108 patients received it for at least six cycles. KYTRIL Injection efficacy remained relatively constant over the first six repeat cycles, with complete response rates (no vomiting and no moderate or severe nausea in 24 hours) of 60% to 69%. No patients were studied for more than 15 cycles.

Pediatric Studies

A randomized double-blind study evaluated the 24-hour response of 80 pediatric cancer patients (age 2 to 16 years) to KYTRIL Injection 10, 20 or 40 mcg/kg. Patients were treated with cisplatin ≥60 mg/m2, cytarabine ≥3 g/m2, cyclophosphamide ≥1 g/m2 or nitrogen mustard ≥6 mg/m2 (see Table 7).

Table 7 Prevention of Chemotherapy-Induced Nausea and Vomiting in Pediatric Patients
KYTRIL Injection Dose (mcg/kg)
102040
Number of Patients292625
Median Number of Vomiting Episodes231
Complete Response Over 24 HoursNo vomiting and no moderate or severe nausea.21%31%32%

A second pediatric study compared KYTRIL Injection 20 mcg/kg to chlorpromazine plus dexamethasone in 88 patients treated with ifosfamide ≥3 g/m2/day for two or three days. KYTRIL Injection was administered on each day of ifosfamide treatment. At 24 hours, 22% of KYTRIL Injection patients achieved complete response (no vomiting and no moderate or severe nausea in 24 hours) compared with 10% on the chlorpromazine regimen. The median number of vomiting episodes with KYTRIL Injection was 1.5; with chlorpromazine it was 7.0.

Postoperative Nausea and Vomiting

Prevention of Postoperative Nausea and Vomiting

The efficacy of KYTRIL Injection for prevention of postoperative nausea and vomiting was evaluated in 868 patients, of which 833 were women, 35 men, 484 Caucasians, 348 Asians, 18 Blacks, 18 Other, with 61 patients 65 years or older. KYTRIL was evaluated in two randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled studies in patients who underwent elective gynecological surgery or cholecystectomy and received general anesthesia. Patients received a single intravenous dose of KYTRIL Injection (0.1 mg, 1 mg or 3 mg) or placebo either 5 minutes before induction of anesthesia or immediately before reversal of anesthesia. The primary endpoint was the proportion of patients with no vomiting for 24 hours after surgery. Episodes of nausea and vomiting and use of rescue antiemetic therapy were recorded for 24 hours after surgery. In both studies, KYTRIL Injection (1 mg) was more effective than placebo in preventing postoperative nausea and vomiting (see Table 8). No additional benefit was seen in patients who received the 3 mg dose.

Table 8 Prevention of Postoperative Nausea and Vomiting in Adult Patients
Study and Efficacy EndpointPlaceboKYTRIL 0.1 mgKYTRIL 1 mgKYTRIL 3 mg
Note: No Vomiting = no vomiting and no use of rescue antiemetic therapy; No Nausea = no nausea and no use of rescue antiemetic therapy
Study 1
Number of Patients 133 132 134 128
No Vomiting
0 to 24 hours34%45%63%P<0.001 versus placebo62%
No Nausea
0 to 24 hours22%28%50%42%
No Nausea or Vomiting
0 to 24 hours18%27%49%42%
No Use of Rescue Antiemetic
Therapy
0 to 24 hours60%67% 75%P<0.0577%
Study 2
Number of Patients 117 – 110 114
No Vomiting
0 to 24 hours56%–77%75%
No Nausea
0 to 24 hours37%–59%56%

Gender/Race

There were too few male and Black patients to adequately assess differences in effect in either population.

Treatment of Postoperative Nausea and Vomiting

The efficacy of KYTRIL Injection for treatment of postoperative nausea and vomiting was evaluated in 844 patients, of which 731 were women, 113 men, 777 Caucasians, 6 Asians, 41 Blacks, 20 Other, with 107 patients 65 years or older. KYTRIL Injection was evaluated in two randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled studies of adult surgical patients who received general anesthesia with no prophylactic antiemetic agent, and who experienced nausea or vomiting within 4 hours postoperatively. Patients received a single intravenous dose of KYTRIL Injection (0.1 mg, 1 mg or 3 mg) or placebo after experiencing postoperative nausea or vomiting. Episodes of nausea and vomiting and use of rescue antiemetic therapy were recorded for 24 hours after administration of study medication. KYTRIL Injection was more effective than placebo in treating postoperative nausea and vomiting (see Table 9). No additional benefit was seen in patients who received the 3 mg dose.

Table 9 Treatment of Postoperative Nausea and Vomiting in Adult Patients
Study and Efficacy EndpointPlaceboKYTRIL
0.1 mg
KYTRIL
1 mg
KYTRIL
3 mg
Note: No vomiting = no vomiting and no use of rescue antiemetic therapy; No nausea = no nausea and no use of rescue antiemetic therapy
Study 3
Number of Patients 133 128 133 125
No Vomiting
0 to 6 hours26%53%P<0.001 versus placebo58%60%
0 to 24 hours20%38%46%49%
No Nausea
0 to 6 hours17%40%41%42%
0 to 24 hours13%27%P<0.0130%37%
No Use of Rescue Antiemetic Therapy
0 to 6 hours––––
0 to 24 hours33%51%61%61%
Study 4
Number of Patients (All Patients) 162 163 ––
No Vomiting
0 to 6 hours20%32%P<0.05––
0 to 24 hours14%23%––
No Nausea
0 to 6 hours13%18%––
0 to 24 hours9%14%––
No Nausea or Vomiting
0 to 6 hours13%18%––
0 to 24 hours9%14%––
No Use of Rescue Antiemetic Therapy
0 to 6 hours––––
0 to 24 hours24%34%––
Number of Patients (Treated for Vomiting)Protocol Specified Analysis: Patients who had vomiting prior to treatment 86 103 ––
No Vomiting
0 to 6 hours21%27%––
0 to 24 hours14%20%––

Gender/Race

There were too few male and Black patients to adequately assess differences in effect in either population.

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