Dexrazoxane

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# Overview
Dexrazoxane is an antineopalstic agent that is FDA approved for the treatment of reducing the incidence and severity of cardiomyopathy associated with doxorubicin administration in women with metastatic breast cancer.   Common adverse reactions include alopecia, Nausea, Vomiting, fatigue/Malaise, anorexia, stomatitis, fever, infection, diarrhea, Pain at injection site, sepsis, neurotoxicity, hemorrhage, extravasation, streaking/Erythema, phlebitis, esophagitis, dysphagia..

# Adult Indications and Dosage

## FDA-Labeled Indications and Dosage (Adult)
- Dexrazoxane for injection is indicated for reducing the incidence and severity of cardiomyopathy associated with doxorubicin administration in women with metastatic breast cancer who have received a cumulative doxorubicin dose of 300 mg/m2 and who will continue to receive doxorubicin therapy to maintain tumor control. Do not use with the initiation of doxorubicin therapy
- Administer dexrazoxane for injection by slow I.V. push or rapid drip intravenous infusion from a bag.
- The recommended dosage ratio of dexrazoxane for injection to doxorubicin is 10:1 (e.g., 500 mg/m2 dexrazoxane for injection to 50 mg/m2 doxorubicin). Do not administer doxorubicin before dexrazoxane for injection. Administer doxorubicin within 30 minutes after the completion of dexrazoxane for injection infusion.
- Reduce dexrazoxane for injection dosage in patients with moderate to severe renal impairment (creatinine clearance values less than 40 mL/min) by 50% (dexrazoxane for injection to doxorubicin ratio reduced to 5:1; such as 250 mg/m2 dexrazoxane for injection to 50 mg/m2 doxorubicin) .
- Since a doxorubicin dose reduction is recommended in the presence of hyperbilirubinemia, reduce the dexrazoxane for injection dosage proportionately (maintaining the 10:1 ratio) in patients with hepatic impairment.
- Dexrazoxane for injection must be reconstituted with 0.167 Molar (M/6) sodium lactate injection, USP, to give a concentration of 10 mg dexrazoxane for injection for each mL of sodium lactate. The reconstituted solution should be given by slow I.V. push or rapid drip intravenous infusion from a bag. After completing the infusion of dexrazoxane for injection, and prior to a total elapsed time of 30 minutes (from the beginning of the dexrazoxane for injection infusion), the intravenous injection of doxorubicin should be given.
- Reconstituted dexrazoxane for injection, when transferred to an empty infusion bag, is stable for 6 hours from the time of reconstitution when stored at controlled room temperature, 20 to 25C (68 to 77F) or under refrigeration, 2 to 8C (36 to 46F). DISCARD UNUSED SOLUTIONS.
- The reconstituted dexrazoxane for injection solution may be diluted with either 0.9% Sodium Chloride Injection, USP or 5% Dextrose Injection, USP to a concentration range of 1.3 to 5 mg/mL in intravenous infusion bags. The resultant solutions are stable for 6 hours when stored at controlled room temperature, 20 to 25C (68 to 77F) or under refrigeration, 2 to 8C (36 to 46F). DISCARD UNUSED SOLUTIONS.
- Parenteral drug products should be inspected visually for particulate matter and discoloration prior to administration, whenever solution and container permit. Solutions containing a precipitate should be discarded.
- Use caution when handling and preparing the reconstituted solution. The use of gloves is recommended. If dexrazoxane for injection powder or solutions contact the skin or mucosae, wash exposed area immediately and thoroughly with soap and water. Follow special handling and disposal procedures.
- Do not mix dexrazoxane for injection with other drugs.
- The reconstituted solution should be given by slow I.V. push or rapid drip intravenous infusion from a bag. After completing the infusion of dexrazoxane for injection, and prior to a total elapsed time of 30 minutes (from the beginning of the dexrazoxane for injection infusion), the intravenous injection of doxorubicin should be given.

## Off-Label Use and Dosage (Adult)

### Guideline-Supported Use
There is limited information regarding Off-Label Guideline-Supported Use of Dexrazoxane in adult patients.

### NonGuideline-Supported Use
There is limited information regarding Off-Label NonGuideline-Supported Use of dexrazoxane  in adult patients.

# Pediatric Indications and Dosage

## FDA-Labeled Indications and Dosage (Pediatric)
There is limited information regarding Dexrazoxane FDA-Labeled Indications and Dosage (Pediatric) in the drug label.

## Off-Label Use and Dosage (Pediatric)

### Guideline-Supported Use
There is limited information regarding Off-Label Guideline-Supported Use of Dexrazoxane in pediatric patients.

### NonGuideline-Supported Use
There is limited information regarding Off-Label NonGuideline-Supported Use of Dexrazoxane in pediatric patients.

# Contraindications
- Do not use dexrazoxane for injection with non-anthracycline chemotherapy regimens.

# Warnings
- Dexrazoxane for injection may add to the myelosuppression caused by chemotherapeutic agents. Obtain a complete blood count prior to and during each course of therapy, and administer dexrazoxane for injection and chemotherapy only when adequate hematologic parameters are met.
- Only use dexrazoxane for injection in those patients who have received a cumulative doxorubicin dose of 300 mg/m2 and are continuing with doxorubicin therapy. Do not use with chemotherapy initiation as dexrazoxane for injection may interfere with the antitumor activity of the chemotherapy regimen. In a trial conducted in patients with metastatic breast cancer who were treated with fluorouracil, doxorubicin, and cyclophosphamide (FAC) with or without dexrazoxane for injection starting with their first cycle of FAC therapy, patients who were randomized to receive dexrazoxane for injection had a lower response rate (48% vs. 63%) and shorter time to progression than patients who were randomized to receive placebo.
- Treatment with dexrazoxane for injection does not completely eliminate the risk of anthracycline-induced cardiac toxicity. Monitor cardiac function before and periodically during therapy to assess left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF). In general, if test results indicate deterioration in cardiac function associated with doxorubicin, the benefit of continued therapy should be carefully evaluated against the risk of producing irreversible cardiac damage.
- Secondary malignancies such as acute myeloid leukemia (AML) and myelodysplastic syndrome (MDS) have been reported in studies of pediatric patients who have received dexrazoxane for injection in combination with chemotherapy. Dexrazoxane for injection is not indicated for use in pediatric patients. Some adult patients who received dexrazoxane for injection in combination with anti-cancer agents known to be carcinogenic have also developed secondary malignancies, including AML and MDS.
- Razoxane is the racemic mixture, of which dexrazoxane is the S(+)-enantiomer. Secondary malignancies (primarily acute myeloid leukemia) have been reported in patients treated chronically with oral razoxane. In these patients, the total cumulative dose of razoxane ranged from 26 grams to 480 grams and the duration of treatment was from 42 to 319 weeks. One case of T-cell lymphoma, one case of B-cell lymphoma, and six to eight cases of cutaneous basal cell or squamous cell carcinoma have also been reported in patients treated with razoxane. Long-term administration of razoxane to rodents was associated with the development of malignancies .
- Dexrazoxane for injection can cause fetal harm when administered to pregnant women. Dexrazoxane administration during the period of organogenesis resulted in maternal toxicity, embryotoxicity and teratogenicity in rats and rabbits at doses significantly lower than the clinically recommended dose. If this drug is used during pregnancy, or if the patient becomes pregnant while taking this drug, the patient should be apprised of the potential hazard to a fetus.
- Advise female patients of reproductive potential to avoid becoming pregnant and to use highly effective contraception during treatment

# Adverse Reactions

## 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 trials and may not reflect the rates observed in clinical practice.
- The adverse reaction profile described in this section was identified from randomized, placebo-controlled, double-blind studies in patients with metastatic breast cancer who received the combination of the FAC chemotherapy regimen with or without dexrazoxane for injection. The dose of doxorubicin was 50 mg/m2 in each of these trials. Treatment was administered every three weeks until disease progression or cardiac toxicity.
- Patients in clinical trials who received FAC with dexrazoxane for injection experienced more severe leukopenia, granulocytopenia, and thrombocytopenia than patients receiving FAC without dexrazoxane for injection .
- Table 1 below lists the incidence of adverse reactions for patients receiving FAC with either dexrazoxane for injection or placebo in the breast cancer studies. Adverse experiences occurring during courses 1 through 6 are displayed for patients receiving dexrazoxane for injection or placebo with FAC beginning with their first course of therapy (columns 1 and 3, respectively). Adverse experiences occurring at course 7 and beyond for patients who received placebo with FAC during the first six courses and who then received either dexrazoxane for injection or placebo with FAC are also displayed (columns 2 and 4, respectively).
- The adverse reactions listed below in Table 1 demonstrate that the frequency of adverse reaction Pain on Injection has been greater for dexrazoxane for injection arm, as compared to placebo.

## Postmarketing Experience
There is limited information regarding Postmarketing Experience of dexrazoxane  in the drug label.

# Drug Interactions
- No drug interactions have been identified

# Use in Specific Populations

### Pregnancy
Pregnancy Category (FDA): D
There is no FDA guidance on usage of Dexrazoxane in women who are pregnant.
Pregnancy Category (AUS):
- There is no Australian Drug Evaluation Committee (ADEC) guidance on usage of dexrazoxane  in women who are pregnant.

### Labor and Delivery
There is no FDA guidance on use of dexrazoxane  during labor and delivery.

### Nursing Mothers
- It is not known whether dexrazoxane or its metabolites are excreted in human milk. Because many drugs are excreted in human milk and because of the potential for serious adverse reactions in nursing infants from dexrazoxane, a decision should be made whether to discontinue nursing or discontinue the drug, taking into account the importance of the drug to the mother..

### Pediatric Use
- The safety and effectiveness of dexrazoxane in pediatric patients have not been established .

### Geriatic Use
- Clinical studies of dexrazoxane for injection did not include sufficient numbers of subjects aged 65 and over to determine whether they respond differently than younger subjects. Other reported clinical experience has not identified differences in responses between the elderly and younger patients. In general, dose selection for an elderly patient should be cautious, usually starting at the low end of the dosing range, reflecting the greater frequency of decreased hepatic, renal, or cardiac function, and of concomitant disease or other drug therapy..

### Gender
- Contraception
- Dexrazoxane for injection can cause fetal harm when administered during pregnancy. Advise female patients of reproductive potential to use highly effective contraception during treatment.

### Race
There is no FDA guidance on the use of dexrazoxane  with respect to specific racial populations.

### Renal Impairment
- Greater exposure to dexrazoxane may occur in patients with compromised renal function. Reduce the dexrazoxane for injection dose by 50% in patients with creatinine clearance values < 40 mL/min.

### Hepatic Impairment
There is no FDA guidance on the use of dexrazoxane  in patients with hepatic impairment.

### Females of Reproductive Potential and Males
There is no FDA guidance on the use of dexrazoxane  in women of reproductive potentials and males.

### Immunocompromised Patients
There is no FDA guidance one the use of dexrazoxane  in patients who are immunocompromised.

# Administration and Monitoring

### Administration
- Intravenous

### Monitoring
- Dexrazoxane may increase the myelosuppresive effects of chemotherapeutic agents. Perform hematological monitoring.

# IV Compatibility
There is limited information regarding IV Compatibility of dexrazoxane  in the drug label.

# Overdosage
- There are no data on overdosage in the cardioprotective trials; the maximum dose administered during the cardioprotective trials was 1000 mg/m2 every three weeks.
- Disposition studies with dexrazoxane for injection have not been conducted in cancer patients undergoing dialysis, but retention of a significant dose fraction (> 0.4) of the unchanged drug in the plasma pool, minimal tissue partitioning or binding, and availability of greater than 90% of the systemic drug levels in the unbound form suggest that it could be removed using conventional peritoneal or hemodialysis.
- There is no known antidote for dexrazoxane. Instances of suspected overdose should be managed with good supportive care until resolution of myelosuppression and related conditions is complete. Management of overdose should include treatment of infections, fluid regulation, and maintenance of nutritional requirements

# Pharmacology

## Mechanism of Action
- The mechanism by which dexrazoxane for injection exerts its cytoprotective activity is not fully understood. Dexrazoxane is a cyclic derivative of EDTA that penetrates cell membranes. Results of laboratory studies suggest that dexrazoxane is converted intracellularly to a ring-opened chelating agent that interferes with iron-mediated free radical generation thought to be responsible, in part, for |anthracycline-induced cardiomyopathy]].

## Structure
- Dexrazoxane for injection, a cardioprotective agent for use in conjunction with doxorubicin, is a sterile, pyrogen-free lyophilizate intended for intravenous administration.
Chemically, dexrazoxane is (S)-4,4'-(1-methyl-1,2-ethanediyl)bis-2,6-piperazinedione. The structural formula is as follows:
- Dexrazoxane, an intracellular chelating agent, is a derivative of EDTA. Dexrazoxane is a whitish crystalline powder that melts at 191 to 197C. It is sparingly soluble in water and 0.1 N HCl, slightly soluble in ethanol and methanol, and practically insoluble in nonpolar organic solvents. The pKa is 2.1. Dexrazoxane has an octanol/water partition coefficient of 0.025 and degrades rapidly above a pH of 7.0.
- Each 250 mg vial contains dexrazoxane hydrochloride equivalent to 250 mg dexrazoxane. Hydrochloric Acid, NF is added for pH adjustment. When reconstituted as directed with the 25 mL vial of 0.167 Molar (M/6) Sodium Lactate Injection, USP diluent provided, each mL contains: 10 mg dexrazoxane. The pH of the resultant solution is 3.5 to 5.5.
- Each 500 mg vial contains dexrazoxane hydrochloride equivalent to 500 mg dexrazoxane. Hydrochloric Acid, NF is added for pH adjustment. When reconstituted as directed with the 50 mL vial of 0.167 Molar (M/6) Sodium Lactate Injection, USP diluent provided, each mL contains: 10 mg dexrazoxane. The pH of the resultant solution is 3.5 to 5.5

## Pharmacodynamics
There is limited information regarding Pharmacodynamics of dexrazoxane  in the drug label.

## Pharmacokinetics
- The pharmacokinetics of dexrazoxane have been studied in advanced cancer patients with normal renal and hepatic function. The pharmacokinetics of dexrazoxane can be adequately described by a two-compartment open model with first-order elimination. Dexrazoxane has been administered as a 15 minute infusion over a dose range of 60 to 900 mg/m2 with 60 mg/m2 of doxorubicin, and at a fixed dose of 500 mg/m2 with 50 mg/m2 doxorubicin. The disposition kinetics of dexrazoxane are dose-independent, as shown by linear relationship between the area under plasma concentration-time curves and administered doses ranging from 60 to 900 mg/m2. The mean peak plasma concentration of dexrazoxane was 36.5 mcg/mL at 15 minute after intravenous administration of 500 mg/m2 dose of dexrazoxane for injection over 15 to 30 minutes prior to the 50 mg/m2 doxorubicin dose.
- The important pharmacokinetic parameters of dexrazoxane are summarized in Table 2:
- Following a rapid distributive phase (0.2 to 0.3 hours), dexrazoxane reaches post-distributive equilibrium within 2 to 4 hours. The estimated mean steady-state volume of distribution of dexrazoxane is 22.4 L/m2 after 500 mg/m2 of dexrazoxane for injection dose followed by 50 mg/m2 of doxorubicin, suggesting distribution throughout total body water (25 L/m2).
- In vitro studies have shown that dexrazoxane is not bound to plasma proteins.
- Qualitative metabolism studies with dexrazoxane have confirmed the presence of unchanged drug, a diacid-diamide cleavage product, and two monoacid-monoamide ring products in the urine of animals and man. The metabolite levels were not measured in the pharmacokinetic studies.
- Urinary excretion plays an important role in the elimination of dexrazoxane. Forty-two percent of a 500 mg/m2 dose of dexrazoxane for injection was excreted in the urine. Renal clearance averages 3.35 L/h/m2 after the 500 mg/m2 dexrazoxane for injection dose followed by 50 mg/m2 of doxorubicin.
- Pharmacokinetics following dexrazoxane for injection administration have not been evaluated in pediatric patients.
- The pharmacokinetics of dexrazoxane were assessed following a single 15 minute IV infusion of 150 mg/m2 of dexrazoxane for injection. Dexrazoxane clearance was reduced in subjects with renal dysfunction. Compared with controls, the mean AUC0-inf value was 2-fold greater in subjects with moderate (CLCR 30 to 50 mL/min) to severe (CLCR  80 mL/min).
- Pharmacokinetics following dexrazoxane for injection administration have not been evaluated in patients with hepatic impairment. The dexrazoxane for injection dose is dependent upon the dose of doxorubicin .
- There was no significant change in the pharmacokinetics of doxorubicin (50 mg/m2) and its predominant metabolite, doxorubicin, in the presence of dexrazoxane (500 mg/m2) in a crossover study in cancer patients.

## Nonclinical Toxicology
- No long-term carcinogenicity studies have been carried out with dexrazoxane in animals. Nevertheless, a study by the National Cancer Institute has reported that long-term dosing with razoxane (the racemic mixture of dexrazoxane, ICRF-187, and its enantiomer ICRF-186) is associated with the development of malignancies in rats and possibly in mice.
- Dexrazoxane was not mutagenic in the bacterial reverse mutation (Ames) test, but was found to be clastogenic to human lymphocytes in vitro and to mouse bone marrow erythrocytes in vivo(micronucleus test).
- Dexrazoxane for injection has the potential to impair fertility in male patients based on effects in repeat-dose toxicology studies. Testicular atrophy was seen with dexrazoxane administration at doses as low as 30 mg/kg weekly for 6 weeks in rats (1/3 the human dose on a mg/m2 basis) and as low as 20 mg/kg weekly for 13 weeks in dogs (approximately equal to the human dose on a mg/m2 basis).

# Clinical Studies
- The ability of dexrazoxane for injection to prevent/reduce the incidence and severity of doxorubicin-induced cardiomyopathy was evaluated in three prospectively randomized placebo-controlled studies. In these studies, patients were treated with a doxorubicin-containing regimen and either dexrazoxane for injection or placebo starting with the first course of chemotherapy. There was no restriction on the cumulative dose of doxorubicin. Cardiac function was assessed by measurement of the LVEF, utilizing resting multigated nuclear medicine (MUGA) scans, and by clinical evaluations. Patients receiving dexrazoxane for injection had significantly smaller mean decreases from baseline in LVEF and lower incidences of congestive heart failure than the control group; however, in the largest study, patients with advanced breast cancer receiving FAC with dexrazoxane for injection had a lower response rate (48% vs. 63%) and a shorter time to progression than patients who received FAC versus placebo.
- In the clinical trials, patients who were initially randomized to receive placebo were allowed to receive dexrazoxane for injection after a cumulative dose of doxorubicin above 300 mg/m2. Retrospective historical analyses showed that the risk of experiencing a cardiac event (see Table 3 for definition) at a cumulative dose of doxorubicin above 300 mg/m2 was greater in the patients who did not receive dexrazoxane for injection beginning with their seventh course of FAC than in the patients who did receive dexrazoxane for injection (HR=13.08; 95% CI: 3.72, 46.03; p < 0.001). Overall, 3% of patients treated with dexrazoxane for injection developed CHF compared with 22% of patients not receiving dexrazoxane for injection.

# How Supplied
- Dexrazoxane for Injection is available in the following strengths as sterile, pyrogen-free lyophilizates.
- NDC 67457-207-25
- 250 mg single-dose vial with a green flip-top seal, packaged in single vial packs. (This package also contains a 25 mL vial of 0.167 Molar (M/6) Sodium Lactate Injection, USP.)
- NDC 67457-208-50
- 500 mg single-dose vial with a blue flip-top seal, packaged in single vial packs. (This package also contains a 50 mL vial of 0.167 Molar (M/6) Sodium Lactate Injection, USP.)
- Store at 20 to 25C (68 to 77F).  Reconstituted solutions of dexrazoxane for injection are stable for 6 hours at controlled room temperature or under refrigeration, 2 to 8C (36 to 46F). DISCARD UNUSED SOLUTIONS.
- Follow special handling and disposal procedures.

## Storage
There is limited information regarding Dexrazoxane Storage in the drug label.

# Images

## Drug Images

## Package and Label Display Panel

# Patient Counseling Information
- Treatment with dexrazoxane for injection is associated with leukopenia, neutropenia, and thrombocytopenia. Perform hematological monitoring
- Counsel patients on pregnancy planning and prevention. Advise female patients of reproductive potential that dexrazoxane for injection can cause fetal harm and to use highly effective contraception during treatment.

# Precautions with Alcohol
- Alcohol-dexrazoxane  interaction has not been established. Talk to your doctor about the effects of taking alcohol with this medication.

# Brand Names
- Zinecard
- Totect

# Look-Alike Drug Names
There is limited information regarding Dexrazoxane Look-Alike Drug Names in the drug label.

# Drug Shortage Status

# Price