Pregnancy Exposure Registry

There is a pregnancy exposure registry that monitors pregnancy outcomes in females exposed to lenalidomide during pregnancy as well as female partners of male patients who are exposed to lenalidomide. This registry is also used to understand the root cause for the pregnancy. Report any suspected fetal exposure to lenalidomide to the FDA via the MedWatch program at 1-800-FDA-1088 and also to the REMS Call Center at 1‐888‐423‐5436. 

Risk Summary

Based on the mechanism of action [see Clinical Pharmacology (12.1)] and findings from animal studies [see Data], lenalidomide can cause embryo-fetal harm when administered to a pregnant female and is contraindicated during pregnancy [see Boxed Warning, Contraindications (4.1), and Use in Specific Populations (5.1)].

Lenalidomide is a thalidomide analogue. Thalidomide is a human teratogen, inducing a high frequency of severe and life-threatening birth defects such as amelia (absence of limbs), phocomelia (short limbs), hypoplasticity of the bones, absence of bones, external ear abnormalities (including anotia, micropinna, small or absent external auditory canals), facial palsy, eye abnormalities (anophthalmos, microphthalmos), and congenital heart defects. Alimentary tract, urinary tract, and genital malformations have also been documented and mortality at or shortly after birth has been reported in about 40% of infants.

Lenalidomide caused thalidomide-type limb defects in monkey offspring. Lenalidomide crossed the placenta after administration to pregnant rabbits and pregnant rats [see Data]. 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 risk to a fetus.

If pregnancy does occur during treatment, immediately discontinue the drug. Under these conditions, refer patient to an obstetrician/gynecologist experienced in reproductive toxicity for further evaluation and counseling. Report any suspected fetal exposure to lenalidomide to the FDA via the MedWatch program at 1-800-FDA-1088 and also to REMS Call Center at 1‐888‐423‐5436.

The estimated background risk of major birth defects and miscarriage for the indicated population is unknown. All pregnancies have a background risk of birth defect, loss, or other adverse outcomes. The estimated background risk in the U.S. general population of major birth defects is 2% to 4% and of miscarriage is 15% to 20% of clinically recognized pregnancies.

Data

Animal data

In an embryo-fetal developmental toxicity study in monkeys, teratogenicity, including thalidomide-like limb defects, occurred in offspring when pregnant monkeys received oral lenalidomide during organogenesis. Exposure (AUC) in monkeys at the lowest dose was 0.17 times the human exposure at the maximum recommended human dose (MRHD) of 25 mg. Similar studies in pregnant rabbits and rats at 20 times and 200 times the MRHD respectively, produced embryo lethality in rabbits and no adverse reproductive effects in rats.

In a pre- and post-natal development study in rats, animals received lenalidomide from organogenesis through lactation. The study revealed a few adverse effects on the offspring of female rats treated with lenalidomide at doses up to 500 mg/kg (approximately 200 times the human dose of 25 mg based on body surface area). The male offspring exhibited slightly delayed sexual maturation and the female offspring had slightly lower body weight gains during gestation when bred to male offspring. As with thalidomide, the rat model may not adequately address the full spectrum of potential human embryo-fetal developmental effects for lenalidomide.

Following daily oral administration of lenalidomide from Gestation Day 7 through Gestation Day 20 in pregnant rabbits, fetal plasma lenalidomide concentrations were approximately 20-40% of the maternal Cmax. Following a single oral dose to pregnant rats, lenalidomide was detected in fetal plasma and tissues; concentrations of radioactivity in fetal tissues were generally lower than those in maternal tissues. These data indicated that lenalidomide crossed the placenta.