FDA Approves Rolapitant for Prevention of Chemotherapy-Induced Nausea and Vomiting
The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approved rolapitant (Varubi) to prevent delayed-phase chemotherapy-induced nausea and vomiting. Rolapitant is approved in adults in combination with other antiemetic agents that prevent nausea and vomiting associated with initial and repeat courses of emetogenic and highly emetogenic cancer chemotherapy.
‘Major Issue’ for Quality of Life
Nausea and vomiting are common side effects experienced by cancer patients undergoing chemotherapy. Symptoms can persist for days after the chemotherapy drugs are administered. Nausea and vomiting that occurs from 24 hours to up to 120 hours after the start of chemotherapy is referred to as delayed-phase nausea and vomiting and can result in serious health complications. Prolonged nausea and vomiting can lead to weight loss, dehydration, and malnutrition leading to hospitalization in cancer patients.
“Chemotherapy-induced nausea and vomiting remains a major issue that can disrupt patients' lives and sometimes their therapy,” said Amy Egan, MD, MPH, Deputy Director of the Office of Drug Evaluation III in the FDA’s Center for Drug Evaluation and Research. “Today’s approval provides cancer patients with another treatment option for the prevention of the delayed phase of nausea and vomiting caused by chemotherapy.”
Rolapitant is a substance P/neurokinin-1 (NK-1) receptor antagonist. Activation of NK-1 receptors plays a central role in nausea and vomiting induced by certain cancer chemotherapies, particularly in the delayed phase. The new agent is provided to patients in tablet form.
Clinical Trial Data
The safety and efficacy of rolapitant were established in three randomized, double-blind, controlled clinical trials where rolapitant in combination with granisetron and dexamethasone was compared with a control therapy (placebo, granisetron, and dexamethasone) in 2,800 patients receiving a chemotherapy regimen that included highly emetogenic (such as cisplatin and the combination of anthracycline and cyclophosphamide) and moderately emetogenic chemotherapy drugs. Those patients treated with rolapitant had a greater reduction in vomiting and use of rescue medication for nausea and vomiting during the delayed phase compared with those receiving the control therapy.
Rolapitant inhibits the CYP2D6 enzyme, which is responsible for metabolizing certain drugs, and is contraindicated with the use of thioridazine, a drug metabolized by the CYP2D6 enzyme, because use of the two drugs together may increase the amount of thioridazine in the blood and cause an abnormal heart rhythm that can be serious.
The most common side effects in patients treated with rolapitant include neutropenia, hiccups, decreased appetite, and dizziness.
The content in this post has not been reviewed by the American Society of Clinical Oncology, Inc. (ASCO®) and does not necessarily reflect the ideas and opinions of ASCO®.
