Palifermin

Brand Names: Kepivance

Drug Class: Mucocutaneous Epithelial Cell Growth Factor

Overview

11 DESCRIPTION Kepivance (palifermin) is a truncated human KGF produced by recominant DNA technology in E coli . Kepivance is a water soluble, 140 amino acid protein with a molecular weight of 16.3 kilodaltons. It differs from endogenous human KGF in that the first 23 N terminal amino acids have been deleted to improve protein stability.

Mechanism of Action

12 CLINICAL PHARMACOLOGY 12.1 Mechanism of Action KGF is an endogenous protein in the fibroblast growth factor (FGF) family that binds to the KGF receptor. Binding of KGF to its receptor has been reported to result in proliferation, differentiation, and migration of epithelial cells. The KGF receptor, one of four receptors in the FGF family, has been reported to be present on epithelial cells in many tissues examined including the tongue, buccal mucosa, esophagus, stomach, intestine, salivary gland, lung, liver, pancreas, kidney, bladder, mammary gland, skin (hair follicles and sebaceous gland), and the lens of the eye. The KGF receptor has been reported to not be present on cells of the hematopoietic lineage.

Indications

  • 1 INDICATIONS AND USAGE Kepivance is a mucocutaneous epithelial human growth factor indicated to decrease the incidence and duration of severe oral mucositis in patients with hematologic malignancies receiving myelotoxic therapy in the setting of autologous hematopoietic stem cell support. Kepivance is indicated as supportive care for preparative regimens predicted to result in ≥ WHO Grade 3 mucositis in the majority of patients. ( 1.1 ) Limitations of Use The safety and efficacy of Kepivance have not been established in patients with non-hematologic malignancies ( 1.2 , 5.

Common Doses

  • 60 mcg
  • 1.2 mL
  • 5 mg

Dosage

2 DOSAGE AND ADMINISTRATION Administer as an intravenous bolus injection at a dose of 60 mcg/kg/day for 3 consecutive days before and 3 consecutive days after myelotoxic therapy for a total of 6 doses ( 2.1 ) Administer the first 3 doses prior to myelotoxic therapy with the third dose 24 to 48 hours before myelotoxic therapy ( 2.1 ) Administer the last 3 doses after myelotoxic therapy is complete with the first of these doses on the day of hematopoietic stem cell infusion after the infusion is completed, and at least 7 days after the most recent administration of Kepivance ( 2.1 ) 2.

Contraindications

  • 4 CONTRAINDICATIONS None None

Side Effects

  • 6 ADVERSE REACTIONS Most common adverse reactions (incidence ≥20% and 5%≥placebo) are rash, fever, elevated serum amylase, pruritus, erythema, and edema ( 6 ) To report SUSPECTED ADVERSE REACTIONS, contact Swedish Orphan Biovitrum at 1-866-773-5274 or FDA at 1-800-FDA-1088 or www.fda.gov/medwatch. 6.1 Clinical Trial Experience Because clinical trials are conducted under widely varying conditions, adverse reaction rates observed in the clinical trials of a drug cannot be directly compared to rates in the clinical trials of another drug and may not reflect the rates observed in clinical...

Interactions

  • 7 DRUG INTERACTIONS In vitro and in vivo data showed that palifermin interacts with unfractionated as well as low molecular weight heparins with no noticeable effect on the pharmacodynamics of either drug. If heparin is used to maintain an intravenous line, rinse the line with saline prior to and after Kepivance administration [see Clinical Pharmacology ( 12.3 )] . Do not administer Kepivance within 24 hours before, during infusion of, or within 24 hours after administration of myelotoxic chemotherapy [see Dosage and Administration ( 2.1 ) and Clinical Studies ( 14 )].