Erbitux

Overdose

There is limited experience with single doses higher than 400 mg/m2 body surface area to date or weekly administrations of doses higher than 250 mg/m2 body surface area.

Shelf life

4 years.

Chemical and physical in-use stability of Erbitux 5 mg/mL has been demonstrated for 48 hours at 25º

Erbitux does not contain any antimicrobial preservative or bacteriostatic agent. From a microbiological point of view, the product shall be used immediately after opening. If not used immediately, in-use storage times and conditions prior to use are the responsibility of the user and would normally not be longer than 24 hours at 2 to 8ºC, unless opening has taken place in controlled and validated aseptic conditions.

Contraindications

Erbitux is contraindicated in patients with known severe (grade 3 or 4) hypersensitivity reactions to cetuximab.

The combination of Erbitux with oxaliplatin-containing chemotherapy is contraindicated for patients with mutant ).

Before initiation of combination treatment, contraindications for concomitantly used chemotherapeutic agents or radiation therapy must be considered.

List of excipients

Sodium chloride

Glycine

Polysorbate 80

Citric acid monohydrate

Sodium hydroxide

Water for injections

Pharmaceutical form

Solution for infusion.

Colourless solution.

Undesirable effects

The main undesirable effects of cetuximab are skin reactions, which occur in more than 80% of patients, hypomagnesaemia which occurs in more than 10% of patients and infusion-related reactions, which occur with mild to moderate symptoms in more than 10% of patients and with severe symptoms in more than 1% of patients.

The following definitions apply to the frequency terminology used hereafter:

Very common (> 1/10)

Common (> 1/100 to < 1/10)

Uncommon (> 1/1,000 to < 1/100)

Rare (> 1/10,000 to < 1/1,000)

Very rare (< 1/10,000)

Frequency not known (cannot be estimated from the available data)

An asterisk (*) indicates that additional information on the respective undesirable effect is provided below the table.

Additional information

Overall, no clinically relevant difference between genders was observed.

Skin reactions

Skin reactions may develop in more than 80% of patients and mainly present as acne-like rash and/or, less frequently, as pruritus, dry skin, desquamation, hypertrichosis, or nail disorders (e.g. paronychia). Approximately 15% of the skin reactions are severe, including single cases of skin necrosis. The majority of skin reactions develop within the first three weeks of therapy. They generally resolve, without sequelae, over time following cessation of treatment if the recommended adjustments in dose regimen are followed.

Skin lesions induced by cetuximab may predispose patients to superinfections (e.g. with S. aureus), which may lead to subsequent complications, e.g. cellulitis, erysipelas, or, potentially with fatal outcome, staphylococcal scalded skin syndrome, necrotising fasciitis or sepsis.

Combination treatment

When cetuximab is used in combination with chemotherapeutic agents, also refer to their respective product information.

In combination with platinum-based chemotherapy, the frequency of severe leukopenia or severe neutropenia may be increased, and thus may lead to a higher rate of infectious complications such as febrile neutropenia, pneumonia and sepsis compared to platinum-based chemotherapy alone.

In combination with fluoropyrimidines, the frequency of cardiac ischaemia including myocardial infarction and congestive heart failure as well as the frequency of hand-foot syndrome (palmar-plantar erythrodysaesthesia) were increased compared to that with fluoropyrimidines.

In combination with local radiation therapy of the head and neck area, additional undesirable effects were those typical of radiation therapy (such as mucositis, radiation dermatitis, dysphagia or leukopenia, mainly presenting as lymphocytopenia). In a randomised controlled clinical study with 424 patients, reporting rates of severe acute radiation dermatitis and mucositis as well as of late radiation-therapy-related events were slightly higher in patients receiving radiation therapy in combination with cetuximab than in those receiving radiation therapy alone.

Reporting of suspected adverse reactions

Reporting suspected adverse reactions after authorisation of the medicinal product is important. It allows continued monitoring of the benefit/risk balance of the medicinal product. Healthcare professionals are asked to report any suspected adverse reactions (see details below).

United Kingdom

Yellow Card Scheme

Website: www.mhra.gov.uk/yellowcard

Ireland

HPRA Pharmacovigilance

Earlsfort Terrace

IRL - Dublin 2

Tel: +353 1 6764971

Fax: +353 1 6762517

Website: www.hpra.ie

e-mail: [email protected]

Malta

ADR Reporting

Website: www.medicinesauthority.gov.mt/adrportal

Preclinical safety data

Dose-dependent skin alterations, starting at dose levels equivalent to those used in humans, were the major findings observed in toxicity studies with Cynomolgus monkeys (a chronic repeat-dose toxicity study and an embryo-foetal development study).

An embryo-foetal toxicity study in Cynomolgus monkeys revealed no signs of teratogenicity. However, dependent on the dose, an increased incidence of abortion was observed.

Non-clinical data on genotoxicity and local tolerance including accidental administration by routes other than the intended infusion revealed no special hazard for humans.

No formal animal studies have been performed to establish the carcinogenic potential of cetuximab or to determine its effects on male and female fertility.

Toxicity studies with co-administration of cetuximab and chemotherapeutic agents have not been performed.

No non-clinical data on the effect of cetuximab on wound healing are available to date. However, in preclinical wound healing models EGFR selective tyrosine kinase inhibitors were shown to retard wound healing.

Therapeutic indications

Erbitux is indicated for the treatment of patients with epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR)-expressing, RAS wild-type metastatic colorectal cancer

- in combination with irinotecan-based chemotherapy,

- in first-line in combination with FOLFOX,

- as a single agent in patients who have failed oxaliplatin- and irinotecan-based therapy and who are intolerant to irinotecan.

Erbitux is indicated for the treatment of patients with squamous cell cancer of the head and neck

- in combination with radiation therapy for locally advanced disease,

- in combination with platinum-based chemotherapy for recurrent and/or metastatic disease.

Pharmacotherapeutic group

Pharmacodynamic properties

Pharmacotherapeutic group: Antineoplastic agents, monoclonal antibodies, ATC code: L01XC06

Mechanism of action

Cetuximab is a chimeric monoclonal IgG1 antibody that is specifically directed against the epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR).

EGFR signalling pathways are involved in the control of cell survival, cell cycle progression, angiogenesis, cell migration and cellular invasion/metastasis.

Cetuximab binds to the EGFR with an affinity that is approximately 5- to 10-fold higher than that of endogenous ligands. Cetuximab blocks binding of endogenous EGFR ligands resulting in inhibition of the function of the receptor. It further induces the internalisation of EGFR, which can lead to down-regulation of EGFR. Cetuximab also targets cytotoxic immune effector cells towards EGFR-expressing tumour cells (antibody dependent cell-mediated cytotoxicity, ADCC).

Cetuximab does not bind to other receptors belonging to the HER family.

The protein product of the proto-oncogene RAS (rat sarcoma) is a central down-stream signal-transducer of EGFR. In tumours, activation of RAS by EGFR contributes to EGFR-mediated increased proliferation, survival and the production of pro-angiogenic factors.

RAS is one of the most frequently activated family of oncogenes in human cancers. Mutations of RAS genes at certain hot-spots on exons 2, 3 and 4 result in constitutive activation of RAS proteins independently of EGFR signalling.

Pharmacodynamic effects

In both in vitro and in vivo assays, cetuximab inhibits the proliferation and induces apoptosis of human tumour cells that express EGFR. In vitro cetuximab inhibits the production of angiogenic factors by tumour cells and blocks endothelial cell migration. In vivo cetuximab inhibits expression of angiogenic factors by tumour cells and causes a reduction in tumour neo-vascularisation and metastasis.

Immunogenicity

The development of human anti-chimeric antibodies (HACA) is a class effect of monoclonal chimeric antibodies. Current data on the development of HACAs is limited. Overall, measurable HACA titres were noted in 3.4% of the patients studied, with incidences ranging from 0% to 9.6% in the target indication studies. No conclusive data on the neutralising effect of HACAs on cetuximab is available to date. The appearance of HACA did not correlate with the occurrence of hypersensitivity reactions or any other undesirable effect to cetuximab.

Colorectal cancer

A diagnostic assay (EGFR pharmDx) was used for immunohistochemical detection of EGFR expression in tumour material. A tumour was considered to be EGFR-expressing, if one stained cell could be identified. Approximately 75% of the patients with metastatic colorectal cancer screened for clinical studies had an EGFR-expressing tumour and were therefore considered eligible for cetuximab treatment. The efficacy and safety of cetuximab have not been documented in patients with tumours where EGFR was not detected.

Study data demonstrate that patients with metastatic colorectal cancer and activating RAS mutations are highly unlikely to benefit from treatment with cetuximab or a combination of cetuximab and chemotherapy and as add-on to FOLFOX4 a significant negative effect on progression-free survival time (PFS) was shown.

Cetuximab as a single agent or in combination with chemotherapy was investigated in 5 randomised controlled clinical studies and several supportive studies.

The KRAS exon 2 status was recognised as predictive factor for the treatment with cetuximab in 4 of the randomised controlled studies (EMR 62 202-013, EMR 62 202-047, CA225006, and CA225025). KRAS mutational status was available for 2072 patients. Further post-hoc analyses were performed for studies EMR 62 202-013 and EMR 62 202-047, where also mutations on RAS genes (NRAS and KRAS) other than KRAS exon 2 have been determined. Only in study EMR 62 202-007, a post-hoc analysis was not possible.

In addition, cetuximab was investigated in combination with chemotherapy in an investigator-initiated randomised controlled phase-III study (COIN, COntinuous chemotherapy plus cetuximab or INtermittent chemotherapy). In this study EGFR expression was not an inclusion criterion. Tumour samples from approximately 81% of patients were analysed retrospectively for KRAS expression.

FIRE-3, an investigator-sponsored clinical phase-III study, compared the treatment of FOLFIRI in combination with either cetuximab or bevacizumab in the first-line treatment of patients with KRAS exon 2 wild-type mCRC. Further post-hoc analyses on mutations on RAS genes other than KRAS exon 2 have been evaluated.

Cetuximab in combination with chemotherapy

- EMR 62 202-013: This randomised study in patients with metastatic colorectal cancer who had not received prior treatment for metastatic disease compared the combination of cetuximab and irinotecan plus infusional 5-fluorouracil/folinic acid (FOLFIRI) (599 patients) to the same chemotherapy alone (599 patients). The proportion of patients with KRAS wild-type tumours from the patient population evaluable for KRAS status comprised 63%. For the assessment of the RAS status, mutations other than those on exon 2 of the KRAS gene were determined from all evaluable tumour samples within the KRAS exon 2 wild-type population (65%). The RAS mutant population consists of patients with known KRAS exon 2 mutations as well as additionally identified RAS mutations.

The efficacy data generated in this study are summarised in the table below:

CI = confidence interval, FOLFIRI = irinotecan plus infusional 5-FU/FA, ORR = objective response rate (patients with complete response or partial response), OS = overall survival time, PFS = progression-free survival time

- EMR 62 202-047: This randomised study in patients with metastatic colorectal cancer who had not received prior treatment for metastatic disease compared the combination of cetuximab and oxaliplatin plus continuous infusional 5-fluorouracil/folinic acid (FOLFOX4) (169 patients) to the same chemotherapy alone (168 patients). The proportion of patients with KRAS wild-type tumours from the patient population evaluable for KRAS status comprised 57%. For the assessment of the RAS status, mutations other than those on exon 2 of the KRAS gene were determined from all evaluable tumour samples within the KRAS exon 2 wild-type population. The RAS mutant population consists of patients with known KRAS exon 2 mutations as well as additionally identified RAS mutations.

The efficacy data generated in this study are summarised in the table below:

CI = confidence interval, FOLFOX4 = oxaliplatin plus continuous infusional 5-FU/FA, ORR = objective response rate (patients with complete response or partial response), OS = overall survival time, PFS = progression-free survival time, NE = not estimable

In particular a negative effect of cetuximab add-on in the RAS mutant population was observed.

- COIN: This was an open-label, 3-arm, randomised study in 2445 patients with inoperable metastatic or locoregional colorectal cancer who had not received prior treatment for metastatic disease and compared oxaliplatin plus fluoropyrimidines (infusional 5-fluorouracil/folinic acid [OxMdG] or capecitabine [XELOX]) in combination with cetuximab to the same chemotherapy regimen alone. The third experimental arm used an intermittent OxMdG or XELOX regimen without cetuximab. Data for the XELOX regimen and the third experimental arm are not presented.

Tumour samples from approximately 81% of patients were analysed retrospectively for KRAS expression, of which 55% were KRAS wild-type. Of these, 362 patients received cetuximab and oxaliplatin plus fluoropyrimidines (117 patients OxMdG and 245 patients XELOX) and 367 patients received oxaliplatin plus fluoropyrimidines alone (127 patients OxMdG and 240 patients XELOX). Of the KRAS mutant population, 297 patients received cetuximab and oxaliplatin plus fluoropyrimidines (101 patients OxMdG and 196 patients XELOX) and 268 patients received oxaliplatin plus fluoropyrimidines alone (78 patients OxMdG and 190 patients XELOX).

The efficacy data on the OxMdG regimen generated in this study are summarised in the table below:

CI = confidence interval, OxMdG = oxaliplatin plus infusional 5-FU/FA, OS = overall survival time, PFS = progression-free survival time

In time related endpoints no trends indicating clinical benefit could be shown for patients who received cetuximab in combination with the XELOX regimen.

There were significant dose reductions and delays of capecitabine or oxaliplatin administration mainly due to higher frequency of diarrhoea in the cetuximab containing arm. In addition, significantly fewer patients treated with cetuximab received second-line therapy.

FIRE-3 (First-line combination of cetuximab with FOLFIRI): The FIRE-3 study was a multicentre randomised phase-III study investigating head-to-head 5-FU, folinic acid and irinotecan (FOLFIRI) combined with either cetuximab or bevacizumab in patients with KRAS exon 2 wild-type metastatic colorectal cancer (mCRC). RAS status was evaluable in tumour samples of 407 KRAS exon 2 wild-type patients reflecting 69% of the overall KRAS exon 2 wild-type patient population (592 patients). Of these, 342 patients had RAS wild-type tumours while RAS mutations were identified in 65 patients. The RAS mutant population comprises these 65 patients together with 113 patients with KRAS exon 2 mutant tumours treated before study enrolment was restricted to patients with KRAS exon 2 wild-type mCRC.

The efficacy data generated in this study are summarised in the table below:

CI = confidence interval, FOLFIRI = irinotecan plus infusional 5-FU/FA, ORR = objective response rate (patients with complete response or partial response), OS = overall survival time, PFS = progression-free survival time

In the KRAS wild-type population of the CALGB/SWOG 80405 study (n=1137), superiority of cetuximab plus chemotherapy over bevacizumab plus chemotherapy was not shown based on an interim analysis. Analyses on the RAS wild-type population are required to appropriately evaluate these data

- CA225006: This randomised study in patients with metastatic colorectal cancer who had received initial combination treatment with oxaliplatin plus fluoropyrimidine for metastatic disease compared the combination of cetuximab and irinotecan (648 patients) with irinotecan alone (650 patients). Following disease progression, treatment with EGFR-targeting agents was initiated in 50% of patients in the irinotecan-alone arm.

In the overall population, irrespective of KRAS status, the results reported for cetuximab plus irinotecan (648 patients) vs. irinotecan alone (650 patients) were: median overall survival time (OS) 10.71 vs. 9.99 months (HR 0.98), median progression free survival time (PFS) 4.0 vs. 2.6 months (HR 0.69), and objective response rate (ORR) 16.4% vs. 4.2%.

With respect to the KRAS status, tumour samples were only available from 23% of the patients (300 of 1298). From the KRAS evaluated population 64% of the patients (192) had KRAS wild-type tumours and 108 patients KRAS mutations. On the basis of this data and since no independent review of imaging data was conducted, results in relation to mutation status are considered non-interpretable.

- EMR 62 202-007: This randomised study in patients with metastatic colorectal cancer after failure of irinotecan-based treatment for metastatic disease as the last treatment before study entry compared the combination of cetuximab and irinotecan (218 patients) with cetuximab monotherapy (111 patients).

The combination of cetuximab with irinotecan compared to cetuximab alone reduced the overall risk of disease progression by 46% and significantly increased objective response rate. In the randomised trial, the improvement in overall survival time did not reach statistical significance; however, in the follow-up treatment, nearly 50% of the patients of the cetuximab alone arm received a combination of cetuximab and irinotecan after progression of disease, which may have influenced overall survival time.

Cetuximab as a single agent

- CA225025: This randomised study in patients with metastatic colorectal cancer who had received prior oxaliplatin-, irinotecan- and fluoropyrimidine-based treatment for metastatic disease compared the addition of cetuximab as a single agent to best supportive care (BSC) (287 patients) with best supportive care (285 patients). The proportion of patients with KRAS wild-type tumours from the patient population evaluable for KRAS status comprised 58%.

The efficacy data generated in this study are summarised in the table below:

Pharmacokinetic properties

Cetuximab pharmacokinetics were studied when cetuximab was administered as monotherapy or in combination with concomitant chemotherapy or radiation therapy in clinical studies. Intravenous infusions of cetuximab exhibited dose-dependent pharmacokinetics at weekly doses ranging from 5 to 500 mg/m2 body surface area.

When cetuximab was administered at an initial dose of 400 mg/m2 body surface area, the mean volume of distribution was approximately equivalent to the vascular space (2.9 L/m2 with a range of 1.5 to 6.2 L/m2). The mean Cmax (± standard deviation) was 185±55 microgram per mL. The mean clearance was 0.022 L/h per m² body surface area. Cetuximab has a long elimination half-life with values ranging from 70 to 100 hours at the target dose.

Cetuximab serum concentrations reached stable levels after three weeks of cetuximab monotherapy. Mean peak cetuximab concentrations were 155.8 microgram per mL in week 3 and 151.6 microgram per mL in week 8, whereas the corresponding mean trough concentrations were 41.3 and 55.4 microgram per mL, respectively. In a study of cetuximab administered in combination with irinotecan, the mean cetuximab trough levels were 50.0 microgram per mL in week 12 and 49.4 microgram per mL in week 36.

Several pathways have been described that may contribute to the metabolism of antibodies. All of these pathways involve the biodegradation of the antibody to smaller molecules, i.e. small peptides or amino acids.

Pharmacokinetics in special populations

An integrated analysis across all clinical studies showed that the pharmacokinetic characteristics of cetuximab are not influenced by race, age, gender, renal or hepatic status.

Only patients with adequate renal and hepatic function have been investigated to date (serum creatinine ≤ 1.5fold, transaminases ≤ 5fold and bilirubin ≤ 1.5fold the upper limit of normal).

Paediatric population

In a phase-I study in paediatric patients (1-18 years) with refractory solid tumours, cetuximab was administered in combination with irinotecan. The pharmacokinetic results were comparable to those in adults.

Date of revision of the text

06/2014

Marketing authorisation holder

Merck KGaA

64271 Darmstadt

Germany

Special precautions for storage

Store in a refrigerator (2°C - 8°C).

Nature and contents of container

20 mL or 100 mL of solution in a vial (Type I glass) with a stopper (halobutyl rubber) and a seal (aluminium/polypropylen).

Pack size of 1 vial.

Not all vial sizes may be marketed.

Marketing authorisation number(s)

EU/1/04/281/003

EU/1/04/281/005

Fertility, pregnancy and lactation

Pregnancy

EGFR is involved in foetal development. Limited observations in animals are indicative of a placental transfer of cetuximab, and other IgG1 antibodies have been found to cross the placental barrier. Animal data revealed no evidence of teratogenicity. However, dependent on the dose, an increased incidence of abortion was observed. Sufficient data from pregnant or lactating women are not available.

It is strongly recommended that Erbitux be given during pregnancy or to any woman not employing adequate contraception only if the potential benefit for the mother justifies a potential risk to the foetus.

Breast-feeding

It is recommended that women do not breast-feed during treatment with Erbitux and for 2 months after the last dose, because it is not known whether cetuximab is excreted in breast milk.

Fertility

There are no data on the effect of cetuximab on human fertility. Effects on male and female fertility have not been evaluated within formal animal studies.

Qualitative and quantitative composition

Each mL of solution for infusion contains 5 mg cetuximab.

Each vial of 20 mL contains 100 mg cetuximab.

Each vial of 100 mL contains 500 mg cetuximab.

Cetuximab is a chimeric monoclonal IgG1 antibody produced in a mammalian cell line (Sp2/0) by recombinant DNA technology.

Special warnings and precautions for use

Infusion-related, including anaphylactic, reactions

Severe infusion-related reactions, including anaphylactic reactions, may commonly occur, in some cases with fatal outcome. Occurrence of a severe infusion-related reaction requires immediate and permanent discontinuation of cetuximab therapy and may necessitate emergency treatment. Some of these reactions may be anaphylactic or anaphylactoid in nature or represent a cytokine release syndrome (CRS). Symptoms may occur during the first infusion and for up to several hours afterwards or with subsequent infusions. It is recommended to warn patients of the possibility of such a late onset and instruct them to contact their physician if symptoms or signs of an infusion-related reaction occur. Symptoms may include bronchospasm, urticaria, increase or decrease in blood pressure, loss of consciousness or shock. In rare cases, angina pectoris, myocardial infarction or cardiac arrest have been observed.

Anaphylactic reactions may occur as early as within a few minutes of the first infusion e.g. due to preformed IgE antibodies cross-reacting with cetuximab. These reactions are commonly associated with bronchospasm and urticaria. They can occur despite the use of premedication.

The risk for anaphylactic reactions is much increased in patients with a history of allergy to red meat or tick bites or positive results of tests for IgE antibodies against cetuximab (α-1-3-galactose). In these patients cetuximab should be administered only after a careful assessment of benefit/risk, including alternative treatments, and only under close supervision of well trained personnel with resuscitation equipment ready.

The first dose should be administered slowly and the speed must not exceed 5 mg/min whilst all vital signs are closely monitored for at least two hours. If during the first infusion, an infusion-related reaction occurs within the first 15 minutes, the infusion should be stopped. A careful benefit/risk assessment should be undertaken including consideration whether the patient may have preformed IgE antibodies before a subsequent infusion is given.

If an infusion-related reaction develops later during the infusion or at a subsequent infusion further management will depend on its severity:

a) Grade 1: continue slow infusion under close supervision

b) Grade 2: continue slow infusion and immediately administer treatment for symptoms

c) Grade 3 and 4: stop infusion immediately, treat symptoms vigorously and contraindicate further use of cetuximab

A cytokine release syndrome (CRS) typically occurs within one hour after infusion and is less commonly associated with bronchospasm and urticaria. CRS is normally most severe in relation to the first infusion.

Mild or moderate infusion-related reactions are very common comprising symptoms such as fever, chills, dizziness, or dyspnoea that occur in a close temporal relationship mainly to the first cetuximab infusion. If the patient experiences a mild or moderate infusion-related reaction, the infusion rate may be decreased. It is recommended to maintain this lower infusion rate in all subsequent infusions.

A close monitoring of patients, particularly during the first administration, is required. Special attention is recommended for patients with reduced performance status and pre-existing cardio-pulmonary disease.

Respiratory disorders

Cases of interstitial lung disease have been reported, with the majority of patients from the Japanese population. If interstitial lung disease is diagnosed, cetuximab must be discontinued and the patient be treated appropriately.

Skin reactions

Main adverse reactions of cetuximab are skin reactions which may become severe, especially in combination with chemotherapy. The risk for secondary infections (mainly bacterial) is increased and cases of staphylococcal scalded skin syndrome, necrotising fasciitis and sepsis, in some cases with fatal outcome, have been reported.

Skin reactions are very common and treatment interruption or discontinuation may be required. According to clinical practice guidelines prophylactic use of oral tetracyclines (6 - 8 weeks) and topical application of 1% hydrocortisone cream with moisturiser should be considered. Medium to high-potency topical corticosteroids or oral tetracyclines have been used for the treatment of skin reactions.

If a patient experiences an intolerable or severe skin reaction (> grade 3; Common Terminology Criteria for Adverse Events, CTCAE), cetuximab therapy must be interrupted. Treatment may only be resumed if the reaction has resolved to grade 2.

If the severe skin reaction occurred for the first time, treatment may be resumed without any change in dose level.

With the second and third occurrences of severe skin reactions, cetuximab therapy must again be interrupted. Treatment may only be resumed at a lower dose level (200 mg/m² after the second occurrence and 150 mg/m² after the third occurrence), if the reaction has resolved to grade 2.

If severe skin reactions occur a fourth time or do not resolve to grade 2 during interruption of treatment, permanent discontinuation of cetuximab treatment is required.

Electrolyte disturbances

Progressively decreasing serum magnesium levels occur frequently and may lead to severe hypomagnesaemia. Hypomagnesaemia is reversible following discontinuation of cetuximab. In addition, hypokalaemia may develop as a consequence of diarrhoea. Hypocalcaemia may also occur; in particular in combination with platinum-based chemotherapy the frequency of severe hypocalcaemia may be increased.

Determination of serum electrolyte levels is recommended prior to and periodically during cetuximab treatment. Electrolyte repletion is recommended, as appropriate.

Neutropenia and related infectious complications

Patients who receive cetuximab in combination with platinum-based chemotherapy are at an increased risk for the occurrence of severe neutropenia, which may lead to subsequent infectious complications such as febrile neutropenia, pneumonia or sepsis. Careful monitoring is recommended in such patients, in particular in those who experience skin lesions, mucositis or diarrhoea that may facilitate the occurrence of infections.

Cardiovascular disorders

An increased frequency of severe and sometimes fatal cardiovascular events and treatment emergent deaths has been observed in the treatment of non-small cell lung cancer, squamous cell carcinoma of the head and neck and colorectal carcinoma. In some studies association with age > 65 years or performance status has been observed. When prescribing cetuximab, the cardiovascular and performance status of the patients and concomitant administration of cardiotoxic compounds such as fluoropyrimidines should be taken into account.

Eye disorders

Patients presenting with signs and symptoms suggestive of keratitis such as acute or worsening: eye inflammation, lacrimation, light sensitivity, blurred vision, eye pain and/or red eye should be referred promptly to an ophthalmology specialist.

If a diagnosis of ulcerative keratitis is confirmed, treatment with cetuximab should be interrupted or discontinued. If keratitis is diagnosed, the benefits and risks of continuing treatment should be carefully considered.

Cetuximab should be used with caution in patients with a history of keratitis, ulcerative keratitis or severe dry eye. Contact lens use is also a risk factor for keratitis and ulceration.

Colorectal cancer patients with RAS mutated tumours

Cetuximab should not be used in the treatment of colorectal cancer patients whose tumours have RAS mutations or for whom RAS tumour status is unknown. Results from clinical studies show a negative benefit-risk balance in tumours with RAS mutations. In particular, in these patients negative effects on progression-free survival (PFS) and overall survival (OS) were seen as add-on to FOLFOX4.

Similar findings were also reported when cetuximab was given as add-on to XELOX in combination with bevacizumab (CAIRO2). However, in this study no positive effects on PFS or OS were demonstrated in patients with KRAS wild-type tumours, either.

Special populations

Only patients with adequate renal and hepatic function have been investigated to date (serum creatinine ≤ 1.5fold, transaminases ≤ 5fold and bilirubin ≤ 1.5fold the upper limit of normal).

Cetuximab has not been studied in patients presenting with one or more of the following laboratory parameters:

- haemoglobin < 9 g/dL

- leukocyte count < 3000/mm³

- absolute neutrophil count < 1500/mm³

- platelet count < 100000/mm³

There is limited experience in the use of cetuximab in combination with radiation therapy in colorectal cancer.

Paediatric population

The efficacy of cetuximab in paediatric patients below the age of 18 years has not been established. No new safety signals were identified in paediatric patients as reported from a phase-I study.

Effects on ability to drive and use machines

No studies on the effects on the ability to drive and use machines have been performed. If patients experience treatment-related symptoms affecting their ability to concentrate and react, it is recommended that they do not drive or use machines until the effect subsides.

Dosage (Posology) and method of administration

Erbitux must be administered under the supervision of a physician experienced in the use of antineoplastic medicinal products. Close monitoring is required during the infusion and for at least 1 hour after the end of the infusion. Availability of resuscitation equipment must be ensured.

Posology

Prior to the first infusion, patients must receive premedication with an antihistamine and a corticosteroid at least 1 hour prior to administration of cetuximab. This premedication is recommended prior to all subsequent infusions.

In all indications, Erbitux is administered once a week. The initial dose is 400 mg cetuximab per m2 body surface area. All subsequent weekly doses are 250 mg cetuximab per m2 each.

Colorectal cancer

In patients with metastatic colorectal cancer, cetuximab is used in combination with chemotherapy or as a single agent. Evidence of wild-type RAS (KRAS and NRAS) status is required before initiating treatment with Erbitux. Mutational status should be determined by an experienced laboratory using validated test methods for detection of KRAS and NRAS (exons 2, 3, and 4) mutations.

For the dosage or recommended dose modifications of concomitantly used chemotherapeutic agents, refer to the product information for these medicinal products. They must not be administered earlier than 1 hour after the end of the cetuximab infusion.

It is recommended that cetuximab treatment be continued until progression of the underlying disease.

Squamous cell cancer of the head and neck

In patients with locally advanced squamous cell cancer of the head and neck, cetuximab is used concomitantly with radiation therapy. It is recommended to start cetuximab therapy one week before radiation therapy and to continue cetuximab therapy until the end of the radiation therapy period.

In patients with recurrent and/or metastatic squamous cell cancer of the head and neck, cetuximab is used in combination with platinum-based chemotherapy followed by cetuximab as maintenance therapy until disease progression. Chemotherapy must not be administered earlier than 1 hour after the end of the cetuximab infusion.

Special populations

Only patients with adequate renal and hepatic function have been investigated to date.

Cetuximab has not been studied in patients with pre-existing haematological disorders.

No dose adjustment is required in older people, but the experience is limited in patients 75 years of age and above.

Paediatric population

There is no relevant use of cetuximab in the paediatric population in the granted indications.

Method of administration

Erbitux 5 mg/mL is administered intravenously with an infusion pump, gravity drip or a syringe pump.

The initial dose should be given slowly and speed of infusion must not exceed 5 mg/min. The recommended infusion period is 120 minutes. For the subsequent weekly doses, the recommended infusion period is 60 minutes. The infusion rate must not exceed 10 mg/min.

Special precautions for disposal and other handling

Erbitux may be administered via a gravity drip, an infusion pump or a syringe pump. A separate infusion line must be used for the infusion, and the line must be flushed with sterile sodium chloride 9 mg/mL (0.9%) solution for injection at the end of infusion.

Erbitux 5 mg/mL is compatible

- with polyethylene (PE), ethyl vinyl acetate (EVA) or polyvinyl chloride (PVC) bags,

- with polyethylene (PE), polyurethane (PUR), ethyl vinyl acetate (EVA), polyolefine thermoplastic (TP) or polyvinyl chloride (PVC) infusion sets,

- with polypropylene (PP) syringes for syringe pump.

Care must be taken to ensure aseptic handling when preparing the infusion.

Erbitux 5 mg/mL must be prepared as follows:

- For administration with infusion pump or gravity drip (diluted with sterile sodium chloride 9 mg/mL (0.9%) solution): Take an infusion bag of adequate size of sterile sodium chloride 9 mg/mL (0.9%) solution.

- For administration with infusion pump or gravity drip (undiluted): Calculate the required volume of Erbitux.

- For administration with a syringe pump: Calculate the required volume of Erbitux./mL (0.9%) solution. If necessary, repeat this procedure until the calculated volume has been infused.

Date of first authorisation/renewal of the authorisation

Date of first authorisation: 29/06/2004

Date of latest renewal: 29/06/2009

Interaction with other medicinal products and other forms of interaction

In combination with platinum-based chemotherapy, the frequency of severe leukopenia or severe neutropenia may be increased, and thus may lead to a higher rate of infectious complications such as febrile neutropenia, pneumonia and sepsis compared to platinum-based chemotherapy alone.

In combination with fluoropyrimidines, the frequency of cardiac ischaemia including myocardial infarction and congestive heart failure as well as the frequency of hand-foot syndrome (palmar-plantar erythrodysaesthesia) were increased compared to that with fluoropyrimidines.

In combination with capecitabine and oxaliplatin (XELOX) the frequency of severe diarrhoea may be increased.

A formal interaction study showed that the pharmacokinetic characteristics of cetuximab remain unaltered after co-administration of a single dose of irinotecan (350 mg/m2 body surface area). Similarly, the pharmacokinetics of irinotecan were unchanged when cetuximab was co-administered.

No other formal interaction studies with cetuximab have been performed in humans.