2.1 Recommended Dosage

Administer the recommended pediatric dose of 52 mg/m2 as an intravenous infusion over 2 hours daily for 5 consecutive days.

• Repeat treatment cycles following recovery or return to baseline organ function, approximately every 2 to 6 weeks. Base dosage on the patient’s body surface area (BSA), calculatedusing the actual height and weight before the start of each cycle. To prevent drug incompatibilities, do not administer other medications through the same intravenous line. Administer subsequent cycles no sooner than 14 days from the starting day of the previous cycle and provided the patient’s ANC is ≥0.75 × 109/L. 

• Provide supportive care, such as intravenous fluids, antihyperuricemic treatment, and alkalinize urine throughout the 5 days of clofarabine injection administration to reduce the effects of tumor lysis and other adverse reactions.

• Discontinue clofarabine injection if hypotension develops during the 5 days of administration.

• Monitor renal and hepatic function during the 5 days of clofarabine injection administration [see Warnings and Precautions (5.7, 5.8)].

• Monitor patients taking medications known to affect blood pressure. Monitor cardiac function during administration of clofarabine injection.

2.2 Recommended Dosage Reduction for Renal Impairment

• Reduce the dose by 50% in patients with creatinine clearance (CrCL) between 30 and 60 mL/min. There is insufficient information to make a dosage recommendation in patients with CrCL less than 30 mL/min [see Use in Specific Populations (8.6)].

2.3 Potential Concomitant Medications and Medications to Avoid

• Consider prophylactic antiemetic medications as clofarabine injection is moderately emetogenic.

• Consider the use of prophylactic steroids to mitigate Systemic Inflammatory Response Syndrome (SIRS) or capillary leak syndrome (e.g., hypotension, tachycardia, tachypnea, and pulmonary edema).

• Minimize exposure to drugs with known renal toxicity during the 5 days of clofarabine injection administration since the risk of renal toxicity may be increased.

• Avoid concomitant use of medications known to induce hepatic toxicity.

2.4 Dose Modifications and Reinitiation of Therapy after Adverse Reactions

Hematologic Toxicity

• If a patient experiences a Grade 4 neutropenia (ANC <0.5 x 109/L) lasting ≥4 weeks, reduce dose by 25% for the next cycle.

Non-hematologic Toxicity

• Withhold clofarabine injection if a patient develops a clinically significant infection, until the infection is controlled, then restart at the full dose.

• Withhold clofarabine injection for a Grade 3 non-infectious non-hematologic toxicity (excluding transient elevations in serum transaminases and/or serum bilirubin and/or nausea/vomiting controlled by antiemetic therapy). Re-institute clofarabine injection administration at a 25% dose reduction when resolution or return to baseline.

• Discontinue clofarabine injection administration for a Grade 4 non-infectious non­hematologic toxicity.

• Discontinue clofarabine injection administration if a patient shows early signs or symptoms of SIRS or capillary leak syndrome (e.g., hypotension, tachycardia, tachypnea, and pulmonary edema) occur and provide appropriate supportive measures.

• Discontinue clofarabine injection administration if Grade 3 or higher increases in creatinine or bilirubin are noted. Re-institute clofarabine injection with a 25% dose reduction, when the patient is stable and organ function has returned to baseline. If hyperuricemia is anticipated (tumor lysis), initiate measures to control uric acid.

2.5 Reconstitution/Preparation

Filter clofarabine injection through a sterile 0.2 micron syringe filter and then dilute with 5% Dextrose Injection, USP, or 0.9% Sodium Chloride Injection, USP, prior to intravenous infusion to a final concentration between 0.15 mg/mL and 0.4 mg/mL. Use within 24 hours of preparation. Parenteral drug products should be visually inspected for particulate matter and discoloration prior to administration, whenever solution and container permit. Store diluted clofarabine injection at room temperature (20º-25ºC).

Discard unused portion in vial.

5.1 Myelosuppression

Clofarabine injection causes myelosuppression which may be severe and prolonged. Febrile neutropenia occurred in 55% and non-febrile neutropenia in an additional 10% of pediatric patients in clinical trials. At initiation of treatment, most patients in the clinical studies had hematological impairment as a manifestation of leukemia. Myelosuppression is usually reversible with interruption of clofarabine injection treatment and appears to be dose-dependent. Monitor complete blood counts [seeDosage and Administration(2.4)].

5.2 Hemorrhage

Serious and fatal hemorrhage, including cerebral, gastrointestinal and pulmonary hemorrhage, has occurred. The majority of the cases were associated with thrombocytopenia. Monitor platelets and coagulation parameters and treat accordingly [see Adverse Reactions (6.2)].

5.3 Infections

Clofarabine injection increases the risk of infection, including severe and fatal sepsis, and opportunistic infections. At baseline, 48% of the pediatric patients had one or more concurrent infections. A total of 83% of patients experienced at least one infection after clofarabine injection treatment, including fungal, viral and bacterial infections. Monitor patients for signs and symptoms of infection, discontinue clofarabine injection, and treat promptly.

5.4 Tumor Lysis Syndrome

Administration of clofarabine injection may result in tumor lysis syndrome associated with the break down metabolic products from peripheral leukemia cell death. Monitor patients undergoing treatment for signs and symptoms of tumor lysis syndrome and initiate preventive measures including adequate intravenous fluids and measures to control uric acid.

5.5 Systemic Inflammatory Response Syndrome (SIRS) and Capillary Leak Syndrome

Clofarabine injection may cause a cytokine release syndrome (e.g., tachypnea, tachycardia, hypotension, pulmonary edema) that may progress to the systemic inflammatory response syndrome (SIRS) with capillary leak syndrome and organ impairment which may be fatal. Monitor patients frequently for these conditions. In clinical trials, SIRS was reported in two patients (2%); capillary leak syndrome was reported in four patients (4%). Symptoms included rapid onset of respiratory distress, hypotension, pleural and pericardial effusion, and multiorgan failure. Close monitoring for this syndrome and early intervention may reduce the risk. Immediately discontinue clofarabine injection and provide appropriate supportive measures. The use of prophylactic steroids (e.g., 100 mg/m2 hydrocortisone on Days 1 through 3) may be of benefit in preventing signs or symptoms of SIRS or capillary leak syndrome. Consider use of diuretics and/or albumin. After the patient is stabilized and organ function has returned to baseline, retreatment with clofarabine injection can be considered with a 25% dose reduction.

5.6 Venous Occlusive Disease of the Liver

Patients who have previously received a hematopoietic stem cell transplant (HSCT) are at higher risk for veno-occlusive disease (VOD) of the liver following treatment with clofarabine (40 mg/m2) when used in combination with etoposide (100 mg/m2) and cyclophosphamide (440 mg/m2). Severe hepatotoxic events have been reported in a combination study of clofarabine in pediatric patients with relapsed or refractory acute leukemia. Two cases (2%) of VOD in the monotherapy studies were considered related to study drug. Monitor for and discontinue clofarabine injection if VOD is suspected.

5.7 Hepatotoxicity

Severe and fatal hepatotoxicity, including hepatitis and hepatic failure, has occurred with the use of clofarabine injection. In clinical studies, Grade 3 to 4 liver enzyme elevations were observed in pediatric patients during treatment with clofarabine at the following rates: elevated aspartate aminotransferase (AST) occurred in 36% of patients; elevated alanine aminotransferase (ALT) occurred in 44% of patients. AST and ALT elevations typically occurred within 10 days of clofarabine administration and returned to Grade 2 or less within 15 days. Grade 3 or 4 elevated bilirubin occurred in 13% of patients, with 2 events reported as Grade 4 hyperbilirubinemia (2%), one of which resulted in treatment discontinuation and one patient had multiorgan failure and died. Eight patients (7%) had Grade 3 or 4 elevations in serum bilirubin at the last time point measured; these patients died due to sepsis and/or multiorgan failure. Monitor hepatic function, and for signs and symptoms of hepatitis and hepatic failure. Discontinue clofarabine injection immediately for Grade 3 or greater liver enzyme and/or bilirubin elevations [see Dosage and Administration (2.4)].

5.8 Renal Toxicity

Clofarabine injection may cause acute renal failure. In clofarabine injection treated patients in clinical studies, Grade 3 or 4 elevated creatinine occurred in 8% of patients and acute renal failure was reported as Grade 3 in three patients (3%) and Grade 4 in two patients (2%). Patients with infection, sepsis, or tumor lysis syndrome may be at increased risk of renal toxicity when treated with clofarabine injection. Hematuria occurred in 13% of clofarabine injection treated patients overall. Monitor patients for renal toxicity and interrupt or discontinue clofarabine injection as necessary [see Dosage and Administration (2.4)].

5.9 Enterocolitis

Fatal and serious cases of enterocolitis, including neutropenic colitis, cecitis, and C. difficile colitis, have occurred during treatment with clofarabine. This has occurred more frequently within 30 days of treatment, and in the setting of combination chemotherapy. Enterocolitis may lead to necrosis, perforation, hemorrhage or sepsis complications. Monitor patients for signs and symptoms of enterocolitis and treat promptly.

5.10 Skin Reactions

Serious and fatal cases of Stevens-Johnson syndrome (SJS) and toxic epidermal necrolysis (TEN) have been reported. Discontinue clofarabine for exfoliative or bullous rash, or if SJS or TEN is suspected [see Adverse Reactions (6.2)].

5.11 Embryo-Fetal Toxicity 

Based on findings from animal reproductive studies and the drug’s mechanism of action, clofarabine can cause fetal harm when administered to a pregnant woman. Intravenous doses of clofarabine in rats and rabbits administered during organogenesis at doses that were below the maximum recommended human dose of 52 mg/m2 based on body surface area (mg/m2) caused an increase in resorptions, malformations, and variations. Advise females of reproductive potential of the potential risk to a fetus and to use an effective method of contraception during treatment with clofarabine and for 6 months after the last dose. Advise males with female partners of reproductive potential to use effective contraception during treatment with clofarabine and for 3 months after the last dose [see Use in Specific Populations (8.1)].

6.1 Clinical Trials 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 practice.

The data described below reflect exposure to clofarabine in 115 pediatric patients with relapsed or refractory Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia (ALL) (70 patients) or Acute Myelogenous Leukemia (AML) (45 patients).

In total, 115 pediatric patients treated in clinical trials received the recommended dose of  clofarabine 52 mg/m2 daily x 5. The median number of cycles was 2. The median cumulative amount of clofarabine received by pediatric patients during all cycles was 540 mg.

Most common adverse reactions (≥25%): vomiting, nausea, diarrhea, febrile neutropenia, pruritus, headache, bacteremia, pyrexia, rash, tachycardia, abdominal pain, chills, fatigue, anorexia, pain in extremity, hypotension, epistaxis, and petechiae.

Table 1 lists adverse reactions by System Organ Class, including severe or life threatening (NCI CTCAE Grade 3 or Grade 4), reported in ≥5% of the 115 patients in the 52 mg/m2/day dose group (pooled analysis of pediatric patients with ALL and AML). More detailed information and follow-up of certain events is given below.

Table 1: Most Commonly Reported (≥5% Overall) Adverse Reactions by System Organ Class (N=115 pooled analysis)

¹ Patients with more than one adverse reaction (MedDRA preferred term) within a SOC are counted only once in the SOC totals. Patients with more than one occurrence of the same adverse reaction (MedDRA preferred term) are counted only once within that reaction and at the highest severity grade.

The following adverse reactions were reported in <5% of the 115 pediatric patients with ALL or AML:

Gastrointestinal Disorders: cecitis, pancreatitis

Hepatobiliary Disorders: hyperbilirubinemia

Immune System Disorders: hypersensitivity

Infections and Infestations: bacterial infection, Enterococcal bacteremia, Escherichia  bacteremia, Escherichia sepsis, fungal infection, fungal sepsis, gastroenteritis adenovirus, infection, influenza, parainfluenzae virus infection, pneumonia fungal, pneumonia primary atypical, Respiratory syncytial virus infection, sinusitis, staphylococcal infection

Investigations: blood creatinine increased

Psychiatric Disorders: mental status change

Respiratory, Thoracic and Mediastinal Disorder: pulmonary edema

Table 2 lists the incidence of treatment-emergent laboratory abnormalities after clofarabine administration at 52 mg/m2 among pediatric patients with ALL and AML (N=115).

Table 2: Incidence of Treatment-Emergent Laboratory Abnormalities after Clofarabine Administration

6.2 Postmarketing Experience

The following adverse reactions have been identified during post-approval use of clofarabine injection. Because these reactions are reported voluntarily from a population of uncertain size, it is not always possible to reliably estimate their frequency or establish a causal relationship to drug exposure.

Gastrointestinal disorders: gastrointestinal hemorrhage including fatalities.

Metabolism and nutrition disorders: hyponatremia 

Skin and subcutaneous tissue disorders: Stevens-Johnson syndrome (SJS), toxic epidermal necrolysis (TEN) (including fatal cases).

8.1 Pregnancy

Risk Summary

In animal reproduction studies, intravenous administration of clofarabine to pregnant rats and rabbits during organogenesis at doses approximately 0.2 to 1-times the maximum recommended human dose of 52 mg/m2 based on body surface area (BSA) resulted in embryo-fetal mortality, alterations to growth, and structural abnormalities (see Data). Advise pregnant women of the potential risk to a fetus. There are no available data on clofarabine use in pregnant women to evaluate for a drug-associated risk of major birth defects, miscarriage, or adverse maternal or fetal outcomes. Clofarabine should be used during pregnancy only if the potential benefits to the mother outweigh the potential risks, including those to the fetus.

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. In the U.S. general population, the estimated background risk of major birth defects and miscarriage in clinically recognized pregnancies is 2% to 4% and 15% to 20%, respectively.

Data

Animal data

Intravenous administration of clofarabine to pregnant rats during organogenesis (gestation days [GD] 7 to 17) at doses of 1, 3 or 9 mg/kg/day (equivalent to 6, 18, 54 mg/m2/day) resulted in maternal toxicities at the 9 mg/kg dose, as indicated by reduced body weights and food consumption. Developmental toxicity (i.e., reduced fetal body weights and increased postimplantation loss) and increased incidences of external, soft tissue, and skeletal malformations and variations (including retarded ossification) were observed at 9 mg/kg/day (54 mg/m2; approximately equivalent to the recommended human dose based on BSA). Altered ossification patterns (extra metacarpal or metatarsal ossification) were observed in single fetuses at lower doses of clofarabine (1 and 3 mg/kg/day; 0.1- and 0.3-times the recommended human dose based on BSA).

When clofarabine was administered intravenously to pregnant rabbits during organogenesis (GD 6 to 18) at doses of 0.1, 0.3, or 1 mg/kg/day (equivalent to 1.2, 3.6, 12 mg/m2/day), developmental toxicity (i.e., reduced fetal body weights and increased postimplantation loss) and increased incidences of external, soft tissue, and skeletal malformations and variations (including retarded ossification) were observed at the 1 mg/kg/day dose (12 mg/m2; 0.2-times the recommended human dose based on BSA). Alterations in ossification patterns (increase in the average numbers of ossified thoracic vertebrae and rib pairs, and reduction in the average number of forepaw metacarpals) and abdominal wall defect were observed at 0.3 mg/kg/day (3.6 mg/m2; 0.1-times the recommended human dose based on BSA).

8.2 Lactation

Risk Summary

There are no data on the presence of clofarabine in human milk, the effects on the breastfed child, or the effects on milk production. Because of the potential for serious adverse reactions in the breastfed child including genotoxicity, advise patients not to breastfeed during treatment with clofarabine, and for 2 weeks after the last dose.

8.3 Females and Males of Reproductive Potential 

Clofarabine can cause embryo-fetal harm when administered to pregnant women [see Use in Specific Populations (8.1)].

Pregnancy Testing 

Pregnancy testing is recommended for females of reproductive potential prior to initiating clofarabine injection.

Contraception

Females

Advise female patients to use effective contraception during treatment with clofarabine injection and for 6 months after the last dose.

Males

Based on genotoxicity findings, advise males with female partners of reproductive potential to use effective contraception during treatment with clofarabine injection and for 3 months after the last dose [see Nonclinical Toxicology (13.1)].

Infertility

Females

Based on findings from animal studies, clofarabine may impair female fertility [see Nonclinical Toxicology (13.1)]. The reversibility of the effect on fertility is unknown.

Males

Based on findings from animal studies, clofarabine may impair male fertility [see Nonclinical Toxicology (13.1)]. The reversibility of the effect on fertility is unknown.

8.4 Pediatric Use

Safety and effectiveness have been established in pediatric patients 1 to 21 years old with relapsed or refractory acute lymphoblastic leukemia.

8.5 Geriatric Use

Safety and effectiveness of clofarabine injection has not been established in geriatric patients aged 65 and older.

8.6 Renal Impairment

Reduce the clofarabine injection starting dose by 50% in patients with CrCL of 30 to 60 mL/min. There is insufficient information to make a dosage recommendation in patients with CrCL less than 30 mL/min or in patients on dialysis.

The pharmacokinetics of clofarabine in patients with renal impairment and normal renal  function were obtained from a population pharmacokinetic analysis of three pediatric and two adult studies. In patients with CrCL 60 to less than 90 mL/min (N=47) and CrCL 30 to less than 60 mL/min (N=30), the average AUC of clofarabine increased by 60% and 140%, respectively, compared to patients with normal (N=66) renal function (CrCL greater than 90 mL/min).

12.1 Mechanism of Action

Clofarabine is sequentially metabolized intracellularly to the 5’-monophosphate metabolite by deoxycytidine kinase and mono- and di-phospho-kinases to the active 5’-triphosphate metabolite. Clofarabine has affinity for the activating phosphorylating enzyme, deoxycytidine kinase, equal to or greater than that of the natural substrate, deoxycytidine. Clofarabine inhibits DNA synthesis by decreasing cellular deoxynucleotide triphosphate pools through an inhibitory action on ribonucleotide reductase, and by terminating DNA chain elongation and inhibiting repair through incorporation into the DNA chain by competitive inhibition of DNA polymerases. Theaffinity of clofarabine triphosphate for these enzymes is similar to or greater than that of deoxyadenosine triphosphate. In preclinical models, clofarabine has demonstrated the ability to inhibit DNA repair by incorporation into the DNA chain during the repair process. Clofarabine 5’-triphosphate also disrupts the integrity of mitochondrial membrane, leading to the release of the pro-apoptotic mitochondrial proteins, cytochrome C and apoptosis-inducing factor, leading to programmed cell death.

Clofarabine is cytotoxic to rapidly proliferating and quiescent cancer cell types in vitro.

12.3 Pharmacokinetics

The population pharmacokinetics of clofarabine were studied in 40 pediatric patients aged 2 to 19 years (21 males/19 females) with relapsed or refractory acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL) or acute myelogenous leukemia (AML).  At the given 52 mg/m2 dose, similar concentrations were obtained over a wide range of body surface areas (BSAs). Clofarabine was 47% bound to plasma proteins, predominantly to albumin. Based on non-compartmental analysis, systemic clearance and volume of distribution at steady­state were 28.8 L/h/m2 and 172 L/m2, respectively. The terminal half-life was 5.2 hours. No apparent difference in pharmacokinetics was observed between patients with ALL and AML or between males and females. 

No relationship between clofarabine or clofarabine triphosphate exposure and toxicity or response was found in this population. 

Based on 24-hour urine collections in the pediatric studies, 49% to 60% of the dose is excreted in the urine unchanged. In vitro studies using isolated human hepatocytes indicate very limited metabolism (0.2%). The pathways of non-hepatic elimination remain unknown.

Clofarabine has not been studied in patients with hepatic impairment

Drug-Drug Interactions

In vitro studies suggested that clofarabine undergoes limited metabolism and does not inhibit or induce major CYP enzymes. CYP inhibitors and inducers are unlikely to affect the metabolism of clofarabine. Clofarabine is unlikely to affect the metabolism of CYP substrates. However, no in vivo drug interaction studies have been conducted.  

An in vitro transporter study suggested that clofarabine is a substrate of human transporters OAT1, OAT3, and OCT1. A preclinical study using perfused rat kidney demonstrated that the renal excretion of clofarabine was decreased by cimetidine, an inhibitor of the hOCT2. Although the clinical implications of this finding have not been determined, signs of clofarabine injection toxicity should be monitored when administered with other hOAT1, hOAT3, hOCT1 and hOCT2 substrates or inhibitors.

13.1 Carcinogenesis, Mutagenesis, Impairment of Fertility

Clofarabine has not been tested for carcinogenic potential.

Clofarabine was clastogenic in the in vitro mammalian cell chromosome aberration assay (CHO cells) and in the in vivo rat micronucleus assay. Clofarabine was not mutagenic in the bacterial mutation assay (Ames test).

Studies in mice, rats, and dogs have demonstrated dose-related adverse effects on male reproductive organs. Seminiferous tubule and testicular degeneration and atrophy were reported in male mice receiving intraperitoneal doses of 3 mg/kg/day (approximately 0.2-times the recommended human dose based on body surface area [BSA]). Rats receiving 25 mg/kg/day (approximately 3-times the recommended human dose based on BSA) in a 6-month intravenous study had testicular findings of bilateral degeneration of the seminiferous epithelium with retained spermatids and atrophy of interstitial cells. In a 6-month intravenous dog study, cell degeneration of the epididymis and degeneration of the seminiferous epithelium in the testes were observed at 0.375 mg/kg/day (approximately 0.1-times the recommended human dose on a BSA basis). Ovarian atrophy or degeneration and uterine mucosal apoptosis were observed in female mice at 75 mg/kg/day (approximately 4-times the recommended human dose on a mg/m2 basis), the only dose administered to female mice.