Unituxin DINUTUXIMAB 3.5 mg/mL Injection
🆔 Identity & classification
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🏷️ RxNorm drug class
This medicine belongs to the Glycolipid Disialoganglioside-directed Antibody class.
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🏭 Manufacturer & labeler
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🩺 Clinical
Dinutuximab injection is used in combination with other medications to treat neuroblastoma (a cancer that begins in nerve cells) in children who have responded to other treatments. Dinutuximab injection is in a class of medications called monoclonal antibodies. It works by killing cancer cells.
Read the full MedlinePlus article ↗- Unituxin (dinutuximab) is a type of targeted cancer medicine called a monoclonal antibody. It's designed to attach to a molecule called GD2 on the surface of neuroblastoma cancer c...
- What exactly is Unituxin and why is my child getting it?
- Pain is one of the most common and significant side effects of Unituxin — it happened in the majority of patients in clinical trials. The good news is that the care team anticipate...
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🧪 Inactive Ingredients / Excipients
Inactive ingredients, also called excipients, are components of the drug product other than the active ingredient. They may include fillers, dyes, coatings, preservatives, flavors, or other formulation ingredients.
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UNII 4QD397987E
An amino acid used as a buffer and stabilizer in medications. It helps maintain the pH balance and protects the active drug from breaking down during storage and use.
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UNII QTT17582CB
A strong acid used to adjust and maintain the proper pH level in liquid medicines, ensuring stability and preventing breakdown of active ingredients.
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UNII 7T1F30V5YH
A synthetic emulsifier derived from sorbitol and oleic acid. It helps mix oil and water-based ingredients together and keeps them from separating in liquid formulations.
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UNII 451W47IQ8X
Sodium chloride is common table salt. It's used in medicines as a buffer to maintain proper pH, as a filler to add bulk, or to adjust the osmotic balance in liquid formulations.
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UNII 059QF0KO0R
Water is a liquid solvent that dissolves and mixes ingredients together in liquid medicines, syrups, and injections. It helps distribute the active drug evenly throughout the product.
5 inactive ingredients listed in the exact product block matched to this NDC.
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ingredient classCode="IACT" elements from the exact product block matched by this NDC. Label-section narrative from DailyMed / the openFDA label index is shown separately when available.Inactive ingredient FAQ
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💲 Pricing
A drug doesn't have one price. Each row is a different public payment system, and none is what you'd pay at the counter — that depends on your insurance. The ⓘ on each row explains what it measures.
| Price system | Per each | Per package |
|---|---|---|
| Retail pharmacies payNADAC · weekly | Not in the retail survey — common for institutional, discontinued, or low-volume packs. | |
| Medicaid paysCMS SDUD · 12 mo | No recent Medicaid claims on file for this NDC — rare and low-volume NDCs are suppressed in the public data. | |
| Medicare drug plans payPart D · quarterly | No Part D plan price is available for this NDC in our data. | |
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🔁 Therapeutic equivalents
| Product | Labeler | Pack | NADAC/unit | TE | Status | Price vs. this |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Unituxin 3.5 mg/mLthis 66302-0014-01 | United | 1 vial | — | — | FDA listed | — |
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⏳ Availability & biosimilar status
Biologics have no small-molecule generics; biosimilar competition is tracked in the FDA Purple Book.
Why the date isn’t exact: Biosimilar timing can change because patents may be challenged, settled, licensed, added or removed, and litigation can move the real date earlier or later.
🛈 What do these terms mean?
- Biologic patent
- A patent the reference product’s maker has publicly listed. A biosimilar generally can’t launch until these expire — unless they’re invalidated or resolved in a settlement.
- Reference-product exclusivity
- A flat 12 years of FDA market protection from the biologic’s first licensure (the BPCIA). No biosimilar can be licensed before it ends, regardless of patents.
- Interchangeable exclusivity
- The first interchangeable biosimilar can earn a period as the only interchangeable version (pharmacists can substitute it without the prescriber).
- Earliest biosimilar (LOE)
- The latest of all the dates above — the soonest a biosimilar can realistically reach the market. Litigation and settlements can move it earlier.
Biologics have no small-molecule “generics” — competition comes from FDA-licensed biosimilars, tracked in the FDA Purple Book.
| Code | What it grants | Expires |
|---|---|---|
| RefProduct | Reference-product exclusivity (12-year, BPCIA) — no biosimilar can be licensed before this date | Mar 10, 2027 |
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🔬 Reported adverse events (FAERS)
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📦 Packaging — all sizes for this product
| Package NDC | Description | Marketing start | Status |
|---|---|---|---|
| 66302-0014-01 You're viewing this | 1 VIAL, SINGLE-DOSE in 1 BOX (66302-014-01) / 5 mL in 1 VIAL, SINGLE-DOSE | 2015-03-10 | Active |
🧭 About this NDC listing & data coverage
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| NDC identity (package / product / labeler codes) | ✓ Available |
| Labeler | ✓ Available |
| Product & package description | ✓ Available |
| Marketing category & status | ✓ Available |
| Active ingredient / dosage form / route | ✓ Available |
| FDA label (SPL via DailyMed) | ✓ Available |
| Package photos | ✓ Available |
| Inactive ingredients (structured) | ✓ Available |
| NADAC pharmacy acquisition price (CMS) | — Not published for this NDC CMS publishes NADAC only for NDCs reported in its retail-pharmacy survey. |
| Orange Book / therapeutic-equivalence data | ✓ Available |
| HCPCS J-code billing crosswalk | — Not published for this NDC Most self-administered / retail products have no J-code — that is normal. |
| Medicaid utilization (CMS SDUD) | — Not published for this NDC CMS reports utilization only for NDCs with Medicaid claims above its privacy threshold. |
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📄 Full prescribing information FDA SPL
🚨 Boxed Warning ▾
WARNING: SERIOUS INFUSION REACTIONS AND NEUROTOXICITY WARNING: SERIOUS INFUSION REACTIONS AND NEUROTOXICITY See full prescribing information for complete boxed warning. Infusion Reactions: Life-threatening infusion adverse reactions occur with Unituxin. Administer required prehydration and premedication.
Immediately interrupt for severe infusion reactions and permanently discontinue for anaphylaxis [see Dosage and Administration (2.2 , 2.3) and Warnings and Precautions (5.1) ] . Neurotoxicity: Unituxin causes severe neuropathic pain. Administer intravenous opioid prior to, during, and for 2 hours following completion of the Unituxin infusion.
Severe peripheral sensory neuropathy ranged from 2% to 9% in patients with neuroblastoma. Severe peripheral motor neuropathy has also been reported. Discontinue for severe unresponsive pain, severe sensory neuropathy, and moderate to severe peripheral motor neuropathy [see Dosage and Administration (2.2 , 2.3) and Warnings and Precautions (5.2) ] .
Infusion Reactions Serious and potentially life-threatening infusion reactions occurred in 26% of patients treated with Unituxin. Administer required prehydration and premedication including antihistamines prior to each Unituxin infusion. Monitor patients closely for signs and symptoms of an infusion reaction during and for at least four hours following completion of each Unituxin infusion.
Immediately interrupt Unituxin for severe infusion reactions and permanently discontinue Unituxin for anaphylaxis ( 2.2, 2.3, 5.1 ). Neurotoxicity Unituxin causes serious neurologic adverse reactions including severe neuropathic pain and peripheral neuropathy. Severe neuropathic pain occurs in the majority of patients.
Administer intravenous opioid prior to, during, and for 2 hours following completion of the Unituxin infusion. In clinical studies of patients with high-risk neuroblastoma, Grade 3 peripheral sensory neuropathy occurred in 2% to 9% of patients. In clinical studies of Unituxin and related GD2-binding antibodies, severe motor neuropathy has occurred.
Resolution of motor neuropathy did not occur in all cases. Discontinue Unituxin for severe unresponsive pain, severe sensory neuropathy, and moderate to severe peripheral motor neuropathy ( 2.2, 2.3, 5.2 ).
🎯 Indications and Usage ▾
1 INDICATIONS AND USAGE Unituxin (dinutuximab) is indicated, in combination with granulocyte-macrophage colony-stimulating factor (GM-CSF), interleukin-2 (IL-2), and 13-cis-retinoic acid (RA), for the treatment of pediatric patients with high-risk neuroblastoma who achieve at least a partial response to prior first-line multiagent, multimodality therapy [see Clinical Studies (14) ] . Unituxin is a GD2-binding monoclonal antibody indicated, in combination with granulocyte-macrophage colony-stimulating factor (GM-CSF), interleukin-2 (IL-2), and 13-cis-retinoic acid (RA), for the treatment of pediatric patients with high-risk neuroblastoma who achieve at least a partial response to prior first-line multiagent, multimodality therapy.
( 1 )
⏱️ Dosage and Administration ▾
2 DOSAGE AND ADMINISTRATION Verify that patients have adequate hematologic, respiratory, hepatic, and renal function prior to initiating each course of Unituxin [see Clinical Studies (14) ] . Administer required premedication and hydration prior to initiation of each Unituxin infusion [see Dosage and Administration (2.2) ] . 17.5 mg/m 2 /day as a diluted intravenous infusion over 10 to 20 hours for 4 consecutive days for up to 5 cycles. ( 2.1 , 2.4 )
2.1Recommended Dose The recommended dose of Unituxin is 17.5 mg/m 2 /day administered as an intravenous infusion over 10 to 20 hours for 4 consecutive days for a maximum of 5 cycles (Table 1 and Table 2) [see Dosage and Administration (2.4) and Clinical Studies (14) ] . Initiate at an infusion rate of 0.875 mg/m 2 /hour for 30 minutes. The infusion rate can be gradually increased as tolerated to a maximum rate of 1.75 mg/m 2 /hour.
Follow dose modification instructions for adverse reactions [see Dosage and Administration (2.3) ] . Table 1: Schedule of Unituxin Administration for Cycles 1, 3, and 5 Cycle Day 1 through 3 4 5 6 7 8 through 24 Cycles 1, 3, and 5 are 24 days in duration. Unituxin X X X X Table 2: Schedule of Unituxin Administration for Cycles 2 and 4 Cycle Day 1 through 7 8 9 10 11 12 through 32 Cycles 2 and 4 are 32 days in duration.
Unituxin X X X X
2.2Required Pre-treatment Guidelines Intravenous Hydration Administer 0.9% Sodium Chloride Injection, USP 10 mL/kg as an intravenous infusion over 1 hour just prior to initiating each Unituxin infusion. Analgesics Administer morphine sulfate (50 mcg/kg) intravenously immediately prior to initiation of Unituxin and then continue as a morphine sulfate drip at an infusion rate of 20 to 50 mcg/kg/hour during and for 2 hours following completion of Unituxin. Administer additional 25 mcg/kg to 50 mcg/kg intravenous doses of morphine sulfate as needed for pain up to once every 2 hours followed by an increase in the morphine sulfate infusion rate in clinically stable patients.
Consider using fentanyl or hydromorphone if morphine sulfate is not tolerated. If pain is inadequately managed with opioids, consider use of gabapentin or lidocaine in conjunction with intravenous morphine. Antihistamines and Antipyretics Administer an antihistamine such as diphenhydramine (0.5 to 1 mg/kg; maximum dose 50 mg) intravenously over 10 to 15 minutes starting 20 minutes prior to initiation of Unituxin and as tolerated every 4 to 6 hours during the Unituxin infusion.
Administer acetaminophen (10 to 15 mg/kg; maximum dose 650 mg) 20 minutes prior to each Unituxin infusion and every 4 to 6 hours as needed for fever or pain. Administer ibuprofen (5 to 10 mg/kg) every 6 hours as needed for control of persistent fever or pain.
2.3Dosage Modifications Manage adverse reactions by infusion interruption, infusion rate reduction, dose reduction, or permanent discontinuation of Unituxin (Table 3 and Table 4) [see Warnings and Precautions (5) , Adverse Reactions (6) , and Clinical Studies (14) ] . Table 3: Adverse Reactions Requiring Permanent Discontinuation of Unituxin Grade 3 or 4 anaphylaxis Grade 3 or 4 serum sickness Grade 3 pain unresponsive to maximum supportive measures Grade 4 sensory neuropathy or Grade 3 sensory neuropathy that interferes with daily activities for more than 2 weeks Grade 2 or greater peripheral motor neuropathy Urinary retention that persists following discontinuation of opioids Transverse myelitis Reversible posterior leukoencephalopathy syndrome (RPLS) Subtotal or total vision loss Grade 4 hyponatremia despite appropriate fluid management Atypical hemolytic uremic syndrome Table 4: Dose Modification for Selected Unituxin Adverse Reactions Infusion-related reactions [see Warnings and Precautions (5.1) ] Mild to moderate adverse reactions, such as transient rash, fever, rigors, and localized urticaria, that respond promptly to symptomatic treatment Onset of reaction: Reduce Unituxin infusion rate to 50% of the previous rate and…
💊 Dosage Forms and Strengths ▾
3 DOSAGE FORMS AND STRENGTHS Injection: 17.5 mg/5 mL (3.5 mg/mL) as a clear and colorless to slightly opalescent solution in a single-dose vial. Injection: 17.5 mg/5 mL (3.5 mg/mL) in a single-dose vial. ( 3 )
⛔ Contraindications ▾
4 CONTRAINDICATIONS Unituxin is contraindicated in patients with a history of anaphylaxis to dinutuximab. History of anaphylaxis to dinutuximab. ( 4 )
⚠️ Warnings and Cautions ▾
5 WARNINGS AND PRECAUTIONS Neurological Disorders of the Eye: Interrupt Unituxin for dilated pupil with sluggish light reflex or other visual disturbances and permanently discontinue Unituxin for recurrent eye disorders or loss of vision. ( 5.2 ) Prolonged Urinary Retention and Transverse Myelitis: Permanently discontinue Unituxin and institute supportive care. ( 5.2 ) Reversible Posterior Leukoencephalopathy Syndrome (RPLS): Permanently discontinue Unituxin and institute supportive care for signs and symptoms of RPLS.
( 5.2 ) Capillary Leak Syndrome and Hypotension: Administer required prehydration and monitor patients closely during treatment. Depending upon severity, manage by interruption, infusion rate reduction, or permanent discontinuation. ( 5.3 , 5.4 ) Infection: Interrupt until resolution of systemic infection.
( 5.5 ) Bone Marrow Suppression: Monitor peripheral blood counts during Unituxin therapy. ( 5.6 ) Electrolyte Abnormalities: Monitor serum electrolytes closely. ( 5.7 ) Atypical Hemolytic Uremic Syndrome: Permanently discontinue Unituxin and institute supportive management.
( 5.8 ) Embryo-Fetal Toxicity: May cause fetal harm. Advise females of reproductive potential of potential risk to a fetus and to use effective contraception. ( 5.9 , 8.1 , 8.3 )
5.1Serious Infusion Reactions Serious infusion reactions requiring urgent intervention, including blood pressure support, bronchodilator therapy, corticosteroids, infusion rate reduction, infusion interruption, or permanent discontinuation of Unituxin, included facial and upper airway edema, dyspnea, bronchospasm, stridor, urticaria, and hypotension. Infusion reactions generally occurred during or within 24 hours of completing the Unituxin infusion. Due to overlapping signs and symptoms, it was not possible to distinguish between infusion reactions and hypersensitivity reactions in some cases.
In Study 1, Severe (Grade 3 or 4) infusion reactions occurred in 35 (26%) patients in the Unituxin/13-cis-retinoic acid (RA) group compared to 1 (1%) patient receiving RA alone. Severe urticaria occurred in 17 (13%) patients in the Unituxin/RA group but did not occur in the RA group. Serious adverse reactions consistent with anaphylaxis and resulting in permanent discontinuation of Unituxin occurred in 2 (1%) patients in the Unituxin/RA group.
Additionally, 1 (0.1%) patient had multiple cardiac arrests and died within 24 hours after having received Unituxin in Study 2. Prior to each Unituxin dose, administer required intravenous hydration and premedication with antihistamines, analgesics, and antipyretics [see Dosage and Administration (2.2) ] . Monitor patients closely for signs and symptoms of infusion reactions during and for at least 4 hours following completion of each Unituxin infusion in a setting where cardiopulmonary resuscitation medication and equipment are available.
For mild to moderate infusion reactions, such as transient rash, fever, rigors, and localized urticaria, that respond promptly to antihistamines or antipyretics, decrease the Unituxin infusion rate and monitor closely. Immediately interrupt or permanently discontinue Unituxin and institute supportive management for severe or prolonged infusion reactions. Permanently discontinue Unituxin and institute supportive management for life-threatening infusion reactions [see Dosage and Administration (2.3) ] .
5.2Neurotoxicity Pain In Study 1, 114 (85%) patients treated in the Unituxin/RA group experienced pain despite pre-treatment with analgesics, including morphine sulfate infusion. Severe (Grade 3) pain occurred in 68 (51%) patients in the Unituxin/RA group compared to 5 (5%) patients in the RA group. Pain typically occurred during the Unituxin infusion and was most commonly reported as abdominal pain, generalized pain, extremity pain, back pain, neuralgia, musculoskeletal chest pain, and arthralgia.
Premedicate with analgesics, including intravenous opioids, prior to each dose of Unituxin and continue a…
🤒 Adverse Reactions ▾
6 ADVERSE REACTIONS The following adverse reactions are discussed in greater detail in other sections of the labeling: Serious Infusion Reactions [see Boxed Warning and Warnings and Precautions (5.1) ] Neurotoxicity, including Pain, Peripheral Neuropathy, Neurological Disorders of the Eye, Prolonged Urinary Retention, Transverse Myelitis, and Reversible Posterior Leukoencephalopathy Syndrome [see Boxed Warning and Warnings and Precautions (5.2) ] Capillary Leak Syndrome [see Warnings and Precautions (5.3) ] Hypotension [see Warnings and Precautions (5.4) ] Infection [see Warnings and Precautions (5.5) ] Bone Marrow Suppression [see Warnings and Precautions (5.6) ] Electrolyte Abnormalities [see Warnings and Precautions (5.7) ] Atypical Hemolytic Uremic Syndrome [see Warnings and Precautions (5.8) ] Embryo-Fetal Toxicity [see Warnings and Precautions (5.9) ] The most common adverse drug reactions (≥25%) are pain, pyrexia, thrombocytopenia, lymphopenia, infusion reactions, hypotension, hyponatremia, increased alanine aminotransferase, anemia, vomiting, diarrhea, hypokalemia, capillary leak syndrome, neutropenia, urticaria, hypoalbuminemia, increased aspartate aminotransferase, and hypocalcemia.
( 5 , 6.1 ) The most common serious adverse reactions (≥5%) are infections, infusion reactions, hypokalemia, hypotension, pain, fever, and capillary leak syndrome. ( 5 , 6.1 ) To report SUSPECTED ADVERSE REACTIONS, contact United Therapeutics Corp. at 1-866-458-6479 or FDA at 1-800-FDA-1088 or www.fda.gov/medwatch.
6.1Clinical 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 rates observed in clinical practice. The data described below reflect exposure to Unituxin at the recommended dose and schedule in 1021 patients with high-risk neuroblastoma enrolled in an open-label, randomized (Study 1), or single-arm clinical trials (Study 2 and Study 3).
Prior to enrollment, patients received therapy consisting of induction combination chemotherapy, maximum feasible surgical resection, myeloablative consolidation chemotherapy followed by autologous stem cell transplant, and radiation therapy to residual soft tissue disease. Patients received Unituxin in combination with granulocyte-macrophage colony-stimulating factor (GM-CSF), interleukin-2 (IL-2), and 13-cis-retinoic acid (RA). Treatment commenced within 95 days post autologous stem cell transplant in Study 1, within 210 days of autologous stem cell transplant in Study 2, and within 110 days of autologous stem cell transplant in Study 3.
Study 1 In a randomized, open-label, multicenter study (Study 1), 134 patients received Unituxin in combination with GM-CSF, IL-2, and RA (Unituxin/RA group), including 109 randomized patients and 25 patients with biopsy-proven residual disease who were non-randomly assigned to receive Unituxin. A total of 106 randomized patients received RA alone (RA group) [see Dosage and Administration (2) and Clinical Studies (14) ] . Patients had a median age at enrollment of 3.8 years (range: 0.94 to 15.3 years), and were predominantly male (60%) and White (82%).
In Study 1, adverse reactions of Grade 3 or greater severity were comprehensively collected, but adverse reactions of Grade 1 or 2 severity were collected sporadically and laboratory data were not comprehensively collected. Approximately 71% of patients in the Unituxin/RA group and 77% of patients in the RA group completed planned treatment. The most common reason for premature discontinuation of study therapy was adverse reactions in the Unituxin/RA group (19%) and progressive disease (17%) in the RA group.
The most common adverse drug reactions (≥25%) in the Unituxin/RA group were pain, pyrexia, thrombocytopenia, lymphopenia, infusion reactions, hypotension, hyponatremia, increased alanine aminotransferase, anemia…
🔄 Drug Interactions ▾
7 DRUG INTERACTIONS No drug-drug interaction studies have been conducted with dinutuximab.
👥 Use in Specific Populations ▾
8 USE IN SPECIFIC POPULATIONS
8.1Pregnancy Risk Summary Based on its mechanism of action, Unituxin may cause fetal harm when administered to a pregnant woman [see Clinical Pharmacology (12.1) ] . There are no studies in pregnant women and no reproductive studies in animals to inform the drug-associated risk. Monoclonal antibodies are transported across the placenta in a linear fashion as pregnancy progresses, with the largest amount transferred during the third trimester.
Advise pregnant women of the potential risk to a fetus. The background risk of major birth defects and miscarriage for the indicated population is unknown. However, the 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.
8.2Lactation Risk Summary There is no information available on the presence of dinutuximab in human milk, the effects of the drug on the breastfed infant, or the effects of the drug on milk production. However, human IgG is present in human milk. Because of the potential for serious adverse reactions in a breastfed infant, advise a nursing woman to discontinue breastfeeding during treatment with Unituxin.
8.3Females and Males of Reproductive Potential Contraception Females Unituxin may cause fetal harm [see Use in Specific Populations (8.1) ] . Advise females of reproductive potential to use effective contraception during treatment and for 2 months after the last dose of Unituxin.
8.4Pediatric Use The safety and effectiveness of Unituxin as part of multi-agent, multimodality therapy have been established in pediatric patients with high-risk neuroblastoma based on results of an open-label, randomized (1:1) trial conducted in 226 patients aged 11 months to 15 years (median age 3.8 years) (Study 1). Prior to enrollment, patients achieved at least a partial response to prior first-line therapy for high-risk neuroblastoma consisting of induction combination chemotherapy, maximum feasible surgical resection, myeloablative consolidation chemotherapy followed by autologous stem cell transplant, and received radiation therapy to residual soft tissue disease.
Patients randomized to the Unituxin/13-cis-retinoic acid (RA) arm (Unituxin/RA) received up to 5 cycles of Unituxin in combination with alternating cycles of granulocyte-macrophage colony-stimulating factor (GM-CSF) and interleukin-2 (IL-2) plus RA, followed by 1 cycle of RA alone. Patients randomized to the RA arm received up to 6 cycles of RA monotherapy. Study 1 demonstrated an improvement in event-free survival (EFS) and overall survival (OS) in patients in the Unituxin/RA arm compared to those in the RA arm [see Adverse Reactions (6) , Clinical Pharmacology (12) , and Clinical Studies (14) ] .
Juvenile Animal Toxicity Data Juvenile monkeys (13 to 18 months of age at study start) received dinutuximab daily via intravenous infusion for 4 consecutive days over five 28-day cycles at doses of 1, 3, or 10 mg/kg. Monkeys also received morphine during infusion for pain management. At the high dose of 10 mg/kg (approximately equal to the 17.5 mg/m 2 clinical dose), mild degeneration of nerve fibers in the brain (medulla oblongata) and moderate degeneration of nerve fibers in the spinal cord (cervical, thoracic, and lumbar) were present.
Mild neuronal and nerve fiber degeneration were also present in the dorsal root ganglia (cervical, thoracic, and lumbar). Nerve fiber degeneration in the spinal cord and neuronal degeneration in dorsal root ganglia persisted 6 months after the end of dosing, though at lower severity. At the 10 mg/kg dose level, nerve conduction velocity (NCV) analysis showed motor and sensory NCV decreases of less than 10% compared to vehicle controls, starting on Day 27 and continuing to Day 83.
Sensory NCV decreases were still present at the end of the dosing period but were on a trend towards recovery 6 months after the end of dosing.
8.5 Geriatric Use The safety and effectiveness…
🤰 Pregnancy ▾
8.1Pregnancy Risk Summary Based on its mechanism of action, Unituxin may cause fetal harm when administered to a pregnant woman [see Clinical Pharmacology (12.1) ] . There are no studies in pregnant women and no reproductive studies in animals to inform the drug-associated risk. Monoclonal antibodies are transported across the placenta in a linear fashion as pregnancy progresses, with the largest amount transferred during the third trimester.
Advise pregnant women of the potential risk to a fetus. The background risk of major birth defects and miscarriage for the indicated population is unknown. However, the 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.
🧒 Pediatric Use ▾
8.4Pediatric Use The safety and effectiveness of Unituxin as part of multi-agent, multimodality therapy have been established in pediatric patients with high-risk neuroblastoma based on results of an open-label, randomized (1:1) trial conducted in 226 patients aged 11 months to 15 years (median age 3.8 years) (Study 1). Prior to enrollment, patients achieved at least a partial response to prior first-line therapy for high-risk neuroblastoma consisting of induction combination chemotherapy, maximum feasible surgical resection, myeloablative consolidation chemotherapy followed by autologous stem cell transplant, and received radiation therapy to residual soft tissue disease.
Patients randomized to the Unituxin/13-cis-retinoic acid (RA) arm (Unituxin/RA) received up to 5 cycles of Unituxin in combination with alternating cycles of granulocyte-macrophage colony-stimulating factor (GM-CSF) and interleukin-2 (IL-2) plus RA, followed by 1 cycle of RA alone. Patients randomized to the RA arm received up to 6 cycles of RA monotherapy. Study 1 demonstrated an improvement in event-free survival (EFS) and overall survival (OS) in patients in the Unituxin/RA arm compared to those in the RA arm [see Adverse Reactions (6) , Clinical Pharmacology (12) , and Clinical Studies (14) ] .
Juvenile Animal Toxicity Data Juvenile monkeys (13 to 18 months of age at study start) received dinutuximab daily via intravenous infusion for 4 consecutive days over five 28-day cycles at doses of 1, 3, or 10 mg/kg. Monkeys also received morphine during infusion for pain management. At the high dose of 10 mg/kg (approximately equal to the 17.5 mg/m 2 clinical dose), mild degeneration of nerve fibers in the brain (medulla oblongata) and moderate degeneration of nerve fibers in the spinal cord (cervical, thoracic, and lumbar) were present.
Mild neuronal and nerve fiber degeneration were also present in the dorsal root ganglia (cervical, thoracic, and lumbar). Nerve fiber degeneration in the spinal cord and neuronal degeneration in dorsal root ganglia persisted 6 months after the end of dosing, though at lower severity. At the 10 mg/kg dose level, nerve conduction velocity (NCV) analysis showed motor and sensory NCV decreases of less than 10% compared to vehicle controls, starting on Day 27 and continuing to Day 83.
Sensory NCV decreases were still present at the end of the dosing period but were on a trend towards recovery 6 months after the end of dosing.
🧓 Geriatric Use ▾
8.5Geriatric Use The safety and effectiveness of Unituxin in geriatric patients have not been established.
🧬 Clinical Pharmacology ▾
12 CLINICAL PHARMACOLOGY
12.1Mechanism of Action Dinutuximab binds to the glycolipid GD2. This glycolipid is expressed on neuroblastoma cells and on normal cells of neuroectodermal origin, including the central nervous system and peripheral nerves. Dinutuximab binds to cell surface GD2 and induces cell lysis of GD2-expressing cells through antibody-dependent cell-mediated cytotoxicity (ADCC) and complement-dependent cytotoxicity (CDC).
12.3Pharmacokinetics The pharmacokinetics of dinutuximab was evaluated by a population pharmacokinetic analysis in a clinical study of Unituxin in combination with GM-CSF, IL-2, and RA. In this study, 27 children with high-risk neuroblastoma (age: 3.9±1.9 years) received up to 5 cycles of Unituxin at 17.5 mg/m 2 /day as an intravenous infusion over 10 to 20 hours for 4 consecutive days every 28 days. The observed maximum plasma dinutuximab concentration (C max ) was 11.5 mcg/mL (20%, coefficient of variation [CV]).
The mean volume of distribution at steady state (Vd ss ) was
5.4L (28%). The clearance was
0.21L/day (62%) and increased with body size. The terminal half-life was 10 days (56%). No formal pharmacokinetic studies were conducted in patients with renal or hepatic impairment.
12.6Immunogenicity As with all therapeutic proteins, there is a potential for immunogenicity. The detection of antibody formation is highly dependent on the sensitivity and specificity of the assay. Additionally, the observed incidence of antibody (including neutralizing antibody) positivity in an assay may be influenced by several factors, including assay methodology, sample handling, timing of sample collection, concomitant medications, and underlying disease.
For these reasons, comparison of the incidence of antibodies in the studies described below with the incidence of antibodies in other studies or to other products may be misleading. Among the 418 patients who were treated with Unituxin in combination with GM-CSF, IL-2, and RA in Study 2, Study 3 and Study DIV-NB-201, 86 patients (20.6%) tested positive for anti-dinutuximab antibodies (ADA). Of the 86 ADA positive patients, 45 (52.3%) tested positive for neutralizing antibodies.
Among the 27 patients who were treated with Unituxin in combination with lenalidomide and isotretinoin in Study NANT 2011-04, 13 patients (48.1%) tested positive for ADA. Of the 13 ADA positive patients, 2 (15.4%) also tested positive for neutralizing antibodies. The clearance of dinutuximab was 60% higher for the ADA positive patients than the ADA negative patients.
The presence of ADA did not have a clinically significant effect on the incidence or severity of adverse reactions. There were insufficient number of patients with ADA to determine whether ADA alters the efficacy of Unituxin.
🧬 Mechanism of Action ▾
12.1Mechanism of Action Dinutuximab binds to the glycolipid GD2. This glycolipid is expressed on neuroblastoma cells and on normal cells of neuroectodermal origin, including the central nervous system and peripheral nerves. Dinutuximab binds to cell surface GD2 and induces cell lysis of GD2-expressing cells through antibody-dependent cell-mediated cytotoxicity (ADCC) and complement-dependent cytotoxicity (CDC).
📦 How Supplied / Storage and Handling ▾
16 HOW SUPPLIED/STORAGE AND HANDLING Unituxin (dinutuximab) injection as a clear and colorless to slightly opalescent solution is supplied in a carton containing one 17.5 mg/5 mL (3.5 mg/mL) single-dose vial. NDC 66302-014-01 Store Unituxin vials under refrigeration at 2°C to 8°C (36°F to 46°F) in the outer carton to protect from light until time of use. Do not freeze or shake the vial.
📦 Storage and Handling ▾
Store Unituxin vials under refrigeration at 2°C to 8°C (36°F to 46°F) in the outer carton to protect from light until time of use. Do not freeze or shake the vial.
📋 Description ▾
11 DESCRIPTION Dinutuximab is a glycolipid disialoganglioside (GD2)-binding chimeric monoclonal antibody composed of murine variable heavy and light chain regions and the human constant region for the heavy chain IgG 1 and light chain kappa. Dinutuximab is produced in the murine myeloma cell line, SP2/0 and has an approximate molecular weight of 150 kDa. Unituxin (dinutuximab) injection is a sterile, preservative-free, clear and colorless to slightly opalescent solution for intravenous infusion.
Unituxin is supplied in single-dose vials of 17.5 mg/5 mL. Each mL of solution contains 3.5 mg of dinutuximab, and histidine (3.10 mg), polysorbate 20 (0.55 mg), sodium chloride (8.77 mg), and Water for Injection, USP; hydrochloric acid is added to adjust pH to 6.8.
💬 Information for Patients ▾
17 PATIENT COUNSELING INFORMATION Serious Infusion Reactions Inform patients and caregivers of the risk of serious infusion reactions and anaphylaxis and to immediately report any signs or symptoms, such as facial or lip swelling, urticaria, difficulty breathing, lightheadedness, or dizziness that occur during or within 24 hours following the infusion [see Warnings and Precautions (5.1) ] . Pain, Peripheral Neuropathy, Prolonged Urinary Retention, and Transverse Myelitis Inform patients and caregivers of the risk of severe pain, sensory and motor neuropathy, prolonged urinary retention, and transverse myelitis, and to promptly report severe or worsening pain and signs and symptoms, such as numbness, tingling, burning, weakness, or inability to urinate [see Warnings and Precautions (5.2) ] .
Neurological Disorders of the Eye Inform patients and caregivers of the risk of neurological disorders of the eye and to promptly report signs or symptoms, such as blurred vision, photophobia, ptosis, diplopia, or unequal pupil size [see Warnings and Precautions (5.2) ] . Reversible Posterior Leukoencephalopathy Syndrome (RPLS) Inform patients and caregivers of the risk of RPLS and to immediately report signs or symptoms, such as severe headache, hypertension, visual changes, lethargy, or seizures [see Warnings and Precautions (5.2) ] .
Capillary Leak Syndrome Inform patients and caregivers of the risk of capillary leak syndrome and to immediately report any signs or symptoms [see Warnings and Precautions (5.3) ] . Hypotension Inform patients and caregivers of the risk of hypotension during the infusion and to immediately report any signs or symptoms [see Warnings and Precautions (5.4) ] . Infection Inform patients and caregivers of the risk of infection following treatment and to immediately report any signs or symptoms [see Warnings and Precautions (5.5) ] .
Bone Marrow Suppression Inform patients and caregivers of the risk of bone marrow suppression, and to promptly report signs or symptoms of anemia, thrombocytopenia, or infection [see Warnings and Precautions (5.6) ] . Electrolyte Abnormalities Inform patients and caregivers of the risk of electrolyte abnormalities, including hypokalemia, hyponatremia, and hypocalcemia, and to report any signs or symptoms, such as seizures, heart palpitations, and muscle cramping [see Warnings and Precautions (5.7) ] . Atypical Hemolytic Uremic Syndrome Inform patients and caregivers of the risk of hemolytic uremic syndrome and to report any signs or symptoms, such as fatigue, dizziness, fainting, pallor, edema, decreased urine output, or hematuria [see Warnings and Precautions (5.8) ] .
Embryo-Fetal Toxicity Advise women of reproductive potential of the potential risk to the fetus if administered during pregnancy and the need for use of effective contraception during and for at least 2 months after completing therapy [see Warnings and Precautions (5.9) ] .