Food and Drug Administration

AssignmentTutorOnline

DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH & HUMAN SERVICES Public Health Service
Food and Drug Administration
Silver Spring, MD 20993
TRANSMITTED BY FACSIMILE
Stephanie H. Jameison, MBA, RAC
Senior Manager, Labeling and Promotion Compliance
Otsuka Pharmaceutical Development and Commercialization, Inc.
2440 Research Boulevard
Rockville, MD 20850
RE: NDA #020954
Busulfex® (busulfan) Injection
MA #77
Dear Ms. Jameison,
As part of its routine monitoring and surveillance program, the Office of Prescription Drug
Promotion (OPDP) of the US Food and Drug Administration has reviewed the US product
website (0608W-0013) for Busulfex® (busulfan) Injection (Busulfex) submitted by Otsuka
Pharmaceutical Development and Commercialization, Inc. (OPDC) under cover of Form
FDA-22531. This website is misleading because it omits material facts, minimizes important
risk information about Busulfex, makes unsubstantiated claims, overstates the efficacy of
Busulfex, and makes a misleading claim. Therefore, the website misbrands the drug in
violation of the Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act (FD&C Act), 21 U.S.C. 352(a) & (n);
321(n). See 21 CFR 202.1(e)(5); (e)(6)(i); (e)(7)(i) & (iii).
Background
Below is the indication and summary of the most serious and most common risks associated
with the use of Busulfex.2
According to the INDICATIONS AND USAGE section of the FDA-approved product labeling
(PI):
BUSULFEX® (busulfan) Injection is indicated for use in combination with
cyclophosphamide as a conditioning regimen prior to allogeneic hematopoietic
progenitor cell transplantation for chronic myelogenous leukemia.
The PI for Busulfex includes a Boxed Warning regarding the risk of profound
myelosuppression at recommended doses and the need for supervision by a qualified
physician experienced in allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplantation, the use of
1
Last accessed October 3, 2011.
2
This information is for background purposes only and does not necessarily represent the risk information that
should be included in the promotional piece cited in this letter.
Reference ID: 3029738
Ms. Stephanie H. Jameison, MBA, RAC Page 2
Otsuka Pharmaceutical Development and Commercialization, Inc.
NDA# 020954 / MA# 77
chemotherapeutic drugs, and the management of patients with severe pancytopenia. The
PI for Busulfex also includes the following Warnings: seizures; hepatic veno-occlusive
disease (HVOD); cardiac tamponade in pediatric patients with thalassemia who received
high doses of oral busulfan and cyclophosphamide as the preparatory regimen for
hematopoietic progenitor cell transplantation; bronchopulmonary dysplasia with pulmonary
fibrosis; and use in pregnancy. The PRECAUTIONS section of the PI also includes
recommendations for monitoring serum transaminases, alkaline phosphatase, and bilirubin
to detect hepatotoxicity.
The most common non-hematologic adverse reactions in adult patients treated with
Busulfex were nausea, stomatitis (mucositis), vomiting, anorexia, diarrhea, insomnia, fever,
hypomagnesemia, abdominal pain, and anxiety.
The PRECAUTIONS – Special Populations: Pediatric section of the PI discusses the use of
Busulfex in pediatric patients participating in an open-label, uncontrolled study that
evaluated the pharmacokinetics of Busulfex therapy when used as part of a conditioning
regimen administered prior to hematopoietic progenitor cell transplantation for a variety of
malignant hematologic or non-malignant diseases. Adverse events reported for these
patients include vomiting, nausea, stomatitis, HVOD, graft-versus host disease (GVHD), and
pneumonia.
Omission of Material Facts
Promotional materials are misleading if they fail to reveal material facts in light of
representations made by the materials or with respect to consequences that may result from
the use of the drug as recommended or suggested by the materials.
The Dosing and Straightforward IV Administration – Infusion Examples webpages of the
Busulfex website present information regarding dosage and administration for pediatric
patients, but omit important material information regarding the risks associated with the use
of Busulfex in this patient population. Specifically, these presentations omit the risk of
cardiac tamponade observed in pediatric patients receiving high doses of oral busulfan. The
webpages also fail to include the adverse events reported for pediatric patients including
vomiting (100%), nausea (83%), stomatitis (79%), GVHD (25%), HVOD (21%), and
pneumonia (21%). By failing to communicate this important risk information, the website
misleadingly suggests that Busulfex is safer than has been demonstrated by substantial
evidence or substantial clinical experience.
The Important Safety Information section on the bottom of each webpage and the Clinical
Trial Results – Safety Profile webpage present some information regarding the risk of
HVOD, but omit material facts regarding HVOD and hepatotoxicity. In particular, the
WARNINGS – Hepatic section of the PI states, “Patients who have received prior radiation
therapy, greater than or equal to three cycles of chemotherapy, or a prior progenitor cell
transplant may be at an increased risk of developing HVOD with the recommended
BUSULFEX dose and regimen.” Moreover, the PRECAUTIONS section of the PI states, “To
Reference ID: 3029738
Ms. Stephanie H. Jameison, MBA, RAC Page 3
Otsuka Pharmaceutical Development and Commercialization, Inc.
NDA# 020954 / MA# 77
detect hepatotoxicity, which may herald the onset of hepatic veno-occlusive disease, serum
transaminases, alkaline phosphatase, and bilirubin should be evaluated daily through BMT
Day +28.” Finally, the ADVERSE REACTIONS – Hepatic section of the PI indicates that
hyperbilirubinemia occurred in 49% of patients, was grade 3/4 in 30% of patients, and was
considered life-threatening in 5% of these patients. Hyperbilirubinemia was associated with
both GVHD and HVOD. By omitting these material facts, the website suggests that
Busulfex is safer than has been demonstrated by substantial evidence or substantial clinical
experience.
The Dosing webpage and Straightforward IV Administration – Infusion Examples webpage
present information on the dosage and administration of Busulfex. However, these
presentations omit material facts regarding the need to pre-medicate patients with
antiemetics prior to the first dose of Busulfex therapy and on a fixed schedule for the
duration of Busulfex treatment. This treatment recommendation is particularly relevant in
light of the fact that nausea and vomiting occurred in 98% and 95% of patients, respectively,
in the pivotal clinical trial.
Minimization of Risk/Unsubstantiated Claims
Promotional materials are misleading if they contain a representation or suggestion that a
drug is safer than has been demonstrated by substantial evidence or substantial clinical
experience.
Several pages of the Busulfex product website contain the claim, “Low incidence of severe
toxicities” (emphasis original). The PI contains a BOXED WARNING which indicates that
Busulfex is a cytotoxic drug associated with profound myelosuppression that occurs in all
patients as well as other significant warnings and precautions. For example, some of the
most common adverse events include nausea (98%), stomatitis (mucositis) (97%), vomiting
(95%), anorexia (85%), diarrhea (84%), insomnia (84%), and fever (80%). Given the
frequency and severity of profound myelosuppression, and the potential for other serious and
significant adverse events with Busulfex therapy, the claim, “Low incidence of severe
toxicities” is misleading and significantly minimizes the risks associated with the drug. We
note that this presentation includes the claim that, “100% (61/61) completed the 16-dose
regimen.” Although it is true that 61/61 patients completed the 16-dose regimen, the
inclusion of this statement does not mitigate the misleading impression created by this claim.
The Straightforward IV Administration – Concomitant Medications webpage claims:
● “In a retrospective review, 29 pediatric patients (ages 6 months to 19 years) who
received lorazepam for seizure prophylaxis did not develop seizures while
receiving or within 48 hours of last dose of IV BUSULFEX[3]”
3 Chan KW, Mullen CA, Worth LL, et al. Lorazepam for seizure prophylaxis during high-dose busulfan
administration. Bone Marrow Transplant. 2002;29:963-965.
Reference ID: 3029738
Ms. Stephanie H. Jameison, MBA, RAC Page 4
Otsuka Pharmaceutical Development and Commercialization, Inc.
NDA# 020954 / MA# 77
● “During high dose IV BUSULFEX treatment, PK data showed no alteration in
absorption and clearance of busulfan during concomitant administration of
lorazepam[3]”
This presentation is misleading because it suggests that the use of lorazepam for seizure
prophylaxis eliminates the risk of seizures with Busulfex therapy, when this has not been
demonstrated by substantial evidence or substantial clinical experience. The reference
cited (Chan, et al.) to support the above presentation is a retrospective review of the use of
variable doses of lorazepam for seizure prophylaxis in 29 pediatric patients receiving
busulfan as part of a conditioning regimen for hematopoietic stem cell transplantation
(HSCT). A retrospective analysis of a study in a limited pediatric population does not
constitute substantial evidence or substantial clinical experience to support claims implying
that lorazepam eliminates the risk of seizures associated with Busulfex therapy. We note
that the DOSAGE AND ADMINISTRATION section of the PI specifically states that “[a]ll
patients should be premedicated with phenytoin as busulfan is known to cross the blood
brain barrier and induce seizures. . . . Use of other anticonvulsants may result in higher
busulfan plasma AUCs, and an increased risk of VOD or seizures. In cases where other
anticonvulsants must be used, plasma busulfan exposure should be monitored . . .”
(emphasis added). Furthermore, the totality of this presentation is particularly concerning
given that the Busulfex PI contains a warning regarding the risk of seizures. In fact, one
seizure (1/42 patients) was reported during an autologous transplantation clinical trial of
Busulfex, despite prophylactic therapy with phenytoin.
Unsubstantiated Claims
The Busulfex website includes claims and presentations such as the following (underlined
emphasis added):
● “Begin with Precision”
● “For optimal HSCT conditioning”
● “Outcomes through accuracy”
● “Predictable pharmacokinetics”
● “Predictable pharmacokinetic profile[4]”
● “Controlled Myeloablation”
● “Predictable and consistent intrapatient and interpatient AUC values[4]”
● “Excellent interdose reproducibility (Cmax at dose 1 accurately predicted Cmax at
dose 9)[4]”
● “Delivers precise, predictable control”
● A line graph entitled, “Pharmacokinetics Results: Doses 1, 9, and 13 (n=59)[4]”
that presents maximum concentration (Cmax), AUC, and minimum concentration
(Cmin) data across these timepoints.
4
Andersson BS, Kashyap A, Gian V, et al. Conditioning therapy with intravenous busulfan and
cyclophosphamide (IV BuCy2) for hematologic malignancies prior to allogeneic stem cell transplantation: a
phase II study. Biol Blood Marrow Transplant. 2002;8:145-154.
Reference ID: 3029738
Ms. Stephanie H. Jameison, MBA, RAC Page 5
Otsuka Pharmaceutical Development and Commercialization, Inc.
NDA# 020954 / MA# 77
Claims and presentations implying that Busulfex has a “predictable pharmacokinetic profile,”
“predictable and consistent” area under the curve (AUC) values, and “excellent interdose
reproducibility” are misleading. The reference cited to support these claims is a publication
(Andersson, et al.) that describes the pivotal study for Busulfex. In this study, blood
samples were only collected up to 4 hours after the end of infusion. However, the half-life of
busulfan is approximately 3 hours. An acceptable sampling schedule to determine first dose
AUC would need to extend up to 15 hours post infusion. Therefore, the first dose AUC was
extrapolated by a range of 2% to 68% in order to calculate AUC0-∞. This renders a
comparison between first dose AUC values to AUC values of subsequent doses invalid and
claims implying that Busulfex has a predictable pharmacokinetic profile based on its
calculated AUC are misleading. For similar reasons, claims implying that Busulfex has
predictable and consistent inter- and intrapatient AUC values are unsubstantiated.
Additionally, in this study there was a significant difference between dose one and dose nine
Cmax (ng/ml) values (944 + 25% vs. 1222 + 18%, respectively) which demonstrates that the
Cmax of dose one cannot be used to accurately predict Cmax of dose nine. Therefore, claims
suggesting that Busulfex has “excellent interdose reproducibility” based on dose one Cmax
predicting dose nine Cmax are misleading.
Furthermore, the totality of this presentation misleadingly implies that there is a direct
correlation between a “predictable pharmacokinetic profile” and the ability to induce
myeloablation in an “accurate,” “controlled” or “optimal” way. OPDP is not aware of
substantial evidence or substantial clinical experience that supports any kind of causal or
correlative relationship between pharmacokinetic profile and such clinical benefits.
Overstatement of Efficacy
The Clinical Trial Results – 100% Engraftment webpage presents a Kaplan-Meier graph
titled, “Overall Survival and Disease-free Survival.” The references cited to support this
presentation are the Busulfex PI and publication of the single-arm open-label pivotal trial
(Andersson, et al.). The graph depicts the probability of overall survival (OS) and disease
free survival (DFS) from day 0 to day 583 post-transplant and calls out an 86.9% probability
of overall survival at day 100 post transplant. This presentation is misleading because it
makes efficacy claims regarding the probability of OS and DFS following Busulfex therapy
which have not been demonstrated by substantial evidence or substantial clinical experience.
OS and DFS are time-to-event endpoints that represent the likelihood that patients will be
alive or free from disease at a given point in time. The accurate method of calculating
probability estimates for these endpoints takes into consideration the number of patients who
are still alive or free from disease after each pre-specified event has occurred (defined as the
population at risk) as well as the number of patients censored from analysis at each time
point during the period of observation. In contrast, the 86.9% OS probability estimate
reported on the website for day 100 was derived by dividing the number of patients alive at
day 100 by the total number of patients who received Busulfex during the entire clinical trial.
This calculation does not accurately reflect the number of patients still at risk for the defined
events (i.e., OS, DFS). Failure to incorporate these principles into the derivation of this
Reference ID: 3029738
Ms. Stephanie H. Jameison, MBA, RAC Page 6
Otsuka Pharmaceutical Development and Commercialization, Inc.
NDA# 020954 / MA# 77
statistic overestimates the probability of OS and DFS. Therefore, the 86.9% OS probability
reported on the webpage is misleading because it overstates the efficacy of Busulfex.
Moreover, the results of the single-arm, open label pivotal study in 61 patients, as reported in
the Busulfex PI, do not support the Kaplan-Meier presentation that approximately 70% of
patients were alive at day 583 and approximately 40% of patients were disease-free at this
time. The PI states that “twenty-three patients (38%) relapsed at a median of 183 days posttransplant (range 36 to 406 days). Sixty-two percent of patients (38/61) were free from
disease with a median follow-up of 269 days post-transplant (range 20 to 583 days). Fortythree patients (70%) were alive with a median follow up of 288 days post-transplant (range 51
to 583 days).” We note that this information is included on this webpage. These data,
however, are not OS and DFS probability estimates, nor do they support such implications in
a Kaplan Meier presentation. Single-arm trials do not adequately characterize time-to-event
endpoints.5 Therefore, neither the PI nor the referenced publication support the misleading
OS and DFS implications made by this presentation.
Misleading Claim
The Busulfex website presents the following claim:
• “Straightforward IV administration”
This claim is misleading because it suggests that the administration of IV Busulfex is
straightforward when this is not the case. The Busulfex PI contains several instructions
pertaining to the administration of Busulfex. Specifically, the DOSAGE and
ADMINISTRATION section of the PI indicates that Busulfex therapy should be administered
intravenously via a central venous catheter using an infusion pump to deliver the entire
prescribed dose over two hours. An administration set with minimal residual hold-up volume
(2-5cc) should be used for administration. Prior to and following each infusion the indwelling
catheter should be flushed with five milliliters of 0.9% sodium chloride injection or 5%
dextrose injection. Dosing of Busulfex is repeated every six hours for four consecutive days
for a total of 16 doses. In light of the several instructions required for the proper
administration of Busulfex, it is misleading to suggest that the administration of Busulfex is
“straightforward.” We acknowledge that the administration information for Busulfex is
presented on the website; however, this is not sufficient to mitigate the misleading
impression created by the above claim.
Conclusion and Requested Action
For the reasons discussed above, the US product website for Busulfex misbrands the drug in
violation of the FD&C Act, 21 U.S.C. 352(a) & (n); 321(n). See 21 CFR 202.1(e)(5); (e)(6)(i);
(e)(7)(i) & (iii).
5 Guidance for Industry: Clinical Trial Endpoints for the Approval of Cancer Drugs and Biologics.(May 2007)
Reference ID: 3029738
Ms. Stephanie H. Jameison, MBA, RAC Page 7
Otsuka Pharmaceutical Development and Commercialization, Inc.
NDA# 020954 / MA# 77
OPDP requests that OPDC immediately cease the dissemination of violative promotional
materials for Busulfex such as those described above. Please submit a written response to
this letter on or before October 31, 2011, stating whether you intend to comply with this
request, listing all promotional materials (with the 2253 submission date) for Busulfex that
contain violations such as those described above, and explaining your plan for discontinuing
use of such violative materials.
Please direct your response to the undersigned at the Food and Drug Administration,
Center for Drug Evaluation and Research, Office of Prescription Drug Promotion,
Division of Professional Promotion, 5901-B Ammendale Road, Beltsville, Maryland
20705-1266 or by facsimile at (301) 847-8444. Please note that the Division of Drug
Marketing, Advertising, and Communications (DDMAC) has been reorganized and elevated
to the Office of Prescription Drug Promotion (OPDP). OPDP consists of the Immediate
Office, the Division of Professional Promotion (DPP) and the Division of Direct-to-Consumer
Promotion (DDTCP). To ensure timely delivery of your submissions, please use the full
address above and include a prominent directional notation (e.g. a sticker) to indicate that the
submission is intended for OPDP. In addition, OPDP recently migrated to a different tracking
system. Therefore, OPDP letters will now refer to MA numbers instead of MACMIS numbers.
Please refer to the MA # in addition to the NDA number in all future correspondence relating
to this particular matter. OPDP reminds you that only written communications are considered
official.
The violations discussed in this letter do not necessarily constitute an exhaustive list. It is
your responsibility to ensure that your promotional materials for Busulfex comply with each
applicable requirement of the FD&C Act and FDA implementing regulations.
Sincerely,
See appended electronic signature page
Adam George, Pharm.D.
Regulatory Review Officer
Division of Professional Promotion
Office of Prescription Drug Promotion
Reference ID: 3029738
———————————————————————————————————
This is a representation of an electronic record that was signed
electronically and this page is the manifestation of the electronic
signature.
———————————————————————————————————
/s/
—————————————————-
ADAM GEORGE
10/17/2011
Reference ID: 3029738