Serious Adverse Drug Reactions (sADRs) Involving Hematology and Resulting in Black Box Warnings or FDA Non-Approval: Results from the First Quarter Century of RADAR/Sonar
Background: Two National Cancer Institute-funded pharmacovigilance programs have identified 49 serious hematology-related ADRs since 1998. The programs, called RADAR (Research on Adverse Drug events and Reports) and then SONAR (Southern Network on Adverse Reactions) involve > 50 institutions and > 75 co-investigators worldwide. The work builds on three prior studies evaluating “Davids and Goliaths” in medical oncology and in cardiology (PLOS One, eClinicalMedicine, and Journal of Scientific and Professional Integrity). Here we review the hematology focused safety investigations of RADAR/SONAR. Methods: Data were based on initial safety signals being identified by a RADAR/SONAR co-investigator. Then, case-series were derived. Collaborations with basic scientists allowed for basic science correlative studies. Results were disseminated primarily as Brief Report in the literature and Black Box warnings on the related drug. In some instances, studies identified hematologic toxicities that prevent FDA from approving a submitted drug application. Results: sADRs were frequently identified based on very small case series, including ticlopidine-and clopidogrel associated thrombotic thrombocytopenic purpura (22 and 10 patients, respectively), thalidomide- and lenalidomide-associated venous thromboembolism (9 and 5 patients, respectively), rituximab-associated progressive multi-focal leukoencephalopathy (22 patients), peginesatide-associated fatal anaphylaxis (5 patients), and COVID-19 vaccine associated immune thrombocytopenia (1 patient). Meta-analyses provided data for epoetin- and darbepoetin-associated mortality among cancer patients and lenalidomide- and thalidomide-associated venous thromboembolism. Following the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic, RADAR/SONAR investigated social media and pre-prints (COVID-19 vaccine associated cerebral vein thrombosis and immune thrombocytopenia). Time from FDA approval to sADR discovery was a median of 5 years (range, 0 months (thalidomide-associated venous thromboembolism) to 34 years (ciprofloxacin-associated neuropsychiatric toxicity). Basic science correlative studies identified ADAMTS13 autoantibodies (ticlopidine), leachates that developed in a multi-dose vial (peginesatide), anti-red blood cell antibodies (epoetin-associated pure red cell aplasia), and high-risk genes (fluoroquinolones and rituximab). Overall, RADAR/SONAR studies are estimated to have saved over 1 million lives and also resulted in overall payments to the Department of Justice of $1.5 billion (related to marketing of unsafe drugs). Discussion: RADAR/SONAR has proven to be a very important adjunct to FDA and pharmaceutical manufacturer-led safety investigations for hematology, paralleling the success in medical oncology and in cardiology. Going forward, independent centers of excellence for safety-focused investigations such as the CERSI network and the SENTINEL network (both are NIH funded) should be broadened to include a hematology-focused safety center.
A phase 1 study of JNJ-69086420 (JNJ-6420), an actinium-225 (225Ac) -labeled antibody targeting human kallikrein 2 (hK2), for metastatic castration-resistant prostate cancer (mCRPC).
5010 Background: hK2 (encoded by the KLK2gene) is a novel target expressed on the cell surface of prostate cancer cells with restricted expression elsewhere. JNJ-6420 is a first-in-class anti-hK2 antibody–based targeted radiotherapy delivering 225Ac, a high-energy short-range alpha-particle emitter, to prostate cancer cells. Here we report the first-in-human study evaluating JNJ-6420 in heavily pretreated biomarker-unselected participants (pts) with mCRPC who received ≥1 prior androgen receptor pathway inhibitor. Methods: Intravenous JNJ-6420 was escalated from 50 μCi to 400 μCi every 8-12 weeks in the outpatient setting with no residential radioprotective restrictions. Prior radioisotopic therapy was an exclusion criterion. Primary objectives were safety and defining a recommended phase 2 dose (RP2D). Secondary objectives included preliminary assessment of clinical activity. Results: As of January 5, 2024, 67 pts received ≥1 JNJ-6420 dose. Exposure and clinical activity for the 57 pts in the ≥150 μCi JNJ-6420 cohorts are summarized (see Table); 35/57 (61.4%) experienced grade ≥3 TEAEs, and 21 (36.8%) had a serious TEAE. TEAEs of note included thrombocytopenia (63.2%) and interstitial lung disease (ILD, 9%). All instances of ILD occurred at cumulative doses ≥500 μCi and prior to implementation of pulmonary function surveillance. Grade ≥3 TEAEs (≥10%) included anemia (26.3%), thrombocytopenia (17.5%), lymphopenia (10.5%), and leukopenia (10.5%). 9/57 (15.8%) pts discontinued treatment due to TRAEs; 4 TRAEs resulted in death. At doses ≥150 μCi, the PSA50 rate was 45.6%. To date, across all dose cohorts, 31 pts (46%) remained on treatment for ≥24 weeks. Prolonged clinical, biochemical, and radiographic responses were noted in pts receiving doses of 150 μCi and higher. Durable responses included pts on treatment for 112 weeks (96 weeks since last dose), 88 weeks (13 weeks since last dose), and 46 weeks (after a single dose). Conclusions: In this first-in-human study, key TEAEs of JNJ-6420 were thrombocytopenia and ILD, both associated with repeated dosing. At ≥150 μCi, 1-2 doses of JNJ-6420 elicited profound and durable biochemical and radiographic responses. Evaluation of the RP2D is ongoing. These data highlight hK2 as a novel target for targeted alpha-particle therapy. Clinical trial information: NCT04644770 . [Table: see text]