Thyrotropin

Thyrogen

Approved 30 Nov 1998InjectionInjectable

Indications

THYROGEN ® is a thyroid stimulating hormone indicated for: Adjunctive Diagnostic Tool for Well-Differentiated Thyroid Cancer: Use as an adjunctive diagnostic tool for serum thyroglobulin (Tg) testing with or without radioiodine imaging in the follow-up of patients with well-differentiated thyroid cancer who have previously undergone thyroidectomy. ( 1.1 ) Limitations of Use : THYROGEN-stimulated Tg levels are generally lower than, and do not correlate with Tg levels after thyroid hormone withdrawal.

Even when THYROGEN-Tg testing is performed in combination with radioiodine imaging, there remains a risk of missing a diagnosis of thyroid cancer or underestimating the extent of the disease. Anti-Tg Antibodies may confound the Tg assay and render Tg levels uninterpretable. Adjunct for Thyroid Remnant Ablation in Well-Differentiated Thyroid Cancer: Use as an adjunctive treatment for radioiodine ablation of thyroid tissue remnants in patients who have undergone a near-total or total thyroidectomy for well-differentiated thyroid cancer and who do not have evidence of distant metastatic thyroid cancer.

( 1.2 ) Limitations of Use : The effect of THYROGEN on thyroid cancer recurrence greater than 5 years post-remnant ablation has not been evaluated.

1.1Adjunctive Diagnostic Tool for Well-Differentiated Thyroid Cancer

THYROGEN ® is indicated for use as an adjunctive diagnostic tool for serum thyroglobulin (Tg) testing with or without radioiodine imaging in the follow-up of patients with well-differentiated thyroid cancer who have previously undergone thyroidectomy. Limitations of Use : THYROGEN-stimulated Tg levels are generally lower than, and do not correlate with, Tg levels after thyroid hormone withdrawal [see Clinical Studies (14.1) ] .

Even when THYROGEN-stimulated Tg testing is performed in combination with radioiodine imaging, there remains a risk of missing a diagnosis of thyroid cancer or of underestimating the extent of disease. Anti-Tg antibodies may confound the Tg assay and render Tg levels uninterpretable [see Clinical Studies (14.1) ] . Therefore, in such cases, even with a negative or low-stage THYROGEN radioiodine scan, consideration should be given to further evaluating patients.

1.2Adjunct for Thyroid Remnant Ablation in Well-Differentiated Thyroid Cancer

THYROGEN is indicated for use as an adjunctive treatment for radioiodine ablation of thyroid tissue remnants in patients who have undergone a near-total or total thyroidectomy for well-differentiated thyroid cancer and who do not have evidence of distant metastatic thyroid cancer. Limitations of Use : The effect of THYROGEN on thyroid cancer recurrence greater than five years post-remnant ablation has not been evaluated [see Clinical Studies (14.2) ] .

At a glance

Brand name: Thyrogen
Active substance: thyrotropin alfa
Drug class: Thyrotropin
Route: Injection
Dosage form: Injectable
Applicant: Genzyme
Status: Prescription
FDA approval: 30 Nov 1998
Application: BLA020898-001
RxCUI: 2166574

Indications

( 1.2 ) Limitations of Use : The effect of THYROGEN on thyroid cancer recurrence greater than 5 years post-remnant ablation has not been evaluated.

1.1Adjunctive Diagnostic Tool for Well-Differentiated Thyroid Cancer

1.2Adjunct for Thyroid Remnant Ablation in Well-Differentiated Thyroid Cancer

Warnings and precautions

THYROGEN-induced hyperthyroidism: Hospitalization for administration of THYROGEN and postadministrative observation should be considered for patients at risk. ( 5.1 ) Stroke: Stroke in female patients as well as other neurologic events in patients with central nervous system metastases. ( 5.2 , 5.3 ) Sudden rapid tumor enlargement: Sudden, rapid and painful enlargement in distant metastatic thyroid cancer. ( 5.3 ) Risks associated with radioiodine (RAI) combination treatment: If THYROGEN is administered with RAI, the warnings and precautions for RAI also apply to this combination regimen.

( 5.4 )

5.1THYROGEN-Induced Hyperthyroidism

When given to patients who have substantial thyroid tissue still in situ or functional thyroid cancer metastases, THYROGEN is known to cause a transient (over 7 to 14 days) but significant rise in serum thyroid hormone concentration. There have been reports of death in non-thyroidectomized patients and in patients with distant metastatic thyroid cancer in which events leading to death occurred within 24 hours after administration of THYROGEN.

Patients with residual thyroid tissue at risk for THYROGEN-induced hyperthyroidism include the elderly and those with a known history of heart disease. Hospitalization for administration of THYROGEN and postadministration observation in patients at risk should be considered.

5.2Stroke

There are postmarketing reports of radiologically-confirmed stroke and neurological findings suggestive of stroke unconfirmed radiologically (e.g., unilateral weakness) occurring within 72 hours (range 20 minutes to three days) of THYROGEN administration in patients without known central nervous system metastases. The majority of such patients were young women taking oral contraceptives at the time of their event or had other risk factors for stroke, such as smoking or a history of migraine headaches.

The relationship between THYROGEN administration and stroke is unknown. Patients should be well-hydrated prior to treatment with THYROGEN.

5.3Sudden Rapid Tumor Enlargement

Sudden, rapid and painful enlargement of residual thyroid tissue or distant metastases can occur following treatment with THYROGEN. This may lead to acute symptoms, which depend on the anatomical location of the tissue. Such symptoms include acute hemiplegia, hemiparesis, and loss of vision one to three days after THYROGEN administration. Laryngeal edema, pain at the site of distant metastasis, and respiratory distress requiring tracheotomy have also been reported after THYROGEN administration.

Pretreatment with glucocorticoids should be considered for patients in whom tumor expansion may compromise vital anatomic structures.

5.4Risks Associated with Radioiodine Treatment If

THYROGEN is administered with radioiodine (RAI), the warnings and precautions for RAI, apply to this combination regimen. Refer to the RAI prescribing information for a full list of the warnings and precautions for RAI.

Adverse reactions

The most common adverse reactions (>5%) reported in clinical trials were nausea and headache. ( 6.1 ) To report SUSPECTED ADVERSE REACTIONS, contact Genzyme Corporation at 800-745-4447 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 the rates observed in practice. The data described below reflect exposure to THYROGEN in 481 thyroid cancer patients who participated in a total of 6 clinical trials of THYROGEN: 4 trials for diagnostic use and 2 trials for ablation.

In clinical trials, patients had undergone near-total thyroidectomy and had a mean age of 46.1 years. Thyroid cancer diagnosis was as follows: papillary (69.2%), follicular (12.9%), Hurthle cell (2.3%) and papillary/follicular (15.6%). Most patients received 2 intramuscular injections of 0.9 mg of THYROGEN injection gin 24 hours apart [see Clinical Studies (14.1 , 14.2) ] . The safety profile of patients who have undergone thyroidectomy and received THYROGEN as adjunctive treatment for radioiodine ablation of thyroid tissue remnants for well-differentiated thyroid cancer did not differ from that of patients who received THYROGEN for diagnostic purposes.

Reactions reported in ≥1% of patients in the combined trials are summarized in Table 1. In some studies, an individual patient may have participated in both THYROGEN and thyroid hormone withdrawal [see Clinical Studies (14.1 , 14.2) ] . Table 1: Summary of Adverse Reactions by THYROGEN and Thyroid Hormone Withdrawal in Pooled Clinical Trials (≥1% of Patients in any Phase) THYROGEN Thyroid Hormone Withdrawal (N=481) (N=418) Preferred Term n (%) n (%) Nausea 53 (11) 2 (<1) Headache 29 (6) 0 Fatigue 11 (2) 2 (<1) Vomiting 11 (2) 0 Dizziness 9 (2) 0 (0.0) Asthenia 5 (1) 1 (<1)

6.2Postmarketing Experience

The following adverse reactions have been identified during postapproval use of THYROGEN. 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. Transient (<48 hours) influenza-like symptoms, including fever (>100°F/38°C), chills/shivering, myalgia/arthralgia, fatigue/asthenia/malaise, headache, and chills.

Hypersensitivity including urticaria, rash, pruritus, flushing, and respiratory signs and symptoms. Injection site reactions, including pain, erythema, bruising, and pruritus.

Thyrogen

Indications

1.1Adjunctive Diagnostic Tool for Well-Differentiated Thyroid Cancer

1.2Adjunct for Thyroid Remnant Ablation in Well-Differentiated Thyroid Cancer

At a glance

Two medicines in one question?

Thyrogen

Indications

1.1Adjunctive Diagnostic Tool for Well-Differentiated Thyroid Cancer

1.2Adjunct for Thyroid Remnant Ablation in Well-Differentiated Thyroid Cancer

At a glance

Two medicines in one question?

Contraindications

Warnings and precautions

5.1THYROGEN-Induced Hyperthyroidism

5.2Stroke

5.3Sudden Rapid Tumor Enlargement

5.4Risks Associated with Radioiodine Treatment If

Pregnancy and breastfeeding

8.1Pregnancy Risk Summary

Adverse reactions

6.1Clinical Trials Experience

6.2Postmarketing Experience

Composition

Official product information