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Verzenios ® ▼ (abemaciclib)
This information is intended for UK registered healthcare professionals only as a scientific exchange in response to your search for information. For current prescribing information for all Lilly products, including Summaries of Product Characteristics, Patient Information Leaflets and Instructions for Use, please visit: www.medicines.org.uk (England, Scotland, Wales) or www.emcmedicines.com/en-GB/northernireland/ (Northern Ireland).
Can I give Verzenios® (abemaciclib) and oral anticoagulants concomitantly?
The concomitant use of Verzenios (abemaciclib) and oral anticoagulants is not contraindicated. We did not systematically collect drug-drug interaction data.
Subgroup Analysis has not been Performed
Pharmacokinetic Considerations Based on in-vitro Inhibition
Abemaciclib inhibits P-glycoprotein (P-gp) and breast cancer resistance protein (BCRP) in vitro. Based on this observation, an in-vivo interaction of abemacicilib with narrow therapeutic index substrates of these transporters, such as the oral anticoagulant dabigatran etexilate, and others, may occur.3
Dabigatran etexilate is an anticoagulant and a substrate of P-gp. The information in the Summary of Product Characteristics (SmPC) that DDI between abemaciclib and dabigatran etexilate may occur is based on the observation that
- abemaciclib is known to inhibit P-gp transporter in vitro and
- abemaciclib increased loperamide as another P-gp substrate to an extent that was considered not to be clinically relevant.
However, the DDI of abemaciclib with dabigatran has not been tested in patients and therefore the actual extent of increase in dabigatran plasma exposure when administered in combination with abemaciclib has not been established in vivo.3
Please refer to the SmPC of the respective oral anticoagulant for full prescribing information.
Safety Considerations Based on the SmPCs
We did not systematically study interactions between abemaciclib and oral anticoagulants, therefore the following considerations are of theoretical nature based on the safety profile of abemaciclib. We do not know if these considerations are clinically relevant.
Please note that abemaciclib indicated for the treatment of women with hormone receptor positive (HR+), human epidermal growth factor receptor 2 (HER2) negative locally advanced or metastatic breast cancer in combination with
- an aromatase inhibitor, or
- fulvestrant.3
Please check the SmPCs of all concomitantly used medications.
Thrombocytopenia
Thrombocytopenia has been reported as a very common adverse event in the Monarch 2- and Monarch 3-studies of abemaciclib with
- 14.3% all grades toxicity
- 2.2% grade 3 toxicity, and
- 1.0% grade 4 toxicity.4
Thrombocytopenia might increase the effect of anticoagulants.
Diarrhoea
Diarrhoea is the most common adverse event associated with abemaciclib and has been reported in the Monarch 2- and Monarch 3-studies at
Diarrhoea could possibly reduce the resorption of orally administered anticoagulants.
Bleeding
Abemaciclib is not associated with an increased risk of bleeding.3
References
1Goetz et al. MONARCH 3: Abemaciclib As Initial Therapy for Advanced Breast Cancer. J Clin Oncol. 2017 Nov 10;35(32):3638-3646. doi: 10.1200/JCO.2017.75.6155. Epub 2017 Oct 2
2Sledge GW Jr et al. MONARCH 2: Abemaciclib in Combination With Fulvestrant in Women With HR+/HER2- Advanced Breast Cancer Who Had Progressed While Receiving Endocrine Therapy. J Clin Oncol. 2017 Sep 1;35(25):2875-2884. doi: 10.1200/JCO.2017.73.7585. Epub 2017 Jun 3
3Verzenios [summary of product characteristics]. Eli Lilly Nederland B.V., The Netherlands.
4Data on file, Eli Lilly and Company and/or one of its subsidiaries.
Date of Last Review: 23 April 2021