Summary of the safety profile
Columvi monotherapy
The most common adverse reactions (≥ 20%) were cytokine release syndrome, neutropenia, anaemia, thrombocytopenia, and rash.
The most common serious adverse reactions reported in ≥ 2% of patients were cytokine release syndrome (22.1%), sepsis (4.1%), COVID-19 (3.4%), tumour flare (3.4%), COVID-19 pneumonia (2.8%), febrile neutropenia (2.1%), neutropenia (2.1%), and pleural effusion (2.1%).
Permanent discontinuation of Columvi due to an adverse reaction occurred in 5.5% of patients. The most common adverse reactions leading to permanent discontinuation of Columvi were COVID-19 (1.4%) and neutropenia (1.4%).
Columvi in combination with gemcitabine and oxaliplatin
The most common adverse reactions (≥ 20%) were thrombocytopenia, cytokine release syndrome, neutropenia, anaemia, nausea, peripheral neuropathy, diarrhoea, aspartate aminotransferase increased, alanine aminotransferase increased, rash, lymphopenia, pyrexia, and vomiting.
The most common serious adverse reactions reported in ≥ 2% of patients were cytokine release syndrome (20.3%), pyrexia (6.4%), pneumonia (5.8%), COVID-19 (5.8%), thrombocytopenia (4.7%), respiratory tract infection (3.5%), sepsis (2.3%), febrile neutropenia (2.3%), and diarrhoea (2.3%).
Permanent discontinuation of Columvi due to an adverse reaction occurred in 20.9% of patients. The most common adverse reactions leading to permanent discontinuation of Columvi were COVID 19 (11.6%), sepsis (1.2%), and pneumonitis (1.2%).
Tabulated list of adverse reactions
Adverse reactions occurring in relapsed or refractory DLBCL patients treated with Columvi monotherapy (n=145) in study NP30179 are listed in Table 6. Patients received a median of 5 cycles of Columvi treatment (range: 1 to 13 cycles).
Adverse reactions occurring in relapsed or refractory DLBCL patients treated with Columvi in combination with gemcitabine and oxaliplatin (n=172) in study GO41944 (STARGLO) are listed in Table 7. Patients received a median of 11 cycles of Columvi treatment (range: 1 to 13 cycles).
The adverse reactions are listed by MedDRA system organ class and categories of frequency. The following categories of frequency have been used: very common (≥ 1/10), common (≥ 1/100 to < 1/10), uncommon (≥ 1/1 000 to < 1/100), rare (≥ 1/10 000 to < 1/1 000), very rare (< 1/10 000). Within each frequency grouping, adverse reactions are presented in the order of decreasing seriousness.
Table 6. Adverse reactions reported in patients with relapsed or refractory DLBCL treated with Columvi monotherapy
| System organ class | Adverse reaction | All grades | Grade 3−4 |
| Infections and infestations | Viral infections1 | Very common | Common* |
| Bacterial infections2 | Common | Common |
| Upper respiratory tract infections3 | Common | Very rare** |
| Sepsis4 | Common | Common* |
| Lower respiratory tract infections5 | Common | Very rare** |
| Pneumonia | Common | Uncommon |
| Urinary tract infection6 | Common | Uncommon |
| Fungal infections7 | Common | Very rare** |
| Neoplasms benign, malignant and unspecified (incl cysts and polyps) | Tumour flare | Very common | Common |
| Blood and lymphatic system disorders | Neutropenia | Very common | Very Common |
| Anaemia | Very common | Common |
| Thrombocytopenia | Very common | Common |
| Lymphopenia | Common | Common |
| Febrile neutropenia8 | Common | Common |
| Immune system disorders | Cytokine release syndrome9 | Very common | Common |
| Metabolism and nutrition disorders | Hypophosphataemia | Very common | Common |
| Hypomagnesaemia | Very common | Very rare** |
| Hypocalcaemia | Very common | Very rare** |
| Hypokalaemia | Very common | Uncommon |
| Hyponatraemia | Common | Common |
| Tumour lysis syndrome | Common | Common |
| Psychiatric disorders | Confusional state | Common | Very rare** |
| Nervous system disorders | Headache | Very common | Very rare** |
| Immune effector cell-associated neurotoxicity syndrome10 | Common | Uncommon* |
| Somnolence | Common | Uncommon |
| Tremor | Common | Very rare** |
| Myelitis11 | Uncommon | Uncommon |
| Gastrointestinal disorders | Constipation | Very common | Very rare** |
| Diarrhoea | Very common | Very rare** |
| Nausea | Very common | Very rare** |
| Gastrointestinal haemorrhage12 | Common | Common |
| Vomiting | Common | Very rare** |
| Colitis | Uncommon | Uncommon |
| Skin and subcutaneous tissue disorders | Rash13 | Very common | Common |
| General disorders and administration site conditions | Pyrexia | Very common | Very rare** |
| Investigations | Alanine aminotransferase increased | Common | Common |
| Aspartate aminotransferase increased | Common | Common |
| Blood alkaline phosphatase increased | Common | Common |
| Gamma-glutamyltransferase increased | Common | Common |
| Blood bilirubin increased | Common | Uncommon |
| Hepatic enzyme increased | Common | Common |
* Grade 5 reactions reported. See serious infections in Description of selected adverse reactions.
** No Grade 3-4 events were reported.
1 Includes COVID-19, COVID-19 pneumonia, herpes zoster, influenza, and ophthalmic herpes zoster.
2 Includes vascular device infection, bacterial infection, Campylobacter infection, biliary tract infection bacterial, urinary tract infection bacterial, Clostridium difficile infection, Escherichia infection, and peritonitis.
3 Includes upper respiratory tract infection, sinusitis, nasopharyngitis, chronic sinusitis, and rhinitis.
4 Includes sepsis and septic shock.
5 Includes lower respiratory tract infection and bronchitis.
6 Includes urinary tract infection and Escherichia urinary tract infection.
7 Includes oesophageal candidiasis and oral candidiasis.
8 Includes febrile neutropenia and neutropenic infection.
9 Based on ASTCT consensus grading (Lee 2019).
10 ICANS based on Lee 2019 and includes somnolence, cognitive disorder, confusional state, delirium, and disorientation.
11 Myelitis occurred concurrently with CRS.
12 Includes gastrointestinal haemorrhage, large intestinal haemorrhage, and gastric haemorrhage.
13 Includes rash, rash pruritic, rash maculo-papular, dermatitis, dermatitis acneiform, dermatitis exfoliative, erythema, palmar erythema, pruritis, and rash erythematous.
Table 7. Adverse reactions reported in patients with relapsed or refractory DLBCL treated with Columvi in combination with gemcitabine and oxaliplatin
| System organ class | Adverse reaction | All grades | Grade 3−4 |
| Infections and infestations | COVID-191 | Very common | Common* |
| Respiratory tract infections2 | Very Common | Common* |
| Pneumonia3 | Very Common | Common* |
| Cytomegalovirus infections4 | Common | Uncommon |
| Herpes viral infections5 | Common | Uncommon |
| Urinary tract infection6 | Common | Common |
| Sepsis7 | Common | Common* |
| Candida infections8 | Common | Very rare** |
| Pneumocystis jiroveci pneumonia | Uncommon | Uncommon |
| Neoplasms benign, malignant and unspecified (incl cysts and polyps) | Tumour flare9 | Common | Very rare** |
| Blood and lymphatic system disorders | Thrombocytopenia | Very common | Very Common |
| Neutropenia | Very common | Very Common |
| Anaemia | Very common | Very Common |
| Lymphopenia | Very common | Very Common |
| Febrile neutropenia | Common | Common |
| Immune system disorders | Cytokine release syndrome10 | Very common | Common |
| Metabolism and nutrition disorders | Hypokalaemia | Very common | Common |
| Hyponatraemia | Very common | Uncommon |
| Hypomagnesaemia | Common | Very rare** |
| Hypocalcaemia | Common | Uncommon |
| Hypophosphataemia | Common | Common |
| Tumour lysis syndrome | Common | Common |
| Nervous system disorders | Peripheral Neuropathy11 | Very common | Common |
| Immune effector cell-associated neurotoxicity syndrome12 | Common | Uncommon |
| Headache | Common | Very rare** |
| Tremor | Uncommon | Very rare** |
| Respiratory, thoracic and mediastinal disorders | Pneumonitis | Common | Very rare*,** |
| Gastrointestinal disorders | Nausea | Very common | Uncommon |
| Diarrhoea | Very common | Common |
| Vomiting | Very common | Uncommon |
| Abdominal pain13 | Very common | Common |
| Constipation | Very common | Very rare** |
| Colitis14 | Common | Common |
| Pancreatitis15 | Common | Common |
| Skin and subcutaneous tissue disorders | Rash16 | Very common | Uncommon |
| Musculoskeletal and connective tissue disorders | Musculoskeletal pain17 | Very common | Uncommon |
| General disorders and administration site conditions | Pyrexia | Very common | Uncommon |
| Investigations | Aspartate aminotransferase increased | Very common | Common |
| Alanine aminotransferase increased | Very common | Common |
| Blood alkaline phosphatase increased | Very common | Uncommon |
| Gamma-glutamyltransferase increased | Very common | Common |
| Blood lactate dehydrogenase increased | Very common | Very rare** |
| Blood bilirubin increased18 | Common | Very rare** |
| Hepatic enzyme increased | Uncommon | Very rare** |
* Grade 5 reactions reported. See Description of selected adverse reactions.
** No Grade 3-4 events were reported.
1 Includes COVID-19, COVID-19 pneumonia, and SARS-CoV-2 test positive.
2 Includes upper respiratory tract infection, lower respiratory tract infection, respiratory tract infection, and respiratory tract infection bacterial.
3 Includes pneumonia, pneumonia bacterial, and pneumonia pneumococcal.
4 New onset or reactivation. Includes cytomegalovirus infection, cytomegalovirus test positive, cytomegalovirus infection reactivation and cytomegalovirus viraemia.
5 New onset or reactivation. Includes herpes zoster and herpes virus infection
6 Includes urinary tract infection and urosepsis.
7 Includes sepsis, streptococcal sepsis, septic shock, and enterococcal sepsis.
8 Includes oral candidiasis and candida infection.
9 Includes tumour flare and tumour pain.
10 Based on ASTCT consensus grading (Lee 2019).
11 Includes neuropathy peripheral, peripheral sensory neuropathy, dysaesthesia, paraesthesia, hypoaesthesia, peripheral motor neuropathy, and polyneuropathy.
12 Includes confusional state, delirium, and ICANS.
13 Includes abdominal pain, abdominal discomfort, abdominal pain upper, abdominal pain lower, and gastrointestinal pain.
14 Includes colitis, colitis ischaemic, and enterocolitis.
15 Includes pancreatitis and pancreatitis acute.
16 Includes rash, rash pruritic, rash maculo-papular, erythema, pruritus, rash erythematous, urticaria, and erythema multiforme.
17 Includes arthralgia, musculoskeletal pain, back pain, bone pain, myalgia, neck pain, pain in extremity, musculoskeletal chest pain, and non-cardiac chest pain.
18 Includes blood bilirubin increased and hyperbilirubinaemia.
Description of selected adverse reactions
The descriptions below reflect information for significant adverse reactions for Columvi monotherapy and/or combination therapy. Details for the significant adverse reactions for Columvi when given in combination are presented separately if clinically relevant differences were noted in comparison to Columvi monotherapy.
Cytokine release syndrome
Columvi monotherapy
Any grade CRS (by ASTCT criteria) occurred in 67.6% of patients who received Columvi monotherapy, with Grade 1 CRS reported in 50.3% of patients, Grade 2 CRS in 13.1% of patients, Grade 3 CRS in 2.8% of patients and Grade 4 CRS in 1.4% of patients. CRS occurred more than once in 32.4% (47/145) of patients; 36/47 patients experienced multiple Grade 1 CRS events only. There were no fatal cases of CRS. CRS resolved in all patients except one. One patient discontinued treatment due to CRS.
In patients with CRS, the most common manifestations of CRS included pyrexia (99.0%), tachycardia (25.5%), hypotension (23.5%), chills (14.3%) and hypoxia (12.2%). Grade 3 or higher events associated with CRS included hypotension (3.1%), hypoxia (3.1%), pyrexia (2.0%) and tachycardia (2.0%).
CRS of any grade occurred in 54.5% of patients following the first 2.5 mg dose of Columvi at Cycle 1 Day 8 with median time to onset (from start of infusion) of 12.6 hours (range: 5.2 to 50.8 hours) and median duration of 31.8 hours (range: 0.5 to 316.7 hours); in 33.3% of patients following the 10 mg dose at Cycle 1 Day 15 with median time to onset of 26.8 hours (range: 6.7 to 125.0 hours) and median duration of 16.5 hours (range: 0.3 to 109.2 hours); and in 26.8% of patients following the 30 mg dose at Cycle 2 with median time to onset of 28.2 hours (range: 15.0 to 44.2 hours) and median duration of 18.9 hours (range: 1.0 to 180.5 hours). CRS was reported in 0.9% of patients at Cycle 3 and in 2% of patients beyond Cycle 3.
Grade ≥ 2 CRS occurred in 12.4% of patients following the first Columvi dose (2.5 mg) with median time to onset of 9.7 hours (range: 5.2 to 19.1 hours) and median duration of 50.4 hours (range: 6.5 to 316.7 hours). Following Columvi 10 mg dose at Cycle 1 Day 15, the incidence of Grade ≥ 2 CRS decreased to 5.2% of patients with median time to onset of 26.2 hours (range: 6.7 to 144.2 hours) and median duration of 30.9 hours (range: 3.7 to 227.2 hours). Grade ≥ 2 CRS following Columvi 30 mg dose at Cycle 2 Day 1 occurred in one patient (0.8%) with time to onset of 15.0 hours and duration of 44.8 hours. No Grade ≥ 2 CRS was reported beyond Cycle 2.
In 145 patients, 7 patients (4.8%) experienced elevated liver function tests (AST and ALT > 3 x ULN and/or total bilirubin > 2 xULN) reported concurrently with CRS (n=6) or with disease progression (n=1).
Among the 25 patients who experienced Grade ≥ 2 CRS after Columvi, 22 (88.0%) received tocilizumab, 15 (60.0%) received corticosteroids and 14 (56.0%) received both tocilizumab and corticosteroids. Ten patients (40.0%) received oxygen. All 6 patients (24.0%) with Grade 3 or 4 CRS received a single vasopressor.
Hospitalisations due to patients experiencing CRS following Columvi administration occurred in 22.1% of patients and the reported median duration of hospitalisation was 4 days (range: 2 to 15 days).
Columvi in combination with gemcitabine and oxaliplatin
Any grade CRS (by ASTCT criteria) occurred in 44.2% of patients who received Columvi with gemcitabine and oxaliplatin, with Grade 1 CRS reported in 31.4% of patients, Grade 2 CRS in 10.5% of patients, and Grade 3 CRS in 2.3% of patients. CRS occurred more than once in 21.5% (37/172) of patients; 30/37 patients experienced multiple Grade 1 CRS events only.
There were no Grade 4 or fatal cases of CRS. CRS resolved in all patients except one. One patient discontinued treatment due to CRS. In patients with CRS, the most common manifestations of CRS included pyrexia (98.7%), hypotension (22.4%), chills (17.1%) and hypoxia (14.5%). Grade 3 or higher events associated with CRS included hypotension (6.6%), hypoxia (5.3%), pyrexia (3.9%), chills (1.3%) and diarrhoea (1.3%). CRS of any grade occurred in 34.9% of patients following the first 2.5 mg dose of Columvi at Cycle 1 Day 8 with median time to onset (from start of infusion) of 12.6 hours (range: 4.4 to 54.7 hours) and median duration of 19.8 hours (range: 2.0 to 168.0 hours); in 14.4% of patients following the 10 mg dose at Cycle 1 Day 15 with median time to onset of 22.8 hours (range: 7.4 to 81.2 hours) and median duration of 10.6 hours (range: 1.0 to 248.5 hours); and in 9.3% of patients following the 30 mg dose at Cycle 2 with median time to onset of 23.5 hours (range: 14.7 to 33.4 hours) and median duration of 18.4 hours (range: 8.3 to 137.0 hours). CRS was reported in 6.7% of patients at Cycle 3 and in 11.0% of patients beyond Cycle 3. Grade ≥2 CRS occurred in 10.5% of patients following the first Columvi dose (2.5 mg) with median time to onset of 12.0 hours (range: 4.4 to 30.5 hours) and median duration of 42.3 hours (range: 3.5 to 143.7 hours). The majority (14/18) of patients who experienced Grade ≥2 CRS had onset of CRS within 8 hours of the start of the first Columvi dose (2.5 mg) or presented with a fever ≥ 1.5 hours before the onset of other symptoms of a grade ≥2 CRS. Following Columvi 10 mg dose at Cycle 1 Day 15, the incidence of Grade ≥2 CRS decreased to 1.8% of patients with median time to onset of 22.3 hours (range: 7.4 to 22.8 hours) and median duration of 37.0 hours (range: 34.8 to 248.5 hours). There were no Grade ≥2CRS events following Columvi 30 mg dose at Cycle 2 Day 1. Three patients (2.0%) had Grade ≥2 CRS beyond Cycle 2 (all Grade 2 events).
Of the 172 patients, 2 patients (1.2%) experienced elevated liver function tests (AST and ALT > 3 x ULN) reported concurrently with CRS.
Out of the 76 patients with any grade CRS, 28 patients (36.8%) were treated with tocilizumab, 39 patients (51.3%) were treated with corticosteroids, and 18 patients (23.7%) received both tocilizumab and corticosteroids.
Among the 22 patients who experienced Grade ≥2 CRS after Columvi, 16 (72.7%) received tocilizumab, 15 (68.2%) received corticosteroids, and 12 (54.5%) received both tocilizumab and corticosteroids. Eleven patients (50.0%) received oxygen. All 4 patients (18.2%) with Grade 3 CRS received a single vasopressor.
Hospitalisations due to patients experiencing CRS following Columvi administration occurred in 19.8% of patients and the reported median duration of hospitalisation was 5 days (range: 2 to 85 days).
Immune effector cell-associated neurotoxicity syndrome
ICANS, including Grade 3 and higher, was reported in clinical trials and with post-marketing experience. The most frequent clinical manifestations of ICANS were confusion, depressed level of consciousness, disorientation, seizure, aphasia, and dysgraphia. Based on the available data, the onset of neurologic toxicity was concurrent with CRS in the majority of cases.
The observed time to onset of the majority of ICANS was 1-7 days with median of 2 days after the most recent dose. Only few events were reported to have occurred more than one month after the initiation of Columvi.
Serious infections
Serious infections were reported in 15.9% of patients who received Columvi monotherapy. The most frequent serious infections reported in ≥ 2% of patients were sepsis (4.1%), COVID-19 (3.4%), and COVID-19 pneumonia (2.8%). Infection-related deaths were reported in 4.8% of patients (due to sepsis, COVID-19 pneumonia and COVID-19). Four patients (2.8%) experienced serious infections concurrently with Grade 3 or 4 neutropenia.
Serious infections were reported in 22.7% of patients who received Columvi with gemcitabine and oxaliplatin. The most frequent serious infections reported in ≥2% of patients were pneumonia (5.8%), COVID-19 (4.7%), and lower respiratory tract infection (2.9%). Infection-related deaths were reported in 3.5% of patients (due to COVID-19, pneumonia, respiratory tract infection, and septic shock). One patient (0.6%) experienced a serious infection (pneumonia) concurrently with Grade 3 neutropenia.
Pneumonitis
Pneumonitis events (excluding pneumonia of infectious aetiology) were reported in 2 patients (1.2%) who received Columvi with gemcitabine and oxaliplatin, both of which were fatal events. The median time to onset of pneumonitis from the first Columvi dose was 168 days (range: 102 to 255 days).
Colitis
Colitis (Grade 4) was reported in 1 patient (0.7%) who received Columvi monotherapy, with time to onset from the first Columvi dose of 104 days.
Colitis events (excluding infectious aetiology) were reported in 4/172 patients (2.3%) who received Columvi with gemcitabine and oxaliplatin. Two patients (1.2%) had Grade 3 events. The median time to onset of colitis from the first Columvi dose was 154 days (range: 115 to 187 days).
Opportunistic infections
CMV events were reported in 6/467 patients (1.3%) who received Columvi monotherapy, with 1 patient (0.2%) experiencing Grade 3 CMV chorioretinitis. Pneumocystis jiroveci pneumonia was reported in 4/467 patients (0.9%), 3 f whom (0.6%) had Grade 3 events.
CMV events were reported in 11 patients (6.4%) who received Columvi with gemcitabine and oxaliplatin, with 1 patient (0.6%) experiencing Grade 3 CMV viraemia. Oral candidiasis was reported in 3 patients (1.7%) all of which were Grade 1-2 events. Pneumocystis jirovecii pneumonia (Grade 3) was reported in 1 patient (0.6%), the same patient with Grade 3 CMV viraemia. Borellia meningitis (Grade 2) was reported in 1 patient (0.6%).
Neutropenia
Neutropenia (including neutrophil count decreased) was reported in 40.0% of patients and severe neutropenia (Grade 3 or 4) was reported in 29.0% of patients who received Columvi monotherapy. The median time to onset of the first neutropenia event was 29 days (range: 1 to 203 days). Prolonged neutropenia (lasting longer than 30 days) occurred in 11.7% of patients. The majority of patients with neutropenia (79.3%) were treated with G-CSF. Febrile neutropenia was reported in 3.4% of patients.
Tumour flare
Tumour flare was reported in 11.7% of patients who received Columvi monotherapy, including Grade 2 tumour flare in 4.8% of patients and Grade 3 tumour flare in 2.8% of patients. Tumour flare was reported involving lymph nodes in the head and neck presenting with pain and involving lymph nodes in the thorax with symptoms of breathlessness due to development of pleural effusion. Most tumour flare events (16/17) occurred during Cycle 1, and no tumour flare events were reported beyond Cycle 2. The median time to onset of tumour flare of any grade was 2 days (range: 1 to 16 days), and the median duration was 3.5 days (range: 1 to 35 days).
Among the 11 patients who experienced Grade ≥ 2 tumour flare, 2 patients (18.2%) received analgesics, 6 patients (54.5%) received corticosteroids and analgesics including morphine derivatives, 1 patient (9.1%) received corticosteroids and anti-emetics, and 2 patients (18.2%) did not require treatment. All tumour flare events resolved except in one patient with a Grade ≥ 2 event. No patients discontinued treatment due to tumour flare.
Tumour lysis syndrome
TLS was reported in 2 patients (1.4%) who received Columvi monotherapy and was Grade 3 in severity in both cases. The median time to onset of TLS onset was 2 days, and the median duration was 4 days (range: 3 to 5 days).
Reporting of suspected adverse reactions
Reporting suspected adverse reactions after authorisation of the medicinal product is important. It allows continued monitoring of the benefit/risk balance of the medicinal product. Healthcare professionals are asked to report any suspected adverse reactions (see details below).
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