Summary of the safety profile
The safety database includes a total of 585 patients with GIST (all doses), of which 550 patients received avapritinib at a starting dose of 300 mg or 400 mg, as well as 193 patients enrolled in studies for AdvSM (all doses), of which 126 patients received avapritinib at a starting dose of 200 mg, see section 5.1.
Unresectable or metastatic GIST
The most common adverse reactions of any grade during treatment with avapritinib at a starting dose of 300 mg or 400 mg were nausea (45%), fatigue (40%), anaemia (39%), periorbital oedema (33%), face oedema (27%), hyperbilirubinaemia (28%), diarrhoea (26%), vomiting (24%), oedema peripheral (23%), lacrimation increased (22%), decreased appetite (21%) and memory impairment (20%).
Serious adverse reactions occurred in 23% of patients receiving avapritinib. The most common serious adverse reactions during treatment with avapritinib were anaemia (6%), and pleural effusion (1%).
The most common adverse reactions leading to permanent treatment discontinuation were fatigue, encephalopathy and intracranial haemorrhage (< 1% each). Adverse reactions leading to a dose reduction included anaemia, fatigue, neutrophil count decreased, blood bilirubin increased, memory impairment, cognitive disorder, periorbital oedema, nausea and face oedema.
Advanced systemic mastocytosis
The most common adverse reactions of any grade during treatment with avapritinib at a starting dose of 200 mg were periorbital oedema (38%), thrombocytopenia (37%), oedema peripheral (33%), and anaemia (22%).
Serious adverse reactions occurred in 12% of patients receiving avapritinib. The most common serious adverse reactions during treatment with avapritinib were subdural haematoma (2%), anaemia (2%), and haemorrhage (2%).
In AdvSM patients treated at 200 mg, 7.1% had adverse reactions leading to permanent treatment discontinuation. In two patients (1.6%), subdural haematoma occurred. Cognitive disorder, depressed mood, diarrhoea, disturbance in attention, haemoglobin decreased, hair colour changes, libido decreased, nausea, neutropenia, premature menopause and thrombocytopenia occurred in one patient (0.8% each). Adverse reactions leading to a dose reduction included thrombocytopenia, neutropenia, periorbital oedema, cognitive disorder, oedema peripheral, platelet count decreased, neutrophil count decreased, anaemia, asthenia, fatigue, arthralgia, blood alkaline phosphatase increased, blood bilirubin increased, and white blood cell count decreased.
Tabulated list of adverse reactions
Adverse reactions that were reported in clinical studies in ≥1% of patients with GIST are listed below (Table 3) except for adverse reactions mentioned in the section 4.4 which are included regardless of frequency, according to the MedDRA System Organ Class and frequency. For patients with AdvSM, adverse reactions that were reported in clinical studies in ≥ 3% of patients are listed below (Table 4).
Frequencies are defined using the following convention: 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 order of decreasing seriousness.
Unresectable or metastatic GIST
Table 3. Adverse reactions reported in clinical studies in patients with unresectable or metastatic GIST treated with avapritinib
| System Organ Class / frequency category | Adverse reactions | All grades % | Grades ≥3 % |
| Infections and infestations |
| Common | Conjunctivitis | 2.0 | - |
| Neoplasms benign, malignant and unspecified (including cysts and polyps) |
| Uncommon | Tumour haemorrhage | 0.2 | 0.2 |
| Blood and lymphatic system disorders |
| Very common | Anaemia White blood cell count decreased Neutrophil count decreased | 39.6 14.0 15.8 | 20.4 3.1 8.9 |
| Common | Thrombocytopenia Lymphocyte count decreased | 8.4 4.7 | 0.9 2.2 |
| Metabolism and nutrition disorders |
| Very common | Decreased appetite | 21.1 | 0.5 |
| Common | Hypophosphataemia Hypokalaemia Hypomagnesaemia Hyponatraemia Dehydration Hypoalbuminaemia Hypocalcaemia | 8.9 6.0 3.8 1.3 1.8 2.4 2.2 | 2.5 0.9 0.4 0.7 0.5 - 0.4 |
| Psychiatric disorders |
| Common | Confusional state Depression Anxiety Insomnia | 4.7 4.2 1.8 3.8 | 0.5 0.4 - - |
| Nervous system disorders |
| Very common | Memory impairment Cognitive disorder Dizziness Taste effect | 22.7 11.8 10.5 12.7 | 0.9 0.9 0.2 - |
| Common | Intracranial haemorrhage1 Mental impairment2 Neuropathy peripheral Somnolence Aphasia Hypokinesia Headache Balance disorder Speech disorder Tremor | 1.6 5.6 8.5 1.8 1.8 1.3 8.0 1.6 4.5 2.2 | 1.1 0.7 0.4 - - 0.2 0.2 - - 0.2 |
| Uncommon | Encephalopathy | 0.9 | 0.5 |
| Eye disorders |
| Very common | Lacrimation increased | 22.2 | - |
| Common | Ocular haemorrhage3 Vision blurred Conjunctival haemorrhage Photophobia | 1.1 2.9 2.4 1.6 | - - - - |
| Ear and labyrinth disorders |
| Common | Vertigo | 2.4 | - |
| Cardiac disorders |
| Uncommon | Pericardial effusion | 0.9 | 0.2 |
| Vascular disorders |
| Common | Hypertension | 3.3 | 1.1 |
| Respiratory, thoracic and mediastinal disorders |
| Common | Pleural effusion Dyspnoea Nasal congestion Cough | 6.0 6.0 1.5 2.2 | 0.9 0.7 - - |
| Gastrointestinal disorders |
| Very common | Abdominal pain Vomiting Diarrhoea Nausea Dryness Gastrooesophageal reflux disease | 10.9 24.2 26.4 45.1 10.9 12.9 | 1.1 0.7 2.7 1.5 0.2 0.5 |
| Common | Gastrointestinal haemorrhage4 Ascites Constipation Dysphagia Stomatitis Flatulence Salivary hypersecretion | 2.2 7.5 5.8 2.4 2.4 1.6 1.5 | 1.6 1.3 - 0.4 - - - |
| Hepatobiliary disorders |
| Very common | Hyperbilirubinaemia | 27.5 | 5.8 |
| Uncommon | Hepatic haemorrhage | 0.2 | 0.2 |
| Skin and subcutaneous tissue disorders |
| Very common | Hair colour changes Rash | 15.3 12.7 | 0.2 1.6 |
| Common | Palmar-plantar erythrodysaesthesia syndrome Photosensitivity reaction Skin hypopigmentation Pruritus Alopecia | 1.3 1.1 1.1 2.9 9.6 | - - - - - |
| Musculoskeletal and connective tissue disorders |
| Common | Myalgia Arthralgia Back pain Muscle spasms | 2.0 1.8 1.1 1.6 | - - - - |
| Renal and urinary disorders |
| Common | Acute kidney injury Blood creatinine increased Haematuria | 2.0 4.4 1.1 | 0.9 - - |
| General disorders and administration site conditions |
| Very common | Oedema5 Fatigue | 70.2 39.6 | 4.7 5.3 |
| Common | Asthenia Pyrexia Malaise Feeling cold | 7.8 1.8 2.5 2.9 | 1.6 0.2 0.2 - |
| Investigations |
| Very common | Transaminases increased | 12.4 | 0.9 |
| Common | Electrocardiogram QT prolonged Blood creatine phosphokinase increased Weight decreased Weight increased Blood lactate dehydrogenase increased | 2.0 3.3 7.5 4.7 1.3 | 0.2 0.4 0.2 - - |
1Intracranial haemorrhage (including Cerebral haemorrhage, Haemorrhage intracranial, Subdural haematoma, Cerebral haematoma)
2Mental impairment (including Disturbance in attention, Mental impairment, Mental status changes, Dementia)
3Ocular haemorrhage (including Eye haemorrhage, Retinal haemorrhage, Vitreous haemorrhage)
4Gastrointestinal haemorrhage (including Gastric haemorrhage, Gastrointestinal haemorrhage, Upper gastrointestinal haemorrhage, Rectal haemorrhage, Melaena)
5Oedema (including Periorbital oedema, Oedema peripheral, Face oedema, Eyelid oedema, Fluid retention, Generalised oedema, Orbital oedema, Eye oedema, Oedema, Peripheral swelling, Swelling face, Eye swelling, Conjunctival oedema, Laryngeal oedema, Localised oedema, Lip swelling)
-: no adverse reactions reported with Grades ≥3
Advanced systemic mastocytosis
Table 4. Adverse reactions reported in clinical studies in patients with advanced systemic mastocytosis treated with avapritinib starting at 200 mg
| System Organ Class / frequency category | Adverse reactions | All grades % | Grades ≥3 % |
| Blood and lymphatic system disorders |
| Very common | Thrombocytopenia* | 46.8 | 23.0 |
| Anaemia* | 23.0 | 11.9 |
| Neutropenia* | 21.4 | 19.0 |
| Common | Leukopenia* | 8.7 | 2.4 |
| Nervous system disorders |
| Very common | Cognitive effects1 | 18.3 | 1.6 |
| Taste effect* | 15.9 | 0.8 |
| Common | Headache | 7.9 | - |
| Dizziness | 5.6 | - |
| Neuropathy peripheral2 | 4.8 | - |
| Intracranial haemorrhage3 | 2.4 | 0.8 |
| Eye disorders |
| Common | Lacrimation increased | 6.3 | - |
| Cardiac disorders |
| Uncommon | Pericardial effusion | 0.8 | - |
| Respiratory, thoracic and mediastinal disorders |
| Common | Epistaxis | 5.6 | - |
| Pleural effusion | 2.4 | - |
| Gastrointestinal disorders |
| Very common | Diarrhoea | 14.3 | 1.6 |
| Nausea | 12.7 | - |
| Common | Vomiting* | 8.7 | 0.8 |
| Gastroesophageal reflux disease* | 4.8 | - |
| Ascites* | 4.0 | 0.8 |
| Dryness* | 4.0 | - |
| Constipation | 3.2 | - |
| Abdominal pain* | 3.2 | - |
| Gastrointestinal haemorrhage4 | 2.4 | 1.6 |
| Hepatobiliary disorders |
| Common | Hyperbilirubinaemia* | 7.9 | 0.8 |
| Skin and subcutaneous tissue disorders |
| Very common | Hair colour changes | 15.1 | - |
| Common | Rash* | 7.9 | 0.8 |
| Alopecia | 7.1 | - |
| Uncommon | Photosensitivity reaction | 0.8 | - |
| Musculoskeletal and connective tissue disorders |
| Common | Arthralgia | 4.8 | 0.8 |
| General disorders and administration site conditions |
| Very common | Oedema5 | 69.8 | 4.8 |
| Fatigue* | 18.3 | 2.4 |
| Common | Pain | 3.2 | - |
| Investigations |
| Common | Weight increased | 6.3 | - |
| Blood alkaline phosphatase increased | 4.8 | 1.6 |
| Transaminases increased* | 4.8 | - |
| Electrocardiogram QT prolonged | 1.6 | 0.8 |
| Injury, poisoning and procedural complications |
| Common | Contusion | 3.2 | - |
1Cognitive effects (including cognitive disorder, memory impairment and confusional state)
2Neuropathy peripheral (including Paraesthesia, Neuropathy peripheral, Hypoaesthesia)
3Intracranial haemorrhage (including Haemorrhage intracranial, Subdural haematoma)
4Gastrointestinal haemorrhage (including Gastric haemorrhage, Gastrointestinal haemorrhage, Melaena)
5Oedema (including Periorbital oedema, Oedema peripheral, Face oedema, Eyelid oedema, Fluid retention, Generalised oedema, Oedema, Peripheral swelling, Swelling face, Eye swelling, Conjunctival oedema, Laryngeal oedema, Localised oedema)
*Comprises pooled terms representing similar medical concepts.
-: no adverse reactions reported
Description of selected adverse reactions
Intracranial haemorrhage
Unresectable or metastatic GIST
Intracranial haemorrhage occurred in 10 (1.7%) of the 585 patients with GIST (all doses) and in 9 (1.6%) of the 550 patients with GIST who received avapritinib at a starting dose of 300 mg or 400 mg once daily (see section 4.4).
Events of intracranial haemorrhage (all grades) occurred in a range from 8 weeks to 84 weeks after initiating avapritinib, with a median time to onset of 22 weeks. The median time to improvement and resolution was 25 weeks for intracranial haemorrhage of Grade ≥2.
Advanced systemic mastocytosis
Fatal events of intracranial haemorrhage have occurred in less than 1% of patients with AdvSM (all doses).
Intracranial haemorrhage occurred in a total (regardless of causality) of 4 (3.2%) of the 126 patients with AdvSM who received avapritinib at a starting dose of 200 mg once daily regardless of platelet count prior to initiation of therapy. In 3 of these 4 patients, the event was assessed as related to avapritinib (2.4%). The risk of intracranial haemorrhagic events is higher in patients with platelet counts <50 x 109/L. Intracranial haemorrhage occurred in 2.5% of the 121 patients with AdvSM with platelet counts of ≥50 x 109/L prior to initiation of therapy who received avapritinib at the recommended starting dose of 200 mg.
Events of intracranial haemorrhage (all grades) occurred in a range from 12.0 weeks to 15.0 weeks after initiating avapritinib, with a median time to onset of 12.1 weeks.
In clinical studies with avapritinib, the incidence of intracranial haemorrhage was higher in patients who received a starting dose of ≥300 mg once daily, as compared to patients who received the recommended starting dose of 200 mg once daily. The maximum dose for patients with AdvSM must not exceed 200 mg once daily.
Cognitive effects
A broad spectrum of cognitive effects that are generally reversible (with intervention) can occur in patients receiving avapritinib. Cognitive effects were managed with dose interruption and/or reduction, and 2.7% led to permanent discontinuation of avapritinib treatment in patients with GIST and AdvSM.
Unresectable or metastatic GIST
Cognitive effects occurred in 194 (33%) of the 585 patients with GIST (all doses) and in 182 (33%) of the 550 patients with GIST who received avapritinib at starting doses of either 300 or 400 mg once daily (see section 4.4). In the patients who had an event (any Grade), the median time to onset was 8 weeks.
Most cognitive effects were Grade 1, with Grade ≥2 occurring in 11% of 550 patients. Among patients who experienced a cognitive effect of grade ≥2 (impacting activities of daily living) the median time to improvement was 15 weeks.
Memory impairment occurred in 20% of patients, <1% of these events were Grade 3. Cognitive disorder occurred in 12% of patients; <1% of these events were Grade 3. Confusional state occurred in 5% of patients; <1% of these events were Grade 3. Encephalopathy occurred in <1% of patients; <1% of these events were Grade 3. Serious adverse reactions of cognitive effects were reported for 9 of 585 (1.5%) of the GIST patients (all doses), of which 7 of the 550 (1.3%) patients were observed in the GIST group receiving a starting dose of either 300 or 400 mg once daily.
Overall, 1.3% of patients required permanent discontinuation of avapritinib for a cognitive effect.
Cognitive effects occurred in 37% of the patients aged ≥65 years receiving a starting dose of either 300 or 400 mg once daily.
Advanced systemic mastocytosis
Cognitive effects occurred in 51 (26%) of the 193 patients with AdvSM (all doses) and in 23 (18%) of the 126 patients with AdvSM who received avapritinib at a starting dose of 200 mg (see section 4.4). In the patients with AdvSM treated at a starting dose of 200 mg who had an event (any grade), the median time to onset was 12 weeks (range: 0.1 weeks to 108.1 weeks).
Most cognitive effects were Grade 1, with Grade ≥2 occurring in 7% of 126 patients treated at a starting dose of 200 mg. Among patients who experienced a cognitive effect of Grade ≥2 (impacting activities of daily living) the median time to improvement was 6 weeks.
For patients with AdvSM treated at a starting dose of 200 mg cognitive disorder occurred in 12% of patients; 1.6% of these events were Grade 3. Memory impairment occurred in 6% of patients; none of these events were Grade 3. Confusional state occurred in 2% of patients; none of these events were Grade 3. No Grade 4 and no fatal events were reported.
Of the 126 AdvSM patients treated at a starting dose of 200 mg one patient (<1%) required permanent discontinuation of avapritinib for a cognitive adverse reaction, 7% required a dose interruption, and 6% required dose reduction.
Cognitive effects occurred in 20% of the patients aged ≥65 years receiving a starting dose of 200 mg once daily.
Elderly
Unresectable or metastatic GIST
In NAVIGATOR and VOYAGER (N=550), 39% of patients were 65 years of age and older, and 9% were 75 years of age and older. Compared with younger patients (<65), more patients ≥65 years old had reported adverse reactions that led to dose reductions (55% versus 45%) and dose discontinuation (18% versus 4%). The types of adverse reactions reported were similar regardless of age. Older patients reported more Grade 3 or higher adverse reactions compared to younger patients (63% versus 50%).
Advanced systemic mastocytosis
Of the 126 patients with AdvSM who received avapritinib at a starting dose of 200 mg once daily in EXPLORER and in PATHFINDER, 63% were 65 years or older and 21% were 75 years of age or older. Compared with younger patients (<65), more patients ≥65 years old reported adverse reactions that led to dose reductions (62% versus 73%). A similar fraction of patients reported adverse reactions that led to dose discontinuation (9% versus 6%). The types of adverse reactions reported were similar regardless of age. Older patients reported more Grade 3 or higher adverse reactions (63.3%) compared to younger patients (53.2%).
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 via the Yellow Card Scheme at https://yellowcard.mhra.gov.uk/ or search for MHRA Yellow Card in the Google Play or Apple App Store.