Plerixafor is a hematopoietic stem-cell mobilizer indicated for use in combination with a granulocyte-colony stimulating factor to mobilize hematopoietic stem cells to the peripheral blood for collection and subsequent autologous transplantation in patients with non-Hodgkin lymphoma or multiple myeloma. Serious hypersensitivity reactions such as anaphylactic shock have occurred with plerixafor use; monitor patients during and after the subcutaneous injection.
General Administration Information
For storage information, see the specific product information within the How Supplied section.
Hazardous Drugs Classification
-NIOSH 2016 List: Group 3
-NIOSH (Draft) 2020 List: Table 2
-Observe and exercise appropriate precautions for handling, preparation, administration, and disposal of hazardous drugs.
-Use double chemotherapy gloves and a protective gown. Prepare in a biological safety cabinet or compounding aseptic containment isolator with a closed system drug transfer device. Eye/face and respiratory protection may be needed during preparation and administration.
Route-Specific Administration
Injectable Administration
Visually inspect parenteral products for particulate matter and discoloration prior to administration whenever solution and container permit.
Subcutaneous Administration
-Each vial contains 24 mg of plerixafor (1.2 mL of 20 mg/mL solution). For weight-based dosing, the volume (in mL) to be administered is calculated by multiplying 0.012 by the patient's actual body weight (in kg).
-Vials are for single-use; after withdrawing the dose, discard any drug remaining in the vial.
Subcutaneous injection:
-Administer plerixafor as a subcutaneous injection approximately 11 hours before apheresis.
-Observe patients for signs and symptoms of a hypersensitivity reaction during and for at least 30 minutes after plerixafor administration.
Leukocytosis on the day prior to or any day during apheresis occurred in 7% of patients who received plerixafor plus granulocyte-colony stimulating factor compared with 1% of patients who received placebo in clinical trials. No leukocytosis-related complications or clinical symptoms of leukostasis were reported. Monitor white blood cell counts during therapy.
Thrombocytopenia has been reported with plerixafor therapy. Monitor platelet counts during therapy.
In pooled results from 2 randomized studies, gastrointestinal (GI) adverse events that were reported more often in patients with non-Hodgkin lymphoma or multiple myeloma who received plerixafor plus granulocyte colony stimulating factor (G-CSF) (n = 301) compared with placebo plus G-CSF (n = 292) to mobilize hematopoietic stem cells include diarrhea (37% vs 17%), nausea (34% vs 22%), vomiting (10% vs 6%), and flatulence (7% vs 3%). Additionally, grade 3 diarrhea (< 1%), nausea (1%), and vomiting (< 1%) occurred in plerixafor-treated patients. Other GI adverse events reported in less than 5% of patients who received plerixafor plus G-CSF were abdominal pain, abdominal distention, xerostomia, stomach discomfort, hypoesthesia oral, constipation, and dyspepsia.
Orthostatic hypotension and syncope have occurred following subcutaneous injections of plerixafor. Vasovagal reactions were reported in less than 1% of subjects who received plerixafor in oncology and healthy volunteer clinical studies. Most reactions occurred within 1 hour after plerixafor administration.
In pooled results from 2 randomized studies, nervous system adverse events that were reported more often in patients with non-Hodgkin lymphoma or multiple myeloma who received plerixafor plus granulocyte colony stimulating factor (G-CSF) (n = 301) compared with placebo plus G-CSF (n = 292) to mobilize hematopoietic stem cells include headache (22% vs 21%) and dizziness (11% vs 6%). Additionally, grade 3 headache occurred in less than 1% of plerixafor-treated patients.
In pooled results from 2 randomized studies, insomnia occurred in 7% of patients with non-Hodgkin lymphoma or multiple myeloma who received plerixafor plus granulocyte colony stimulating factor (G-CSF) (n = 301) compared with 5% of patients who received placebo plus G-CSF (n = 292) to mobilize hematopoietic stem cells. Abnormal dreams and nightmares have been reported in postmarketing surveillance.
In pooled results from 2 randomized studies, arthralgia was reported in 13% of patients with non-Hodgkin lymphoma or multiple myeloma who received plerixafor plus granulocyte colony stimulating factor (G-CSF) (n = 301) compared with 12% of patients who received placebo plus G-CSF (n = 292) to mobilize hematopoietic stem cells. Musculoskeletal pain occurred in less than 5% of patients who received plerixafor plus G-CSF.
In pooled results from 2 randomized studies, fatigue was reported in 27% of patients with non-Hodgkin lymphoma or multiple myeloma who received plerixafor plus granulocyte colony stimulating factor (G-CSF) (n = 301) compared with 25% of patients who received placebo plus G-CSF (n = 292) to mobilize hematopoietic stem cells.
Mild to moderate systemic reactions including urticaria (n = 2), periorbital swelling (n = 2), dyspnea (n = 1), and/or hypoxia (n = 1) were observed in less than 1% of patients who received plerixafor in clinical studies. These reactions occurred about 30 minutes after plerixafor administration and typically responded to supportive therapy (e.g., antihistamines, corticosteroids, hydration or supplemental oxygen) or resolved without intervention. Additionally, anaphylactoid reactions including anaphylactic shock and hypotension were reported in postmarketing surveillance of plerixafor. Monitor patients for signs and symptoms of hypersensitivity for at least 30 minutes during and after each plerixafor dose.
Injection site reaction including erythema, hematoma, bleeding, induration, inflammation, skin irritation, pain, paresthesias, pruritus, rash (unspecified), swelling, and urticaria was reported in 34% of patients with non-Hodgkin lymphoma or multiple myeloma who received plerixafor plus granulocyte colony stimulating factor (G-CSF) (n = 301) compared with 10% of patients who received placebo plus G-CSF (n = 292) to mobilize hematopoietic stem cells in pooled results from 2 randomized studies. Other dermatologic adverse events reported in less than 5% of patients who received plerixafor plus G-CSF were erythema and hyperhidrosis.
In pooled results from 2 randomized studies, malaise occurred in less than 5% of patients who received plerixafor plus granulocyte colony stimulating factor to mobilize hematopoietic stem cells (n = 301).
In postmarketing surveillance, splenomegaly and splenic rupture have been reported in patients who received plerixafor in combination with a granulocyte-colony stimulating factor. Evaluate patients for splenomegaly if they report symptoms of left upper abdominal pain and/or scapular or shoulder pain.
Serious and life-threatening hypersensitivity reactions, including anaphylactic reactions, hypotension, and shock, have been reported with plerixafor therapy. Use is contraindicated in patients with a history of plerixafor hypersensitivity. Monitor patients for signs and symptoms of hypersensitivity for at least 30 minutes during and after each plerixafor administration.
Do not use plerixafor for hematopoietic stem-cell (HSC) mobilization and harvest in patients with leukemia. Tumor cells including leukemic cells may be released from the marrow and subsequently collected in the leukapheresis product after HSC mobilization with plerixafor and granulocyte-colony stimulating factor.
Use plerixafor with caution in patients with renal disease as it is excreted primarily by the kidney. Concomitant use of plerixafor and other agents that reduce renal function or compete for active tubular secretion may result in increased levels of either agent. A dosage reduction is required in patients with moderate or severe renal impairment (creatinine clearance <= 50 ml/min); additionally, the plerixafor dose should not exceed 27 mg/day in these patients.
Thrombocytopenia has been reported with plerixafor use. Monitor platelet counts in all patients receiving plerixafor who then undergo apheresis.
Leukocytosis may occur with plerixafor plus granulocyte colony-stimulating factor use; therefore, monitor white blood cell counts during therapy.
The safety and effectiveness of plerixafor has not been established in adolescents, children, infants, and neonates. Adding plerixafor to standard regimens for hematopoietic stem-cell mobilization was not superior to standard regimens alone for peripheral blood collection prior to an autologous transplantation in pediatric patients ages 1 to less than 17 years of age in a randomized (2:1), open-label, phase 1/2 trial (n = 45). No new safety information was reported in this trial.
Plerixafor may cause fetal harm if administered during pregnancy based on data from animal studies. Females of reproductive potential should avoid pregnancy during and after plerixafor therapy. If plerixafor is used during pregnancy, the woman should be apprised of the potential hazard to the fetus. In pregnant rats, plerixafor administration resulted in fetal death, increased resorptions and post-implantation loss, decreased fetal weights, anophthalmia, shortened digits, cardiac interventricular septal defect, ringed aorta, globular heart, hydrocephaly, dilatation of olfactory ventricles, and retarded skeletal development; the majority of these toxicities occurred at doses 10-times the recommended human dose.
Counsel patients about the reproductive risk and contraception requirements during plerixafor treatment. Pregnancy testing is recommended in patients of reproductive potential prior to starting plerixafor therapy. These patients should avoid pregnancy and use effective contraception during plerixafor therapy and for 1 week after the final dose. Due to the potential for male-mediated teratogenicity, patients with partners of reproductive potential should use effective contraception during and for 1 week after the last plerixafor dose.
Advise patients that breast-feeding is not recommended during plerixafor treatment and for 1 week after the last dose due to the potential for serious adverse reactions in the breastfed child. There are no data on the presence of plerixafor in human milk, the effects on the breast-fed child, or the effects on milk production.
For peripheral blood stem cell (PBSC) mobilization for collection and subsequent autologous transplantation in patients with non-Hodgkin lymphoma and multiple myeloma, in combination with a granulocyte colony stimulating factor (G-CSF):
NOTE: The FDA has designated plerixafor as an orphan drug to improve the yield of progenitor cells in the apheresis product for subsequent stem cell transplantation following myelosuppressive or myeloablative chemotherapy
Subcutaneous dosage:
Adults: weight of 83 kg or less: fixed 20-mg dose or 0.24 mg/kg actual body weight; weight greater than 83 kg: 0.24 mg/kg actual body weight (Max: 40 mg); give the dose subcutaneously once daily for up to 4 consecutive days. Administer plerixafor approximately 11 hours prior to each apheresis. Begin plerixafor therapy after 4 days of filgrastim (G-CSF) 10 micrograms/kg per day; continue G-CSF therapy prior to each apheresis.
Maximum Dosage Limits:
-Adults
<= 83 kg and estimated creatinine clearance (CrCl) > 50 mL/min: 0.24 mg/kg (actual body weight) per dose or a fixed 20-mg dose subcutaneously once daily for up to 4 consecutive days.
> 83 kg and estimated CrCl > 50 mL/min: 0.24 mg/kg (actual body weight) per dose up to a maximum of 40 mg per dose subcutaneously once daily for up to 4 consecutive days.
-Geriatric
<= 83 kg and estimated creatinine clearance (CrCl) > 50 mL/min: 0.24 mg/kg (actual body weight) per dose or a fixed 20-mg dose subcutaneously once daily for up to 4 consecutive days.
> 83 kg and estimated CrCl > 50 mL/min: 0.24 mg/kg (actual body weight) per dose up to a maximum of 40 mg per dose subcutaneously once daily for up to 4 consecutive days.
-Adolescents
Safety and efficacy have not been established.
-Children
Safety and efficacy have not been established.
Patients with Hepatic Impairment Dosing
Specific guidelines for dosage adjustments in hepatic impairment are not available; it appears that no dosage adjustments are needed.
Patients with Renal Impairment Dosing
Estimated creatinine clearance (CrCl) > 50 mL/min: No dosage adjustment is necessary.
Estimated CrCl <= 50 mL/min:
-weight of 83 kg or less: fixed 13-mg dose or 0.16 mg/kg actual body weight subcutaneously once daily for up to 4 consecutive days.
-weight greater than 83 kg: 0.16 mg/kg actual body weight (maximum dose, 27 mg) subcutaneously once daily for up to 4 consecutive days.
Hemodialysis: dosage recommendations in patients on hemodialysis are not provided by the manufacturer.
*non-FDA-approved indication
There are no drug interactions associated with Plerixafor products.
Plerixafor competitively inhibits the binding of stromal-derived factor-1 (SDF-1 or CXCL12) to its receptor, CXC receptor-4 (CXCR4), allowing hematopoietic stem cells (HSC) to mobilize into the peripheral blood. Chemokines, specifically the CXC chemokine family, are key regulators of HSC mobilization. The chemokine SDF-1, which contains a CXC sequence, is constitutively expressed by multiple tissues, including bone marrow stromal cells. Its receptor, CXCR4 is a transmembrane G-protein-coupled receptor also present on multiple sites, including CD34+ cells. Physiologically, the interaction between SDF-1 and CXCR4 results in chemotaxis, increased survival of HSCs, and the homing of HSCs in the bone marrow environment. Homing of HSCs is caused by SDF-1 located on the surface of endothelial cells and bound to heparan sulphates, interacting with CXCR4 located on HSCs. Engagement of CXCR4, induces a cascade that leads to adhesion and arrest of HSCs. Transendothelial migration and migration to the hematopoietic niche are enhanced by SDF-1 and the gradient caused by the continuous production of SDF-1 by stromal cells. The final anchoring of HSCs in the bone marrow environment occurs as a result of interactions with stromal cells and extracellular matrix, and the continued production of SDF-1. Plerixafor selectively inhibits the binding of SDF-1 to CXCR4, preventing this cascade, and allowing HSCs to mobilize into the peripheral blood, thereby increasing the yield of HSCs for collection.
Plerixafor is administered subcutaneously. It is up to 58% bound to plasma proteins, has an apparent volume of distribution of 0.3 L/kg, and is predominantly confined to the extravascular space. Plerixafor is not metabolized using human liver microsomes or human primary hepatocytes. The major route of plerixafor elimination is in the urine. In healthy volunteers, approximately 70% of the parent drug was excreted in the urine within 24 hours of a single dose of plerixafor 0.24 mg/kg. The terminal half-life of plerixafor was 3 to 5 hours in healthy subjects and patients. Following a single dose of plerixafor 0.24 mg/kg administered 10 to 11 hours before apheresis, mean peripheral blood CD34+ cell counts were increased by 6.1-fold (standard deviation (SD) of +/- 5.4) and 6.4-fold (SD of +/- 6.8) over a 24-hour period in patients with non-Hodgkin lymphoma and multiple myeloma, respectively, in 2 placebo-controlled studies. All patients received pretreatment with filgrastim (G-CSF) and G-CSF was given prior to apheresis. In healthy volunteers who received plerixafor in conjunction with G-CSF, peak CD34+ cell mobilization occurred at 10 and 14 hours after plerixafor administration. The median time to reach 5 x 106 CD34+ cells/kg or greater was 3 days for non-Hodgkin lymphoma patients (weighing 70 kg or less) who received fixed-dose plerixafor (20 mg) or weight-based plerixafor (0.24 mg/kg) in a population pharmacokinetic analysis (n = 61).
Affected cytochrome P450 isoenzymes and drug transporters: none
Based on in vitro assays, plerixafor is not a substrate, inhibitor, or inducer of human CYP450 isozymes or a substrate or inhibitor of P-glycoprotein (P-gp) at therapeutic concentrations. Therefore, plerixafor is not likely to be affected by concomitant administration of CYP450 inhibitors and inducers or P-gp inhibitors or inducers; it is also not likely to influence the exposure of other drugs. In vitro, plerixafor did not inhibit CYP1A2, CYP2A6, CYP2B6, CYP2C9, CYP2C19, CYP2D6, CYP2E1 or CYP3A4/5; induce CYP1A2, CYP2B6, or CYP3A4; or act as a P-gp substrate or inhibitor.
-Route-Specific Pharmacokinetics
Subcutaneous Route
Plerixafor exhibits linear kinetics between the 0.04 mg/kg to 0.24 mg/kg dose. The Tmax occurs about 30 to 60 minutes after a subcutaneous dose. In a population pharmacokinetic analysis (n = 61), the mean AUC(0-10 hours) increased by 1.43-fold following fixed-dose plerixafor (20 mg) compared with weight-based plerixafor (0.24 mg/kg) in patients with non-Hodgkin lymphoma who weighed 70 kg or less.
-Special Populations
Renal Impairment
Following a single subcutaneous dose of plerixafor 0.24 mg/kg, the clearance was reduced and the exposure was higher in subjects with renal impairment compared with patients who had normal renal function. In a pharmacokinetic study, the mean plerixafor AUC(0-24 hours) values were increased by 7%, 32%, and 39% in subjects with mild (creatinine clearance (CrCl) of 51 to 80 mL/min), moderate (CrCl of 31 to 50 mL/min), and severe (CrCl < 31 mL/min) renal impairment, respectively. Renal impairment did not affect the Cmax. Additionally, increased plerixafor exposure was observed in patients with moderate or severe renal impairment compared with patients who had a CrCl greater than 50 mL/min in a population pharmacokinetic analysis.
Pediatrics
Following a dose of plerixafor 0.24 mg/kg, the AUC values were similar to the exposure in adults in patients aged 12 to 18 years; however, AUC values were 67% to 87% of the adult exposure values in patients aged 2 to 12 years.
Geriatric
Age does not affect plerixafor pharmacokinetics.
Gender Differences
Gender does not affect plerixafor pharmacokinetics.
Ethnic Differences
Race does not affect plerixafor pharmacokinetics.
Obesity
Increased body weight correlated with increased plerixafor exposure in patients who received weight-based plerixafor dosing in a population pharmacokinetic analysis. Experience is limited with plerixafor 0.24 mg/kg per dose in patients weighing above 160 kg. Plerixafor treatment in patients weighing more than 175% of ideal body weight has not been evaluated.