FIRMAGON® (degarelix for injection) – HCP Important Safety Information
Indication
FIRMAGON® (degarelix for injection) is a GnRH receptor antagonist indicated for treatment of patients with advanced prostate cancer.
Important Safety Information
Contraindication
FIRMAGON is contraindicated in patients with a history of severe hypersensitivity to degarelix or to any of the product components.
Warnings and Precautions
Hypersensitivity Reactions
Hypersensitivity reactions, including anaphylaxis, urticaria, and angioedema, have been reported post-marketing with FIRMAGON. In case of a serious hypersensitivity reaction, discontinue FIRMAGON immediately if the injection has not been completed, and manage as clinically indicated. Patients with a known history of severe hypersensitivity reactions to FIRMAGON should not be re-challenged with FIRMAGON.
QT Interval Prolongation
Androgen deprivation therapy (ADT) may prolong the QT interval. Providers should consider whether the benefits of ADT outweigh the potential risks in patients with congenital long QT syndrome, congestive heart failure, frequent electrolyte abnormalities, and in patients taking drugs known to prolong the QT interval. Electrolyte abnormalities should be corrected. Consider periodic monitoring of electrocardiograms and electrolytes.
Laboratory Testing
Therapy with FIRMAGON results in suppression of the pituitary gonadal system. Results of diagnostic tests of the pituitary gonadotropic and gonadal functions conducted during and after FIRMAGON may be affected. The therapeutic effect of FIRMAGON should be monitored by measuring serum concentrations of prostate-specific antigen (PSA) periodically. If PSA increases, serum concentrations of testosterone should be measured.
Embryo-Fetal Toxicity
Based on findings in animal studies, FIRMAGON can cause fetal harm and loss of pregnancy when administered to a pregnant woman. In animal developmental and reproductive toxicity studies in rats and rabbits, oral administration of degarelix during organogenesis caused embryo-fetal lethality and abortion as well as increased post-implantation loss and decreased the number of live fetuses in animals at doses less than the clinical loading dose based on body surface area. Advise pregnant patients and females of reproductive potential of the potential risk to the fetus.
Adverse Reactions
The most common adverse reactions (≥10%) during FIRMAGON therapy are injection site reactions (e.g., pain, erythema, swelling or induration), hot flashes, and increases in serum levels of transaminases and gammaglutamyltransferase (GGT). The majority of the adverse reactions were Grade 1 or 2, with Grade 3/4 adverse reaction incidences of 1% or less.
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