voclosporin

General

Pronunciation:
voe-kloe-spor-in


Trade Name(s)

  • Lupkynis

Ther. Class.

immunosuppressants

Pharm. Class.

calcineurin inhibitors

Indications

Active lupus nephritis (in combination with corticosteroids and mycophenolate).

Action

Inhibits calcineurin, which results in immunosuppressant effects through inhibition of lymphocyte proliferation, T-cell cytokine production, and expression of T-cell activation surface antigens.

Therapeutic Effect(s):

Reduction in urine protein-to-creatinine ratio and improvement/stabilization of renal function.

Pharmacokinetics

Absorption: Rapidly absorbed following oral administration; fatty meals reduce rate and extent of absorption.

Distribution: Extensively distributed to extravascular tissues.

Protein Binding: 97%.

Metabolism and Excretion: Primarily metabolized in the liver via the CYP3A4 isoenzyme. Primarily excreted in feces (93%; 5% as unchanged drug), with 2% being excreted in urine.

Half-life: 30 hr.

TIME/ACTION PROFILE (whole blood concentrations)

ROUTEONSETPEAKDURATION
POunknown1–4 hr12 hr

Contraindication/Precautions

Contraindicated in:

  • Severe hypersensitivity;
  • Concurrent use of strong CYP3A4 inhibitors;
  • Severe hepatic impairment;
  • OB:   Pregnancy (formulation contains alcohol; also used with mycophenolate, which can cause fetal harm);
  • Lactation:  Lactation.

Use Cautiously in:

  • Bradycardia, electrolyte disorders (hypokalemia, hypomagnesemia), QT interval prolongation, or concurrent use of QT interval prolonging medications;
  • eGFR ≤45 mL/min/1.73 m2  (↓ dose in severe renal impairment);
  • Mild or moderate hepatic impairment (↓ dose recommended);
  • Rep:   Women of reproductive potential and men with female partners of reproductive potential (used with mycophenolate, which can cause fetal harm);
  • Pedi:   Safety and effectiveness not established in children;
  • Geri:   Initiate therapy with lower dose in older adults due to age-related ↓ in renal and hepatic function.

Adverse Reactions/Side Effects

CV: hypertension, QT interval prolongation

Derm: alopecia, hypertrichosis

F and E: hyperkalemia

GI: diarrhea, abdominal pain, dyspepsia, gingivitis, mouth ulceration

GU: nephrotoxicity

Hemat: anemia, pure red cell aplasia

Metabolic: anorexia

Neuro: headache, attention disturbance, delirium, dizziness, fatigue, mental status changes, paresthesia, POSTERIOR REVERSIBLE ENCEPHALOPATHY SYNDROME (PRES), SEIZURES, tremor

Resp: cough

Misc: INFECTION , MALIGNANCY (including lymphoma and skin cancer)

* CAPITALS indicate life-threatening.
Underline indicate most frequent.

Interactions

Drug-Drug

  •  Strong CYP3A4 inhibitors, including  clarithromycin,  itraconazole, and  ketoconazole, may significantly ↑ levels and risk of acute and/or chronic nephrotoxicity; concurrent use contraindicated.
  •  Moderate CYP3A4 inhibitors, including  diltiazem,  fluconazole, and  verapamil, may ↑ levels and risk of toxicity; ↓ voclosporin dose.
  •  Strong CYP3A4 inducers, including  rifampin, or  moderate CYP3A4 inducers, including  efavirenz, may ↓ levels and effectiveness; avoid concurrent use.
  • May ↑ levels and risk of toxicity of  P-glycoprotein substrates, including  digoxin.
  •  Aminoglycosides,  amphotericin B,  cisplatin, or  NSAIDs  may ↑ risk of nephrotoxicity.
  •  ACE inhibitors,  aldosterone receptor antagonists,  angiotensin receptor blockers, and  potassium-sparing diuretics  may ↑ risk of hyperkalemia.
  • Concurrent use with  QT interval prolonging medications  may ↑ risk of QT interval prolongation.
  •  Vaccines  may be less effective if given concurrently with voclosporin; avoid administration of live-attenuated vaccines.

Drug-Food:

Grapefruit juice may ↑ levels and risk of toxicity; avoid concurrent use.

Route/Dosage

PO (Adults): 23.7 mg twice daily.  Concurrent use of moderate CYP3A4 inhibitor: 15.8 mg in the morning and 7.9 mg in the evening.

Renal Impairment 
PO (Adults): Severe renal impairment: 15.8 mg twice daily.

Hepatic Impairment 
PO (Adults): Mild or moderate hepatic impairment: 15.8 mg twice daily.

Availability

Capsules: 7.9 mg

Assessment

  • Monitor BP at baseline, every 2 wk for one mo, and then periodically during therapy. Do not begin therapy in patients with BP >165/105 mm Hg or with hypertensive emergency.  If BP ↑ to >165/105 mm Hg or hypertensive emergency occurs,  discontinue voclosporin.
  • Examine for changes in skin periodically during therapy due to ↑ risk of malignancy.
  • Monitor for signs and symptoms of infection (fever; chills; sore throat; cough or flu-like symptoms; muscle aches; warm, red, or painful areas of skin).
  • Monitor for signs and symptoms of PRES (headache, seizure, lethargy, hypertension, confusion, blindness, other visual and neurologic disturbances) during therapy. Confirm diagnosis of PRES with magnetic resonance imaging.  If PRES occurs,  discontinue voclosporin.

Lab Test Considerations:

  • Verify negative pregnancy test before starting therapy.

  • Determine baseline eGFR before starting therapy. Voclosporin is not recommended in patients with a baseline eGFR ≤45 mL/min/1.73 m2  unless the benefit exceeds the risk; may ↑ risk for acute and/or chronic nephrotoxicity. Assess eGFR every 2 wk for 1st mo, every 4 wk through 1st yr, and every 3 mo thereafter.  If eGFR <60 mL/min/1.73 m2  and ↓ from baseline by >20% and <30%,  ↓ dose by 7.9 mg twice a day. Reassess eGFR within 2 wk; if eGFR is still ↓ from baseline by >20%, ↓ dose again by 7.9 mg twice a day.  If eGFR <60 mL/min/1.73 m2  and ↓ from baseline by ≥30%,  discontinue voclosporin. Reassess eGFR within 2 wk; consider reinitiating voclosporin at a lower dose (7.9 mg twice a day) only if eGFR has returned to ≥80% of baseline.  For patients that had a ↓ in dose due to eGFR,  consider ↑ dose by 7.9 mg twice a day for each eGFR measurement that is ≥80% of baseline; do not exceed the starting dose.

    • Monitor serum potassium periodically during therapy.

Implementation

  • PO Administer on an empty stomach every 12 hr, with a minimum of 8 hr between doses.  DNC: Swallow capsule whole; do not open, crush, or chew. 

Patient/Family Teaching

  • Explain purpose and side effects of medication to patient. Advise patient to read  Patient Information  before starting therapy. Instruct patient to take as directed. Take missed doses within 4 hr after missing dose. If >4 hr since last dose, omit dose and take next scheduled dose at regular time.
  • Instruct patient to notify health care professional of all Rx or OTC medications, vitamins, or herbal products being taken and to consult with health care professional before taking other medications.
  • Advise patient to avoid eating grapefruit or drinking grapefruit juice during therapy.
  • Caution patient of risk of malignancies. Advise patient to avoid or limit sun exposure and to avoid artificial UV light (tanning beds, sunlamps) by wearing protective clothing and using a broad spectrum sunscreen with a high protection factor (≥SPF 30).
  • Advise patient to avoid live-virus vaccines during therapy.
  • Advise patient to notify health care professional promptly if signs and symptoms of infection or nervous system problems (confusion, numbness and tingling, seizures, changes in alertness, headache, vision changes, muscle tremors) occur.
  • Rep:   May cause fetal harm. Advise women of reproductive potential to use effective contraception during therapy and avoid breastfeeding during therapy and for >7 days after last dose. Advise patient to notify health care professional if pregnancy is suspected.

Evaluation/Desired Outcomes

Reduction in urine protein-to-creatinine ratio and improvement/stabilization of renal function. If no therapeutic benefit in 24 wk, consider discontinuation of voclosporin.