FDA Issues Reminder of Non-Substitution of PEDMARK® (sodium thiosulfate injection) for Pediatric Patients Receiving Cisplatin
February 01 2024 - 5:55AM
Fennec Pharmaceuticals Inc. (NASDAQ: FENC; TSX: FRX), a commercial
stage specialty pharmaceutical company, today announced that the
U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has issued a public
reminder to healthcare providers that PEDMARK (sodium thiosulfate
injection) is not substitutable with other sodium thiosulfate
products as explicitly directed in its prescribing label. PEDMARK
is the first and only FDA approved therapy indicated to reduce the
risk of ototoxicity (e.g., permanent hearing loss) associated with
cisplatin in pediatric patients 1 month of age and older with
localized, non-metastatic solid tumors.
The FDA stated in the public communication that
it is aware that some providers may be preparing other sodium
thiosulfate (STS) products for patient use in place of PEDMARK,
including diluting STS products approved for other uses to match
the strength of PEDMARK. The FDA reminded health care providers
that as stated in PEDMARK’s prescribing information, PEDMARK is not
substitutable with other sodium thiosulfate products. The FDA
stated that such substitutions pose potential health risks,
including:
- Potassium chloride exposure which,
at high doses, can lead to increased risk of acute cardiac events
and other serious adverse reactions. Potassium chloride is not
present in PEDMARK.
- Overexposure to boric acid (a boron
compound), can cause health risks including headache, hypothermia,
restlessness, weariness, renal injury, dermatitis, alopecia,
anorexia and indigestion. Although PEDMARK also contains boric
acid, it is at a lower concentration than other STS products.
- Overexposure to sodium nitrite,
which can lead to health risks including methemoglobinemia. Sodium
nitrite is co-packaged with sodium thiosulfate as a separate vial
in some products; it is not present in PEDMARK.
The public communication was issued by the FDA’s
Professional Affairs and Stakeholder Engagement Staff within the
Center for Drug Evaluation and Research, Office of Communications.
The FDA encourages those with any questions to contact
FDAOncology@fda.hhs.gov.
About Fennec
PharmaceuticalsFennec Pharmaceuticals Inc. is a specialty
pharmaceutical company focused on the development and
commercialization of PEDMARK® and Pedmarqsi to reduce the risk of
platinum-induced ototoxicity in pediatric patients. Further,
PEDMARK received FDA approval in September 2022 and European
Commission Marketing Authorization in June 2023 for Pedmarqsi.
PEDMARK has received Orphan Drug Exclusivity in the U.S. for seven
years of market protection and Pedmarqsi has received Pediatric Use
Marketing Authorization in Europe which includes eight years plus
two years of data and market protection. Fennec has a license
agreement with Oregon Health and Science University (OHSU) for
exclusive worldwide license rights to intellectual property
directed to sodium thiosulfate and its use for chemoprotection,
including the reduction of risk of ototoxicity induced by platinum
chemotherapy, in humans. For more information, please visit
www.fennecpharma.com.
For further information, please
contact:
Investors:Robert AndradeChief Financial
OfficerFennec Pharmaceuticals Inc.+1 919-246-5299
Corporate and Media:Lindsay Rocco Elixir Health
Public Relations+1 862-596-1304lrocco@elixirhealthpr.com
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