Varubi (rolapitant HCl)

Antiemetic Oral Tablet

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Last reviewed · Source: First Databank (FDB) drug data

Overview

Rolapitant hydrochloride, a highly selective and competitive antagonist at substance P/neurokinin-1 (NK1) receptors, is an antiemetic.

Rolapitant is a selective and competitive antagonist of human substance P/neurokinin-1 (NK1) receptors. Rolapitant does not have substantial affinity for the NK2 or NK3 receptors or for a battery of other receptors, transporters, enzymes, and ion channels. Rolapitant crosses the blood-brain barrier and occupies NK1 receptors in the brain.

The drug demonstrates a dose-dependent increase in mean NK1 receptor occupancy in the dose range of 4.5-180 mg. At a rolapitant dose of 180 mg, the mean NK1 receptor occupancy was 73% in the striatum at 120 hours after the dose was administered to healthy individuals. However, the relationship between NK1 receptor occupancy and clinical efficacy of rolapitant is yet to be determined.

Rolapitant has a high bioavailability (greater than 90%) and is highly bound to plasma proteins (99.8%). Peak plasma concentrations are attained in approximately 4 hours following administration of a single oral dose of 180 mg under fasting conditions in healthy individuals. Accumulation of rolapitant is approximately 5-fold following multiple oral doses of 9-45 mg once daily.

Systemic exposure of rolapitant increases in a dose-proportional manner over the dose range of 4.5 to 180 mg. Following single oral doses of rolapitant, the mean terminal half-life ranges from 169 to 183 hours (approximately 7 days) and is independent of dose. Rolapitant is metabolized principally by cytochrome P-450 (CYP) 3A4 to a major active metabolite (M19).

Formation of M19 is relatively slow resulting in a delayed median time to peak plasma concentration of 120 hours (range: 24-168 hours); mean half-life of M19 is 158 hours. Exposure ratio of M19 to rolapitant is approximately 50% in plasma. Following administration of a single oral 180-mg radiolabeled dose of rolapitant, 14.2% (range 9-20%) and 73% (range 52-89%) of the dose is recovered in the urine and feces, respectively, over 6 weeks.

In pooled samples collected over 2 weeks, 8.3% of the dose is recovered in the urine principally as metabolites, and 37.8% of the dose is recovered in the feces principally as unchanged drug. Unchanged rolapitant or M19 was not found in the pooled urine sample. Age, sex, and race have no substantial effect on the pharmacokinetics of rolapitant.

USES: Rolapitant is used with other medications to help prevent delayed nausea and vomiting caused by cancer drug treatment (chemotherapy). It works by blocking one of the body's natural substances (substance P/neurokinin 1) that causes vomiting. This drug is not recommended for use in children younger than 2 years due to risk of serious side effects.

Generic name: rolapitant HCl
Pronunciation: (roe-LA-pi-tant)
Drug class: Antiemetic
Therapeutic class: Gastrointestinal Therapy Agents

Reference product & biosimilars

No reference, biosimilar or interchangeable associated with this drug.

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Indications

The following indications are listed for Varubi:

  • Prevention Of Cancer Chemotherapy-Induced Nausea And Vomiting

Also known as: Cancer Chemotherapy-Induced N & V Prophylaxis.

Dosing

Rolapitant is administered orally on day 1 as part of a 4-day regimen that includes a 5-HT3 receptor antagonist and dexamethasone.

Rolapitant is commercially available as the hydrochloride salt; dosage is expressed in terms of rolapitant.

Drug interactions

Rolapitant is metabolized by cytochrome P-450 (CYP) 3A4 isoenzyme. The drug does not inhibit or induce CYP3A4 when given as a single oral dose. Rolapitant is a moderate inhibitor of CYP2D6, an inhibitor of P-glycoprotein (P-gp), and an inhibitor of breast cancer resistance protein (BCRP).

In vitro studies suggest that rolapitant is not an inhibitor of CYP1A2 or CYP2E1. Rolapitant inhibits CYP2A6; however, clinically meaningful interaction via inhibition of CYP2A6 is unlikely.

Oral rolapitant is unlikely to inhibit organic anion transporting polypeptides (OATP) 1B1 and 1B3, organic anion transporters (OAT1 and OAT3), organic cation transporter (OCT) 2, and multidrug and toxin extrusion proteins (MATE1 and MATE2K).

Contraindications

*Concurrent therapy with CYP2D6 substrates with a narrow therapeutic index such as pimozide or thioridazine.

*Pediatric patients <2 years of age.

Adverse reactions

Cisplatin-based highly emetogenic chemotherapy: Adverse effects reported in >=3% of patients include neutropenia, hiccups, and abdominal pain.

Moderately emetogenic chemotherapy and combinations of anthracycline and cyclophosphamide: Adverse effects reported in >=3% of patients include decreased appetite, neutropenia, dizziness, dyspepsia, urinary tract infection, stomatitis, and anemia.

Precautions

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ICD codes

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Formulary status

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Last reviewed · Source: First Databank (FDB) drug data