Pomalidomide (Imnovid鈻�): risk of hepatitis B reactivation
Before starting treatment with pomalidomide, establish hepatitis B virus status in all patients.
Advice for healthcare professionals:
- Hepatitis B virus status should be established before starting treatment with pomalidomide
- For patients who test positive, consultation with a physician with expertise in the treatment of hepatitis B is recommended
- Previously infected patients should be closely monitored for signs and symptoms of active infection throughout pomalidomide treatment
- Suspected adverse reactions to pomalidomide should be
Pomalidomide (Imnovid鈻�) combined with dexamethasone is indicated for adults with relapsed and refractory multiple myeloma who have received at least two previous treatment regimens, including lenalidomide and bortezomib, and who have shown disease progression on the last therapy.
Risk of hepatitis B reactivation
A review by EU medicines regulators of clinical studies and cases of suspected adverse drug reactions reported by healthcare professionals and in the literature[footnote 1] [footnote 2] has concluded that pomalidomide can cause hepatitis B reactivation.
The review assessed cases worldwide up to 7 August 2015 and identified 5 patients who developed hepatitis B reactivation while receiving treatment with pomalidomide. 2 cases resulted in acute liver failure, 1 of which had a fatal outcome. 4 cases occurred within a month of starting pomalidomide.
Further information
22 April 2016
See also related information for and .
Article citation: Drug Safety Update Vol 9 issue 10 May 2016 2.