Sorafenib, sold under the brand name Nexavar,[3] is a kinase inhibitor drug approved for the treatment of primary kidney cancer (advanced renal cell carcinoma), advanced primary liver cancer (hepatocellular carcinoma), FLT3-ITD positive AML and radioactive iodine resistant advanced thyroid carcinoma.
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Trade names | Nexavar, others |
Other names | Sorafenib tosylate |
AHFS/Drugs.com | Monograph |
MedlinePlus | a607051 |
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Routes of administration | By mouth |
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Pharmacokinetic data | |
Bioavailability | 38–49% |
Protein binding | 99.5% |
Metabolism | Liver oxidation and glucuronidation (CYP3A4 & UGT1A9-mediated) |
Elimination half-life | 25–48 hours |
Excretion | Feces (77%) and urine (19%) |
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ECHA InfoCard | 100.110.083 |
Chemical and physical data | |
Formula | C21H16ClF3N4O3 |
Molar mass | 464.83 g·mol−1 |
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Mechanism of action
editSorafenib is a protein kinase inhibitor with activity against many protein kinases, including VEGFR, PDGFR and RAF kinases.[4][5] Of the RAF kinases, sorafenib is more selective for c-Raf than B-RAF.[6] (See BRAF (gene)#Sorafenib for details the drug's interaction with B-Raf.)
Sorafenib treatment induces autophagy,[7] which may suppress tumor growth. Based on its 1,3-disubstituted urea structure, sorafenib is also a potent soluble epoxide hydrolase inhibitor and this activity likely reduces the severity of its adverse effects.[8]
Medical uses
editSorafenib is indicated as a treatment for advanced renal cell carcinoma (RCC), unresectable hepatocellular carcinomas (HCC) and thyroid cancer.[9][1][10][11]
Kidney cancer
editClinical trial results, published January 2007, showed that, compared with placebo, treatment with sorafenib prolongs progression-free survival in patients with advanced clear cell renal cell carcinoma in whom previous therapy has failed. The median progression-free survival was 5.5 months in the sorafenib group and 2.8 months in the placebo group (hazard ratio for disease progression in the sorafenib group, 0.44; 95% confidence interval [CI], 0.35 to 0.55; P<0.01).[12]
In Australia this is one of two TGA-labelled indications for sorafenib, although it is not listed on the Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme for this indication.[11][13]
Liver cancer
editAt ASCO 2007, results from the SHARP trial[14] were presented, which showed efficacy of sorafenib in hepatocellular carcinoma. The primary endpoint was median overall survival, which showed a 44% improvement in patients who received sorafenib compared to placebo (hazard ratio 0.69; 95% CI, 0.55 to 0.87; p=0.0001). Both median survival and time to progression showed 3-month improvements; however, there was no significant difference in median time to symptomatic progression (p=0.77). There was no difference in quality of life measures, possibly attributable to toxicity of sorafenib or symptoms related to underlying progression of liver disease. Of note, this trial only included patients with Child-Pugh Class A (i.e. mildest) cirrhosis.[14] Because of this trial sorafenib obtained FDA approval for the treatment of advanced hepatocellular carcinoma in November 2007.[5]
In a randomized, double-blind, phase II trial combining sorafenib with doxorubicin, the median time to progression was not significantly delayed compared with doxorubicin alone in patients with advanced hepatocellular carcinoma. Median durations of overall survival and progression-free survival were significantly longer in patients receiving sorafenib plus doxorubicin than in those receiving doxorubicin alone.[5]
A prospective single-centre phase II study which included the patients with unresectable hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) concluding that the combination of sorafenib and DEB-TACE in patients with unresectable HCC is well tolerated and safe, with most toxicities related to sorafenib.[15]
In Australia this is the only indication for which sorafenib is listed on the PBS and hence the only government-subsidised indication for sorafenib.[13] Along with renal cell carcinoma, hepatocellular carcinoma is one of the TGA-labelled indications for sorafenib.[11]
Thyroid cancer
editOn 22 November 2013, sorafenib was approved by the FDA for the treatment of locally recurrent or metastatic, progressive differentiated thyroid carcinoma (DTC) refractory to radioactive iodine treatment.[16]
The phase III DECISION trial showed significant improvement in progression-free survival but not in overall survival. However, as is known, the side effects were very frequent, specially hand and foot skin reaction.[17]
Adverse effects
editAdverse effects by frequency
Note: Potentially serious side effects are in bold.
Very common (>10% frequency)
- Lymphopenia
- Hypophosphataemia[Note 1]
- Haemorrhage[Note 2]
- Hypertension[Note 3]
- Diarrhea
- Rash
- Alopecia (hair loss; occurs in roughly 30% of patients receiving sorafenib)
- Hand-foot syndrome
- Pruritus (itchiness)
- Erythema
- Increased amylase
- Increased lipase
- Fatigue
- Pain[Note 4]
- Nausea
- Vomiting[Note 5][18]
Common (1-10% frequency)
- Leucopenia[Note 6]
- Neutropoenia[Note 7]
- Anaemia[Note 8]
- Thrombocytopenia[Note 9]
- Anorexia (weight loss)
- Hypocalcaemia[Note 10]
- Hypokalaemia[Note 11]
- Depression
- Peripheral sensory neuropathy
- Tinnitus[Note 12]
- Congestive heart failure
- Myocardial infarction[Note 13]
- Myocardial ischaemia[Note 14]
- Hoarseness
- Constipation
- Stomatitis[Note 15]
- Dyspepsia[Note 16]
- Dysphagia[Note 17]
- Dry skin
- Exfoliative dermatitis
- Acne
- Skin desquamation
- Arthralgia[Note 18]
- Myalgia[Note 19]
- Kidney failure[Note 20]
- Proteinuria[Note 21]
- Erectile dysfunction
- Asthenia (weakness)
- Fever
- Influenza-like illness
- Transient increase in transaminase
Uncommon (0.1-1% frequency)
- Folliculitis
- Infection
- Hypersensitivity reactions[Note 22]
- Hypothyroidism[Note 23]
- Hyperthyroidism[Note 24]
- Hyponatraemia[Note 25]
- Dehydration
- Reversible posterior leukoencephalopathy
- Hypertensive crisis
- Rhinorrhoea[Note 26]
- Interstitial lung disease-like events[Note 27]
- Gastro-oesophageal reflux disease (GORD)
- Pancreatitis[Note 28]
- Gastritis[Note 29]
- Gastrointestinal perforations[Note 30]
- Increase in bilirubin leading, potentially, to jaundice[Note 31]
- Cholecystitis[Note 32]
- Cholangitis[Note 33]
- Eczema
- Erythema multiforme[Note 34]
- Keratoacanthoma[Note 35]
- Squamous cell carcinoma
- Gynaecomastia (swelling of the breast tissue in men)
- Transient increase in blood alkaline phosphatase
- INR abnormal
- Prothrombin level abnormal
- bulbous skin reaction[19]
Rare (0.01-0.1% frequency)
History
editRenal cancer
editSorafenib was approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) in December 2005,[20] and received European Commission marketing authorization in July 2006,[21] both for use in the treatment of advanced renal cancer.
Liver cancer
editThe European Commission granted marketing authorization to the drug for the treatment of patients with hepatocellular carcinoma(HCC), the most common form of liver cancer, in October 2007,[22] and FDA approval for this indication followed in November 2007.[23]
In November 2009, the UK's National Institute for Clinical Excellence declined to approve the drug for use within the NHS in England, Wales and Northern Ireland, stating that its effectiveness (increasing survival in primary liver cancer by 6 months) did not justify its high price, at up to £3000 per patient per month.[24] In Scotland the drug had already been refused authorization by the Scottish Medicines Consortium for use within NHS Scotland, for the same reason.[24]
In March 2012, the Indian Patent Office granted a domestic company, Natco Pharma, a license to manufacture generic sorafenib, bringing its price down by 97%. Bayer sells a month's supply, 120 tablets, of Nexavar for₹280,000 (US$3,400). Natco Pharma will sell 120 tablets for ₹8,800 (US$110), while still paying a 6% royalty to Bayer. The royalty was later raised to 7% on appeal by Bayer.[25][26][27] Under the Patents Act, 1970 and the World Trade Organisation TRIPS Agreement, the government can issue a compulsory license when a drug is not available at an affordable price.[28]
Society and culture
editNexavar controversy
editIn January 2014, Bayer's CEO Marijn Dekkers allegedly stated that Nexavar was developed for "Western patients who can afford it, not for Indians". A kidney cancer patient would pay $96,000 (£58,000) for a year's course of the Bayer-made drug, whereas the cost of the Indian version of the generic drug would be around $2,800 (£1,700).[29]
Research
editLung
editIn some kinds of lung cancer (with squamous-cell histology) sorafenib administered in addition to paclitaxel and carboplatin may be detrimental to patients.[30]
Ovarian cancer
editSorafenib has been studied as maintenance therapy after ovarian cancer treatment and in combination with chemotherapy for recurrent ovarian cancer but did not show results that led to approval of the drug for these indications.[31]
Brain (recurrent glioblastoma)
editThere is a phase I/II study at the Mayo Clinic[32] of sorafenib and CCI-779 (temsirolimus) for recurrent glioblastoma.
Desmoid tumor (aggressive fibromatosis)
editA study performed in 2008 showed that sorafenib is active against aggressive fibromatosis. This study is being used as justification for using sorafenib as an initial course of treatment in some patients with the condition.[33]
A phase III clinical trial is testing the effectiveness of sorafenib to treat desmoid tumors (also known as aggressive fibromatosis), after positive results in the first two trial stages. Dosage is typically half of that applied for malignant cancers (400 mg vs 800 mg). NCI are sponsoring this trial.[34][35][36]
See also
edit- Donafenib, a deuterated derivative of sorafenib with improved pharmacokinetic properties
Notes
edit- ^ Low blood phosphate levels
- ^ Bleeding; including serious bleeds such as intracranial and intrapulmonary bleeds
- ^ High blood pressure
- ^ Including abdominal pain, headache, tumour pain, etc.
- ^ Considered a low (~10-30%) risk chemotherapeutic agent for causing emesis)
- ^ Low level of white blood cells in the blood
- ^ Low level of neutrophils in the blood
- ^ Low level of red blood cells in the blood
- ^ Low level of plasma cells in the blood
- ^ Low blood calcium
- ^ Low blood potassium
- ^ Hearing ringing in the ears
- ^ Heart attack
- ^ Lack of blood supply for the heart muscle
- ^ Mouth swelling, also dry mouth and glossodynia
- ^ Indigestion
- ^ Not being able to swallow
- ^ Sore joints
- ^ Muscle aches
- ^ Kidney failure
- ^ Excreting protein [usually plasma proteins] in the urine. Not dangerous in itself but it is indicative kidney damage
- ^ Including skin reactions and urticaria (hives)
- ^ Underactive thyroid
- ^ Overactive thyroid
- ^ Low blood sodium
- ^ Runny nose
- ^ Pneumonitis, radiation pneumonitis, acute respiratory distress, etc.
- ^ Swelling of the pancreas
- ^ Swelling of the stomach
- ^ Formation of a hole in the gastrointestinal tract, leading to potentially fatal bleeds
- ^ Yellowing of the skin and eyes due to a failure of the liver to adequately cope with the amount of bilirubin produced by the day-to-day actions of the body
- ^ Swelling of the gallbladder
- ^ Swelling of the bile duct
- ^ a b c A potentially fatal skin reaction
- ^ A fairly benign form of skin cancer
- ^ A potentially fatal abnormality in the electrical activity of the heart
- ^ Swelling of the skin and mucous membranes
- ^ A potentially fatal allergic reaction
- ^ Swelling of the liver
- ^ The rapid breakdown of muscle tissue leading to the build-up of myoglobin in the blood and resulting in damage to the kidneys
References
edit- ^ a b "Nexavar (sorafenib) tablet, film coated [Bayer HealthCare Pharmaceuticals Inc.]". DailyMed. Bayer HealthCare Pharmaceuticals Inc. November 2013. Archived from the original on 20 September 2015. Retrieved 26 December 2013.
- ^ "Nexavar EPAR". European Medicines Agency (EMA). 17 September 2018. Archived from the original on 14 October 2021. Retrieved 18 September 2022.
- ^ "FDA Approves Nexavar for Patients with Inoperable Liver Cancer" (Press release). FDA. 19 November 2007. Archived from the original on 2 January 2017. Retrieved 10 November 2012.
- ^ Wilhelm SM, Adnane L, Newell P, Villanueva A, Llovet JM, Lynch M (October 2008). "Preclinical overview of sorafenib, a multikinase inhibitor that _targets both Raf and VEGF and PDGF receptor tyrosine kinase signaling". Molecular Cancer Therapeutics. 7 (10): 3129–3140. doi:10.1158/1535-7163.MCT-08-0013. PMID 18852116.
- ^ a b c Keating GM, Santoro A (2009). "Sorafenib: a review of its use in advanced hepatocellular carcinoma". Drugs. 69 (2): 223–240. doi:10.2165/00003495-200969020-00006. PMID 19228077.
- ^ Smalley KS, Xiao M, Villanueva J, Nguyen TK, Flaherty KT, Letrero R, et al. (January 2009). "CRAF inhibition induces apoptosis in melanoma cells with non-V600E BRAF mutations". Oncogene. 28 (1): 85–94. doi:10.1038/onc.2008.362. PMC 2898184. PMID 18794803.
- ^ Zhang Y, Xue D, Wang X, Lu M, Gao B, Qiao X (January 2014). "Screening of kinase inhibitors _targeting BRAF for regulating autophagy based on kinase pathways". Molecular Medicine Reports. 9 (1): 83–90. doi:10.3892/mmr.2013.1781. PMID 24213221.
- ^ Singh N, Hammock B (30 March 2020). "Soluble Epoxide Hydrolase". In Offermanns S, Rosenthal W (eds.). Encyclopedia of Molecular Pharmacology. Springer, Cham. doi:10.1007/978-3-030-21573-6. hdl:10138/346042. ISBN 978-3-030-21573-6. S2CID 171511522.
- ^ "Nexavar (sorafenib) dosing, indications, interactions, adverse effects, and more". Medscape Reference. WebMD. Archived from the original on 27 December 2013. Retrieved 26 December 2013.
- ^ "Nexavar 200mg film-coated tablets - Summary of Product Characteristics (SPC) - (eMC)". electronic Medicines Compendium. Bayer plc. 27 March 2013. Archived from the original on 27 December 2013. Retrieved 26 December 2013.
- ^ a b c "PRODUCT INFORMATION NEXAVAR (sorafenib tosylate)" (PDF). TGA eBusiness Services. Bayer Australia Ltd. 12 December 2012. Archived from the original on 14 January 2016. Retrieved 26 December 2013.
- ^ Escudier B, Eisen T, Stadler WM, Szczylik C, Oudard S, Siebels M, et al. (January 2007). "Sorafenib in advanced clear-cell renal-cell carcinoma". The New England Journal of Medicine. 356 (2): 125–134. doi:10.1056/NEJMoa060655. PMID 17215530.
- ^ a b "Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme (PBS) -SORAFENIB". Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme. Australian Government Department of Health. Archived from the original on 27 December 2013. Retrieved 27 December 2013.
- ^ a b Llovet JM, Ricci S, Mazzaferro V, Hilgard P, Gane E, Blanc JF, et al. (July 2008). "Sorafenib in advanced hepatocellular carcinoma". The New England Journal of Medicine. 359 (4): 378–390. CiteSeerX 10.1.1.531.1130. doi:10.1056/NEJMoa0708857. PMID 18650514.
- ^ Pawlik TM, Reyes DK, Cosgrove D, Kamel IR, Bhagat N, Geschwind JF (October 2011). "Phase II trial of sorafenib combined with concurrent transarterial chemoembolization with drug-eluting beads for hepatocellular carcinoma". Journal of Clinical Oncology. 29 (30): 3960–3967. doi:10.1200/JCO.2011.37.1021. PMC 4829081. PMID 21911714.
- ^ "FDA Approval for Sorafenib Tosylate". National Cancer Institute. 5 October 2006. Archived from the original on 6 April 2015. Retrieved 27 November 2013.
- ^ "ASCO: Sorafenib Halts Resistant Thyroid Cancer". www.medpagetoday.com. 4 June 2013. Archived from the original on 23 March 2021. Retrieved 21 December 2018.
- ^ "Chemotherapy-Induced Nausea and Vomiting Treatment & Management". Medscape Reference. WebMD. 3 July 2012. Archived from the original on 27 December 2013. Retrieved 26 December 2013.
- ^ Hagopian B (August 2010). "Unusually Severe Bullous Skin Reaction to Sorafenib: A Case Report". Journal of Medical Cases. 1 (1): 1–3. doi:10.4021/jmc112e.
- ^ "FDA Approval letter for use of sorafenib in advanced renal cancer" (PDF). Archived (PDF) from the original on 30 March 2021. Retrieved 19 November 2009.
- ^ "Nexavar". Enterprise and Industry. European Commission. Archived from the original on 1 February 2008. Retrieved 24 April 2007.
- ^ "Nexavar (Sorafenib) Approved for Hepatocellular Carcinoma in Europe" (Press release). Bayer HealthCare Pharmaceuticals and Onyx Pharmaceuticals. 30 October 2007. Archived from the original on 6 February 2012. Retrieved 10 November 2012.
- ^ "FDA Approval letter for use of sorafenib in inoperable hepatocellular carcinoma" (PDF). Archived (PDF) from the original on 31 March 2021. Retrieved 19 November 2009.
- ^ a b "Liver drug 'too expensive'". BBC News. 19 November 2009. Archived from the original on 11 September 2017. Retrieved 10 November 2012.
- ^ "» Supreme Court says no to Bayer, upholds compulsory license on Nexavar". Archived from the original on 17 February 2015.
- ^ "Application for Compulsory Licence Under Section 84(1) of the Patents Act, 1970 in Respect of Patent No.215758" (PDF). Controller of Patents Mumbai. Archived from the original (PDF) on 21 March 2012. Retrieved 2 April 2012.
- ^ "Indian generics". Nature. 483 (7389): 250–1. 9–15 March 2012. Bibcode:2012Natur.483..250.. doi:10.1038/483250a.
- ^ "India Patents (Amendment) Act, 2005". WIPO. Archived from the original on 16 January 2013. Retrieved 16 January 2013.
- ^ Chittum R (29 January 2014). "Bloomberg's viral misquote". Columbia Journalism Review. Archived from the original on 10 February 2021. Retrieved 12 September 2019.
- ^ Chustecka Z (25 April 2008). "Addition of Sorafenib May Be Detrimental in Some Lung Cancer Patients". MedScape. Archived from the original on 29 August 2021. Retrieved 29 October 2010.
- ^ Ciccone MA, Maoz A, Casabar JK, Machida H, Mabuchi S, Matsuo K (July 2016). "Clinical outcome of treatment with serine-threonine kinase inhibitors in recurrent epithelial ovarian cancer: a systematic review of literature". Expert Opinion on Investigational Drugs. 25 (7): 781–796. doi:10.1080/13543784.2016.1181748. PMC 7534810. PMID 27101098. S2CID 28717797.
- ^ Clinical trial number NCT00329719 for "Sorafenib and Temsirolimus in Treating Patients With Recurrent Glioblastoma" at ClinicalTrials.gov
- ^ Gounder MM, Lefkowitz RA, Keohan ML, D'Adamo DR, Hameed M, Antonescu CR, et al. (June 2011). "Activity of Sorafenib against desmoid tumor/deep fibromatosis". Clinical Cancer Research. 17 (12): 4082–4090. doi:10.1158/1078-0432.CCR-10-3322. PMC 3152981. PMID 21447727.
- ^ "Sorafenib Tosylate in Treating Patients With Desmoid Tumors or Aggressive Fibromatosis". Clinicaltrials.gov. Archived from the original on 13 November 2014. Retrieved 12 November 2014.
- ^ Gounder MM, Lefkowitz RA, Keohan ML, D'Adamo DR, Hameed M, Antonescu CR, et al. (June 2011). "Activity of Sorafenib against desmoid tumor/deep fibromatosis". Clinical Cancer Research. 17 (12): 4082–4090. doi:10.1158/1078-0432.ccr-10-3322. PMC 3152981. PMID 21447727.
- ^ Mangla A, Agarwal N, Schwartz G (February 2024). "Desmoid Tumors: Current Perspective and Treatment". Current Treatment Options in Oncology. 25 (2): 161–175. doi:10.1007/s11864-024-01177-5. PMC 10873447. PMID 38270798.
External links
edit- "Sorafenib". Drug Information Portal. U.S. National Library of Medicine.
- "Sorafenib". National Cancer Institute.
- Clinical trial number NCT00217399 for "Sorafenib and Anastrozole in Treating Postmenopausal Women With Metastatic Breast Cancer" at ClinicalTrials.gov