First-Line Maintenance Treatment of Urothelial Carcinoma

BAVENCIO is indicated for the maintenance treatment of patients with locally advanced or metastatic urothelial carcinoma (UC) that has not progressed with first-line platinum-containing chemotherapy [see Clinical Studies (14.2)].

Previously-treated Urothelial Carcinoma

BAVENCIO is indicated for the treatment of patients with locally advanced or metastatic urothelial carcinoma (UC) who:

• Have disease progression during or following platinum-containing chemotherapy
• Have disease progression within 12 months of neoadjuvant or adjuvant treatment with platinum-containing chemotherapy [see Clinical Studies (14.2)].

Preparation

• Visually inspect vial for particulate matter and discoloration. BAVENCIO is a clear, colorless to slightly yellow solution. Discard vial if the solution is cloudy, discolored, or contains particulate matter.
• Withdraw the required volume of BAVENCIO from the vial(s) and inject it into a 250 mL infusion bag containing either 0.9% Sodium Chloride Injection or 0.45% Sodium Chloride Injection.
• Gently invert the bag to mix the diluted solution and avoid foaming or excessive shearing.
• Inspect the solution to ensure it is clear, colorless, and free of visible particles.
• Discard any partially used or empty vials.

Storage of diluted BAVENCIO solution

Protect from light.

Store diluted BAVENCIO solution:

• At room temperature up to 77°F (25°C) for no more than 4 hours from the time of dilution.

Or

• Under refrigeration at 36°F to 46°F (2°C to 8°C) for no more than 24 hours from the time of dilution. If refrigerated, allow the diluted solution to come to room temperature prior to administration.

Do not freeze or shake diluted solution.

Administration

• Administer the diluted solution over 60 minutes through an intravenous line containing a sterile, non-pyrogenic, low protein binding in-line filter (pore size of 0.2 micron).
• Do not co-administer other drugs through the same intravenous line.

Immune-Mediated Pneumonitis

BAVENCIO can cause immune-mediated pneumonitis. Immune-mediated pneumonitis occurred in 1.1% (21/1854) of patients receiving BAVENCIO, including fatal (0.1%), Grade 4 (0.1%), Grade 3 (0.3%) and Grade 2 (0.6%) adverse reactions. Pneumonitis led to permanent discontinuation of BAVENCIO in 0.3% and withholding of BAVENCIO in 0.3% of patients.

Systemic corticosteroids were required in all (21/21) patients with pneumonitis. Pneumonitis resolved in 57% (12/21) of the patients. Of the 5 patients in whom BAVENCIO was withheld for pneumonitis, 5 reinitiated treatment with BAVENCIO after symptom improvement; of these, none had recurrence of pneumonitis.

With other PD-1/PD-L1 blocking antibodies, the incidence of pneumonitis is higher in patients who have received prior thoracic radiation.

Immune-Mediated Colitis

BAVENCIO can cause immune-mediated colitis. The primary component of the immune-mediated colitis consisted of diarrhea. Cytomegalovirus (CMV) infection/reactivation has been reported in patients with corticosteroid-refractory immune-mediated colitis. In cases of corticosteroid-refractory colitis, consider repeating infectious workup to exclude alternative etiologies.

Immune-mediated colitis occurred in 1.5% (27/1854) of patients receiving BAVENCIO, including Grade 3 (0.4%) and Grade 2 (0.8%) adverse reactions. Colitis led to permanent discontinuation of BAVENCIO in 0.5% and withholding of BAVENCIO in 0.4% of patients.

Systemic corticosteroids were required in all (27/27) patients with colitis. Colitis resolved in 70% (19/27) of the patients. Of the 8 patients in whom BAVENCIO was withheld for colitis, 5 reinitiated treatment with BAVENCIO after symptom improvement; of these, 40% had recurrence of colitis.

Hepatotoxicity and Immune-Mediated Hepatitis

Immune-Mediated Endocrinopathies

Immune-Mediated Nephritis with Renal Dysfunction

BAVENCIO can cause immune-mediated nephritis.

Immune-mediated nephritis with renal dysfunction occurred in 0.1% (2/1854) of patients receiving BAVENCIO, including Grade 3 (0.1%) and Grade 2 (0.1%) adverse reactions. Nephritis with renal dysfunction led to permanent discontinuation of BAVENCIO in 0.1% of patients. Nephritis did not lead to withholding of BAVENCIO in any patient.

Systemic corticosteroids were required in 100% of patients with nephritis with renal dysfunction. Nephritis with renal dysfunction resolved in 50% of the patients.

Immune-Mediated Dermatologic Adverse Reactions

BAVENCIO can cause immune-mediated rash or dermatitis. Exfoliative dermatitis, including Stevens Johnson Syndrome, DRESS, and toxic epidermal necrolysis (TEN), has occurred with PD-1/PD-L1 blocking antibodies. Topical emollients and/or topical corticosteroids may be adequate to treat mild to moderate non-exfoliative rashes. Withhold or permanently discontinue BAVENCIO depending on severity [see Dosage and Administration (2.5)].

Immune-mediated dermatologic adverse reactions occurred in 6% (108/1854) of patients receiving BAVENCIO, including Grade 3 (0.1%) and Grade 2 (1.9%) adverse reactions. Dermatologic adverse reactions led to permanent discontinuation of BAVENCIO in 0.3% of patients and withholding of BAVENCIO in 0.4% of patients.

Systemic corticosteroids were required in 25% (27/108) of patients with dermatologic adverse reactions. One patient required the addition of tacrolimus to high-dose corticosteroids. Dermatologic adverse reactions resolved in 46% (50/108) of the patients. Of the 8 patients in whom BAVENCIO was withheld for dermatologic adverse reactions, 4 reinitiated treatment with BAVENCIO after symptom improvement; of these, none had recurrence of dermatologic adverse reaction.

Other Immune-Mediated Adverse Reactions

The following clinically significant immune-mediated adverse reactions occurred at an incidence of < 1% (unless otherwise noted) in patients who received BAVENCIO or were reported with the use of other PD-1/PD-L1 blocking antibodies. Severe or fatal cases have been reported for some of these adverse reactions.

Metastatic Merkel Cell Carcinoma

The safety of BAVENCIO was evaluated in 204 patients enrolled in the JAVELIN Merkel 200 trial with metastatic MCC. Patients received BAVENCIO 10 mg/kg intravenously every 2 weeks or 800 mg intravenously every 2 weeks until disease progression or unacceptable toxicity.

The median duration of exposure to BAVENCIO was 4.1 months (range: 2 weeks to 48 months). [see Clinical Studies (14.1)].

Serious adverse reactions occurred in 52% of patients receiving BAVENCIO. The most frequent serious adverse reactions (≥ 2% of patients) were general physical health deterioration, anemia, abdominal pain, acute kidney injury, sepsis, hyponatremia, and infusion-related reaction.

Permanent discontinuation of BAVENCIO due to an adverse reaction occurred in 27% of patients. The most frequent adverse reactions (> 1% of patients) that resulted in permanent discontinuation were infusion-related reaction, anemia, increased ALT, and increased AST.

Dosage interruptions of BAVENCIO due to an adverse reaction, excluding temporary interruptions due to infusion-related reactions, occurred in 29% of patients. The most frequent adverse reactions (> 1% of patients) that required dosage interruption were nasopharyngitis, anemia, diarrhea, lung infection, and ALT increased.

The most common adverse reactions (≥ 20%) that occurred in patients receiving BAVENCIO were fatigue, musculoskeletal pain, infusion-related reaction, rash, nausea, constipation, cough, and diarrhea.

Table 3 and Table 4 summarize the adverse reactions and laboratory abnormalities, respectively, that occurred in patients receiving BAVENCIO.

Other clinically significant adverse reactions in < 10% of patients receiving BAVENCIO in the JAVELIN Merkel 200 trial were dizziness, headache, transaminase increased, creatine phosphokinase increased, and tubulointerstitial nephritis.

Locally Advanced or Metastatic Urothelial Carcinoma

Advanced Renal Cell Carcinoma

The safety of BAVENCIO was evaluated in JAVELIN Renal 101. Patients with autoimmune disease other than type I diabetes mellitus, vitiligo, psoriasis, or thyroid disorders not requiring immunosuppressive treatment were excluded. Patients received BAVENCIO 10 mg/kg every 2 weeks administered in combination with axitinib 5 mg twice daily (N=434) or sunitinib 50 mg once daily for 4 weeks followed by 2 weeks off (N=439).

In the BAVENCIO plus axitinib arm, 70% were exposed to BAVENCIO for ≥ 6 months and 29% were exposed for ≥ 1 year in JAVELIN Renal 101 [see Clinical Studies (14.3)].

The median age of patients treated with BAVENCIO in combination with axitinib was 62 years (range: 29 to 83), 38% of patients were 65 years or older, 71% were male, 75% were White, and the ECOG performance score was 0 (64%) or 1 (36%).

Fatal adverse reactions occurred in 1.8% of patients receiving BAVENCIO in combination with axitinib. These included sudden cardiac death (1.2%), stroke (0.2%), myocarditis (0.2%), and necrotizing pancreatitis (0.2%).

Serious adverse reactions occurred in 35% of patients receiving BAVENCIO in combination with axitinib. Serious adverse reactions in ≥ 1% of patients included diarrhea (2.5%), dyspnea (1.8%), hepatotoxicity (1.8%), venous thromboembolic disease (1.6%), acute kidney injury (1.4%), and pneumonia (1.2%).

Permanent discontinuation due to an adverse reaction of either BAVENCIO or axitinib occurred in 22% of patients: 19% BAVENCIO only, 13% axitinib only, and 8% both drugs. The most common adverse reactions (> 1%) resulting in permanent discontinuation of BAVENCIO or the combination were hepatotoxicity (6%) and infusion-related reaction (1.8%).

Dose interruptions or reductions due to an adverse reaction, excluding temporary interruptions of BAVENCIO infusions due to infusion-related reactions, occurred in 76% of patients receiving BAVENCIO in combination with axitinib. This includes interruption of BAVENCIO in 50% of patients. Axitinib was interrupted in 66% and dose reduced in 19% of patients. The most common adverse reaction (> 10%) resulting in interruption of BAVENCIO was diarrhea (10%) and the most common adverse reactions resulting in either interruption or dose reduction of axitinib were diarrhea (19%), hypertension (18%), palmar-plantar erythrodysesthesia (18%), and hepatotoxicity (10%).

The most common adverse reactions (≥ 20%) in patients receiving BAVENCIO in combination with axitinib were diarrhea, fatigue, hypertension, musculoskeletal pain, nausea, mucositis, palmar-plantar erythrodysesthesia, dysphonia, decreased appetite, hypothyroidism, rash, hepatotoxicity, cough, dyspnea, abdominal pain, and headache.

Forty-eight (11%) patients treated with BAVENCIO in combination with axitinib received an oral prednisone dose equivalent to ≥ 40 mg daily for an immune-mediated adverse reaction [see Warnings and Precautions (5)].

Table 7 summarizes adverse reactions that occurred in ≥ 20% of BAVENCIO in combination with axitinib-treated patients.

Other clinically important adverse reactions that occurred in less than 20% of patients in JAVELIN Renal 101 included arthralgia, weight decreased, and chills.

Patients received pre-medication with an anti-histamine and acetaminophen prior to each infusion. Infusion-related reactions occurred in 12% (Grade 3: 1.6%; no Grade 4) of patients treated with BAVENCIO in combination with axitinib.

Table 8 summarizes selected laboratory abnormalities that occurred in ≥ 20% of BAVENCIO in combination with axitinib-treated patients.

Risk Summary

Based on its mechanism of action, BAVENCIO can cause fetal harm when administered to a pregnant woman. There are no available data on the use of BAVENCIO in pregnant women [see Clinical Pharmacology (12.1)]. Animal studies have demonstrated that inhibition of the PD-1/PD-L1 pathway can lead to increased risk of immune-mediated rejection of the developing fetus resulting in fetal death [see Data]. Human IgG1 immunoglobulins (IgG1) are known to cross the placenta. Therefore, BAVENCIO has the potential to be transmitted from the mother to the developing fetus. If this drug is used during pregnancy, or if the patient becomes pregnant while taking this drug, advise the patient of the potential risk to a fetus.

In the U.S. general population, the estimated background risk of major birth defects and miscarriage in clinically recognized pregnancies is 2% to 4% and 15% to 20%, respectively.

Data

Risk Summary

There is no information regarding the presence of avelumab in human milk, the effects on the breastfed infant, or the effects on milk production. Since many drugs including antibodies are excreted in human milk, advise a lactating woman not to breastfeed during treatment and for at least one month after the last dose of BAVENCIO due to the potential for serious adverse reactions in breastfed infants.

Contraception

Based on its mechanism of action, BAVENCIO can cause fetal harm when administered to a pregnant woman [see Use in Specific Populations (8.1)]. Advise females of reproductive potential to use effective contraception during treatment with BAVENCIO and for at least 1 month after the last dose of BAVENCIO.

Metastatic Merkel Cell Carcinoma

Of the 204 patients with MCC who received BAVENCIO in the JAVELIN Merkel 200 trial, 78% were 65 years or older and 43% were 75 years or older. No overall differences in safety or efficacy were observed between elderly patients and younger patients.

Locally Advanced or Metastatic Urothelial Carcinoma

Of the 344 patients randomized to BAVENCIO 10 mg/kg plus BSC in the JAVELIN Bladder 100 trial, 63% were 65 years or older and 24% were 75 years or older. No overall differences in safety or efficacy were reported between elderly patients and younger patients.

Advanced Renal Cell Carcinoma

Of the 434 patients randomized to BAVENCIO 10 mg/kg administered in combination with axitinib 5 mg twice daily in the JAVELIN Renal 101 trial, 38% were 65 years or older and 8% were 75 years or older. No overall difference in safety or efficacy were reported between elderly patients and younger patients.

BAVENCIO as a single agent

The pharmacokinetics of avelumab as a single agent was studied in 1629 patients who received doses ranging from 1 to 20 mg/kg every 2 weeks. The data showed that the exposure of avelumab increased dose-proportionally in the dose range of 10 to 20 mg/kg every 2 weeks. Steady-state concentrations of avelumab were reached after approximately 4 to 6 weeks (2 to 3 cycles) of repeated dosing, and the systemic accumulation was approximately 1.25-fold. The geometric mean volume of distribution at steady state for a subject receiving 10 mg/kg was 4.72 L. The primary elimination mechanism of avelumab is proteolytic degradation. Based on population pharmacokinetic analyses in patients with solid tumors, the total systemic clearance was 0.59 L/day and the terminal half-life was 6.1 days in patients receiving 10 mg/kg. In a post hoc analysis, avelumab clearance was found to decrease over time in patients with MCC, with a mean maximal reduction (% coefficient of variation [CV%]) from baseline value of approximately 32.1% (36.2%), which is not considered clinically important. There was no evidence to suggest a change of avelumab clearance over time in patients with UC.

BAVENCIO with axitinib

When BAVENCIO 10 mg/kg was administered in combination with axitinib 5 mg, the respective exposures of avelumab and axitinib were comparable to the single agents. There was no evidence to suggest a clinically relevant change of avelumab clearance over time in patients with advanced RCC.

Specific Populations

Body weight was positively correlated with total systemic clearance in population pharmacokinetic analyses. No clinically meaningful differences in pharmacokinetics were observed in the clearance of avelumab based on age; sex; race; PD-L1 status; tumor burden; mild [calculated creatinine clearance (CLcr) 60 to 89 mL/min, n=623 as estimated by the Cockcroft-Gault formula], moderate [CLcr 30 to 59 mL/min, n=320], or severe [CLcr 15 to 29 mL/min, n=4] renal impairment; and mild [bilirubin less than or equal to ULN and AST greater than ULN or bilirubin between 1 and 1.5 times ULN, n=217] or moderate [bilirubin between 1.5 and 3 times ULN, n=4] hepatic impairment. There are limited data from patients with severe hepatic impairment [bilirubin greater than 3 times ULN, n=1], and the effect of severe hepatic impairment on the pharmacokinetics of avelumab is unknown. In patients with advanced UC or advanced RCC, BAVENCIO clearance in patients who tested positive for treatment-emergent ADA was approximately 15% higher as compared to clearance in patients who tested negative for treatment-emergent ADA.

Previously-treated Merkel Cell Carcinoma

A total of 88 patients were enrolled in Part A. Baseline patient characteristics were a median age of 73 years (range: 33 to 88), 74% of patients were male, 92% were White, and the ECOG performance score was 0 (56%) or 1 (44%). Seventy-five percent of patients were 65 years or older, 35% were 75 or older, and 3% were 85 or older. Sixty-five percent of patients were reported to have had one prior anti-cancer therapy for metastatic MCC and 35% had two or more prior therapies. Fifty-three percent of patients had visceral metastases. Sixty-six percent were PD-L1-positive (≥ 1% of tumor cells), 18% were PD-L1 negative, and 16% had non-evaluable results by an investigational immunohistochemistry assay. Archival tumor samples were evaluated for Merkel cell polyomavirus (MCV) using an investigational assay; of the 77 patients with evaluable results, 52% had evidence of MCV.

Efficacy results are summarized in Table 10. Responses were observed in patients regardless of tumor PD-L1 expression or presence of MCV.

Treatment-naïve Merkel Cell Carcinoma

A total of 116 patients were enrolled in Part B. Baseline patient characteristics were median age of 74 years (range: 41 to 93); 70% of patients were male; 65% were White, 31% were unknown or not collected, 2.6% were Asian, and 1.7% were Black; ECOG performance score was 0 (62%) or 1 (38%). Eighteen percent of patients were PD-L1-positive (≥ 1% of tumor cells), 75% were PD-L1-negative, and 7% had non-evaluable results by an investigational immunohistochemistry assay. Sixty percent of patients had Merkel cell polyomavirus (MCV).

Efficacy results are presented in Table 11. Responses were observed in patients regardless of tumor PD-L1 expression or presence of MCV.

First-Line Maintenance Treatment of Urothelial Carcinoma

The efficacy and safety of BAVENCIO was demonstrated in the JAVELIN Bladder 100 trial (NCT02603432), a randomized, multi-center, open-label study conducted in 700 patients with unresectable, locally advanced or metastatic urothelial carcinoma that did not progress with first-line platinum-containing chemotherapy. Patients with autoimmune disease or a medical condition that required immunosuppression were excluded.

Randomization was stratified by best response to chemotherapy (CR/PR vs. stable disease [SD]) and site of metastasis (visceral vs. non-visceral) at the time of initiating first-line chemotherapy. Patients were randomized (1:1) to receive either BAVENCIO 10 mg/kg intravenous infusion every 2 weeks plus best supportive care (BSC) or BSC alone. Treatment was initiated within 4-10 weeks after the last dose of chemotherapy.

Treatment with BAVENCIO continued until RECIST v1.1-defined progression of disease by Blinded Independent Central Review (BICR) assessment or unacceptable toxicity. Administration of BAVENCIO was permitted beyond RECIST-defined disease progression if the patient was clinically stable and was considered to be deriving clinical benefit by the investigator. Assessment of tumor status was performed at baseline, 8 weeks after randomization, then every 8 weeks up to 12 months after randomization, and every 12 weeks thereafter until documented confirmed disease progression based on BICR assessment per RECIST v1.1.

Baseline characteristics were well-balanced between arms. Overall, the median age was 69 years (range: 32 to 90), with 66% of patients ≥ 65 years of age and 24% of patients ≥ 75 years of age. Most patients were male (77%). The majority of patients were White (67%) and 22% were Asian. Baseline ECOG PS was 0 (61%) or 1 (39%).

Fifty-six percent (56%) of patients received prior gemcitabine plus cisplatin, 38% of patients received prior gemcitabine plus carboplatin, and 6% of patients received prior gemcitabine plus cisplatin and gemcitabine plus carboplatin. Best response to first-line chemotherapy was CR or PR (72%) or SD (28%). Sites of metastasis prior to chemotherapy were visceral (55%) or non-visceral (45%). Fifty-one (51%) of patients had PD-L1-positive-tumors, 39% of patients had PD-L1-negative tumors, and 10% of patients had unknown PD-L1 tumor status. Six percent (6%) of patients received another PD-1/PD-L1 checkpoint inhibitor after discontinuation of treatment in the BAVENCIO plus BSC arm and 44% of patients in the BSC arm.

The major efficacy outcome measure was overall survival (OS) in all randomized patients and patients with PD-L1-positive tumors. The results from a pre-specified interim analysis demonstrated a statistically significant improvement in OS for patients randomized to BAVENCIO plus BSC as compared with BSC alone. An updated OS analysis was conducted when 452 deaths were observed. Consistent results were observed across the pre-specified subgroups of CR/PR versus SD to first-line chemotherapy.

Figure 1: K-M Estimates for Updated OS from the JAVELIN Bladder 100 Trial

In the pre-specified endpoint of OS among patients with PD-L1-positive tumors (n=358, 51%), the hazard ratio was 0.69 (95% CI: 0.52, 0.90) in the updated OS analysis for patients randomized to BAVENCIO plus BSC versus BSC alone. In an exploratory analysis of patients with PD-L1-negative tumors (n=270, 39%), the updated OS hazard ratio was 0.82 (95% CI: 0.62, 1.09).

Previously-treated Urothelial Carcinoma

The efficacy and safety of BAVENCIO was demonstrated in the UC cohorts of the JAVELIN Solid Tumor trial, an open-label, single-arm, multi-center study that included 242 patients with locally advanced or metastatic urothelial carcinoma (UC) with disease progression on or after platinum-containing chemotherapy or who had disease progression within 12 months of treatment with a platinum-containing neoadjuvant or adjuvant chemotherapy regimen. Patients with active or history of central nervous system metastasis; other malignancies within the last 5 years; organ transplant; conditions requiring therapeutic immune suppression; or active infection with HIV, hepatitis B, or hepatitis C were excluded. Patients with autoimmune disease, other than type I diabetes, vitiligo, psoriasis, or thyroid disease that did not require immunosuppressive treatment, were excluded. Patients were included regardless of their PD-L1 status.

Patients received BAVENCIO at a dose of 10 mg/kg intravenously every 2 weeks until radiographic or clinical progression or unacceptable toxicity. Tumor response assessments were performed every 6 weeks. Efficacy outcome measures included confirmed overall response rate (ORR), as assessed by an Independent Endpoint Review Committee (IERC) using Response Evaluation Criteria in Solid Tumors (RECIST) v1.1, and duration of response (DOR). Efficacy was evaluated in patients who were followed for a minimum of both 13 weeks and 6 months at the time of data cut-off.

Baseline demographic and disease characteristics for the 226 patients with a minimum of 13 weeks of follow-up were median age 68 years (range: 30 to 89), 72% male, 80% White, and 34% and 66% of patients had an ECOG performance status 0 and 1, respectively. Forty-four percent of patients had non-bladder urothelial carcinoma including 23% of patients with upper tract disease, and 83% of patients had visceral metastases (baseline target and/or non-target lesions present outside of the lymph nodes). Nine (4%) patients had disease progression following prior platinum-containing neoadjuvant or adjuvant therapy only. Forty-seven percent of patients only received prior cisplatin-based regimens, 32% received only prior carboplatin-based regimens, and 20% received both cisplatin and carboplatin-based regimens. At baseline, 17% of patients had a hemoglobin < 10 g/dL and 34% of patients had liver metastases.

Efficacy results are presented in Table 13. The median time to response was 2.0 months (range: 1.3 to 11.0) among patients followed for either ≥ 13 weeks or ≥ 6 months. Using a clinical trial assay to assess PD-L1 staining, with 16% of patients not evaluable, there were no clear differences in response rates based on PD-L1 tumor expression. Among the total 30 responding patients followed for ≥ 13 weeks, 22 patients (73%) had an ongoing response of 6 months or longer and 4 patients (13%) had ongoing responses of 12 months or longer. Among the total 26 responding patients followed for ≥ 6 months, 22 patients (85%) had ongoing responses of 6 months or longer and 4 patients (15%) had ongoing responses of 12 months or longer.