Tips for searching:
• You have to select a product and type at least 2 words to activate the search
• Use only words that are specific to the information you are looking for
• Avoid typing questions or sentences
Please do not use this field to report adverse events or product complaints. Adverse events and product complaints should be reported. Reporting forms and information can be found at www.mhra.gov.uk/yellowcard or search for MHRA Yellow card in the Google play or Apple app store. Adverse events and product complaints should also be reported to Lilly: please call Lilly UK on 01256 315 000.
Verzenios ® (abemaciclib)
This information is intended for UK registered healthcare professionals only in response to your search for information. For current information for all Lilly products, including Summaries of Product Characteristics, Patient Information Leaflets and Instructions for Use, please visit: www.medicines.org.uk (England, Scotland, Wales) or www.emcmedicines.com/en-GB/northernireland/ (Northern Ireland).
Are there any drug to drug interactions with Verzenios® (abemaciclib)?
Abemaciclib interacts with strong and moderate CYP3A inducers and inhibitors. Please find additional frequently asked questions and answers below.
How is abemaciclib metabolised?
Abemaciclib is metabolized to several metabolites primarily by cytochrome P450 (CYP) 3A in the liver.1
Do strong CYP3A4 inhibitors interact with abemaciclib?
Yes. Co-administration of abemaciclib with CYP3A4 inhibitors can increase plasma concentrations of abemaciclib. In patients with advanced or metastatic cancer, co‑administration of the CYP3A4 inhibitor clarithromycin resulted in a 3.4‑fold increase in the plasma exposure of abemaciclib and a 2.5‑fold increase in the combined unbound potency adjusted plasma exposure of abemaciclib and its active metabolites.2
Examples of strong CYP3A4 inhibitors include, but not limited to:
- clarithromycin
- itraconazole
- ketoconazole (except for topical ketoconazole, because of minimal systemic absorption of topical products)3
- lopinavir/ritonavir
- posaconazole or
- voriconazole2
Avoid the concomitant use of strong CYP3A4 inhibitors, as well as grapefruit, grapefruit juice or other grapefruit products.2
What if strong CYP3A4 cannot be avoided?
If strong CYP3A4 inhibitors cannot be avoided, and depending on what dose the patient is on
- reduce the abemaciclib dose from 150 mg twice daily to 100 mg twice daily, or
- reduce the abemaciclib dose from 100 mg twice daily to 50 mg twice daily, or
continue with an abemaciclib dose of 50 mg twice daily and closely monitor the patient for signs of toxicity.2
If the patient discontinues the CYP3A4 inhibitor, wait for 3 to 5 half-lives of the CYP3A4 inhibitor and increase the abemaciclib dose to the dose used before the CYP3A4 inhibitor was given.2
Do moderate CYP3A4 inhibitors interact with abemaciclib?
Yes, however, no dose adjustment is necessary for patients treated with moderate or weak CYP3A4 inhibitors. Closely monitor patients for signs of toxicity.2
Do strong or moderate CYP3A4 inducers interact with abemaciclib?
Yes. Co-administration of abemaciclib with the strong CYP3A4 inducer rifampicin decreased the plasma concentration of abemaciclib by 95% and unbound potency adjusted plasma concentration of abemaciclib plus its active metabolites by 77% based on AUC0-∞.2
Examples of strong CYP3A4 inducers include, but are not limited to
- carbamazepine
- phenytoin
- rifampicin, or
- St. John’s wort.
Avoid concomitant use of strong CYP3A4 inducers.2
Does loperamide interact with abemaciclib?
The interaction between loperamide and abemaciclib is not considered clinically relevant. Coadministration of a single 8 mg dose of loperamide with a single 400 mg dose of abemaciclib in healthy people increased the relative potency adjusted unbound AUC0-INF of abemaciclib plus its active metabolites by 12%.1
Do endocrine therapies interact with abemaciclib?
A clinical study in patients with breast cancer found no clinically‑relevant pharmacokinetic drug interaction between abemaciclib and anastrozole, fulvestrant, exemestane, letrozole or tamoxifen.1,2
We don’t know if abemaciclib reduces the effectiveness of hormonal contraceptives, and therefore women should add a barrier method for contraception.2
Do acid-reducing agents interact with abemaciclib?
Abemaciclib did not interact with any of the metal ions that are commonly found in antacids, based on an in-vitro study that evaluated the interaction between abemaciclib and metal ions (magnesium, calcium, iron, bismuth, zinc, and aluminum) commonly found in antacids.1
Based on the solubility and metal ion binding characteristics of abemaciclib, acid-reducing agents are not expected to affect the oral absorption of abemaciclib.1
We did not study the interaction between abemaciclib and acid reducing agents, such as histamine H2-receptor agonists blockers or proton pump inhibitors. However, because abemaciclib 200 mg is soluble in solutions up to pH 6.8, coadministration of acid-reducing agents is unlikely to have an effect on the absorption and exposure of abemaciclib.1
Does abemaciclib interact with metformin?
Co-administration of a single 1000 mg dose of metformin with a single 400 mg dose of abemaciclib
- increased metformin AUC0-INF by 37%
- increased metformin Cmax by 22%
- reduced the renal clearance of metformin by 45%, and
- reduced the renal secretion of metformin by 62%.
The interaction had no effect on the glomerular filtration rate, as measured by by iohexol clearance and serum cystatin C.1
Does abemaciclib interact with CYP metabolic pathways?
There were no clinically meaningful changes in the pharmacokinetic (PK) of CYP1A2, CYP2C9, CYP2D6, or CYP3A4 substrates and abemaciclib, based on a phase 1 clinical drug interaction study. Patients with advanced or metastatic cancer received a drug cocktail containing 4 sensitive CYP substrates alone and in combination with abemaciclib.1,4
The drug cocktail included
- 0.2 mg midazolam (CYP3A4)
- 10 mg S-warfarin (CYP2C9)
- 30 mg dextromethorphan (CYP2D6), and
- 100 mg caffeine (CYP1A2).4
The authors observed
- Midazolam AUC0-inf was approximately 13% lower and the Cmax was approximately 15% lower when midazolam was administered in combination with abemaciclib versus when midazolam was administered alone,
- no significant differences in PK between S-warfarin and dextromethorphan when administered in combination with abemaciclib, and
- AUC0-inf of caffeine was 56% higher when caffeine was administered in combination with abemaciclib compared to administration alone.4
Non-compliance with caffeine restriction was evident in the data before and after drug cocktail administration, but given the patient variability for caffeine AUC, the effect observed for caffeine AUC0-INF is not considered clinically relevant4
Does abemaciclib interact with in vitro transporters?
Abemaciclib is a substrate and inhibitor of P-glycoprotein (P-gp) and breast cancer resistance protein (BCRP). The clinical consequences of this finding on sensitive P-gp and BCRP substrates are unknown.1
Abemaciclib and its major active metabolites inhibit the renal transporters OCT2, MATE1, and MATE2-K at concentrations achievable at the approved recommended dosage. The observed serum creatinine increase in clinical studies with abemaciclib is likely due to inhibition of tubular secretion of creatinine via OCT2, MATE1, and MATE2-K. Abemaciclib and its major metabolites at clinically relevant concentrations do not inhibit the hepatic uptake transporters OCT1, organic anion transporter (OAT) P1B1, and OATP1B3, or the renal uptake transporters OAT1 and OAT3.1
In an in vitro study, abemaciclib and its major active metabolites downregulated the messenger RNA (mRNA) of various CYP isoforms (1A2, 2B6, 2C8, 2C9, 2D6, 3A4, and 3A5) and decreased the catalytic activities of CYP1A2, CYP2B6, and CYP3A4 enzymes. The results did not translate into clinically meaningful drug-drug interactions. The lack of clinically meaningful drug-drug interactions suggest further studies are needed to understand the downregulation of CYP isoforms in vitro.4
Abemaciclib and its major active metabolites are not substrates of hepatic uptake transporters OCT1, OATP1B1, or OATP1B3.1
References
1Data on file, Eli Lilly and Company and/or one of its subsidiaries.
2Verzenios [summary of product characteristics]. Eli Lilly Nederland B.V., The Netherlands.
3Lexicomp Online™ Lexi-Drugs: Ketoconazole (topical). In: Lexi-Drugs, Lexicomp Online. Hudson, OH: Lexi-Comp, Inc. Available at: http://online.lexi.com. Updated January 20, 2022. Accessed January 20, 2022.
4Turner PK, Hall SD, Chapman SC, et al. Abemaciclib does not have a clinically meaningful effect on pharmacokinetics of CYP1A2, CYP2C9, CYP2D6, and CYP3A4 substrates in patients with cancer. Drug Metab Dispos. 2020;48(9):796-803. https://doi.org/10.1124/dmd.119.090092
Date of Last Review: 19 January 2022