ojjaara

Important safety information

Risk of Infections: Do not initiate OJJAARA in patients with an active infection. Monitor for signs and symptoms of infection, including reactivation of hepatitis B, and initiate appropriate treatment promptly. ( 5.1 ) • Thrombocytopenia and Neutropenia: Manage by dose reduction or interruption. ( 5.2 ) • Hepatotoxicity: Obtain liver tests before initiation of and periodically throughout treatment with OJJAARA. ( 5.3 ) • Severe Cutaneous Adverse Reactions (SCARs): Monitor for signs and symptoms, and interrupt OJJAARA until etiology of reaction has been determined. ( 5.4 ) • Major Adverse Cardiovascular Events (MACE): Monitor for symptoms, evaluate and treat promptly. ( 5.5 ) • Thrombosis: Evaluate and treat symptoms of thrombosis promptly. ( 5.6 ) • Malignancies: Monitor for development of secondary malignancies, particularly in current or past smokers. ( 5.7 ) • Symptom Exacerbation Following Interruption or Discontinuation of Treatment: Manage with supportive care and consider restarting OJJAARA. ( 5.8 ) 5.1 Risk of Infections Serious (including fatal) infections (e.g., bacterial and viral, including COVID‑19) occurred in 13% of patients treated with OJJAARA. Infections regardless of grade occurred in 38% of patients treated with OJJAARA [see Adverse Reactions ( 6.1 )] . Delay starting therapy with OJJAARA until active infections have resolved. Monitor patients receiving OJJAARA for signs and symptoms of infection and initiate appropriate treatment promptly. Hepatitis B Reactivation Hepatitis B viral load (HBV‑DNA titer) increases, with or without associated elevations in alanine transaminase (ALT) or aspartate transaminase (AST), have been reported in patients with chronic hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection taking Janus Kinase (JAK) inhibitors, including OJJAARA. The effect of OJJAARA on viral replication in patients with chronic HBV infection is unknown. In patients with HBV infections, check hepatitis B serologies prior to starting OJJAARA. If HBsAg and/or anti‑HBc antibody is positive, consider consultation with a hepatologist regarding monitoring for reactivation versus prophylactic hepatitis B therapy. Patients with chronic HBV infection who receive OJJAARA should have their chronic HBV infection treated and monitored according to clinical HBV guidelines. 5.2 Thrombocytopenia and Neutropenia OJJAARA can cause thrombocytopenia and neutropenia [see Adverse Reactions ( 6.1 )] . New or worsening thrombocytopenia, with platelet count less than 50 × 10 9 /L, was observed in 20% of patients treated with OJJAARA. Eight percent of patients treated with OJJAARA had baseline platelet counts less than 50 × 10 9 /L. Severe neutropenia, absolute neutrophil count (ANC) less than 0.5 × 10 9 /L, was observed in 2% of patients treated with OJJAARA. Assess CBCs, including platelet and neutrophil counts, before initiating treatment and periodically during treatment as clinically indicated. Interrupt dosing or reduce the dose for thrombocytopenia or neutropenia [see Dosage and Administration ( 2.4 )] . 5.3 Hepatotoxicity Two of the 993 patients with MF who received at least one dose of OJJAARA in clinical trials experienced reversible drug‑induced liver injury. Overall, new or worsening elevations of ALT and AST (all grades) occurred in 23% and 24%, respectively, of patients treated with OJJAARA; Grade 3 and 4 transaminase elevations occurred in 1% and 0.5% of patients, respectively. New or worsening elevations of total bilirubin occurred in 16% of patients treated with OJJAARA. All total bilirubin elevations were Grades 1‑2. The median time to onset of any grade transaminase elevation was 2 months, with 75% of cases occurring within 4 months. Delay starting therapy in patients presenting with uncontrolled acute and chronic liver disease until apparent causes have been investigated and treated as clinically indicated. When initiating OJJAARA, refer to dosing in patients with hepatic impairment [see Dosage and Administration ( 2.3 )] . Monitor liver tests at baseline, every month for 6 months during treatment, then periodically as clinically indicated. If increases in ALT, AST or bilirubin related to treatment are suspected, modify OJJAARA dosage based upon Table 1 [see Dosage and Administration ( 2.4 )] . 5.4 Severe Cutaneous Adverse Reactions (SCARs) Severe cutaneous adverse reactions, including toxic epidermal necrolysis (TEN), have been observed in some patients treated with OJJAARA. If signs or symptoms of severe cutaneous reactions occur, interrupt OJJAARA until the etiology of the reaction has been determined. Consider early consultation with a dermatologist for evaluation and management. If etiology is considered to be associated with OJJAARA, permanently discontinue and do not reintroduce OJJAARA in patients who have experienced SCARs or other life‑threatening cutaneous reactions during OJJAARA treatment. 5.5 Major Adverse Cardiovascular Events (MACE) Another JAK inhibitor increased the risk of MACE, including cardiovascular death, myocardial infarction, and stroke [compared with those treated with tumor necrosis factor (TNF) blockers] in patients with rheumatoid arthritis, a condition for which OJJAARA is not indicated. Consider the benefits and risks for the individual patient prior to initiating or continuing therapy with OJJAARA, particularly in patients who are current or past smokers and patients with other cardiovascular risk factors. Inform patients receiving OJJAARA of the symptoms of serious cardiovascular events and the steps to take if they occur. 5.6 Thrombosis Another JAK inhibitor increased the risk of thrombosis, including deep venous thrombosis, pulmonary embolism, and arterial thrombosis (compared with those treated with TNF blockers) in patients with rheumatoid arthritis, a condition for which OJJAARA is not indicated. Evaluate patients with symptoms of thrombosis and treat appropriately. 5.7 Malignancies Another JAK inhibitor increased the risk of lymphoma and other malignancies excluding nonmelanoma skin cancer (NMSC) (compared with those treated with TNF blockers) in patients with rheumatoid arthritis, a condition for which OJJAARA is not indicated. Current or past smokers were at increased risk. Consider the benefits and risks for the individual patient prior to initiating or continuing therapy with OJJAARA, particularly in patients with a known malignancy (other than a successfully treated NMSC), patients who develop a malignancy, and patients who are current or past smokers. 5.8 Symptom Exacerbation Following Interruption or Discontinuation of Treatment Following discontinuation of JAK inhibitors, including OJJAARA, signs and symptoms from myeloproliferative neoplasms may flare. Some patients with MF have experienced one or more of the following after discontinuing JAK inhibitors: fever, respiratory distress, hypotension, disseminated intravascular coagulation, or multi ‑ organ failure. If one or more of these signs and symptoms occur after discontinuation of OJJAARA, evaluate for and treat any intercurrent illness and consider restarting OJJAARA. Instruct patients not to interrupt or discontinue therapy without consulting their healthcare provider. When discontinuing or interrupting therapy for reasons other than potentially life-threatening toxicities, consider tapering the dose of OJJAARA gradually rather than discontinuing abruptly.