Skip to main content

Ofev (Nintedanib): First Tyrosine Kinase Inhibitor Approved for the Treatment of Patients with Idiopathic Pulmonary Fibrosis

March 2015, Vol 8, Sixth Annual Payers' Guide - Drug Updates, Payers' Guide
Download PDF

Idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis, a debilitating lung disease, affects approximately 128,100 patients in the United States, with 48,000 new cases diagnosed annually.1 Idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis is defined as a specific form of chronic, progressive fibrosing interstitial pneumonia of unknown cause that occurs primarily in older adults (ie, aged 50-75 years).2 The disease is characterized by progressive worsening of dyspnea (shortness of breath) and lung function, as well as a poor prognosis.2 In fact, the median survival for patients with idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis in the United States is 2.5 to 3.5 years after diagnosis, with the disease claiming an estimated 40,000 lives annually.3

The course and severity of idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis varies from person to person. Symptoms include dyspnea, dry cough, fatigue, unexplained weight loss, and aching muscles and joints.4 An estimated 9 in 10 patients with idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis also have gastroesophageal reflux disease.5 The symptoms of idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis can have a profound impact on an individual’s physical activity, independence, and quality of life.4,6

Complications of idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis include pulmonary hypertension, right-sided heart failure (cor pulmonale), respiratory failure, and lung cancer.4 Acute exacerbations are associated with increased morbidity and mortality rates.6

According to a retrospective 2001-2008 claims database analysis, the total direct medical costs for people with idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis were $26,378 per person annually; furthermore, these costs were $12,124 higher than the costs incurred by age- and sex-­matched control patients.7 During this same period, the all-cause hospital admission rates and the all-cause outpatient visits for patients with idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis were twice that of the control group.7

Patients with idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis may receive oxygen therapy and/or pulmonary rehabilitation. For some patients with severe disease, a lung transplantation may be a last-resort option if other treatment options fail.4

In the past, conventional medications for patients with idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis included glucocorticosteroids (ie, prednisone) or immunosuppressants.8 A 2-drug combination regimen of prednisone and azathioprine or a 3-drug regimen of prednisone, azathioprine, and N-acetylcysteine were used to treat the disease.8 However, based on the findings from the PANTHER-IPF study that was funded by the National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute and published in 2012, treatment with the triple combination of prednisone, azathioprine, and N-acetylcysteine was shown to increase the rate of mortality and hospitalization compared with placebo.8

Until October 2014, no medications were approved by the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for the treatment of patients with idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis.9 Approaches that reduce the decline in forced vital capacity may slow the progression of this devastating disease and improve outcomes for affected patients.10

Nintedanib: A Novel Treatment for Idiopathic Pulmonary Fibrosis

On October 15, 2014, nintedanib (Ofev; Boehringer Ingelheim), a tyrosine kinase inhibitor, received FDA approval for the treatment of patients with idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis, a rare disease. Nintedanib was granted a fast-track, priority review by the FDA and was designated as a breakthrough therapy, based on the substantial improvement it demonstrated over the existing therapies.11 It was also granted an orphan drug designation, for the treatment of a rare disease. Nintedanib, taken as 1 capsule twice daily, is the first and only tyrosine kinase inhibitor that is FDA approved for the treatment of patients with idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis.12,13

According to Mary Parks, MD, Deputy Director of the Office of Drug Evaluation II in the FDA’s Center for Drug Evaluation and Research, “Today’s Ofev approval expands the available treatment options for patients with idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis, a serious, chronic condition. Providing health care professionals and patients with additional treatment options helps enable appropriate care decisions based on a patient’s need.”11

Also on October 15, 2014, the FDA approved pirfenidone (Esbriet; InterMune), a pyridone, for the treatment of patients with idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis.11 Together, nintedanib and pirfenidone are the first 2 therapies to receive FDA approval for this life-threatening disease.

Mechanism of Action

Nintedanib is a small molecule that inhibits multiple receptor tyrosine kinases and nonreceptor tyrosine kinases. Specifically, nintedanib inhibits the platelet-derived growth factor (PDGF) receptor-alpha and -beta, fibroblast growth factor (FGF) receptor 1-3, vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) receptor 1-3, and fms-like tyrosine kinase-3. Of these tyrosine kinase receptors, FGF, PDGF, and VEGF have been implicated in the pathogenesis of idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis.12

Nintedanib binds competitively to the adenosine triphosphate-binding pocket of these receptors and blocks the intracellular signaling, which is crucial for the proliferation, migration, and transformation of fibroblasts, representing essential mechanisms of the idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis pathology.12

Dosing and Administration

Nintedanib is available in 150-mg and 100-mg capsules. The recommended dosage of nintedanib is 150 mg twice daily administered approximately 12 hours apart. Nintedanib capsules should be taken with food and swallowed whole with liquid. Liver function tests should be conducted before starting treatment with nintedanib.12

Nintedanib capsules should not be chewed or crushed because of a bitter taste. The effect of chewing or crushing the drug capsule on the pharmacokinetics of nintedanib is not known.12

If a dose of nintedanib is missed, the next dose should be taken at the next scheduled time. The patient should be advised not to make up for a missed dose. The recommended maximum daily dose of nintedanib should not exceed 300 mg.12

A temporary dose reduction to 100 mg, treatment interruption, or treatment discontinuation may be required to manage the adverse reactions of nintedanib therapy.12

Clinical Trials

The clinical efficacy of nintedanib has been evaluated in 1231 patients in 3 studies, including 1 phase 2 clinical trial and 2 phase 3 trials.6,10,12 All 3 clinical trials were randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled studies that compared the treatment of nintedanib 150 mg twice daily with placebo for 52 weeks. In all 3 studies, patients had to have a diagnosis of idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis for <5 years. Patients were aged ≥40 years and had a forced vital capacity ≥50% of predicted value and a carbon monoxide diffusing capacity of the lung for carbon monoxide (corrected for hemoglobin) that was 30% to 79% of the predicted value.12

The TOMORROW Trial

In the TOMORROW clinical trial, patients (mean age, 65 years) were randomized in a 1:1 ratio to receive nintedanib 150 mg or placebo twice daily for 52 weeks.6 The primary end point was the annual rate of decline in forced vital capacity.6 This study also evaluated several other doses of nintedanib, including 50 mg and 100 mg.6,12

Table 1 shows the primary end point results from the TOMORROW clinical trial. The adjusted annual rate of change in forced vital capacity was –60 mL in the nintedanib group versus –191 mL in the placebo group, representing a difference of 131 mL annually6,12; patients who received nintedanib had a significant reduction (68%) in the annual rate of decline of forced vital capacity compared with patients who received placebo, based on the random coefficient regression model that was adjusted for gender, height, and age.6,12

Table
Table 1

The INPULSIS-1 and INPULSIS-2 Trials

INPULSIS-1 and INPULSIS-2 were 52-week, randomized, double-blind, phase 3 clinical trials in 1066 patients (mean age, 67 years) who were randomized in a 3:2 ratio to receive nintedanib or placebo.10 These 2 studies were identical in design. The primary end point in both studies was the annual rate of decline in forced vital capacity.10,12

The primary end point results from the INPULSIS-1 and INPULSIS-2 studies are shown in Table 2. In both studies, the adjusted annual rate of change in forced vital capacity was significantly lower in patients who received nintedanib than in those who received placebo; a difference of 125 mL annually was demonstrated in the INPULSIS-1 clinical trial, and a difference of 94 mL annually was demonstrated in the INPULSIS-2 clinical trial.10,12

Table
Table 2

Safety

The safety of nintedanib was evaluated in more than 1000 patients with idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis; more than 200 patients were exposed to nintedanib for more than 2 years in the clinical studies. The most common adverse reactions (≥5%) with nintedanib therapy included diarrhea (62%), nausea (24%), abdominal pain (15%), vomiting (12%), liver enzyme elevation (14%), decreased appetite (11%), headache (8%), weight loss (10%), and hypertension (5%).12

Overall, 21% of patients who received nintedanib and 15% of patients who received placebo discontinued treatment because of an adverse event.12 The most frequent adverse reactions leading to the discontinuation of nintedanib were diarrhea (5%), nausea (2%), and decreased appetite (2%).

Nintedanib has no known contraindications.12

Drug Interactions

The coadministration of P-glycoproteins and cytochrome P3A4 inhibitors, including ketoconazole, may increase the exposure to nintedanib. Patients should be monitored closely for tolerability of nintedanib.12

Because nintedanib may increase the risk for bleeding, patients who are receiving full anticoagulation therapy should be monitored closely for bleeding, and anticoagulation treatment should be adjusted as necessary.12

Warnings and Precautions

Elevated liver enzymes. Nintedanib therapy is associated with elevated levels of liver enzymes, including alanine transaminase (ALT), aspartate transaminase (AST), and bilirubin. Liver function tests should be conducted before starting treatment with nintedanib. ALT, AST, and bilirubin levels should be monitored before and during treatment; temporary dosage reductions or discontinuation of nintedanib therapy may be required.12

Gastrointestinal disorders. Diarrhea, nausea, and vomiting have occurred with nintedanib. At first signs of these gastrointestinal symptoms, patients should receive adequate hydration and antidiarrheal medicine (eg, loperamide) or antiemetics. Nintedanib therapy should be discontinued if severe diarrhea, nausea, or vomiting persists despite symptomatic treatment.12

Embryofetal toxicity. Nintedanib can cause fetal harm when administered to a pregnant woman. Women of childbearing potential should be advised of the potential hazard of nintedanib to the fetus; they should also be advised to avoid becoming pregnant while receiving nintedanib, and to use adequate contraception during treatment and at least 3 months after the last dose of nintedanib.12

Arterial thromboembolic events. Arterial thromboembolic events have been reported in patients who received nintedanib therapy. Caution should be used when treating patients with nintedanib who are at a higher risk for cardiovascular events, including known coronary artery disease.12

Bleeding risk. Bleeding events have been reported with nintedanib. In patients with known bleeding risk, nintedanib should only be used if the anticipated benefit outweighs the potential risk.12

Gastrointestinal perforation. Gastrointestinal perforation has been reported with nintedanib. Nintedanib should be used with caution in patients who recently underwent abdominal surgery. In patients with a known risk for gastrointestinal perforation, nintedanib should only be used if the anticipated benefit outweighs the potential risk.12

Use in Specific Populations

Pregnancy. Nintedanib is listed as pregnancy category D. Because nintedanib can cause harm to the fetus, women of childbearing potential should be advised to avoid becoming pregnant while receiving treatment with nintedanib.

Nursing mothers. The excretion of nintedanib and/or its metabolites into human milk is probable. Because of the potential for serious adverse reactions in nursing infants from nintedanib, a decision should be made whether to discontinue nursing or to discontinue nintedanib, taking into account the importance of the drug to the mother.12

Geriatric use. No overall differences in the safety of nintedanib were observed between individuals aged ≥65 years or individuals aged ≥75 years and younger individuals, but greater sensitivity of some older individuals cannot be ruled out.12

Pediatric use. The safety and efficacy of nintedanib in pediatric patients have not been established.12

Hepatic impairment. Patients should be monitored for adverse reactions with nintedanib therapy; a dose modification or discontinuation of nintedanib should be considered for patients with mild hepatic impairment. Nintedanib is not recommended for use in patients with moderate or severe hepatic impairment.12

Renal impairment. The safety and efficacy of nintedanib have not been studied in patients with severe renal impairment and with end-stage renal disease.12

Smokers. Smoking was associated with decreased exposure to nintedanib, which may alter the efficacy profile of nintedanib. Patients should be encouraged to stop smoking before starting treatment with nintedanib and to avoid smoking during treatment with nintedanib.12

Conclusion

The FDA approval of nintedanib welcomes the availability of a much needed treatment option for patients with idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis, a serious, progressive disease with a high mortality rate. Nintedanib is 1 of the first 2 agents to receive FDA approval specifically for patients with idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis.

Treatment with nintedanib, a tyrosine kinase inhibitor that blocks pathways thought to be involved in the scarring of lung tissue, demonstrated a significant reduction in the adjusted annual rate of decline of forced vital capacity in patients with idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis compared with placebo. This beneficial treatment effect of nintedanib on forced vital capacity was consistent across 3 clinical trials.

References

1. Coalition for Pulmonary Fibrosis. Facts about idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis. Updated March 10, 2015. www.coalitionforpf.org/facts-about-idiopathic-pulmonary-fibrosis/. Accessed March 13, 2015.
2. Raghu G, Collard HR, Egan JJ, et al; for the ATS/ERS/JRS/ALAT Committee on Idiopathic Pulmonary Fibrosis. An official ATS/ERS/JRS/ALAT statement: idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis: evidence-based guidelines for diagnosis and management. Am J Respir Crit Care Med. 2011;183:788-824.
3. Blackwell TS, Tager AM, Anstrom KJ, et al; for the NHLBI Workshop participants. Strategic planning for idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis research: NHLBI Workshop executive summary—November 27-28, 2012. www.nhlbi.nih.­gov/­research/reports/strategic-planning-idiopathic-pulmonary-fibrosis-research. Accessed February 12, 2015.
4. Mayo Clinic staff. Diseases and conditions: pulmonary fibrosis. March 18, 2014. www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/pulmonary-fibrosis/basics/definition/­con-20029091. Accessed February 15, 2015.
5. National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute. What causes idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis? September 20, 2011. www.nhlbi.nih.gov/health/health-topics/topics/ipf/causes#. Accessed February 12, 2015.
6. Richeldi L, Costabel U, Selman M, et al. Efficacy of a tyrosine kinase inhibitor in idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis. N Engl J Med. 2011;365:1079-1087.
7. Collard HR, Ward AJ, Lanes S, et al. Burden of illness in idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis. J Med Econ. 2012;15:829-835.
8. Idiopathic Pulmonary Fibrosis Clinical Research Network. Prednisone, azathioprine, and N-acetylcysteine for pulmonary fibrosis. N Engl J Med. 2012;­366:­1968-1977.
9. Chowdhury BA. Two FDA drug approvals for idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF). FDA Voice. October 15, 2014. http://blogs.fda.gov/fdavoice/index.php/­2014/10/two-fda-drug-approvals-for-idiopathic-pulmonary-fibrosis-ipf/. Accessed February 18, 2015.
10. Richeldi L, du Bois RM, Raghu G, et al; for the INPULSIS Trial Investigators. Efficacy and safety of nintedanib in idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis. N Engl J Med. 2014;370:2071-2082.
11. US Food and Drug Administration. FDA approves Ofev to treat idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis. Press release. October 15, 2014. www.fda.gov/NewsEvents/Newsroom/PressAnnouncements/ucm418994.htm. Accessed February 12, 2015.
12. Ofev (nintedanib) capsules [prescribing information]. Ridgefield, CT: Boehringer Ingelheim Pharmaceuticals, Inc; October 2014.
13. Boehringer Ingelheim. Boehringer Ingelheim’s Ofev™ (nintedanib) approved by the FDA for the treatment of idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis. Press release. October 16, 2014. www.boehringer-ingelheim.com/news/news_releases/­press_releases/2014/16_october_2014.html. Accessed February 15, 2015.

Related Items
Xtandi Now Approved for Metastatic Castration-Sensitive Prostate Cancer
February 2020 Vol 13, Special Issue: Payers' Perspectives in Oncology published on February 25, 2020 in Drug Updates, FDA Approvals, Prostate Cancer
Keytruda Indicated for BCG-Unresponsive High-Risk, Non–Muscle Invasive Bladder Cancer
February 2020 Vol 13, Special Issue: Payers' Perspectives in Oncology published on February 25, 2020 in Drug Updates, FDA Approvals
Ayvakit First Targeted Therapy Approved for Gastrointestinal Stromal Tumors with PDGFRA Mutation
February 2020 Vol 13, Special Issue: Payers' Perspectives in Oncology published on February 25, 2020 in Drug Updates, FDA Approvals
Enhertu, a Dual-Targeted Therapy, Approved for Metastatic HER2-Positive Breast Cancer
February 2020 Vol 13, Special Issue: Payers' Perspectives in Oncology published on February 25, 2020 in Breast Cancer, Drug Updates, FDA Approvals
Padcev, a Novel Targeted Therapy, FDA Approved for Advanced or Metastatic Urothelial Cancer
February 2020 Vol 13, Special Issue: Payers' Perspectives in Oncology published on February 25, 2020 in Drug Updates, FDA Approvals
Last modified: August 30, 2021