Drug Formulary information is intended for use by healthcare professionals. It is not intended to be medical advice. Some of the information, including information about funding for cancer drugs, does not apply to all patients. Cancer treatment plans are unique to each patient. If you are a patient, please speak with your healthcare team to understand how this information applies to you.
apalutamide
Apalutamide is a nonsteroidal androgen receptor (AR) inhibitor that binds directly to the AR ligand-binding domain to inhibit nuclear translocation, DNA binding, and AR-mediated transcription. In mouse xenograft models of prostate cancer, apalutamide administration caused decreased tumour cell proliferation and increased apoptosis leading to decreased tumour volume.
| Bioavailability |
100%. Apalutamide is completely absorbed after oral administration. Median tmax is 2 hours. |
| Effects with food |
Food administration has no significant effect on apalutamide exposure, however the median time to reach tmax was delayed approximately 2 hours with food. |
| Time to reach steady state |
4 weeks; accumulates approximately 5x relative to a single dose. |
| Cross blood brain barrier? |
Apalutamide and N-desmethyl apalutamide (active metabolite) have been observed to cross the blood brain barrier in animal studies. |
| PPB |
96% Apalutamide; 95% N-desmethyl apalutamide |
Apalutamide is primarily metabolized by CYP2C8 and CYP3A4.
| Active metabolites |
Yes. 44% N-desmethyl apalutamide |
| Inactive metabolites |
Yes |
| Urine |
65%; 1% as apalutamide and 3% as N-desmethyl apalutamide |
| Feces |
24%; 2% as apalutamide and 2% as N-desmethyl apalutamide |
| Half-life |
~ 3 days |
- Prostate cancer
Refer to the product monograph for a full list and details of approved indications.
Emetogenic Potential:
The following adverse effects were reported in ≥ 10% of patients with non-metastatic castration resistant prostate cancer (nmCRPC) in the phase III trial comparing apalutamide with androgen deprivation therapy (ADT) to placebo with ADT, where incidence was at least 2% or more compared to placebo. Severe adverse effects from other studies or post-marketing may also be included.
| ORGAN SITE | SIDE EFFECT* (%) | ONSET** | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Cardiovascular | Arterial thromboembolism (4%) | E | |||
| Cardiotoxicity (2%) | E | ||||
| Hypertension (25%) (14% severe) | E | ||||
| QT interval prolonged (rare) | E | ||||
| Dermatological | Rash, pruritus (25%) (5% severe) | D | |||
| Stevens-Johnson syndrome (rare) | E | ||||
| Toxic epidermal necrolysis (rare) | E | ||||
| Gastrointestinal | Anorexia, weight loss (16%) | E | |||
| Diarrhea (20%) | E | ||||
| Nausea (18%) | E | ||||
| General | Edema (11%) | E | |||
| Fall (16%) | E D | ||||
| Fatigue (39%) | E | ||||
| Hematological | Anemia (<1%) (severe) | E D | |||
| Myelosuppression (2%) (severe) | E | ||||
| Hypersensitivity | DRESS syndrome (%) | E | |||
| Metabolic / Endocrine | ↑ Cholesterol (6%) (or triglycerides) | E | |||
| Hyperglycemia (2%) (severe; non-fasting) | E | ||||
| Hypothyroidism (8%) | E D | ||||
| ↑ K (2%) (severe) | E | ||||
| Musculoskeletal | Arthralgia (16%) | E | |||
| Fracture (12%) | D | ||||
| Nervous System | Seizure (<1%) | E | |||
| Syncope (2%) | E | ||||
| Reproductive and breast disorders | Androgen deprivation symptoms (14%) | E | |||
| Respiratory | Interstitial lung disease (rare) | E | |||
* "Incidence" may refer to an absolute value or the higher value from a reported range.
"Rare"
may refer to events with < 1% incidence, reported in post-marketing, phase 1 studies,
isolated data or anecdotal
reports.
** I = immediate (onset in hours to days)
E = early (days to weeks)
D = delayed (weeks to months)
L = late (months to years)
The most common side effects for apalutamide include fatigue, hypertension, rash, pruritus, diarrhea, nausea, anorexia, weight loss, arthralgia, fall, androgen deprivation symptoms and fracture.
Rash (usually macular or maculopapular) onset typically occurred at a median of 83 days with resolution within a median of 78 days in most patients. Rash was commonly managed with oral antihistamines and topical corticosteroids, though some patients required systemic corticosteroids. Rash recurred in approximately half of patients who were re-challenged with apalutamide.
Grade 1 or 2 hypothyroidism has been reported with apalutamide. Thyroid replacement therapy should be initiated or adjusted as clinically indicated as apalutamide may induce UDP-glucuronosyl transferase (UGT).
Fall and fractures, which were not associated with loss of consciousness or seizure, have been observed in patients receiving apalutamide. The median time to onset of fracture was approximately 10 months (range: 20 to 953 days). 40-50% of patients experienced a fall within 7 days before the fracture event. Most of the severe fractures occurred in the weight bearing bones.
Seizures were observed in patients receiving apalutamide, with a reported onset of 159 to 650 days after treatment initiation and may be related to off target effects on GABAA gated channels. It is unknown whether anti-epileptic medications will prevent apalutamide-associated seizures.
Refer to protocol by which patient is being treated.
Patients should also receive a gonadotropin-releasing hormone (GnRH) analog concurrently or should have had a bilateral orchiectomy.
Patients should be assessed for the risk of fracture and fall and managed according to guidelines with consideration given to the use of bone-targeted agents.
Patients with a cardiac or stroke history should be assessed before starting treatment. Manage patients optimally for risk factors such as hypertension, diabetes, or dyslipidemia.
| Dose Level | Apalutamide Dose (mg/day) |
| 0 | 240 |
| -1 | 180 |
| -2 | 120 |
| -3 | Discontinue |
| Toxicity | Action |
| Intolerable or ≥ Grade 3 |
Hold until recovery to ≤ grade 1, resume at the same dose or at ↓ 1 dose level. |
|
Seizure |
Discontinue. |
| Stevens-Johnson syndrome, Toxic epidermal necrolysis, or DRESS | Discontinue. |
| Hepatic Impairment at baseline | Action |
| Mild or moderate (Child-Pugh A or B) | No adjustment required |
| Severe (Child-Pugh C) | No data |
| Renal Impairment | Action |
| Mild to moderate (CrCL ≥ 30 mL/min) | No adjustment required |
| Severe (CrCL ≤ 29 mL/min) | No data |
No dose adjustment is necessary for elderly patients. Patients ≥ 75 years treated with apalutamide experienced higher incidence of grade 3 or 4 adverse events and lower tolerance. Monitor elderly patients more closely for toxicity and adjust dose when needed.
No dose adjustments are necessary. There is no clinically relevant difference in exposure between White (Caucasian or Hispanic or Latino), Black (of African heritage or African American), Asian (non-Japanese), or Japanese patients. In clinical studies, the incidence of rash was more than 2-fold higher in the Japanese population compared with the entire study population.
Safety and effectiveness of apalutamide in pediatric patients have not been evaluated.
-
Tablets should be swallowed whole with a glass of water.
-
Tablets can be taken with or without food.
-
Take the dose at around the same time each day.
-
A missed dose should be taken as soon as possible on the same day with a return to the normal schedule on the following day. The patient should not take extra tablets to make up the missed dose.
- For patients who have difficulty swallowing 60 mg tablets, the dose may be mixed in applesauce. Refer to product monograph for the most up-to-date instructions.
- Mix whole 60 mg tablets in 120 mL of applesauce by stirring. Do not crush the tablets.
- Wait 15 minutes, then stir the applesauce.
- Wait another 15 minutes, then stir the applesauce until the tablets are well mixed with no chunks remaining.
- Using a spoon, swallow the mixture right away.
- Rinse the mixture container with 60 mL of water and drink this immediately.
- Repeat the rinsing with another 60 mL of water, then drink this to ensure the entire dose is taken.
- The mixture should be taken within 1 hour of preparation.
- For patients who have difficulty swallowing 240 mg tablets, the dose may be dispersed in non-fizzy water, then mixed with non-fizzy beverages or soft foods. Refer to product monograph for the most up-to-date instructions.
- Place whole 240 mg tablet in a cup. Do not crush or split the tablet.
- Add about 10 mL of non-fizzy water. Wait 2 minutes for the tablet to disperse, then stir the mixture.
- Add 30 mL of the following non-fizzy beverages or soft foods: orange juice, green tea, applesauce, or drinkable yogurt), then stir the mixture.
- The mixture should be swallowed immediately.
- Rinse the cup with enough water, then drink it immediately, to make sure the whole dose is taken.
- For nasogastric (NG) tube administration (8 French or greater), the 240 mg tablet may be dispersed in 10 mL of non-carbonated water (in at least a 20 mL syringe). Wait 10 minutes and shake vigorously to disperse the tablet; then administer immediately through the NG tube. Flush the NG tube with non-carbonated water until no dispersed tablet is remaining in the syringe or the NG tube.
-
Store tablets at 15°C to 30°C, in the original package to protect from light and moisture.
-
If tablets are provided in a bottle, do not remove the silica gel desiccant from the bottle.
-
Patients who are hypersensitive to this drug or to any ingredient in the formulation, including any non-medicinal ingredient, or component of the container.
-
Women who are or may become pregnant
Other Warnings/Precautions:
Exercise caution in patients with:
-
Cardiac disorders. Patients with clinically significant cardiovascular disease in the past 6 months including severe/unstable angina, myocardial infarction, symptomatic congestive heart failure, arterial or venous thromboembolic events or clinically significant ventricular arrhythmias were excluded from clinically trials.
-
Seizures. Patients with a history of seizures or predisposing factors for seizures were excluded from clinical studies; patients on medications known to lower seizure threshold were prohibited while receiving apalutamide.
-
QT prolongation, risk factors for Torsade de pointes or on medications known to prolong QTc.
- nmCRPC at low risk of developing metastases. Apalutamide has not been studied in these patients and the benefit and risk profile is unknown.
Other Drug Properties:
-
Carcinogenicity:
Unknown
-
Abortifacient effects:
Probable
-
Genotoxicity:
No
-
Embryotoxicity:
Likely
-
Apalutamide is not indicated for use in females. It may cause harm to a developing fetus or lead to loss of pregnancy. Adequate contraception should be used by patients and their partners who can become pregnant during treatment, and for at least 3 months after the last dose.
-
Patients who produce sperm should use a condom and not donate sperm during treatment, and for 3 months after the last dose.
-
-
Breastfeeding:
Unknown
- Apalutamide is not indicated for use in females. There are no data on the presence of apalutamide or its metabolites in human milk.
-
Fertility effects:
Documented in animals
-
In vitro studies showed that apalutamide and N-desmethyl apalutamide are moderate to strong CYP2B6 inducers, and moderate inhibitors of CYP2B6.
-
Apalutamide did not cause clinically significant changes in exposure to the CYP2C8 substrate.
-
Based on in vitro data, inhibition of organic cation transporter 2 (OCT2), organic anion transporter 3 (OAT3) and multidrug and toxin extrusions (MATEs) by apalutamide and its N-desmethyl apalutamide cannot be excluded.
-
GABA inhibition is an off-target activity of both apalutamide and N-desmethyl apalutamide. This interaction is considered the mechanism for the seizures/convulsions observed in general toxicology studies at high doses in animals.
-
Acid lowering agents (e.g., proton pump inhibitor, H2-receptor antagonist, antacid) are not expected to affect the solubility and bioavailability of apalutamide.
| AGENT | EFFECT | MECHANISM | MANAGEMENT |
|---|---|---|---|
| CYP 2C8 strong inhibitors (i.e. gemfibrozil) | ↑ apalutamide concentration | ↓ metabolism of apalutamide | Caution; consider dose adjustment for apalutamide based on tolerability. |
| CYP 3A4 strong inhibitors (i.e. itraconazole, clarithromycin, ritonavir, nelfinavir, etc.) | ↑ apalutamide concentration | ↓ metabolism of apalutamide | Caution; consider dose adjustment for apalutamide based on tolerability. |
| CYP 3A4 strong inducers (i.e. phenytoin, rifampin, carbamazepine, phenobarbital, St. John’s Wort, etc.) | ↓ apalutamide concentration | ↑ metabolism of apalutamide | Caution, no adjustment needed. |
| CYP3A4 substrates (e.g. cyclosporine, pimozide, tacrolimus, triazolo-benzodiazepines, dihydropyridine calcium-channel blockers, certain HMG-CoA reductase inhibitors) | ↓ substrate concentration and/or efficacy | ↑ metabolism of substrate (apalutamide is a strong inducer of CYP 3A4) | Avoid or substitute if possible. Evaluate for loss of efficacy if medication is continued. |
| CYP 2C19 substrates (e.g. omeprazole) | ↓ substrate concentration and/or efficacy | ↑ metabolism of substrate (apalutamide is a strong inducer of CYP 2C19) | Avoid or substitute if possible. Evaluate for loss of efficacy if medication is continued. |
| CYP 2C9 substrates (e.g. warfarin, meloxicam, fluvastatin) | ↓ substrate concentration and/or efficacy | ↑ metabolism of substrate (apalutamide is a weak inducer of CYP 2C9) | Avoid or substitute if possible. Evaluate for loss of efficacy (e.g. INR) if medication is continued. |
| P-glycoprotein substrates (i.e. verapamil, digoxin, fexofenadine) | ↓ substrate concentration and/or efficacy | ↑ metabolism of substrate (apalutamide is a weak inducer of Pgp) | Caution; evaluate for loss of efficacy if medication is continued. |
| BCRP substrates (i.e. topotecan) | ↓ substrate concentration and/or efficacy | ↑ metabolism of substrate (apalutamide is a weak inducer of BCRP) | Caution; evaluate for loss of efficacy if medication is continued. |
| OATP1B1 substrates (i.e. rosuvastatin) | ↓ substrate concentration and/or efficacy | ↑ metabolism of substrate (apalutamide is a weak inducer of OATP1B1) | Caution; evaluate for loss of efficacy if medication is continued. |
| UGT substrates (i.e. estradiol, irinotecan, levothyroxine, thyroxine) | ↓ substrate concentration and/or efficacy | ↑ metabolism of substrate | Caution; evaluate for loss of efficacy if medication is continued. |
| Drugs that may prolong QT (i.e. amiodarone, procainamide, sotalol, venlafaxine, amitriptyline, sunitinib, methadone, chloroquine, clarithromycin, haloperidol, fluconazole, moxifloxacin, domperidone, ondansetron, etc.) | ↑ risk of QT prolongation and arrhythmias | Additive | Caution. |
Treating physicians may decide to monitor more or less frequently for individual patients but should always consider recommendations from the product monograph.
| Monitor Type | Monitor Frequency |
|---|---|
TSH |
Baseline and as clinically indicated |
ECG |
Baseline and as clinically indicated; more frequent in patients at risk of QTc increase or taking medications known to prolong QT interval |
INR |
If warfarin cannot be discontinued; baseline and during apalutamide treatment |
PSA and radiographic disease progression |
Baseline and as clinically indicated |
Clinical toxicity assessment for androgen deprivation symptoms, hypertension, fatigue, infection, seizure, cardiac, stroke, gastrointestinal, respiratory or dermatologic effects, and risk of fracture and falls |
At each visit |
Grade toxicity using the current NCI-CTCAE (Common Terminology Criteria for Adverse Events) version
| Monitor Type | Monitor Frequency |
|---|---|
| Cholesterol and triglycerides | As clinically indicated |
Blood glucose |
As clinically indicated |
Exceptional Access Program (EAP Website)
- apalutamide - For the treatment of non-metastatic castration resistant prostate cancer (nmCRPC) according to clinical criteria
- apalutamide - For the treatment of metastatic castration sensitive prostate cancer (mCSPC), according to clinical criteria
Prescribing Information: Erleada® (apalutamide). Janssen Ortho LLC. November 2020.
Product Monograph: Erleada® (apalutamide). Janssen Inc. July 2023.
Smith MR, Saad F, Chowdhury S, et al. Apalutamide Treatment and Metastasis-free Survival in Prostate Cancer. N Engl J Med 2018;378:1408-18.
March 2024 Updated Administration guidelines section
Refer to the New Drug Funding Program or Ontario Public Drug Programs websites for the most up-to-date public funding information.
The information set out in the drug monographs, regimen monographs, appendices and symptom management information (for health professionals) contained in the Drug Formulary (the "Formulary") is intended for healthcare providers and is to be used for informational purposes only. The information is not intended to cover all possible uses, directions, precautions, drug interactions or adverse effects of a particular drug, nor should it be construed to indicate that use of a particular drug is safe, appropriate or effective for a given condition. The information in the Formulary is not intended to constitute or be a substitute for medical advice and should not be relied upon in any such regard. All uses of the Formulary are subject to clinical judgment and actual prescribing patterns may not follow the information provided in the Formulary.
The format and content of the drug monographs, regimen monographs, appendices and symptom management information contained in the Formulary will change as they are reviewed and revised on a periodic basis. The date of last revision will be visible on each page of the monograph and regimen. Since standards of usage are constantly evolving, it is advised that the Formulary not be used as the sole source of information. It is strongly recommended that original references or product monograph be consulted prior to using a chemotherapy regimen for the first time.
Some Formulary documents, such as the medication information sheets, regimen information sheets and symptom management information (for patients), are intended for patients. Patients should always consult with their healthcare provider if they have questions regarding any information set out in the Formulary documents.
While care has been taken in the preparation of the information contained in the Formulary, such information is provided on an “as-is” basis, without any representation, warranty, or condition, whether express, or implied, statutory or otherwise, as to the information’s quality, accuracy, currency, completeness, or reliability.
CCO and the Formulary’s content providers shall have no liability, whether direct, indirect, consequential, contingent, special, or incidental, related to or arising from the information in the Formulary or its use thereof, whether based on breach of contract or tort (including negligence), and even if advised of the possibility thereof. Anyone using the information in the Formulary does so at his or her own risk, and by using such information, agrees to indemnify CCO and its content providers from any and all liability, loss, damages, costs and expenses (including legal fees and expenses) arising from such person’s use of the information in the Formulary.