Imbruvica 140 mg hard capsules

Package Leaflet: Information for the User

Introduction

Package leaflet: information for the patient

IMBRUVICA 140 mg hard capsules

ibrutinib

Read the entire leaflet carefully before you start taking this medicine, because it contains important information for you.

• Keep this leaflet, as you may need to read it again.

• If you have any questions, ask your doctor, pharmacist, or nurse.

• This medicine has been prescribed for you only, and you should not give it to other people, even if they have the same symptoms as you, because it may harm them.

• If you experience any adverse effects, consult your doctor, pharmacist, or nurse, even if they are possible adverse effects not listed in this leaflet. See section 4.

Leaflet Contents

1. What IMBRUVICA is and what it is used for

2. What you need to know before taking IMBRUVICA

3. How to take IMBRUVICA

4. Possible side effects

5. How to store IMBRUVICA

6. Contents of the pack and other information

1. What IMBRUVICA is and what it is used for

What IMBRUVICA is

IMBRUVICA is an anticancer medicine that contains the active substance ibrutinib, which belongs to a class of medicines called protein kinase inhibitors.

What IMBRUVICA is used for

It is used in adults for the treatment of the following blood cancers:

• Mantle Cell Lymphoma (MCL), a type of cancer affecting the lymph nodes, when the disease has relapsed or has not responded to treatment.

• Chronic Lymphocytic Leukemia (CLL), a type of cancer affecting white blood cells called lymphocytes, which also affects the lymph nodes. IMBRUVICA is used in patients with CLL who have not been previously treated or when the disease has relapsed or has not responded to treatment.

• Waldenström's Macroglobulinemia (WM), a type of cancer affecting white blood cells called lymphocytes. It is used in patients with WM who have not been previously treated or when the disease has relapsed or has not responded to treatment, or in patients for whom chemotherapy combined with an antibody is not an appropriate treatment.

How IMBRUVICA works

In MCL, CLL and WM, IMBRUVICA works by blocking Bruton's tyrosine kinase, a protein in the body that helps cancer cells grow and survive. By blocking this protein, IMBRUVICA helps destroy and reduce the number of cancer cells. It may also slow down the progression of the cancer.

2. What you need to know before starting to take IMBRUVICA

Do not take IMBRUVICA

• if you are allergic to ibrutinib or to any of the other ingredients of this medicine (listed in section 6)
• if you are taking a herbal medicine called St. John’s wort (Hypericum perforatum), used for depression. If you are unsure about this, consult your doctor, pharmacist, or nurse before taking this medicine.

Warnings and precautions

Talk to your doctor, pharmacist, or nurse before starting IMBRUVICA:

• if you have ever had unusual bruising or bleeding, or if you are taking any medicines or supplements that increase your risk of bleeding (see section “Use of IMBRUVICA with other medicines”)

• if you have ever had irregular heartbeats, have a history of irregular heartbeats or severe heart failure, or if you experience any of the following: shortness of breath, weakness, dizziness, lightheadedness, fainting or near-fainting, chest pain, or swollen legs

• if you have liver or kidney problems

• if you have high blood pressure

• if you have recently undergone surgery, especially if it may have affected the absorption of food or medicines in the stomach or intestine

• if you are scheduled for surgery, your doctor may ask you to stop taking IMBRUVICA for a short period (3 to 7 days) before and after the procedure

• if you have had a Hepatitis B infection or may currently have it. This is because IMBRUVICA can reactivate Hepatitis B. Your doctor will carefully monitor you for signs of this infection before starting treatment.

If any of the above apply to you (or if you are unsure), consult your doctor, pharmacist, or nurse before taking this medicine.

While taking IMBRUVICA, inform your doctor immediately if you or someone else notices: memory loss, confusion, difficulty walking, or loss of vision – these may be due to a rare but serious brain infection that can be fatal (Progressive Multifocal Leukoencephalopathy or PML).

Inform your doctor immediately if you or someone else notices: sudden numbness or weakness in the limbs (especially on one side of the body), sudden confusion, difficulty speaking or understanding others, loss of vision, difficulty walking, loss of balance or coordination, or sudden severe headache without a known cause. These may be signs and symptoms of a stroke.

Tests and monitoring before and during treatment

Tumour Lysis Syndrome (TLS): Cases of abnormal levels of chemicals in the blood due to rapid breakdown of cancer cells during treatment have been reported, and sometimes even without treatment. This may lead to changes in kidney function, abnormal heart rhythm, or seizures. Your doctor or other healthcare professional may perform blood tests to check for TLS.

Lymphocytosis: Laboratory tests may show an increase in white blood cells (called "lymphocytes") in your blood during the first weeks of treatment. This effect is expected and may last for several months. This does not necessarily mean your blood cancer is worsening. Your doctor will check your blood tests before or during treatment and, in rare cases, may need to give you another medicine. Talk to your doctor about what these test results mean.

Children and adolescents

IMBRUVICA must not be used in children or adolescents, as it has not been studied in these age groups.

Other medicines and IMBRUVICA

Tell your doctor or pharmacist if you are taking, have recently taken, or might need to take any other medicines, including those obtained without a prescription, herbal medicines, and supplements. This is because IMBRUVICA may affect how other medicines work. Also, other medicines may affect how IMBRUVICA works.

IMBRUVICA may make you bleed more easily. This means you must inform your doctor if you are taking other medicines that increase your risk of bleeding. This includes:

• acetylsalicylic acid and non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) such as ibuprofen or naproxen
• anticoagulants such as warfarin, heparin, or other medicines that prevent blood clots
• supplements that may increase your risk of bleeding, such as fish oil, vitamin E, or flaxseed.

If any of the above apply to you (or if you are unsure), consult your doctor, pharmacist, or nurse before taking IMBRUVICA.

Also inform your doctor if you are taking any of the following medicines: The effects of IMBRUVICA or other medicines may be altered if you take IMBRUVICA together with any of the following:

• medicines called antibiotics for bacterial infections: clarithromycin, telithromycin, ciprofloxacin, erythromycin, or rifampicin
• medicines for fungal infections: posaconazole, ketoconazole, itraconazole, fluconazole, or voriconazole
• medicines for HIV infection: ritonavir, cobicistat, indinavir, nelfinavir, saquinavir, amprenavir, atazanavir, or fosamprenavir
• medicines to prevent nausea and vomiting associated with chemotherapy: aprepitant
• medicines for depression: nefazodone
• medicines called kinase inhibitors for the treatment of other cancers: crizotinib or imatinib
• medicines called calcium channel blockers for high blood pressure or chest pain: diltiazem or verapamil
• medicines called statins for high cholesterol: rosuvastatin
• heart medicines/antiarrhythmics: amiodarone or dronedarone
• medicines to prevent seizures or to treat epilepsy, or medicines to treat a painful facial condition called trigeminal neuralgia: carbamazepine or phenytoin.

If any of the above apply to you (or if you are unsure), consult your doctor, pharmacist, or nurse before taking IMBRUVICA.

If you are taking digoxin, a medicine used for heart problems, or methotrexate, a medicine used to treat other cancers and to reduce immune system activity (e.g., for rheumatoid arthritis or psoriasis), you should take it at least 6 hours before or after IMBRUVICA.

Use of IMBRUVICA with food

Do not take IMBRUVICA with grapefruit or Seville oranges: this means you must not eat them, drink their juice, or take any supplement that may contain them. This is because they can increase the amount of IMBRUVICA in your blood.

Pregnancy and breastfeeding

You must not become pregnant during treatment with this medicine. IMBRUVICA must not be used during pregnancy. There is no information available on the safety of IMBRUVICA in pregnant women.

Women of childbearing potential must use a highly effective method of contraception during treatment and for up to three months after receiving IMBRUVICA, to avoid becoming pregnant while being treated with IMBRUVICA. If you use hormonal contraceptives, such as pills or contraceptive devices, you should also use a barrier method of contraception (e.g., condoms).

• Inform your doctor immediately if you become pregnant.

• Do not breastfeed while taking this medicine.

Driving and using machines

You may feel tired or dizzy after taking IMBRUVICA, which may affect your ability to drive or operate any tools or machinery.

IMBRUVICA contains sodium

IMBRUVICA contains less than 1 mmol of sodium (23 mg) per dose; essentially “sodium-free”.

3. How to take IMBRUVICA

Follow exactly the instructions for using this medicine given by your doctor, pharmacist, or nurse. If in doubt, consult your doctor, pharmacist, or nurse again.

How much to take

Mantle Cell Lymphoma (MCL)

The recommended dose of IMBRUVICA is four capsules (560 mg) once daily.

Chronic Lymphocytic Leukemia (CLL)/Waldenström’s Macroglobulinemia (WM)
The recommended dose of IMBRUVICA is three capsules (420 mg) once daily.

Your doctor may need to adjust your dose.

How to take IMBRUVICA

• Take the capsules orally (by mouth) with a glass of water.

• Take the capsules at approximately the same time each day.

• Swallow the capsules whole. Do not open, break, or chew the capsules.

If you take more IMBRUVICA than you should

If you take more IMBRUVICA than you should, consult your doctor or go immediately to a hospital.

Take the capsules and this leaflet with you.

If you forget to take IMBRUVICA

• If you miss a dose, you may take it as soon as possible on the same day and then resume your regular schedule the next day.

• Do not take a double dose to make up for a missed dose.

• If you have any doubts, speak with your doctor, pharmacist, or nurse about when to take your next dose.

If you stop taking IMBRUVICA

Do not stop taking this medicine unless instructed by your doctor.

If you have any further questions about the use of this medicine, ask your doctor, pharmacist, or nurse.

4. Possible adverse effects

Like all medicines, this medicine can cause adverse effects, although not everyone will experience them.

The following adverse effects may occur with this medicine:

Stop taking IMBRUVICA and contact a doctor immediately if you experience any of the following adverse effects:

skin rash with lumps and itching, difficulty breathing, swelling of the face, lips, tongue or throat: you may be having an allergic reaction to the medicine.

Contact your doctor immediately if you experience any of the following adverse effects:

Very common (may affect more than 1 in 10 people)

• fever, chills, body aches, feeling tired, cold or flu-like symptoms, difficulty breathing: these may all be symptoms of an infection (viral, bacterial or fungal). These may include infections of the nose, sinuses or throat (upper respiratory tract infections), or of the lungs, or of the skin.

• bruising or increased tendency to bruise

• mouth sores

• headache

• constipation

• feeling dizzy or being dizzy (nausea or vomiting)

• diarrhoea; your doctor may need to give you treatment to replace fluids and salts or another medicine

• skin rash

• pain in arms or legs

• back or joint pain

• muscle cramps, muscle pain or muscle spasms

• low number of blood cells that help with blood clotting (platelets), very low white blood cell count: shown in blood tests

• swollen hands, ankles or feet

• high blood pressure.

Common (may affect up to 1 in 10 people)

• severe infections spreading throughout the body (sepsis)

• urinary tract infections

• nosebleeds, small red or purple spots caused by bleeding under the skin

• blood in the stomach, intestine, stools or urine, heavier menstrual bleeding or bleeding from a wound that cannot be stopped

• increased heart rate, missed heartbeats, weak or irregular pulse, dizziness, difficulty breathing, chest discomfort (symptoms of heart rhythm disorders)

• increased number or proportion of white blood cells in blood tests

• decreased white blood cell count with fever (febrile neutropenia)

• unusual levels of chemical substances in the blood, caused by rapid destruction of cancer cells during treatment and occasionally even without treatment (tumour lysis syndrome)

• skin cancer other than melanoma, most commonly basal cell carcinoma and squamous cell carcinoma

• feeling dizzy

• blurred vision

• skin redness

high level of “uric acid” in the blood (shown in blood tests), which may cause gout

• inflammation of the airways (pulmonary) that may lead to permanent damage
• nail breakage
• weakness, numbness, tingling or pain in the hands or feet or other parts of the body (peripheral neuropathy).

Uncommon (may affect up to 1 in 100 people)

• liver failure

• severe fungal infections

• confusion, headache with difficulty speaking or feeling faint: these may be symptoms of a serious internal bleed in the brain

• allergic reaction, sometimes severe, which may include swelling of the face, lip, mouth, tongue or throat, difficulty swallowing or breathing, itchy skin rash (urticaria)

• inflammation of the fatty tissue beneath the skin

• transient episode of neurological dysfunction caused by loss of blood flow, stroke.

Rare (may affect up to 1 in 1,000 people)

• marked increase in white blood cell count that may cause cells to clump together.

Not known (frequency cannot be estimated from available data)

• severe skin rash with blisters and peeling of the skin, particularly around the mouth, nose, eyes and genitals (Stevens-Johnson Syndrome).

Reporting of adverse effects

If you experience any type of adverse effect, talk to your doctor, pharmacist or nurse, even if it is a possible adverse effect not listed in this leaflet. You can also report them directly through the national reporting system listed in Appendix V. By reporting adverse effects, you can help provide more information on the safety of this medicine.

5. Storage of IMBRUVICA

Keep this medicine out of the sight and reach of children.

Do not use this medicine after the expiry date which is stated on the carton and on the label of the bottle after EXP. The expiry date refers to the last day of the indicated month.

No special storage conditions are required.

Medicines should not be disposed of via wastewater or household waste. Ask your pharmacist how to dispose of medicines and packaging that you no longer need. This helps protect the environment.

6. Contents of the pack and other information

Composition of IMBRUVICA

• The active substance is ibrutinib. Each hard capsule contains 140 mg of ibrutinib.

• The other components are:

• capsule contents: croscarmellose sodium, magnesium stearate, microcrystalline cellulose and sodium lauryl sulfate (E487)

• capsule shell: gelatin and titanium dioxide (E171)

• printing ink: shellac, iron oxide black (E172), and propylene glycol (E1520).

Nature and contents of the container

IMBRUVICA is presented as opaque white hard capsules marked with “ibr 140 mg” in black ink on one side.

The capsules are supplied in a plastic bottle with a child-resistant closure made of polypropylene. Each bottle contains 90 or 120 capsules. Each pack contains one bottle.

Marketing Authorization Holder

Janssen-Cilag International NV

Turnhoutseweg 30

B-2340 Beerse

Belgium

Manufacturer

Janssen Pharmaceutica NV

Turnhoutseweg 30

B-2340 Beerse

Belgium

For further information regarding this medicinal product, please contact the local representative of the Marketing Authorization Holder:

Date of the most recent review of this leaflet:

Other sources of information

Detailed information on this medicine is available on the website of the European Medicines Agency: http://www.ema.europa.eu.