Synribo

Generic name: Omacetaxine
Drug class: Miscellaneous antineoplastics

Usage of Synribo

Synribo is a cancer medicine that interferes with the growth and spread of cancer cells in the body.

Synribo injection is used to treat chronic myeloid leukemia (CML).

Synribo is given after at least two other cancer treatments did not work or have stopped working.

It was approved in 2012 for adults with CML in the chronic or accelerated phase of the disease who have already tried at least two TKIs without success. Synribo inhibits protein synthesis and targets proteins responsible for the proliferation and survival of leukemic cells, causing cell death.

Synribo is effective even in patients with the BCR-ABL T315I mutation - this mutation confers resistance to most TKI inhibitors, such as bosutinib, dasatinib, imatinib, and nilotinib. Hematologic side effects (such as thrombocytopenia [low platelets], anemia, and neutropenia [low neutrophils]) occur in approximately three-quarters of all patients prescribed Synribo. Other common side effects include infection, diarrhea, fever, tiredness, a lack of energy, and nausea.

Synribo side effects

Get emergency medical help if you have signs of an allergic reaction to Synribo: hives; difficult breathing; swelling of your face, lips, tongue, or throat.

Call your doctor at once if you have:

ongoing nausea, stomach pain, or diarrhea;

easy bruising, unusual bleeding (nose, mouth, vagina, or rectum);

confusion, vision changes, slurred speech;

blood in your urine, bloody or tarry stools, coughing up blood or vomit that looks like coffee grounds;

severe skin rash or itching;

low red blood cells (anemia) - pale skin, unusual tiredness, feeling light-headed or short of breath, cold hands and feet;

high blood sugar - increased thirst, increased urination, dry mouth, fruity breath odor; or

signs of infection - fever, chills, tiredness, body aches, feeling short of breath.

Common Synribo side effects may include:

fever, low blood cell counts;

feeling weak or tired;

diarrhea;

nausea; or

pain, swelling, or redness where the medicine was injected.

This is not a complete list of side effects and others may occur. Call your doctor for medical advice about side effects. You may report side effects to FDA at 1-800-FDA-1088.

Before taking Synribo

You should not use Synribo if you are allergic to omacetaxine.

To make sure Synribo is safe for you, tell your doctor if you have ever had:

diabetes (in you or a family member); or

bleeding problems.

Omacetaxine can harm an unborn baby or cause birth defects if the mother or the father is using this medicine.

If you are a woman, do not use Synribo if you are pregnant. You may need to have a negative pregnancy test before starting this treatment. Use effective birth control to prevent pregnancy while you are using this medicine and for at least 6 months after your last dose.

If you are a man, use effective birth control if your sex partner is able to get pregnant. Keep using birth control for at least 3 months after your last dose.

Tell your doctor right away if a pregnancy occurs while either the mother or the father is using Synribo.

This medicine may affect fertility (the ability to have children) in men. However, it is important to use birth control to prevent pregnancy because omacetaxine can harm an unborn baby.

Do not breastfeed while using this medicine, and for at least 2 weeks after your last dose.

Relate drugs

How to use Synribo

Usual Adult Dose for Chronic Myelogenous Leukemia:

Induction dose: 1.25 mg/m2 subcutaneously twice daily for 14 consecutive days of a 28-day cycle. Maintenance dose: 1.25 mg/m2 subcutaneously twice daily for 7 consecutive days of a 28-day cycle. Use: Chronic or accelerated phase CML with resistance and/or intolerance to two or more tyrosine kinase inhibitors. Comments: There are no trials verifying an improvement in disease-related symptoms or increased survival with Synribo.

Warnings

Synribo can lower blood cells that help your body fight infections and help your blood to clot. You may get an infection or bleed more easily. Call your doctor if you have unusual bruising or bleeding, blood in your urine or stools, confusion, problems with vision or speech, or new signs of infection (fever, chills, tiredness, body aches, feeling short of breath).

What other drugs will affect Synribo

Other drugs may interact with omacetaxine, including prescription and over-the-counter medicines, vitamins, and herbal products. Tell your doctor about all your current medicines and any medicine you start or stop using.

Disclaimer

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