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| Pronunciation | /roʊˈlæpɪtænt/ roh-LAP-i-tant |
| Trade names | Varubi (US), Varuby (EU) |
| Other names | SCH 619734 |
| AHFS/Drugs.com | Monograph |
| MedlinePlus | a615041 |
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| Routes of administration | By mouth (tablets), intravenous |
| Drug class | NK1 receptor antagonists, antiemetics |
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| Pharmacokinetic data | |
| Bioavailability | nearly 100% |
| Protein binding | 99.8% |
| Metabolism | CYP3A4 |
| Metabolites | C4-pyrrolidine-hydroxylated rolapitant (major) |
| Elimination half-life | 169–183 hours |
| Excretion | Feces (52–89%), urine (9–20%) |
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| ECHA InfoCard | 100.243.022  |
| Chemical and physical data | |
| Formula | C25H26F6N2O2 |
| Molar mass | 500.485 g·mol |
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Rolapitant (INN, trade name Varubi /vəˈruːbi/ və-ROO-bee in the US and Varuby in the European Union) is a drug originally developed by Schering-Plough and licensed for clinical development by Tesaro, which acts as a selective NK1 receptor antagonist (antagonist for the NK1 receptor). It has been approved as a medication for the treatment of chemotherapy-induced nausea and vomiting (CINV) after clinical trials showed it to have similar or improved efficacy and some improvement in safety over existing drugs for this application.
Medical uses
Rolapitant is used in combination with other antiemetic (anti-vomiting) agents in adults for the prevention of delayed nausea and vomiting associated with initial and repeat courses of emetogenic cancer chemotherapy, including, but not limited to, highly emetogenic chemotherapy. The approved antiemetic combination consists of rolapitant plus dexamethasone and a 5-HT3 antagonist.
Contraindications
Under the US approval, rolapitant is contraindicated in combination with thioridazine, whose inactivation could be inhibited by rolapitant. Under the European approval, it is contraindicated in combination with St. John's Wort, which is expected to accelerate inactivation of rolapitant.
Side effects
In studies comparing chemotherapy plus rolapitant, dexamethasone and a 5-HT3 antagonist to chemotherapy plus placebo, dexamethasone and a 5-HT3 antagonist, most side effects had comparable frequencies in both groups, and differed more between chemotherapy regimens than between rolapitant and placebo groups. Common side effects included decreased appetite (9% under rolapitant vs. 7% under placebo), neutropenia (9% vs. 8% or 7% vs. 6%, depending on the kind of chemotherapy), dizziness (6% vs. 4%), indigestion and stomatitis (both 4% vs. 2%).
Overdose
Up to eightfold therapeutic doses have been given in studies without problems.
Interactions
Rolapitant moderately inhibits the liver enzyme CYP2D6. Blood plasma concentrations of the CYP2D6 substrate dextromethorphan have increased threefold when combined with rolapitant; and increased concentrations of other substrates are expected. The drug also inhibits the transporter proteins ABCG2 (breast cancer resistance protein, BCRP) and P-glycoprotein (P-gp), which has been shown to increase plasma concentrations of the ABCG2 substrate sulfasalazine twofold and the P-gp substrate digoxin by 70%.
Strong inducers of the liver enzyme CYP3A4 decrease the area under the curve of rolapitant and its active metabolite (called M19); for rifampicin, this effect was almost 90% in a study. Inhibitors of CYP3A4 have no relevant effect on rolapitant concentrations.
Pharmacology
Further information: Aprepitant § Mechanism of actionPharmacodynamics
Both rolapitant and its active metabolite M19 block the NK1 receptor with high affinity and selectivity: to block the closely related receptor NK2 or any other of 115 tested receptors and enzymes, more than 1000-fold therapeutic concentrations are necessary.
Pharmacokinetics
Rolapitant is practically completely absorbed from the gut, independently of food intake. It undergoes no measurable first-pass effect in the liver. Highest blood plasma concentrations are reached after about four hours. When in the bloodstream, 99.8% of the substance are bound to plasma proteins.
It is metabolized by the liver enzyme CYP3A4, resulting in the major active metabolite M19 (C4-pyrrolidine-hydroxylated rolapitant) and a number of inactive metabolites. Rolapitant is mainly excreted via the feces (52–89%) in unchanged form, and to a lesser extent via the urine (9–20%) in form of its inactive metabolites. Elimination half-life is about seven days (169 to 183 hours) over a wide dosing range.
Chemistry
The drug is used in form of rolapitant hydrochloride monohydrate, a white to off-white, slightly hygroscopic crystalline powder. Its maximum solubility in aqueous solutions is at pH 2–4.
References
- ^ "Varubi- rolapitant tablet". DailyMed. 6 August 2019. Retrieved 21 August 2020.
- "International Nonproprietary Names for Pharmaceutical Substances (INN). Recommended International Nonproprietary Names (Rec. INN): List 59" (PDF). World Health Organization. p. 64. Retrieved 5 October 2016.
- Duffy RA, Morgan C, Naylor R, Higgins GA, Varty GB, Lachowicz JE, Parker EM (July 2012). "Rolapitant (SCH 619734): a potent, selective and orally active neurokinin NK1 receptor antagonist with centrally-mediated antiemetic effects in ferrets". Pharmacology, Biochemistry, and Behavior. 102 (1): 95–100. doi:10.1016/j.pbb.2012.03.021. PMID 22497992. S2CID 24357198.
- Jordan K, Jahn F, Aapro M (June 2015). "Recent developments in the prevention of chemotherapy-induced nausea and vomiting (CINV): a comprehensive review". Annals of Oncology. 26 (6): 1081–90. doi:10.1093/annonc/mdv138. PMID 25755107.
- Nasir SS, Schwartzberg LS (August 2016). "Recent Advances in Preventing Chemotherapy-Induced Nausea and Vomiting". Oncology. 30 (8): 750–62. PMID 27539626.
- Rapoport B, Schwartzberg L, Chasen M, Powers D, Arora S, Navari R, Schnadig I (April 2016). "Efficacy and safety of rolapitant for prevention of chemotherapy-induced nausea and vomiting over multiple cycles of moderately or highly emetogenic chemotherapy". European Journal of Cancer. 57: 23–30. doi:10.1016/j.ejca.2015.12.023. PMID 26851398.
- Chasen MR, Rapoport BL (March 2016). "Rolapitant for the treatment of chemotherapy-induced nausea and vomiting: a review of the clinical evidence". Future Oncology. 12 (6): 763–78. doi:10.2217/fon.16.11. PMID 26842387.
- ^ "Varuby: EPAR – Product Information" (PDF). European Medicines Agency. 2017-05-31. Archived from the original (PDF) on 2018-03-18. Retrieved 2017-10-11.
- ^ "Varuby: EPAR – Public assessment report" (PDF). European Medicines Agency. 2017-05-31. Archived from the original (PDF) on 2018-03-18. Retrieved 2017-10-11.
External links
- "Rolapitant Injection: MedlinePlus Drug Information". MedlinePlus. 20 August 2020.
