The NINLARO® (ixazomib) Mechanism of Action

NINLARO is a targeted, reversible proteasome inhibitor.1

Mechanism of Action (MOA)

Discover how proteasome inhibition with NINLARO works

Illustration of NINLARO® (ixazomib) Mechanism of Action.

NINLARO binds the β5 subunit of the 20S proteasome and inhibits its chymotrypsin-like activity1

A buildup of proteins results from the inhibition of proteasome activity, leading to cytotoxicity and apoptosis of multiple myeloma cells2

Proteasome inhibition is a cornerstone of multiple myeloma treatment because cancer cells have a higher level of proteasome activity and are more sensitive to its proapoptotic effects3

Effects of proteasome inhibition with NINLARO

  • NINLARO demonstrated in vitro cytotoxicity against myeloma cells from patients who had relapsed after multiple prior therapies1
  • The combination of NINLARO+lenalidomide demonstrated synergistic cytotoxic effects in multiple myeloma cell lines1
Image showing proteasome inhibition with NINLARO® (ixazomib).

NINLARO Mechanism of Action

Learn how NINLARO inhibits the action of proteasomes to induce apoptosis of myeloma cells.

PHARMACOKINETICS

Absorption and distribution

  • After NINLARO oral administration, the median time to achieve peak plasma concentrations was 1 hour1
  • The mean absolute oral bioavailability was 58%, based on population PK analysis1

Metabolism and elimination

  • The terminal half-life of NINLARO is 9.5 days1
  • There was no clinically meaningful effect of age, sex, body surface area, or race on the clearance of NINLARO based on population PK analysis1

NINLARO patient profiles

Different patient types with relapsed multiple myeloma may benefit from the NINLARO triplet regimen.

Discover Patient Profiles

NINLARO dosing

Find the dosing schedule for the NINLARO all-oral triplet regimen and information on dosage modifications.

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IMPORTANT SAFETY INFORMATION, INDICATION, AND USAGE

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WARNINGS AND PRECAUTIONS

  • Thrombocytopenia has been reported with NINLARO. Platelet nadirs typically occurred between Days 14-21 of each 28-day cycle and recovered to baseline by the start of the next cycle. Grade 3 thrombocytopenia was reported in 17% of patients in the NINLARO regimen and Grade 4 thrombocytopenia was reported in 13% in the NINLARO regimen. During treatment, monitor platelet counts at least monthly, and consider more frequent monitoring during the first three cycles. Manage thrombocytopenia with dose modifications and platelet transfusions as per standard medical guidelines.
  • Gastrointestinal Toxicities, including diarrhea, constipation, nausea and vomiting were reported with NINLARO and may occasionally require the use of antidiarrheal and antiemetic medications, and supportive care. Diarrhea resulted in the discontinuation of one or more of the three drugs in 3% of patients in the NINLARO regimen and 2% of patients in the placebo regimen. Adjust dosing for Grade 3 or 4 symptoms.
  • Peripheral Neuropathy was reported with NINLARO. The most commonly reported reaction was peripheral sensory neuropathy (24% and 17% in the NINLARO and placebo regimens, respectively). Peripheral motor neuropathy was not commonly reported in either regimen (<1%). Peripheral neuropathy resulted in discontinuation of one or more of the three drugs in 4% of patients in the NINLARO regimen and <1% of patients in the placebo regimen. During treatment, monitor patients for symptoms of neuropathy and consider adjusting dosing for new or worsening peripheral neuropathy.
  • Peripheral Edema was reported with NINLARO. Evaluate for underlying causes and provide supportive care, as necessary. Adjust dosing of NINLARO for Grade 3 or 4 symptoms or dexamethasone per its prescribing information.
  • Cutaneous Reactions, including a fatal case of Stevens-Johnson syndrome, were reported with NINLARO. If Stevens-Johnson syndrome occurs, discontinue NINLARO and manage as clinically indicated. Rash, most commonly maculo-papular and macular rash, was reported with NINLARO. Rash resulted in discontinuation of one or more of the three drugs in <1% of patients in both regimens. Manage rash with supportive care or with dose modification if Grade 2 or higher.
  • Thrombotic Microangiopathy has been reported with NINLARO. Fatal cases of thrombotic microangiopathy, including thrombotic thrombocytopenic purpura/hemolytic uremic syndrome (TTP/HUS), have been reported in patients who received NINLARO. Monitor for signs and symptoms of TTP/HUS. If the diagnosis is suspected, stop NINLARO and evaluate. If the diagnosis of TTP/HUS is excluded, consider restarting NINLARO. The safety of reinitiating NINLARO therapy in patients previously experiencing TTP/HUS is not known.
  • Hepatotoxicity has been reported with NINLARO. Drug-induced liver injury, hepatocellular injury, hepatic steatosis, hepatitis cholestatic and hepatotoxicity have each been reported in <1% of patients treated with NINLARO. Hepatotoxicity has been reported (10% in the NINLARO regimen and 9% in the placebo regimen). Monitor hepatic enzymes regularly and adjust dosing for Grade 3 or 4 symptoms.
  • Embryo-fetal Toxicity: NINLARO can cause fetal harm. Advise pregnant women of the potential risk to a fetus. Advise females of reproductive potential to use effective non-hormonal contraception during treatment with NINLARO and for 90 days following the last dose. Advise males with female partners of reproductive potential to use effective contraception during treatment with NINLARO and for 90 days following the last dose.
  • Increased Mortality in Patients Treated with NINLARO in the Maintenance Setting: In two prospective randomized clinical trials in multiple myeloma in the maintenance setting, treatment with NINLARO resulted in increased deaths. Treatment of patients with NINLARO for multiple myeloma in the maintenance setting is not recommended outside of controlled trials.

ADVERSE REACTIONS

The most common adverse reactions (≥ 20%) in the NINLARO regimen compared to placebo in combination with lenalidomide plus dexamethasone, respectively were thrombocytopenia (85%, 67%; pooled from adverse event and laboratory data), neutropenia (74%, 70%; pooled from adverse event and laboratory data), diarrhea (52%, 43%), constipation (35%, 28%), peripheral neuropathy (32%, 24%), nausea (32%, 23%), edema peripheral (27%, 21%), rash (27%, 16%), vomiting (26%, 13%), and bronchitis (22%, 17%). Serious adverse reactions reported in ≥ 2% of patients in the NINLARO regimen included diarrhea (3%), thrombocytopenia (2%), and bronchitis (2%).

DRUG INTERACTIONS:

Avoid concomitant administration of NINLARO with strong CYP3A inducers.

USE IN SPECIFIC POPULATIONS

  • Lactation: Advise women not to breastfeed during treatment with NINLARO and for 90 days after the last dose. 
  • Hepatic Impairment: Reduce the NINLARO starting dose to 3 mg in patients with moderate or severe hepatic impairment. 
  • Renal Impairment: Reduce the NINLARO starting dose to 3 mg in patients with severe renal impairment or end-stage renal disease requiring dialysis. NINLARO is not dialyzable.

To report SUSPECTED ADVERSE REACTIONS, contact Takeda Pharmaceuticals at 1-844-217-6468 or the FDA at 1-800-FDA-1088 or www.fda.gov/medwatch.

Please see NINLARO (ixazomib) full Prescribing Information.

INDICATION AND USAGE

Indication: NINLARO is indicated in combination with lenalidomide and dexamethasone for the treatment of patients with multiple myeloma who have received at least one prior therapy.

Limitations of Use: NINLARO is not recommended for use in the maintenance setting or in newly diagnosed multiple myeloma in combination with lenalidomide and dexamethasone outside of controlled clinical trials.

IMPORTANT SAFETY INFORMATION

WARNINGS AND PRECAUTIONS

  • Thrombocytopenia has been reported with NINLARO. Platelet nadirs typically occurred between Days 14-21 of each 28-day cycle and recovered to baseline by the start of the next cycle. Grade 3 thrombocytopenia was reported in 17% of patients in the NINLARO regimen and Grade 4 thrombocytopenia was reported in 13% in the NINLARO regimen. During treatment, monitor platelet counts at least monthly, and consider more frequent monitoring during the first three cycles. Manage thrombocytopenia with dose modifications and platelet transfusions as per standard medical guidelines.
  • Gastrointestinal Toxicities, including diarrhea, constipation, nausea and vomiting were reported with NINLARO and may occasionally require the use of antidiarrheal and antiemetic medications, and supportive care. Diarrhea resulted in the discontinuation of one or more of the three drugs in 3% of patients in the NINLARO regimen and 2% of patients in the placebo regimen. Adjust dosing for Grade 3 or 4 symptoms.
  • Peripheral Neuropathy was reported with NINLARO. The most commonly reported reaction was peripheral sensory neuropathy (24% and 17% in the NINLARO and placebo regimens, respectively). Peripheral motor neuropathy was not commonly reported in either regimen (<1%). Peripheral neuropathy resulted in discontinuation of one or more of the three drugs in 4% of patients in the NINLARO regimen and <1% of patients in the placebo regimen. During treatment, monitor patients for symptoms of neuropathy and consider adjusting dosing for new or worsening peripheral neuropathy.
  • Peripheral Edema was reported with NINLARO. Evaluate for underlying causes and provide supportive care, as necessary. Adjust dosing of NINLARO for Grade 3 or 4 symptoms or dexamethasone per its prescribing information.
  • Cutaneous Reactions, including a fatal case of Stevens-Johnson syndrome, were reported with NINLARO. If Stevens-Johnson syndrome occurs, discontinue NINLARO and manage as clinically indicated. Rash, most commonly maculo-papular and macular rash, was reported with NINLARO. Rash resulted in discontinuation of one or more of the three drugs in <1% of patients in both regimens. Manage rash with supportive care or with dose modification if Grade 2 or higher.
  • Thrombotic Microangiopathy has been reported with NINLARO. Fatal cases of thrombotic microangiopathy, including thrombotic thrombocytopenic purpura/hemolytic uremic syndrome (TTP/HUS), have been reported in patients who received NINLARO. Monitor for signs and symptoms of TTP/HUS. If the diagnosis is suspected, stop NINLARO and evaluate. If the diagnosis of TTP/HUS is excluded, consider restarting NINLARO. The safety of reinitiating NINLARO therapy in patients previously experiencing TTP/HUS is not known.
  • Hepatotoxicity has been reported with NINLARO. Drug-induced liver injury, hepatocellular injury, hepatic steatosis, hepatitis cholestatic and hepatotoxicity have each been reported in <1% of patients treated with NINLARO. Hepatotoxicity has been reported (10% in the NINLARO regimen and 9% in the placebo regimen). Monitor hepatic enzymes regularly and adjust dosing for Grade 3 or 4 symptoms.
  • Embryo-fetal Toxicity: NINLARO can cause fetal harm. Advise pregnant women of the potential risk to a fetus. Advise females of reproductive potential to use effective non-hormonal contraception during treatment with NINLARO and for 90 days following the last dose. Advise males with female partners of reproductive potential to use effective contraception during treatment with NINLARO and for 90 days following the last dose.
  • Increased Mortality in Patients Treated with NINLARO in the Maintenance Setting: In two prospective randomized clinical trials in multiple myeloma in the maintenance setting, treatment with NINLARO resulted in increased deaths. Treatment of patients with NINLARO for multiple myeloma in the maintenance setting is not recommended outside of controlled trials.

ADVERSE REACTIONS

The most common adverse reactions (≥ 20%) in the NINLARO regimen compared to placebo in combination with lenalidomide plus dexamethasone, respectively were thrombocytopenia (85%, 67%; pooled from adverse event and laboratory data), neutropenia (74%, 70%; pooled from adverse event and laboratory data), diarrhea (52%, 43%), constipation (35%, 28%), peripheral neuropathy (32%, 24%), nausea (32%, 23%), edema peripheral (27%, 21%), rash (27%, 16%), vomiting (26%, 13%), and bronchitis (22%, 17%). Serious adverse reactions reported in ≥ 2% of patients in the NINLARO regimen included diarrhea (3%), thrombocytopenia (2%), and bronchitis (2%).

DRUG INTERACTIONS:

Avoid concomitant administration of NINLARO with strong CYP3A inducers.

USE IN SPECIFIC POPULATIONS

  • Lactation: Advise women not to breastfeed during treatment with NINLARO and for 90 days after the last dose. 
  • Hepatic Impairment: Reduce the NINLARO starting dose to 3 mg in patients with moderate or severe hepatic impairment. 
  • Renal Impairment: Reduce the NINLARO starting dose to 3 mg in patients with severe renal impairment or end-stage renal disease requiring dialysis. NINLARO is not dialyzable.

To report SUSPECTED ADVERSE REACTIONS, contact Takeda Pharmaceuticals at 1-844-217-6468 or the FDA at 1-800-FDA-1088 or www.fda.gov/medwatch.

Please see NINLARO (ixazomib) full Prescribing Information.

INDICATION AND USAGE

Indication: NINLARO is indicated in combination with lenalidomide and dexamethasone for the treatment of patients with multiple myeloma who have received at least one prior therapy.

Limitations of Use: NINLARO is not recommended for use in the maintenance setting or in newly diagnosed multiple myeloma in combination with lenalidomide and dexamethasone outside of controlled clinical trials.

Show References
REFERENCES: 1. NINLARO. Prescribing Information. Takeda Pharmaceuticals America, Inc.; 5/2022. 2. Chauhan D, Hideshima T, Mitsiades C, Richardson P, Anderson KC. Proteasome inhibitor therapy in multiple myeloma. Mol Cancer Ther. 2005;4(4):686-692. 3. Moreau P, Richardson PG, Cavo M, Orlowski RZ, San Miguel JF, Palumbo A, Harousseau JL. Proteasome inhibitors in multiple myeloma: 10 years later. Blood. 2012;120(5):947-959.