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DTC: The most frequently reported adverse reactions (occurring in ≥30% of patients) are hypertension (68.6%), diarrhoea (62.8%), decreased appetite (51.5%), decreased weight (49.1%), fatigue (45.8%), nausea (44.5%), proteinuria 36.9%), stomatitis (35.8%), vomiting (34.5%), dysphonia (34.1%), headache (34.1%), and palmar-plantar erythrodysaesthesia syndrome (PPE) (32.7%). Hypertension and proteinuria tend to occur early during lenvatinib treatment (see Precautions and Description of selected adverse reactions as follows). The majority of Grade 3 to 4 adverse reactions occurred during the first 6 months of treatment except for diarrhoea, which occurred throughout treatment, and weight loss, which tended to be cumulative over time.
The most important serious adverse reactions were renal failure and impairment (2.4%), arterial thromboembolisms (3.9%), cardiac failure (0.7%), intracranial tumour haemorrhage (0.7%), PRES / RPLS (0.2%), hepatic failure (0.2%), and arterial thromboembolisms (cerebrovascular accident (1.1%), transient ischaemic attack (0.7%), and myocardial infarction (0.9%).
In 452 patients with RAI-refractory DTC, dose reduction and discontinuation were the actions taken for an adverse reaction in 63.1% and 19.5% of patients, respectively. Adverse reactions that most commonly led to dose reductions (in ≥5% of patients) were hypertension, proteinuria, diarrhoea, fatigue, PPE, decreased weight, and decreased appetite. Adverse reactions that most commonly led to discontinuation of lenvatinib were proteinuria, asthenia, hypertension, cerebrovascular accident, diarrhoea, and pulmonary embolism.
HCC: The most frequently reported adverse reactions (occurring in ≥30% of patients) are hypertension (44.0%), diarrhoea (38.1%), decreased appetite (34.9%), fatigue (30.6%), and decreased weight (30.4%).
The most important serious adverse reactions were hepatic failure (2.8%), hepatic encephalopathy (4.6%), oesophageal varices haemorrhage (1.4%), cerebral haemorrhage (0.6%), arterial thromboembolic events (2.0%) including myocardial infarction (0.8%), cerebral infarction (0.4%) and cerebrovascular accident (0.4%) and renal failure/impairment events (1.4%). There was a higher incidence of decreased neutrophil count in patients with HCC (8.7% on lenvatinib than in other non- HCC tumour types (1.4%)), which was not associated with infection, sepsis or bacterial peritonitis.
In 496 patients with HCC, dose modification (interruption or reduction) and discontinuation were the actions taken for an adverse reaction in 62.3% and 20.2% of patients, respectively. Adverse reactions that most commonly led to dose modifications (in ≥5% of patients) were decreased appetite, diarrhoea, proteinuria, hypertension, fatigue, PPE and decreased platelet count. Adverse reactions that most commonly led to discontinuation of lenvatinib were hepatic encephalopathy, fatigue, increased blood bilirubin, proteinuria and hepatic failure.
Tabulated list of adverse reactions: Similar adverse reactions were observed in clinical trials in DTC and HCC. Table 8 shows the frequency categories of adverse reactions observed in clinical trials in DTC and HCC. The adverse reaction frequency category represents the most conservative estimate of frequency from the two individual populations.
Frequencies are defined as: Very common (≥1/10); Common (≥1/100 to <1/10); Uncommon (≥1/1,000 to <1/100); Not known (cannot be estimated from the available data).
Within each frequency category, undesirable effects are presented in order of decreasing seriousness. (See Table 8.)
Click on icon to see table/diagram/imageDescription of selected adverse reactions: Hypertension (see Precautions): DTC: In the pivotal Phase 3 SELECT trial (see Pharmacology: Pharmacodynamics under Actions), hypertension (including hypertension, hypertensive crisis, increased diastolic blood pressure , and increased blood pressure) was reported in 72.8% of lenvatinib-treated patients and 16.0% of patients in the placebo-treated group. The median time to onset in lenvatinib-treated patients was 16 days. Reactions of Grade 3 or higher (including 1 reaction of Grade 4) occurred in 44.4% of lenvatinib-treated patients compared with 3.8% of placebo-treated patients. The majority of cases recovered or resolved following dose interruption or reduction, which occurred in 13.0% and 13.4% of patients, respectively. In 1.1% of patients, hypertension led to permanent treatment discontinuation.
HCC: In the Phase 3 -REFLECT trial (see Pharmacology: Pharmacodynamics under Actions), hypertension (including hypertension, increased blood pressure, increased diastolic blood pressure and orthostatic hypertension) was reported in 44.5% of lenvatinib-treated patients and Grade 3 hypertension occurred in 23.5%. The median time to onset was 26 days. The majority of cases recovered following dose interruption or reduction, which occurred in 3.6% and 3.4% of patients respectively. One subject (0.2%) discontinued lenvatinib due to hypertension.
Proteinuria (see Precautions): DTC: In the pivotal Phase 3 SELECT trial (see Pharmacology: Pharmacodynamics under Actions), proteinuria was reported in 33.7% of lenvatinib-treated patients and 3.1% of patients in the placebo-treated group. The median time to onset was 6.7 weeks. Grade 3 reactions occurred in 10.7% of lenvatinib-treated patients and none in placebo-treated patients. The majority of cases had an outcome of recovered or resolved following dose interruption or reduction, which occurred in 16.9% and 10.7% of patients, respectively. Proteinuria led to permanent treatment discontinuation in 0.8% of patients.
HCC: In the Phase 3 REFLECT trial (see Pharmacology: Pharmacodynamics under Actions), proteinuria was reported in 26.3% of lenvatinib-treated patients and Grade 3 reactions occurred in 5.9%. The median time to onset was 6.1 weeks. The majority of cases recovered following dose interruption or reduction, which occurred in 6.9% and 2.5% of patients respectively. Proteinuria led to permanent treatment discontinuation in 0.6% of patients.
Renal failure and impairment (see Precautions): DTC: In the pivotal Phase 3 SELECT trial (see Pharmacology: Pharmacodynamics under Actions), 5.0% of patients developed renal failure and 1.9% developed renal impairment (3.1% of patients had a Grade ≥ 3 event of renal failure or impairment). In the placebo group 0.8% of patients developed renal failure or impairment (0.8% were Grade ≥ 3).
HCC: In the Phase 3 REFLECT trial (see Pharmacology: Pharmacodynamics under Actions), 7.1% of lenvatinib-treated patients developed a renal failure/impairment event. Grade 3 or greater reactions occurred in 1.9% of lenvatinib-treated patients.
Cardiac dysfunction (see Precautions): DTC: In the pivotal Phase 3 SELECT trial (see Pharmacology: Pharmacodynamics under Actions), decreased ejection fraction/cardiac failure was reported in 6.5% of patients (1.5% were Grade ≥ 3) in the lenvatinib treated group, and 2.3% in the placebo group (none were Grade ≥ 3).
HCC: In the Phase 3 REFLECT trial (see Pharmacology: Pharmacodynamics under Actions), cardiac dysfunction (including congestive cardiac failure, cardiogenic shock, and cardiopulmonary failure) was reported in 0.6% of patients (0.4% were Grade ≥ 3) in the lenvatinib-treated group.
Posterior reversible encephalopathy syndrome (PRES) / Reversible posterior leucoencephalopathy syndrome (RPLS) (see Precautions): DTC: In the pivotal Phase 3 SELECT trial (see Pharmacology: Pharmacodynamics under Actions), there was 1 event of PRES (Grade 2) in the lenvatinib-treated group and no reports in the placebo group.
Amongst 1,166 patients treated with lenvatinib, there were 4 cases (0.3%) of PRES (0.3% were Grade 3 or 4), all of which resolved after treatment and/or dose interruption, or permanent discontinuation.
HCC: In the Phase 3 REFLECT trial (see Pharmacology: Pharmacodynamics under Actions), there was 1 event of PRES (Grade 2) in the lenvatinib-treated group.
Amongst 1,823 patients treated with lenvatinib monotherapy in clinical trials, there were 5 cases (0.3%) of PRES (0.2% were Grade 3 or 4), all of which resolved after treatment and/or dose interruption, or permanent discontinuation.
Hepatotoxicity (see Precautions): DTC: In the pivotal Phase 3 SELECT trial (see Pharmacology: Pharmacodynamics under Actions), the most commonly reported liver-related adverse reactions were hypoalbuminaemia (9.6% lenvatinib vs. 1.5% placebo) and elevations of liver enzyme levels, including increases in alanine aminotransferase (7.7% lenvatinib vs. 0 placebo), aspartate aminotransferase (6.9% lenvatinib vs. 1.5% placebo), and blood bilirubin (1.9% lenvatinib vs. 0 placebo). The median time to onset of liver reactions in lenvatinib-treated patients was 12.1 weeks. Liver-related reactions of Grade 3 or higher (including 1 Grade 5 case of hepatic failure) occurred in 5.4% of lenvatinib-treated patients compared with 0.8% in placebo-treated patients. Liver-related reactions led to dose interruptions and reductions in 4.6% and 2.7% of patients, respectively, and to permanent discontinuation in 0.4%.
Amongst 1,166 patients treated with lenvatinib, there were 3 cases (0.3%) of hepatic failure, all with a fatal outcome. One occurred in a patient with no liver metastases. There was also a case of acute hepatitis in a patient without liver metastases.
HCC: In the Phase 3 REFLECT trial (see Pharmacology: Pharmacodynamics under Actions), the most commonly reported hepatotoxicity adverse reactions were increased blood bilirubin (14.9%), increased aspartate aminotransferase (13.7%), increased alanine aminotransferase (11.1%), hypoalbuminaemia (9.2%), hepatic encephalopathy (8.0%), increased gamma-glutamyltransferase (7.8%) and increased blood alkaline phosphatase (6.7%). The median time to onset of hepatotoxocity adverse reactions was 6.4 weeks. Hepatotoxicity reactions of ≥ Grade 3 occurred in 26.1% of lenvatinib-treated patients. Hepatic failure (including fatal events in 12 patients) occurred in 3.6% of patients (all were ≥ Grade 3). Hepatic encephalopathy (including fatal events in 4 patients) occurred in 8.4% of patients (5.5% were ≥ Grade 3). There were 17 (3.6%) deaths due to hepatotoxicity events in the lenvatinib arm and 4 (0.8%) deaths in the sorafenib arm. Hepatotoxicity adverse reactions led to dose interruptions and reductions in 12.2% and 7.4% of lenvatinib-treated patients respectively, and to permanent discontinuation in 5.5%.
Across clinical studies in which 1327 patients received lenvatinib monotherapy in indications other than HCC, hepatic failure (including fatal events) was reported in 4 patients (0.3%), liver injury in 2 patients (0.2%), acute hepatitis in 2 patients (0.2%), and hepatocellular injury in 1 patient (0.1%).
Arterial thromboembolisms (see Precautions): DTC: In the pivotal Phase 3 SELECT trial (see Pharmacology: Pharmacodynamics under Actions), arterial thromboembolic events were reported in 5.4% of lenvatinib-treated patients and 2.3% of patients in the placebo group.
Amongst 1,166 patients treated with lenvatinib, there were 5 cases (0.4%) of arterial thromboembolisms (3 cases of myocardial infarction and 2 cases of cerebrovascular accident) with a fatal outcome.
HCC: In the Phase 3 REFLECT trial (see Pharmacology: Pharmacodynamics under Actions), arterial thromboembolic events were reported in 2.3% of patients treated with lenvatinib.
Amongst 1,823 patients treated with lenvatinib monotherapy in clinical studies, there were 10 cases (0.5%) of arterial thromboembolisms (5 cases of myocardial infarction and 5 cases of cerebrovascular accident) with a fatal outcome.
Haemorrhage (see Precautions): DTC: In the pivotal Phase 3 SELECT trial (see Pharmacology: Pharmacodynamics under Actions), haemorrhage was reported in 34.9% (1.9% were Grade ≥ 3) of lenvatinib-treated patients versus 18.3% (3.1% were Grade ≥ 3) of placebo-treated patients. Reactions that occurred at an incidence of ≥ 0.75% above placebo were: epistaxis (11.9%), haematuria (6.5%), contusion (4.6%), gingival bleeding (2.3%), haematochezia (2.3%), rectal haemorrhage (1.5%), haematoma (1.1%), haemorrhoidal haemorrhage (1.1%), laryngeal haemorrhage (1.1%), petechiae (1.1%), and intracranial tumour haemorrhage (0.8%). In this trial, there was 1 case of fatal intracranial haemorrhage among 16 patients who received lenvatinib and had CNS metastases at baseline.
The median time to first onset in lenvatinib-treated patients was 10.1 weeks. No differences between lenvatinib- and placebo-treated patients were observed in the incidences of serious reactions (3.4% vs. 3.8%), reactions leading to premature discontinuation (1.1% vs. 1.5%), or reactions leading to dose interruption (3.4% vs. 3.8%) or reduction (0.4% vs. 0).
Amongst 1,166 patients treated with lenvatinib, Grade 3 or greater haemorhage was reported in 2% of patients, 3 patients (0.3%) had a Grade 4 haemorrhage and 5 patients (0.4%) had a Grade 5 reaction including arterial haemorrhage, haemorrhagic stroke, intracranial tumour haemorrhage, haemoptysis and tumour haemorrhage.
HCC: In the Phase 3 REFLECT trial (see Pharmacology: Pharmacodynamics under Actions), haemorrhage was reported in 24.6% of patients and 5.0% were Grade ≥ 3. Grade 3 reactions occurred in 3.4%, Grade 4 reactions in 0.2% and 7 patients (1.5%) had a grade 5 reaction including cerebral haemorrhage, upper gastrointestinal haemorrhage, intestinal haemorrhage and tumour haemorrhage. The median time to first onset was 11.9 weeks. A haemorrhage event led to dose interruption or reduction in 3.2% and 0.8% patients respectively and to treatment discontinuation in 1.7% of patients.
Across clinical studies in which 1,327 patients received lenvatinib monotherapy in indications other than HCC, Grade ≥ 3 or greater haemorrhage was reported in 2% of patients, 3 patients (0.2%) had a Grade 4 haemorrhage and 8 patients (0.6%) had a Grade 5 reaction including arterial haemorrhage, haemorrhagic stroke, intracranial haemorrhage, intracranial tumour haemorrhage, haematemesis, melaena, haemoptysis and tumour haemorrhage.
Hypocalcaemia (see QT interval prolongation under Precautions): DTC: In the pivotal Phase 3 SELECT trial (see Pharmacology: Pharmacodynamics under Actions), hypocalcaemia was reported in 12.6% of lenvatinib-treated patients vs. no cases in the placebo arm. The median time to first onset in lenvatinib-treated patients was 11.1 weeks. Reactions of Grade 3 or 4 severity occurred in 5.0% of lenvatinib-treated vs 0 placebo-treated patients. Most reactions resolved following supportive treatment, without dose interruption or reduction, which occurred in 1.5% and 1.1% of patients, respectively; 1 patient with Grade 4 hypocalcaemia discontinued treatment permanently.
HCC: In the Phase 3 REFLECT trial (see Pharmacology: Pharmacodynamics under Actions), hypocalcaemia was reported in 1.1% of patients, with grade 3 reactions occurring in 0.4%. Lenvatinib dose interruption due to hypocalcaemia occurred in one subject (0.2%) and there were no dose reductions or discontinuations.
Gastrointestinal perforation and fistula formation (see Precautions): DTC: In the pivotal Phase 3 SELECT trial (see Pharmacology: Pharmacodynamics under Actions), events of gastrointestinal perforation or fistula were reported in 1.9% of lenvatinib-treated patients and 0.8% of patients in the placebo group.
HCC: In the Phase 3 REFLECT trial (see Pharmacology: Pharmacodynamics under Actions), events of gastrointestinal perforation or fistula were reported in 1.9% of lenvatinib-treated patients.
Non-Gastrointestinal fistulae (see Precautions): Lenvatinib use has been associated with cases of fistulae including reactions resulting in death. Reports of fistulae that involve areas of the body other than stomach or intestines were observed across various indications. Reactions were reported at various time points during treatment ranging from two weeks to greater than 1 year from initiation of lenvatinib, with median latency of about 3 months.
QT interval prolongation (see Precautions): DTC: In the pivotal Phase 3 SELECT trial (see Pharmacology: Pharmacodynamics under Actions), QT/QTc interval prolongation was reported in 8.8% of lenvatinib-treated patients and 1.5% of patients in the placebo group. The incidence of QT interval prolongation of greater than 500 ms was 2% in the lenvatinib-treated patients compared to no reports in the placebo group.
HCC: In the Phase 3 REFLECT trial (see Pharmacology: Pharmacodynamics under Actions), QT/QTc interval prolongation was reported in 6.9% of lenvatinib-treated patients. The incidence of QTcF interval prolongation of greater than 500ms was 2.4%.
Increased blood thyroid stimulating hormone (see Impairment of thyroid stimulating hormone suppression / Thyroid dysfunction under Precautions): DTC: In the pivotal Phase 3 SELECT trial (see Pharmacology: Pharmacodynamics under Actions), 88% of all patients had a baseline TSH level less than or equal to 0.5 mU/L. In those patients with a normal TSH at baseline, elevation of TSH level above 0.5 mU/L was observed post baseline in 57% of lenvatinib-treated patients as compared with 14% of placebo-treated patients.
HCC: In the Phase 3 REFLECT trial (see Pharmacology: Pharmacodynamics under Actions), 89.6% of patients had a baseline TSH level of less than the upper limit of normal. Elevation of TSH above the upper limit of normal was observed post baseline in 69.6% of lenvatinib-treated patients.
Diarrhoea (see Precautions): DTC: In the pivotal Phase 3 SELECT trial (see Pharmacology: Pharmacodynamics under Actions), diarrhoea was reported in 67.4% of patients in the lenvatinib-treated group (9.2% were Grade ≥ 3) and in 16.8% of patients in the placebo group (none were Grade ≥ 3).
HCC: In the Phase 3 REFLECT trial (see Pharmacology: Pharmacodynamics under Actions), diarrhoea was reported in 38.7% of patients treated with lenvatinib (4.2% were Grade ≥ 3).
Paediatric population: Clinical data are not available in this population (see Dosage & Administration).
Other special populations: Elderly: DTC: Patients of age ≥75 years were more likely to experience Grade 3 or 4 hypertension, proteinuria, decreased appetite, and dehydration.
HCC: Patients of age ≥75 years were more likely to experience hypertension, proteinuria, decreased appetite, asthenia, dehydration, dizziness, malaise, peripheral oedema, pruritus and hepatic encephalopathy. Hepatic encephalopathy occurred at more than twice the incidence in patients aged ≥75 years (17.2%) than in those <75 years (7.1%). Hepatic encephalopathy tended to be associated with adverse disease characteristics at baseline or with the use of concomitant medications. Arterial thromboembolic events also occurred at an increased incidence in this age group.
Gender: DTC: Females had a higher incidence of hypertension (including Grade 3 or 4 hypertension), proteinuria, and PPE, while males had a higher incidence of decreased ejection fraction and gastrointestinal perforation and fistula formation.
HCC: Females had a higher incidence of hypertension, fatigue, ECG QT prolongation and alopecia. Men had a higher incidence (26.5%) of dysphonia than women (12.3%), decreased weight and decreased platelet count. Hepatic failure events were observed in male patients only.
Ethnic origin: DTC: Asian patients had a higher incidence than Caucasian patients of peripheral oedema, hypertension, fatigue, PPE, proteinuria, thrombocytopenia, and increased blood thyroid stimulating hormone.
HCC: Asian patients had a higher incidence than Caucasian patients of proteinuria, decreased neutrophil count, decreased platelet count, decreased white blood count and PPE syndrome, while Caucasian patients had a higher incidence of fatigue, hepatic encephalopathy, acute kidney injury, anxiety, asthenia, nausea, thrombocytopenia and vomiting.
Baseline hypertension: DTC: Patients with baseline hypertension had a higher incidence of Grade 3 or 4 hypertension, proteinuria, diarrhoea, and dehydration, and experienced more serious cases of dehydration, hypotension, pulmonary embolism, malignant pleural effusion, atrial fibrillation, and GI symptoms (abdominal pain, diarrhoea, vomiting).
Hepatic impairment: DTC: Patients with baseline hepatic impairment had a higher incidence of hypertension and PPE, and a higher incidence of Grade 3 or 4 hypertension, asthenia, fatigue, and hypocalcaemia compared with patients with normal hepatic function.
HCC: Patients with a baseline Child Pugh (CP) score of 6 (about 20% patients in the REFLECT study) had a higher incidence of decreased appetite, fatigue, proteinuria, hepatic encephalopathy and hepatic failure compared to patients with a baseline CP score of 5. Hepatotoxicity events and haemorrhage events also occurred at a higher incidence in CP score 6 patients compared to CP score 5 patients.
Renal impairment: DTC: Patients with baseline renal impairment had a higher incidence of Grade 3 or 4 hypertension, proteinuria, fatigue, stomatitis, oedema peripheral, thrombocytopenia, dehydration, prolonged QT, hypothyroidism, hyponatraemia, increased blood thyroid stimulating hormone, pneumonia compared with subjects with normal renal function. These patients also had a higher incidence of renal reactions and a trend towards a higher incidence of liver reactions.
HCC: Patients with baseline renal impairment had a higher incidence of fatigue, hypothyroidism, dehydration, diarrhoea, decreased appetite, proteinuria and hepatic encephalopathy. These patients also had a higher incidence of renal reactions and arterial thromboembolic events.
Patients with body weight <60 kg: DTC: Patients with low body weight (<60 kg) had a higher incidence of PPE, proteinuria, of Grade 3 or 4 hypocalcaemia and hyponatraemia, and a trend towards a higher incidence of Grade 3 or 4 decreased appetite.
Reporting of suspected adverse reactions: Reporting suspected adverse reactions after authorisation of the medicinal product is important. It allows continued monitoring of the benefit/risk balance of the medicinal product. Healthcare professionals are asked to report any suspected adverse reactions via the national reporting system listed in Appendix V.
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