Panobinostat

Indications and Usage

Panobinostat (Farydak) is FDA approved for the treatment of patients with myeloma who have received at least two prior standard therapies, including bortezomib and an immunomodulatory agent. Panobinostat is to be used in combination with bortezomib, a type of chemotherapy, and dexamethasone, an anti-inflammatory medication. 

Side effects needing medical attention

Diarrhea, tiredness, nausea, swelling in the arms or legs, decreased appetite, fever, vomiting and weakness, low levels of phosphorus in the blood (hypophosphatemia), low potassium levels in the blood (hypokalemia), low levels of salt in the blood (hyponatremia), increased creatinine, low platelets (thrombocytopenia), low white blood cell counts (leukopenia) and low red blood cell counts (anemia), risk of bleeding in the gastrointestinal tract and the lungs, and liver damage (hepatotoxicity).

Severe diarrhea and severe and fatal cardiac events, arrhythmias and electrocardiogram (ECG) changes have occurred in patients receiving panobinostat. Because of these risks, panobinostat is being approved with a Risk Evaluation and Mitigation Strategy (REMS) consisting of a communication plan to inform health care professionals of these risks and how to minimize them.