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Drugs A–Z

Topotecan

Topotecan is a prescription medicine. The sections below reproduce one FDA label for it, named under "Label". Products in other forms, strengths or from other makers have their own labels, which can differ.

Type
Prescription only (Rx)
Brand names
Hycamtin
Taken
Oral
Label
Sandoz Inc, revised September 18, 2023 · full label on DailyMed
Generic
FDA-approved (7 companies) · details

Boxed warning — the FDA's most serious warning for a medicine

WARNING: MYELOSUPPRESSION HYCAMTIN can cause severe myelosuppression. Administer first cycle only to patients with baseline neutrophil counts of greater than or equal to 1,500/mm 3 and platelet counts greater than or equal to 100,000/mm 3 . Monitor blood cell counts [see Warnings and Precautions (5.1)] . WARNING: MYELOSUPPRESSION See full prescribing information for complete boxed warning. HYCAMTIN can cause severe myelosuppression. Administer first cycle only to patients with baseline neutrophil counts of greater than or equal to 1,500/mm 3 and platelet counts of greater than or equal to 100,000/mm 3 . Monitor blood cell counts ( 2.2 , 5.1 ).

What it is used for

HYCAMTIN ® capsules are indicated for the treatment of relapsed small cell lung cancer (SCLC) in patients with a prior complete or partial response and who are at least 45 days from the end of first-line chemotherapy. HYCAMTIN capsules is a topoisomerase inhibitor indicated for treatment of patients with relapsed small cell lung cancer (SCLC). ( 1 )

Forms and strengths

Capsules

  • 0.25 mg: opaque white to yellowish-white and imprinted with HYCAMTIN and 0.25 mg.
  • 1 mg: opaque pink and imprinted with HYCAMTIN and 1 mg. Capsules: 0.25 mg or 1 mg ( 3 )

Who should not take it (contraindications)

HYCAMTIN is contraindicated in patients who have a history of severe hypersensitivity reactions to topotecan. Reactions have included anaphylactoid reactions [see Adverse Reactions (6.2)] .

  • History of severe hypersensitivity reactions to topotecan ( 4 )

Warnings and precautions

  • Diarrhea: Severe diarrhea can occur. Withhold and reduce dose as recommended. ( 2.2 , 5.2 )
  • Interstitial Lung Disease (ILD): Fatal cases have occurred. Permanently discontinue if confirmed ILD. ( 5.3 )
  • Embryo-Fetal Toxicity: Can cause fetal harm. Advise patients of potential risk to the fetus and to use effective contraception. ( 5.4 , 8.1 , 8.3 )

5.1 Myelosuppression HYCAMTIN can cause severe myelosuppression. The following safety data are based on an integrated safety database from four trials in patients with lung cancer (N = 682) who received HYCAMTIN capsules at a dose of 2.3 mg/m 2 orally once daily for 5 consecutive days, starting on Day 1 of a 21-day cycle. The median day for neutrophil and platelet nadirs occurred on Day 15. Grade 4 neutropenia occurred in 32% of the 682 patients, with a median duration of 7 days. Grade 4 neutropenia most commonly occurred during cycle 1 (20% of patients). Clinical sequelae of neutropenia included infection (17%), febrile neutropenia (4%), sepsis (2%), and septic death (1%). Grade 4 thrombocytopenia occurred in 6%, with a median duration of 3 days. Grade 3 or 4 anemia occurred in 25%. HYCAMTIN can cause fatal typhlitis (neutropenic enterocolitis). Consider the possibility of typhlitis in patients presenting with fever, neutropenia, and abdominal pain. Administer the first cycle of HYCAMTIN capsules only to patients with a baseline neutrophil count greater than or equal to 1,500/mm 3 and a platelet count greater than or equal to 100,000/mm 3 . Monitor blood cell counts frequently during treatment. Withhold and reduce dose of HYCAMTIN capsules based on neutrophil counts, platelet counts and hemoglobin levels [see Dosage and Administration (2.2)] .

5.2 Diarrhea Diarrhea, including severe and life-threatening diarrhea requiring hospitalization, can occur with HYCAMTIN capsules. Diarrhea can occur at the same time as drug-induced neutropenia and its sequelae. In the 682 patients who received HYCAMTIN capsules in the four lung cancer trials, the incidence of diarrhea caused by HYCAMTIN capsules was 22%, including Grade 3 (4%) and Grade 4 (0.4%). The incidence of Grade 3 or 4 diarrhea proximate (within 5 days) to Grade 3 or 4 neutropenia was 5%. The median time to onset of Grade 2 to 4 diarrhea was 9 days in the group receiving HYCAMTIN capsules. Monitor patients for diarrhea and treat with antidiarrheals at the first sign of diarrhea. Withhold and dose reduce as recommended based on severity [see Dosage and Administration (2.2)] .

5.3 Interstitial Lung Disease Interstitial lung disease (ILD), including fatalities, can occur with HYCAMTIN. Underlying risk factors include history of ILD, pulmonary fibrosis, lung cancer, thoracic radiation, and use of pneumotoxic drugs or colony stimulating factors. Monitor for pulmonary symptoms indicative of ILD. Permanently discontinue HYCAMTIN capsules if ILD is confirmed.

5.4 Embryo-Fetal Toxicity Based on animal data, HYCAMTIN can cause fetal harm when administered to a pregnant woman. Topotecan caused embryolethality, fetotoxicity, and teratogenicity in rats and rabbits when administered during organogenesis. Advise women of the potential risk to fetus. Advise females of reproductive potential to use effective contraception during treatment and for at least 6 months after the last dose of HYCAMTIN capsules. Advise males with a female partner of reproductive potential to use effective contraception during treatment with HYCAMTIN capsules and for 3 months after the last dose [see Use in Specific Populations (8.1, 8.3), Nonclincial Toxicology (13.1)] .

Side effects (adverse reactions)

The following serious adverse reactions are described elsewhere in the labeling:

  • Myelosuppression [see Warnings and Precautions (5.1)]
  • Diarrhea [see Warnings and Precautions (5.2)]
  • Interstitial Lung Disease (ILD) [see Warnings and Precautions (5.3)]
  • The most common Grade 3 or 4 hematologic adverse reactions (incidence > 20%) were neutropenia, anemia, and thrombocytopenia.
  • The most common (incidence > 10%) non-hematologic adverse reactions (all Grades) were nausea, diarrhea, vomiting, alopecia, fatigue, and anorexia. ( 6.1 ) To report SUSPECTED ADVERSE REACTIONS, contact Sandoz Inc. at 1-800-525-8747 or FDA at 1-800-FDA-1088 or www.fda.gov/medwatch .

6.1 Clinical Trials Experience Because clinical trials are conducted under widely varying conditions, adverse reaction rates observed in the clinical trials of a drug cannot be directly compared with rates in the clinical trials of another drug and may not reflect the rates observed in practice. The data in the Warnings and Precautions and below reflects exposure to HYCAMTIN capsules in 682 patients with recurrent lung cancer enrolled in four randomized, open label trials, including 275 patients with small lung cell lung cancer (SCLC) (Studies 478, 065 and 396), and 407 patients with non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) (Study 387), who received at least one dose of HYCAMTIN capsules. Patients in these trials had advanced lung cancer and received prior chemotherapy in the first-line setting. Patients received HYCAMTIN capsules 2.3 mg/m 2 orally once daily for 5 consecutive days, starting on Day 1 of a 21-day cycle. The median number of cycles was 3 (range: 1 to 20). The safety of HYCAMTIN capsules was evaluated in a randomized trial (Study 478) conducted in 70 patients with recurrent SCLC [see Clinical Studies (14)] . In the 682 patients who received HYCAMTIN capsules in the four lung cancer trials, 39 deaths (6%) occurred within 30 days after the last dose for a reason other than progressive disease: 13 due to hematologic toxicity, 5 due to non-hematologic toxicity (2 from diarrhea), and 21 due to other causes. Table 1 describes the hematologic and non-hematologic adverse reactions that occurred in greater than 5% of patients treated with HYCAMTIN capsules in these trials. Table 1. Adverse Reactions Occurring in Greater than or Equal to 5% of Patients With Lung Cancer Adverse Reactions Adverse reactions were graded using National Cancer Institute (NCI) Common Toxicity Criteria (CTC) Version 2.0. HYCAMTIN Capsules With Best Supportive Care (Study 478) HYCAMTIN Capsules Lung Cancer Population (Studies 478, 065, 396 and 387) N = 70 N = 682 All Grades (%) Grade 3 (%) Grade 4 (%) All Grades (%) Grade 3 (%) Grade 4 (%) Hematologic Anemia 94 15 10 98 18 7 Neutropenia 91 28 33 83 24 32 Thrombocytopenia 81 30 7 81 29 6 Non-hematologic Nausea 27 1 0 33 3 0 Vomiting 19 1 0 21 3

0.4 Diarrhea 14 4 1 22 4

0.4 Fatigue 11 0 0 19 4

0.1 Alopecia 10 0 0 20 0.1 0 Pyrexia 7 1 0 5 1 1 Anorexia 7 0 0 14 2 0 Asthenia 3 0 0 7 2 0

6.2 Postmarketing Experience The following reactions have been identified during post approval use of HYCAMTIN. Because these reactions are reported voluntarily from a population of unknown size, it is not always possible to reliably estimate their frequency or establish a causal relationship to drug exposure. Gastrointestinal: Gastrointestinal perforation General and Administration Site Conditions: Mucosal inflammation Hypersensitivity: Allergic manifestations, anaphylactoid reactions, angioedema

Drug interactions

  • Avoid concomitant use of P-glycoprotein (P-gp) or breast cancer resistance protein (BCRP) inhibitors with HYCAMTIN capsules. ( 7.1 , 12.3 )

7.1 Effect of Other Drugs on HYCAMTIN P-glycoprotein or Breast Cancer Resistance Protein Inhibitor Concomitant use of a P-glycoprotein (P-gp) or breast cancer resistance protein (BCRP) inhibitor increases topotecan AUC [see Clinical Pharmacology (12.3)] , which may increase the risk of adverse reactions. Avoid concomitant use HYCAMTIN capsules with P-gp inhibitors or BCRP inhibitors.

Pregnancy, breastfeeding, children and older adults

  • Lactation: Advise not to breastfeed. ( 8.2 )

8.1 Pregnancy Risk Summary Based on animal data and its mechanism of action, HYCAMTIN can cause fetal harm when administered to a pregnant woman. There are no available clinical data on the use of HYCAMTIN in pregnancy. Topotecan caused embryolethality, fetotoxicity, and teratogenicity in rats and rabbits when administered during organogenesis at doses similar to the clinical dose (see Data) . Advise pregnant women of the potential risk to a fetus. In the U.S. general population, the background risk of major birth defects is 2% to 4% and of miscarriage is 15% to 20% of clinically recognized pregnancies. Data Animal Data In rabbits, an intravenous dose of 0.10 mg/kg/day [about equal to the 1.5 mg/m 2 clinical intravenous dose based on body surface area (BSA)] given on days 6 through 20 of gestation caused maternal toxicity, embryolethality, and reduced fetal body weight. In the rat, an intravenous dose of 0.23 mg/kg/day (about equal to the 1.5 mg/m 2 clinical intravenous dose based on BSA) given for 14 days before mating through gestation day 6 caused fetal resorption, microphthalmia, pre-implant loss, and mild maternal toxicity. Administration of an intravenous dose of 0.10 mg/kg/day (about half the 1.5 mg/m 2 clinical intravenous dose based on BSA) to rats on days 6 through 17 of gestation caused an increase in post-implantation mortality. This dose also caused an increase in total fetal malformations. The most frequent malformations were of the eye (microphthalmia, anophthalmia, rosette formation of the retina, coloboma of the retina, ectopic orbit), brain (dilated lateral and third ventricles), skull, and vertebrae.

8.2 Lactation Risk Summary There are no data on the presence of topotecan or its metabolites in human milk, or their effects on the breastfed infant or milk production. Lactating rats excrete high concentrations of topotecan into milk ( see Data ). Because of the potential for serious adverse reactions in breastfed infants, advise women not to breastfeed during treatment with HYCAMTIN and for 1 week after the last dose. Data Following intravenous administration of topotecan to lactating rats at a dose of 4.72 mg/m 2 (about twice the 1.5 mg/m 2 clinical intravenous dose based on BSA), topotecan was excreted into milk at concentrations up to 48-fold higher than those in plasma.

8.3 Females and Males of Reproductive Potential Pregnancy Testing Verify pregnancy status of females of reproductive potential prior to initiating HYCAMTIN capsules [see Use in Specific Populations (8.1)] . Contraception HYCAMTIN can cause fetal harm when administered to a pregnant woman [see Use in Specific Populations (8.1)] . Females Advise female patients of reproductive potential to use effective contraception during treatment with HYCAMTIN capsules and for 6 months after the last dose. Males HYCAMTIN capsules may damage spermatozoa, resulting in possible genetic and fetal abnormalities. Advise males with a female partner of reproductive potential to use effective contraception during treatment with HYCAMTIN capsules and for 3 months after the last dose [see Nonclinical Toxicology (13.1)] . Infertility Females HYCAMTIN can have both acute and long-term effects on fertility [see Nonclinical Toxicology (13.1)] . Males Effects on spermatogenesis have occurred in animals administered topotecan [see Nonclinical Toxicology (13.1)] .

8.4 Pediatric Use Safety and effectiveness in pediatric patients have not been established.

8.5 Geriatric Use Of the 682 patients with lung cancer who received HYCAMTIN capsules in the four clinical trials, 33% were aged 65 years and older, while 4.8% were aged 75 years and older. Treatment-related diarrhea was more frequent in patients aged greater than or equal to 65 years (28%) compared with those younger than 65 years (19%) [see Warnings and Precautions (5.2), Adverse Reactions (6.1)] . No overall differences in effectiveness were observed between patients 65 years and older and younger patients.

8.6 Renal Impairment No dosage adjustment is recommended for patients with creatinine clearance (CLcr) greater than or equal to 50 mL/min. Reduce the dose of HYCAMTIN capsules in patients with CLcr less than 49 mL/min [see Dosage and Administration (2.3), Clinical Pharmacology (12.3)].

How it works

Topoisomerase I relieves torsional strain in DNA by inducing reversible single-strand breaks. Topotecan binds to the topoisomerase I-DNA complex and prevents re-ligation of these single-strand breaks. The cytotoxicity of topotecan is thought to be due to double-strand DNA damage produced during DNA synthesis, when replication enzymes interact with the ternary complex formed by topotecan, topoisomerase I, and DNA. Mammalian cells cannot efficiently repair these double-strand breaks.

Is there a generic Topotecan?

Yes. The FDA has approved generic Topotecan from 7 companies whose approvals are active. The earliest of these was approved in 2010.

An FDA approval does not always mean the generic is already in pharmacies: patent disputes and settlements can delay a launch for years. Your pharmacist can tell you whether a generic is actually available and covered by your plan.

The FDA rates these generics as therapeutically equivalent to the brand ("A" rating): same active ingredient, strength, dosage form and effect. Pharmacists can usually substitute them unless the prescriber says otherwise.

Companies with an approved generic

Accord Hlthcare, Actavis Totowa, Dr Reddys Labs Ltd, Fresenius Kabi Usa, Ingenus Pharms Llc, Sagent Pharms, Teyro Labs

Brand-name versions

Source: Drugs@FDA (via openFDA), checked October 29, 2026. Marketing status is what companies report to the FDA; whether a pharmacy stocks a product, and what your insurance covers, can differ.

Dosage:
we do not reproduce dosing instructions. The right dose depends on the person and the condition and is set by the prescriber or pharmacist. Dosage section of the full label.

Topotecan in the news

We have not covered this medicine yet. Latest news

Recalls

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Source: FDA structured product labeling, retrieved through openFDA. Label text is shown as published by the FDA, without editing; long sections are shortened, marked […]. openFDA data are not validated for clinical use — always check the current label and ask a doctor or pharmacist about your own treatment. Set ID b23b46f5-c276-47f5-8bbd-940680b3f579.


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Important: this content is for informational purposes only and is not medical advice, a prescribing instruction, or a recommendation to act. Consult a licensed healthcare professional before taking any medication.

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