What is Balversa, and how does it work?
Balversa is a prescription medicine used to treat adults with bladder cancer (urothelial cancer) that has spread or cannot be removed by surgery:
- which has a certain type of abnormal “FGFR” gene, and
- who have tried at least one other chemotherapy medicine that contains platinum, and it did not work or is no longer working.
What are the side effects of Balversa?
Balversa may cause serious side effects, including:
- Eye problems. Eye problems are common with Balversa but can also be serious. Eye problems include dry or inflamed eyes, inflamed cornea (front part of the eye) and disorders of the retina, an internal part of the eye.
- Tell your healthcare provider right away if you develop blurred vision, loss of vision or other visual changes.
- You should use artificial tear substitutes, hydrating or lubricating eye gels or ointments at least every 2 hours during waking hours to help prevent dry eyes.
- During treatment with Balversa, your healthcare provider will send you to see an eye specialist.
- High phosphate levels in the blood (hyperphosphatemia). Hyperphosphatemia is common with Balversa but can also be serious.
- Your healthcare provider will check your blood phosphate level between 14 and 21 days after starting treatment with Balversa, and then monthly, and may change your dose if needed.
The most common side effects of Balversa include:
- mouth sores
- feeling tired
- change in kidney function
- diarrhea
- dry mouth
- nails separate from the bed or poor formation of the nail
- change in liver function
- low salt (sodium) levels
- decreased appetite
- change in sense of taste
- low red blood cells (anemia)
- dry skin
- dry eyes
- hair loss
- redness, swelling, peeling or tenderness, mainly on the hands or feet ('hand-foot syndrome')
- constipation
- stomach (abdominal) pain
- nausea
- muscle pain
Tell your healthcare provider right away if you develop any nail or skin problems including nails separating from the nail bed, nail pain, nail bleeding, breaking of the nails, color or texture changes in your nails, infected skin around the nail, an itchy skin rash, dry skin, or cracks in the skin.
Balversa may affect fertility in females who are able to become pregnant. Talk to your healthcare provider if this is a concern for you.
These are not all possible side effects of Balversa. For more information, ask your healthcare provider or pharmacist.
Call your healthcare provider for medical advice about side effects. You may report side effects to FDA at 1-800-FDA-1088.
What is the dosage for Balversa?
Patient Selection
- Select patients for the treatment of locally advanced or metastatic urothelial carcinoma with Balversa based on the presence of susceptible FGFR genetic alterations in tumor specimens as detected by an FDA-approved companion diagnostic.
- Information on FDA-approved tests for the detection of FGFR genetic alterations in urothelial cancer is available at: http://www.fda.gov/CompanionDiagnostics.
Recommended Dosage And Schedule
- The recommended starting dose of Balversa is 8 mg (two 4 mg tablets) orally once daily, with a dose increase to 9 mg (three 3 mg tablets) once daily based on serum phosphate (PO4) levels and tolerability at 14 to 21 days.
- Swallow tablets whole with or without food. If vomiting occurs any time after taking Balversa, the next dose should be taken the next day. Treatment should continue until disease progression or unacceptable toxicity occurs.
- If a dose of Balversa is missed, it can be taken as soon as possible on the same day.
- Resume the regular daily dose schedule for Balversa the next day. Extra tablets should not be taken to make up for the missed dose.
Dose Increase Based On Serum Phosphate Levels
- Assess serum phosphate levels 14 to 21 days after initiating treatment.
- Increase the dose of Balversa to 9 mg once daily if serum phosphate level is < 5.5 mg/dL and there are no ocular disorders or Grade 2 or greater adverse reactions.
- Monitor phosphate levels monthly for hyperphosphatemia.
Dose Modifications For Adverse Reactions
The recommended dose modifications for adverse reactions are listed in Table 1.
Table 1: Balversa Dose Reduction Schedule
Dose | 1st dose reduction | 2nd dose reduction | 3rd dose reduction | 4th dose reduction | 5th dose reduction |
9 mg → (three 3 mg tablets) | 8 mg (two 4 mg tablets) | 6 mg (two 3 mg tablets) | 5 mg (one 5 mg tablet) | 4 mg (one 4 mg tablet) | Stop |
8 mg → (two 4 mg tablets) | 6 mg (two 3 mg tablets) | 5 mg (one 5 mg tablet) | 4 mg (one 4 mg tablet) | Stop |
Table 2 summarizes recommendations for dose interruption, reduction, or discontinuation of Balversa in the management of specific adverse reactions.
Table 2: Dose Modifications for Adverse Reactions
Adverse Reaction | Balversa Dose Modification |
Hyperphosphatemia | |
In all patients, restrict phosphate intake to 600-800 mg daily. If serum phosphate is above 7.0 mg/dL, consider adding an oral phosphate binder until serum phosphate level returns to < 5.5 mg/dL. | |
5.6-6.9 mg/dL (1.8-2.3 mmol/L) | Continue Balversa at current dose. |
7.0-9.0 mg/dL (2.3-2.9 mmol/L) | Withhold Balversa with weekly reassessments until level returns to < 5.5 mg/dL (or baseline). Then restart Balversa at the same dose level. A dose reduction may be implemented for hyperphosphatemia lasting > 1 week. |
> 9.0 mg/dL (> 2.9 mmol/L) | Withhold Balversa with weekly reassessments until level returns to < 5.5 mg/dL (or baseline). Then may restart Balversa at 1 dose level lower. |
> 10.0 mg/dL (> 3.2 mmol/L) or significant alteration in baseline renal function or Grade 3 hypercalcemia | Withhold Balversa with weekly reassessments until level returns to < 5.5 mg/dL (or baseline). Then may restart Balversa at 2 dose levels lower. |
Central Serous Retinopathy/Retinal Pigment Epithelial Detachment (CSR/RPED) | |
Grade 1: Asymptomatic; clinical or diagnostic observations only | Withhold until resolution. If resolves within 4 weeks, resume at the next lower dose level. Then, if no recurrence for a month, consider re-escalation. If stable for 2 consecutive eye exams but not resolved, resume at the next lower dose level. |
Grade 2: Visual acuity 20/40 or better or ≤ 3 lines of decreased vision from baseline | Withhold until resolution. If resolves within 4 weeks, may resume at the next lower dose level. |
Grade 3: Visual acuity worse than 20/40 or > 3 lines of decreased vision from baseline | Withhold until resolution. If resolves within 4 weeks, may resume two dose levels lower. If recurs, consider permanent discontinuation. |
Grade 4: Visual acuity 20/200 or worse in affected eye | Permanently discontinue. |
Other Adverse Reactions* | |
Grade 3 | Withhold Balversa until resolves to Grade 1 or baseline, then may resume dose level lower. |
Grade 4 | Permanently discontinue. |
* Dose adjustment graded using the National Cancer Institute Common Terminology Criteria for Adverse Events (NCI CTCAEv4.03). |

SLIDESHOW
Signs of Prostate Cancer: Symptoms, PSA Test, Treatments See SlideshowWhat drugs interact with Balversa?
Effect Of Other Drugs On Balversa
Table 5 summarizes drug interactions that affect the exposure of Balversa or serum phosphate level and their clinical management.
Table 5: Drug Interactions that Affect Balversa
Moderate CYP2C9 or Strong CYP3A4 Inhibitors | |
Clinical Impact |
|
Clinical Management |
|
Strong CYP2C9 or CYP3A4 Inducers | |
Clinical Impact |
|
Clinical Management |
|
Moderate CYP2C9 or CYP3A4 Inducers | |
Clinical Impact |
|
Clinical Management |
|
Serum Phosphate Level-Altering Agents | |
Clinical Impact |
|
Clinical Management |
|
Effect Of Balversa On Other Drugs
Table 6 summarizes the effect of Balversa on other drugs and their clinical management.
Table 6: Balversa Drug Interactions that Affect Other Drugs
CYP3A4 Substrates | |
Clinical Impact |
|
Clinical Management |
|
OCT2 Substrates | |
Clinical Impact |
|
Clinical Management |
|
P-glycoprotein (P-gp) Substrates | |
Clinical Impact |
|
Clinical Management |
|
Is Balversa safe to use while pregnant or breastfeeding?
- Based on the mechanism of action and findings in animal reproduction studies, Balversa can cause fetal harm when administered to a pregnant woman.
- There are no available data on Balversa use in pregnant women to inform a drug-associated risk.
- There are no data on the presence of erdafitinib in human milk, or the effects of erdafitinib on the breastfed child, or on milk production.
- Because of the potential for serious adverse reactions from erdafitinib in a breastfed child, advise lactating women not to breastfeed during treatment with Balversa and for one month following the last dose.
Summary
Balversa is a prescription medicine used to treat adults with bladder cancer (urothelial cancer) that has spread or cannot be removed by surgery. Serious side effects of Balversa include eye problems and high phosphate levels in the blood (hyperphosphatemia).
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You are encouraged to report negative side effects of prescription drugs to the FDA. Visit the FDA MedWatch website or call 1-800-FDA-1088.