Basic Information
L01CD02
docetaxel
Antineoplastic agents
Therapeutic indication
Breast cancer
Docetaxel Kabi in combination with doxorubicin and cyclophosphamide is indicated for the adjuvant treatment of patients with:
- operable node-positive breast cancer;
- operable node-negative breast cancer.
For patients with operable node-negative breast cancer, adjuvant treatment should be restricted to patients eligible to receive chemotherapy according to internationally established criteria for primary therapy of early breast cancer.
Docetaxel Kabi in combination with doxorubicin is indicated for the treatment of patients with locally advanced or metastatic breast cancer who have not previously received cytotoxic therapy for this condition.
Docetaxel Kabi monotherapy is indicated for the treatment of patients with locally advanced or metastatic breast cancer after failure of cytotoxic therapy. Previous chemotherapy should have included an anthracycline or an alkylating agent.
Docetaxel Kabi in combination with trastuzumab is indicated for the treatment of patients with metastatic breast cancer whose tumours overexpress HER2 and who previously have not received chemotherapy for metastatic disease.
Docetaxel Kabi in combination with capecitabine is indicated for the treatment of patients with locally advanced or metastatic breast cancer after failure of cytotoxic chemotherapy. Previous therapy should have included an anthracycline.
Non-small-cell lung cancer
Docetaxel Kabi is indicated for the treatment of patients with locally advanced or metastatic non-small-cell lung cancer after failure of prior chemotherapy.
Docetaxel Kabi in combination with cisplatin is indicated for the treatment of patients with unresectable, locally advanced or metastatic non-small-cell lung cancer, in patients who have not previously received chemotherapy for this condition.
Prostate cancer
Docetaxel Kabi in combination with prednisone or prednisolone is indicated for the treatment of patients with castration-resistant metastatic prostate cancer.
Docetaxel Kabi in combination with androgen-deprivation therapy (ADT), with or without prednisone or prednisolone, is indicated for the treatment of patients with metastatic hormone-sensitive prostate cancer.
Gastric adenocarcinoma
Docetaxel Kabi in combination with cisplatin and 5-fluorouracil is indicated for the treatment of patients with metastatic gastric adenocarcinoma, including adenocarcinoma of the gastroesophageal junction, who have not received prior chemotherapy for metastatic disease.
Head and neck cancer
Docetaxel Kabi in combination with cisplatin and 5-fluorouracil is indicated for the induction treatment of patients with locally advanced squamous cell carcinoma of the head and neck.
Overview Summary
Docetaxel Kabi is a cancer medicine used to treat the following types of cancer:
- breast cancer. Docetaxel Kabi can be used on its own after other treatments have failed. It can also be used with other cancer medicines (capecitabine, cyclophosphamide, doxorubicin or trastuzumab) in patients who have not yet received treatment for their cancer or after other treatments have failed, depending on the type and stage of the breast cancer being treated;
- non‑small-cell lung cancer. Docetaxel Kabi can be used on its own after other treatments have failed. It can also be used with cisplatin (another cancer medicine) in patients who have not yet received any treatment for their cancer;
- prostate cancer that has spread to other parts of the body (metastatic). Docetaxel Kabi is used with androgen-deprivation therapy (therapy greatly reducing the body’s production of testosterone) when such treatment still works. Docetaxel Kabi is used with prednisone or prednisolone (anti-inflammatory medicines) when the cancer is castration resistant (androgen-deprivation therapy does not work);
- metastatic gastric adenocarcinoma (a stomach cancer) in patients who have not yet received any treatment for metastatic cancer. Docetaxel Kabi is used with cisplatin and fluorouracil (other cancer medicines);
- head and neck cancer in patients whose cancer is locally advanced (a cancer that has grown but has not spread). Docetaxel Kabi is used with cisplatin and fluorouracil.
Docetaxel Kabi is a ‘generic medicine’. This means that Docetaxel Kabi is similar to a ‘reference medicine’ already authorised in the European Union (EU) called Taxotere.
Docetaxel Kabi contains the active substance docetaxel.
Active Substances (1)
docetaxel
Documents (8)
Docetaxel Kabi : EPAR - Summary for the public
June 17, 2012
OVERVIEW_DOCUMENT
Docetaxel Kabi : EPAR - Product Information
June 17, 2012
DRUG_PRODUCT_INFORMATION
Docetaxel Kabi : EPAR - All Authorised presentations
June 17, 2012
AUTHORISED_PRESENTATIONS
Docetaxel Kabi : EPAR - Public assessment report
June 17, 2012
INITIAL_MARKETING_AUTHORISATION_DOCUMENTS
CHMP summary of positive opinion for Docetaxel Kabi
March 15, 2012
INITIAL_MARKETING_AUTHORISATION_DOCUMENTS
Docetaxel Kabi : EPAR - Public assessment report
June 17, 2012
CHANGES_SINCE_INITIAL_AUTHORISATION
CHMP summary of positive opinion for Docetaxel Kabi
March 15, 2012
CHANGES_SINCE_INITIAL_AUTHORISATION
Docetaxel Kabi : EPAR - Procedural steps taken and scientific information after authorisation
November 27, 2012
CHANGES_SINCE_INITIAL_AUTHORISATION
Overview Q&A (7)
Question
Other information about Docetaxel Kabi
Answer
Docetaxel Kabi received a marketing authorisation valid throughout the EU on 22 May 2012.
Question
How is Docetaxel Kabi used?
Answer
Docetaxel Kabi can only be obtained with a prescription and should only be used in units specialising in giving chemotherapy (medicines to treat cancer) under the supervision of a doctor who is qualified in the use of chemotherapy.
Docetaxel Kabi is given as a 1-hour infusion every 3 weeks. The dose, duration of treatment and the medicines it is used with depend on the type of cancer being treated and the patient’s weight and height. An anti?inflammatory medicine such as dexamethasone should also be given to the patient, starting on the day before the Docetaxel Kabi infusion. The dose of Docetaxel Kabi may need to be reduced, or treatment interrupted or discontinued, if the patient develops certain side effects.
For more information about using Docetaxel Kabi, see the package leaflet or contact your doctor or pharmacist.
Question
How does Docetaxel Kabi work?
Answer
The active substance in Docetaxel Kabi, docetaxel, belongs to the group of cancer medicines known as taxanes. Docetaxel blocks the ability of cells to break down the internal ‘skeleton’ that allows them to divide. With the skeleton still in place, the cells cannot divide and they eventually die. Because docetaxel works on dividing cells, it affects non?cancer cells such as blood cells, which can cause side effects.
Question
What measures are being taken to ensure the safe and effective use of Docetaxel Kabi?
Answer
Recommendations and precautions to be followed by healthcare professionals and patients for the safe and effective use of Docetaxel Kabi have been included in the summary of product characteristics and the package leaflet.
As for all medicines, data on the use of Docetaxel Kabi are continuously monitored. Side effects reported with Docetaxel Kabi are carefully evaluated and any necessary action taken to protect patients.
Question
Why has Docetaxel Kabi authorised in the EU?
Answer
The European Medicines Agency concluded that, in accordance with EU requirements, Docetaxel Kabi has been shown to be comparable to Taxotere. Therefore, the Agency’s view was that, as for Taxotere, the benefits of Docetaxel Kabi outweigh the identified risks and it can be authorised for use in the EU.
Question
What are the benefits and risks of Docetaxel Kabi?
Answer
Because Docetaxel Kabi is a generic medicine, its benefits and risks are taken as being the same as the reference medicine’s.
Question
How has Docetaxel Kabi been studied?
Answer
Studies on the benefits and risks of the active substance in the authorised uses have already been carried out with the reference medicine, Taxotere, and do not need to be repeated for Docetaxel Kabi.
As for every medicine, the company provided studies on the quality of Docetaxel Kabi. There was no need for ‘bioequivalence’ studies to investigate whether Docetaxel Kabi is absorbed similarly to the reference medicine to produce the same level of the active substance in the blood. This is because Docetaxel Kabi is given by infusion into a vein, so the active substance is delivered straight into the bloodstream.