Sunday 30 September 2012

Kineret 100 mg solution for injection in a vial





1. Name Of The Medicinal Product



Kineret 100 mg solution for injection in a vial.


2. Qualitative And Quantitative Composition



Each vial contains 100 mg of anakinra* per 0.67 ml (150 mg/ml).



* Human interleukinEscherichia coli cells by recombinant DNA technology.



For a full list of excipients, see section 6.1.



3. Pharmaceutical Form



Solution for injection (injection) in a vial.



Clear, colourless



4. Clinical Particulars



4.1 Therapeutic Indications



Kineret is indicated for the treatment of the signs and symptoms of rheumatoid arthritis in combination with methotrexate, in patients with an inadequate response to methotrexate alone.



4.2 Posology And Method Of Administration



The recommended dose of Kineret is 100 mg administered once a day by subcutaneous injection. The dose should be administered at approximately the same time each day.



Kineret is supplied ready for use in a vial. The instructions for use and handling are given in section 6.6.



Alternating the injection site is recommended to avoid discomfort at the site of injection.



Kineret treatment should be initiated and supervised by specialist physicians experienced in the diagnosis and treatment of rheumatoid arthritis.



Elderly patients (



No dose adjustment is required. Posology and administration are the same as for adults 18 to 64 years of age.



Children and adolescents (< 18 years)



There are insufficient data to recommend the use of Kineret in children and adolescents under 18 years of age.



Hepatic impairment



No dose adjustment is required.



Renal impairment



No dosage adjustment is needed for patients with mild renal impairment (CLcr 50 to 80 ml/minute). In the absence of adequate data, Kineret should be used with caution in patients with moderate renal impairment (CLcr 30 to 50 ml/minute). Kineret should not be used in patients with severe renal impairment (CLcr < 30 ml/minute) (see section 4.3).



4.3 Contraindications



Hypersensitivity to the active substance, any of the excipients or to E. coli derived proteins.



Kineret should not be used in patients with severe renal impairment (CLcr < 30 ml/minute) (see section 4.2).



4.4 Special Warnings And Precautions For Use



Allergic reactions



Allergic reactions associated with administration of Kineret during clinical trials were rare. The majority of these reactions were maculopapular or urticarial rashes. If a severe allergic reaction occurs, administration of Kineret should be discontinued and appropriate treatment initiated.



The vial stopper contains dry natural rubber (a derivative of latex), which may cause allergic reactions.



Serious infections



Kineret has been associated with an increased incidence of serious infections (1.8%) vs. placebo (0.7%). For a small number of patients with asthma, the incidence of serious infection was higher in Kineret-treated patients (4.5%) vs. placebo-treated patients (0%). The safety and efficacy of Kineret in patients with chronic infections have not been evaluated.



Physicians should exercise caution when administering Kineret to patients with a history of recurring infections or with underlying conditions which may predispose them to infections.



Neutropenia



Administration of Kineret was associated with neutropenia (ANC < 1.5 x 109/l) in 2.4% of patients compared with 0.4% of placebo patients. None of these patients had serious infections associated with the neutropenia.



Kineret treatment should not be initiated in patients with neutropenia (ANC < 1.5 x 109/l). It is recommended that neutrophil counts be assessed prior to initiating Kineret treatment, and while receiving Kineret, monthly during the first 6 months of treatment and quarterly hereafter. In patients who become neutropenic (ANC < 1.5 x 109/l) the ANC should be monitored closely and Kineret treatment should be discontinued.



Immunosuppression



The impact of treatment with Kineret on pre-existing malignancy has not been studied. Therefore the use of Kineret in patients with pre-existing malignancy is not recommended.



Vaccinations



In a placebo-controlled clinical trial (n = 126), no difference was detected in anti-tetanus antibody response between the Kineret and placebo treatment groups when a tetanus/diphtheria toxoid vaccine was administered concurrently with Kineret. No data are available on the effects of vaccination with other inactivated antigens in patients receiving Kineret.



No data are available on either the effects of live vaccination or on the secondary transmission of infection by live vaccines in patients receiving Kineret. Therefore, live vaccines should not be given concurrently with Kineret.



Elderly patients (



A total of 635 patients



Concurrent Kineret and TNF antagonist treatment



Concurrent administration of Kineret and etanercept has been associated with an increased risk of serious infections and neutropenia compared to etanercept alone. This treatment combination has not demonstrated increased clinical benefit.



The concurrent administration of Kineret and etanercept or other TNF antagonists is not recommended (see section 4.5).



4.5 Interaction With Other Medicinal Products And Other Forms Of Interaction



Interactions between Kineret and other medicinal products have not been investigated in formal studies.In clinical trials, interactions between Kineret and other medicinal products (including nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, corticosteroids, and DMARDs) have not been observed.



Concurrent Kineret and TNF antagonist treatment



In a clinical trial with patients receiving background methotrexate, patients treated with Kineret and etanercept were observed to have a higher rate of serious infections (7%) and neutropenia than patients treated with etanercept alone and higher than observed in previous trials where Kineret was used alone. Concurrent Kineret and etanercept treatment has not demonstrated increased clinical benefit.



The concurrent use of Kineret with etanercept or any other TNF antagonist is not recommended (see section 4.4).



For information on vaccinations see section 4.4.



4.6 Pregnancy And Lactation



There are no adequate data from the use of Kineret in pregnant women.



Animal studies do not indicate direct or indirect harmful effects with respect to pregnancy, embryonal/foetal development, parturition or postnatal development (see section 5.3).



The use of Kineret in pregnant women is not recommended.



Women of child-bearing potential must use effective contraception during treatment.



It is not known whether anakinra is excreted in human milk. The use of Kineret in women who are breast



4.7 Effects On Ability To Drive And Use Machines



No studies on the effects of Kineret on the ability to drive and use machines have been performed.



4.8 Undesirable Effects



In all placebo-controlled studies, the most frequently reported adverse event with Kineret was injection site reaction (ISRs), which was mild to moderate in the majority of patients. The most common reason for withdrawal from study in Kineret-treated patients is injection site reaction. The subject incidence of serious adverse events at the recommended dose of Kineret (100 mg/day) is comparable with placebo (7.1% compared with 6.5% in the placebo group). The incidence of serious infection was higher in Kineret-treated patients compared with patients receiving placebo (1.8% vs. 0.7%). Neutrophil decreases occurred more frequently in patients receiving Kineret compared with placebo.



















MedDRA Organ System




Frequency




Undesirable Effect




Blood and lymphatic system disorders




Common (




Neutropenia




Nervous system disorders




Very common (




Headache




Skin and subcutaneous tissue disorders




Very common (




Injection site reaction




Infections and infestations




Common (




Serious infections requiring hospitalisation



Injection site reactions



The most common and consistently reported treatment-related adverse events associated with Kineret were ISRs. The majority (95%) of ISRs were reported as mild to moderate. These were typically characterised by 1 or more of the following: erythaema, ecchymosis, inflammation, and pain. At a dose of 100 mg/day, 71% of patients developed an ISR compared to 28% of the placebo treated patients, which was typically reported within the first 4 weeks of therapy. The median duration of the above mentioned typical symptoms was 14 to 28 days. The development of ISRs in patients who had not previously experienced ISRs was uncommon after the first month of therapy.



Serious infections



The incidence of serious infections in the studies conducted at the recommended dose (100 mg/day) was 1.8% in Kineret treated patients and 0.7% in placebo-treated patients. In observations up to 3 years, the serious infection rate remained stable over time. The infections observed consisted primarily of bacterial events such as cellulitis, pneumonia, and bone and joint infections. Most patients continued on study drug after the infection resolved. There were no on-study deaths due to serious infectious episodes.



In clinical studies and post-marketing experience, rare cases of opportunistic infections have been observed and included fungal, mycobacterial, bacterial, and viral pathogens. Infections have been noted in all organ systems and have been reported in patients receiving Kineret alone or in combination with immunosuppressive agents.



Neutropenia



In placebo-controlled studies with Kineret, treatment was associated with small reductions in the mean values for total white blood count and absolute neutrophil count (ANC). Neutropenia (ANC < 1.5 x 109/l) was reported in 2.4% patients receiving Kineret compared with 0.4% of placebo patients.



Malignancies



Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) patients may be at a higher risk (on average 2-3 fold) for the development of lymphoma. In clinical trials, whilst patients treated with Kineret had a higher incidence of lymphoma than the expected rate in the general population, this rate is consistent with rates reported in general for RA patients.



In clinical trials, the crude incidence rate of malignancy was the same in the Kineret-treated patients and the placebo-treated patients and did not differ from that in the general population. Furthermore, the overall incidence of malignancies was not increased during 3 years of patient exposure to Kineret.



Immunogenicity



In clinical trials, up to 3% of adult patients tested seropositive at least once during the study for antibodies capable of neutralising the biologic effects of anakinra. The occurrence of antibodies was typically transient and not associated with clinical adverse reactions or diminished efficacy. In addition, in a clinical trial 6% of paediatric patients tested seropositive at least once during the study for antibodies capable of neutralising the biologic effects of anakinra.



4.9 Overdose



No dose-limiting toxicities were observed during clinical trials in rheumatoid arthritis patients.



In studies of sepsis, 1,015 patients received Kineret at doses up to 2 mg/kg/hour over a 72 hour treatment period. The adverse event profile from these studies show no overall difference from that seen in the rheumatoid arthritis studies.



5. Pharmacological Properties



5.1 Pharmacodynamic Properties



Pharmacotherapeutic group: Immunosuppressants, ATC code: L04AC03



Anakinra neutralises the biologic activity of interleukin-1α (IL-1α) and interleukin-1β(IL-1β) by competitively inhibiting their binding to interleukin-1 type I receptor (IL-1RI). Interleukin-1 (IL-1) is a pivotal pro-inflammatory cytokine mediating many cellular responses including those important in synovial inflammation.



IL-1 is found in the plasma and synovial fluid of patients with rheumatoid arthritis, and a correlation has been reported between IL-1 concentrations in the plasma and the activity of the disease.



Anakinra inhibits responses elicited by ILin vitro, including the induction of nitric oxide and prostaglandin E2 and/or collagenase production by synovial cells, fibroblasts, and chondrocytes.



Clinical data



The safety and efficacy of anakinra in combination with methotrexate have been demonstrated in patients with varying degrees of disease severity.



A clinical response to anakinra generally appeared within 2 weeks of initiation of treatment and was sustained with continued administration of anakinra. Maximal clinical response was generally seen within 12 weeks after starting treatment.



Combined anakinra and methotrexate treatment demonstrates a statistically and clinically significant reduction in the severity of the signs and symptoms of rheumatoid arthritis in patients who have had an inadequate response to methotrexate alone (38% vs. 22% responders as measured by ACR20 criteria. Significant improvements are seen in the pain, tender joint count, physical function (HAQ score), acute phase reactants and in the patient's and physician's global assessment.



X-ray examinations have been undertaken in one clinical study with anakinra. These have shown no deleterious effect on joint cartilage.



Immunogenicity



See section 4.8.



5.2 Pharmacokinetic Properties



The absolute bioavailability of anakinra after a 70 mg SC bolus injection in healthy subjects (n = 11) is 95%. The absorption process is the rate



The influence of demographic covariates on the pharmacokinetics of anakinra was studied using population pharmacokinetic analysis encompassing 341 patients receiving daily SC injection of anakinra at doses of 30, 75, and 150 mg for up to 24 weeks. The estimated anakinra clearance increased with increasing creatinine clearance and body weight. Population pharmacokinetic analysis demonstrated that the mean plasma clearance value after SC bolus administration was approximately 14% higher in men than in women and approximately 10% higher in subjects < 65 years than in subjects



5.3 Preclinical Safety Data



Anakinra had no observed effect on the fertility, early development, embryo-foetal development, or peri- and postnatal development in the rat at doses up to 100 times the human dose. No effects on embryo-foetal development in the rabbit were observed at doses 100 times the human dose.



In a standard battery of tests designed to identify hazards with respect to DNA, anakinra did not induce bacterial or mammalian cell gene mutations. Neither did anakinra increase the incidence of chromosomal abnormalities or micronuclei in bone marrow cells in mice. Long-term studies have not been performed to evaluate the carcinogenic potential of anakinra. Data from mice over expressing IL-1ra and IL-1ra mutant knock-out mice, did not indicate an increased risk of tumour development.



A formal toxicologic and toxicokinetic interaction study in rats revealed no evidence that Kineret alters the toxicologic or pharmacokinetic profile of methotrexate.



6. Pharmaceutical Particulars



6.1 List Of Excipients



Sodium citrate



Sodium chloride



Disodium edetate



Polysorbate 80



Sodium hydroxide



Water for injections



6.2 Incompatibilities



In the absence of compatibility studies, this medicinal product must not be mixed with other medicinal products.



6.3 Shelf Life



18 months.



6.4 Special Precautions For Storage



Store in a refrigerator (2°C – 8°C).



Do not freeze.



Store in the original container in order to protect from light.



For the purpose of ambulatory use, Kineret may be removed from the refrigerator for 12 hours at temperature not above 25°C, without exceeding the expiry date. At the end of this period, the product must not be put back in the refrigerator and must be disposed of.



6.5 Nature And Contents Of Container



0.67 ml of solution for injection in a vial (Type I glass) with rubber stoppers, aluminium seals and plastic flip



The vial stopper contains dry natural rubber (a derivative of latex). See section 4.4.



6.6 Special Precautions For Disposal And Other Handling



Kineret is a sterile unpreserved solution. For single use only.



Do not shake. Allow the vial to reach room temperature before injecting.



Before administration, visually inspect the solution for particulate matter and discolouration. Only clear, colourless



The presence of these particles does not affect the quality of the product.



Any unused product or waste material should be disposed of in accordance with local requirements.



7. Marketing Authorisation Holder



Biovitrum AB (publ)



SE-112 76 Stockholm



Sweden



8. Marketing Authorisation Number(S)



EU/1/02/203/004



9. Date Of First Authorisation/Renewal Of The Authorisation



Date of first authorisation: 8 March 2002



Date of latest renewal: 20 March 2007



10. Date Of Revision Of The Text



26 January 2010



Detailed information on this medicinal product is available on the website of the European Medicines Agency (EMEA) http://www.emea.europa.eu/.




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