Source: FDA, National Drug Code (US) Revision Year: 2021
AMELUZ is contraindicated in patients with:
Several cases of hypersensitivity were reported during postmarketing use of AMELUZ prior to PDT illumination [see Adverse Reactions (6.2)]. If allergic reactions occur, clean the area of skin where the product was applied and institute appropriate therapy. Inform patients and their caregivers that AMELUZ may cause hypersensitivity, potentially including severe courses (anaphylaxis).
Transient amnestic episodes have been reported during postmarketing use of AMELUZ in combination with photodynamic therapy. Inform patients and their caregivers that AMELUZ in combination with photodynamic therapy may cause transient amnestic episodes. Advise them to contact the healthcare provider if the patient develops amnesia after treatment.
BF-RhodoLED lamp may cause eye irritation, glare, or injury. Before operating the lamp, personnel must refer to the user manual for specific warnings, cautions, and instructions. Eye exposure to the BF-RhodoLED light must be prevented. Protective eye equipment must be used by patient, healthcare providers and any person present during the illumination period. Avoid staring directly into the light source [see Dosage and Administration (2)].
AMELUZ increases photosensitivity. Avoid sunlight, prolonged or intense light (e.g., tanning beds, sun lamps) on lesions and surrounding skin treated with AMELUZ for approximately 48 hours following treatment, whether exposed to illumination or not. Concomitant use of AMELUZ with other known photosensitizing agents may increase the risk of phototoxic reaction to PDT [see Drug Interactions (7)].
AMELUZ has not been tested on patients with inherited or acquired coagulation disorders.
Special care should be taken to avoid bleeding during lesion preparation in such patients [see Dosage and Administration (2)]. Any bleeding must be stopped before application of the gel.
Eyelid edema has occurred with AMELUZ application. AMELUZ can cause ophthalmic adverse reactions. AMELUZ is intended for topical use only. Do not apply AMELUZ into the eyes. Rinse eyes with water in case of accidental contact.
AMELUZ can cause mucous membrane irritation. AMELUZ is intended for topical use only. Do not apply AMELUZ to the mucous membranes. Rinse with water in case of accidental contact.
The following adverse reactions are discussed in greater detail in other sections of the labeling:
Because clinical trials are conducted under widely varying conditions, adverse reaction rates observed in the clinical trials of a drug cannot be directly compared to rates in the clinical trials of another drug and may not reflect the rates observed in practice.
The clinical program for AMELUZ included three double-blind and placebo-controlled trials (Trials 1, 2, and 3), enrolling a total of 299 subjects that were treated with narrow band light. Trial subjects were adults greater than or equal to 49 years of age, and the majority had Fitzpatrick skin type I, II, or III. No subjects had Fitzpatrick skin type V or VI. Approximately 86% of subjects were male, and all subjects were Caucasian.
For all trials, the enrolled subjects had mild to moderate AKs (Olsen grade 1 and 2) with 4 to 8 lesions on the face and scalp. Overall, 87 placebo-treated subjects (n=16, n=32, n=39) and 212 AMELUZ-treated subjects (n=32, n=55, and n=125) were illuminated with BF-RhodoLED or similar narrow spectrum lamps.
Local skin reactions at the application site were observed in about 99.5% of subjects treated with AMELUZ and narrow spectrum lamps. The most frequent adverse reactions during and after PDT were application site erythema, pain, burning, irritation, edema, pruritus, exfoliation, scab, induration, and vesicles.
Most adverse reactions occurred during illumination or shortly afterwards, were generally of mild or moderate intensity, and lasted for 1 to 4 days in most cases; in some cases, however, they persisted for 1 to 2 weeks or even longer. Severe pain/burning occurred in up to 30% of subjects. In one case, the adverse reactions required interruption or discontinuation of the illumination.
The incidence of common (≥1%, <10%) and very common (≥10%) adverse reactions in randomized, multicenter trials at the application site are presented in Table 1.
Table 1. Incidence of Adverse Reactions Occurring at ≥1% of the AMELUZ Group and More Frequently than the Vehicle Group in the Actinic Keratosis Trials at the Application Site:
| Adverse reaction | Vehicle n=87 | AMELUZ n=212 |
|---|---|---|
| Adverse reactions at the application site | ||
| Erythema Pain/Burning Irritation Edema Pruritus Exfoliation Scab Induration Vesicles Paresthesia Hyperalgesia Reaction Discomfort Erosion Discharge Bleeding Pustules | 34 (39%) 26 (30%) 17 (20%) 3 (3%) 14 (16%) 4 (5%) 2 (2%) 0 (0%) 1 (1%) 2 (2%) 0 (0%) 2 (2%) 0 (0%) 0 (0%) 0 (0%) 0 (0%) 0 (0%) | 195 (92%) 195 (92%) 153 (72%) 75 (35%) 72 (34%) 41 (19%) 41 (19%) 26 (12%) 25 (12%) 18 (9%) 13 (6%) 8 (4%) 7 (3%) 6 (3%) 4 (2%) 3 (1%) 3 (1%) |
Common (≥1%, <10%) adverse reactions not at the application site for AMELUZ were headache, skin exfoliation, chills and eyelid edema.
Less common (≥0.1%, <1%) adverse reactions at the application site for AMELUZ were hemorrhage and swelling. The adverse reactions not at the application site were blister, feeling hot, pruritus, pyrexia, scab, nervousness, pain, petechiae, rash pustular, skin erosion and ulcer.
In a clinical trial designed to investigate the sensitization potential of aminolevulinic acid with 216 healthy subjects, 13 subjects (6%) developed allergic contact dermatitis after continuous exposure for 21 days with doses of aminolevulinic acid that were higher than doses normally used in the treatment of AK.
The following adverse reactions have been reported during post-approval use of AMELUZ. Because these reactions are reported voluntarily from a population of uncertain size, it is not always possible to reliably estimate their frequency or establish a causal relationship to drug exposure.
Skin and subcutaneous tissue disorders: allergic dermatitis, application site inflammation, application site discoloration.
Eye disorders: eye irritation, diplopia, ocular hyperemia, photophobia, and blurred vision.
General disorders and administration site conditions: fatigue.
Immune System disorders: hypersensitivity.
Nervous system disorders: dysaesthesia, transient amnestic episodes.
There have been no formal studies of the interaction of AMELUZ with other drugs. It is possible that concomitant use of other known photosensitizing agents such as St. John’s wort, griseofulvin, thiazide diuretics, sulfonylureas, phenothiazines, sulphonamides, quinolones and tetracyclines may enhance the phototoxic reaction to PDT [see Warnings and Precautions (5.3)].
There are no available data on AMELUZ use in pregnant women to inform a drug associated risk. Animal reproduction studies were not conducted with aminolevulinic acid. Systemic absorption of aminolevulinic acid in humans is negligible following topical administration of AMELUZ under maximal clinical use conditions [see Clinical Pharmacology (12.3)]. It is not expected that maternal use of AMELUZ will result in fetal exposure to the drug.
The estimated background risk of major birth defects and miscarriage for the indicated population are unknown. In the U.S. general population, the estimated background risk of major birth defects and miscarriage in clinically recognized pregnancies is 2% to 4% and 15% to 20%, respectively.
No data are available regarding the presence of aminolevulinic acid in human milk, the effects of aminolevulinic acid on the breastfed infant or on milk production. However, breastfeeding is not expected to result in exposure of the child to the drug due to the negligible systemic absorption of aminolevulinic acid in humans following topical administration of AMELUZ under maximal clinical use conditions [see Clinical Pharmacology (12.3)]. The developmental and health benefits of breastfeeding should be considered along with the mother’s clinical need for AMELUZ and any potential adverse effects on the breastfeeding child from AMELUZ or from the underlying maternal condition.
Safety and effectiveness in pediatric patients below the age of 18 have not been established. AK is not a condition generally seen in the pediatric population.
Of the 384 subjects exposed to AMELUZ in randomized, multicenter clinical trials, 83% (318/384) of the subjects were 65 years old and over. No overall differences in safety or effectiveness were observed between these subjects and younger subjects, but greater sensitivity of some older individuals cannot be ruled out.
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