Source: European Medicines Agency (EU) Revision Year: 2020 Publisher: Roche Registration GmbH, Emil-Barell-Strasse 1, 79639, Grenzach-Wyhlen, Germany
Elevations in ALT and AST >3 × upper limit of normal (ULN) have been reported in patients receiving therapy with Esbriet. Rarely these have been associated with concomitant elevations in total serum bilirubin. Liver function tests (ALT, AST and bilirubin) should be conducted prior to the initiation of treatment with Esbriet, and subsequently at monthly intervals for the first 6 months and then every 3 months thereafter (see section 4.8). In the event of significant elevation of liver aminotransferases the dose of Esbriet should be adjusted or treatment discontinued according to the guidelines listed below. For patients with confirmed elevations in ALT, AST or bilirubin during treatment, the following dose adjustments may be necessary.
If a patient exhibits an aminotransferase elevation to >3 to ≤5 x ULN after starting Esbriet therapy, confounding medicinal products should be discontinued, other causes excluded, and the patient monitored closely. If clinically appropriate the dose of Esbriet should be reduced or interrupted. Once liver function tests are within normal limits Esbriet may be re-escalated to the recommended daily dose if tolerated.
If a patient exhibits an aminotransferase elevation to ≤5 x ULN accompanied by symptoms or hyperbilirubinaemia, Esbriet should be discontinued and the patient should not be rechallenged.
If a patient exhibits an aminotransferase elevation to >5 x ULN, Esbriet should be discontinued and the patient should not be rechallenged.
In subjects with moderate hepatic impairment (i.e. Child-Pugh Class B), pirfenidone exposure was increased by 60%. Esbriet should be used with caution in patients with pre-existing mild to moderate hepatic impairment (i.e. Child-Pugh Class A and B) given the potential for increased pirfenidone exposure. Patients should be monitored closely for signs of toxicity especially if they are concomitantly taking a known CYP1A2 inhibitor (see sections 4.5 and 5.2). Esbriet has not been studied in individuals with severe hepatic impairment and Esbriet must not be used in patients with severe hepatic impairment (see section 4.3).
Exposure to direct sunlight (including sunlamps) should be avoided or minimised during treatment with Esbriet. Patients should be instructed to use a sunblock daily, to wear clothing that protects against sun exposure, and to avoid other medicinal products known to cause photosensitivity. Patients should be instructed to report symptoms of photosensitivity reaction or rash to their physician. Severe photosensitivity reactions are uncommon. Dose adjustments or temporary treatment discontinuation may be necessary in mild to severe cases of photosensitivity reaction or rash (see section 4.2).
Reports of angioedema (some serious) such as swelling of the face, lips and/or tongue which may be associated with difficulty breathing or wheezing have been received in association with use of Esbriet in the post-marketing setting. Reports of anaphylactic reactions have also been received. Therefore, patients who develop signs or symptoms of angioedema or severe allergic reactions following administration of Esbriet should immediately discontinue treatment. Patients with angioedema or severe allergic reactions should be managed according to standard of care. Esbriet must not be used in patients with a history of angioedema or hypersensitivity due to Esbriet (see section 4.3).
Dizziness has been reported in patients taking Esbriet. Therefore, patients should know how they react to this medicinal product before they engage in activities requiring mental alertness or coordination (see section 4.7). In clinical studies, most patients who experienced dizziness had a single event, and most events resolved, with a median duration of 22 days. If dizziness does not improve or if it worsens in severity, dose adjustment or even discontinuation of Esbriet may be warranted.
Fatigue has been reported in patients taking Esbriet. Therefore, patients should know how they react to this medicinal product before they engage in activities requiring mental alertness or coordination (see section 4.7).
Approximately 70–80% of pirfenidone is metabolised via CYP1A2 with minor contributions from other CYP isoenzymes including CYP2C9, 2C19, 2D6, and 2E1.
Consumption of grapefruit juice is associated with inhibition of CYP1A2 and should be avoided during treatment with pirfenidone.
In a Phase 1 study, the co-administration of Esbriet and fluvoxamine (a strong inhibitor of CYP1A2 with inhibitory effects on other CYP isoenzymes [CYP2C9, 2C19, and 2D6]) resulted in a 4-fold increase in exposure to pirfenidone in non-smokers.
Esbriet is contraindicated in patients with concomitant use of fluvoxamine (see section 4.3). Fluvoxamine should be discontinued prior to the initiation of Esbriet therapy and avoided during Esbriet therapy due to the reduced clearance of pirfenidone. Other therapies that are inhibitors of both CYP1A2 and one or more other CYP isoenzymes involved in the metabolism of pirfenidone (e.g. CYP2C9, 2C19, and 2D6) should be avoided during pirfenidone treatment.
In vitro and in vivo extrapolations indicate that strong and selective inhibitors of CYP1A2 (e.g. enoxacin) have the potential to increase the exposure to pirfenidone by approximately 2 to 4-fold. If concomitant use of Esbriet with a strong and selective inhibitor of CYP1A2 cannot be avoided, the dose of pirfenidone should be reduced to 801 mg daily (one capsule, three times a day). Patients should be closely monitored for emergence of adverse reactions associated with Esbriet therapy. Discontinue Esbriet if necessary (see sections 4.2 and 4.4).
Co-administration of Esbriet and 750 mg of ciprofloxacin (a moderate inhibitor of CYP1A2) increased the exposure to pirfenidone by 81%. If ciprofloxacin at the dose of 750 mg two times a day cannot be avoided, the dose of pirfenidone should be reduced to 1602 mg daily (two capsules, three times a day). Esbriet should be used with caution when ciprofloxacin is used at a dose of 250 mg or 500 mg once or two times a day.
Esbriet should be used with caution in patients treated with other moderate inhibitors of CYP1A2 (e.g. amiodarone, propafenone).
Special care should also be exercised if CYP1A2 inhibitors are being used concomitantly with potent inhibitors of one or more other CYP isoenzymes involved in the metabolism of pirfenidone such as CYP2C9 (e.g. amiodarone, fluconazole), 2C19 (e.g. chloramphenicol) and 2D6 (e.g. fluoxetine, paroxetine).
A Phase 1 interaction study evaluated the effect of cigarette smoking (CYP1A2 inducer) on the pharmacokinetics of pirfenidone. The exposure to pirfenidone in smokers was 50% of that observed in non-smokers. Smoking has the potential to induce hepatic enzyme production and thus increase medicinal product clearance and decrease exposure. Concomitant use of strong inducers of CYP1A2 including smoking should be avoided during Esbriet therapy based on the observed relationship between cigarette smoking and its potential to induce CYP1A2. Patients should be encouraged to discontinue use of strong inducers of CYP1A2 and to stop smoking before and during treatment with pirfenidone.
In the case of moderate inducers of CYP1A2 (e.g. omeprazole), concomitant use may theoretically result in a lowering of pirfenidone plasma levels.
Co-administration of medicinal products that act as potent inducers of both CYP1A2 and the other CYP isoenzymes involved in the metabolism of pirfenidone (e.g. rifampicin) may result in significant lowering of pirfenidone plasma levels. These medicinal products should be avoided whenever possible.
There are no data from the use of Esbriet in pregnant women. In animals placental transfer of pirfenidone and/or its metabolites occurs with the potential for accumulation of pirfenidone and/or its metabolites in amniotic fluid.
At high doses (≥1,000 mg/kg/day) rats exhibited prolongation of gestation and reduction in foetal viability.
As a precautionary measure, it is preferable to avoid the use of Esbriet during pregnancy.
It is unknown whether pirfenidone or its metabolites are excreted in human milk. Available pharmacokinetic data in animals have shown excretion of pirfenidone and/or its metabolites in milk with the potential for accumulation of pirfenidone and/or its metabolites in milk (see section 5.3). A risk to the breastfed infant cannot be excluded.
A decision must be made whether to discontinue breast-feeding or to discontinue from Esbriet therapy, taking into account the benefit of breast-feeding for the child and the benefit of Esbriet therapy for the mother.
No adverse effects on fertility were observed in preclinical studies (see section 5.3).
Esbriet may cause dizziness and fatigue, which could have a moderate influence on the ability to drive or use machines, therefore patients should exercise caution when driving or operating machinery if they experience these symptoms.
The most frequently reported adverse reactions during clinical study experience with Esbriet at a dose of 2,403 mg/day compared to placebo, respectively, were nausea (32.4% versus 12.2%), rash (26.2% versus 7.7%), diarrhoea (18.8% versus 14.4%), fatigue (18.5% versus 10.4%), dyspepsia (16.1% versus 5.0%), anorexia (11.4% versus 3.5%), headache (10.1% versus 7.7%), and photosensitivity reaction (9.3% versus 1.1%).
The safety of Esbriet has been evaluated in clinical studies including 1,650 volunteers and patients. More than 170 patients have been investigated in open studies for more than five years and some for up to 10 years.
Table 1 shows the adverse reactions reported at a frequency of ≥2% in 623 patients receiving Esbriet at the recommended dose of 2,403 mg/day in three pooled pivotal Phase 3 studies. Adverse reactions from post-marketing experience are also listed in Table 1. Adverse reactions are listed by System Organ Class (SOC) and within each frequency grouping [Very common (≥1/10), common (≥1/100 to <1/10), uncommon (≥1/1,000 to <1/100), rare (≥1/10,000 to <1/1,000), not known (cannot be estimated from the available data)] the adverse reactions are presented in order of decreasing seriousness.
Table 1. Adverse reactions by SOC and MedDRA frequency:
Common: Upper respiratory tract infection; urinary tract infection
Rare: Agranulocytosis1
Uncommon: Angioedema1
Not known: Anaphylaxis1
Very Common: Anorexia
Common: Weight decreased; decreased appetite
Common: Insomnia
Very Common: Headache
Common: Dizziness; somnolence; dysgeusia; lethargy
Common: Hot flush
Common: Dyspnoea; cough; productive cough
Very Common: Dyspepsia; nausea; diarrhoea
Common: Gastroesophageal reflux disease; vomiting; abdominal distension; abdominal discomfort; abdominal pain; abdominal pain upper; stomach discomfort; gastritis; constipation; flatulence
Common: ALT increased; AST increased; gamma glutamyl transferase increased
Rare: Total serum bilirubin increased in combination with increases of ALT and AST1
Very Common: Photosensitivity reaction; rash
Common: Pruritus; erythema; dry skin; rash erythematous; rash macular; rash pruritic
Common: Myalgia; arthralgia
Very Common: Fatigue
Common: Asthenia; non-cardiac chest pain
Common: Sunburn
1 Identified through post-marketing surveillance
Reporting suspected adverse reactions after authorisation of the medicinal product is important. It allows continued monitoring of the benefit/risk balance of the medicinal product. Healthcare professionals are asked to report any suspected adverse reactions via the national reporting system listed in Appendix V.
Not applicable.
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