KALYDECO Granules Ref.[51452] Active ingredients: Ivacaftor

Only patients with CF who had a G551D, G1244E, G1349D, G178R, G551S, S1251N, S1255P, S549N or S549R gating (class III) or G970R mutation in at least one allele of the CFTR gene were included in studies 1, 2, 5 and 7 (see section 5.1).

Less evidence of a positive effect of ivacaftor has been shown for patients with an R117H-7T mutation associated with less severe disease in study 6 (see section 5.1).

In study 5, four patients with the G970R mutation were included. In three of four patients the change in the sweat chloride test was <5 mmol/L and this group did not demonstrate a clinically relevant improvement in FEV₁ after 8 weeks of treatment. Clinical efficacy in patients with the G970R mutation of the CFTR gene could not be established (see section 5.1).

Efficacy results from a phase 2 study in patients with CF who are homozygous for the F508del mutation in the CFTR gene showed no statistically significant difference in FEV₁ over 16 weeks of ivacaftor treatment compared to placebo (see section 5.1). Therefore, use of ivacaftor as monotherapy in these patients is not recommended.

Effect on liver function tests

Moderate transaminase (alanine transaminase [ALT] or aspartate transaminase [AST]) elevations are common in subjects with CF. Transaminase elevations have been observed in some patients treated with ivacaftor as monotherapy. Therefore, liver function tests are recommended for all patients prior to initiating ivacaftor, every 3 months during the first year of treatment and annually thereafter. For all patients with a history of transaminase elevations, more frequent monitoring of liver function tests should be considered. In the event of significant elevations of transaminases (e.g., patients with ALT or AST >5 × the upper limit of normal (ULN), or ALT or AST >3 × ULN with bilirubin >2 × ULN), dosing should be interrupted, and laboratory tests closely followed until the abnormalities resolve. Following resolution of transaminase elevations, the benefits and risks of resuming treatment should be considered (see section 4.8).

Hepatic impairment

Use of ivacaftor is not recommended in patients with severe hepatic impairment unless the benefits are expected to outweigh the risks (see sections 4.2 and 5.2). No safety data are available in infants aged 4 to less than 12 months of age with moderate or severe hepatic impairment treated with ivacaftor.

Renal impairment

Caution is recommended while using ivacaftor in patients with severe renal impairment or end-stage renal disease (see sections 4.2 and 5.2).

Patients after organ transplantation

Ivacaftor has not been studied in patients with CF who have undergone organ transplantation. Therefore, use in transplanted patients is not recommended. See section 4.5 for interactions with ciclosporin or tacrolimus.

Interactions with medicinal products

CYP3A inducers

Exposure to ivacaftor is significantly decreased by the concomitant use of CYP3A inducers, potentially resulting in the loss of ivacaftor efficacy; therefore, co-administration of ivacaftor with strong CYP3A inducers is not recommended (see section 4.5).

CYP3A inhibitors

Exposure to ivacaftor is increased when co-administered with strong or moderate CYP3A inhibitors. The dose of ivacaftor must be adjusted when used concomitantly with strong or moderate CYP3A inhibitors (see sections 4.2 and 4.5). No safety data are available in infants aged 4 to less than 12 months of age who are treated with ivacaftor and moderate or strong CYP3A inhibitors (see sections 4.2 and 4.5).

Paediatric population

Cases of non-congenital lens opacities/cataracts without impact on vision have been reported in paediatric patients treated with ivacaftor. Although other risk factors were present in some cases (such as corticosteroid use and exposure to radiation), a possible risk attributable to treatment with ivacaftor cannot be excluded. Baseline and follow-up ophthalmological examinations are recommended in paediatric patients initiating ivacaftor treatment.

Lactose content

Kalydeco contains lactose. Patients with rare hereditary problems of galactose intolerance, total lactase deficiency or glucose-galactose malabsorption should not take this medicinal product.

Sodium content

This medicinal product contains less than 1 mmol sodium (23 mg) per dose, that is to say essentially ‘sodium-free’.

Ivacaftor is a substrate of CYP3A4 and CYP3A5. It is a weak inhibitor of CYP3A and P-gp and a potential inhibitor of CYP2C9. In vitro studies showed that ivacaftor is not a substrate for P-gp.

Medicinal products affecting the pharmacokinetics of ivacaftor

CYP3A inducers

Co-administration of ivacaftor with rifampicin, a strong CYP3A inducer, decreased ivacaftor exposure (AUC) by 89% and decreased hydroxymethyl ivacaftor (M1) to a lesser extent than ivacaftor. Co-administration of ivacaftor with strong CYP3A inducers, such as rifampicin, rifabutin, phenobarbital, carbamazepine, phenytoin and St. John’s wort (Hypericum perforatum), is not recommended (see section 4.4).

No dose adjustment is recommended when ivacaftor is used with moderate or weak CYP3A inducers.

CYP3A inhibitors

Ivacaftor is a sensitive CYP3A substrate. Co-administration with ketoconazole, a strong CYP3A inhibitor, increased ivacaftor exposure (measured as area under the curve [AUC]) by 8.5-fold and increased M1 to a lesser extent than ivacaftor. A reduction of the ivacaftor dose is recommended for co-administration with strong CYP3A inhibitors, such as ketoconazole, itraconazole, posaconazole, voriconazole, telithromycin and clarithromycin (see sections 4.2 and 4.4).

Co-administration with fluconazole, a moderate inhibitor of CYP3A, increased ivacaftor exposure by 3-fold and increased M1 to a lesser extent than ivacaftor. A reduction of the ivacaftor dose is recommended for patients taking concomitant moderate CYP3A inhibitors, such as fluconazole, erythromycin, and verapamil (see sections 4.2 and 4.4).

Co-administration of ivacaftor with grapefruit juice, which contains one or more components that moderately inhibit CYP3A, may increase exposure to ivacaftor. Food or drink containing grapefruit should be avoided during treatment with ivacaftor (see section 4.2).

Potential for ivacaftor to interact with transporters

In vitro studies showed that ivacaftor is not a substrate for OATP1B1 or OATP1B3. Ivacaftor and its metabolites are substrates of BCRP in vitro. Due to its high intrinsic permeability and low likelihood of being excreted intact, co-administration of BCRP inhibitors is not expected to alter exposure of ivacaftor and M1-IVA, while any potential changes in M6-IVA exposures are not expected to be clinically relevant.

Ciprofloxacin

Co-administration of ciprofloxacin with ivacaftor did not affect the exposure of ivacaftor. No dose adjustment is required when ivacaftor is co-administered with ciprofloxacin.

Medicinal products affected by ivacaftor

Administration of ivacaftor may increase systemic exposure of medicinal products that are sensitive substrates of CYP2C9, and/or P-gp, and/or CYP3A which may increase or prolong their therapeutic effect and adverse reactions.

CYP2C9 substrates

Ivacaftor may inhibit CYP2C9. Therefore, monitoring of the international normalised ratio (INR) is recommended during co-administration of warfarin with ivacaftor. Other medicinal products for which exposure may be increased include glimepiride and glipizide; these medicinal products should be used with caution.

Digoxin and other P-gp substrates

Co-administration with digoxin, a sensitive P-gp substrate, increased digoxin exposure by 1.3-fold, consistent with weak inhibition of P-gp by ivacaftor. Administration of ivacaftor may increase systemic exposure of medicinal products that are sensitive substrates of P-gp, which may increase or prolong their therapeutic effect and adverse reactions. When used concomitantly with digoxin or other substrates of P-gp with a narrow therapeutic index, such as ciclosporin, everolimus, sirolimus or tacrolimus, caution and appropriate monitoring should be used.

CYP3A substrates

Co-administration with (oral) midazolam, a sensitive CYP3A substrate, increased midazolam exposure 1.5-fold, consistent with weak inhibition of CYP3A by ivacaftor. No dose adjustment of CYP3A substrates, such as midazolam, alprazolam, diazepam or triazolam, is required when these are coadministered with ivacaftor.

Hormonal contraceptives

Ivacaftor has been studied with an oestrogen/progesterone oral contraceptive and was found to have no significant effect on the exposures of the oral contraceptive. Therefore, no dose adjustment of oral contraceptives is necessary.

Paediatric population

Interaction studies have only been performed in adults.

Pregnancy

There are no or limited amount of data (less than 300 pregnancy outcomes) from the use of ivacaftor in pregnant women. Animals studies do not indicate direct or indirect harmful effects with respect to reproductive toxicity (see section 5.3). As a precautionary measure, it is preferable to avoid the use of ivacaftor during pregnancy.

Breast-feeding

It is unknown whether ivacaftor and/or its metabolites are excreted in human milk. Available pharmacokinetic data in animals have shown excretion of ivacaftor in milk of lactating female rats. As such, a risk to the newborns/infants cannot be excluded. A decision must be made whether to discontinue breast-feeding or to discontinue/abstain from ivacaftor therapy taking into account the benefit of breast-feeding for the child and the benefit of therapy for the woman.

Fertility

There are no data available on the effect of ivacaftor on fertility in humans. Ivacaftor had an effect on fertility in rats (see section 5.3).

Ivacaftor has minor influence on the ability to drive and use machines. Ivacaftor may cause dizziness (see section 4.8) and, therefore, patients experiencing dizziness should be advised not to drive or use machines until symptoms abate.

Summary of the safety profile

The most common adverse reactions experienced by patients aged 6 years and older are headache (23.9%), oropharyngeal pain (22.0%), upper respiratory tract infection (22.0%), nasal congestion (20.2%), abdominal pain (15.6%), nasopharyngitis (14.7%), diarrhoea (12.8%), dizziness (9.2%), rash (12.8%) and bacteria in sputum (12.8%). Transaminase elevations occurred in 12.8% of ivacaftor-treated patients versus 11.5% of placebo-treated patients.

In patients aged 2 to less than 6 years the most common adverse reactions were nasal congestion (26.5%), upper respiratory tract infection (23.5%), transaminase elevations (14.7%), rash (11.8%), and bacteria in sputum (11.8%).

Serious adverse reactions in patients who received ivacaftor included abdominal pain and transaminase elevations (see section 4.4).

Tabulated list of adverse reactions

Table 2 reflects the adverse reactions observed with ivacaftor in clinical trials (placebo-controlled and uncontrolled studies) in which the length of exposure to ivacaftor ranged from 16 weeks to 144 weeks. The frequency of adverse reactions is defined as follows: 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); very rare (<1/10,000); not known (cannot be estimated from the available data). Within each frequency grouping, adverse reactions are presented in order of decreasing seriousness.

Table 2. Adverse reactions:

Description of selected adverse reactions

Transaminase elevations

During the 48-week placebo-controlled studies 1 and 2 in patients aged 6 years and older, the incidence of maximum transaminase (ALT or AST) >8, >5 or >3 × ULN was 3.7%, 3.7% and 8.3% in ivacaftor-treated patients and 1.0%, 1.9% and 8.7% in placebo-treated patients, respectively. Two patients, one on placebo and one on ivacaftor, permanently discontinued treatment for elevated transaminases, each >8 × ULN. No ivacaftor-treated patients experienced a transaminase elevation >3 × ULN associated with elevated total bilirubin >1.5 × ULN. In ivacaftor-treated patients, most transaminase elevations up to 5 × ULN resolved without treatment interruption. Ivacaftor dosing was interrupted in most patients with transaminase elevations >5 × ULN. In all instances where dosing was interrupted for elevated transaminases and subsequently resumed, ivacaftor dosing was able to be resumed successfully (see section 4.4).

During the placebo-controlled phase 3 studies (up to 24 weeks) of tezacaftor/ivacaftor, the incidence of maximum transaminase (ALT or AST) >8, >5, or >3 × ULN were 0.2%, 1.0%, and 3.4% in tezacaftor/ivacaftor treated patients, and 0.4%, 1.0%, and 3.4% in placebo-treated patients. One patient (0.2%) on therapy and 2 patients (0.4%) on placebo permanently discontinued treatment for elevated transaminases. No patients treated with tezacaftor/ivacaftor experienced a transaminase elevation >3 × ULN associated with elevated total bilirubin >2 × ULN.

During the 24-week, placebo-controlled, phase 3 study of ivacaftor/tezacaftor/elexacaftor, these figures were 1.5%, 2.5%, and 7.9% in ivacaftor/tezacaftor/elexacaftor-treated patients and 1.0%, 1.5%, and 5.5% in placebo-treated patients. The incidence of adverse reactions of transaminase elevations was 10.9% in ivacaftor in a combination regimen with ivacaftor/tezacaftor/elexacaftor treated patients and 4.0% in placebo-treated patients.

Paediatric population

The safety data of ivacaftor were evaluated in 6 patients between 4 months to less than 6 months of age, 11 patients between 6 months to less than 12 months of age, 19 patients between 12 months to less than 24 months of age, 34 patients between 2 to less than 6 years of age, 61 patients between 6 to less than 12 years of age and 94 patients between 12 to less than 18 years of age.

The safety profile is generally consistent among paediatric patients aged 4 months and older and is also consistent with adult patients.

The incidence of transaminase elevations (ALT or AST) observed in studies 2, 5 and 6 (patients aged 6 to less than 12 years), study 7 (patients aged 2 to less than 6 years), and study 8 (patients aged 6 to less than 24 months) are described in Table 3. In the placebo controlled studies, the incidence of transaminase elevations were similar between treatment with ivacaftor (15.0%) and placebo (14.6%). Peak LFT elevations were generally higher in paediatric patients than in older patients. Across all populations, peak LFT elevations returned to baseline levels following interruption, and in almost all instances where dosing was interrupted for elevated transaminases and subsequently resumed, ivacaftor dosing was able to be resumed successfully (see section 4.4). Cases suggestive of positive rechallenge were observed. In study 7 ivacaftor was permanently discontinued in one patient. In study 8 no patients had elevations in total bilirubin or discontinued ivacaftor treatment due to transaminase elevations in either age cohort (see section 4.4 for management of elevated transaminases).

Table 3. Transaminase elevations in patients 4 months to < 12 years treated with ivacaftor as monotherapy:

Reporting of suspected adverse reactions

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.