Source: European Medicines Agency (EU) Revision Year: 2023 Publisher: AstraZeneca AB, SE-151 85 Södertälje, Sweden
Komboglyze should not be used in patients with type 1 diabetes mellitus or for the treatment of diabetic ketoacidosis.
Use of DPP4 inhibitors has been associated with a risk of developing acute pancreatitis. Patients should be informed of the characteristic symptoms of acute pancreatitis; persistent, severe abdominal pain. If pancreatitis is suspected, this medicinal product should be discontinued; if acute pancreatitis is confirmed, this medicinal product should not be restarted. Caution should be exercised in patients with a history of pancreatitis.
In postmarketing experience of saxagliptin, there have been spontaneously reported adverse reactions of acute pancreatitis.
Lactic acidosis, a very rare but serious metabolic complication, most often occurs at acute worsening of renal function or cardiorespiratory illness or sepsis. Metformin accumulation occurs at acute worsening of renal function and increases the risk of lactic acidosis.
In case of dehydration (severe diarrhoea or vomiting, fever, heat, reduced fluid intake), Komboglyze should be temporarily discontinued and contact with a health care professional is recommended.
Medicinal products that can acutely impair renal function (such as antihypertensives, diuretics and NSAIDs) should be initiated with caution in metformin-treated patients. Other risk factors for lactic acidosis are excessive alcohol intake, hepatic insufficiency, inadequately controlled diabetes, ketosis, prolonged fasting and any conditions associated with hypoxia, as well as concomitant use of medicinal products that may cause lactic acidosis (see sections 4.3 and 4.5).
Patients and/or care-givers should be informed on the risk of lactic acidosis. Lactic acidosis is characterised by acidotic dyspnoea, abdominal pain, muscle cramps, asthenia and hypothermia followed by coma. In case of suspected symptoms, the patient should stop taking Komboglyze and seek immediate medical attention. Diagnostic laboratory findings are decreased blood pH (< 7.35), increased plasma lactate levels above 5 mmol/L, and an increased anion gap and lactate/pyruvate ratio.
As metformin is excreted by the kidney, renal function should be assessed:
Decreased renal function in elderly patients is frequent and asymptomatic. Special caution should be exercised in situations where renal function may become impaired, for example when initiating antihypertensive or diuretic therapy or when starting treatment with a NSAID.
Komboglyze must be discontinued at the time of surgery with general, spinal or epidural anaesthesia. Therapy may be restarted no earlier than 48 hours following surgery or resumption of oral nutrition provided that renal function has been re-evaluated and found to be stable.
Intravascular administration of iodinated contrast agents may lead to contrast induced nephropathy, resulting in metformin accumulation and increased risk of lactic acidosis. Komboglyze should be discontinued prior to, or at the time of, the imaging procedure and not restarted until at least 48 hours after, provided that renal function has been re-evaluated and found to be stable (see sections 4.2 and 4.5).
Ulcerative and necrotic skin lesions have been reported in extremities of monkeys in non-clinical toxicology studies for saxagliptin (see section 5.3). Skin lesions were not observed at an increased incidence in clinical trials. Postmarketing reports of rash have been described in the DPP4 inhibitor class. Rash is also noted as an adverse event (AE) for saxagliptin (see section 4.8). Therefore, in keeping with routine care of the diabetic patient, monitoring for skin disorders, such as blistering, ulceration or rash, is recommended.
Postmarketing cases of bullous pemphigoid requiring hospitalisation have been reported with DPP4 inhibitor use, including saxagliptin. In reported cases, patients typically responded to topical or systemic immunosuppressive treatment and discontinuation of the DPP4 inhibitor. If a patient develops blisters or erosions while receiving saxagliptin and bullous pemphigoid is suspected, this medicinal product should be discontinued and referral to a dermatologist should be considered for diagnosis and appropriate treatment (see section 4.8).
As this medicinal product contains saxagliptin, it should not be used in patients who have had any serious hypersensitivity reaction to a dipeptidyl peptidase 4 (DPP4) inhibitor.
During postmarketing experience, including spontaneous reports and clinical trials, the following adverse reactions have been reported with the use of saxagliptin: serious hypersensitivity reactions, including anaphylactic reaction, anaphylactic shock, and angioedema. If a serious hypersensitivity reaction to saxagliptin is suspected, discontinue this medicinal product, assess for other potential causes for the event, and institute alternative treatment for diabetes (see sections 4.3 and 4.8).
As this medicinal product contains metformin, a patient with type 2 diabetes previously well controlled on Komboglyze who develops laboratory abnormalities or clinical illness (especially vague and poorly defined illness) should be evaluated promptly for evidence of ketoacidosis or lactic acidosis. Evaluation should include serum electrolytes and ketones, blood glucose and, if indicated, blood pH, lactate, pyruvate, and metformin levels. If acidosis of either form occurs, this medicinal product must be stopped immediately and other appropriate corrective measures initiated.
In the SAVOR trial a small increase in the rate for hospitalisation for heart failure was observed in the saxagliptin treated patients compared to placebo, although a causal relationship has not been established (see section 5.1). Caution is warranted if this medicinal product is used in patients who have known risk factors for hospitalisation for heart failure, such as a history of heart failure or moderate to severe renal impairment. Patients should be advised of the characteristic symptoms of heart failure, and to immediately report such symptoms.
Joint pain, which may be severe, has been reported in postmarketing reports for DPP4 inhibitors (see section 4.8). Patients experienced relief of symptoms after discontinuation of the medicinal product and some experienced recurrence of symptoms with reintroduction of the same or another DPP4 inhibitor. Onset of symptoms following initiation of drug therapy may be rapid or may occur after longer periods of treatment. If a patient presents with severe joint pain, continuation of drug therapy should be individually assessed.
Immunocompromised patients, such as patients who have undergone organ transplantation or patients diagnosed with human immunodeficiency syndrome, have not been studied in the saxagliptin clinical program. Therefore, the efficacy and safety profile of saxagliptin in these patients has not been established.
Using CYP3A4 inducers like carbamazepine, dexamethasone, phenobarbital, phenytoin, and rifampicin may reduce the glycaemic lowering effect of saxagliptin (see section 4.5).
Insulin and sulphonylureas are known to cause hypoglycaemia. Therefore, a lower dose of insulin or sulphonylurea may be required to reduce the risk of hypoglycaemia when used in combination with Komboglyze.
Co-administration of multiple doses of saxagliptin (2.5 mg twice daily) and metformin (1,000 mg twice daily) did not meaningfully alter the pharmacokinetics of either saxagliptin or metformin in patients with type 2 diabetes.
There have been no formal interaction studies for Komboglyze. The following statements reflect the information available on the individual active substances.
Clinical data described below suggest that the risk for clinically meaningful interactions with co-administered medicinal products is low.
The metabolism of saxagliptin is primarily mediated by cytochrome P450 3A4/5 (CYP3A4/5). In in vitro studies, saxagliptin and its major metabolite neither inhibited CYP1A2, 2A6, 2B6, 2C8, 2C9, 2C19, 2D6, 2E1, or 3A4, nor induced CYP1A2, 2B6, 2C9, or 3A4. In studies conducted in healthy subjects, neither the pharmacokinetics of saxagliptin nor its major metabolite, were meaningfully altered by metformin, glibenclamide, pioglitazone, digoxin, simvastatin, omeprazole, antacids or famotidine. In addition, saxagliptin did not meaningfully alter the pharmacokinetics of metformin, glibenclamide, pioglitazone, digoxin, simvastatin, the active components of a combined oral contraceptive (ethinyl estradiol and norgestimate), diltiazem or ketoconazole.
Concomitant administration of saxagliptin with the moderate inhibitor of CYP3A4/5 diltiazem, increased the Cmax and AUC of saxagliptin by 63% and 2.1-fold, respectively, and the corresponding values for the active metabolite were decreased by 44% and 34%, respectively.
Concomitant administration of saxagliptin with the potent inhibitor of CYP3A4/5 ketoconazole, increased the Cmax and AUC of saxagliptin by 62% and 2.5-fold, respectively, and the corresponding values for the active metabolite were decreased by 95% and 88%, respectively.
Concomitant administration of saxagliptin with the potent CYP3A4/5 inducer rifampicin, reduced Cmax and AUC of saxagliptin by 53% and 76%, respectively. The exposure of the active metabolite and the plasma DPP4 activity inhibition over a dose interval were not influenced by rifampicin (see section 4.4).
The co-administration of saxagliptin and CYP3A4/5 inducers, other than rifampicin (such as carbamazepine, dexamethasone, phenobarbital and phenytoin) have not been studied and may result in decreased plasma concentration of saxagliptin and increased concentration of its major metabolite. Glycaemic control should be carefully assessed when saxagliptin is used concomitantly with a potent CYP3A4 inducer.
The effects of smoking, diet, herbal products, and alcohol use on the pharmacokinetics of saxagliptin have not been specifically studied.
Cationic substances that are eliminated by renal tubular secretion (e.g. cimetidine) may interact with metformin by competing for common renal tubular transport systems. A study conducted in seven normal healthy volunteers showed that cimetidine, administered as 400 mg twice daily, increased metformin systemic exposure (AUC) by 50% and Cmax by 81%. Therefore, close monitoring of glycaemic control, dose adjustment within the recommended posology and changes in diabetic treatment should be considered when cationic medicinal products that are eliminated by renal tubular secretion are co-administered.
Alcohol intoxication is associated with an increased risk of lactic acidosis, particularly in the case of fasting, malnutrition or hepatic impairment due to the metformin active substance of Komboglyze (see section 4.4). Consumption of alcohol and medicinal products containing alcohol should be avoided.
Intravascular administration of iodinated contrast agents may lead to contrast induced nephropathy, resulting in metformin accumulation and increased risk of lactic acidosis. Komboglyze must be discontinued prior to, or at the time of the imaging procedure and not restarted until at least 48 hours after, provided that renal function has been re-evaluated and found to be stable (see sections 4.2 and 4.4).
Glucocorticoids (given by systemic and local routes), beta-2 agonists, and diuretics have intrinsic hyperglycaemic activity. The patient should be informed and more frequent blood glucose monitoring perfomed, especially at the beginning of treatment with such medicinal products. If necessary, the dose of the anti-hyperglycaemic medicinal product should be adjusted during therapy with the other medicinal product and on its discontinuation.
Some medicinal products can adversely affect renal function which may increase the risk of lactic acidosis, e.g. NSAIDs, including selective cyclo-oxygenase (COX) II inhibitors, ACE inhibitors, angiotensin II receptor antagonists and diuretics, especially loop diuretics. When starting or using such products in combination with metformin, close monitoring of renal function is necessary.
The use of Komboglyze or saxagliptin has not been studied in pregnant women. Studies in animals have shown reproductive toxicity at high doses of saxagliptin alone or in combination with metformin (see section 5.3). The potential risk for humans is unknown. A limited amount of data suggest the use of metformin in pregnant women is not associated with an increased risk of congenital malformations. Animal studies with metformin do not indicate harmful effects with respect to pregnancy, embryonic or foetal development, parturition or postnatal development (see section 5.3). This medicinal product should not be used during pregnancy. If the patient wishes to become pregnant, or if a pregnancy occurs, treatment with this medicinal product should be discontinued and switched to insulin treatment as soon as possible.
Studies in animals have shown excretion of both saxagliptin and/or metabolite and metformin in milk. It is unknown whether saxagliptin is excreted in human milk, but metformin is excreted in human milk in small amounts. This medicinal product must therefore not be used in women who are breast-feeding (see section 4.3).
The effect of saxagliptin on fertility in humans has not been studied. Effects on fertility were observed in male and female rats at high doses producing overt signs of toxicity (see section 5.3). For metformin, studies in animals have not shown reproductive toxicity (see section 5.3).
Saxagliptin or metformin has a negligible influence on the ability to drive and use machines. When driving or using machines, it should be taken into account that dizziness has been reported in studies with saxagliptin. In addition, patients should be alerted to the risk of hypoglycaemia when Komboglyze is used in combination with other antidiabetic medicinal products known to cause hypoglycaemia (e.g. insulin, sulphonylureas).
There have been no therapeutic clinical trials conducted with Komboglyze tablets, however, bioequivalence of Komboglyze with co-administered saxagliptin and metformin has been demonstrated (see section 5.2).
There were 4,148 patients with type 2 diabetes, including 3,021 patients treated with saxagliptin, randomised in six double-blind, controlled clinical safety and efficacy studies conducted to evaluate the effects of saxagliptin on glycaemic control. In randomised, controlled, double-blind clinical trials (including developmental and postmarketing experience), over 17,000 patients with type 2 diabetes have been treated with saxagliptin.
In a pooled analysis of 1,681 patients with type 2 diabetes, including 882 patients treated with saxagliptin 5 mg, randomised in five double-blind, placebo-controlled clinical safety and efficacy studies conducted to evaluate the effects of saxagliptin on glycaemic control, the overall incidence of AEs in patients treated with saxagliptin 5 mg was similar to placebo. Discontinuation of therapy due to AEs was higher in patients who received saxagliptin 5 mg as compared to placebo (3.3% as compared to 1.8%).
Adverse reactions reported in ≥5% of patients treated with saxagliptin 5 mg and more commonly than in patients treated with placebo or that were reported in ≥2% of patients treated with saxagliptin 5 mg and ≥1% more frequently compared to placebo are shown in Table 2.
The adverse reactions are listed by system organ class and absolute frequency. Frequencies are defined as 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), or very rare (<1/10,000), not known (cannot be estimated from the available data).
Table 2. Frequency of adverse reactions by system organ class:
| System organ class Adverse reaction | Frequency of adverse reactions by treatment regimen Saxagliptin with metformin1 |
|---|---|
| Infections and infestations | |
| Upper respiratory infection | Common |
| Urinary tract infection | Common |
| Gastroenteritis | Common |
| Sinusitis | Common |
| Nasopharyngitis | Common2 |
| Nervous system disorders | |
| Headache | Common |
| Gastrointestinal disorders | |
| Vomiting | Common |
1 Includes saxagliptin in add-on to metformin and initial combination with metformin.
2 Only in the initial combination therapy.
Table 3 shows additional adverse reactions which have been reported in postmarketing experience with saxagliptin. The frequencies are based on the experience from clinical trials.
Table 3. Frequency of additional adverse reactions by system organ class:
| System organ class Adverse Reaction | Frequency of adverse reactions1 |
|---|---|
| Gastrointestinal disorders | |
| Nausea | Common |
| Pancreatitis | Uncommon |
| Constipation | Not known |
| Immune system disorders | |
| Hypersensitivity reactions2 (see sections 4.3 and 4.4) | Uncommon |
| Anaphylactic reactions including anaphylactic shock (see sections 4.3 and 4.4) | Rare |
| Skin and subcutaneous tissue disorders | |
| Angioedema (see sections 4.3 and 4.4) | Rare |
| Dermatitis | Uncommon |
| Pruritus | Uncommon |
| Rash2 | Common |
| Urticaria | Uncommon |
| Bullous pemphigoid | Not known |
1 Frequency estimates are based on the pooled analysis of the saxagliptin monotherapy, add-on to metformin and initial combination with metformin, add-on to sulphonylurea and add-on to thiazolidinedione clinical trials.
2 These reactions were also identified in the pre-approval clinical trials, but do not meet the criteria for Table 2.
The SAVOR trial included 8240 patients treated with saxagliptin 5 mg or 2.5 mg once daily and 8173 patients on placebo. The overall incidence of AEs in patients treated with saxagliptin in this trial was similar to placebo (72.5% versus 72.2%, respectively).
The incidence of adjudicated pancreatitis events was 0.3% in both saxagliptin-treated patients and placebo-treated patients in the intent-to-treat population.
The incidence of hypersensitivity reactions was 1.1% in both saxagliptin-treated patients and placebotreated patients.
The overall incidence of reported hypoglycaemia (recorded in daily patient diaries) was 17.1% in subjects treated with saxagliptin and 14.8% among patients treated with placebo. The percent of subjects with reported on-treatment events of major hypoglycaemia (defined as an event that required assistance of another person) was higher in the saxagliptin group than in the placebo group (2.1% and 1.6%, respectively). The increased risk of overall hypoglycaemia and major hypoglycaemia observed in the saxagliptin-treated group occurred primarily in subjects treated with SU at baseline and not in subjects on insulin or metformin monotherapy at baseline. The increased risk of overall and major hypoglycaemia was primarily observed in subjects with A1C <7% at baseline.
Decreased lymphocyte counts were reported in 0.5% of saxagliptin-treated patients and 0.4% of placebo-treated patients.
Hospitalisation for heart failure, occurred at a greater rate in the saxagliptin group (3.5%) compared with the placebo group (2.8%), with nominal statistical significance favouring placebo [HR = 1.27; 95% CI 1.07, 1.51); P = 0.007]. See also section 5.1.
AEs, considered by the investigator to be at least possibly drug-related and reported in at least two more patients treated with saxagliptin 5 mg compared to control, are described below by treatment regimen.
As monotherapy: dizziness (common) and fatigue (common).
As add-on to metformin: dyspepsia (common) and myalgia (common).
As initial combination with metformin: gastritis (common), arthralgia* (uncommon), myalgia (uncommon), and erectile dysfunction (uncommon).
As add-on to metformin and a sulphonylurea: dizziness (common), fatigue (common) and flatulence (common).
* Arthralgia has also been reported during postmarketing surveillance (see section 4.4).
Adverse reactions of hypoglycaemia were based on all reports of hypoglycaemia; a concurrent glucose measurement was not required. The incidence of reported hypoglycaemia for saxagliptin 5 mg versus placebo given as add-on therapy to metformin was 5.8% versus 5%. The incidence of reported hypoglycaemia was 3.4% in treatment-naive patients given saxagliptin 5 mg plus metformin and 4.0% in patients given metformin alone. When used as add-on to insulin (with or without metformin), the overall incidence of reported hypoglycaemia was 18.4% for saxagliptin 5 mg and 19.9% for placebo.
When used as add-on to metformin plus a sulphonylurea, the overall incidence of reported hypoglycaemia was 10.1% for saxagliptin 5 mg and 6.3% for placebo.
Across clinical studies, the incidence of laboratory AEs was similar in patients treated with saxagliptin 5 mg compared to patients treated with placebo. A small decrease in absolute lymphocyte count was observed. From a baseline mean absolute lymphocyte count of approximately 2,200 cells/μL, a mean decrease of approximately 100 cells/μL relative to placebo was observed in the placebo-controlled pooled analysis. Mean absolute lymphocyte counts remained stable with daily dosing up to 102 weeks in duration. The decreases in lymphocyte count were not associated with clinically relevant adverse reactions. The clinical significance of this decrease in lymphocyte count relative to placebo is not known.
Table 4 presents adverse reactions by system organ class and by frequency category. Frequency categories are based on information available from metformin Summary of Product Characteristics available in the European Union.
Table 4. The frequency of metformin adverse reactions identified from clinical trial and postmarketing data:
| System organ class Adverse reaction | Frequency |
|---|---|
| Metabolism and nutrition disorders | |
| Lactic acidosis | Very rare |
| Vitamin B12 deficiency1 | Very rare |
| Nervous system disorders | |
| Metallic taste | Common |
| Gastrointestinal disorders | |
| Gastrointestinal symptoms2 | Very common |
| Hepatobiliary disorders | |
| Liver function disorders, hepatitis | Very rare |
| Skin and subcutaneous tissue disorders | |
| Urticaria, erythema, pruritus | Very rare |
1 Long-term treatment with metformin has been associated with a decrease in vitamin B12 absorption which may very rarely result in clinically significant vitamin B12 deficiency (e.g. megaloblastic anaemia).
2 Gastrointestinal symptoms such as nausea, vomiting, diarrhoea, abdominal pain and loss of appetite occur most frequently during initiation of therapy and resolve spontaneously in most cases.
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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