Source: European Medicines Agency (EU) Revision Year: 2020 Publisher: Novartis Europharm Limited, Vista Building, Elm Park, Merrion Road, Dublin 4, Ireland
Luxturna is indicated for the treatment of adult and paediatric patients with vision loss due to inherited retinal dystrophy caused by confirmed biallelic RPE65 mutations and who have sufficient viable retinal cells.
Treatment should be initiated and administered by a retinal surgeon experienced in performing macular surgery.
Patients will receive a single dose of 1.5 × 1011 vg voretigene neparvovec in each eye. Each dose will be delivered into the subretinal space in a total volume of 0.3 mL. The individual administration procedure to each eye is performed on separate days within a close interval, but no fewer than 6 days apart.
Prior to initiation of the immunomodulatory regimen and prior to administration of Luxturna, the patient must be checked for symptoms of active infectious disease of any nature, and in case of such infection the start of treatment must be postponed until after the patient has recovered.
Starting 3 days prior to the administration of Luxturna to the first eye, it is recommended that an immunomodulatory regimen is initiated following the schedule below (Table 1). Initiation of the immunomodulatory regimen for the second eye should follow the same schedule and supersede completion of the immunomodulatory regimen of the first eye.
Table 1. Pre- and post-operative immunomodulatory regimen for each eye:
Pre-operative | 3 days prior to Luxturna administration | Prednisone (or equivalent) 1 mg/kg/day (maximum of 40 mg/day) |
Post-operative | 4 days (including the day of administration) | Prednisone (or equivalent) 1 mg/kg/day (maximum of 40 mg/day) |
Followed by 5 days | Prednisone (or equivalent) 0.5 mg/kg/day (maximum of 20 mg/day) | |
Followed by 5 days of one dose every other day | Prednisone (or equivalent) 0.5 mg/kg every other day (maximum of 20 mg/day) |
The safety and efficacy of voretigene neparvovec in patients ≥65 years old have not been established. However, no adjustment in dosage is necessary for elderly patients.
The safety and efficacy of voretigene neparvovec have not been established in patients with hepatic or renal impairment. No dose adjustment is required in these patients (see section 5.2).
The safety and efficacy of voretigene neparvovec in children aged up to 4 years have not been established. No data are available. No adjustment in dosage is necessary for paediatric patients.
Subretinal use.
Luxturna is a sterile concentrate solution for subretinal injection that requires thawing and dilution prior to administration (see section 6.6).
This medicinal product must not be administered by intravitreal injection.
Luxturna is a single-use vial for a single administration in one eye only. The product is administered as a subretinal injection after vitrectomy in each eye. It should not be administered in the immediate vicinity of the fovea to maintain foveal integrity (see section 4.4).
The administration of voretigene neparvovec should be carried out in the surgical suite under controlled aseptic conditions. Adequate anaesthesia should be given to the patient prior to the procedure. The pupil of the eye to be injected must be dilated and a broad-spectrum microbicide should be topically administered prior to the surgery according to standard medical practice.
This medicinal product contains genetically modified organisms. Personal protective equipment (to include laboratory coat, safety glasses and gloves) should be worn while preparing or administering voretigene neparvovec (see section 6.6).
For instructions for preparation, accidental exposure to and disposal of Luxturna, see section 6.6.
Follow the steps below to administer voretigene neparvovec to patients:
Figure 1A. Subretinal injection cannula introduced via pars plana:
Figure 1B. Tip of the subretinal injection cannula placed within the recommended site of injection (surgeon’s view):
There is no clinical experience with overdose of voretigene neparvovec. Symptomatic and supportive treatment, as deemed necessary by the treating physician, is advised in case of overdose.
Unopened frozen vials: 2 years.
After thawing and dilution: Once thawed, the medicinal product should not be re-frozen and be left at room temperature (below 25°C).
Following dilution under aseptic conditions, the solution must be used immediately; if not used immediately, the storage time at room temperature (below 25°C) should be no longer than 4 hours.
Concentrate and solvent must be stored and transported frozen at ≤65°C.
For storage conditions after thawing and dilution of the medicinal product, see section 6.3.
0.5 mL extractable volume of concentrate in 2 mL cyclic olefin polymer vial with a chlorobutyl rubber stopper sealed in place with an aluminium flip-off seal.
1.7 mL extractable volume of solvent in a 2 mL cyclic olefin polymer vial with a chlorobutyl rubber stopper sealed in place with an aluminium flip-off seal.
Each foil pouch includes a carton containing 1 vial of concentrate and 2 vials of solvent.
Each carton containing 1 vial of concentrate and 2 vials of solvent is for single use only.
Luxturna should be inspected visually prior to administration. If particulates, cloudiness, or discoloration are visible, the single-dose vial must not be used.
Accidental exposure must be avoided. Local biosafety guidelines for preparation, administration and handling of voretigene neparvovec should be followed.
This medicinal product contains genetically modified organisms. Unused medicinal product must be disposed of in compliance with the local biosafety guidelines.
Preparation of Luxturna should be performed within 4 hours of beginning the administration procedure, in accordance with the following recommended procedure performed under aseptic conditions.
Thaw one single-dose vial of concentrate and two vials of solvent at room temperature. Gently invert the vials five times to mix the contents.
Inspect for any visual particulates or any anomalies. Any anomalies or appearance of visual particulates should be reported to the Marketing Authorisation Holder and product should not be used.
Transfer 2.7 mL of solvent taken from the two thawed vials and dispense into a sterile 10 mL empty glass vial using a 3 mL syringe.
For dilution, draw 0.3 mL of thawed concentrate into a 1 mL syringe and add it to the 10 mL sterile vial containing the solvent. Gently invert the vial at least five times for proper mixing. Inspect for any visual particulates. The diluted solution should be clear to slightly opalescent. Label the 10 mL glass vial containing the diluted concentrate as follows: ‘Diluted Luxturna’.
Do not prepare syringe if the vial shows any damage or if any visual particulates are observed. Prepare the syringes for injection by drawing 0.8 mL of the diluted solution into a sterile 1 mL syringe. Repeat the same procedure to prepare a backup syringe. The product-filled syringes should then be transferred in a designated transport container to the surgical suite.
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