SOMATULINE AUTOGEL Solution for injection Ref.[8589] Active ingredients: Lanreotide

Lanreotide may reduce gallbladder motility and lead to gallstone formation. Therefore, patients may need to be monitored periodically. There have been post-marketing reports of gallstones resulting in complications, including cholecystitis, cholangitis, and pancreatitis, requiring cholecystectomy in patients taking lanreotide. If complications of cholelithiasis are suspected, discontinue lanreotide and treat appropriately.

Pharmacological studies in animals and humans show that lanreotide, like somatostatin and other somatostatin analogues, inhibits the secretion of insulin and glucagon. Hence, patients treated with lanreotide may experience hypoglycaemia or hyperglycaemia. Blood glucose levels should be monitored when lanreotide treatment is initiated, or when the dose is altered and any anti-diabetic treatment should be adjusted accordingly.

Slight decreases in thyroid function have been seen during treatment with lanreotide in patients with acromegaly, although clinical hypothyroidism is rare (<1%). Thyroid function tests should be done where clinically indicated.

In patients without underlying cardiac problems, lanreotide may lead to a decrease of heart rate without necessarily reaching the threshold of bradycardia. In patients suffering from cardiac disorders prior to lanreotide treatment, sinus bradycardia may occur. Care should be taken when initiating treatment with lanreotide in patients with bradycardia (see section 4.5).

The pharmacological gastrointestinal effects of lanreotide may result in the reduction of the intestinal absorption of co-administered drugs including ciclosporin. Concomitant administration of ciclosporin with lanreotide may decrease the relative bioavailability of ciclosporin and therefore may necessitate the adjustment of ciclosporin dose to maintain therapeutic levels.

Interactions with highly plasma bound drugs are unlikely in view of the moderate binding of lanreotide to serum proteins.

Limited published data indicate that concomitant administration of somatostatin analogues and bromocriptine may increase the availability of bromocriptine.

Concomitant administration of bradycardia inducing drugs (e.g. beta blockers) may have an additive effect on the slight reduction of heart rate associated with lanreotide. Dose adjustments of such concomitant medicines may be necessary.

The limited published data available indicate that somatostatin analogues may decrease the metabolic clearance of compounds known to be metabolised by cytochrome P450 enzymes, which may be due to the suppression of growth hormone. Since it cannot be excluded that lanreotide may have this effect, other drugs mainly metabolised by CYP3A4 and which have a low therapeutic index (e.g. quinidine, terfenadine) should therefore be used with caution.

Pregnancy

There is a limited amount of data (less than 300 pregnancy outcomes) from the use of lanreotide in pregnant women.

Animal studies do not indicate direct or indirect harmful effects with respect to reproductive toxicity.

As a precautionary measure, it is preferable to avoid the use of lanreotide during pregnancy.

Breast-feeding

It is not known whether Somatuline Autogel is excreted in human milk.

A risk to the newborns/infants cannot be excluded.

Somatuline Autogel should not be used during breast-feeding.

Fertility

Reduced fertility was observed in female rats due to the inhibition of GH secretion at doses in excess of those achieved in humans at therapeutic doses.

Somatuline Autogel has minor or moderate influence on the ability to drive and use machines. No studies on the effects on the ability to drive and use machines have been performed.

However, dizziness has been reported with Somatuline Autogel (see section 4.8). If a patient is affected, he/she should not drive or operate machinery.

Undesirable effects reported by patients suffering from acromegaly and GEP-NETs treated with lanreotide in clinical trials are listed under the corresponding body organ systems according to the following classification: Very common (≥1/10); common (≥1/100 to <1/10); uncommon (≥1/1,000 to <1/100), not known (cannot be estimated from the available data).

The most commonly expected adverse drug reactions following treatment with lanreotide are gastrointestinal disorders (most commonly reported are diarrhoea and abdominal pain, usually mild or moderate and transient), cholelithiasis (often asymptomatic) and injection site reactions (pain, nodules and indurations).

The profile of undesirable effects is similar for all indications.

^* based on a pool of studies conducted in acromegalic patients
^** based on a pool of studies conducted in patients with GEP-NETs

Reporting of suspected adverse reactions

Reporting of 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 Yellow Card Scheme. Website: www.mhra.gov.uk/yellowcard or search for MHRA Yellow Card in the Google Play or Apple App Store.

Not applicable.