Source: European Medicines Agency (EU) Revision Year: 2019 Publisher: Roche Registration GmbH, Emil-Barell-Strasse 1, 79639 Grenzach-Wyhlen, Germany
Pharmacotherapeutic group: Antivirals for systemic use, neuraminidase inhibitors
ATC code: J05AH02
Oseltamivir phosphate is a pro-drug of the active metabolite (oseltamivir carboxylate). The active metabolite is a selective inhibitor of influenza virus neuraminidase enzymes, which are glycoproteins found on the virion surface. Viral neuraminidase enzyme activity is important both for viral entry into uninfected cells and for the release of recently formed virus particles from infected cells, and for the further spread of infectious virus in the body.
Oseltamivir carboxylate inhibits influenza A and B neuraminidases in vitro. Oseltamivir phosphate inhibits influenza virus infection and replication in vitro. Oseltamivir given orally inhibits influenza A and B virus replication and pathogenicity in vivo in animal models of influenza infection at antiviral exposures similar to that achieved in man with 75 mg twice daily.
Antiviral activity of oseltamivir was supported for influenza A and B by experimental challenge studies in healthy volunteers.
Neuraminidase enzyme IC50 values for oseltamivir for clinically isolated influenza A ranged from 0.1 nM to 1.3 nM, and for influenza B was 2.6 nM. Higher IC50 values for influenza B, up to a median of 8.5 nM, have been observed in published studies.
The indication is based on clinical studies of naturally occurring influenza in which the predominant infection was influenza A. Oseltamivir is effective only against illnesses caused by influenza virus. Statistical analyses are therefore presented only for influenza-infected subjects. In the pooled treatment study population, which included both influenza-positive and -negative subjects (ITT), primary efficacy was reduced proportionally to the number of influenza-negative individuals. In the overall treatment population, influenza infection was confirmed in 67% (range 46% to 74%) of the recruited patients. Of the older subjects, 64% were influenza-positive and of those with chronic cardiac and/or respiratory disease 62% were influenza-positive. In all phase III treatment studies, patients were recruited only during the period in which influenza was circulating in the local community.
Patients were eligible if they reported within 36 hours of onset of symptoms, had fever ≥37.8°C, accompanied by at least one respiratory symptom (cough, nasal symptoms or sore throat) and at least one systemic symptom (myalgia, chills/sweats, malaise, fatigue or headache). In a pooled analysis of all influenza-positive adults and adolescents (N=2,413) enrolled into treatment studies, oseltamivir 75 mg twice daily for 5 days reduced the median duration of influenza illness by approximately one day from 5.2 days (95% CI 4.9–5.5 days) in the placebo group to 4.2 days (95% CI 4.0–4.4 days; p≤0.0001).
The proportion of subjects who developed specified lower respiratory tract complications (mainly bronchitis) treated with antibiotics was reduced from 12.7% (135/1,063) in the placebo group to 8.6% (116/1,350) in the oseltamivir treated population (p=0.0012).
The median duration of influenza illness in older subjects (≥65 years) and in subjects with chronic cardiac and/or respiratory disease receiving oseltamivir 75 mg twice daily for 5 days was not reduced significantly. The total duration of fever was reduced by one day in the groups treated with oseltamivir. In influenza-positive older people, oseltamivir significantly reduced the incidence of specified lower respiratory tract complications (mainly bronchitis) treated with antibiotics from 19% (52/268) in the placebo group to 12% (29/250) in the oseltamivir treated population (p=0.0156).
In influenza-positive patients with chronic cardiac and/or respiratory disease, the combined incidence of lower respiratory tract complications (mainly bronchitis) treated with antibiotics was 17% (22/133) in the placebo group and 14% (16/118) in the oseltamivir treated population (p=0.5976).
No controlled clinical studies have been conducted on the use of oseltamivir in pregnant women, however, there is evidence from post-marketing and retrospective observational studies showing benefit of the current dosing regimen in this patient population in terms of lower morbidity/mortality. Results from pharmacokinetic analyses indicate a lower exposure to the active metabolite, however dose adjustments are not recommended for pregnant women in the treatment or prophylaxis of influenza (see section 5.2, Pharmacokinetics, Special Population).
In a study of otherwise healthy children (65% influenza-positive) aged 1 to 12 years (mean age 5.3 years) who had fever (≥37.8°C) plus either cough or coryza, 67% of influenza-positive patients were infected with influenza A and 33% with influenza B. Oseltamivir treatment, started within 48 hours of onset of symptoms, significantly reduced the time to freedom from illness (defined as the simultaneous return to normal health and activity and alleviation of fever, cough and coryza) by 1.5 days (95% CI 0.6–2.2 days; p<0.0001) compared to placebo. Oseltamivir reduced the incidence of acute otitis media from 26.5% (53/200) in the placebo group to 16% (29/183) in the oseltamivir treated children (p=0.013).
A second study was completed in 334 asthmatic children aged 6 to 12 years old of which 53.6% were influenza-positive. In the oseltamivir treated group, the median duration of illness was not reduced significantly. By day 6 (the last day of treatment) FEV1 had increased by 10.8% in the oseltamivir treated group compared to 4.7% on placebo (p=0.0148) in this population.
The European Medicines Agency has deferred the obligation to submit the results of studies with Tamiflu in one or more subsets of the paediatric population in influenza. See section 4.2 for information on paediatric use.
The indication in infants below the age of 1 is based upon extrapolation of efficacy data from older children and the recommended posology is based upon pharmacokinetic modelling data (see Section 5.2).
Overall, 15% of the influenza-positive population were infected by influenza B, proportions ranging from 1 to 33% in individual studies. The median duration of illness in influenza B infected subjects did not differ significantly between the treatment groups in individual studies. Data from 504 influenza B infected subjects were pooled across all studies for analysis. Oseltamivir reduced the time to alleviation of all symptoms by 0.7 days (95% CI 0.1–1.6 days; p=0.022) and the duration of fever (≥37.8°C), cough and coryza by one day (95% CI 0.4–1.7 days; p<0.001) compared to placebo.
A randomized, double blind study, to evaluate safety and characterize the effects of oseltamivir on the development of resistant influenza virus (primary analysis) in influenza-infected adult immunocompromised patients, included 151 patients evaluable for efficacy of oseltamivir (secondary analysis, not powered). The study included solid organ transplant [SOT] patients, haematopoietic stem cell transplant [HSCT] patients, HIV positive patients with a CD4+ cell count <500 cells/mm³, patients on systemic immunosuppressive therapy, and those with haematological malignancy. These patients were randomized to be treated, within 96 hours of symptoms onset, with standard dose (73 patients) or double dose (78 patients) of oseltamivir, for a duration of 10 days.
The median time to resolution of symptoms (TTRS) was similar between the standard dose group (103 hours [90% CI 75.4-110.0]) and double dose group (104 hours [90% CI 65.8-131.0]). The proportion of patients with secondary infections in the standard dose group and double dose group was comparable (8.2% vs 5.1%).
The efficacy of oseltamivir in preventing naturally occurring influenza illness has been demonstrated in a post-exposure prevention study in households and two seasonal prevention studies. The primary efficacy parameter for all of these studies was the incidence of laboratory-confirmed influenza. The virulence of influenza epidemics is not predictable and varies within a region and from season to season, therefore the number needed to treat (NNT) in order to prevent one case of influenza illness varies.
In a study in contacts (12.6% vaccinated against influenza) of an index case of influenza, oseltamivir 75 mg once daily was started within 2 days of onset of symptoms in the index case and continued for seven days. Influenza was confirmed in 163 out of 377 index cases. Oseltamivir significantly reduced the incidence of clinical influenza illness occurring in the contacts of confirmed influenza cases from 24/200 (12%) in the placebo group to 2/205 (1%) in the oseltamivir group (92% reduction [95% CI 6–16; p≤0.0001]). The number needed to treat (NNT) in contacts of true influenza cases was 10 (95% CI 9–12) and was 16 (95% CI 15–19) in the whole population (ITT) regardless of infection status in the index case.
The efficacy of oseltamivir in preventing naturally occurring influenza illness has been demonstrated in a post-exposure prevention study in households that included adults, adolescents, and children aged 1 to 12 years, both as index cases and as family contacts. The primary efficacy parameter for this study was the incidence of laboratory-confirmed clinical influenza in the households. Oseltamivir prophylaxis lasted for 10 days. In the total population, there was a reduction in the incidence of laboratory-confirmed clinical influenza in households from 20% (27/136) in the group not receiving prevention to 7% (10/135) in the group receiving prevention (62.7% reduction [95% CI 26.0–81.2; p=0.0042]). In households of influenza-infected index cases, there was a reduction in the incidence of influenza from 26% (23/89) in the group not receiving prevention to 11% (9/84) in the group receiving prevention (58.5% reduction [95% CI 15.6–79.6; p=0.0114]). According to subgroup analysis in children at 1 to 12 years of age, the incidence of laboratory-confirmed clinical influenza among children was significantly reduced from 19% (21/111) in the group not receiving prevention to 7% (7/104) in the group receiving prevention (64.4% reduction [95% CI 15.8–85.0; p=0.0188]). Among children who were not already shedding virus at baseline, the incidence of laboratory-confirmed clinical influenza was reduced from 21% (15/70) in the group not receiving prevention to 4% (2/47) in the group receiving prevention (80.1% reduction [95% CI 22.0–94.9; p=0.0206]). The NNT for the total paediatric population was 9 (95% CI 7-24) and 8 (95% CI 6, upper limit not estimable) in the whole population (ITT) and in paediatric contacts of infected index cases (ITTII), respectively.
Post-exposure prevention of influenza in infants less than 1 year of age during a pandemic: Prevention during an influenza pandemic has not been studied in controlled clinical studies in children 0-12 months of age. See Section 5.2 for exposure simulation details.
In a pooled analysis of two other studies conducted in unvaccinated otherwise healthy adults, oseltamivir 75 mg once daily given for 6 weeks significantly reduced the incidence of clinical influenza illness from 25/519 (4.8%) in the placebo group to 6/520 (1.2%) in the oseltamivir group (76% reduction [95% CI 1.6–5.7; p=0.0006]) during a community outbreak of influenza. The NNT in this study was 28 (95% CI 24–50). A study in older people in nursing homes, where 80% of participants received vaccine in the season of the study, oseltamivir 75 mg once daily given for 6 weeks significantly reduced the incidence of clinical influenza illness from 12/272 (4.4%) in the placebo group to 1/276 (0.4%) in the oseltamivir group (92% reduction [95% CI 1.5–6.6; p=0.0015]). The NNT in this study was 25 (95% CI 23–62).
A double-blind, placebo-controlled, randomised study was conducted for seasonal prophylaxis of influenza in 475 immunocompromised patients (388 patients with solid organ transplantation [195 placebo; 193 oseltamivir], 87 patients with haemopoetic stem cell transplantation [43 placebo; 44 oseltamivir], no patient with other immunosuppressant conditions), including 18 children 1 to 12 years of age. The primary endpoint in this study was the incidence of laboratory-confirmed clinical influenza as determined by viral culture and/or a four-fold rise in HAI antibodies. The incidence of laboratory-confirmed clinical influenza was 2.9% (7/238) in the placebo group and 2.1% (5/237) in the oseltamivir group (95% CI -2.3% – 4.1%; p=0.772).
Specific studies have not been conducted to assess the reduction in the risk of complications.
The risk of emergence of influenza viruses with reduced susceptibility or frank resistance to oseltamivir has been examined during Roche-sponsored clinical studies. Developing oseltamivir-resistant virus during treatment was more frequent in children than adults, ranging from less than 1% in adults to 18% in infants aged below 1 year. Children who were found to carry oseltamivir-resistant virus in general shed the virus for a prolonged period compared with subjects with susceptible virus. However treatment-emergent resistance to oseltamivir did not affect treatment response and caused no prolongation of influenza symptoms.
An overall higher incidence of oseltamivir-resistance was observed in adult immunocompromised patients treated with standard dose or double dose of oseltamivir for a duration of 10 days [14.9% (10/67) in standard dose group and 2.8% (2/71) in double dose group], compared to data from studies with oseltamivir-treated otherwise healthy adult patients. The majority of patients that developed resistance were transplant recipients (8/10 patients in the standard dose group and 2/2 patients in the double dose group). Most of the patients with oseltamivir-resistant virus were infected with influenza type A and had prolonged viral shedding.
Incidence of Oseltamivir Resistance in Clinical Studies:
| Patient Population | Patients with Resistance Mutations (%) | |
|---|---|---|
| Phenotyping* | Geno- and Phenotyping* | |
| Adults and adolescents | 0.88% (21/2377) | 1.12% (27/2391) |
| Children (1-12 years) | 3.89% (66/1698) | 4.24% (72/1698) |
| Infants (<1year) | 18.31% (13/71) | 18.31% (13/71) |
* Full genotyping was not performed in all studies.
There has been no evidence for emergence of drug resistance associated with the use of Tamiflu in clinical studies conducted to date in post-exposure (7 days), post-exposure within household groups (10 days) and seasonal (42 days) prevention of influenza in immunocompetent patients. There was no resistance observed during a 12-week prophylaxis study in immunocompromised patients.
Natural mutations associated with reduced susceptibility to oseltamivir in vitro have been detected in influenza A and B viruses isolated from patients without exposure to oseltamivir. Resistant strains selected during oseltamivir treatment have been isolated from both immunocompetent and immunocompromised patients. Immunocompromised patients and young children are at a higher risk of developing oseltamivir-resistant virus during treatment.
Oseltamivir-resistant viruses isolated from oseltamivir-treated patients and oseltamivir-resistant laboratory strains of influenza viruses have been found to contain mutations in N1 and N2 neuraminidases. Resistance mutations tend to be viral sub-type specific. Since 2007 naturally occurring resistance associated with the H275Y mutation in seasonal H1N1 strains has been sporadically detected. The susceptibility to oseltamivir and the prevalence of such viruses appear to vary seasonally and geographically. In 2008, H275Y was found in >99% of circulating H1N1 influenza isolates in Europe. The 2009 H1N1 influenza (“swine flu”) was almost uniformly susceptible to oseltamivir, with only sporadic reports of resistance in connection with both therapeutic and prophylactic regimens.
Oseltamivir is readily absorbed from the gastrointestinal tract after oral administration of oseltamivir phosphate (pro-drug) and is extensively converted by predominantly hepatic esterases to the active metabolite (oseltamivir carboxylate). At least 75% of an oral dose reaches the systemic circulation as the active metabolite. Exposure to the pro-drug is less than 5% relative to the active metabolite. Plasma concentrations of both pro-drug and active metabolite are proportional to dose and are unaffected by co-administration with food.
The mean volume of distribution at steady state of the oseltamivir carboxylate is approximately 23 litres in humans, a volume equivalent to extracellular body fluid. Since neuraminidase activity is extracellular, oseltamivir carboxylate distributes to all sites of influenza virus spread.
The binding of the oseltamivir carboxylate to human plasma protein is negligible (approximately 3%).
Oseltamivir is extensively converted to oseltamivir carboxylate by esterases located predominantly in the liver. In vitro studies demonstrated that neither oseltamivir nor the active metabolite is a substrate for, or an inhibitor of, the major cytochrome P450 isoforms. No phase 2 conjugates of either compound have been identified in vivo.
Absorbed oseltamivir is primarily (>90%) eliminated by conversion to oseltamivir carboxylate. It is not further metabolised and is eliminated in the urine. Peak plasma concentrations of oseltamivir carboxylate decline with a half-life of 6 to 10 hours in most subjects. The active metabolite is eliminated entirely by renal excretion. Renal clearance (18.8 l/h) exceeds glomerular filtration rate (7.5 l/h) indicating that tubular secretion occurs in addition to glomerular filtration. Less than 20% of an oral radiolabelled dose is eliminated in faeces.
The pharmacokinetics, pharmacodynamics and safety of Tamiflu have been evaluated in two uncontrolled open-label studies including influenza infected children less than one year of age (n=135). The rate of clearance of the active metabolite, corrected for body-weight, decreases with ages below one year. Metabolite exposures are also more variable in the youngest infants. The available data indicates that the exposure following a 3 mg/kg dose in infants 0-12 months of age provides pro-drug and metabolite exposures anticipated to be efficacious with a safety profile comparable to that seen in older children and adults using the approved dose (see sections 4.1 and 4.2).The reported adverse events were consistent with the established safety profile in older children.
There are no data available for infants below 1 year of age for post exposure prevention of influenza. Prevention during an influenza epidemic in the community has not been studied in children below 12 years of age.
Simulation of once daily dosing of 3mg/kg in infants <1 year shows an exposure in the same range or higher than for once daily dosing of 75 mg in adults. Exposure does not exceed that for treatment of infants <1 year (3 mg/kg twice daily) and is anticipated to result in a comparable safety profile (see Section 4.8). No clinical studies of prophylaxis in infants aged <1 have been performed.
The pharmacokinetics of oseltamivir have been evaluated in single-dose pharmacokinetic studies in infants, children and adolescents 1 to 16 years of age. Multiple-dose pharmacokinetics were studied in a small number of children enrolled in a clinical efficacy study. Younger children cleared both the pro-drug and its active metabolite faster than adults, resulting in a lower exposure for a given mg/kg dose. Doses of 2 mg/kg give oseltamivir carboxylate exposures comparable to those achieved in adults receiving a single 75 mg dose (approximately 1 mg/kg). The pharmacokinetics of oseltamivir in children and adolescents 12 years of age or older are similar to those in adults.
Exposure to the active metabolite at steady state was 25 to 35% higher in older people (age 65 to 78 years) compared to adults less than 65 years of age given comparable doses of oseltamivir. Half-lives observed in older people were similar to those seen in young adults. On the basis of drug exposure and tolerability, dosage adjustments are not required for older people unless there is evidence of moderate or severe renal impairment (creatinine clearance below 60 ml/min) (see section 4.2).
Administration of 100 mg oseltamivir phosphate twice daily for 5 days to patients with various degrees of renal impairment showed that exposure to oseltamivir carboxylate is inversely proportional to declining renal function. For dosing, see section 4.2.
In vitro studies have concluded that exposure to oseltamivir is not expected to be increased significantly nor is exposure to the active metabolite expected to be significantly decreased in patients with hepatic impairment (see section 4.2).
A pooled population pharmacokinetic analysis indicates that the Tamiflu dosage regimen described in Section 4.2 Posology and method of administration results in lower exposure (30% on average across all trimesters) to the active metabolite in pregnant women compared to non-pregnant women. The lower predicted exposure however, remains above inhibitoy concentrations (IC95 values) and at a therapeutic level for a range of influenza virus strains. In addition, there is evidence from observational studies showing benefit of the current dosing regimen in this patient population. Therefore, dose adjustments are not recommended for pregnant women in the treatment or prophylaxis of influenza (see section 4.6 Fertility, pregnancy and lactation).
Population pharmacokinetic analysis indicates that treatment of adult immunocompromised patients with oseltamivir (as described in Section 4.2. Posology and method of administration) results in an increased exposure (of up to 50%) to the active metabolite when compared to adult non-immunocompromised patients with comparable creatinine clearance. Due to the wide safety margin of the active metabolite, no dose adjustments are required in adults due to their immunocompromised status. However, for adult immunocompromised patients with renal impairment, doses should be adjusted as outlined in section 4.2. Posology and method of administration.
Preclinical data reveal no special hazard for humans based on conventional studies of safety pharmacology, repeated-dose toxicity and genotoxicity. Results of the conventional rodent carcinogenicity studies showed a trend towards a dose-dependent increase in the incidence of some tumours that are typical for the rodent strains used. Considering the margins of exposure in relation to the expected exposure in the human use, these findings do not change the benefit-risk of Tamiflu in its adopted therapeutic indications.
Teratology studies have been conducted in rats and rabbits at doses of up to 1,500 mg/kg/day and 500 mg/kg/day, respectively. No effects on foetal development were observed. A rat fertility study up to a dose of 1,500 mg/kg/day demonstrated no adverse reactions on either sex. In pre- and post-natal rat studies, prolonged parturition was noted at 1,500 mg/kg/day: the safety margin between human exposure and the highest no-effect dose (500 mg/kg/day) in rats is 480-fold for oseltamivir and 44-fold for the active metabolite, respectively. Foetal exposure in the rats and rabbits was approximately 15 to 20% of that of the mother.
In lactating rats, oseltamivir and the active metabolite are excreted in the milk. Limited data indicate that oseltamivir and the active metabolite are excreted in human milk. Extrapolation of the animal data provides estimates of 0.01 mg/day and 0.3 mg/day for the respective compounds.
A potential for skin sensitisation to oseltamivir was observed in a “maximisation” test in guinea pigs. Approximately 50% of the animals treated with the unformulated active substance showed erythema after challenging the induced animals. Reversible irritancy of rabbits' eyes was detected.
Whereas very high oral single doses of oseltamivir phosphate salt, up to the highest dose tested (1,310 mg/kg), had no adverse reactions in adult rats, such doses resulted in toxicity in juvenile 7-day- old rat pups, including death. These reactions were seen at doses of 657 mg/kg and higher. At 500 mg/kg, no adverse reactions were seen, including upon chronic treatment (500 mg/kg/day administered from 7 to 21 days post partum).
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