Evolocumab

Interactions

Evolocumab interacts in the following cases:

Severe renal impairment (eGFR <30 mL/min/1.73 m²)

There is limited experience with evolocumab in patients with severe renal impairment (defined as eGFR <30 mL/min/1.73 m²). Evolocumab should be used with caution in patients with severe renal impairment.

Moderate hepatic impairment

In patients with moderate hepatic impairment, a reduction in total evolocumab exposure was observed that may lead to a reduced effect on LDL-C reduction. Therefore, close monitoring may be warranted in these patients.

Severe hepatic impairment

Patients with severe hepatic impairment (Child-Pugh C) have not been studied. Evolocumab should be used with caution in patients with severe hepatic impairment.

Statins

The pharmacokinetic interaction between statins and evolocumab was evaluated in the evolocumab clinical trials. An approximately 20% increase in the clearance of evolocumab was observed in patients co-administered statins. This increased clearance is in part mediated by statins increasing the concentration of Proprotein Convertase Subtilisin/Kexin Type 9 (PCSK9) which did not adversely impact the pharmacodynamic effect of evolocumab on lipids. No statin dose adjustments are necessary when used in combination with evolocumab.

Pregnancy

There are no or limited amount of data from the use of evolocumab in pregnant women.

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

Evolocumab should not be used during pregnancy unless the clinical condition of the woman requires treatment with evolocumab.

Nursing mothers

It is unknown whether evolocumab is excreted in human milk.

A risk to breastfed newborns/infants cannot be excluded.

A decision must be made whether to discontinue breast-feeding or discontinue/abstain from evolocumab therapy taking into account the benefit of breast-feeding for the child and the benefit of therapy for the woman.

Carcinogenesis, mutagenesis and fertility

Fertility

No data on the effect of evolocumab on human fertility are available. Animal studies did not show any effects on fertility endpoints at area under the concentration time curve (AUC) exposure levels much higher than in patients receiving evolocumab at 420 mg once monthly.

Effects on ability to drive and use machines

Evolocumab has no known influence on the ability to drive and use machines.

Adverse reactions


Summary of the safety profile

The most commonly reported adverse reactions during pivotal trials, at the recommended doses, were nasopharyngitis (7.4%), upper respiratory tract infection (4.6%), back pain (4.4%), arthralgia (3.9%), influenza (3.2%), and injection site reactions (2.2%). The safety profile in the homozygous familial hypercholesterolaemia population was consistent with that demonstrated in the primary hypercholesterolaemia and mixed dyslipidaemia population.

Summary of adverse reactions

Adverse reactions reported in pivotal, controlled clinical studies, and spontaneous reporting, are displayed by system organ class and frequency in the list below using the following convention: 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) and very rare (<1/10,000).

Adverse reactions with evolocumab:

Infections and infestations

Common: Influenza, Nasopharyngitis, Upper respiratory tract infection

Immune system disorders

Common: Hypersensitivity, Rash

Uncommon: Urticaria

Gastrointestinal disorders

Common: Nausea

Skin and subcutaneous tissue disorders

Rare: Angioedema

Musculoskeletal and connective tissue disorders

Common: Back pain, Arthralgia

General disorders and administration site conditions

Common: Injection site reactions1

Uncommon: Influenza-like illness

1 See section Description of selected adverse reactions

Description of selected adverse reactions

Injection site reactions

The most frequent injection site reactions were injection site bruising, erythema, haemorrhage, injection site pain, and swelling.

Paediatric population

There is limited experience with evolocumab in paediatric patients. Fourteen patients aged ≥12 to <18 years with homozygous familial hypercholesterolaemia were included in clinical studies. No difference in safety was observed between adolescent and adult patients with homozygous familial hypercholesterolaemia.

The safety and effectiveness of evolocumab in paediatric patients with primary hypercholesterolaemia and mixed dyslipidaemia has not been established.

Elderly population

Of the 18,546 patients treated with evolocumab in double-blind clinical studies 7,656 (41.3%) were ≥65 years old, while 1,500 (8.1%) were ≥75 years old. No overall differences in safety or efficacy were observed between these patients and younger patients.

Immunogenicity

In clinical studies, 0.3% of patients (48 out of 17,992 patients) treated with at least one dose of evolocumab tested positive for binding antibody development. The patients whose sera tested positive for binding antibodies were further evaluated for neutralising antibodies and none of the patients tested positive for neutralising antibodies. The presence of anti-evolocumab binding antibodies did not impact the pharmacokinetic profile, clinical response, or safety of evolocumab.

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