Palivizumab

Interactions

Palivizumab interacts in the following cases:

Anaphylaxis

Allergic reactions including very rare cases of anaphylaxis and anaphylactic shock have been reported following palivizumab administration. In some cases, fatalities have been reported.

Medicinal products for the treatment of severe hypersensitivity reactions, including anaphylaxis and anaphylactic shock, should be available for immediate use following administration of palivizumab.

Thrombocytopaenia, coagulation disorder

Palivizumab should be given with caution to patients with thrombocytopaenia or any coagulation disorder.

Pregnancy

Not relevant. Palivizumab is not indicated for use in adults. Data on pregnancy are not available.

Nursing mothers

Not relevant. Synagis is not indicated for use in adults. Data on lactation are not available.

Carcinogenesis, mutagenesis and fertility

Fertility

Not relevant. Synagis is not indicated for use in adults. Data on fertility are not available.

Effects on ability to drive and use machines

Not relevant.

Adverse reactions


Summary of the safety profile

The most serious adverse reactions occurring with palivizumab are anaphylaxis and other acute hypersensitivity reactions. Common adverse reactions occurring with palivizumab are fever, rash, and injection site reaction.

List of adverse reactions

Adverse reactions both clinical and laboratory, are displayed by system organ class and frequency (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) in studies conducted in premature and bronchopulmonary dysplasia paediatric patients, and paediatric congenital heart disease patients.

The adverse reactions identified via post-marketing surveillance are reported voluntarily from a population of uncertain size; it is not always possible to reliably estimate their frequency or establish a causal relationship to palivizumab exposure. The frequency for these “ADRs” as presented in the list below was estimated using the safety data of the two registration clinical studies. The incidences of these reactions in these studies showed no difference between the palivizumab and placebo groups and the reactions were not drug related.

Blood and lymphatic system disorders

Uncommon: Thrombocytopenia#

Immune system disorders

Not known: Anaphylaxis, anaphylactic shock (in some cases, fatalities have been reported)#

Nervous system disorders

Uncommon: Convulsion#

Respiratory, thoracic and mediastinal disorders

Common: Apnoea#

Skin and subcutaneous tissue disorders

Very common: Rash

Uncommon: Urticaria#

General disorders and administrative site conditions

Very common: Pyrexia

Common: Injection site reaction

# ADRs identified from post-marketing surveillance

Description of selected adverse reactions

Post-marketing experience

Post-marketing serious spontaneous adverse reactions reported during palivizumab treatment between 1998 and 2002 covering four RSV seasons were evaluated. A total of 1,291 serious reports were received where palivizumab had been administered as indicated and the duration of therapy was within one season. The onset of the adverse reactions occurred after the sixth or greater dose in only 22 of these reports (15 after the sixth dose, 6 after the seventh doses and 1 after the eight dose). These adverse reactions are similar in character to those after the initial five doses.

Palivizumab treatment schedule and adverse reactions were monitored in a group of nearly 20,000 infants tracked through a patient compliance registry between 1998 and 2000. Of this group 1,250 enrolled infants had 6 injections, 183 infants had 7 injections, and 27 infants had either 8 or 9 injections. Adverse reactions observed in patients after a sixth or greater dose were similar in character and frequency to those after the initial 5 doses.

In an observational, post-marketing, database study, a small increase in the frequency of asthma was observed among preterm palivizumab recipients; however, the causal relationship is uncertain.

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