Warnings for Bynfezia Pen
Included as part of the PRECAUTIONS section.
Precautions for Bynfezia Pen
Cardiac Conduction Abnormalities
Cardiac conduction abnormalities have occurred during treatment with octreotide. In acromegalic patients, bradycardia (< 50 bpm) developed in 25%; conduction abnormalities occurred in 10% and arrhythmias occurred in 9% of patients during octreotide therapy [see ADVERSE REACTIONS]. Other electrocardiogram (ECG) changes observed included QT prolongation, axis shifts, early repolarization, low voltage, R/S transition, and early R-wave progression. These ECG changes are not uncommon in acromegalic patients. Dose adjustments in drugs such as beta-blockers that have bradycardia effects may be necessary. In one acromegalic patient with severe congestive heart failure (CHF), initiation of octreotide therapy resulted in worsening of CHF with improvement when drug was discontinued. Confirmation of a drug effect was obtained with a positive rechallenge.
Cholelithiasis And Complications Of Cholelithiasis
BYNFEZIA PEN may inhibit gallbladder contractility and decrease bile secretion, which may lead to gallbladder abnormalities or sludge. Acute cholecystitis, ascending cholangitis, biliary obstruction, cholestatic hepatitis, or pancreatitis have been reported with octreotide therapy. In clinical trials (primarily patients with acromegaly or psoriasis), the incidence of biliary tract abnormalities was 63% (27% gallstones, 24% sludge without stones, 12% biliary duct dilatation). The incidence of stones or sludge in patients who received octreotide for 12 months or longer was 52%. Less than 2% of patients treated with octreotide for 1 month or less developed gallstones. One patient developed ascending cholangitis during octreotide therapy and died. If complications of cholelithiasis are suspected, discontinue BYNFEZIA PEN and treat appropriately.
Hyperglycemia And Hypoglycemia
BYNFEZIA PEN alters the balance between the counter-regulatory hormones, insulin, glucagon and GH, which may result in hypoglycemia or hyperglycemia. The hypoglycemia or hyperglycemia which occurs during octreotide therapy is usually mild but may result in overt diabetes mellitus or necessitate dose changes in insulin or other anti-diabetic agents. Hypoglycemia and hyperglycemia occurred on octreotide in 3% and 16% of acromegalic patients, respectively [see ADVERSE REACTIONS]. Severe hyperglycemia, subsequent pneumonia, and death following initiation of octreotide therapy was reported in one patient with no history of hyperglycemia.
Monitor glucose levels during BYNFEZIA PEN therapy. Adjust dosing of insulin or other anti-diabetic therapy accordingly.
Thyroid Function Abnormalities
Octreotide suppresses secretion of thyroid stimulating hormone (TSH), which may result in hypothyroidism. Baseline and periodic assessment of thyroid function (TSH, total, and/or free T4) is recommended during chronic therapy [see ADVERSE REACTIONS].
Steatorrhea And Malabsorption Of Dietary Fats
New onset steatorrhea, stool discoloration and loose stools have been reported in patients receiving somatostatin analogs, including octreotide. Somatostatin analogs reversibly inhibit secretion of pancreatic enzymes and bile acids, which may result in malabsorption of dietary fats and subsequent symptoms of steatorrhea, loose stools, abdominal bloating, and weight loss. If new occurrence or worsening of these symptoms are reported in patients receiving octreotide, evaluate patients for potential pancreatic exocrine insufficiency and manage accordingly.
Changes In Vitamin B12 Levels
Depressed vitamin B12 levels and abnormal Schilling’s tests have been observed in some patients receiving octreotide therapy and monitoring of vitamin B12 levels is recommended during BYNFEZIA PEN therapy.
Patient Counseling Information
Advise patient and/or caregivers to read the FDA-approved patient labeling (Instructions for Use).
Sterile Subcutaneous Injection Technique
Careful instruction in sterile subcutaneous injection technique should be given to the patients and to other persons who may administer BYNFEZIA PEN.
Cholelithiasis And Complications Of Cholelithiasis
Advise patients to contact their healthcare provider if they experience signs or symptoms of gallstones (cholelithiasis) or complications of cholelithiasis (e.g., cholecystitis, cholangitis, and pancreatitis) [see WARNINGS AND PRECAUTIONS].
Steatorrhea And Malabsorption Of Dietary Fats
Advise patients to contact their healthcare provider if they experience new or worsening of steatorrhea, stool discoloration, loose stools, abdominal bloating, and weight loss [see WARNINGS AND PRECAUTIONS].
Pregnancy
Inform female patients that treatment with BYNFEZIA PEN may result in unintended pregnancy [see Use In Specific Populations].
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Nonclinical Toxicology
Carcinogenesis, Mutagenesis, Impairment Of Fertility
Studies in laboratory animals have demonstrated no mutagenic potential of octreotide injection.
No carcinogenic potential was demonstrated in mice treated subcutaneously for 85 to 99 weeks at doses up to 2,000 mcg/kg/day (8 x the human exposure based on BSA). In a 116-week subcutaneous study in rats, a 27% and 12% incidence of injection-site sarcomas or squamous cell carcinomas was observed in males and females, respectively, at the highest dose level of 1,250 mcg/kg/day (10 x the human exposure based on BSA) compared to an incidence of 8% to 10% in the vehicle-control groups. The increased incidence of injection site tumors was most probably caused by irritation and the high sensitivity of the rat to repeated subcutaneous injections at the same site. Rotating injection sites would prevent chronic irritation in humans. There have been no reports of injection-site tumors in patients treated with octreotide for up to 5 years. There was also a 15% incidence of uterine adenocarcinomas in the 1,250 mcg/kg/day females compared to 7% in the saline-control females and 0% in the vehicle-control females. The presence of endometritis coupled with the absence of corpora lutea, the reduction in mammary fibroadenomas, and the presence of uterine dilatation suggest that the uterine tumors were associated with estrogen dominance in the aged female rats which does not occur in humans.
Octreotide did not impair fertility in rats at doses up to 1,000 mcg/kg/day, which represents 7 times the human exposure based on BSA.
Use In Specific Populations
Pregnancy
Risk Summary
The limited data with octreotide acetate in pregnant women are insufficient to inform a drug-associated risk for major birth defects and miscarriage. In animal reproduction studies, no adverse developmental-effects were observed with IV administration of octreotide to pregnant rats and rabbits during organogenesis at doses 7 and 13 times, respectively the maximum recommended human dose (MRHD) of 1.5 mg/day based on body surface area (BSA). Transient growth retardation, with no impact on postnatal development, was observed in rat offspring from a pre-and post-natal study of octreotide at IV doses below the MRHD based on BSA (see Data).
The estimated background risk of major birth defects and miscarriage for the indicated population is unknown. In the U.S. general population, the estimated background risk of major birth defects and miscarriage in clinically recognized pregnancies is 2% to 4% and 15% to 20%, respectively.
Data
Human Data
In postmarketing data, a limited number of exposed pregnancies have been reported in patients with acromegaly. Most women were exposed to octreotide during the first trimester of pregnancy at doses ranging from 100 to 300 mcg/day of octreotide or 20 mg to 30 mg once a month of octreotide acetate for injectable suspension, however some women elected to continue octreotide therapy throughout pregnancy. In cases with a known outcome, no congenital malformations were reported.
Animal Data
In embryo-fetal development studies in rats and rabbits, pregnant animals received IV doses of octreotide up to 1 mg/kg/day during the period of organogenesis. A slight reduction in body weight gain was noted in pregnant rats at 0.1 and 1 mg/kg/day. There were no maternal effects in rabbits or embryo-fetal effects in either species up to the maximum dose tested. At 1 mg/kg/day in rats and rabbits, the dose multiple was approximately 7 and 13 times, respectively, at the highest recommended human dose of 1.5 mg/day based on BSA.
In a pre-and post-natal development rat study at IV doses of 0.02–1 mg/kg/day, a transient growth retardation of the offspring was observed at all doses which was possibly a consequence of GH inhibition by octreotide. The doses attributed to the delayed growth are below the human dose of 1.5 mg/day, based on BSA.
Lactation
Risk Summary
There is no information available on the presence of octreotide in human milk, the effects of the drug on the breastfed infant, or the effects of the drug on milk production. Studies show that octreotide administered subcutaneously passes into the milk of lactating rats; however, due to species-specific differences in lactation physiology, animal data may not reliably predict drug levels in human milk (see Data). The developmental and health benefits of breastfeeding should be considered along with the mother’s clinical need for BYNFEZIA PEN, and any potential adverse effects on the breastfed child from BYNFEZIA PEN or from the underlying maternal condition.
Data
Following a subcutaneous dose (1 mg/kg) of octreotide to lactating rats, transfer of octreotide into milk was observed at a low concentration compared to plasma (milk/plasma ratio of 0.009).
Females And Males Of Reproductive Potential
Discuss the potential for unintended pregnancy with premenopausal women as the therapeutic benefits of a reduction in GH levels and normalization of insulin-like growth factor 1 (IGF-1) concentration in acromegalic females treated with octreotide may lead to improved fertility.
Pediatric Use
Safety and efficacy of octreotide injection in the pediatric population have not been demonstrated.
No formal controlled clinical trials have been performed to evaluate the safety and effectiveness of octreotide injection in pediatric patients under age 6 years. In post-marketing reports, serious adverse events, including hypoxia, necrotizing enterocolitis, and death, have been reported with octreotide injection use in children, most notably in children under 2 years of age. The relationship of these events to octreotide has not been established as the majority of these pediatric patients had serious underlying co-morbid conditions.
The efficacy and safety of octreotide injection using the octreotide acetate for injectable suspension formulation was examined in a single randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled, 6 month pharmacokinetics study in 60 pediatric patients age 6 to 17 years with hypothalamic obesity resulting from cranial insult. The mean octreotide concentration after 6 doses of 40 mg octreotide acetate for injectable suspension administered by intramuscular (IM) injection every 4 weeks was approximately 3 ng/mL. Steady-state concentrations was achieved after 3 injections of a 40 mg dose. Mean body mass index (BMI) increased 0.1 kg/m² in octreotide acetate for injectable suspension-treated subjects compared to 0.0 kg/m² in saline control-treated subjects. Efficacy was not demonstrated. Diarrhea occurred in 11 of 30 (37%) patients treated with octreotide acetate for injectable suspension. No unexpected adverse events were observed. However, with octreotide acetate for injectable suspension at 40 mg once a month, the incidence of new cholelithiasis in this pediatric population (33%) was higher than that seen in other adult indications such as acromegaly (22%) or malignant carcinoid syndrome (24%), where octreotide acetate for injectable suspension was 10 mg to 30 mg once a month.
Geriatric Use
Clinical studies of octreotide did not include sufficient numbers of subjects aged 65 and over to determine whether they respond differently from younger subjects. Other reported clinical experience has not identified differences in responses between the elderly and younger patients. In general, dose selection for an elderly patient should be cautious, usually starting at the low end of the dosing range, reflecting the greater frequency of decreased hepatic, renal, or cardiac function, and of concomitant disease or other drug therapy.
Renal Impairment
In patients with severe renal failure requiring dialysis, the half-life of octreotide may be increased, necessitating adjustment of the maintenance dosage [see CLINICAL PHARMACOLOGY].
Hepatic Impairment-Cirrhotic Patients
In patients with liver cirrhosis, the half-life of the drug may be increased, necessitating adjustment of the maintenance dosage [see CLINICAL PHARMACOLOGY].