WARNINGS
Included as part of the PRECAUTIONS section.
PRECAUTIONS
Fetal Risk
Systemic exposure to tazarotenic acid is dependent upon
the extent of the body surface area treated. In patients treated topically over
sufficient body surface area, exposure could be in the same order of magnitude
as in orally treated animals. Tazarotene is a teratogenic substance, and it is
not known what level of exposure is required for teratogenicity in humans [see
CLINICAL PHARMACOLOGY].
There were 5 reported pregnancies in subjects who
participated in clinical trials for topical tazarotene foam. One of the
subjects was found to have been treated with topical tazarotene for 25 days, 2
were treated with vehicle foam, and the other 2 did not receive either
tazarotene foam or vehicle foam. The subjects were discontinued from the trials
when their pregnancy was reported. The one pregnant woman who was inadvertently
exposed to topical tazarotene during the clinical trial delivered a full-term healthy
infant.
Females Of Childbearing Potential
Females of child-bearing potential should be warned of
the potential risk and use adequate birth-control measures when tazarotene foam
is used. The possibility of pregnancy should be considered in females of
child-bearing potential at the time of institution of therapy.
A negative serum or urine result for pregnancy test
having a sensitivity down to at least 25 mIU/mL for human chorionic
gonadotropin (hCG) should be obtained within 2 weeks prior to therapy with
FABIOR Foam, which should begin during a normal menstrual period for females of
childbearing potential. Advise patients of the need to use an effective method
of contraception to avoid pregnancy [see Use in Specific Populations].
Local Irritation
FABIOR Foam should be used with caution in patients with
a history of local tolerability reactions or local hypersensitivity. Retinoids
should not be used on abraded or eczematous skin, as they may cause severe
irritation. Contact with the mouth, eyes, and mucous membranes should be
avoided. In case of accidental contact, rinse well with water.
Some individuals may experience skin redness, peeling,
burning or excessive pruritus. If these effects occur, the medication should
either be discontinued until the integrity of the skin is restored, or the dosing
should be reduced to an interval the patient can tolerate. However, efficacy at
reduced frequency of application has not been established.
Weather extremes, such as wind or cold, may be more
irritating to patients using FABIOR Foam.
Potential Irritant Effect With Concomitant Topical
Medications
Concomitant topical acne therapy should be used with
caution because a cumulative irritant effect may occur. If irritancy or
dermatitis occurs, reduce frequency of application or temporarily interrupt treatment
and resume once the irritation subsides. Treatment should be discontinued if
the irritation persists.
Photosensitivity And Risk For Sunburn
Because of heightened burning susceptibility, exposure to
sunlight (including sunlamps) should be avoided. Patients must be warned to use
sunscreens and protective clothing when using FABIOR Foam. Patients with sunburn
should be advised not to use FABIOR Foam until fully recovered. Patients who may
have considerable sun exposure due to their occupation and those patients with
inherent sensitivity to sunlight should exercise particular caution when using
FABIOR Foam and ensure that the precautions are observed [see FDA-approved
patient labeling]. Due to the potential for photosensitivity resulting in greater
risk for sunburn, FABIOR Foam should be used with caution in patients with a
personal or family history of skin cancer.
FABIOR Foam should be administered with caution if the
patient is also taking drugs known to be photosensitizers (e.g., thiazides,
tetracyclines, fluoroquinolones, phenothiazines, sulfonamides) because of the
increased possibility of augmented photosensitivity.
Flammability
The propellant in FABIOR Foam is flammable. Instruct the
patient to avoid fire, flame, and/or smoking during and immediately following
application.
Patient Counseling Information
See FDA-approved patient labeling (PATIENT INFORMATION).
Inform the patient of the following:
- Fetal risk associated with FABIOR Foam for females of
childbearing potential. Advise patients to use an effective method of
contraception during treatment to avoid pregnancy. Advise the patient to stop
medication if she becomes pregnant and call her doctor.
- If undue irritation (redness, peeling, or discomfort)
occurs, reduce frequency of application or temporarily interrupt treatment.
Treatment may be resumed once irritation subsides.
- Do not place FABIOR Foam in the freezer.
- Avoid exposure of the treated areas to either natural or
artificial sunlight, including tanning beds and sun lamps.
- Avoid contact with the eyes. If FABIOR Foam gets in or
near their eyes, to rinse thoroughly with water.
- Wash their hands after applying FABIOR Foam.
- Avoid fire, flame, or smoking during and immediately
following application since FABIOR Foam is flammable.
- Keep out of the reach of children.
- Not for ophthalmic, oral, or intravaginal use.
Nonclinical Toxicology
Carcinogenesis, Mutagenesis, Impairment Of Fertility
Carcinogenesis
A long-term study of tazarotene following oral
administration of 0.025, 0.050, and 0.125 mg/kg/day to rats showed no
indications of increased carcinogenic risk. Based on pharmacokinetic data from
a shorter-term study in rats, the highest dose of 0.125 mg/kg/day was
anticipated to give systemic exposure in rats approximately 2 times the AUC in
acne patients treated with 2 mg/cm² of FABIOR Foam 0.1% over a 15% body surface
area.
A long-term topical application study of up to 0.1%
tazarotene in a gel formulation in mice terminated at 88 weeks showed that dose
levels of 0.05, 0.125, 0.25, and 1 mg/kg/day (reduced to 0.5 mg/kg/day for males
after 41 weeks due to severe dermal irritation) revealed no apparent
carcinogenic effects when compared with vehicle control animals. AUC at the
highest dose in mice was 49 times the AUC in acne patients treated with 2 mg/cm²
of FABIOR Foam 0.1% over a 15% body surface area.
In evaluation of photocarcinogenicity, median time to
onset of tumors was decreased and the number of tumors increased in hairless
mice following chronic topical dosing with exposure to ultraviolet radiation at
tazarotene concentrations of 0.001%, 0.005%, and 0.01% in a gel formulation for
up to 40 weeks.
Mutagenesis
Tazarotene was non-mutagenic in the Ames assay and did
not produce structural chromosomal aberrations in a human lymphocyte assay.
Tazarotene was non-mutagenic in the CHO/HGPRT mammalian cell forward gene
mutation assay and was non-clastogenic in the in vivo mouse micronucleus test.
Impairment Of Fertility
No impairment of fertility was observed in rats when male
animals were treated for 70 days prior to mating and female animals were
treated for 14 days prior to mating and continuing through gestation and lactation
with topical doses of tazarotene gel up to 0.125 mg/kg/day. Based on data from
another study, the systemic drug exposure at the 0.125 mg/kg/day dose in rats
would be equivalent to 7.6 times the AUC in acne patients treated with 2 mg/cm²
of FABIOR Foam 0.1% over a 15% body surface area.
No impairment of mating performance or fertility was
observed in male rats treated for 70 days prior to mating with oral doses of up
to 1 mg/kg/day tazarotene. AUC at the highest dose in rats was 23 times the AUC
in acne patients treated with 2 mg/cm² of FABIOR Foam 0.1% over a 15% body
surface area.
No effect on parameters of mating performance or
fertility was observed in female rats treated for 15 days prior to mating and
continuing through gestation day 7 with oral doses of tazarotene up to 2 mg/kg/day.
However, there was a significant decrease in the number of estrous stages and
an increase in developmental effects at that dose [see Pregnancy]. AUC
at the highest dose in rats was 42 times the AUC in acne patients treated with
2 mg/cm² of FABIOR Foam 0.1% over a 15% body surface area.
Reproductive capabilities of F1 animals, including F2
survival and development, were not affected by topical administration of
tazarotene gel to female F0 parental rats from gestation day 16 through lactation
day 20 at the maximum tolerated dose of 0.125 mg/kg/day. Based on data from
another study, the AUC in rats would be equivalent to 7.6 times the AUC in acne
patients treated with 2 mg/cm² of FABIOR Foam 0.1% over a 15% body surface
area.
Use In Specific Populations
Pregnancy
Pregnancy Category X.
FABIOR Foam is contraindicated in pregnancy [see
CONTRAINDICATIONS].
There are no adequate and well-controlled studies with
FABIOR Foam in pregnant women. FABIOR Foam is contraindicated in females who
are or may become pregnant [see CONTRAINDICATIONS]. Females of
child-bearing potential should be warned of the potential risk and use adequate
birth-control measures when FABIOR Foam is used. The possibility that a female
of child-bearing potential is pregnant at the time of institution of therapy
should be considered. A negative serum or urine result for pregnancy test
having a sensitivity down to at least 25 mIU/mL for hCG should be obtained
within 2 weeks prior to therapy with FABIOR Foam, which should begin during a
normal menstrual period for females of childbearing potential.
In rats, tazarotene 0.05% gel administered topically
during gestation days 6 through 17 at 0.25 mg/kg/day resulted in reduced fetal
body weights and reduced skeletal ossification. Rabbits dosed topically with
0.25 mg/kg/day tazarotene gel during gestation days 6 through 18 were noted
with single incidences of known retinoid malformations, including spina bifida,
hydrocephaly, and heart anomalies.
Systemic exposure (AUC) to tazarotenic acid at topical
doses of 0.25 mg/kg/day tazarotene in a gel formulation in rats and rabbits
were 15 and 166 times, respectively, the AUC in acne patients treated with 2
mg/cm² of FABIOR Foam 0.1% over a 15% body surface area.
As with other retinoids, when tazarotene was administered
orally to experimental animals, developmental delays were seen in rats, and
teratogenic effects and post-implantation loss were observed in rats and
rabbits at doses 13 and 325 times, respectively, the AUC to tazarotenic acid in
acne patients treated with 2 mg/cm² of FABIOR Foam 0.1% over a 15% body surface
area.
In female rats orally administered 2 mg/kg/day tazarotene
from 15 days before mating through gestation day 7, a number of classic
developmental effects of retinoids were observed including decreased number of
implantation sites, decreased litter size, decreased numbers of live fetuses,
and decreased fetal body weights. A low incidence of retinoid-related
malformations was also observed. AUC in rats was 42 times the AUC in acne
patients treated with 2 mg/cm² of FABIOR Foam 0.1% over a 15% body surface
area.
Nursing Mothers
After single topical doses of 14C-tazarotene
to the skin of lactating rats, radioactivity was detected in milk, suggesting
that there would be transfer of drug-related material to the offspring via
milk. It is not known whether this drug is excreted in human milk. The safe use
of FABIOR Foam during lactation has not been established. A decision should be
made whether to discontinue breastfeeding or to discontinue therapy with FABIOR
Foam taking into account the benefit of breastfeeding for the child and the
benefit of therapy for the woman.
Pediatric Use
The safety and effectiveness of FABIOR Foam in pediatric
patients younger than 12 years have not been established. Clinical studies of
FABIOR Foam included 860 patients aged 12 to 17 years with acne vulgaris.
Geriatric Use
FABIOR Foam for the treatment of acne has not been
clinically evaluated in persons over the age of 65.