WARNINGS
Included as part of the "PRECAUTIONS" Section
PRECAUTIONS
Severe Acute Exacerbation Of Hepatitis B After Discontinuation Of Treatment
Discontinuation of anti-hepatitis B therapy, including VEMLIDY, may result in severe acute exacerbations of hepatitis B. Patients who discontinue VEMLIDY should be closely monitored with both clinical and laboratory follow-up for at least several months after stopping treatment. If appropriate, resumption of anti-hepatitis B therapy may be warranted.
Risk Of Development Of HIV-1 Resistance In Patients Coinfected With HBVAnd HIV-1
Due to the risk of development of HIV-1 resistance, VEMLIDY alone is not recommended for the treatment of HIV-1 infection. The safety and efficacy of VEMLIDY have not been established in patients coinfected with HBV and HIV-1. HIV antibody testing should be offered to all HBV-infected patients before initiating therapy with VEMLIDY, and, if positive, an appropriate antiretroviral combination regimen that is recommended for patients coinfected with HIV-1 should be used.
New Onset Or Worsening Renal Impairment
Renal impairment, including cases of acute renal failure and Fanconi syndrome (renal tubular injury with severe hypophosphatemia), has been reported with the use of tenofovir prodrugs in both animal toxicology studies and human trials. In clinical trials of VEMLIDY, there have been no cases of Fanconi syndrome or Proximal Renal Tubulopathy (PRT).
Patients taking tenofovir prodrugs who have impaired renal function and those taking nephrotoxic agents, including non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, are at increased risk of developing renal-related adverse reactions [see DRUG INTERACTIONS].
Prior to or when initiating VEMLIDY, and during treatment with VEMLIDY on a clinically appropriate schedule, assess serum creatinine, estimated creatinine clearance, urine glucose, and urine protein in all patients. In patients with chronic kidney disease, also assess serum phosphorus. Discontinue VEMLIDY in patients who develop clinically significant decreases in renal function or evidence of Fanconi syndrome.
Lactic Acidosis/Severe Hepatomegaly With Steatosis
Lactic acidosis and severe hepatomegaly with steatosis, including fatal cases, have been reported with the use of nucleoside analogs, including tenofovir DF, another prodrug of tenofovir, alone or in combination with other antiretrovirals. Treatment with VEMLIDY should be suspended in any patient who develops clinical or laboratory findings suggestive of lactic acidosis or pronounced hepatotoxicity (which may include hepatomegaly and steatosis even in the absence of marked transaminase elevations).
Patient Counseling Information
Advise the patient to read the FDA-approved patient labeling (PATIENT INFORMATION).
Severe Acute Exacerbation Of Hepatitis After Discontinuation Of Treatment
Inform patients that discontinuation of anti-hepatitis B therapy, including VEMLIDY, may result in severe acute exacerbations of hepatitis B. Advise the patient to not discontinue VEMLIDY without first informing their healthcare provider [see WARNINGS AND PRECAUTIONS].
Risk Of Development Of HIV-1 Resistance In Patients With HIV-1 Coinfection
Inform patients that if they have or develop HIV infection and are not receiving effective HIV treatment, VEMLIDY may increase the risk of development of resistance to HIV medication [see DOSAGE AND ADMINISTRATION and WARNINGS AND PRECAUTIONS].
New Onset Or Worsening Renal Impairment
Advise patients that renal impairment, including cases of acute renal failure, has been reported in association with the use of tenofovir prodrugs [see WARNINGS AND PRECAUTIONS].
Lactic Acidosis And Severe Hepatomegaly
Lactic acidosis and severe hepatomegaly with steatosis, including fatal cases, have been reported with use of drugs similar to VEMLIDY. Advise patients to contact their healthcare provider immediately and stop VEMLIDY if they develop clinical symptoms suggestive of lactic acidosis or pronounced hepatotoxicity [see WARNINGS AND PRECAUTIONS].
Drug Interactions
Advise patients to report to their healthcare provider the use of any other prescription or non-prescription medication or herbal products including St. John’s wort, as VEMLIDY may interact with other drugs [see DRUG INTERACTIONS].
Missed Dosage
Inform patients that it is important to take VEMLIDY on a regular dosing schedule with food and to avoid missing doses, as it can result in development of resistance [see DOSAGE AND ADMINISTRATION].
Pregnancy Registry
Inform patients that there is an antiretroviral pregnancy registry to monitor fetal outcomes of pregnant women exposed to VEMLIDY [see Use In Specific Populations].
Nonclinical Toxicology
Carcinogenesis, Mutagenesis, Impairment Of Fertility
Since tenofovir alafenamide is rapidly converted to tenofovir and a lower tenofovir exposure in rats and mice was observed after tenofovir alafenamide administration compared to tenofovir disoproxil fumarate administration, carcinogenicity studies were conducted only with tenofovir disoproxil fumarate. Long-term oral carcinogenicity studies of tenofovir disoproxil fumarate in mice and rats were carried out at exposures up to approximately 10 times (mice) and 4 times (rats) those observed in humans at the 300 mg therapeutic dose of tenofovir disoproxil fumarate for chronic hepatitis B. The tenofovir exposure in these studies was approximately 151 times (mice) and 50 times (rat) those observed in humans after administration of VEMLIDY treatment. At the high dose in female mice, liver adenomas were increased at tenofovir exposures approximately 151 times those observed after VEMLIDY administration in humans. In rats, the study was negative for carcinogenic findings.
Tenofovir alafenamide was not genotoxic in the reverse mutation bacterial test (Ames test), mouse lymphoma or rat micronucleus assays.
There were no effects on fertility, mating performance or early embryonic development when tenofovir alafenamide was administered to male rats at a dose equivalent to 155 times the human dose based on body surface area comparisons for 28 days prior to mating and to female rats for 14 days prior to mating through Day 7 of gestation.
Use In Specific Populations
Pregnancy
Pregnancy Exposure Registry
There is a pregnancy exposure registry that monitors pregnancy outcomes in women exposed to VEMLIDY during pregnancy. Healthcare providers are encouraged to register patients by calling the Antiretroviral Pregnancy Registry (APR) at 1-800-2584263.
Risk Summary
There are no human data on the use of VEMLIDY in pregnant women to inform a drug-associated risk of adverse fetal developmental outcome. In animal studies, no adverse developmental effects were observed when tenofovir alafenamide was administered during the period of organogenesis at exposure equal to or 51 times (rats and rabbits,
respectively) the tenofovir alafenamide exposure at the recommended daily dose of VEMLIDY [see Data]. No adverse effects were observed in the offspring when TDF (tenofovir disoproxil fumarate) was administered through lactation at tenofovir exposures of approximately 12 times the exposure at the recommended daily dosage of VEMLIDY.
The 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 2–4% and 15–20%, respectively.
Data
Animal Data
Embryonic fetal development studies performed in rats and rabbits revealed no evidence of impaired fertility or harm to the fetus. The embryo-fetal NOAELs (no observed adverse effect level) in rats and rabbits occurred at tenofovir alafenamide exposures similar to and 51 times higher than, respectively, the exposure in humans at the recommended daily dose. Tenofovir alafenamide is rapidly converted to tenofovir; the observed tenofovir exposure in rats and rabbits were 54 (rats) and 85 (rabbits) times higher than human tenofovir exposures at the recommended daily dose.
Tenofovir alafenamide was administered orally to pregnant rats (25, 100, or 250 mg/kg/day) and rabbits (10, 30, or 100 mg/kg/day) through organogenesis (on gestation days 6 through 17, and 7 through 20, respectively). No adverse embryo-fetal effects were observed in rats and rabbits at tenofovir alafenamide exposures approximately similar to (rats) and 51 (rabbits) times higher than the exposure in humans at the recommended daily dose of VEMLIDY. Tenofovir alafenamide is rapidly converted to tenofovir; the observed tenofovir exposures in rats and rabbits were 54 (rats) and 85 (rabbits) times higher than human tenofovir exposures at the recommended daily dose. Since tenofovir alafenamide is rapidly converted to tenofovir and a lower tenofovir exposure in rats and mice was observed after tenofovir alafenamide administration compared to TDF, another prodrug for tenofovir administration, a pre/postnatal development study in rats was conducted only with TDF. Doses up to 600 mg/kg/day were administered through lactation; no adverse effects were observed in the offspring on gestation day 7 [and lactation day 20] at tenofovir exposures of approximately 12
[18] times higher than the exposures in humans at the recommended daily dose of VEMLIDY.
Lactation
Risk Summary
It is not known whether VEMLIDY and its metabolites are present in human breast milk, affect human milk production, or have effects on the breastfed infant. Tenofovir has been shown to be present in the milk of lactating rats and rhesus monkeys after administration of TDF [see Data]. It is not known if tenofovir alafenamide can be present in animal milk. The developmental and health benefits of breastfeeding should be
considered along with the mother’s clinical need for VEMLIDY and any potential adverse effects on the breastfed infant from VEMLIDY or from the underlying maternal condition.
Data
Animal Data
Studies in rats and monkeys have demonstrated that tenofovir is secreted in milk. Tenofovir was excreted into the milk of lactating rats following oral administration of TDF (up to 600 mg/kg/day) at up to approximately 24% of the median plasma concentration in the highest dosed animals at lactation day 11 [see Data]. Tenofovir was excreted into the milk of lactating monkeys following a single subcutaneous (30 mg/kg) dose of tenofovir at concentrations up to approximately 4% of plasma concentration, resulting in exposure (AUC) of approximately 20% of plasma exposure.
Pediatric Use
Safety and effectiveness of VEMLIDY in pediatric patients less than 18 years of age have not been established.
Geriatric Use
Clinical trials of VEMLIDY did not include sufficient numbers of subjects aged 65 and over to determine whether they respond differently from younger subjects.
Renal Impairment
No dosage adjustment of VEMLIDY is required in patients with mild, moderate, or severe renal impairment, or in patients with ESRD (estimated creatinine clearance below 15 mL per minute) who are receiving chronic hemodialysis. On days of hemodialysis, administer VEMLIDY after completion of hemodialysis treatment [see DOSAGE AND ADMINISTRATION].
The pharmacokinetics and safety of tenofovir alafenamide were studied in HIV-1 infected adults with ESRD (estimated creatinine clearance below 15 mL per minute by Cockcroft-Gault method) receiving chronic hemodialysis in an open-label trial of 55 subjects who received elvitegravir/cobicistat/emtricitabine/tenofovir alafenamide 150/150/200/10 mg. Tenofovir alafenamide 10 mg, given in this combination, achieves similar exposures as tenofovir alafenamide 25 mg alone [see CLINICAL PHARMACOLOGY]. The safety profile of subjects in this trial was consistent with that expected in patients with ESRD on chronic hemodialysis and HIV-1 infection.
VEMLIDY is not recommended in patients with ESRD (estimated creatinine clearance below 15 mL per minute by Cockcroft-Gault method) who are not receiving chronic hemodialysis as the safety of VEMLIDY has not been established in this population [see DOSAGE AND ADMINISTRATION, and CLINICAL PHARMACOLOGY].
Hepatic Impairment
No dosage adjustment of VEMLIDY is required in patients with mild hepatic impairment (Child-Pugh A). The safety and efficacy of VEMLIDY in patients with decompensated cirrhosis (Child-Pugh B or C) have not been established; therefore VEMLIDY is not recommended in patients with decompensated (Child-Pugh B or C) hepatic impairment [see DOSAGE AND ADMINISTRATION and CLINICAL PHARMACOLOGY].