WARNINGS
Included as part of the PRECAUTIONS section.
PRECAUTIONS
Transient Increase In Blood Pressure And Reduction In Heart
Rate
VYLEESI transiently increases blood pressure and reduces
heart rate after each dose. In clinical studies, VYLEESI induced maximal
increases of 6 mmHg in systolic blood pressure (SBP) and 3 mmHg in diastolic
blood pressure (DBP) that peaked between 2 to 4 hours post dose. There was a
corresponding reduction in heart rate up to 5 beats per minute. Blood pressure
and heart rate returned to baseline usually within 12 hours post-dose. No
additive effects were seen for blood pressure or heart rate following repeat
daily dosing 24-hours apart for up to 16 days [see CLINICAL PHARMACOLOGY].
Before initiating VYLEESI, and periodically during
treatment, consider the patient's cardiovascular risk and ensure blood pressure
is well-controlled. VYLEESI is not recommended for patients at high risk for
cardiovascular disease and is contraindicated in patients with uncontrolled
hypertension or known cardiovascular disease [see CONTRAINDICATIONS].
To minimize the risk of more pronounced blood pressure
effects, advise patients to not take more than one VYLEESI dose within 24 hours
[see DOSAGE AND ADMINISTRATION].
Focal Hyperpigmentation
In the phase 3 placebo-controlled trials, focal
hyperpigmentation, including involvement of the face, gingiva, and breasts, was
reported in 1% of patients who received up to 8 doses per month of VYLEESI compared
to no placebo-treated patients. In another clinical study, 38% of patients
developed focal hyperpigmentation after receiving VYLEESI daily for 8 days;
among patients who continued VYLEESI for 8 more consecutive days, an additional
14% developed new focal pigmentary changes. Patients with dark skin were more
likely to develop focal hyperpigmentation. Resolution of the focal
hyperpigmentation was not confirmed in all patients after discontinuation of
VYLEESI. More than 8 monthly doses of VYLEESI is not recommended. Consider
discontinuing VYLEESI if hyperpigmentation develops.
Nausea
In the phase 3 placebo-controlled trials, nausea was the
most commonly reported adverse reaction, reported in 40% of VYLEESI-treated
patients, requiring anti-emetic therapy in 13% of VYLEESI-treated patients and
leading to premature discontinuation from the trials for 8% of VYLEESI-treated
patients. Nausea improves for most patients with the second dose [see ADVERSE
REACTIONS]. Consider discontinuing VYLEESI for persistent or severe nausea
or initiating anti-emetic therapy for those patients who are bothered by nausea
but wish to continue with VYLEESI treatment.
Patient Counseling Information
Advise the patient to read the
FDA-approved patient labeling (PATIENT INFORMATION and Instructions for Use).
Transient Increase In Blood
Pressure And Decrease In Heart Rate
Advise patients that increases
in blood pressure and decreases in heart rate may occur after taking each
VYLEESI dose, and that these changes usually resolve within12 hours post-dose [see
WARNINGS AND PRECAUTIONS].
Advise patients not to take
VYLEESI within 24 hours of a prior dose and that more than 8 doses per month is
not recommended. Advise patients that taking VYLEESI more frequently or too
close together may lead to more pronounced increases in blood pressure [see DOSAGE
AND ADMINISTRATION].
Focal Hyperpigmentation
Advise patients that focal
hyperpigmentation, including on the face, gingiva and breasts, may occur when
VYLEESI is used intermittently, particularly in patients with darker skin. The
incidence may increase with daily VYLEESI use. Advise patients that the
pigmentary changes may not resolve completely after stopping VYLEESI, and to
contact their healthcare provider if they have any concerns about changes to
their skin [see WARNINGS AND PRECAUTIONS].
Nausea
Advise patients that nausea may occur, most commonly with
the first injection of VYLEESI, but could occur intermittently with continued
use. Advise patients that nausea most commonly lasts for two hours after taking
a dose but could last longer in some patients, and that anti-emetic medications
may be necessary. Advise patients to contact their healthcare provider for
persistent or severe nausea [see WARNINGS AND PRECAUTIONS].
Females Of Reproductive Potential
Advise patients to use effective contraception while
taking VYLEESI and to discontinue VYLEESI if pregnancy is suspected. Advise
pregnant patients that there is a pregnancy registry that monitors pregnancy
outcomes in women exposed to VYLEESI during pregnancy [see Use In Specific
Populations].
Nonclinical Toxicology
Carcinogenesis, Mutagenesis, Impairment Of Fertility
Carcinogenesis
There were no significant increases in tumor incidence in
two-year carcinogenicity studies with intranasal administration (0.5, 2.5, and
5 mg/animal/day) of bremelanotide to male and female rats, and subcutaneous
administration (3, 9, and 15 mg/kg/day) to male and female mice. Multiples of
exposure were calculated based on average Cmax at the high dose over the course
of the study and were 1.1-fold and 111-fold the human Cmax for rats and mice,
respectively.
Mutagenesis
Bremelanotide was not genotoxic or mutagenic in a battery
of tests, including the in vitro bacterial reverse mutation assay, the in vitro
chromosomal aberration test in Chinese Hamster Ovary cells, and the in vivo
mouse micronucleus assay.
Impairment Of Fertility
There were no effects on fertility in male (75 mg/kg/day,
approximately 375 times the human AUC) or female (150 mg/kg/day, approximately
760 times the human AUC) mice following subcutaneous administration.
Use In Specific Populations
Pregnancy
Pregnancy Exposure Registry
There will be a pregnancy exposure registry that monitors
pregnancy outcomes in women exposed to VYLEESI during pregnancy. Pregnant women
exposed to VYLEESI and healthcare providers are encouraged to call the VYLEESI
Pregnancy Exposure Registry at (877) 411-2510.
Risk Summary
The few pregnancies in women exposed to VYLEESI in
clinical trials are insufficient for determining whether there is a
drug-associated risk for major birth defects, miscarriage or adverse maternal
or fetal outcomes.
Based on findings in animal studies, the use of VYLEESI
in pregnant women may be associated with the potential for fetal harm. In
animal reproduction and development studies, daily subcutaneous administration
of bremelanotide to pregnant dogs during the period of organogenesis at
exposures greater than or equal to 16 times the maximum recommended dose (based
on area under the concentration-time curve or AUC) produced fetal harm. In mice
subcutaneously dosed with bremelanotide during pregnancy and lactation,
developmental effects were observed in the offspring at greater than or equal
to 125-times the maximum recommended dose (based on AUC) [see Data].
However, the lowest bremelanotide dose associated with fetal harm has not been
identified for either species. For this reason, women should use effective
contraception while taking VYLEESI and discontinue VYLEESI if pregnancy is
suspected.
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
There were 7 pregnancies reported in the clinical trials
of more than 1057 patients treated with VYLEESI for up to 12 months. Among
these 7 pregnancies, no major congenital anomalies were reported. There was one
spontaneous abortion (miscarriage), five full-term live births, and one outcome
was unknown due to loss to follow-up.
Animal Data
An embryofetal development study was conducted in the dog
and a pre-and postnatal development study was conducted in the mouse to inform
developmental risk. These two species are not routinely used for reproductive
toxicity assessment but were the only two species that could be successfully
dosed by the subcutaneous route during gestation.
Bremelanotide was administered subcutaneously to pregnant
dogs (8/dose) at 2, 8, or 20 mg/kg from gestation day (GD) 18-35, corresponding
to the period from implantation to late embryogenesis in the dog. Embryofetal
toxicity, as measured by post-implantation loss, was elevated approximately 3
to 8-fold compared to controls across all treated groups but was not
dose-dependent. A developmental no-observed-effect level (NOEL) was not set. At
the low dose of 2 mg/kg/day in the dog, exposure was approximately 16 times the
human exposure based on AUC.
In a pre-and postnatal development study, female mice
(30/dose) were dosed subcutaneously at 0, 30, 75, and 150 mg/kg/day from GD 6
through lactation day (LD) 28, and two generations of offspring were assessed
(F1 and F2). There were no effects on reproductive parameters in parental (F0)
or F1 generation animals at doses up to 150 mg/kg/day (approximately 760 times
the human AUC). However, developmental delays were observed in the F1
generation mice at ≥ 30 mg/kg/day (approximately 125 times the human
AUC). For that reason, a developmental NOEL was not set. There were no
significant effects on the growth and development of F2 generation pups.
Lactation
Risk Summary
There is no information on the presence of bremelanotide
or its metabolites in human milk, the effects on the breastfed infant, or the
effects on milk production.
The developmental and health benefits of breastfeeding
should be considered along with the mother's clinical need for VYLEESI and any
potential adverse effects on the breastfed child from VYLEESI or from the
underlying maternal condition.
Females And Males Of Reproductive Potential
Contraception
Use of VYLEESI during pregnancy is not recommended [see Use
In Specific Populations]. Advise females of reproductive potential to use
effective contraception while taking VYLEESI, and to discontinue VYLEESI if
pregnancy is suspected.
Pediatric Use
The safety and effectiveness of VYLEESI have not been
established in pediatric patients.
Geriatric Use
The safety and effectiveness of VYLEESI have not been
established in geriatric patients.
Renal Impairment
No dosing adjustments are recommended for patients with
mild to moderate (eGFR 30-89 mL/min/1.73 m²) renal impairment. Use with caution
in patients with severe (eGFR <30 mL/min/1.73 m²) renal impairment, because
these patients may have an increase in the incidence and severity of adverse
reactions (e.g., nausea and vomiting) [see CLINICAL PHARMACOLOGY].
Hepatic Impairment
No dosing adjustments are recommended for patients with
mild to moderate (Child-Pugh A and B; score 5-9) hepatic impairment. VYLEESI
has not been evaluated in patients with severe hepatic impairment. Use with
caution in patients with severe (Child-Pugh C; score 10-15) hepatic impairment,
because these patients may have an increase in the incidence and severity of
adverse reactions (e.g., nausea and vomiting) [see CLINICAL PHARMACOLOGY].