Warnings for Zyclara
Included as part of the PRECAUTIONS section.
Precautions for Zyclara
Local Skin Reactions
Local skin reactions including skin weeping or erosion have been reported with use of ZYCLARA and can occur after a few applications [see ADVERSE REACTIONS]. Concomitant use of ZYCLARA and any other imiquimod products, in the same treatment area, may increase the risk for and severity of local skin reactions.
ZYCLARA Cream has the potential to exacerbate inflammatory conditions of the skin, including chronic graft versus host disease.
Severe local inflammatory reactions of the female external genitalia can lead to severe vulvar swelling and to urinary retention.
Avoid sexual (genital, anal, oral) contact while ZYCLARA is on the skin.
To reduce the risk of local skin reactions and manage local skin reactions that occur with ZYCLARA treatment:
- Avoid concomitant use of ZYCLARA with any other imiquimod product in the same treatment area.
- Avoid application of ZYCLARA to skin that is not intact (i.e., any area with an abrasion, cut, burn, rash, infection, or other condition that has altered skin integrity).
- An interruption of dosing may be required for local skin reactions [see DOSAGE AND ADMINISTRATION]. Interrupt dosing or discontinue ZYCLARA for severe vulvar swelling [see DOSAGE AND ADMINISTRATION].
- If severe local skin reactions occur, instruct patients to remove ZYCLARA by washing the treatment area with mild soap and water.
Systemic Reactions
Flu-like signs and symptoms have been reported with use of ZYCLARA and may accompany, or even precede, local skin reactions [see ADVERSE REACTIONS]. Signs and symptoms may include fatigue, nausea, fever, myalgias, arthralgias, malaise and chills. Concomitant use of ZYCLARA and any other imiquimod products may increase the risk for and severity of systemic reactions.
Lymphadenopathy occurred in 2% of subjects with AK treated with ZYCLARA, 3.75% and in 3% of subjects treated with ZYCLARA, 2.5% and in no patients in the vehicle arm [see ADVERSE REACTIONS]. This reaction resolved in all subjects by 4 weeks after completion of treatment.
Consider an interruption of dosing if systemic reactions occur.
Ultraviolet Light Exposure Risks
ZYCLARA may cause heightened sunburn susceptibility. Avoid or minimize exposure to sunlight (including sunlamps) during use of ZYCLARA. Instruct patients to use sunscreen and wear protective clothing (e.g., a hat). Advise patients not to use ZYCLARA until fully recovered from a sunburn.
 Immune Cell Activation In Autoimmune Disease
Imiquimod activates immune cells [see CLINICAL PHARMACOLOGY]. Carefully monitor patients with pre-existing autoimmune conditions who are using ZYCLARA.
Patient Counseling Information
Advise the patient to read the FDA-approved patient labeling (PATIENT INFORMATION).
Important Administration Instructions
Inform all patients of the following [see DOSAGE AND ADMINISTRATION]:
- ZYCLARA is for topical use only and avoid contact with the eyes, lips, nostrils, or inside the anus and vagina. Instruct patients to rinse their mouth or eyes with water right away if contact with these areas occur.
- Wash their hands before and after applying ZYCLARA.
- If a ZYCLARA dose is missed, apply the next dose at the regularly scheduled time.
- Discard and do not reuse partially used packets.
- Discard pump bottles after completion of a full treatment course.
Inform patients with EGW of the following [see DOSAGE AND ADMINISTRATION and WARNINGS AND PRECAUTIONS]:
- Uncircumcised patients treating warts under the foreskin should retract the foreskin and clean the area daily.
- ZYCLARA may weaken condoms and vaginal diaphragms; therefore, concurrent use is not recommended.
- Avoid sexual (genital, anal, oral) contact while ZYCLARA is on the skin.
- Do not bandage or otherwise occlude the treatment area.
Lactation
Advise breastfeeding women to avoid application of ZYCLARA to areas with increased risk for potential ingestion by or ocular exposure to the breastfeeding child [see Use In Specific Populations].
Local Skin Reactions
Inform patients of the following [see DOSAGE AND ADMINISTRATION and WARNINGS AND PRECAUTIONS]:
- Local skin reactions may occur during treatment with ZYCLARA, ranging from mild to severe in intensity and extending beyond the application site onto the surrounding skin, and may require an interruption of dosing.
- For female patients being treated for EGW, apply ZYCLARA at the opening of the vagina, avoiding intravaginal application because local skin reactions may cause difficulty in passing urine.
- If severe local skin reactions occur, remove ZYCLARA by washing the treatment area with mild soap and water.
- Contact their healthcare provider promptly if they experience any sign or symptom at the application site that restricts or prohibits their daily activity or makes continued application of ZYCLARA difficult.
- Because of local skin reactions, during treatment and until healed, the treatment area is likely to appear noticeably different from normal skin.
Local Hypopigmentation And Hyperpigmentation
Inform patients that localized hypopigmentation and hyperpigmentation have been reported following use of imiquimod cream and these skin color changes may be permanent in some patients [see ADVERSE REACTIONS].
Systemic Reactions
Inform patients that they may experience flu-like systemic signs and symptoms during treatment with ZYCLARA and these symptoms may require an interruption of dosing [see WARNINGS AND PRECAUTIONS].
Ultraviolet Light Exposure Risks
Instruct patients to avoid or minimize exposure to natural or artificial sunlight (tanning beds or UVA/B treatment) while using ZYCLARA. Instruct patients to use protective clothing and to not use ZYCLARA if sunburned [see WARNINGS AND PRECAUTIONS].
Nonclinical Toxicology
Carcinogenesis, Mutagenesis, Impairment Of Fertility
In an oral (gavage) rat carcinogenicity study, imiquimod was administered to Wistar rats on a 2 times per week (up to 6 mg/kg/day) or daily (3 mg/kg/day) dosing schedule for 24 months. No treatment-related tumors were noted in the oral rat carcinogenicity study up to the highest doses tested in this study of 6 mg/kg administered 2 times per week in female rats (7.1 times the MRHD based on weekly AUC comparison), 4 mg/kg administered 2 times per week in male rats (6.1 times the MRHD based on weekly AUC comparison) or 3 mg/kg administered 7 times per week to male and female rats (12 times the MRHD based on weekly AUC comparison).
In a dermal mouse carcinogenicity study, imiquimod cream (up to 5 mg/kg/application imiquimod or 0.3% imiquimod cream) was applied to the backs of mice 3 times per week for 24 months. A statistically significant increase in the incidence of liver adenomas and carcinomas was noted in high dose male mice compared to control male mice (21 times the MRHD based on weekly AUC comparison). An increased number of skin papillomas was observed in vehicle cream control group animals at the treated site only.
Imiquimod revealed no evidence of mutagenic or clastogenic potential based on the results of five in vitro genotoxicity tests (Ames assay, mouse lymphoma L5178Y assay, Chinese hamster ovary cell chromosome aberration assay, human lymphocyte chromosome aberration assay and SHE cell transformation assay) and three in vivo genotoxicity tests (rat and hamster bone marrow cytogenetics assay and a mouse dominant lethal test).
Daily oral administration of imiquimod to rats, throughout mating, gestation, parturition and lactation, demonstrated no effects on growth, fertility or reproduction, at doses up to 25 times the MRHD based on AUC comparison.
Use In Specific Populations
Pregnancy
Risk Summary
Available data from case reports and case series have not established a drug-associated risk of major birth defects, miscarriage, or adverse maternal or fetal outcomes when imiquimod is used during pregnancy. There are no controlled or large-scale epidemiologic studies and no exposure registries with imiquimod use in pregnant women. In animal reproduction studies, there were no adverse developmental effects observed after oral administration of imiquimod in pregnant rats and intravenous administration of imiquimod in pregnant rabbits during organogenesis at doses up to 28 times and 115 times, respectively, the maximum recommended human dose (MRHD) (see Data).
The background risk of major birth defects and miscarriage for the indicated population is unknown. All pregnancies have a background risk of birth defects, loss, and other adverse outcomes. 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
Animal Data
The MRHD was set at two packets per treatment of ZYCLARA, 3.75%, (18.75 mg imiquimod) for the animal multiples of human exposure presented in this label.
Systemic embryofetal development studies were conducted in rats and rabbits. Oral doses of 1, 5, and 20 mg/kg/day imiquimod were administered during the period of organogenesis to pregnant female rats. In the presence of maternal toxicity, fetal effects noted at 20 mg/kg/day (163 times the MRHD based on AUC comparison) included increased resorptions, decreased fetal body weights, delays in skeletal ossification, bent limb bones, and two fetuses in one litter (2 of 1567 fetuses) demonstrated exencephaly, protruding tongues, and low-set ears. No treatment-related effects on embryofetal toxicity or malformation were noted at 5 mg/kg/day (28 times the MRHD based on AUC comparison).
Intravenous doses of 0.5, 1, and 2 mg/kg/day imiquimod were administered during the period of organogenesis to pregnant female rabbits. No treatment-related effects on embryofetal toxicity or malformation were noted at 2 mg/kg/day (2.1 times the MRHD based on BSA comparison), the highest dose evaluated in this study, or 1 mg/kg/day (115 times the MRHD based on AUC comparison).
A combined fertility and peri- and postnatal development study was conducted in rats. Oral doses of 1, 1.5, 3, and 6 mg/kg/day imiquimod were administered to male rats from 70 days prior to mating through the mating period and to female rats from 14 days prior to mating through parturition and lactation. No effects on growth, fertility, reproduction, or postnatal development were noted at doses up to 6 mg/kg/day (25 times the MRHD based on AUC comparison), the highest dose evaluated in this study. In the absence of maternal toxicity, bent limb bones were noted in the F1 fetuses at a dose of 6 mg/kg/day (25 times the MRHD based on AUC comparison). This fetal effect was also noted in the oral rat embryofetal development study conducted with imiquimod. No treatment-related malformations were noted at 3 mg/kg/day (12 times the MRHD based on AUC comparison).
Lactation
Risk Summary
There is no information regarding the presence of topically administered imiquimod in human milk, the effects on the breastfed infant, or the effects on milk production. Systemic concentration following topical administration of imiquimod cream is low; therefore, transfer of ZYCLARA into breastmilk is likely to be low [see CLINICAL PHARMACOLOGY].
The developmental and health benefits of breastfeeding should be considered along with the mother's clinical need for ZYCLARA and any potential adverse effects on the breastfed infant from ZYCLARA or from the underlying maternal condition.
Clinical Considerations
Avoid application of ZYCLARA to areas with increased risk for potential ingestion by or ocular exposure to the breastfeeding child.
Pediatric Use
Actinic Keratosis
The safety and effectiveness of ZYCLARA for the treatment of AK in pediatric patients have not been established.
External Genital Warts
The safety and effectiveness of ZYCLARA for the treatment of EGW in pediatric patients 12 years of age and older have been established. Use of ZYCLARA for this indication is supported by evidence from adequate and well controlled trials in adults and pediatric subjects [see Clinical Studies]. The safety and effectiveness of ZYCLARA for the treatment of EGW in pediatric patients less than 12 years of age have not been established.
Molluscum Contagiosum
The safety and effectiveness of ZYCLARA for the treatment of molluscum contagiosum (MC) in pediatric patients have not been established. Safety and effectiveness of imiquimod cream, 5% was not demonstrated in two randomized, vehicle-controlled, double-blind trials involving 702 pediatric subjects with MC (470 exposed to imiquimod cream; median age 5 years, range 2-12 years).
Adverse reactions reported in pediatric subjects with MC (and not previously reported) included otitis media (5% imiquimod cream vs. 3% vehicle) and conjunctivitis (3% imiquimod cream vs. 2% vehicle).
In a pharmacokinetics trial in subjects aged 2 to 12 years with extensive MC involving a least 10% of total body surface area; among the 20 subjects with evaluable laboratory assessments, the median white blood cell (WBC) count decreased by 1.4 x 109/L and the median absolute neutrophil count decreased by 1.42 x 109/L.
Geriatric Use
Of the 320 subjects treated with ZYCLARA in the AK clinical trials, 150 subjects (47%) were 65 years of age or older. No overall differences in safety or effectiveness of ZYCLARA have been observed between subjects 65 years of age and older and younger adult subjects.
Of the 400 subjects treated with ZYCLARA in the EGW clinical studies, 5 subjects (1%) were 65 years or older. Clinical studies of ZYCLARA for EGW did not include sufficient numbers of subjects aged 65 years of age and older to determine whether they respond differently from younger adult subjects.