Preparation and Administration A guide for healthcare professionals XOLAIR IS INDICATED FOR: Adults and adolescents (aged 12 years) with moderate-to-severe persistent asthma who have a positive skin test or in vitro reactivity to a perennial aeroallergen and whose symptoms are inadequately controlled with inhaled corticosteroids. XOLAIR has been shown to decrease the incidence of asthma exacerbations in these patients. Safety and efficacy have not been established in other allergic conditions. WARNING: Anaphylaxis, presenting as bronchospasm, hypotension, syncope, urticaria, and/or angioedema of the throat or tongue, has been reported to occur after administration of XOLAIR. Anaphylaxis has occurred as early as after the first dose of XOLAIR, but also has occurred beyond 1 year after beginning regularly administered treatment. Because of the risk of anaphylaxis, patients should be closely observed for an appropriate period of time after XOLAIR administration, and health care providers administering XOLAIR should be prepared to manage anaphylaxis that can be life-threatening. Patients should also be informed of the signs and symptoms of anaphylaxis and instructed to seek immediate medical care should symptoms occur (see WARNINGS, and PRECAUTIONS, Information for Patients). Please see accompanying Full Prescribing Information, including Boxed WARNING and Medication Guide. Important safety information can be found on pages 4-8.
Introduction for Healthcare Professionals This booklet contains step-by-step instructions on how to prepare and administer XOLAIR (Omalizumab) for Subcutaneous Use. XOLAIR is indicated for adults and adolescents (aged 12 years) with moderate-tosevere persistent asthma who have a positive skin test or in vitro reactivity to a perennial aeroallergen and whose symptoms are inadequately controlled with inhaled corticosteroids. XOLAIR has been shown to decrease the incidence of asthma exacerbations in these patients. Safety and efficacy have not been established in other allergic conditions. XOLAIR has not been shown to alleviate asthma exacerbations acutely and should not be used for the treatment of acute bronchospasm or status asthmaticus. Systemic or inhaled corticosteroids should not be abruptly discontinued upon initiation of XOLAIR therapy. Decreases in corticosteroids should be performed under the direct supervision of a physician and may need to be performed gradually.
Contents Introduction for Healthcare Professionals......................................... 2 Important Safety Information.................................................... 4 Getting Started................................................................ 9 Determining the Dose......................................................... 10 Preparing the Vials............................................................ 15 Reconstituting the Dose....................................................... 16 Preparing the Reconstituted Dose for Injection.................................... 17 Stability After Reconstitution Administering the Subcutaneous Injection........................................ 19 Selecting the Injection Site
Important Safety Information CONTRAINDICATIONS XOLAIR should not be administered to patients who have experienced a severe hypersensitivity reaction to XOLAIR. WARNINGS Anaphylaxis Anaphylaxis has been reported to occur after administration of XOLAIR in premarketing clinical trials and in postmarketing spontaneous reports. In premarketing clinical trials, the frequency of anaphylaxis attributed to XOLAIR use was estimated to be 0.1%. In postmarketing spontaneous reports, the frequency of anaphylaxis attributed to XOLAIR use was estimated to be at least 0.2% of patients based on an estimated exposure of about 57,300 patients from June 2003 through December 2006. XOLAIR should only be administered in a healthcare setting by healthcare providers prepared to manage anaphylaxis that can be life-threatening. Patients should be closely observed for an appropriate period of time after administration of XOLAIR, taking into account the time to onset of anaphylaxis seen in premarketing clinical trials and in postmarketing spontaneous reports.
Postmarketing Spontaneous Reports Anaphylaxis: Based on spontaneous reports and an estimated exposure of about 57,300 patients from June 2003 through December 2006, the frequency of anaphylaxis attributed to XOLAIR use was estimated to be at least 0.2% of patients. Diagnostic criteria of anaphylaxis were skin or mucosal tissue involvement and either airway compromise and/or reduced blood pressure with or without associated symptoms and a temporal relationship to XOLAIR administration with no other identifiable cause. Signs and symptoms in these reported cases included bronchospasm, hypotension, syncope, urticaria, angioedema of the throat or tongue, dyspnea, cough, chest tightness, and/or cutaneous angioedema. Pulmonary involvement was reported in 89% of the cases. Hypotension or syncope was reported in 14% of cases. Fifteen percent of the reported cases resulted in hospitalization. A previous history of anaphylaxis unrelated to XOLAIR was reported in 24% of the cases. Of the reported cases of anaphylaxis attributed to XOLAIR, 39% occurred with the first dose, 19% occurred with the second dose, 10% occurred with the third dose, and the rest after subsequent doses. One case occurred after 39 doses (after 19 months of continuous therapy, anaphylaxis occurred when treatment was restarted following a 3-month gap). The time to onset of anaphylaxis in these cases was up to 30 minutes in 35%, 30 and up to 60 minutes in 16%, 60 and up to 90 minutes in 2%, 90 and up to 120 minutes in 6%, 2 hours and up to 6 hours in 5%, greater than 6 hours and up to 12 hours in 14, 12 hours and up to 24 hours in 8%, and 24 hours and up to 4 days in 5%. In 9% of cases, the times to onset were unknown.
Twenty-three patients who experienced anaphylaxis were rechallenged with XOLAIR, and 18 patients had a recurrence of similar symptoms of anaphylaxis. In addition, anaphylaxis occurred upon rechallenge with XOLAIR in 4 patients who previously experienced urticaria only. WARNINGS Malignancy Malignant neoplasms were observed in 20 of 4127 (0.5%) XOLAIR-treated patients compared with 5 of 2236 (0.2%) control patients in clinical studies of asthma and other allergic disorders. The observed malignancies in XOLAIR-treated patients were a variety of types, with breast, non-melanoma skin, prostate, melanoma, and parotid occurring more than once, and 5 other types occurring once each. The majority of patients were observed for less than 1 year. The impact of longer exposure to XOLAIR or use in patients at higher risk for malignancy (eg, elderly, current smokers) is not known. PRECAUTIONS General XOLAIR has not been shown to alleviate asthma exacerbations acutely and should not be used for the treatment of acute bronchospasm or status asthmaticus.
Information for Patients Patients should be given and instructed to read the accompanying Medication Guide before starting treatment and before each subsequent treatment. Patients should be told that they may not see immediate improvement in their asthma after beginning XOLAIR therapy. Corticosteroid Reduction Systemic or inhaled corticosteroids should not be abruptly discontinued upon initiation of XOLAIR therapy. Decreases in corticosteroids should be performed under the direct supervision of a physician and may need to be performed gradually. Pregnancy (Category B) IgE molecules are known to cross the placental barrier. There are no adequate and well- controlled studies of XOLAIR in pregnant women. Because animal reproduction studies are not always predictive of human response, XOLAIR should be used during pregnancy only if clearly needed. Pregnancy Exposure Registry To monitor outcomes of pregnant women exposed to XOLAIR, including women who are exposed to at least 1 dose of XOLAIR within 8 weeks prior to conception or at any time during pregnancy, a pregnancy exposure registry has been established. Healthcare providers should encourage their patients to call 1-866-4XOLAIR (1-866-496-5247) to enroll in the XOLAIR Pregnancy Exposure Registry. Healthcare providers can call this number to obtain further information about this registry.
ADVERSE REACTIONS The adverse reactions most commonly observed among patients treated with Xolair in clinical studies included injection site reaction (45%), viral infections (23%), upper respiratory tract infection (20%), sinusitis (16%), headache (15%), and pharyngitis (11%). These events were observed at similar rates in Xolair-treated patients and control patients. These were also the most frequently reported adverse reactions resulting in clinical intervention (eg, discontinuation of Xolair, or the need for concomitant medication to treat an adverse reaction). Injection Site Reactions Injection site reactions of any severity occurred at a rate of 45% in Xolair-treated patients compared with 43% in placebo-treated patients. The types of injection site reactions included: bruising, redness, warmth, burning, stinging, itching, hive formation, pain, indurations, mass, and inflammation. Severe injection site reactions occurred more frequently in Xolair-treated patients compared with patients in the placebo group (12% versus 9%). The majority of injection site reactions occurred within 1 hour post-injection, lasted less than 8 days, and generally decreased in frequency at subsequent dosing visits.
Getting Started XOLAIR is administered subcutaneously every 4 weeks at 150 or 300 mg per dose, or every 2 weeks at 225, 300, or 375 mg per dose. Because the solution is slightly viscous, the injection may take 5 to 10 seconds to administer. Storage XOLAIR should be shipped at controlled ambient temperature ( 30 C [ 86 F]). Prior to reconstitution, XOLAIR should be stored under refrigerated conditions (2 C to 8 C [36 F to 46 F]). Do not use beyond the expiration date stamped on the carton. Please see accompanying Full Prescribing Information, including Boxed WARNING and Medication Guide. Important safety information can be found on pages 4-8.
Determining the Dose The patient s pretreatment serum IgE level (IU/mL) and body weight (kg) are used to determine doses (mg) and dosing frequency. Refer to the dosing tables on the next page for the appropriate dose. Doses of more than 150 mg are divided among more than 1 injection site so that no one injection site exceeds 150 mg. Patients whose pretreatment serum IgE level or body weight is outside the limits of the dosing table (<30 or >700 IU/mL and <30 or >150 kg, respectively) should not be dosed. 10
Q2 -week dosing table* Pretreatment serum IgE (IU/mL) 30-100 >100-200 >200-300 Q4 -week dosing table* Body weight Pounds 66-132 >132-154 >154-198 >198-330 Kilograms 30-60 >60-70 >70-90 >90-150 150 mg 300 mg 300 mg 150 mg 300 mg 150 mg 300 mg 300 mg See table on right Pretreatment serum IgE (IU/mL) 30-100 >100-200 >200-300 >300-400 >400-500 >500-600 >600-700 Body weight Pounds 66-132 >132-154 >154-198 >198-330 Kilograms 30-60 >60-70 >70-90 >90-150 225 mg 300 mg See table on left 225 mg 300 mg 300 mg 375 mg 375 mg 225 mg 225 mg 300 mg 300 mg 375 mg 225 mg DO NOT DOSE * Each XOLAIR vial delivers 150 mg of XOLAIR per 1.2 ml upon reconstitution with 1.4 ml of Sterile Water for Injection (SWFI), USP. For a 75-mg dose, draw up 0.6 ml into the syringe and discard the remaining solution. 11
The table below shows the number of vials per dose, the number of injections per dose, and the total volume to be injected. Dose and SC injection specifications Dose (mg) Number of vials per dose Number of injections * Total volume injected (ml) 150 mg 1 1 1.2 225 mg 2 2 1.8 300 mg 2 2 2.4 375 mg 3 3 3.0 * Doses of more than 150 mg are divided among more than 1 injection site to limit injections to not more than 150 mg per site. 1.2 ml maximum delivered volume per vial. 12
Dosing adjustments Total IgE levels are elevated during treatment and remain elevated for up to 1 year after the discontinuation of treatment. Retesting of IgE levels during XOLAIR treatment is unnecessary and cannot be used as a guide for dose determination. Dose determination after treatment interruptions lasting less than 1 year should be based on serum IgE levels obtained at the initial dose determination. Total serum IgE levels may be retested for dose determination if treatment with XOLAIR has been interrupted for 1 year or more. Doses should be adjusted for significant changes in body weight. Doses should be adjusted for significant changes in body weight, according to the dosing tables on page 11. 13
XOLAIR (Omalizumab) For Subcutaneous Use Diluent (SWFI, USP) Alcohol swabs Supplies needed per vial of XOLAIR XOLAIR (Omalizumab) vial Diluent vial SWFI, USP Two 3-cc syringes Two 1-inch, 18-gauge needles (for reconstitution) One 25-gauge needle (for subcutaneous injection) Alcohol swabs 3-cc syringe (x2) Once the correct dose has been determined and the necessary supplies have been assembled, you are ready to begin. 18-gauge needle (x2) 25-gauge needle 14
Preparing the Vials 1 2 3 STEP 1: Remove the plastic cap from the XOLAIR vial. STEP 2: Remove the plastic cap from the diluent vial containing SWFI, USP. STEP 3: Using an alcohol swab, wipe the rubber stopper of the XOLAIR vial and the diluent vial. You are ready to reconstitute and administer the dose of XOLAIR. 15
Reconstituting the Dose* 1 2 3 Note: The lyophilized product typically takes 15 to 20 minutes to dissolve. STEP 1: Draw 1.4 ml of SWFI, USP, into a 3-cc syringe equipped with a 1-inch, 18-gauge needle. STEP 2: Place the XOLAIR vial upright on a flat surface and using standard aseptic technique, insert the needle and inject the SWFI, USP, directly onto the product. Remove the syringe and needle from the vial. STEP 3: Keeping the XOLAIR vial upright, gently swirl the vial for approximately 1 minute to evenly wet the powder. Do not shake. * Please refer to the dose and SC injection specifications table on page 12 to determine the appropriate number of injections and the milliliters (ml) per dose. 16
Preparing Preparing the the Reconstituted Reconstituted Dose Dose for for Injection Injection 4 5 STEP 4: After completing STEP 3, gently swirl the vial for 5 to 10 seconds approximately every 5 minutes in order to dissolve any remaining solids. There should be no visible gel-like particles in the solution. Do not use if foreign particles are present. Note: Some vials may take longer than 20 minutes to dissolve completely. If this is the case, repeat STEP 4 until there are no visible gel-like particles in the solution. It is acceptable to have small bubbles or foam around the edge of the vial. Do not use if the contents of the vial do not dissolve completely within 40 minutes. STABILITY AFTER RECONSTITUTION XOLAIR is for single use only and contains no preservatives. The solution should be used for subcutaneous administration within 8 hours following reconstitution when refrigerated in the vial at 2 C to 8 C (36 F to 46 F) or within 4 hours of reconstitution when stored at room temperature. Reconstituted XOLAIR vials should be protected from direct sunlight. Please see accompanying Full Prescribing Information, including Boxed WARNING and Medication Guide, 17 STEP 5: Invert the vial for 15 seconds in order to allow the solution to drain toward the stopper. Using a new 3-cc syringe equipped with a 1-inch, 18-gauge needle, insert the needle into the inverted vial. Position the needle tip at the very bottom of the solution just beyond the vial stopper when drawing the solution into the syringe. Before removing the needle from the vial, pull the plunger all the way back to the end of the syringe barrel in order to remove all of the solution from the inverted vial.
6 7 Note: The reconstituted product is somewhat viscous; in order to obtain the full 1.2-mL dose, ALL OF THE PRODUCT MUST BE WITHDRAWN from the vial before expelling any air or excess solution from the syringe. STEP 6: Replace the 18-gauge needle with a 25-gauge needle for subcutaneous injection. STEP 7: Expel air, large bubbles, and any excess solution in order to obtain the required 1.2-mL dose. A thin layer of small bubbles may remain at the top of the solution in the syringe. Each XOLAIR vial delivers 150 mg of XOLAIR per 1.2 ml upon reconstitution with 1.4 ml of SWFI, USP. For a 75-mg dose, draw up 0.6 ml into the syringe and discard the remaining product. (See the dose and SC injection specifications table on page 12.) Please see accompanying Full Prescribing Information, including Boxed WARNING and Medication Guide, 18
Administering the Subcutaneous Injection 1 2 SELECTING THE INJECTION SITE XOLAIR may be administered anywhere subcutaneous injections are typically given. For patients requiring more than 1 injection per administration, it is important to choose a different injection site for each injection. This ensures that injections are limited to not more than 150 mg per site. STEP 1: Prepare the injection site. STEP 2: Administer XOLAIR following your facility s standard guidelines for subcutaneous injections. 19
3 4 STEP 3: Because the solution is somewhat viscous, the injection may take 5 to 10 seconds to administer. STEP 4: When you are finished with administration, immediately discard syringes, needles, and remaining solution (if any) in a container designated for medical waste disposal, in compliance with state and federal regulations. 20
For more information, call 1-866-4-XOLAIR (1-866-496-5247) or visit www.xolair.com. 2007 Genentech, Inc. and Novartis Pharmaceuticals Corporation LX2508/8877400 XOL-8033 12/07 Printed in USA