Consumer medicine information

Firazyr

Icatibant

BRAND INFORMATION

Brand name

Firazyr

Active ingredient

Icatibant

Schedule

S4

 

Consumer medicine information (CMI) leaflet

Please read this leaflet carefully before you start using Firazyr.

What is in this leaflet

Please read this leaflet before you start using FIRAZYR.

This leaflet answers some common questions about FIRAZYR. It does not contain all the available information. It does not take the place of talking to your doctor or pharmacist.

All medicines have risks and benefits. Your doctor has weighed the risks of you using FIRAZYR against the benefits they expect it will have for you.

If you have any concerns about using this medicine, ask your doctor, nurse or pharmacist.

Keep this leaflet with the medicine. You may need to read it again.

What FIRAZYR is used for

FIRAZYR is used for treating the symptoms of an acute attack of hereditary angioedema (HAE) in adults, adolescents and children aged 2 years and older.

During attacks of HAE, levels of a substance in your bloodstream called bradykinin are increased and this leads to symptoms like swelling, pain, nausea, and diarrhoea.

How it works

FIRAZYR contains the active ingredient icatibant. It blocks the activity of bradykinin and therefore, helps reduce the symptoms of an HAE attack.

Ask your doctor if you have any questions about why this medicine has been prescribed for you.

This medicine is not addictive.

This medicine is available only with a doctor's prescription.

Before you use FIRAZYR

When you must not use it

Do not use FIRAZYR if you have an allergy (hypersensitivity) to icatibant, or any of the other ingredients listed at the end of this leaflet.

Symptoms of an allergic reaction may include:

  • shortness of breath, wheezing or difficulty breathing
  • swelling of the face, lips, tongue or other parts of the body, skin rash, itching or hives.

It is important to be able to tell when you might be having an allergic reaction as the symptoms are very similar to those of an attack of HAE, so you should discuss this with your doctor.

Do not give FIRAZYR to a child under 2 years of age or weighing less than 12 kg. FIRAZYR is not registered for use in children under 2 years of age or weighing less than 12 kg.

Do not use this medicine after the expiry date printed on the pack or if the packaging is torn or shows signs of tampering. If it has expired or is damaged, return it to your pharmacist for disposal.

Do not use FIRAZYR if there are any visible signs of deterioration, for example if the solution is cloudy, if it has floating particles, or if the solution is not colourless.

If you are not sure whether you should use FIRAZYR, talk to your doctor.

Before you start to use it

Consult your doctor before using FIRAZYR if:

  • you are suffering from angina (reduced blood flow to the heart muscle)
  • you have recently suffered a stroke

Tell your doctor before using FIRAZYR if you are taking a medicine known as an Angiotensin Converting Enzyme (ACE) inhibitor (for example: captopril, enalapril, ramipril, quinapril, lisinopril) which is used to lower your blood pressure or for any other reason.

Tell your doctor if you have allergies to:

  • any other medicines
  • any other substances, such as foods, preservatives or dyes.

If you are pregnant or plan on becoming pregnant, discuss this with your doctor before using FIRAZYR. Your doctor will discuss the possible risks and benefits of using FIRAZYR during pregnancy.

Tell your doctor if you are breastfeeding. You should not breastfeed for 12 hours after you have used FIRAZYR. It is not known whether FIRAZYR passes into your breast milk.

Taking other medicines

Tell your doctor or pharmacist if you are taking any other medicines, including any that you get without a prescription from your pharmacy, supermarket or health food shop.

FIRAZYR can interact with other medicines, e.g. ACE inhibitors (as previously discussed).

Food and drink have no effect on the action of FIRAZYR.

How to use FIRAZYR

FIRAZYR is intended for subcutaneous injection (under the skin). FIRAZYR is injected into the fatty tissue under the skin in the abdomen (tummy).

FIRAZYR comes in a ready-to-use syringe. A needle is packed separately which you need to attach before use. Each syringe should only be used once.

The medicine inside your FIRAZYR pre-filled syringe should be clear and colourless. Do not use your FIRAZYR if the solution contains particles, is cloudy, or has an unusual colour.

Please see step-by-step instructions for injecting FIRAZYR at the end of this leaflet.

Adults:
FIRAZYR injections are usually administered by healthcare professionals. If you wish to inject FIRAZYR yourself and the doctor agrees it is appropriate (e.g. if you have a lot of HAE attacks or if you live far from a hospital or doctor), you will be trained on how to give yourself an injection.

You or your caregiver must be trained on subcutaneous injection technique before you self-inject or your caregiver injects you with FIRAZYR.

Immediately after you self-inject FIRAZYR or your caregiver injects you with FIRAZYR while you are experiencing a laryngeal attack (obstruction of the upper airway), you must seek medical care in a medical institution.

The following information is for patients who have been trained to inject themselves:

As HAE attacks can often be serious, it is best to contact your doctor or hospital when you experience an attack.

If the HAE attack involves your face, lips, throat, or voice box, or if you have any difficulty breathing, you should always contact your doctor or hospital.

If your HAE attack has not shown signs of improvement within 2 hours of the injection of FIRAZYR; or if the attack spreads to your face, lips, throat, or voice box, or you develop any difficulty breathing, you should contact your doctor or hospital immediately.

It is possible to have further injections of FIRAZYR if you do not have relief from the HAE symptoms following the first injection; however, this should be done by your doctor or in hospital (see below) - or following the advice of your doctor.

Children and adolescents aged 2 to 17 years:
FIRAZYR injections are usually administered by healthcare professionals, or by the caregiver of the child.

The caregiver must be trained on subcutaneous injection technique before administering FIRAZYR to the child.

Immediately after administering FIRAZYR to the child while he/she is experiencing a laryngeal attack (obstruction of the upper airway), the child must seek medical care in a medical institution.

As HAE attacks can often be serious, it is best to contact your doctor or hospital when the child experiences an attack.

If the HAE attack involves the face, lips, throat, or voice box, or if the child has any difficulty breathing, contact the doctor or hospital.

If the HAE attack has not shown signs of improvement within 2 hours of the injection of FIRAZYR; or if the attack spreads to the face, lips, throat, or voice box, or the child develops any difficulty breathing, contact the doctor or hospital immediately.

No more than one injection was given to a child for each HAE attack in clinical studies.

How much and when it is given

Your doctor will determine the exact dose of FIRAZYR and will tell you how often it should be used.

Adults:
The recommended dose of FIRAZYR is one injection (30 mg in 3 mL) given subcutaneously (under the skin) as soon as you develop symptoms of an angioedema attack (e.g. increased skin swelling, particularly affecting the face and neck, increasing tummy pain).

If the HAE symptoms are still present, or return after initial relief, an additional injection of FIRAZYR (3 mL) may be given after 6 hours.

If after a further 6 hours you still experience symptoms you may need a third injection of FIRAZYR (3 mL).

You should have no more than 3 injections in a 24-hour period and no more than 8 injections in a month.

Children and adolescents aged 2 to 17 years:
The recommended dose of FIRAZYR is one injection of 1 mL up to a maximum of 3 mL based on body weight given subcutaneously (under the skin) as soon as you develop symptoms of an angioedema attack (e.g. increased skin swelling, particularly affecting the face and neck, increasing tummy pain).

The dose will be determined by your doctor based on your child's body weight. The dose will increase over time as your child grows and the doctor will need to periodically review that the dose is appropriate.

The decision to initiate caregiver or self-administration of icatibant should be made by a physician experienced in the diagnosis and treatment of HAE. FIRAZYR may be administered by a healthcare professional.

Please see step-by-step instructions for the dose to inject in children and adolescents.

If you are not sure which dose to inject, ask your doctor, pharmacist or nurse.

You must seek immediate medical help if your symptoms get worse or do not improve.

If you use too much (overdose)

Immediately telephone your doctor or the Poisons Information Centre (Australia: 13 11 26; New Zealand: 0800 POISON or 0800 764766) for advice, or go to Accident and Emergency at the nearest hospital if you think that you or anyone else may have used too much FIRAZYR. Do this even if there are no signs of discomfort or poisoning.

When high doses have been given, patients have experienced a drop in blood pressure.

While you are using FIRAZYR

Things you must do

Tell your doctor immediately if you notice that your symptoms of the attack get worse after you use FIRAZYR.

Some of the side effects connected with FIRAZYR are similar to the symptoms of your disease.

If you are about to be started on any new medicine, remind your doctor and pharmacist that you are using FIRAZYR.

Tell any other doctors, dentists, and pharmacists who treat you that you are using this medicine.

If you become pregnant while using this medicine, tell your doctor immediately.

Things to be careful of

Do not drive or operate any machinery if you feel tired or dizzy as a result of your HAE attack or after using FIRAZYR.

Side effects

Tell your doctor or pharmacist as soon as possible if you do not feel well while you are using FIRAZYR.

Like all medicines, FIRAZYR can cause some side effects. Sometimes they are serious, most of the time they are not. You may need medical attention if you get some of the side effects.

Do not be alarmed by the following lists of side effects. You may not experience any of them.

Ask your doctor or pharmacist to answer any questions you may have.

Almost all patients receiving FIRAZYR will experience a reaction at the site of the injection. The reaction may include burning sensations, reddening of the skin (erythema), pain, swelling, feeling of warmth, and itching (pruritus). These effects are usually mild and clear up by themselves without the need for any additional treatment.

Tell your doctor or pharmacist if you notice any of the following symptoms and they worry you:

  • nausea
  • pain in the abdomen (tummy)
  • weakness
  • dizziness
  • headache
  • blocked nose
  • rash
  • vomiting
  • fatigue
  • fever
  • sore throat
  • weight gain
  • asthma
  • cough
  • itching
  • redness of the skin
  • hot flushes
  • muscle spasm
  • hives
  • abnormal liver function test (symptoms may include yellowing of the skin and eyes (jaundice)).

These are the more common side effects of FIRAZYR. Mostly, these are mild and short-lived.

Tell your doctor, nurse or pharmacist if you notice anything that is making you feel unwell.

Other side effects not listed above may also occur in some people.

After using FIRAZYR

Storage

Keep your medicine in the pack until it is time to use it. If you take the medicine out of the pack it may not keep well.

Keep the medicine in a cool dry place where the temperature stays below 25°C. Do not freeze it.

Do not store FIRAZYR or any other medicine in the bathroom or near a sink. Do not leave it on a window sill or in the car. Heat and dampness can destroy some medicines.

Keep it where children cannot reach it. A locked cupboard at least one-and-a-half metres above the ground is a good place to store medicines.

Disposal

If your doctor tells you to stop using this medicine or the expiry date has passed, ask your pharmacist what to do with any medicine that is left over.

Product description

What FIRAZYR looks like

FIRAZYR is supplied in one single-use pre-filled glass syringe with a grey plunger stopper. The solution is clear and colourless and free from visible particles. A hypodermic needle (25 G; 16 mm) is included in the package.

Ingredients

Active ingredient:

Icatibant acetate (equivalent to 30 mg of icatibant) in 3 mL solution for injection in each pre-filled syringe.

Other ingredients:

  • sodium chloride
  • acetic acid - glacial
  • sodium hydroxide
  • water for injections.

The injection solution contains less than 1 mmol (23 milligrams) of sodium so it is essentially 'sodium-free'.

FIRAZYR does not contain lactose, sucrose, gluten, tartrazine or any other azo dyes.

Sponsor

Australia:

Takeda Pharmaceuticals Australia Pty Ltd
Level 39
225 George Street
Sydney NSW 2000
Australia
Telephone: 1800 012 612
www.takeda.com/en-au

New Zealand:

Takeda New Zealand Limited
Level 10
21 Queen Street
Auckland 1010
New Zealand
Telephone: 0508 169 077
www.takeda.com/en-au

This leaflet was prepared in July 2023.

Australian Registration Number:

AUST R 160313

FIRAZYR® is a registered trademark of Shire Orphan Therapies GmbH, a Takeda company.

TAKEDA® and the TAKEDA Logo® are registered trademarks of Takeda Pharmaceutical Company Limited.

Step-by-step instructions for injecting FIRAZYR

1.General information

  • Clean the work area (surface) to be used before beginning the process.
  • Wash your hands with soap and water.
  • Open the blister tray by peeling back the seal.
  • Remove the pre-filled syringe from the blister tray.
  • Remove the cap from the end of the pre-filled syringe by unscrewing the cap.
  • Put down the pre-filled syringe after unscrewing the cap.

2a). Preparing the syringe for children and adolescents (2-17 years) weighing 65 kg or less

For patients who have not previously received FIRAZYR, initial treatment should be given in a medical institution or under the guidance of a physician. The decision to initiate caregiver or self-administration of FIRAZYR should only be made by a physician experienced in the diagnosis and treatment of HAE.

FIRAZYR may be administered by a caregiver only after training in subcutaneous injection technique by a healthcare professional.

Important information for healthcare professionals and caregivers:

Where the dose is less than 30 mg (3 mL), the following equipment is required to extract the appropriate dose (see below):

a) FIRAZYR pre-filled syringe (containing icatibant solution)

b) Adapter (connector)

c) 3 mL graduated syringe

The required injection volume in mL should be drawn up in an empty 3 mL graduated syringe (see table below).

Table 1. Dosage regimen for children and adolescents:

Patients weighing more than 65 kg will use the full contents of the prefilled syringe (3 mL).

If you are not sure which volume of solution to extract, ask your doctor, pharmacist or nurse.

Preparing to extract dose less than 3 mL:

  • Remove the caps on each end of the adapter.
    Avoid touching the ends of the adapter and syringe tips, to prevent contamination.
  • Screw the adapter onto the pre-filled syringe.
  • Attach the graduated syringe to the other end of the adapter ensuring that both connections fit securely.

Transferring FIRAZYR solution to the graduated syringe:

  • To start transfer of FIRAZYR solution, push the pre-filled syringe plunger (on far left of the below image).

  • If the FIRAZYR solution does not begin to transfer to the graduated syringe, pull slightly on the graduated syringe plunger until the FIRAZYR solution starts to flow into the graduated syringe (see below image).

  • Continue to push on the pre-filled syringe plunger until the required injection volume (dose) is transferred to the graduated syringe. See Table 1 for dosage information.

If there is air in the graduated syringe:

  • Turn the connected syringes so that the pre-filled syringe is on top (see below image).

  • Push the plunger of the graduated syringe so that any air is transferred back into the prefilled syringe (this step may need to be repeated several times).
  • Withdraw the required volume of FIRAZYR solution.

After transfer of FIRAZYR solution to the graduated syringe:

  • Remove the pre-filled syringe and adapter from the graduated syringe.
  • Discard the pre-filled syringe and adapter into the sharps container.

2b). Preparing the syringe and needle for injection: All patients (adults, adolescents and children)

  • Remove the needle cap from the blister tray.
  • Twist the lid of the needle cap to break the seal (the needle should be still in the needle cap).

  • Grip the syringe firmly. Carefully attach the needle to the syringe containing the colourless solution.
  • Screw the syringe on the needle still fixed in the needle cap.
  • Remove the needle from the needle cap by pulling the syringe. Do not pull up on the plunger.
  • The syringe is now ready for injection.

3. Preparing the injection site

  • Choose the injection site. The injection site should be a skin fold on your abdomen (tummy), approximately 5 to 10 cm below your navel (belly button) on either side. This area should be at least 5 cm away from any scars. Do not choose an area that is bruised, swollen, or painful.
  • Clean the injection site with an alcohol wipe and allow it to dry.

4. Injecting the solution

  • Hold the syringe in one hand between two fingers with your thumb at the bottom of the plunger.
  • Make sure that there is no air bubble in the syringe by pressing the plunger until the first drop appears on the tip of the needle.

  • Hold the syringe between a 45 to 90 degrees angle to your skin with the needle facing the skin.
  • Keeping the syringe in one hand, use your other hand to gently hold a fold of skin between your thumb and fingers at the previously disinfected injection site.
  • Hold the fold of the skin, bring the syringe to the skin and quickly insert the needle into the skin fold.
  • Slowly push the plunger of the syringe with a steady hand until all the solution is injected into the skin and no liquid remains in the syringe.
  • Press slowly so that this takes approximately 30 seconds.
  • Release the skin fold and gently pull the needle out.

5. Disposal of the injection material

  • Discard the syringe, needle and needle cap into the sharps container.
  • Ask your pharmacist if you are not sure about the right way to throw away used syringes and needles.

Published by MIMS August 2023

BRAND INFORMATION

Brand name

Firazyr

Active ingredient

Icatibant

Schedule

S4

 

1 Name of Medicine

Icatibant acetate.

2 Qualitative and Quantitative Composition

Each pre-filled syringe delivers 3 mL containing icatibant acetate equivalent to 30 mg icatibant. Each mL of the solution contains 10 mg of icatibant.
For the full list of excipients, see Section 6.1 List of Excipients.

3 Pharmaceutical Form

Solution for injection.
Firazyr is supplied as a sterile solution for injection in single use pre-filled syringes. The solution should be clear and colourless and free from visible particles. The pH of the injection is approximately 5.5.

4 Clinical Particulars

4.1 Therapeutic Indications

Firazyr is indicated for symptomatic treatment of acute attacks of hereditary angioedema (HAE) in adults, adolescents and children aged 2 years and older with C1-esterase-inhibitor deficiency.

4.2 Dose and Method of Administration

Dosage.

Adults.

The recommended dose of Firazyr for adults is one subcutaneous injection of 30 mg.
In the majority of cases a single injection of Firazyr is sufficient to treat an attack. In case of insufficient relief or recurrence of symptoms, a second injection of Firazyr can be administered after 6 hours. If the second injection produces insufficient relief or a recurrence of symptoms is observed, a third injection of Firazyr can be administered after a further 6 hours. No more than 3 injections of Firazyr should be administered in a 24-hour period.
In clinical trials, not more than 8 injections of Firazyr per month have been administered.

Adolescents and children (aged 2 to 17 years).

The recommended dose of Firazyr based on body weight in children and adolescents (aged 2 to 17 years) is provided in Table 1. Studies in children aged less than 3.4 years or weighing less than 12 kg have not been performed.

Note.

Firazyr is not indicated for use in children less than 2 years or < 12 kg.
Administration of more than one dose per HAE attack has not been studied (see Section 5.1 Pharmacodynamic Properties, Clinical trials).
No patient younger than 3.4 years was treated in study HGT-FIR-086. Dosages are based on population pharmacokinetic modelling (see Section 5.2 Pharmacokinetic Properties, Special populations).

Method of administration.

Firazyr is intended for subcutaneous injection preferably in the abdominal area. Injection should be given slowly due to the volume to be administered (3 mL).
Adult patients may self-administer Firazyr upon recognition of symptoms of an HAE attack after training under the guidance of a healthcare professional. Patients who self inject should be advised to seek urgent medical attention if there is no evidence of resolution of the HAE attack within 2 hours of self-injection, or immediately should the HAE attack progress to involve the face, lips or pharyngolaryngeal area. Patients whose initial HAE attack involves the face, lips or pharyngolaryngeal area should seek urgent medical attention, regardless of their response to Firazyr following self-injection.
For patients who have not previously received icatibant, initial treatment should be given in a medical institution or under the guidance of a physician. The decision to initiate caregiver or self-administration of icatibant should be made by a physician experienced in the diagnosis and treatment of HAE.
Firazyr may be administered to children and adolescents (2-17 years) by a healthcare professional or caregiver only after training in subcutaneous injection technique by a healthcare professional.
For instructions for use of the delivery system, refer to the consumer medicine information leaflet which can be found at https://www.ebs.tga.gov.au/.
No dosage regimen can be recommended in children aged less than 2 years or weighing less than 12 kg, as the safety and efficacy in this paediatric group has not been established.
Patients with laryngeal symptoms should seek medical attention immediately after administration of Firazyr and need to be managed in an appropriate medical institution after injection until the physician considers discharge to be safe.
Firazyr contains no antimicrobial agent and should be used immediately. Each syringe is intended for single use in one patient only. Any residue should be discarded.

Hepatic impairment.

No dosage adjustment is required in patients with hepatic impairment.

Renal impairment.

No dosage adjustment is required in patients with renal impairment.

4.3 Contraindications

Hypersensitivity to the active substance or to any of the excipients.

4.4 Special Warnings and Precautions for Use

Ischaemic heart disease.

Icatibant did not elicit any cardiac conduction change in vitro (hERG channel) or in vivo in normal dogs or in dogs undergoing physical exertion. Icatibant has been shown to aggravate induced cardiac ischaemia in several non-clinical models, including a study in dogs involving coronary ligation, probably as a result of left ventricular failure. Bradykinin and the B2 receptors have been shown to have cardioprotective properties in animals, which were attenuated by icatibant.
Under ischaemic conditions, a deterioration of cardiac function and a decrease in coronary blood flow could theoretically arise from antagonism of the B2 receptor.
Caution should therefore be observed in the administration of Firazyr to patients with acute ischaemic heart disease or unstable angina pectoris.

Stroke.

There is a theoretical possibility that icatibant may attenuate the positive late phase neuroprotective effects of bradykinin. Accordingly, caution should be observed in the administration of icatibant to patients in the weeks following a stroke.

Use in hepatic impairment.

Data from subjects with a wide range of hepatic insufficiency suggest that icatibant exposure is not influenced by hepatic impairment. No dosage adjustment is required in patients with hepatic impairment.

Use in renal impairment.

Limited data from subjects with renal insufficiency suggest that icatibant exposure is not influenced by renal impairment. No dosage adjustment is required in patients with renal impairment.

Use in the elderly.

Limited information is available for Firazyr in patients older than 65 years of age.
Elderly patients have been shown to have increased systemic exposure to icatibant. The relevance of this to the safety of Firazyr is unknown (see Section 5.2 Pharmacokinetic Properties).

Paediatric use.

Firazyr is not indicated for use in children less than 2 years or weighing less than 12 kg.
Studies in children aged less than 3.4 years or weighing less than 12 kg have not been performed. In children and adolescents, administration of more than one dose per HAE attack has not been studied (see Section 5.1 Pharmacodynamic Properties, Clinical trials). There is limited experience with treatment of more than one HAE attack with Firazyr in the paediatric population.
In immature animals repeated dosing of icatibant reversibly delayed sexual maturation in males and females (see Section 4.6 Fertility, Pregnancy and Lactation, Effects on fertility).

Effects on laboratory tests.

No data available.

4.5 Interactions with Other Medicines and Other Forms of Interactions

Pharmacokinetic drug interactions involving CYP450 are not expected (see Section 5.2 Pharmacokinetic Properties).
Co-administration of Firazyr with angiotensin-converting enzyme (ACE) inhibitors has not been studied. There is a theoretical risk that icatibant may antagonise the effects of ACE inhibitors. Patients with HAE should not be taking these drugs as they can induce and exacerbate HAE attacks.

4.6 Fertility, Pregnancy and Lactation

Effects on fertility.

In a study of 39 healthy adult men and women (confined to the follicular phase of the menstrual cycle) treated with either placebo or 30 mg every 6 hours for 3 doses every 3 days for a total of 9 doses with GnRH-stimulation, no clinically significant changes were found between placebo and treatment groups for female and male reproductive hormones, the concentration of luteal phase progesterone and luteal function, menstrual cycle length in females, and sperm count, motility and morphology in males. The dosing regimen used for this study is very unlikely to be sustained in the clinical setting. However, due to the fairly small study size and confinement of women to the follicular phase of their menstrual cycles, it is unclear how fully these results can be generalized to the broader population.
Intermittent icatibant treatment (twice weekly) SC for 39 weeks in dogs did not elicit toxicity in the testes, prostate, ovary, uterus or mammary gland (30-fold the anticipated clinical exposure in patients administered 240 mg icatibant per month, based on monthly AUC).
Daily SC administration of icatibant in mature rats and dogs for 26 and 39 weeks, respectively, caused atrophy of the testes, prostate, and uterus, and masculinization of the mammary glands. In rats, atrophy of the testes and prostate, testes germinal epithelial degeneration, hypospermia, and decreased testosterone levels occurred at ≥ 19-fold the anticipated clinical exposure, based on monthly AUC, and atrophy of the uterus, mammary gland masculinization, and decreased luteinizing hormone levels occurred at ≥ 69-fold the anticipated clinical exposure, based on monthly AUC. In dogs, reduced sperm counts and atrophy of the uterus and ovaries occurred at 9-fold the anticipated clinical exposure, based on monthly AUC, and atrophy of the testes, prostate, uterus, ovaries and mammary glands, and decreased testosterone and follicle stimulating hormone levels occurred at 134-fold the anticipated clinical exposure, based on monthly AUC.
Daily SC administration of icatibant to juvenile rats caused atrophy of the testes and prostate at ≥ 10-fold the anticipated clinical exposure, based on monthly AUC, delayed male sexual maturation, decreased sperm counts and slight atrophy of the uterus at ≥ 9 mg/kg/day, and impaired male fertility at 109-fold the anticipated clinical exposure, based on monthly AUC. These effects were partly/fully reversible. Sexual maturation was also reversibly delayed in immature dogs, and appeared to be secondary to changes in gonadotropin levels. Most of these effects were fully reversible over 4 weeks recovery.
Reproductive toxicity studies in adult male mice and rats with daily icatibant SC administration showed no effects on fertility at doses up to 53-fold the anticipated clinical exposure, based on monthly AUC.
(Category C)
For icatibant, no clinical data on exposed pregnancies are available.
Bradykinin B2 receptors have been shown to be present in tissues of the female reproductive system in animals and humans, and are likely to be involved in implantation and parturition.
There was an increase in pre-implantation loss in female rats treated with 10 mg/kg/day and post-implantation loss in rabbits treated with 10 mg/kg/day icatibant SC (respectively 30- and 50-fold the anticipated clinical exposure in patients administered 240 mg icatibant per month, based on monthly AUC).
Icatibant and/or its metabolites crossed the placenta in rats. Icatibant was not teratogenic when administered by subcutaneous injection during embryonic and fetal development in rats or rabbits (up to 5-fold the anticipated clinical exposure, based on monthly AUC). In rats, icatibant was associated with delayed parturition, increased fetal distress and perinatal death at 10 mg/kg/day (30-fold the anticipated clinical exposure, based on monthly AUC) and a prolonged gestation period at doses 3-fold the anticipated clinical exposure, based on monthly AUC. There were no observed adverse effects of icatibant administration during pregnancy and lactation on pup development in rats.
Therefore, Firazyr should be used during pregnancy only if the potential benefit justifies the potential risk for the fetus (e.g. for treatment of potentially life threatening laryngeal attacks).
Icatibant is excreted in the milk of lactating rats at concentrations similar to those in maternal blood. No adverse effects were detected in the post-natal development of rat pups.
It is unknown whether icatibant is excreted in human breast milk but it is recommended that breastfeeding women who take Firazyr should not breastfeed for 12 hours after treatment. If breastfeeding is to be resumed, then milk should be expressed and discarded for the first 12 hours after treatment.

4.7 Effects on Ability to Drive and Use Machines

No studies of icatibant on the effects on the ability to drive and use machines have been performed. Dizziness has been reported in patients using Firazyr, therefore patients should be advised not to drive or use machines if they feel dizzy. Symptoms of an HAE attack (for example, somnolence, fatigue, lethargy and tiredness) may also influence the ability to drive or use machines. Patients who experience any of the above should be advised not to drive or use machines.

4.8 Adverse Effects (Undesirable Effects)

Clinical study experience.

The safety of icatibant has been established in 1,273 subjects treated with various doses, regimens and routes of administration during Phase I-III studies in various indications.
Sixty three HAE patients received icatibant in two Phase III trials for treatment of an attack in the controlled phase and 126 patients were treated in the open-label phase.
Almost all subjects who were treated with subcutaneous icatibant in clinical trials developed reactions at the site of injection including erythema, swelling, warm sensation, burning, itching and/or cutaneous pain. These reactions were generally mild in severity, transient, and resolved without further intervention.
Table 2 lists treatment related adverse reactions reported with Firazyr during the Phase III trials. Frequency is defined as: very common (≥ 1/10), common (≥ 1/100, < 1/10) and uncommon (≥ 1/1,000 to < 1/100).
Table 3 provides the incidence of all adverse events (regardless of relationship to treatment) reported in two or more patients in the controlled phase of the Phase III studies in patients treated with Firazyr, placebo or tranexamic acid.

Paediatric population.

A total of 32 paediatric subjects with HAE were exposed to treatment with icatibant during the clinical study, at a dose of 0.4 mg/kg based on body weight up to a maximum dose of 30 mg. Thirty-one patients received a single dose of icatibant and 1 patient (an adolescent) received a single dose of icatibant for each of the two HAE attacks (in total, two doses).
The majority of paediatric patients who were treated with subcutaneous icatibant experienced injection site reactions such as erythema, swelling, burning sensation, skin pain and itching/pruritus; these were found to be mild to moderate in severity and consistent with reactions that have been reported in adults. Two paediatric patients experienced injection site reactions which were assessed as severe and which were completely resolved within 6 hours. These reactions were erythema, swelling, burning and warm sensation.
Changes in some of the reproductive hormones were observed in study HGT-FIR-086. These changes are not expected to be clinically significant, based on limited clinical trial data of single administration of icatibant.

Post-marketing experience.

See Table 4.

Immunogenicity.

Across repeated treatment in the controlled Phase III HAE trials, transient positivity to anti-icatibant antibodies was observed in rare cases. All patients maintained efficacy. One Firazyr-treated patient tested positive for anti-icatibant antibodies before and after treatment with Firazyr. This patient was followed for 5 months and further samples were negative for anti-icatibant antibodies. No hypersensitivity or anaphylactic reactions were reported with Firazyr.
No anti-icatibant antibodies were detected in paediatric patients after treatment with icatibant in study HGT-FIR-086 (see Section 5.1 Pharmacodynamic Properties, Clinical trials).

Reporting suspected adverse effects.

Reporting suspected adverse reactions after registration of the medicinal product is important. It allows continued monitoring of the benefit-risk balance of the medicinal product. Healthcare professionals are asked to report any suspected adverse reactions at www.tga.gov.au/reporting-problems.

4.9 Overdose

No clinical information on overdose is available.
A dose of 3.2 mg/kg intravenously (approximately 8 times the therapeutic dose) caused transient erythema, itching, flushing, or hypotension in healthy subjects. No therapeutic intervention was necessary.
For information on the management of overdose, contact the Poisons Information Centre on 131126 in Australia, or the National Poisons Centre on 0800 POISON (0800 764766) in New Zealand.

5 Pharmacological Properties

5.1 Pharmacodynamic Properties

Pharmacotherapeutic group: Drugs used to treat hereditary angioedema. ATC Code: B06AC02.

Mechanism of action.

Hereditary angioedema (HAE), an autosomal dominant disease, is caused by an absence or dysfunction of C1-esterase-inhibitor. HAE attacks are accompanied by an increased release of bradykinin, which is the key mediator in the development of the clinical symptoms.
HAE manifests as intermittent attacks of subcutaneous and/or submucosal oedema involving the upper respiratory tract, the skin and the gastrointestinal tract. An attack usually lasts between 2 to 5 days.
Icatibant is a selective competitive antagonist at the bradykinin type 2 (B2) receptor. It is a synthetic decapeptide with a structure similar to bradykinin, but with 5 non-proteinogenic amino acids. Bradykinin has been shown to be elevated during hereditary angioedema attacks and is responsible for oedema formation and related clinical symptoms of swelling and pain.

Pharmacodynamic effects.

In healthy young subjects, icatibant administered in doses of 0.8 mg/kg over 4 hours; 1.5 mg/kg/day or 0.15 mg/kg/day for 3 days, development of bradykinin-induced hypotension, vasodilatation and reflex tachycardia was prevented. Icatibant was shown to be a competitive antagonist when the bradykinin challenge dose was increased 4-fold.

Clinical trials.

Efficacy data were obtained from an initial open-label Phase II study and from two randomised, double-blind controlled multi-centre Phase III studies (one with oral tranexamic acid as the comparator and one placebo controlled). The pivotal Phase III studies were otherwise identical in design. A total of 130 patients were randomised to receive either a 30 mg dose of icatibant (63 patients) or comparator (either tranexamic acid 38 patients or placebo 29 patients). Subsequent episodes of HAE were treated in an open label extension (OLE). Patients with symptoms of laryngeal angioedema received open-label treatment with icatibant.
In the Phase III trials, the primary efficacy endpoint was median time to onset of symptom relief using a visual analogue scale (VAS) defined as absolute reduction from pre-treatment VAS of ≥ 20 mm if the baseline VAS was 30-50 mm or ≥ 30 mm if the baseline VAS was > 50 mm. The FAST-2 study (JE049 #2102) demonstrated that the median time to onset of symptom relief was significantly shorter in the icatibant group than in the tranexamic acid group (2.0 hours compared to 12.0 hours), while in the FAST-1 study (JE049 #2103) comparing icatibant with placebo, the median time to onset of symptom relief was shorter with icatibant than placebo (2.5 hours compared to 4.6 hours) but a statistically significant difference was not achieved.
Additional analyses were carried out with regard to changes from baseline to 4 hours and 12 hours in VAS scores. These direct evaluations of the VAS represent a more accurate clinical picture of the course of the HAE attack. The results show that for both studies, there was a substantial and consistent reduction in the score at 4 hours and 12 hours post-dose in the icatibant groups compared to the comparator groups, and the treatment differences in VAS changes from baseline to 4 hours and 12 hours were statistically significant (p=0.002 and p=0.046 for 4 hours and 12 hours in study JE049 #2103 and p < 0.001 for 4 hours and 12 hours in study JE049 #2102).
Table 5 shows the results for the two pivotal trials.
One hundred and twenty six patients were treated in the OLE phase for a total of 714 separate attacks. Efficacy results, available for the first 118 patients showed similar efficacy to those seen in the controlled phase of the studies. In the OLE phase, up to three doses of icatibant were permitted. The majority of attacks (89.3% and 90.9%, respectively) in both studies required only a single dose of icatibant. Thirty patients required two doses and five patients required three doses.
A total of 36 patients were treated for a total of 61 attacks of HAE affecting the larynx. The results were again similar to patients with non-laryngeal attacks of HAE with a median time to start of regression of symptoms of 0.6-1.0 hours (controlled phase).

Paediatric population.

An open-label, non-randomised single-arm study (HGT-FIR-086) was performed with a total of 32 patients. All patients received at least one dose of icatibant (0.4 mg/kg body weight up to a maximum dose of 30 mg) and the majority of patients were followed up for a minimum of 6 months. Eleven patients were of prepubertal status and 21 patients were either pubertal or postpubertal.
The efficacy population consisted of 22 patients who had been treated with icatibant (11 prepubertal and 11 pubertal/postpubertal) for a first HAE attack.
The primary efficacy endpoint was the time to onset of symptom relief measured using a composite investigator-reported symptom score. Time to symptom relief was defined as the duration of time (in hours) taken for improvement of symptoms to occur by a magnitude of 20%. Table 6 shows the efficacy results for HGT-FIR-086.
At 1 and 2 hours post treatment, approximately 50% and 90% of patients experienced onset of symptom relief, respectively.
Overall, the median time to minimal symptoms (earliest time post treatment when all symptoms were either mild or absent) was 1.1 hours (95% CI: 1.0-2.0 hours).

5.2 Pharmacokinetic Properties

The pharmacokinetics of icatibant has been extensively characterised by studies using both intravenous and subcutaneous administration to healthy volunteers and patients. The pharmacokinetic profile of icatibant in patients with HAE is similar to that in healthy volunteers.

Absorption.

Following subcutaneous administration, the absolute bioavailability of icatibant is 97%. The time to maximum concentration (tmax) is approximately 0.5 hours.

Distribution.

Icatibant volume of distribution (Vss) is about 20-25 L. Plasma protein binding is 44%.

Metabolism.

Icatibant is extensively metabolised by proteolytic enzymes to inactive metabolites that are primarily excreted in the urine.
In vitro studies have confirmed that icatibant is not degraded by oxidative metabolic pathways and is not an inhibitor of major cytochrome P450 (CYP) isoenzymes (CYP1A2, 2A6, 2B6, 2C8, 2C9, 2C19, 2D6, 2E1, and 3A4) and is not an inducer of CYP1A2 and 3A4.

Excretion.

Icatibant is mainly eliminated by metabolism with less than 10% of the dose eliminated in the urine as unchanged drug. Clearance is about 15-20 L/h and independent of dose. The terminal half-life (t1/2) is about 1-2 hours.

Special populations.

Elderly.

Data suggest an age-related decline in clearance resulting in about 50-60% higher exposure in older people (75-80 years) compared to patients aged 40 years.

Gender.

Data suggest that there is no difference in the clearance between females and males after correcting for body weight.

Hepatic and renal impairment.

Limited data suggest that icatibant exposure is not influenced by hepatic or renal impairment.

Race.

Information on individual race effect is limited. Available exposure data suggest no difference in the clearance between non-White (n=40) and White (n=132) subjects.

Paediatric population.

The pharmacokinetics of icatibant were characterised in paediatric HAE patients in study HGT-FIR-086 (see Section 5.1 Pharmacodynamic Properties). Following a single subcutaneous administration (0.4 mg/kg up to a maximum of 30 mg), the tmax is approximately 30 minutes and the t1/2 is about 2 hours. There are no observed differences in the exposure to icatibant between HAE patients with and without an attack. Population pharmacokinetic modelling using both adult and paediatric data showed that clearance of icatibant is related to body weight with lower clearance values noted for lower body weights in the paediatric HAE population. Based on modelling for weight banded dosing, the predicted exposure to icatibant in the paediatric HAE population (see Section 4.2 Dose and Method of Administration) is lower than the observed exposure in studies conducted with adult HAE patients.

5.3 Preclinical Safety Data

Genotoxicity.

In a standard battery of in vitro and in vivo tests icatibant was not genotoxic.

Carcinogenicity.

In a 2 year study to evaluate the carcinogenic potential of icatibant in rats, daily SC doses up to 6 mg/kg/day (11-fold the anticipated clinical exposure in patients administered 240 mg icatibant per month, based on monthly AUC) had no effect on the incidence or morphology of tumours. Results do not indicate a carcinogenic potential for icatibant.

6 Pharmaceutical Particulars

6.1 List of Excipients

Sodium chloride, acetic acid, glacial (for pH adjustment), sodium hydroxide (for pH adjustment), water for injections.

6.2 Incompatibilities

Not applicable.

6.3 Shelf Life

In Australia, information on the shelf life can be found on the public summary of the ARTG. The expiry date can be found on the packaging.

6.4 Special Precautions for Storage

Store Firazyr below 25°C. Do not freeze.

6.5 Nature and Contents of Container

Firazyr is supplied as 30 mg icatibant (as acetate) in 3 mL in one pre-filled syringe (type I glass) with plunger stopper (bromobutyl coated with fluorocarbon polymer). A hypodermic needle (25 G; 16 mm) is included in the package.
Pack size of one pre-filled syringe with one needle.
The following equipment is required to extract and administer the appropriate dose when the prescribed dose is less than 30 mg (3 mL): adapter; 3 mL graduated syringe.

6.6 Special Precautions for Disposal

The pre-filled icatibant syringe and all other components are for single use only. All needles and syringes should be disposed of in a sharps container.
In Australia, any unused medicine or waste material should be disposed of in accordance with local requirements.

6.7 Physicochemical Properties

Chemical structure.

Chemical name of icatibant: D-arginyl-L-arginyl-L-prolyl- L[(4R)-4-hydroxyprolyl]-glycyl- L[3-(2-thienyl)alanyl]- L-seryl-D-(1,2,3,4-tetrahydroisoquinolin- 3-ylcarbonyl)-L[(3aS,7aS)- octahydroindol-2-ylcarbonyl]-L-arginine.
Icatibant is isolated as the acetate salt, containing approximately 1-4 equivalents of acetic acid.
Chemical structure of icatibant:
Chemical formula of icatibant: C59H89N19O13S.
Molecular weight of icatibant: 1304.55.

CAS number.

CAS number of icatibant: 130308-48-4.

7 Medicine Schedule (Poisons Standard)

Prescription Only Medicine (S4).

Summary Table of Changes