Consumer medicine information

Elidel Cream

Pimecrolimus

BRAND INFORMATION

Brand name

Elidel

Active ingredient

Pimecrolimus

Schedule

S4

 

Consumer medicine information (CMI) leaflet

Please read this leaflet carefully before you start using Elidel Cream.

SUMMARY CMI

ELIDEL®

Consumer Medicine Information (CMI) summary

The full CMI on the next page has more details. If you are worried about using this medicine, speak to your doctor or pharmacist.

1. Why am I using ELIDEL?

ELIDEL contains the active ingredient pimecrolimus. ELIDEL is used to treat the early signs and symptoms of eczema such as itching, redness and tiny bumps or thickening of the skin in infants of 3 months or older, children, teenagers and adults.
For more information, see Section 1. Why am I using ELIDEL? in the full CMI.

2. What should I know before I use ELIDEL?

Do not use if you have ever had an allergic reaction to pimecrolimus or any of the ingredients listed at the end of the CMI.
Talk to your doctor if you have any other medical conditions, take any other medicines, or are pregnant or plan to become pregnant or are breastfeeding.
For more information, see Section 2. What should I know before I use ELIDEL? in the full CMI.

3. What if I am taking other medicines?

Some medicines may interfere with ELIDEL and affect how it works.
A list of these medicines is in Section 3. What if I am taking other medicines? in the full CMI.

4. How do I use ELIDEL?

  • Apply a thin layer of the cream to the affected skin twice daily for as long as your doctor tells you to.
  • Do not cover the treated skin with occlusive dressings. However, you can wear normal clothing.

More instructions can be found in Section 4. How do I use ELIDEL? in the full CMI.

5. What should I know while using ELIDEL?

Things you should do
  • Remind any doctor and pharmacist you visit that you are using ELIDEL.
  • Tell your doctor If you become pregnant while you are using this medicine.
  • Tell your doctor if you develop lumps/painful sores anywhere in your body, or develop any moles/skin infection, or you notice changes in existing moles.
Things you should not do
  • Do not use this medicine continuously for long periods without interruption.
  • Avoid exposure to the sun of skin areas treated with ELIDEL. Do not use a sunlamp or tanning table.
  • Do not give this medicine to anyone else, even if their symptoms seem to be the same as yours.
Drinking alcohol
  • Tell your doctor if you experience facial flushing or skin irritation when you drink alcohol during treatment with ELIDEL.
Looking after your medicine
  • Store the tube of cream in the outer carton in a cool dry place below 25°C. Once you have opened the tube of cream, you should use it for no more than 12 weeks.
  • Do not store ELIDEL in the bathroom or near a sink. Do not leave it in the car or on window sills.

For more information, see Section 5. What should I know while using ELIDEL? in the full CMI.

6. Are there any side effects?

Tell your doctor if you experience any of the following and they worry you or tell your doctor immediately if any of the following symptoms are severe: a temporary feeling of warmth and/or burning, irritation, itching or reddening, rash, pain, feeling of prickling, dryness, flaking, swelling, folliculitis, cold sores, genital herpes, shingles, eczema herpeticum, any other signs or symptoms that are different from your usual symptoms of eczema (may be signs of a skin infection), a new spot, freckle or mole or a change to an existing one, change of skin colour and swelling of lymph nodes. Tell your doctor immediately, or go to the Emergency Department at your nearest hospital, if any of the following happen: sudden signs of allergy such as rash, itching or hives on the skin, swelling of the face, lips, tongue or other parts of the body, shortness of breath, wheezing or trouble breathing.
For more information, including what to do if you have any side effects, see Section 6. Are there any side effects? in the full CMI.



FULL CMI

ELIDEL®

Active ingredient: pimecrolimus


Consumer Medicine Information (CMI)

This leaflet provides important information about using ELIDEL. This leaflet has mostly been written for patients who are using ELIDEL on themselves, but, as ELIDEL can be used in children as young as 3 months, the same advice and precautions need to be exercised when parents and carers are using ELIDEL on children who have been prescribed the product. There are additional instructions when using ELIDEL in infants up to 2 years and these are explained separately in the leaflet.

You should also speak to your doctor or pharmacist if you would like further information or if you have any concerns or questions about using ELIDEL.

Where to find information in this leaflet:

1. Why am I using ELIDEL?
2. What should I know before I use ELIDEL?
3. What if I am taking other medicines?
4. How do I use ELIDEL?
5. What should I know while using ELIDEL?
6. Are there any side effects?
7. Product details

1. Why am I using ELIDEL?

ELIDEL contains the active ingredient pimecrolimus.

ELIDEL is used to treat the early signs and symptoms of eczema (also called atopic dermatitis), such as itching, redness and tiny bumps or thickening of the skin. It is suitable for infants of 3 months or older, children, teenagers and adults.

ELIDEL can be used to treat repeated episodes of eczema. Treatment is started as soon as the first symptoms of eczema appear, to prevent these from progressing to more severe symptoms that may require the use of a steroid cream.

However, if a steroid cream is required to treat an episode of eczema, ELIDEL should be stopped and restarted to treat any remaining symptoms after the steroid cream has been stopped.

ELIDEL is a steroid-free medicine that treats inflammation of the skin. It works in specific cells in the skin that cause inflammation and the characteristic redness and itching of eczema.

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

Your doctor may have prescribed it for another purpose.

2. What should I know before I use ELIDEL?

Warnings

Do not use ELIDEL if:

  • you are allergic to pimecrolimus, (the active ingredient), macrolactams (drugs similar to pimecrolimus) or any of the ingredients listed at the end of this leaflet. Always check the ingredients to make sure you can use this medicine.
  • you are having light therapy (called phototherapy) for your skin condition.

Do not use this medicine after the expiry date printed on the pack or if the packaging is torn or shows signs of tampering. In that case, return it to your pharmacist.

Before you start to use it

If you want more information, discuss this with your doctor.

Pimecrolimus is absorbed in small amounts through the skin. A very small number of people who have used ELIDEL have developed skin cancer or lymphoma, but a link that ELIDEL caused these cancers has not been shown. The number of cases reported is small, and so far is lower than the average in the general population. Although it cannot be excluded, it is unlikely that people using ELIDEL cream have an increased chance of getting these conditions. It is important that ELIDEL should only be used as directed by your doctor. Only apply it to the places your doctor has said it should go. Use it only for as long as directed.

Check with your doctor if you have:

  • had skin cancers removed or you have changes in your skin (called pre-malignant or pre-cancerous changes) that may develop into skin cancer
  • swelling of the lymph nodes - the bean-shaped organs found in the underarm, groin, neck, chest and abdomen that act as filters for the lymph fluid as it circulates through the body
  • an infection of the skin
  • generalised erythroderma (a skin disorder characterised by reddening and scaling of most of the skin)
  • Netherton syndrome (a rare hereditary disorder)
  • weakened immune system (for example as a result of medical conditions such as HIV, diabetes, cancer, or from taking medicines that suppress immunity).

During treatment, you may be at risk of developing certain side effects. It is important you understand these risks and how to monitor for them. See additional information under Section 6. Are there any side effects?

Pregnancy and breastfeeding

Check with your doctor if you are pregnant or intend to become pregnant. There is not enough information to recommend the use of this medicine during pregnancy. Your doctor can discuss with you the risks and benefits involved.

Talk to your doctor if you are breastfeeding or intend to breastfeed. Although the amount of pimecrolimus that is absorbed into your blood stream is very low, it is not known if it passes into the breast milk and could affect your baby. Your doctor can discuss with you the benefits and risks involved with using this medicine while you are breastfeeding.

3. What if I am taking other medicines?

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

Although it is unlikely that other medicines and ELIDEL will interfere with each other, you should always make sure your doctor knows what medicines you are taking, especially any other creams or ointments you are using on your skin.

Check with your doctor or pharmacist if you are not sure about what medicines, vitamins or supplements you are taking and if these affect ELIDEL.

4. How do I use ELIDEL?

Areas of skin to avoid

  • Do not use the cream:
  • inside your nose, eyes or mouth. Do not swallow it.
  • on areas of the skin affected by active viral infection such as cold sores or chicken pox.
  • if your skin is infected, check with your doctor before using ELIDEL. Your doctor may ask you to use another medicine to clear the infection first.
  • on your breasts while you are breastfeeding.
  • if you have had a vaccination recently, do not apply the cream to the site of vaccination until reddening of the skin and/or swelling disappears.

If you accidentally applied the cream to any of these areas, wipe it off and rinse well with clean water.

How much to use

  • Follow all directions given to you by your doctor and pharmacist carefully. These instructions may differ from the information contained in this leaflet.
  • If you do not understand the instructions on the label, ask your doctor or pharmacist for help.
  • To prevent the early symptoms of eczema from progressing to more severe symptoms, apply the cream twice daily, for instance once in the morning and once in the evening.

How to use it

Apply the cream as follows:

  1. Wash and dry your hands.
  2. Open the tube. The first time you use the tube you will need to break the seal using the spike in the top of the cap.
  3. Squeeze cream onto your finger.
  4. Apply a thin layer of cream and completely cover the affected skin.
  5. Rub in gently and completely.
  6. Replace the cap on the tube.
  7. Wash your hands after applying the cream.

Do not cover the skin being treated with occlusive dressings. However, you can wear normal clothing.

Using other skin products together with ELIDEL

ELIDEL is often used at the same time as other skin products, such as emollients (moisturisers) and sunscreens.

If you are going to apply another product to your skin (such as a moisturiser or sunscreen) in addition to ELIDEL, wait until the first one is completely absorbed into your skin without any residue before you apply the next one.

If you want to use a moisturiser, you can apply it after using ELIDEL.

If you are going to be outside, wear protective clothing and use at least a 15+ low-irritant sunscreen.

When to use ELIDEL

ELIDEL should be used twice daily, once in the morning and once in the evening.

How long to use it

For each episode of eczema, begin using ELIDEL as soon as you notice the first signs and symptoms and until the end of redness when you should stop treatment. Continue using the cream for as long as your doctor tells you to.

In infants up to 2 years of age: treatment of each episode of eczema should usually last no more than 3 weeks.

Older children, teenagers and adults: treatment can generally continue of each episode of eczema for up to 6 weeks, if necessary, to clear up their signs and symptoms.

If signs and symptoms come back, you should start treatment again.

If there is no improvement after 6 weeks of treatment or your condition worsens, tell your doctor.

In that case it may be necessary to stop using the cream while your doctor re-evaluates your condition.

Do not use this medicine continuously for long periods without interruption.

If you forget to use ELIDEL

If you forget to apply the cream, apply it as soon as possible and then continue your normal routine.

If you use too much ELIDEL

If you accidentally apply more cream to your skin than you were told to, just wipe it off. It will not harm you.

If you or anyone else swallows some of the cream:

  • phone the Poisons Information Centre
    (Australia telephone 13 11 26) for advice, or
  • contact your doctor, or
  • go to the Emergency Department at your nearest hospital.

You should do this even if there are no signs of discomfort or poisoning.

5. What should I know while using ELIDEL?

Things you should do

Avoid exposure to the sun of skin areas treated with ELIDEL. Do not use a sunlamp or tanning table. When you are outdoors, wear protective clothing and use at least a 15+ low-irritant sunscreen.

Tell your doctor if you:

  • become pregnant while you are using this medicine.
    Your doctor can discuss with you the risks of using it while you are pregnant.
  • develop lumps anywhere in your body, or develop any moles, or you notice changes in existing moles.
  • think you may have developed a skin infection or notice painful sores anywhere on your body while you are using ELIDEL.
  • notice the signs and symptoms of your eczema seem to be getting worse
  • are about to be started on any new medicine or given a vaccination. Remind your doctor and pharmacist that you are using ELIDEL.

Tell any other doctor or pharmacist who treats you that you are using ELIDEL.

Things you should not do

  • Do not give this medicine to anyone else, even if their symptoms seem to be the same as yours.
  • Do not use it to treat any other complaints unless your doctor tells you to.

Drinking alcohol

Tell your doctor if you experience facial flushing or skin irritation when you drink alcohol during treatment with ELIDEL. Rarely, facial flushing or skin irritation (e.g. rash, burning, itching or swelling) can occur in people who drink alcohol while they are using ELIDEL.

Looking after your medicine

  • Store the tube of cream in the outer carton in a cool dry place below 25°C. Ensure the cap is tightly closed.
  • Do not store this medicine or any other medicine in the bathroom or near a sink. Do not leave it in the car or on window sills.
  • Heat and dampness can destroy some medicines. ELIDEL will keep well if it is cool and dry.

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

When to discard your medicine

Once you have opened the tube of cream, you should use it for no more than 12 weeks.

Getting rid of any unwanted medicine

If you no longer need to use this medicine or it is out of date, take it to any pharmacy for safe disposal.

Do not use this medicine after the expiry date.

6. Are there any side effects?

All medicines can have side effects. If you do experience any side effects, most of them are minor and temporary. However, some side effects may need medical attention.

Do not be alarmed by this list of possible side effects. You may not experience any of them. See the information below and, if you need to, ask your doctor or pharmacist if you have any further questions about side effects.

Less serious side effects

Less serious side effectsWhat to do
  • a temporary feeling of warmth and/or burning
  • irritation, itching or reddening
  • rash, pain, feeling of prickling, dryness, flaking, swelling
  • folliculitis (inflammation of the hair follicles, sometimes causing pustules)
  • blisters around the lips, nose or chin (cold sores)
  • blisters, cracks, pain or swelling around the groin (genital herpes)
  • painful, red skin rash or blister-like sores (shingles)
  • clusters of itchy or painful blisters around the face or neck (eczema herpeticum)
  • any other signs or symptoms that are different from your usual symptoms of eczema. These may be signs of a skin infection.
  • a new spot, freckle or mole or a change to an existing one
  • a change of skin colour.
  • a swelling of your lymph nodes while using ELIDEL. Lymph nodes are the bean-shaped organs found in the underarm, groin, neck, chest and abdomen that act as filters for the lymph fluid as it circulates through the body.
Speak to your doctor if you have any of these less serious side effects and they worry you.
If any of these symptoms are severe, tell your doctor immediately.

Most of these symptoms happen early in treatment, are not usually severe and do not last long.

Serious side effects

Serious side effectsWhat to do
  • sudden signs of allergy such as rash, itching or hives on the skin, swelling of the face, lips, tongue or other parts of the body, shortness of breath, wheezing or trouble breathing.
Call your doctor straight away, or go straight to the Emergency Department at your nearest hospital if you notice any of these serious side effects.

Tell your doctor or pharmacist if you notice anything else that may be making you feel unwell.

Other side effects not listed here may occur in some people.

Reporting side effects

After you have received medical advice for any side effects you experience, you can report side effects to the Therapeutic Goods Administration online at www.tga.gov.au/reporting-problems. By reporting side effects, you can help provide more information on the safety of this medicine.

Always make sure you speak to your doctor or pharmacist before you decide to stop taking any of your medicines.

7. Product details

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

What ELIDEL contains

Active ingredient
(main ingredient)
Each gram of ELIDEL 1% cream contains 10 mg pimecrolimus.
Other ingredients
(inactive ingredients)
  • benzyl alcohol
  • cetyl alcohol
  • citric acid
  • mono- and di-glycerides
  • oleyl alcohol
  • propylene glycol
  • sodium cetostearyl sulfate
  • sodium hydroxide
  • stearyl alcohol
  • medium chain triglycerides
  • purified water
Potential allergensbenzyl alcohol as a preservative

Do not take this medicine if you are allergic to any of these ingredients.

What ELIDEL looks like

ELIDEL is a whitish, odourless, non-staining and easily spreadable cream packaged in an aluminium tube with a screw cap. Tubes of 15 g and 30 g are available (AUST R 93680).

Who distributes ELIDEL

Viatris Pty Ltd
Level 1, 30 The Bond
30-34 Hickson Road
Millers Point NSW 2000
www.viatris.com.au
Phone: 1800 274 276

This leaflet was prepared in March 2022.

ELIDEL® is a Viatris company trade mark

ELIDEL_cmi\Mar22/00

Published by MIMS April 2022

BRAND INFORMATION

Brand name

Elidel

Active ingredient

Pimecrolimus

Schedule

S4

 

1 Name of Medicine

Pimecrolimus.

2 Qualitative and Quantitative Composition

Each gram of Elidel cream contains 10 mg of pimecrolimus as the active ingredient.

Excipients with known effect.

Benzyl alcohol as a preservative.
For the full list of excipients, see Section 6.1 List of Excipients.

3 Pharmaceutical Form

Elidel is in a whitish cream base.

4 Clinical Particulars

4.1 Therapeutic Indications

Elidel cream is indicated for patients 3 months of age and older with atopic dermatitis (eczema) for:
short term treatment of signs and symptoms;
intermittent long-term treatment of emerging and resolving lesions in atopic dermatitis where the use of a topical corticosteroid is not yet warranted, no longer needed, or is inadvisable (according to the usage restrictions in the respective topical corticosteroid Product Information).

4.2 Dose and Method of Administration

Apply a thin layer of Elidel to the affected skin twice daily and rub in gently and completely. Elidel cream may be used on all skin areas, including the head and face, neck and intertriginous areas.
Elidel cream should only be applied to areas of eczema (see Section 4.4 Special Warnings and Precautions for Use). The amount of cream to apply can be limited by using the fingertip dosing unit: a fingertip unit is the amount of cream expressed from a tube and applied from the distal skin crease to the tip of the palmar aspect of an adult index finger. A fingertip unit of cream is sufficient to cover the surface corresponding to two hand areas of eczema.
Carers should wash their hands after application of Elidel to their children. Emollients can be applied after using Elidel cream.
Elidel cream should be initiated at the first sign of itching (pruritus), such as persistent scratching or rubbing, and/or persistent redness (erythema), and/or thickening of the skin (infiltration), to prevent progression to flares of atopic dermatitis. Treatment should be discontinued when there is no longer evidence of the disease apart from dry skin. Treatment should be resumed at the first signs of recurrence.
In general, the duration of treatment with Elidel cream for each eczema episode is up to 6 weeks (see Use in infants (3-23 months) below). If no improvement in the signs and symptoms occurs after 6 weeks, or in case the condition worsens, Elidel should be stopped and the patient should be re-evaluated.
Long-term continuous usage of Elidel cream is not recommended. Therapy should be intermittent, in conjunction with other therapies (see Section 4.1 Therapeutic Indications).

Use in infants (3-23 months).

Application of Elidel cream in infants (3-23 months) should be limited to the smallest practicable body surface area and treatment of each episode should generally be limited to no more than 3 weeks. Use in babies under 3 months of age has not been evaluated.

Use in the elderly.

Clinical studies with Elidel cream did not include a sufficient number of patients in this age range to determine whether they respond differently from younger patients.

Use in renal or hepatic impairment.

There is no evidence to suggest the need to alter dosage requirements in this specific patient population (see Section 4.4 Special Warnings and Precautions for Use).

4.3 Contraindications

Elidel cream is contraindicated in individuals with a history of hypersensitivity to pimecrolimus, other macrolactams or any of the components of the cream.

4.4 Special Warnings and Precautions for Use

Long-term safety of Elidel cream has not been established.
Pimecrolimus is a calcineurin inhibitor. In transplant patients, prolonged systemic exposure to intense immunosuppression from systemic administration of calcineurin inhibitors has been associated with an increased risk of developing lymphomas and skin malignancies.
However, patients with atopic dermatitis treated with Elidel have not been found to have significant systemic pimecrolimus levels (see Section 5.2 Pharmacokinetic Properties). In patients treated with topical calcineurin inhibitors including Elidel, although a causal relationship has not been established, rare cases of malignancy (e.g. skin and lymphoma) have been reported.
Elidel cream should not be applied to areas affected by cutaneous pre-malignant or potentially malignant changes (e.g. actinic keratoses) as caused, for example, by excessive sun exposure or phototherapy, or to areas where skin cancers have been removed.
The safety of Elidel cream has not been established in patients with Netherton's syndrome and generalised erythroderma. Elidel cream is not recommended in patients with Netherton's syndrome or severely inflamed or damaged skin (e.g. erythroderma) where there is a potential for increased absorption.
The safety and efficacy of Elidel cream in immunocompromised patients have not been studied. The use in immunocompromised patients is therefore not recommended.
In clinical studies, 14 cases of lymphadenopathy (0.9%) were reported while using Elidel cream. These cases were usually related to infections and were noted to resolve upon appropriate antibiotic therapy. Of these 14 cases, the majority had either a clear aetiology or were known to resolve. Patients who receive Elidel cream and who develop lymphadenopathy should have the aetiology of their lymphadenopathy investigated. In the absence of a clear aetiology or in the presence of infectious mononucleosis, discontinuation of Elidel cream should be considered. Patients who develop lymphadenopathy should be monitored to ensure that the lymphadenopathy resolves.
Patients with atopic dermatitis are predisposed to superficial skin infections including eczema herpeticum (Kaposi's varicelliform eruption). Elidel cream should not be applied to areas affected by acute cutaneous viral infections (e.g. herpes simplex, chicken pox).
Treatment with Elidel may be associated with an increased risk of eczema herpeticum, herpes simplex virus infection or skin bacterial infections (impetigo).
In the presence of a dermatological bacterial or fungal infection, the use of an appropriate antimicrobial agent should be instituted. If resolution of the infection does not occur, Elidel cream should be discontinued until the infection has been adequately controlled.
In the presence of viral infection, discontinuation of treatment with Elidel at the site of infection until the viral infection has cleared should be considered.
Use of Elidel cream may cause mild and transient reactions at the site of application, such as a feeling of warmth and/or burning sensation. If the application site reaction is severe, the benefit-risk of treatment should be re-evaluated.
Pimecrolimus per se was neither phototoxic nor photocarcinogenic in animal studies, but the cream base was found to slightly enhance the development of skin tumours induced by UV radiation in hairless mice. Care should be taken to avoid exposure of skin areas treated with Elidel cream to natural or artificial sunlight (see Section 4.8 Adverse Effects (Undesirable Effects), Post-marketing data). Patients should be advised to wear protective clothing, hats and low irritant sunscreens when Elidel is used. Elidel is to be applied first.
Elidel should not be used in patients who are receiving phototherapy.
Care should be taken to avoid contact with eyes and mucous membranes. If accidentally applied to these areas, the cream should be thoroughly wiped off and rinsed off with water.
Occlusive dressings are not recommended as the use of Elidel under occlusion has not been studied in patients.
Elidel contains cetyl alcohol and stearyl alcohol which may cause local skin reactions (e.g. contact dermatitis) and benzyl alcohol, which may cause allergic reactions and mild local irritation. Elidel also contains propylene glycol (E 1520), which may cause skin irritation.

Use in renal or hepatic impairment.

Although no formal studies have been carried out in patients with altered renal or hepatic function, there is no evidence to suggest reduced tolerability or the need to alter dosage requirements in this specific patient population.

Use in patients with weakened immune systems.

Elidel should not be used in children and adults with weakened immune systems.

Use in the elderly.

Atopic dermatitis (eczema) is rarely observed in patients aged 65 and over. Nine (9) patients 65 years old received Elidel cream in phase III studies. Clinical studies of Elidel did not include sufficient numbers of patients aged 65 and over to assess efficacy and safety.

Paediatric use.

Studies on the safety and efficacy of Elidel in paediatric patients below the age of 3 months have not been conducted.

Effects on laboratory tests.

No data available.

4.5 Interactions with Other Medicines and Other Forms of Interactions

Potential interactions between Elidel cream and other drugs have not been systematically evaluated. Based on its minimal extent of absorption, interactions of Elidel cream with systemically administered drugs are unlikely to occur.
There is no experience with concomitant use of Elidel with immunosuppressive therapies such as azathioprine or ciclosporin.
A vaccination response survey was conducted in 76 children aged 3-23 months who were treated with pimecrolimus 1% cream for up to 2 years. These children had moderate to severe atopic dermatitis with an average of 27.6% total body surface affected. The results showed that the proportions of children who had protective antibodies titres were in accordance with the seropositivity rates of age-matched children reported in literature. Application of Elidel to vaccination sites, as long as local reactions persist, was not studied and is therefore not recommended. In a 5-year study in infants 3 months to less than 12 months of age at enrolment with mild to moderate atopic dermatitis, patients with atopic dermatitis who were treated with Elidel cream or topical corticosteroids (TCS) displayed normal immune response maturation and developed effective immunisation against vaccine antigens. (See Section 5.1 Pharmacodynamic Properties).

4.6 Fertility, Pregnancy and Lactation

Effects on fertility.

There are no clinical data on the effects of pimecrolimus on male or female fertility. Two oral fertility and embryofoetal developmental studies in rats revealed disturbance of oestrous cycles and post-implantation loss in females at 45 mg/kg/day (associated with blood AUC of > 23 times the maximum observed human value during clinical trials). One of the studies also revealed reduced testicular and epididymal weights, reduced testicular sperm counts and motile sperm at 45 mg/kg/day and testicular degeneration and oligospermia of the epididymis at 10 and at 45 mg/kg/day in males (associated with blood AUC of ≥ 24 times the maximum observed human value), and decreased fertility rate, corpora lutea and implantations in females at 45 mg/kg/day with NOELs of 2 mg/kg/day for effects in males and 10 mg/kg/day in females (associated with blood AUC of about 1.2 and 8 times the maximum observed human value, respectively). Reduced serum sex hormone levels and morphological changes in reproductive organs (reduced ovarian activity, atrophy of the uterine and vaginal epithelium, decreased prostate weight with prostate atrophy and/or epithelial atrophy in seminal vesicles) have been observed in mice and rats following repeated administration of pimecrolimus, but these effects usually occurred at systemic exposures significantly higher (8-28 times) than that anticipated in humans.
(Category B3)
There are no adequate data from the use of Elidel cream in pregnant women. The effects of pimecrolimus on embryofoetal development have not been adequately assessed in animals following dermal administration. Following oral administration, pimecrolimus and at least some of its metabolites crossed the placenta of rats and rabbits. Oral administration of pimecrolimus to rats and rabbits produced no evidence of teratogenicity at respective doses up to 45 and 20 mg/kg/day (associated with blood AUC of 27 and 3 times the maximum value observed in adult patients during clinical trials, respectively). However, evidence of embryofoetal toxicity (increased post-implantation loss, reduced live litter size, decreased placental weight, decreased foetal body weight and increased foetal retardation) was observed in rats at oral doses of > 10 mg/kg/day. No maternal or embryofoetal toxicity was observed in rats dosed at 2 mg/kg/day (corresponding to blood AUC below the maximum value observed in adult patients during clinical trials) or in rabbit doses at 20 mg/kg/day (corresponding to an AUC of 3 times the maximum value observed in adult patients during clinical trials). Elidel cream should not be used in pregnant women.
Animal studies have not been conducted to investigate the milk excretion of pimecrolimus. However, reduced postnatal growth of offspring was observed in rats treated orally with pimecrolimus at a maternal dose of 40 mg/kg/day, with a NOEL of 10 mg/kg/day. It is not known whether pimecrolimus is excreted in human milk. Because many drugs are excreted in human milk, and because of the potential for serious adverse effects on nursing infants, caution should be exercised when Elidel cream is to be used in a breastfeeding woman. In particular, breastfeeding women should not apply Elidel cream onto the breast.

4.7 Effects on Ability to Drive and Use Machines

No data exist on the effects of pimecrolimus on the ability to drive and use machines.

4.8 Adverse Effects (Undesirable Effects)

The safety profile of Elidel cream has been established in more than 2000 patients, including infants (3 months), children, adolescents and adults enrolled in phase II and III studies. Over 1500 of these patients were treated with Elidel cream and over 500 were treated with control treatment, i.e. either Elidel vehicle and/or topical corticosteroids. The most common adverse events were application site reactions which were reported by approximately 19% of the patients treated with Elidel cream and 16% of patients in the control group. These reactions generally occurred early in treatment, were mild/moderate in severity and were of short duration.
Adverse reactions listed below are ranked under heading of frequency, the most frequent first, using the following convention: very common (≥ 1/10); common (≥ 1/100, < 1/10); uncommon (≥ 1/1,000, < 1/100); rare (≥ 1/10,000, < 1/1,000); very rare (< 1/10,000), including isolated reports.

Skin and subcutaneous tissue disorders.

Common: skin infections (folliculitis).
Uncommon: furuncle, impetigo, herpes simplex, herpes zoster, herpes simplex dermatitis (eczema herpeticum), molluscum contagiosum, skin papilloma, condition aggravated.

General disorders and administration site conditions.

Very common: application site burning.
Common: application site reactions (irritation, pruritus and erythema).
Uncommon: application site disorders (rash, paraesthesia, desquamation, dryness, pain, oedema).

Post-marketing data.

In addition to the adverse effects above, the following adverse reactions have also been reported during clinical trials and post-marketing experience. The frequency has been estimated from the reporting rates. Because these reactions are reported voluntarily from a population of uncertain size, the frequency reflects only an estimate.

Immune system disorders.

Very rare: anaphylactic reactions.

Metabolism and nutrition disorders.

Rare: alcohol intolerance1.

Skin and subcutaneous tissue disorders.

Rare: allergic reactions (e.g. rash, urticaria, angioedema), skin discoloration (e.g. hypopigmentation, hyperpigmentation).
1In most cases, flushing, rash, burning, itching or swelling occurred shortly after the intake of alcohol.
Worldwide, there have been rare reports of malignancy, including cutaneous (squamous cell carcinoma, basal cell carcinoma) and other types of lymphoma in paediatric and adult patients treated with Elidel cream. Causality has not been established (see Section 4.4 Special Warnings and Precautions for Use).

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

There has been no experience of overdose with Elidel cream. From the company's experience with developing orally administered pimecrolimus, the maximal systemic exposure in humans was achieved when 30 mg was administered twice daily for 4 weeks. At this dosage level, the drug was generally well tolerated. By comparison, each gram of Elidel cream contains 10 mg pimecrolimus. The excipients used in Elidel cream are not known to be toxic via the oral route. Hence, the accidental ingestion of Elidel cream is unlikely to be a clinical concern.
For information on the management of overdose, contact the Poisons Information Centre on 13 11 26 (Australia).

5 Pharmacological Properties

5.1 Pharmacodynamic Properties

Mechanism of action.

The actual mechanism of action of pimecrolimus in atopic dermatitis is not known. Pimecrolimus is an ascomycin macrolactam derivative. In vitro studies showed that pimecrolimus binds with high affinity to macrophilin-12 and inhibits the calcium-dependent phosphatase, calcineurin. As a consequence, it inhibits T-cell proliferation and prevents the transcription and release of both T helper type 1 cell (TH1) and T helper type 2 cell (TH2) inflammatory cytokines such as interleukin-2, interferon-γ, interleukin-4, interleukin-5, interleukin-10, tumour necrosis factor alpha and granulocyte macrophage colony-stimulating factor. Pimecrolimus inhibits recall antigen responses in human T-helper cell clones, isolated from the skin of an atopic dermatitis patient. Pimecrolimus also prevents the release of inflammatory cytokines and mediators from mast cells in vitro after stimulation by antigen/IgE. In contrast to corticosteroids, pimecrolimus does not impair the differentiation, maturation, functions and viability of murine Langerhans cells and human monocyte-derived dendritic cells, thus, underlining its cell-selective mode of action in vitro, but it affects the maturation of human Langerhans cells in vitro. The clinical significance of the in vitro findings in atopic dermatitis is unclear.
In studies using various topical formulations, including the pimecrolimus cream, pimecrolimus penetrates similarly into, but permeates less through skin in vitro than corticosteroids, suggesting a lower systemic exposure to pimecrolimus after topical application as compared to corticosteroids.
Pimecrolimus exhibits high anti-inflammatory activity in animal models of skin inflammation after topical and systemic application. Pimecrolimus is effective in the pig model of allergic contact dermatitis (ACD). Topical pimecrolimus also inhibits the inflammatory response to irritants, as shown in murine models of irritant contact dermatitis. Furthermore, topical and oral pimecrolimus effectively reduces skin inflammation and pruritus and normalises histopathological changes in hypomagnesemic hairless rats, a model that mimics acute aspects of atopic dermatitis.
Topical pimecrolimus does not affect epidermal Langerhans' cells in mice. In contrast, treatment with standard topical corticosteroids, including hydrocortisone, resulted in a reduction in Langerhans cells by 96-100%. A recent analysis of skin biopsies of atopic dermatitis patients has confirmed that treatment with the corticosteroid betamethasone 0.1%, but not Elidel cream, for 3 weeks results in depletion of Langerhans cells, while both drugs significantly reduce T cells.
From preclinical studies, the potential of pimecrolimus for affecting systemic immune responses appears to be lower than that of ciclosporin, as shown in models of systemic immunosuppression and based on the dose comparison. Subcutaneous injections of ciclosporin suppress the localised graft-versus-host reaction in rats 8-fold more potently than pimecrolimus. In contrast to ciclosporin, oral treatment of mice with pimecrolimus neither impairs the primary immune response nor decreases lymph node weight and cellularity in ACD.

Clinical trials.

In short-term clinical trials, Elidel cream was used twice daily for up to 6 weeks, or until resolution of signs and symptoms, if this occurred before 6 weeks. In long-term clinical trials, Elidel was used intermittently for up to 5 years (see below for more information on the extent of drug exposure during the long-term trials). Elidel treatment was initiated at the first signs of itching, redness and/or skin thickening. Treatment with a moderately potent topical corticosteroid was initiated if the disease progressed to flares (severe erythema, papulation/ infiltration, with or without oozing/ crusting). When topical corticosteroid therapy was initiated for the treatment of flares, Elidel therapy was discontinued. Elidel therapy was recommenced to treat residual disease or if topical corticosteroid therapy was no longer appropriate or inadvisable because of potential risks.
Short-term (acute) treatment in paediatric patients.

Children and adolescents.

Two 6-week, vehicle-controlled trials were conducted in which a total of 403 paediatric patients 2-18 years old were treated twice daily with Elidel (pimecrolimus) cream 1%. The data of both studies were pooled. The physicians's global evaluation of atopic dermatitis (i.e. The Investigator's Global Assessment, or IGA score) was used to evaluate the overall disease severity at baseline and throughout the duration of the trial. The IGA scores and descriptions are presented in Table 1.
The primary endpoint in the short-term trials was the achievement of 'clear' or 'almost clear' disease (IGA 0 or 1) at 6 weeks. At study entry, about 31% of patients had mild disease (IGA=2), 59% of patients had moderate disease (IGA=3) and 8% had severe disease (IGA=4). The percentage mean body surface area (BSA) affected was 26% (range 5-96%). About 75% of patients had atopic dermatitis affecting the face and/or neck region. In these studies, patients applied either Elidel 1% cream or vehicle cream twice daily for up to 6 weeks. After 6 weeks of treatment, 34.8% of patients treated with Elidel were clear or almost clear of signs of atopic dermatitis compared to only 18.4% of vehicle-treated patients. More Elidel patients (56.6%) had mild or no pruritus at 6 weeks compared to vehicle patients (33.8%). The improvement in pruritus occurred in conjunction with the improvement of the signs and symptoms of atopic dermatitis.

Infants.

A similar 6-week study was conducted in 186 patients aged 3 to 23 months. At baseline, two-thirds of these patients had moderate disease (IGA = 3) and one-third had mild disease (IGA=2). At 6 weeks, the proportion of patients whose atopic dermatitis was assessed as clear or almost clear was significantly greater in the Elidel-treated group (54.5%) compared with the vehicle-treated group (23.8%). In addition, more Elidel patients (72.4%) had no or mild pruritus at 6 weeks compared with vehicle-treated patients (33.3%).
In these three 6-week studies, the efficacy results at the end of the study were as shown in Table 2.
In the three paediatric studies, a significant improvement in pruritus was observed within the first week of treatment with Elidel 1% cream in 44% of children and adolescents, and in 70% of infants.
Long-term treatment.

Paediatric patients.

Elidel 1% cream was also evaluated in two double-blind studies of long-term management of atopic dermatitis in 713 children and adolescents (2-17 years) and 251 infants (3-23 months).
The Elidel group used Elidel 1% cream twice daily at the first signs of itching and redness to prevent progression to flares of atopic dermatitis. Patients in the control group used the vehicle in place of Elidel cream to maintain the studies blind. In both groups, treatment with medium potency topical corticosteroids was initiated only in case of flare not controlled by trial medication (i.e. IGA score of at least 4). Patients in both groups were advised to use emollients throughout the course of the study.
The primary efficacy endpoint in these studies was the number of flares of atopic dermatitis in the first 6 months, although 12 month data are also presented. Both studies showed a reduction in the incidence of flares (p < 0.001) in favour of Elidel 1% cream first-line treatment; Elidel 1% cream first-line treatment showed better efficacy in all secondary assessments (Eczema Area Severity Index, Investigator Global Assessment, subject assessment); pruritus was controlled within a week with Elidel 1% cream. Significantly more patients on Elidel 1% cream completed 6 months and 12 months of treatment with no flares and did not use topical corticosteroids as rescue therapy (see Table 3). The efficacy of Elidel 1% cream was maintained over time, with the ability to prevent disease progression to severe flares.
In studies 313 and 315, approximately 20% and 10% of patients, respectively, had used a potent topical corticosteroid at some stage before entry into the studies. However, no studies were conducted to specifically examine the effects of pimecrolimus cream in patients with a history of severe, recalcitrant atopic dermatitis who require management with potent topical corticosteroids and/or systemic therapies such as ciclosporin.

Adult patients.

A 6-month, randomised, double-blind, parallel group, vehicle-controlled study of similar design to the paediatric long-term studies was performed in 192 adults with moderate (IGA = 3) to severe (IGA=4) atopic dermatitis at baseline. Topical corticosteroid medication was used on an average of 14.2 ± 24.2% of the days of the 24-week treatment period in the Elidel group and on 37.2 ± 34.6% of the days in the control group (p < 0.001). A total of 50.0% of the patients treated with Elidel did not experience any flare compared with 24.0% of the patients randomised to the control group.
Long-term safety. A 5-year, open-label, randomised, active-controlled study was conducted in 2,418 infants 3 months to less than 12 months of age at enrolment with mild to moderate atopic dermatitis (AD). The primary objective was to compare safety by assessing adverse events (AEs), and the effects of treatments on the developing immune system and growth velocity. Infants were randomised to Elidel (n = 1,205; with short-term TCSs for disease flares) or low/mid potency topical corticosteroids (TCS; n = 1,213).
Elidel was well tolerated in subjects with mild to moderate AD who were 3 to 12 months of age at the start of the study. The profile and frequency of adverse events was similar in the 2 treatment groups. No impairment of systemic immune assessments was seen, and subjects with AD who were treated with pimecrolimus 1% cream or TCS displayed normal immune response maturation and developed effective immunisation against vaccine antigens. There was no apparent difference in growth velocity.
Exposure to study medication in long-term trials. As shown in Table 4, the overall exposure to study medication was higher in the Elidel group than in the vehicle group. This was due in part to higher rates of discontinuation and corticosteroid use in the vehicle group.
Similarities in number of treatment days (i.e. the number of days the subject received study medication irrespective of the number of times the medication was applied during the day) and drug days (i.e. days assigned if study medication was applied at least twice daily), within groups indicate good overall compliance with the twice daily regimen. The frequency of use of Elidel 1% cream decreased over the duration of the study.
Other studies. Tolerability studies demonstrated that Elidel 1% cream is devoid of any irritation, contact sensitising, phototoxic or photosensitising potential.
The atrophogenic potential of Elidel 1% cream in humans was tested in comparison to medium and highly potent topical steroids (betamethasone-17-valerate 0.1% cream, triamcinolone acetonide 0.1% cream) and vehicle in sixteen healthy volunteers treated for 4 weeks. Both topical corticosteroids induced a significant reduction in skin thickness measured by echography, as compared to Elidel 1% cream and vehicle, which did not induce a reduction of skin thickness.

5.2 Pharmacokinetic Properties

Absorption.

Absorption in adults.

Systemic exposure to pimecrolimus was investigated in 12 adult patients treated with Elidel cream twice daily for 3 weeks. These patients had atopic dermatitis (eczema) lesions affecting 15-59% of their body surface area (BSA). 77.5% of pimecrolimus blood concentrations were below 0.5 nanogram/mL, the assay limit of quantitation (LoQ), and 99.8% of the total samples were below 1 nanogram/mL. The highest blood concentration of pimecrolimus measured in one patient was 1.4 nanogram/mL.
In 40 adult patients treated for up to 1 year with Elidel, having 14-62% of their BSA affected at baseline, 98% of pimecrolimus blood concentrations were consistently low, mostly below the LoQ. A maximum blood concentration of 0.8 nanogram/mL was measured in only 2 patients in week 6 of treatment. There was no increase in blood concentration over time in any patient during the 12 months of treatment. In 13 adult patients with hand dermatitis treated with Elidel twice daily for 3 weeks (palmar and dorsal surfaces of hands treated, overnight occlusion), the maximum blood concentration of pimecrolimus measured was 0.91 nanogram/mL.
Given the high proportion of pimecrolimus blood levels below the LoQ after topical application, the AUC could only be calculated from a few individuals. In 8 adult AD patients presenting with at least three quantifiable blood levels per visit day, the AUC(0-12h) values ranged from 2.5 to 11.4 nanogram x h/mL.

Absorption in children.

Systemic exposure to pimecrolimus was investigated in 58 paediatric patients aged 3 months to 14 years, who had atopic dermatitis (eczema) lesions involving 10-92% of the total body surface area. These children were treated with Elidel cream twice daily for 3 weeks and five out of them were treated for up to 1 year on an as needed basis.
Pimecrolimus blood concentrations measured in these paediatric patients were consistently low, regardless of the extent of lesions treated or duration of therapy. They were in a range similar to that measured in adult patients treated under the same dosing regimen. 60% of pimecrolimus blood concentrations were below 0.5 nanogram/mL (LoQ) and 97% of all samples were below 2 nanogram/mL. The highest blood concentrations measured in 2 paediatric patients aged 8 months to 14 years of age were 2.0 nanogram/mL.
In the youngest patients (aged 3 to 23 months), the highest blood concentration measured in one patient was 2.6 nanogram/mL. In the 5 children treated for 1 year, blood concentrations were consistently low, and the maximum blood concentration measured was 1.94 nanogram/mL (one patient). In these five patients, there was no increase in blood concentration over time in any patient during the 12 months of treatment.
In 8 paediatric patients aged 2-14 years presenting at least three measurable blood concentrations per visit day, AUC(0-12h) ranged from 5.4 to 18.8 nanogram x h/mL. AUC ranges observed in patients with < 40% BSA affected at baseline were comparable to those in patients with ≥ 40% BSA.

Distribution.

In vitro plasma protein binding studies have shown that 99.5% of pimecrolimus in plasma is bound to proteins. The major fraction of pimecrolimus in plasma is bound to different lipoproteins.

Metabolism.

Consistent with its skin selectivity, after topical application pimecrolimus blood levels are very low. Therefore, pimecrolimus metabolism could not be determined after topical administration.
After single oral administration of radiolabelled pimecrolimus in healthy subjects, unchanged pimecrolimus was the major drug related component in blood and there were numerous minor metabolites of moderate polarity that appeared to be products of O-demethylations and oxygenation. No drug metabolism was observed in human skin in vitro.

Excretion.

Drug related radioactivity was excreted principally via the faeces (78.4%) and only a small fraction (2.5%) was recovered in urine. Total mean recovery of radioactivity was 80.9%. Parent compound was not detected in urine and less than 1% of radioactivity in faeces was accounted for by unchanged pimecrolimus.

Comparison to oral pharmacokinetic data.

In psoriatic patients treated with oral pimecrolimus doses ranging from 5 mg once daily to 30 mg twice daily for 4 weeks, the highest dose was associated with an AUC(0-12h) of 294.9 nanogram x h/mL. This exposure is approximately 26 and 16 times higher, respectively, than the highest systemic exposure observed in adult and paediatric atopic dermatitis (eczema) patients treated topically with Elidel twice daily for 3 weeks (AUC (0-12h) of 11.4 nanogram x h/mL and 18.8 nanogram x h/mL, respectively).

5.3 Preclinical Safety Data

Genotoxicity.

Pimecrolimus was not genotoxic, as assessed in vitro for gene mutations and chromosomal aberrations. An in vivo assay of chromosomal damage (micronucleus test in mice) was also negative.

Carcinogenicity.

In a 2-year dermal carcinogenicity study in rats using Elidel cream, no cutaneous or systemic carcinogenic effects were observed at doses up to 10 mg/kg/day associated with a mean blood AUC0-24h for pimecrolimus of 3.3 times the maximum value observed in paediatric patients during clinical trials. In a mouse dermal carcinogenicity study using pimecrolimus in ethanolic solutions, no increase in incidence of neoplasms was observed in the skin or other organs at doses up to 4 mg/kg/day corresponding to a mean blood AUC (0-24h) of approximately 30 times the maximum value observed in paediatric patients during clinical trials. In a dermal photocarcinogenicity study in hairless mice using Elidel cream, no photocarcinogenic effect versus vehicle-treated animals was noted at pimecrolimus doses up to 10 mg/kg/day. However, the topical cream base was found to enhance the development of skin tumours induced by UV-radiation. Care should be taken to avoid exposure of Elidel cream treated skin area to the sun (see Section 4.4 Special Warnings and Precautions for Use).
In an oral carcinogenicity study in mice, an increased incidence of malignant lymphoma along with signs of systemic immunosuppression was evident in both males and females treated with 45 mg/kg/day pimecrolimus. No carcinogenic effect was apparent at 15 mg/kg/day associated with a blood AUC (0-24h) of 60-135 times the maximum value observed in paediatric patients during clinical trials. In an oral carcinogenicity study in rats, an increased incidence of benign thymoma was observed in males treated with 5 mg/kg/day pimecrolimus and in both males and females treated with 10 mg/kg/day pimecrolimus. No oncogenic effect was apparent in males dosed at 1 mg/kg/day or females dosed at 5 mg/kg/day, associated with a blood AUC (0-24h) of up to 1.1 and 21 times the maximum value observed in paediatric patients during clinical trials, respectively.
In a repeat-dose toxicity study in Cynomolgous monkeys, pimecrolimus given orally for 19-39 weeks was associated at all doses tested with lymphoproliferative disorders, including lymphomas and leukaemias. As a no effect dose was not established, a margin of safety cannot be determined for these disorders. A chronic monkey study using topical dermal administration of pimecrolimus has not been performed.
Lymphoproliferative disorders and other neoplasm have been observed in humans and animals administered oral immunosuppressive therapies. Examples include calcineurin inhibitors such as tacrolimus and ciclosporin; inhibitors of m-TOR (a critical kinase for cell progression) such as sirolimus and everolimus; and glucocorticoids and azathioprine.

6 Pharmaceutical Particulars

6.1 List of Excipients

Elidel contains the following excipients: benzyl alcohol, cetyl alcohol, citric acid, mono- and di-glycerides, oleyl alcohol, propylene glycol, sodium cetostearyl sulfate, sodium hydroxide, stearyl alcohol, medium chain triglycerides, purified water.

6.2 Incompatibilities

Incompatibilities were either not assessed or not identified as part of the registration of this medicine.

6.3 Shelf Life

In Australia, information on the shelf life can be found on the public summary of the Australian Register of Therapeutic Goods (ARTG). The expiry date can be found on the packaging.
Once opened, the contents of the tube should be used within 12 weeks.

6.4 Special Precautions for Storage

Store below 25°C. Do not freeze. Keep out of reach and sight of children.

6.5 Nature and Contents of Container

Elidel is available in aluminium tubes with an epoxy protective inner lacquer and polypropylene screw cap.
Tubes of 5 g, 15 g and 30 g are available. The 100 g tube is not marketed.

Australian Register of Therapeutic Goods (ARTG).

AUST R 93680 Elidel pimecrolimus 1% w/w cream tube.

6.6 Special Precautions for Disposal

In Australia, any unused medicine or waste material should be disposed of by taking it to your local pharmacy.

6.7 Physicochemical Properties

Chemical structure.

Elidel (pimecrolimus 1% w/w) cream contains the compound pimecrolimus, the 33-epi-chloro-derivative of the macrolactam ascomycin.
Pimecrolimus is a white to off-white fine crystalline powder. It is very soluble in methanol and ethanol and practically insoluble in water.
Chemical name: (1R,9S,12S,13R,14S,17R,18E,21S,23S,24R,25S,27R)-12-[(1E)-2-{(1R,3R,4S)-4-chloro-3-methoxycyclohexyl}-1-methylvinyl]-17-ethyl-1,14-dihydroxy-23,25-dimethoxy-13,19,21,27-tetramethyl-11,28-dioxa-4-aza-tricyclo[22.3.1.04,9]octacos-18-ene-2,3,10,16-tetraone.
Molecular formula: C43H68ClNO11.
Relative molecular mass: 810.47.

CAS number.

137071-32-0.

7 Medicine Schedule (Poisons Standard)

S4 (Prescription Only Medicine).

Summary Table of Changes