Epclusa Drug Information

EPCLUSA is indicated for the treatment of adults and pediatric patients 3 years of age and older with chronic hepatitis C virus (HCV) genotype infection: without cirrhosis or with compensated cirrhosis with decompensated cirrhosis for use in combination with ribavirin.

Testing Prior to the Initiation of Therapy

Test all patients for evidence of current or prior HBV infection by measuring hepatitis B surface antigen (HBsAg) and hepatitis B core antibody (anti-HBc) before initiating HCV treatment with EPCLUSA.

Recommended Treatment Regimen and Duration in Patients 3 Years of Age and Older Table 1 shows the recommended treatment regimen and duration based on patient population. For patients with HCV/HIV-1 coinfection follow the dosage recommendations in Table 1. For treatment-naïve and treatment-experienced liver transplant recipients without cirrhosis or with compensated cirrhosis (Child-Pugh A), the recommended regimen is EPCLUSA once daily for 12 weeks.

Refer to Drug Interactions for dosage recommendations for concomitant drugs. Table 1 Recommended Treatment Regimen and Duration in Patients 3 Years of Age and Older with Genotype Recommended Dosage in Adults The recommended dosage of EPCLUSA in adults is one tablet (400 mg sofosbuvir and 100 mg velpatasvir) taken orally once daily with or without food. When administered with EPCLUSA, the recommended dosage of ribavirin is based on weight (administered with food): 1,000 mg per day for patients less than 75 kg and 1,200 mg for those weighing at least 75 kg, divided and administered twice daily.

The starting dosage and on-treatment dosage of ribavirin can be decreased based on hemoglobin and creatinine clearance. For ribavirin dosage modifications refer to the ribavirin prescribing information.

Recommended Dosage in Pediatric Patients 3 Years of Age and Older The recommended dosage of EPCLUSA in pediatric patients 3 years of age and older is based on weight and provided in Table 2. Table 3 provides the weight-based dosage of ribavirin when used in combination with EPCLUSA for pediatric patients. Take EPCLUSA oral pellets or tablets once daily with or without food.

In pediatric patients less than 6 years of age, administer the oral pellets with food to increase tolerability related to palatability. Table 2 Dosing for Pediatric Patients 3 Years and Older with Genotype HCV Using EPCLUSA Oral Pellets or Tablets Table 3 Recommended Dosing for Ribavirin in Combination Therapy with EPCLUSA for Pediatric Patients 3 Years and Older

Preparation and Administration of Oral Pellets See the EPCLUSA oral pellets full Instructions for Use for details on the preparation and administration of EPCLUSA oral pellets. Do not chew EPCLUSA oral pellets to avoid a bitter aftertaste. EPCLUSA oral pellets can be taken directly in the mouth or with food (See Instructions for Use ).

Sprinkle the oral pellets on one or more spoonfuls of non-acidic soft food at or below room temperature. Examples of non-acidic foods include pudding, chocolate syrup, and ice cream. Take EPCLUSA oral pellets within 15 minutes of gently mixing with food and swallow the entire contents without chewing.

Renal Impairment

No dosage adjustment of EPCLUSA is recommended in patients with any degree of renal impairment, including patients requiring dialysis. Administer EPCLUSA with or without ribavirin according to the recommendations in Table 1. Refer to ribavirin tablet prescribing information for ribavirin dosage modification for patients with CrCl less than or equal to 50 mL per minute.

Clinical Trials Experience

Because clinical trials are conducted under widely varying conditions, adverse reaction rates observed in the clinical trials of a drug cannot be directly compared to rates in the clinical trials of another drug and may not reflect the rates observed in practice. If EPCLUSA is administered with ribavirin, refer to the prescribing information for ribavirin for a description of ribavirin-associated adverse reactions. Clinical Trials in Adult Subjects Adverse Reactions in Subjects without Cirrhosis or with Compensated Cirrhosis The adverse reactions data for EPCLUSA in patients without cirrhosis or with compensated cirrhosis were derived from three Phase 3 clinical trials (ASTRAL-1, ASTRAL-2, and ASTRAL-3) which evaluated a total of 1035 subjects infected with genotype HCV, without cirrhosis or with compensated cirrhosis, who received EPCLUSA for 12 weeks.

EPCLUSA was studied in placebo- and active-controlled trials. The proportion of subjects who permanently discontinued treatment due to adverse events was 0.2% for subjects who received EPCLUSA for 12 weeks. The most common adverse reactions (adverse events assessed as causally related by the investigator and at least 10%) were headache and fatigue in subjects treated with EPCLUSA for 12 weeks.

Of subjects receiving EPCLUSA who experienced these adverse reactions, 79% had an adverse reaction of mild severity (Grade 1). With the exception of asthenia, each of these adverse reactions occurred at a similar frequency or more frequently in subjects treated with placebo compared to subjects treated with EPCLUSA (asthenia: 3% versus 5% for the placebo and EPCLUSA groups, respectively). The adverse reactions observed in subjects treated with EPCLUSA in ASTRAL-2 and ASTRAL-3 were consistent with those observed in ASTRAL-1.

Irritability was also observed in greater than or equal to 5% of subjects treated with EPCLUSA in ASTRAL-3. Adverse Reactions in Subjects Coinfected with HCV and HIV-1 The safety assessment of EPCLUSA in subjects with HCV/HIV-1 coinfection was based on an open-label clinical trial (ASTRAL-5) in 106 subjects who were on stable antiretroviral therapy. The safety profile in HCV/HIV-1 coinfected subjects was similar to that observed in HCV mono-infected subjects.

The most common adverse reactions occurring in at least 10% of subjects were fatigue (22%) and headache (10%). Adverse Reactions in Subjects with Decompensated Cirrhosis The safety assessment of EPCLUSA in subjects infected with genotype HCV with decompensated cirrhosis was based on one Phase 3 trial (ASTRAL-4) including 87 subjects who received EPCLUSA with ribavirin for 12 weeks. All 87 subjects had Child-Pugh B cirrhosis at screening.

On the first day of treatment with EPCLUSA with ribavirin, 6 subjects and 4 subjects were assessed to have Child-Pugh A and Child-Pugh C cirrhosis, respectively. Of subjects who experienced these adverse reactions, 98% had adverse reactions of mild to moderate severity. A total of 4 (5%) subjects permanently discontinued EPCLUSA with ribavirin due to an adverse event; there was no adverse event leading to discontinuation that occurred in more than 1 subject.

Ribavirin was permanently discontinued in 17% of subjects treated with EPCLUSA with ribavirin for 12 weeks, due to adverse reactions. Less Common Adverse Reactions Reported in Clinical Trials The following adverse reactions occurred in less than 5% of subjects without cirrhosis or with compensated cirrhosis treated with EPCLUSA for 12 weeks and are included because of a potential causal relationship. Rash: In the ASTRAL-1 study, rash occurred in 2% of subjects treated with EPCLUSA and in 1% of subjects treated with placebo.

No serious adverse reactions of rash occurred, and all rashes were mild or moderate in severity. Depression: In the ASTRAL-1 study, depressed mood occurred in 1% of subjects treated with EPCLUSA and was not reported by any subject taking placebo. No serious adverse reactions of depressed mood occurred, and all events were mild or moderate in severity.

The following adverse reactions occurred in less than 10% of subjects with decompensated cirrhosis (ASTRAL-4) treated with EPCLUSA with ribavirin for 12 weeks and are included because of a potential causal relationship. Rash: Rash occurred in 5% of subjects treated with EPCLUSA with ribavirin. Laboratory Abnormalities Lipase Elevations: In ASTRAL-1, isolated, asymptomatic lipase elevations of greater than 3×ULN were observed in 3% and 1% of subjects treated with EPCLUSA and placebo for 12 weeks, respectively; and in 6% and 3% of subjects treated with EPCLUSA in ASTRAL-2 and ASTRAL-3, respectively.

In the Phase 3 trial of subjects with decompensated cirrhosis (ASTRAL-4), lipase was assessed when amylase values were greater than or equal to 1.5×ULN. Creatine Kinase: In ASTRAL-1, isolated, asymptomatic creatine kinase elevations greater than or equal to 10×ULN were reported in 1% and 0% of subjects treated with EPCLUSA and placebo for 12 weeks, respectively; and in 2% and 1% of subjects treated with EPCLUSA in ASTRAL-2 and ASTRAL-3, respectively. In the Phase 3 trial with decompensated cirrhosis (ASTRAL-4), isolated, asymptomatic creatine kinase elevations greater than or equal to 10×ULN were reported in 1% of subjects treated with EPCLUSA with ribavirin for 12 weeks.

Indirect Bilirubin: Increases in indirect bilirubin up to 3 mg/dL above baseline were noted among HIV-1/HCV coinfected subjects treated with EPCLUSA and an atazanavir/ritonavir-based antiretroviral regimen. The elevated indirect bilirubin values were not associated with clinical adverse events, and all subjects completed 12 weeks of EPCLUSA without dose adjustment or treatment interruption of either EPCLUSA or HIV antiretroviral agents. Adverse Reactions in Adult Liver Transplant Recipients The safety assessment of EPCLUSA in liver transplant recipients was based on an open-label clinical trial (Trial 2104) in 79 adults without cirrhosis or with compensated cirrhosis who received EPCLUSA for 12 weeks.

One subject discontinued treatment due to an adverse event on Day 7. The adverse reactions observed were consistent with the known safety profile of EPCLUSA. Adverse Reactions in Adults with Severe Renal Impairment Requiring Dialysis In an open-label trial (Trial 4062), in which a total of 59 adults with HCV with compensated liver disease (with or without cirrhosis) and ESRD requiring dialysis received EPCLUSA for 12 weeks, the most common adverse reaction was nausea (7%).

Adverse Reactions in People Who Inject Drugs (PWID), Including Those on Medication-Assisted Treatment (MAT) for Opioid Use Disorder The safety of EPCLUSA in PWID is based on an open-label Phase 2 trial (SIMPLIFY) that enrolled 103 adult subjects with chronic HCV genotype infection. Subjects who self-reported injection drug use within the 6 months prior to starting treatment were eligible and were treated with EPCLUSA for 12 weeks. The trial included a subset of 58 subjects on MAT for opioid use disorder.

The most common adverse reactions overall were fatigue (18%), nausea (13%), and headache (11%). Adverse reactions leading to permanent discontinuation of treatment were not observed in any subjects. Adverse Reactions in Pediatric Subjects 3 Years of Age and Older The safety assessment of EPCLUSA in pediatric subjects 3 years of age and older is based on data from a Phase 2, open-label clinical trial (Study 1143) that enrolled 216 subjects who were treated with EPCLUSA for 12 weeks.

The adverse reactions observed in pediatric subjects 6 years of age and older were consistent with those observed in clinical trials of EPCLUSA in adults. Among the 41 pediatric subjects less than 6 years of age, gastrointestinal adverse reactions were reported more commonly compared to subjects 6 years of age and older. Because postmarketing reactions are reported voluntarily from a population of uncertain size, it is not always possible to reliably estimate their frequency or establish a causal relationship to drug exposure.

Cardiac Disorders Serious symptomatic bradycardia has been reported in patients taking amiodarone who initiate treatment with a sofosbuvir-containing regimen. Skin and Subcutaneous Tissue Disorders Skin rashes, sometimes with blisters or angioedema-like swelling Angioedema

Potential for Other Drugs to Affect EPCLUSA Sofosbuvir and velpatasvir are substrates of drug transporters P-gp and BCRP while GS-331007 (the predominant circulating metabolite of sofosbuvir) is not. In vitro, slow metabolic turnover of velpatasvir by CYP2B6, CYP2C8, and CYP3A4 was observed. Drugs that are inducers of P-gp and/or moderate to strong inducers of CYP2B6, CYP2C8, or CYP3A4 e.g., rifampin, St.

John's wort, carbamazepine may decrease plasma concentrations of sofosbuvir and/or velpatasvir, leading to reduced therapeutic effect of EPCLUSA. The use of these agents with EPCLUSA is not recommended. EPCLUSA may be coadministered with P-gp, BCRP, and CYP inhibitors.

Potential for EPCLUSA to Affect Other Drugs Velpatasvir is an inhibitor of drug transporters P-gp, breast cancer resistance protein (BCRP), OATP1B1, OATP1B3, and OATP2B1. Coadministration of EPCLUSA with drugs that are substrates of these transporters may increase the exposure of such drugs.

Established and Potentially Significant Drug Interactions Clearance of HCV infection with direct acting antivirals may lead to changes in hepatic function, which may impact the safe and effective use of concomitant medications. For example, altered blood glucose control resulting in serious symptomatic hypoglycemia has been reported in diabetic patients in postmarketing case reports and published epidemiological studies. Management of hypoglycemia in these cases required either discontinuation or dose modification of concomitant medications used for diabetes treatment.

Frequent monitoring of relevant laboratory parameters (e.g., International Normalized Ratio in patients taking warfarin, blood glucose levels in diabetic patients) or drug concentrations of concomitant medications such as cytochrome P450 substrates with a narrow therapeutic index (e.g., certain immunosuppressants) is recommended to ensure safe and effective use. Dose adjustments of concomitant medications may be necessary. Table 4 provides a listing of established or potentially clinically significant drug interactions.

The drug interactions described are based on studies conducted with either EPCLUSA, the components of EPCLUSA (sofosbuvir and velpatasvir) as individual agents, or are predicted drug interactions that may occur with EPCLUSA. Table 4 Potentially Significant Drug Interactions: Alteration in Dose or Regimen May Be Recommended Based on Drug Interaction Studies or Predicted Interaction This table is not all inclusive. Coadministration of amiodarone with EPCLUSA is not recommended; if coadministration is required, cardiac monitoring is recommended.

Drugs without Clinically Significant Interactions with EPCLUSA Based on drug interaction studies conducted with the components of EPCLUSA (sofosbuvir or velpatasvir) or EPCLUSA, no clinically significant drug interactions have been observed or are expected with the following drugs: EPCLUSA: atazanavir/ritonavir, buprenorphine/naloxone, cyclosporine, darunavir/ritonavir, dolutegravir, elvitegravir/cobicistat/emtricitabine/tenofovir alafenamide, emtricitabine, methadone, naltrexone, raltegravir, or rilpivirine. Sofosbuvir: ethinyl estradiol/norgestimate, or tacrolimus. Velpatasvir: ethinyl estradiol/norgestimate, ketoconazole, or pravastatin.

See Table 4 for use of EPCLUSA with certain HIV antiretroviral regimens.

Pregnancy Risk Summary If EPCLUSA is administered with ribavirin, the combination regimen is contraindicated in pregnant women and in men whose female partners are pregnant. Refer to the ribavirin prescribing information for more information on ribavirin-associated risks of use during pregnancy. No adequate human data are available to establish whether or not EPCLUSA poses a risk to pregnancy outcomes.

In animal reproduction studies, no evidence of adverse developmental outcomes was observed with the components of EPCLUSA (sofosbuvir or velpatasvir) at exposures greater than those in humans at the recommended human dose (RHD). During organogenesis in the mouse, rat, and rabbit, systemic exposures (AUC) to velpatasvir were approximately 31 (mice), 6 (rats), and 0.4 (rabbits) times the exposure in humans at the RHD, while exposures to the predominant circulating metabolite of sofosbuvir (GS-331007) were approximately 4 (rats) and 10 (rabbits) times the exposure in humans at the RHD. In rat pre/postnatal development studies, maternal systemic exposures (AUC) to velpatasvir and GS-331007 were approximately 5 times the exposures of each component in humans at the RHD.

The background risk of major birth defects and miscarriage for the indicated population is unknown. In the U.S. general population, the estimated background risk of major birth defects and miscarriage in clinically recognized pregnancies is 2–4% and 15–20%, respectively. No significant effects on embryo-fetal (rats and rabbits) or pre/postnatal (rats) development were observed at the highest doses tested.

Pediatric Use The pharmacokinetics, safety, and effectiveness of EPCLUSA for treatment of HCV genotype infection in treatment-naïve and treatment-experienced pediatric patients 3 years of age and older without cirrhosis or with compensated cirrhosis have been established in an open-label, multicenter clinical trial (Study 1143, N=216; 190 treatment-naïve, 26 treatment-experienced). No clinically meaningful differences in pharmacokinetics were observed in comparison to those observed in adults. The safety and effectiveness in pediatric subjects were comparable to those observed in adults.

Five subjects (12%) discontinued treatment after vomiting or spitting up the drug. The safety and effectiveness of EPCLUSA for treatment of HCV genotype 5 in pediatric patients 3 years of age and older without cirrhosis or with compensated cirrhosis are supported by sofosbuvir, GS-331007, and velpatasvir exposures in adults and pediatric patients. Similar rationale is used to support dosing recommendations for pediatric patients with HCV genotype infection who have decompensated cirrhosis (Child-Pugh B or C).

In patients with severe renal impairment, including those requiring dialysis, exposures of GS-331007, the inactive metabolite of sofosbuvir, are increased. No data are available regarding the safety of EPCLUSA in pediatric patients with renal impairment. The safety and effectiveness of EPCLUSA have not been established in pediatric patients less than 3 years of age.

EPCLUSA and ribavirin combination regimen is contraindicated in patients for whom ribavirin is contraindicated. Refer to the ribavirin prescribing information for a list of contraindications for ribavirin.

No specific antidote is available for overdose with EPCLUSA. If overdose occurs the patient must be monitored for evidence of toxicity. Treatment of overdose with EPCLUSA consists of general supportive measures including monitoring of vital signs as well as observation of the clinical status of the patient.

Hemodialysis can efficiently remove the predominant circulating metabolite of sofosbuvir, GS-331007, with an extraction ratio of 53%. Hemodialysis is unlikely to result in significant removal of velpatasvir since velpatasvir is highly bound to plasma protein.