Fluticasone Furoate Drug Information

Serious Asthma-Related Events – Hospitalizations, Intubations, Death Use of Long-acting Beta 2 -adrenergic Agonist (LABA) as monotherapy (without ICS) for asthma is associated with an increased risk of asthma-related death. Available data from controlled clinical trials also suggest that use of LABA as monotherapy increases the risk of asthma-related hospitalization in pediatric patients. These findings are considered a class effect of LABA monotherapy.

When LABA are used in fixed-dose combination with ICS, data from large clinical trials do not show a significant increase in the risk of serious asthma‑related events (hospitalizations, intubations, death) compared with ICS alone (see Serious Asthma-Related Events with Inhaled Corticosteroid/Long-Acting Beta 2 -Adrenergic Agonists). Serious Asthma-Related Events with Inhaled Corticosteroid/Long-Acting Beta 2 -Adrenergic Agonists Four large, 26-week, randomized, double-blind, active-controlled clinical safety trials were conducted to evaluate the risk of serious asthma-related events when LABA were used in fixed‑dose combination with ICS compared with ICS alone in patients with asthma. Three trials included adult and pediatric patients aged 12 years and older: 1 trial compared budesonide/formoterol with budesonide, 1 trial compared fluticasone propionate/salmeterol inhalation powder with fluticasone propionate inhalation powder, and 1 trial compared mometasone furoate/formoterol with mometasone furoate.

The fourth trial included pediatric patients aged 4 to 11 years and compared fluticasone propionate/salmeterol inhalation powder with fluticasone propionate inhalation powder. The primary safety endpoint for all 4 trials was serious asthma-related events (hospitalizations, intubations, death). A blinded adjudication committee determined whether events were asthma related.

The 3 adult and pediatric trials were designed to rule out a risk margin of 2.0, and the pediatric trial was designed to rule out a risk margin of 2.7. Each individual trial met its pre-specified objective and demonstrated non-inferiority of ICS/LABA to ICS alone. A meta-analysis of the 3 adult and pediatric trials did not show a significant increase in risk of a serious asthma-related event with ICS/LABA fixed-dose combination compared with ICS alone ( Table 1 ).

These trials were not designed to rule out all risk for serious asthma-related events with ICS/LABA compared with ICS. Table 1. Meta-Analysis of Serious Asthma-Related Events in Patients with Asthma Aged 12 Years and Older The pediatric safety trial included 6,208 pediatric patients aged 4 to 11 years who received ICS/LABA (fluticasone propionate/salmeterol inhalation powder) or ICS (fluticasone propionate inhalation powder).

There were no asthma-related deaths or intubations. ICS/LABA did not show a significantly increased risk of a serious asthma-related event compared with ICS based on the pre-specified risk margin, with an estimated hazard ratio of time to first event of Salmeterol Multicenter Asthma Research Trial (SMART) A 28-week, placebo-controlled, U.S. trial that compared the safety of salmeterol with placebo, each added to usual asthma therapy, showed an increase in asthma-related deaths in patients receiving salmeterol (13/13,176 in patients treated with salmeterol vs. 3/13,179 in patients treated with placebo; relative risk: 4.37 ). Use of background ICS was not required in SMART.

The increased risk of asthma-related death is considered a class effect of LABA monotherapy.

Deterioration of Disease and Acute Episodes Fluticasone Furoate/Vilanterol ELLIPTA should not be initiated in patients during rapidly deteriorating or potentially life-threatening episodes of COPD or asthma. Fluticasone Furoate/Vilanterol ELLIPTA has not been studied in patients with acutely deteriorating COPD or asthma. The initiation of Fluticasone Furoate/Vilanterol ELLIPTA in this setting is not appropriate.

In COPD, if Fluticasone Furoate/Vilanterol ELLIPTA 100/25 mcg no longer controls symptoms of bronchoconstriction; the patient’s inhaled, short-acting, beta 2 -agonist becomes less effective; or the patient needs more short-acting beta 2 -agonist than usual, these may be markers of deterioration of disease. In this setting, re-evaluate the patient and the COPD treatment regimen at once. For COPD, the daily dose of Fluticasone Furoate/Vilanterol ELLIPTA 100/25 mcg should not be increased.

Increasing use of inhaled, short-acting beta 2 -agonists is a marker of deteriorating asthma. In this situation, the patient requires immediate reevaluation with reassessment of the treatment regimen, giving special consideration to the need for additional therapeutic options. Patients should not use more than 1 inhalation once daily of Fluticasone Furoate/Vilanterol ELLIPTA.

Fluticasone Furoate/Vilanterol ELLIPTA should not be used for the relief of acute symptoms, i.e., as rescue therapy for the treatment of acute episodes of bronchospasm. Fluticasone Furoate/Vilanterol ELLIPTA has not been studied in the relief of acute symptoms and extra doses should not be used for that purpose. Acute symptoms should be treated with an inhaled, short-acting beta 2 -agonist.

When beginning treatment with Fluticasone Furoate/Vilanterol ELLIPTA, patients who have been taking oral or inhaled, short-acting beta 2 -agonists on a regular basis (e.g., 4 times a day) should be instructed to discontinue the regular use of these drugs and to use them only for symptomatic relief of acute respiratory symptoms. When prescribing Fluticasone Furoate/Vilanterol ELLIPTA, the healthcare provider should also prescribe an inhaled, short‑acting beta 2 -agonist and instruct the patient on how it should be used.

Risk Associated with Excessive Use of Long-Acting Beta 2

-Agonists, including Fluticasone Furoate/Vilanterol ELLIPTA Fluticasone Furoate/Vilanterol ELLIPTA should not be used more often than recommended, at higher doses than recommended, or in conjunction with other therapies containing LABA, as an overdose may result. Clinically significant cardiovascular effects and fatalities have been reported in association with excessive use of inhaled sympathomimetic drugs. Patients using Fluticasone Furoate/Vilanterol ELLIPTA should not use another therapy containing a LABA (e.g., salmeterol, formoterol fumarate, arformoterol tartrate, indacaterol) for any reason.

Oropharyngeal Candidiasis Fluticasone Furoate/Vilanterol

ELLIPTA contains fluticasone furoate, an ICS. Localized infections of the mouth and pharynx with Candida albicans have occurred in patients treated with orally inhaled drug products containing fluticasone furoate. Monitor patients periodically.

When such an infection develops, it should be treated with appropriate local or systemic (i.e., oral) antifungal therapy while treatment with Fluticasone Furoate/Vilanterol ELLIPTA continues. In some cases, therapy with Fluticasone Furoate/Vilanterol ELLIPTA may need to be interrupted. Advise the patient to rinse his/her mouth with water without swallowing following administration of Fluticasone Furoate/Vilanterol ELLIPTA to help reduce the risk of oropharyngeal candidiasis.

Pneumonia

An increase in the incidence of pneumonia has been observed in patients with COPD receiving fluticasone furoate/vilanterol ELLIPTA 100/25 mcg in clinical trials. There was also an increased incidence of pneumonias resulting in hospitalization. In some incidences these pneumonia events were fatal.

Healthcare providers should remain vigilant for the possible development of pneumonia in patients with COPD as clinical features of pneumonia and exacerbations frequently overlap. In replicate 12-month trials in 3,255 patients with moderate to severe COPD who had experienced a COPD exacerbation in the previous year, there was a higher incidence of pneumonia reported in patients receiving fluticasone furoate/vilanterol patients; fluticasone furoate/vilanterol ELLIPTA patients; or fluticasone furoate/vilanterol ELLIPTA patients than in patients receiving vilanterol patients. There was no fatal pneumonia in patients receiving vilanterol or fluticasone furoate/vilanterol 50/25 mcg.

Chickenpox and measles can have a more serious or even fatal course in susceptible patients using corticosteroids. In such patients who have not had these diseases or been properly immunized, particular care should be taken to avoid exposure. How the dose, route, and duration of corticosteroid administration affect the risk of developing a disseminated infection is not known.

The contribution of the underlying disease and/or prior corticosteroid treatment to the risk is also not known. If a patient is exposed to chickenpox, prophylaxis with varicella zoster immune globulin (VZIG) may be indicated. If a patient is exposed to measles, prophylaxis with pooled intramuscular immunoglobulin (IG) may be indicated. (See the respective Prescribing Information for VZIG and IG.) If chickenpox develops, treatment with antiviral agents may be considered.

ICS should be used with caution, if at all, in patients with active or quiescent tuberculosis infections of the respiratory tract; systemic fungal, bacterial, viral, or parasitic infections; or ocular herpes simplex.

Transferring Patients from Systemic Corticosteroid Therapy Hypothalamic-Pituitary-Adrenal Suppression/Adrenal Insufficiency Particular care is needed for patients who have been transferred from systemically active corticosteroids to ICS because deaths due to adrenal insufficiency have occurred in patients during and after transfer from systemic corticosteroids to less systemically available ICS. After withdrawal from systemic corticosteroids, a number of months are required for recovery of hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) function. Patients who have been previously maintained on 20 mg or more of prednisone (or its equivalent) may be most susceptible, particularly when their systemic corticosteroids have been almost completely withdrawn.

During this period of HPA suppression, patients may exhibit signs and symptoms of adrenal insufficiency when exposed to trauma, surgery, or infection (particularly gastroenteritis) or other conditions associated with severe electrolyte loss. Although Fluticasone Furoate/Vilanterol ELLIPTA may control COPD or asthma symptoms during these episodes, in recommended doses it supplies less than normal physiological amounts of glucocorticoid systemically and does NOT provide the mineralocorticoid activity that is necessary for coping with these emergencies. During periods of stress, a severe COPD exacerbation, or a severe asthma attack, patients who have been withdrawn from systemic corticosteroids should be instructed to resume oral corticosteroids (in large doses) immediately and to contact their healthcare practitioner for further instruction.

These patients should also be instructed to carry a warning card indicating that they may need supplementary systemic corticosteroids during periods of stress, a severe COPD exacerbation, or a severe asthma attack. Patients requiring oral corticosteroids should be weaned slowly from systemic corticosteroid use after transferring to Fluticasone Furoate/Vilanterol ELLIPTA. Prednisone reduction can be accomplished by reducing the daily prednisone dose by 2.5 mg on a weekly basis during therapy with Fluticasone Furoate/Vilanterol ELLIPTA.

Lung function (FEV 1 or peak expiratory flow), beta-agonist use, and COPD or asthma symptoms should be carefully monitored during withdrawal of oral corticosteroids. In addition, patients should be observed for signs and symptoms of adrenal insufficiency, such as fatigue, lassitude, weakness, nausea and vomiting, and hypotension. Unmasking of Allergic Conditions Previously Suppressed by Systemic Corticosteroids Transfer of patients from systemic corticosteroid therapy to Fluticasone Furoate/Vilanterol ELLIPTA may unmask allergic conditions previously suppressed by the systemic corticosteroid therapy (e.g., rhinitis, conjunctivitis, eczema, arthritis, eosinophilic conditions).

Corticosteroid Withdrawal Symptoms During withdrawal from oral corticosteroids, some patients may experience symptoms of systemically active corticosteroid withdrawal (e.g., joint and/or muscular pain, lassitude, depression) despite maintenance or even improvement of respiratory function.

Hypercorticism and Adrenal Suppression

Inhaled fluticasone furoate is absorbed into the circulation and can be systemically active. Effects of fluticasone furoate on the HPA axis are not observed with the therapeutic doses of fluticasone furoate in Fluticasone Furoate/Vilanterol ELLIPTA. However, exceeding the recommended dosage or coadministration with a strong cytochrome P450 3A4 (CYP3A4) inhibitor may result in HPA dysfunction.

Because of the possibility of significant systemic absorption of ICS in sensitive patients, patients treated with Fluticasone Furoate/Vilanterol ELLIPTA should be observed carefully for any evidence of systemic corticosteroid effects. Particular care should be taken in observing patients postoperatively or during periods of stress for evidence of inadequate adrenal response. It is possible that systemic corticosteroid effects such as hypercorticism and adrenal suppression (including adrenal crisis) may appear in a small number of patients who are sensitive to these effects.

If such effects occur, reduce the dose of Fluticasone Furoate/Vilanterol ELLIPTA slowly, consistent with accepted procedures for reducing systemic corticosteroids, and consider other treatments for management of COPD or asthma symptoms.

Drug Interactions with Strong Cytochrome P450 3A4 Inhibitors Caution should be exercised when considering the coadministration of Fluticasone Furoate/Vilanterol ELLIPTA with ketoconazole and other known strong CYP3A4 inhibitors (including, but not limited to, ritonavir, clarithromycin, conivaptan, indinavir, itraconazole, lopinavir, nefazodone, nelfinavir, saquinavir, telithromycin, troleandomycin, voriconazole) because increased systemic corticosteroid and increased cardiovascular adverse effects may occur.

Paradoxical Bronchospasm Fluticasone Furoate/Vilanterol ELLIPTA can produce paradoxical bronchospasm, which may be life threatening. If paradoxical bronchospasm occurs following dosing with Fluticasone Furoate/Vilanterol ELLIPTA, it should be treated immediately with an inhaled, short-acting bronchodilator; Fluticasone Furoate/Vilanterol ELLIPTA should be discontinued immediately; and alternative therapy should be instituted.

Hypersensitivity

Reactions, including Anaphylaxis Hypersensitivity reactions such as anaphylaxis, angioedema, rash, and urticaria may occur after administration of Fluticasone Furoate/Vilanterol ELLIPTA. Discontinue Fluticasone Furoate/Vilanterol ELLIPTA if such reactions occur. There have been reports of anaphylactic reactions in patients with severe milk protein allergy after inhalation of other powder medications containing lactose; therefore, patients with severe milk protein allergy should not use Fluticasone Furoate/Vilanterol ELLIPTA.

Cardiovascular Effects Fluticasone Furoate/Vilanterol

ELLIPTA, like other drugs containing beta 2 -agonists, can produce a clinically significant cardiovascular effect in some patients as measured by increases in pulse rate, systolic or diastolic blood pressure, and also cardiac arrhythmias, such as supraventricular tachycardia and extrasystoles. If such effects occur, Fluticasone Furoate/Vilanterol ELLIPTA may need to be discontinued. In addition, beta‑agonists have been reported to produce electrocardiographic changes, such as flattening of the T wave, prolongation of the QTc interval, and ST segment depression, although the clinical significance of these findings is unknown.

In healthy subjects, large doses of inhaled fluticasone furoate/vilanterol (4 times the recommended dose of vilanterol, representing a 12- or 10-fold higher systemic exposure than seen in patients with COPD or asthma, respectively) have been associated with clinically significant prolongation of the QTc interval, which has the potential for producing ventricular arrhythmias. Therefore, Fluticasone Furoate/Vilanterol ELLIPTA, like other sympathomimetic amines, should be used with caution in patients with cardiovascular disorders, especially coronary insufficiency, cardiac arrhythmias, and hypertension. The clinical significance of small changes in BMD with regard to long‑term consequences such as fracture is unknown.

Patients with major risk factors for decreased bone mineral content, such as prolonged immobilization, family history of osteoporosis, postmenopausal status, tobacco use, advanced age, poor nutrition, or chronic use of drugs that can reduce bone mass (e.g., anticonvulsants, oral corticosteroids) should be monitored and treated with established standards of care. Since patients with COPD often have multiple risk factors for reduced BMD, assessment of BMD is recommended prior to initiating Fluticasone Furoate/Vilanterol ELLIPTA and periodically thereafter. If significant reductions in BMD are seen and Fluticasone Furoate/Vilanterol ELLIPTA is still considered medically important for that patient’s COPD therapy, use of therapy to treat or prevent osteoporosis should be strongly considered.

Similar findings were seen in a mortality trial with a median treatment duration of 1.5 years in 16,568 patients with moderate COPD and cardiovascular disease.

Effect on Growth

Orally inhaled corticosteroids, including fluticasone furoate, a component in Fluticasone Furoate/Vilanterol ELLIPTA may cause a reduction in growth velocity when administered to pediatric patients. The safety and effectiveness of Fluticasone Furoate/Vilanterol ELLIPTA have not been established in pediatric patients less than 5 years of age. Monitor the growth of pediatric patients receiving Fluticasone Furoate/Vilanterol ELLIPTA routinely (e.g., via stadiometry).

To minimize the systemic effects of orally inhaled corticosteroids, including Fluticasone Furoate/Vilanterol ELLIPTA, titrate each patient’s dose to the lowest dosage that effectively controls his/her symptoms.

Glaucoma and Cataracts

Glaucoma, increased intraocular pressure, and cataracts have been reported in patients with COPD or asthma following the long-term administration of ICS, including fluticasone furoate, a component in Fluticasone Furoate/Vilanterol ELLIPTA. Consider referral to an ophthalmologist in patients who develop ocular symptoms or use Fluticasone Furoate/Vilanterol ELLIPTA long term.

Risk of Using Sympathomimetic Amines in Certain Coexisting Conditions Fluticasone Furoate/Vilanterol ELLIPTA, like all therapies containing sympathomimetic amines, should be used with caution in patients with convulsive disorders, thyrotoxicosis, or diabetes mellitus and in those who are unusually responsive to sympathomimetic amines. Doses of the related beta 2 ‑adrenoceptor agonist albuterol, when administered intravenously, have been reported to aggravate preexisting diabetes mellitus and ketoacidosis.

Hyperglycemia and Hypokalemia There have been reports of increases in blood glucose levels with fluticasone furoate/vilanterol ELLIPTA. This should be considered in patients with a history of, or with risk factors for, diabetes mellitus. Beta-adrenergic agonist therapies may produce significant hypokalemia in some patients, possibly through intracellular shunting, which has the potential to produce adverse cardiovascular effects.

The decrease in serum potassium is usually transient, not requiring supplementation. In clinical trials evaluating fluticasone furoate/vilanterol ELLIPTA in patients with COPD or asthma, there was no evidence of a treatment effect on serum potassium.