Ozurdex Drug Information
Generic name: DEXAMETHASONE
Corticosteroid [EPC]
Uses of Ozurdex
Retinal Vein Occlusion
OZURDEX ® (dexamethasone intravitreal implant) is indicated for the treatment of macular edema following branch retinal vein occlusion (BRVO) or central retinal vein occlusion (CRVO).
Posterior Segment Uveitis
OZURDEX is indicated for the treatment of non-infectious uveitis affecting the posterior segment of the eye.
Diabetic Macular Edema
OZURDEX is indicated for the treatment of diabetic macular edema.
Dosage & Administration of Ozurdex
General Dosing Information For ophthalmic intravitreal injection. 2.2
Administration The intravitreal injection procedure should be carried out under controlled aseptic conditions which include the use of sterile gloves, a sterile drape, and a sterile eyelid speculum (or equivalent). Adequate anesthesia and a broad-spectrum microbicide applied to the periocular skin, eyelid and ocular surface are recommended to be given prior to the injection. Remove the foil pouch from the carton and examine for damage. Then, open the foil pouch over a sterile field and gently drop the applicator on a sterile tray.
Perform a detailed visual inspection of the applicator, including ensuring that the actuator button has not been depressed, and the safety tab is in place. Carefully remove the plastic safety cap taking care to avoid contacting the needle tip. Inspect the needle tip for damage prior to use; the implant retention plug may be visible in the bevel and should not be removed.
Hold the applicator in one hand and pull the safety tab straight off the applicator. Do not twist or flex the tab. The long axis of the applicator should be held parallel to the limbus, and the sclera should be engaged at an oblique angle with the bevel of the needle up (away from the sclera) to create a shelved scleral path.
The tip of the needle is advanced within the sclera for about 1 mm (parallel to the limbus), then re-directed toward the center of the eye and advanced until penetration of the sclera is completed and the vitreous cavity is entered. The needle should not be advanced past the point where the sleeve touches the conjunctiva. Slowly depress the actuator button until an audible and/or palpable click is noted.
Before withdrawing the applicator from the eye, make sure that the actuator button is fully depressed and has locked flush with the applicator surface. Remove the needle in the same direction as used to enter the vitreous. Following the intravitreal injection, patients should be monitored for elevation in intraocular pressure and for endophthalmitis.
Monitoring may consist of a check for perfusion of the optic nerve head immediately after the injection, tonometry within 30 minutes following the injection, and biomicroscopy between two and seven days following the injection. Patients should be instructed to report any symptoms suggestive of endophthalmitis without delay. Each applicator can only be used for the treatment of a single eye.
If the contralateral eye requires treatment, a new applicator must be used, and the sterile field, syringe, gloves, drapes, and eyelid speculum should be changed before OZURDEX is administered to the other eye.
Side Effects of Ozurdex
Clinical Trials Experience
Because clinical trials are conducted under widely varying conditions, adverse reaction rates observed in the clinical studies of a drug cannot be directly compared to rates in the clinical studies of another drug and may not reflect the rates observed in practice. Adverse reactions associated with ophthalmic steroids including OZURDEX include elevated intraocular pressure, which may be associated with optic nerve damage, visual acuity and field defects, posterior subcapsular cataract formation, secondary ocular infection from pathogens including herpes simplex, and perforation of the globe where there is thinning of the cornea or sclera. Retinal Vein Occlusion and Posterior Segment Uveitis The following information is based on the combined clinical trial results from 3 initial, randomized, 6-month, sham-controlled studies (2 for retinal vein occlusion and 1 for posterior segment uveitis): Table 1: Adverse Reactions Reported by Greater than 2% of Patients MedDRA Term OZURDEX N=497 (%) Sham N=498 (%) Intraocular pressure increased 125 (25%) 10 (2%) Conjunctival hemorrhage 108 (22%) 79 (16%) Eye pain 40 (8%) 26 (5%) Conjunctival hyperemia 33 (7%) 27 (5%) Ocular hypertension 23 (5%) 3 (1%) Cataract 24 (5%) 10 (2%) Vitreous detachment 12 (2%) 8 (2%) Headache 19 (4%) 12 (2%) Increased IOP with OZURDEX peaked at approximately week 8. During the initial treatment period, 1% (3/421) of the patients who received OZURDEX required surgical procedures for management of elevated IOP. Following a second injection of OZURDEX in cases where a second injection was indicated, the overall incidence of cataracts was higher after 1 year.
In a 2 year observational study, among patients who received >2 injections, the most frequent adverse reaction was cataract 54% (n= 96 out of 178 phakic eyes at baseline). Other frequent adverse reactions from the 283 treated eyes, regardless of lens status at baseline, were increased IOP 24% (n = 68) and vitreous hemorrhage 6.0% (n = 17). Diabetic Macular Edema The following information is based on the combined clinical trial results from 2 randomized, 3-year, sham-controlled studies in patients with diabetic macular edema. Discontinuation rates due to the adverse reactions listed in Table 2 were 3% in the OZURDEX group and 1% in the Sham group. The most common ocular (study eye) and non-ocular adverse reactions are shown in Tables 2 and 3: Table 2: Ocular Adverse Reactions Reported by ≥ 1% of Patients and Non-ocular Adverse Reactions Reported by ≥ 5% of Patients MedDRA Term OZURDEX N=324 (%) Sham N=328 (%) Ocular Cataract 1 166/243 2 (68%) 49/230 (21%) Conjunctival hemorrhage 73 (23%) 44 (13%) Visual acuity reduced 28 (9%) 13 (4%) Conjunctivitis 19 (6%) 8 (2%) Vitreous floaters 16 (5%) 6 (2%) Conjunctival edema 15 (5%) 4 (1%) Dry eye 15 (5%) 7 (2%) Vitreous detachment 14 (4%) 8 (2%) Vitreous opacities 11 (3%) 3 (1%) Retinal aneurysm 10 (3%) 5 (2%) Foreign body sensation 7 (2%) 4 (1%) Corneal erosion 7 (2%) 3 (1%) Keratitis 6 (2%) 3 (1%) Anterior Chamber Inflammation 6 (2%) 0 (0%) Retinal tear 5 (2%) 2 (1%) Eyelid ptosis 5 (2%) 2 (1%) Non-ocular Hypertension 41 (13%) 21 (6%) Bronchitis 15 (5%) 8 (2%) 1 Includes cataract, cataract nuclear, cataract subcapsular, lenticular opacities in patients who were phakic at baseline.
Among these patients, 61% of OZURDEX subjects vs. 8% of sham-controlled subjects underwent cataract surgery. 2 243 of the 324 OZURDEX subjects were phakic at baseline; 230 of 328 sham-controlled subjects were phakic at baseline. Increased Intraocular Pressure Table 3: Summary of Elevated Intraocular Pressure (IOP) Related Adverse Reactions IOP Treatment: N (%) OZURDEX N=324 Sham N=328 IOP elevation ≥10 mm Hg from Baseline at any visit 91 (28%) 13 (4%) ≥30 mm Hg IOP at any visit 50 (15%) 5 (2%) Any IOP lowering medication 136 (42%) 32 (10%) Any surgical intervention for elevated IOP * 4 (1.2%) 1 (0.3%) * OZURDEX: 1 surgical trabeculectomy for steroid-induced IOP increase, 1 surgical trabeculectomy for iris neovascularization, 1 laser iridotomy, 1 surgical iridectomy Sham: 1 laser iridotomy The increase in mean IOP was seen with each treatment cycle, and the mean IOP generally returned to baseline between treatment cycles (at the end of the 6 month period) shown below: Figure 1: Mean IOP during the study Cataracts and Cataract Surgery At baseline, 243 of the 324 OZURDEX subjects were phakic; 230 of 328 sham-controlled subjects were phakic. The incidence of cataract development in patients who had a phakic study eye was higher in the OZURDEX group (68%) compared with Sham (21%). The median time of cataract being reported as an adverse event was approximately 15 months in the OZURDEX group and 12 months in the Sham group.
Among these patients, 61% of OZURDEX subjects vs. 8% of sham-controlled subjects underwent cataract surgery, generally between Month 18 and Month 39 (Median Month 21 for OZURDEX group and 20 for Sham) of the studies.
Postmarketing Experience
The following reactions have been identified during post-approval use of OZURDEX in clinical practice. Because they are reported voluntarily from a population of unknown size, it is not always possible to reliably estimate their frequency or establish a causal relationship to drug exposure. The reactions, which have been chosen for inclusion due to either their seriousness, frequency of reporting, possible causal connection to OZURDEX, or a combination of these factors, include: complication of device insertion resulting in ocular tissue injury including sclera, subconjunctiva, lens and retina (implant misplacement), device dislocation with or without corneal edema/corneal decompensation, endophthalmitis, hypotony of the eye (associated with vitreous leakage due to injection), and retinal detachment.
Warnings & Cautions for Ozurdex
Intravitreal Injection-related Effects Intravitreal injections, including those with
OZURDEX, have been associated with endophthalmitis, eye inflammation, increased intraocular pressure, and retinal detachments. Patients should be monitored regularly following the injection .
Steroid-related Effects Use of corticosteroids including
OZURDEX may produce posterior subcapsular cataracts, increased intraocular pressure, and glaucoma. Use of corticosteroids may enhance the establishment of secondary ocular infections due to bacteria, fungi, or viruses . Corticosteroids are not recommended to be used in patients with a history of ocular herpes simplex because of the potential for reactivation of the viral infection.
Pregnancy Safety for Ozurdex
Pregnancy Risk Summary There are no adequate and well-controlled studies with OZURDEX in pregnant women. Topical ocular administration of dexamethasone in mice and rabbits during the period of organogenesis produced cleft palate and embryofetal death in mice, and malformations of the abdominal wall/intestines and kidneys in rabbits at doses 5 and 4 times higher than the recommended human ophthalmic dose (RHOD) of OZURDEX (0.7 milligrams dexamethasone), respectively. In the US general population, the estimated background risk of major birth defects and miscarriage in clinically recognized pregnancies is 2 to 4% and 15 to 20%, respectively.
Data Animal Data Topical ocular administration of 0.15% dexamethasone (0.75 mg/kg/day) on gestational days 10 to 13 produced embryofetal lethality and a high incidence of cleft palate in mice. A dose of 0.75 mg/kg/day in the mouse is approximately 5 times an OZURDEX injection in humans (0.7 mg dexamethasone) on a mg/m 2 basis. In rabbits, topical ocular administration of 0.1% dexamethasone throughout organogenesis (0.20 mg/kg/day, on gestational day 6 followed by 0.13 mg/kg/day on gestational days 7-18) produced intestinal anomalies, intestinal aplasia, gastroschisis and hypoplastic kidneys.
A dose of 0.13 mg/kg/day in the rabbit is approximately 4 times an OZURDEX injection in humans (0.7 mg dexamethasone) on a mg/m 2 basis. A no-observed-adverse-effect-level (NOAEL) was not identified in the mouse or rabbits studies.
Pediatric Use of Ozurdex
Pediatric Use Safety and effectiveness of OZURDEX in pediatric patients have not been established.
Contraindications for Ozurdex
Ocular or Periocular Infections
OZURDEX (dexamethasone intravitreal implant) is contraindicated in patients with active or suspected ocular or periocular infections including most viral diseases of the cornea and conjunctiva, including active epithelial herpes simplex keratitis (dendritic keratitis), vaccinia, varicella, mycobacterial infections, and fungal diseases.
Glaucoma
OZURDEX is contraindicated in patients with glaucoma, who have cup to disc ratios of greater than 0.8.
Torn or Ruptured Posterior Lens Capsule
OZURDEX is contraindicated in patients whose posterior lens capsule is torn or ruptured because of the risk of migration into the anterior chamber. Laser posterior capsulotomy in pseudophakic patients is not a contraindication for OZURDEX use. 4. 4 Hypersensitivity OZURDEX is contraindicated in patients with known hypersensitivity to any components of this product .
Clinical Studies of Ozurdex
Retinal Vein Occlusion The efficacy of OZURDEX for the treatment of macular edema following branch retinal vein occlusion (BRVO) or central retinal vein occlusion (CRVO) was assessed in two, multicenter, double-masked, randomized, parallel studies. Following a single injection, OZURDEX demonstrated the following clinical results for the percent of patients with ≥ 15 letters of improvement from baseline in best-corrected visual acuity (BCVA): Table 4: Number (Percent) of Patients with ≥ 15 Letters Improvement from Baseline in BCVA Study Day Study 1 Study 2 OZURDEX N=201 Sham N=202 p-value* OZURDEX N=226 Sham N=224 p-value* Day 30 40 (20%) 15 (7%) < 0.01 51 (23%) 17 (8%) < 0.01 Day 60 58 (29%) 21 (10%) < 0.01 67 (30%) 27 (12%) < 0.01 Day 90 45 (22%) 25 (12%) < 0.01 48 (21%) 31 (14%) 0.039 Day 180 39 (19%) 37 (18%) 0.780 53 (24%) 38 (17%) 0.087 *P-values were based on the Pearson’s chi-square test. In each individual study and in a pooled analysis, time to achieve ≥ 15 letters (3-line) improvement in BCVA cumulative response rate curves were significantly faster with OZURDEX compared to sham (p < 0.01), with OZURDEX treated patients achieving a 3-line improvement in BCVA earlier than sham-treated patients.
The onset of a ≥ 15 letter (3-line) improvement in BCVA with OZURDEX occurs within the first two months after implantation in approximately 20-30% of subjects. The duration of effect persists approximately one to three months after onset of this effect. Posterior Segment Uveitis The efficacy of OZURDEX was assessed in a single, multicenter, masked, randomized study of 153 patients with non-infectious uveitis affecting the posterior segment of the eye.
After a single injection, the percent of patients reaching a vitreous haze score of 0 (where a score of 0 represents no inflammation) was statistically significantly greater for patients receiving OZURDEX versus sham at week 8 (primary time point) (47% versus 12%). The percent of patients achieving a 3-line improvement from baseline BCVA was 43% for patients receiving OZURDEX versus 7% for sham at week 8. Diabetic Macular Edema The efficacy of OZURDEX for the treatment of diabetic macular edema was assessed in two, multicenter, masked, randomized, sham-controlled studies. Subjects were to be evaluated for retreatment eligibility every three months starting from Month 6 but could only receive successive treatments at least 6 months apart. Retreatment was based on physician’s discretion after examination including Optical Coherence Tomography.
Patients in the OZURDEX arm received an average of 4 treatments during the 36 months. The primary endpoint was the proportion of patients with 15 or more letters improvement in BCVA from baseline at Month 39 or final visit for subjects who exited the study at or prior to Month 36. The Month 39 extension was included to accommodate the evaluation of safety and efficacy outcomes for subjects who received re-treatment at Month 36. Only fourteen percent of the study patients completed the Month 39 visit (16.8% from OZURDEX and 12.2% from Sham). Table 5: Visual Acuity outcomes at Month 39 (All randomized subjects with LOCF c ) Study Outcomes O ZURDEX Sham Estimated Difference (95% CI) 1 a Mean (SD) Baseline BCVA (Letters) 56 57 Median (range) Baseline BCVA (Letters) 59 (34-95) 58 (34-74) Gain of ≥15 letters in BCVA (n(%)) 34 (21%) 19 (12%) 9.3% (1.4%, 17.3%) Loss of ≥15 letters in BCVA (n(%)) 15 (9%) 17 (10%) -1.1% (-7.5%, 5.3%) Mean change in BCVA (SD) 4.1 0.9 3.2 2 b Mean (SD) Baseline BCVA (Letters) 55 56 Median (range) Baseline BCVA (Letters) 58 (34-72) 58 (36-82) Gain of ≥15 letters in BCVA (n(%)) 30 (18%) 16 (10%) 8.4% (0.9%, 15.8%) Loss of ≥15 letters in BCVA (n(%)) 30 (18%) 18 (11%) 7.1% (-0.5%, 14.7%) Mean change in BCVA (SD) 0.4 0.8 -0.7 (-4.1, 2.6) a Study 1: OZURDEX, N=163; Sham, N=165 b Study 2: OZURDEX, N=165; Sham, N=163 c 14% (16.8% from OZURDEX and 12.2% from Sham) of patients had BCVA outcome at Month 39, for the remaining patients, the data at Month 36 or earlier was carried forward. Visual acuity outcomes by lens status (Phakic or Pseudophakic) at different visits are presented in Figure 2 and Figure 3. The occurrence of cataracts impacted visual acuity during the study.
The visual acuity improvement from baseline increases during a treatment cycle, peaks at approximately 3 Months posttreatment and diminishes thereafter. Patients who were pseudophakic at baseline achieved greater mean BCVA change from baseline at the final study visit. Figure 2 : Proportion of Subjects with ≥ 15 Letters Improvement from Baseline BCVA in the Study Eye Figure 3 : Mean BCVA Change from Baseline The best corrected visual acuity outcomes for the Pseudophakic and Phakic subgroups from Studies 1 and 2 at Month 39 are presented in Table 6. Table 6: Visual Acuity outcomes at Month 39 (Subgroup for pooled data with LOCF c ) Subgroup (Pooled) Outcomes OZURDEX Sham Estimated Difference (95% CI) a Pseudophakic Gain of ≥15 letters in BCVA (n(%)) 16 (20%) 11 (11%) 8.4% (-2.2%, 19.0%) Loss of ≥15 letters in BCVA (n(%)) 4 (5%) 7 (7%) -2.2% (-9.1%, 4.7%) Mean change in BCVA (SD) 5.8 1.4 4.2 b Phakic Gain of ≥15 letters in BCVA (n(%)) 48 (20%) 24 (11%) 9.0% (2.7%, 15.4%) Loss of ≥15 letters in BCVA (n(%)) 41 (17%) 28 (12%) 4.4% (-1.9%, 10.7%) Mean change in BCVA (SD) 1.0 0.6 0.3 (-2.4, 3.0) a Pseudophakic: OZURDEX, N=82; Sham, N=99 b Phakic: OZURDEX, N=246; Sham, N=229 c 14% (16.8% from OZURDEX and 12.2% from Sham) of patients had BCVA outcome at Month 39, for the remaining patients the data at Month 36 or earlier was used in the analysis.
Figure 2: Proportion of Subjects with ≥ 15 Letters Improvement from Baseline BCVA in the Study Eye Figure 3: Mean BCVA Change from Baseline
Drug information sourced from the FDA. This content is for informational purposes only and does not constitute medical advice. Consult a healthcare professional before making any medication decisions.
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