Panretin Drug Information
Generic name: ALITRETINOIN
Retinoid [EPC]
Uses of Panretin
Kaposi’s Sarcoma
PANRETIN GEL is indicated for topical treatment of cutaneous lesions in adults with AIDS related Kaposi’s sarcoma (KS). Limitations of Use: PANRETIN GEL is not indicated when systemic anti-KS therapy is required (including more than 10 new KS lesions in the prior month, symptomatic lymphedema, symptomatic pulmonary KS, or symptomatic visceral involvement) . PANRETIN GEL is a retinoid indicated for the topical treatment of cutaneous lesions in adults with AIDS-related Kaposi’s sarcoma (KS). Limitations of Use : PANRETIN GEL is not indicated when systemic anti-Kaposi’s sarcoma therapy is required.
Dosage & Administration of Panretin
- is for topical use only. Do not use occlusive dressings with PANRETIN GEL. Apply PANRETIN GEL twice daily to coat the entire cutaneous Kaposi sarcoma lesions. Gradually increase the application frequency up to four (4) times a day as tolerated. Continue PANRETIN GEL as long as patient is deriving benefit. Reduce application frequency for application site toxicity. Interrupt treatment for severe irritation; may resume at a reduced application frequency once symptoms improve. Avoid application of gel to normal skin and do not apply on or near mucosal surfaces. Wash hands after application unless gel is applied to Kaposi sarcoma lesions on the hands. Allow gel to dry for three to five minutes before covering with clothing.
- Apply to the affected lesions twice daily; increase to 4 times daily as tolerated. ( 2 )
- For topical use only. ( 2 )
Side Effects of Panretin
- The following clinically significant adverse reactions are described elsewhere in the labeling:
- Photosensitivity [see Warnings and Precautions ( 5.2 )] Most common adverse reactions (> 5%) at the application site are rash, pain, paresthesia, pruritis, exfoliative dermatitis, edema, and skin disorders. ( 6.1 ) To report SUSPECTED ADVERSE REACTIONS, contact Advanz Pharma (US) Corp. at 1-877-370-1142 or FDA at 1-800-FDA-1088 or www.fda.gov/medwatch. 6.1 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. The safety of PANRETIN GEL was assessed in two multicenter, prospective, randomized, double-blind, vehicle-controlled trials (Trial 1 and Trial 2) in patients with cutaneous lesions of AIDS-related KS [see Clinical Studies ( 14.1 )] . In a pooled analysis of both trials, the most common adverse reactions in ≥ 5% of patients were rash, pain, paresthesia, pruritis, exfoliative dermatitis, edema, and skin disorder. In Trial 1, severe local skin adverse reactions (erythema and edema with or without vesiculation) occurred in 10% of patients during the first 12 weeks of treatment (versus 0% in the vehicle control). Adverse reactions led to withdrawal from the study in 7% of patients. In Trial 2, severe local skin adverse reactions (erythema and edema with or without vesiculation) occurred in 6% of patients during the first 12 weeks of treatment (versus 0% in the vehicle control) and 1 patient withdrew due to severe skin irritation. Table 1 lists the most common application site adverse reactions that occurred in a least 5% of patients during the double-blind phase who received PANRETIN GEL in either of the two controlled studies. TABLE 1: Adverse Reactions at Application Site in Trial 1 and 2 in ≥ 5% of Patients Treated with PANRETIN GEL A dverse Event Term Trial 1 Trial 2 PANRETIN GEL N=134 % Vehicle Gel N=134 % PANRETIN GEL N=36 % Vehicle Gel N=46 % Rash 1 77 11 25 4 Pain 2 34 7 0 4 Pruritus 3 11 4 8 4 Exfoliative dermatitis 4 9 2 3 0 Skin disorder 5 8 1 0 0 Edema 6 8 3 3 0 Parethesia 7 3 0 22 7 Includes Investigator terms: 1 Erythema, scaling, irritation, redness, rash, dermatitis 2 Burning, pain 3 Itching, pruritus 4 Flaking, peeling, desquamation, exfoliation 5 Excoriation, cracking, scab, crusting, drainage, eschar, fissure or oozing 6 Edema, swelling, inflammation 7 Stinging, tingling
Warnings & Cautions for Panretin
- Embryo-Fetal Toxicity : Can cause fetal harm. Advise pregnant women of the potential risk to a fetus. Advise females of reproductive potential to use an effective method of contraception. ( 5.1 . 8.1 , 8.3 )
- Photosensitivity : Minimize exposure to sunlight and sunlamps. ( 5.2 )
- DEET toxicity : Do not use DEET-containing products ( 5.3 ) 5.1 Embryo-Fetal Toxicity Based on data from animal studies and its mechanism of action, PANRETIN GEL can cause fetal harm when administered to a pregnant woman. Oral administration of alitretinoin to pregnant animals during the period of organogenesis was teratogenic and embryo-lethal at exposures 5 times the estimated daily human topical dose. Advise women of the potential risk to a fetus. Advise women of reproductive potential to use effective contraception during treatment with PANRETIN GEL and for 1 week after the last dose [see Use in Specific Populations ( 8.1 , 8.3 )] . 5.2 Photosensitivity Retinoids as a class have been associated with photosensitivity. Advise patients to minimize exposure of treated areas to sunlight and sunlamps during the use of PANRETIN GEL. 5.3 Toxicity with DEET-Containing Products Animal toxicology studies showed increased DEET toxicity when DEET was included as part of the formulation. Advise patients to not use PANRETIN GEL concurrently with products that contain DEET (N,N-diethyl-m-toluamide), a common component of insect repellent products.
Pregnancy Safety for Panretin
Pregnancy Risk Summary Based on findings in animal studies and its mechanism of action, PANRETIN GEL can cause fetal harm when administered to a pregnant woman. Oral administration of alitretinoin to pregnant animals during the period of organogenesis was teratogenic and embryo lethal at exposures at least 5 times the estimated daily human topical dose ( see Data ). There are no data on the use of PANRETIN GEL in pregnant women. Advise pregnant women of the potential risk to the fetus.
In the U.S. 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 Oral administration of alitretinoin to pregnant rabbits during the period of organogenesis resulted in early resorptions, post-implantation loss, and fetal defects (limb, craniofacial, fused sternebrae) at doses ≥ 0.5 mg/kg/day (approximately 5 times the estimated daily human topical dose based on body surface area, assuming complete systemic absorption of alitretinoin, when PANRETIN GEL is administered as a 60 g tube over 1 month in a 60 kg human). Early resorptions and post-implantation loss also occurred in rats administered oral alitretinoin at doses ≥5 mg/kg/day (approximately 25 times the estimated daily human topical dose based on body surface area). Limb and craniofacial defects also occurred in mice administered oral alitretinoin on day 11 of gestation at single doses ≥50 mg/kg (approximately 127 times the estimated daily human topical dose based on body surface area).
Pediatric Use of Panretin
Pediatric Use The safety and effectiveness of PANRETIN GEL have not been established in pediatric patients.
Contraindications for Panretin
is contraindicated in patients with a known hypersensitivity to retinoids or to any of the ingredients of the product. Hypersensitivity to retinoids or any component of PANRETIN GEL
Clinical Studies of Panretin
Kaposi’s Sarcoma
PANRETIN GEL was evaluated in two multicenter, randomized, double-blind, vehicle-controlled studies in adult patients with cutaneous lesions of AIDS-related KS. In both studies the primary efficacy objective was the patients’ cutaneous KS tumor response rate through 12 weeks of study drug treatment which was assessed by evaluating from 3 to 8 KS index lesions according to the modified AIDS Clinical Trials Group (ACTG) response criteria as applied to topical therapy (i.e., evaluation of height and area reductions of the index lesions only; progressive disease in non-index lesions and new lesions were not considered progressive disease; progressive disease was scored only in the treated index lesions). A global evaluation by physicians was also carried out. It considered all the patient’s treated lesions (index and other) compared to baseline. In this evaluation, patients with at least a 50% improvement in the KS lesions were considered responders.
In addition, photographs of lesions in patients considered responders by the modified ACTG criteria were examined by the FDA for a cosmetically beneficial response, defined as at least a 50% improvement in appearance compared to baseline, considering both the KS lesions and dermal toxicity at the lesion site, in at least 50% of the index lesions and maintained for at least 3 weeks. Visceral disease was not monitored in these trials and the appearance of new KS lesions was not considered part of the response assessment. In Trial 1, a total of 268 patients were entered from centers in the U.S. and Canada.
Patients were treated topically three to four times a day with either PANRETIN GEL or a matching vehicle gel for a minimum of 12 weeks, followed by an open-label phase in patients who had not yet progressed on PANRETIN GEL. Median age of patients was 39 years, 99% were men, 75% were White, 16% Hispanic, and 7% Black. Fifty-seven percent of patients had a CD4+ lymphocyte count <200/mm3 and 36% had CD4+ lymphocyte count less than 100/mm3; 12% had visceral KS. Responses during the double-blind phase are shown in Table 2. New lesions in untreated areas were seen in about 50% of patients. Trial 2 was an international study with a planned enrollment of 270 patients.
Patients were treated topically twice a day with PANRETIN GEL or a matching vehicle for 12 weeks. The study was stopped early because of positive-interim results in the initial 82 patients. Median age of patients was 36 years for PANRETIN-GEL and 39 years for matching vehicle; all patients were men; 89% White; 5% Hispanic, and 4% Black; 67% had a CD4+ lymphocyte count ≤200/mm3 and 39% had CD4+ lymphocyte count ≤100/mm3; and 16% had visceral KS. Results of the study are shown in Table 2. Responses to PANRETIN GEL were seen both in previously untreated patients and in patients with prior systemic and/or topical KS treatment.
Table 2: Response Rates Trial 1 Trial 2 PANRETIN GEL N=134 Vehicle Gel N=134 PANRETIN GEL N=36 Vehicle Gel N=45 Modified ACTG Response 35%* 16% 36% 7% P = 0.0012 Physician’s Global Subjective Assessment (all treated lesions) 19% 4% 47% 11% P = 0.00014 Photograph Response 15% 4% 19% 2% P = 0.0026 *All responses were partial responses except 1% complete response for modified ACTG response in Trial 1. In the clinical trials, the cumulative percentage of patients who experienced a response was less than 1% at 2 weeks, 10% at 4 weeks, and 28% at 8 weeks. Photographs of some patients revealed an erythematous and edematous response, leading to a cosmetically mixed outcome.
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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