Pulmozyme Drug Information

® is indicated, in conjunction with standard therapies, for the management of pediatric and adult patients with cystic fibrosis (CF) to improve pulmonary function. In CF patients with an FVC ≥ 40% of predicted, daily administration of PULMOZYME has also been shown to reduce the risk of respiratory tract infections requiring parenteral antibiotics. PULMOZYME is a recombinant DNase enzyme indicated in conjunction with standard therapies for the management of cystic fibrosis (CF) patients to improve pulmonary function.

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 data described below reflect exposure to PULMOZYME in 902 patients, with exposures ranging from 2 weeks of daily administration up to once or twice daily administration for six months. PULMOZYME was studied in both placebo-controlled (n=804) and uncontrolled trials (n=98). The population of patients in placebo-controlled trials was with FVC ≥ 40% of predicted (n=643) or with more advanced pulmonary disease, FVC < 40% of predicted (n=161). The population in the uncontrolled trial included 98 pediatric patients with CF ranging from 3 months to 10 years of age.

More than half of the patients received PULMOZYME 2.5 mg by inhalation once a day (n=581), while the rest of patients (n=321) received PULMOZYME 2.5 mg by inhalation twice a day. Placebo-Controlled Trials Trial 1 : Trial 1 was a randomized, placebo-controlled clinical trial in patients with FVC ≥ 40% of predicted. In this trial, over 600 patients received PULMOZYME once or twice daily for six months.

The most common adverse reaction (risk difference ≥5%) was voice alteration. The proportion of most adverse events was similar for patients on PULMOZYME and on placebo, probably reflecting the sequelae of the underlying lung disease. In most cases reactions that were increased were mild, transient in nature, and did not require alterations in dosing.

Few patients experienced adverse reactions resulting in permanent discontinuation from PULMOZYME, and the proportion of discontinuations were similar for placebo (2%) and PULMOZYME (3%). Adverse reactions occurring in a higher proportion (greater than 3%) of PULMOZYME treated patients than in placebo-treated patients are listed in Table 2. Trial 2 : Trial 2 was a randomized, placebo-controlled trial in patients with more advanced pulmonary disease (FVC < 40% of predicted) who were treated for 12 weeks. In this trial, the safety profile of PULMOZYME was similar to that reported in patients with less advanced pulmonary disease (FVC ≥ 40% of predicted). Adverse reactions that were reported in this trial with a higher proportion (greater than 3%) in the PULMOZYME treated patients are listed in Table 2. Table 2. Adverse Reactions Increased 3% or More in PULMOZYME Treated Patients Over Placebo in CF Clinical Trials Adverse Reactions (of any severity or seriousness) Trial 1 CF Patients with FVC ≥ 40% of predicted treated for 24 weeks Trial 2 CF Patients with FVC <40% of predicted treated for 12 weeks Placebo n=325 Pulmozyme QD n=322 Pulmozyme BID n=321 Placebo n=159 Pulmozyme QD n=161 Voice alteration 7% 12% 16% 6% 18% Pharyngitis 33% 36% 40% 28% 32% Rash 7% 10% 12% 1% 3% Laryngitis 1% 3% 4% 1% 3% Chest Pain 16% 18% 21% 23% 25% Conjunctivitis 2% 4% 5% 0% 1% Rhinitis Differences were less than 3% 24% 30% FVC decrease of ≥ 10% of predicted Single measurement only, does not reflect overall FVC changes. 17% 22% Fever 28% 32% Dyspepsia 0% 3% Dyspnea (when reported as serious) Differences were less than 3% 12% Total reports of dyspnea (regardless of severity or seriousness) had a difference of less than 3% in Trial 2. 17% Mortality rates observed in controlled trials were similar for the placebo and PULMOZYME treated patients. Causes of death were consistent with progression of cystic fibrosis and included apnea, cardiac arrest, cardiopulmonary arrest, cor pulmonale, heart failure, massive hemoptysis, pneumonia, pneumothorax, and respiratory failure.

Uncontrolled Trial Trial 3 : The safety of PULMOZYME, 2.5 mg by inhalation, was studied with 2 weeks of daily administration in 98 pediatric patients with cystic fibrosis 3 months to 10 years of age (65 aged 3 months to < 5 years, 33 aged 5 to ≤ 10 years). The PARI BABY™ reusable nebulizer (which uses a facemask instead of a mouthpiece) was utilized in patients unable to demonstrate the ability to inhale or exhale orally throughout the entire treatment period (54/65, 83% of the younger and 2/33, 6% of the older patients). Overall, the nature of adverse reactions was similar to that seen in the placebo-controlled trials. The number of patients reporting cough was higher in the younger age group as compared to the older age group (29/65, 45% compared to 10/33, 30%) as was the number reporting moderate to severe cough (24/65, 37% as compared to 6/33, 18%). The number of patients reporting rhinitis was higher in the younger age group as compared to the older age group (23/65, 35% compared to 9/33, 27%) as was the number reporting rash (4/65, 6% as compared to 0/33). Allergic Reactions There have been no reports of anaphylaxis attributed to the administration of PULMOZYME. Urticaria, mild to moderate, and mild skin rash have been observed and have been transient. Within all of the studies, a small percentage (average of 2-4%) of patients treated with PULMOZYME developed serum antibodies to PULMOZYME. None of these patients developed anaphylaxis, and the clinical significance of serum antibodies to PULMOZYME is unknown.

Available data indicate there are no clinically important drug-drug interactions with PULMOZYME.

Pregnancy Risk Summary There are no adequate and well-controlled studies with PULMOZYME in pregnant women. However, animal reproduction studies have been conducted with dornase alfa. In these studies, no evidence of fetal harm was observed in rats and rabbits at doses of dornase alfa up to approximately 600 times the maximum recommended human dose (MRHD). The background risk of major birth defects and miscarriage for the cystic fibrosis population is unknown.

However, the background risk in the U.S. general population of major birth defects is 2-4% and of miscarriage is 15-20% of clinically recognized pregnancies. Data Animal Data Reproductive studies have been performed in rats and rabbits at intravenous doses of dornase alfa up to 10 mg/kg/day (approximately 600 times the MRHD in adults). In a combined embryo-fetal development and pre- and post-natal development study, no evidence of maternal toxicity, embryotoxicity, or teratogenicity was observed when dornase alfa was administered to dams throughout organogenesis (Gestation days 6 to 17). Dornase alfa did not elicit adverse effects on fetal or neonatal growth when administered to dams throughout most of gestation and delivery (Gestation days 6 to 25) and nursing (Post-partum days 6 to 21). A pharmacokinetic study in Cynomolgus monkeys found no detectable levels of dornase alfa in fetal blood or amniotic fluid on gestation day 150 (end of gestation) from mothers that were administered an intravenous bolus dose (0.1 mg/kg) followed by an intravenous infusion dose (0.080 mg/kg) over a 6-hour period during pregnancy.

Pediatric Use The safety and effectiveness of PULMOZYME in conjunction with standard therapies for cystic fibrosis have been established in pediatric patients. Use of PULMOZYME in pediatric patients is supported by evidence in the following age groups: Patients 5 to 17 years of age: Use of PULMOZYME in patients 5 to 17 years of age is supported by evidence from a randomized, placebo-controlled trial of 303 of clinically stable cystic fibrosis patients 5 to 17 years of age who received PULMOZYME. Patients less than 5 years : Use of PULMOZYME in patients less than 5 years of age is supported by extrapolation of efficacy data in patients 5 years of age and older with additional safety data in 65 pediatric patients aged 3 months to less than 5 years who received PULMOZYME 2.5 mg daily by inhalation for 2 weeks .

is contraindicated in patients with known hypersensitivity to dornase alfa, Chinese Hamster Ovary cell products, or any component of the product. PULMOZYME is contraindicated in patients with known hypersensitivity to dornase alfa, Chinese Hamster Ovary cell products, or any component of the product.