Sandostatin Lar Depot Drug Information

Carcinoid Tumors and VIPomas Patients Not Currently Receiving Octreotide Acetate Patients not currently receiving octreotide acetate should begin therapy with Sandostatin Injection given subcutaneously. Some patients may require doses up to 1,500 mcg/day. Sandostatin Injection should be continued for at least 2 weeks.

Thereafter, patients who are considered “responders” to octreotide acetate, and who tolerate the drug, may be switched to SANDOSTATIN LAR DEPOT in the dosage regimen as described below (Patients Currently Receiving Sandostatin Injection). Patients Currently Receiving Sandostatin Injection Patients currently receiving Sandostatin Injection can be switched to SANDOSTATIN LAR DEPOT in a dosage of 20 mg given IM intragluteally at 4-week intervals for 2 months. Because of the need for serum octreotide to reach therapeutically effective levels following initial injection of SANDOSTATIN LAR DEPOT, carcinoid tumor and VIPoma patients should continue to receive Sandostatin Injection subcutaneously for at least 2 weeks in the same dosage they were taking before the switch.

Failure to continue subcutaneous injections for this period may result in exacerbation of symptoms (some patients may require 3 or 4 weeks of such therapy). After 2 months, dosage may be adjusted as follows: If symptoms are adequately controlled, consider a dose reduction to 10 mg for a trial period. If symptoms recur, dosage should then be increased to 20 mg every 4 weeks.

Many patients can, however, be satisfactorily maintained at a 10-mg dose every 4 weeks. If symptoms are not adequately controlled, increase SANDOSTATIN LAR DEPOT to 30 mg every 4 weeks. Patients who achieve good control on a 20-mg dose may have their dose lowered to 10 mg for a trial period.

Dosages higher than 30 mg are not recommended. Despite good overall control of symptoms, patients with carcinoid tumors and VIPomas often experience periodic exacerbation of symptoms (regardless of whether they are being maintained on Sandostatin Injection or SANDOSTATIN LAR DEPOT). During these periods, they may be given Sandostatin Injection subcutaneously for a few days at the dosage they were receiving prior to switching to SANDOSTATIN LAR DEPOT.

When symptoms are again controlled, the Sandostatin Injection subcutaneous can be discontinued.

Special Populations: Renal Impairment

In patients with renal failure requiring dialysis, the starting dose should be 10 mg every 4 weeks. In other patients with renal impairment, the starting dose should be similar to a nonrenal patient (i.e., 20 mg every 4 weeks).

Special Populations: Hepatic Impairment – Cirrhotic Patients

In patients with established cirrhosis of the liver, the starting dose should be 10 mg every 4 weeks.

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 trial of another drug and may not reflect the rates observed in practice. SANDOSTATIN LAR DEPOT was studied primarily in a double-blind, cross-over manner. Patients on subcutaneous Sandostatin Injection were switched to the LAR formulation followed by an open-label extension.

The population age range was 14 to 81 years old and 53% were female. Approximately 35% of these acromegaly patients had not been treated with surgery and/or radiation. Most patients received a starting dose of 20 mg every 4 weeks intramuscularly.

Dose was up or down titrated based on efficacy and tolerability to a final dose between 10 mg to 60 mg every 4 weeks. Table 1 below reflects adverse events from these studies regardless of presumed causality to study drug. Table 1.

Adverse Events Occurring in ≥ 10% of Acromegalic Patients in the Phase 3 Studies 29 The safety of SANDOSTATIN LAR DEPOT in the treatment of acromegaly was also evaluated in a postmarketing randomized Phase 4 study. One-hundred four patients were randomized to either pituitary surgery or 20 mg of SANDOSTATIN LAR DEPOT. All the patients were treatment naïve ( ‘de novo’ ).

Crossover was allowed according to treatment response and a total of 76 patients were exposed to Sandostatin LAR. Approximately half of the patients initially randomized to SANDOSTATIN LAR DEPOT were exposed to SANDOSTATIN LAR DEPOT up to 1 year. The majority of these patients were exposed to 30 mg every 4 weeks.

Table 2 below reflects the adverse events occurring in this study regardless of presumed causality to study drug. Table 2. Adverse Events Occurring in ≥ 10% of Acromegalic Patients in Phase 4 Study 0 7 Gallbladder Abnormalities Single doses of Sandostatin Injection have been shown to inhibit gallbladder contractility and decrease bile secretion in normal volunteers.

In clinical trials with Sandostatin Injection (primarily patients with acromegaly or psoriasis) in patients who had not previously received octreotide acetate, the incidence of biliary tract abnormalities was 63% (27% gallstones, 24% sludge without stones, 12% biliary duct dilatation). The incidence of stones or sludge in patients who received Sandostatin Injection for 12 months or longer was 52%. The incidence of gallbladder abnormalities did not appear to be related to age, sex, or dose but was related to duration of exposure.

In clinical trials, 52% of acromegalic patients, most of whom received SANDOSTATIN LAR DEPOT for 12 months or longer, developed new biliary abnormalities including gallstones, microlithiasis, sediment, sludge, and dilatation. The incidence of new cholelithiasis was 22%, of which 7% were microstones. Across all trials, a few patients developed acute cholecystitis, ascending cholangitis, biliary obstruction, cholestatic hepatitis, or pancreatitis during octreotide therapy or following its withdrawal.

One patient developed ascending cholangitis during Sandostatin Injection therapy and died. Despite the high incidence of new gallstones in patients receiving octreotide acetate, 1% of patients developed acute symptoms requiring cholecystectomy. Glucose Metabolism - Hypoglycemia/Hyperglycemia In acromegaly patients treated with either Sandostatin Injection or SANDOSTATIN LAR DEPOT, hypoglycemia occurred in approximately 2% and hyperglycemia in approximately 15% of patients.

Hypothyroidism In acromegaly patients receiving Sandostatin Injection, 12% developed biochemical hypothyroidism, 8% developed goiter, and 4% required initiation of thyroid replacement therapy while receiving Sandostatin Injection. In acromegalic patients treated with SANDOSTATIN LAR DEPOT, hypothyroidism was reported as an adverse event in 2% and goiter in 2%. Two patients receiving SANDOSTATIN LAR DEPOT required initiation of thyroid hormone replacement therapy.

The relationship of these events to octreotide acetate is not established because many of these patients have underlying cardiac disease. Gastrointestinal The most common symptoms are gastrointestinal. The overall incidence of the most frequent of these symptoms in clinical trials of acromegalic patients treated for approximately 1 to 4 years is shown in Table 3.

Table 3. Number (%) of Acromegalic Patients With Common GI Only 2.6% of the patients on Sandostatin Injection in US clinical trials discontinued therapy due to these symptoms. No acromegalic patient receiving SANDOSTATIN LAR DEPOT discontinued therapy for a GI event.

In patients receiving SANDOSTATIN LAR DEPOT, the incidence of diarrhea was dose related. Diarrhea, abdominal pain, and nausea developed primarily during the first month of treatment with SANDOSTATIN LAR DEPOT. Thereafter, new cases of these events were uncommon.

The vast majority of these events were mild-to-moderate in severity. In rare instances, gastrointestinal adverse effects may resemble acute intestinal obstruction, with progressive abdominal distention, severe epigastric pain, abdominal tenderness, and guarding. Dyspepsia, steatorrhea, discoloration of feces, and tenesmus were reported in 4% to 6% of patients.

Diarrhea was reported as an adverse event in 14% of patients, but since most of the patients had diarrhea as a symptom of carcinoid syndrome, it is difficult to assess the actual incidence of drug-related diarrhea. In carcinoid patients, where a diary was kept, pain at the injection site was reported by about 20%-25% at a 10-mg dose and about 30%-50% at the 20-mg and 30-mg dose. Antibodies to Octreotide Studies to date have shown that antibodies to octreotide develop in up to 25% of patients treated with octreotide acetate.

These antibodies do not influence the degree of efficacy response to octreotide; however, in two acromegalic patients who received Sandostatin Injection, the duration of GH suppression following each injection was about twice as long as in patients without antibodies. It has not been determined whether octreotide antibodies will also prolong the duration of GH suppression in patients being treated with SANDOSTATIN LAR DEPOT. Carcinoid and VIPomas The safety of SANDOSTATIN LAR DEPOT in the treatment of carcinoid tumors and VIPomas has been evaluated in one Phase 3 study.

All the patients had symptom control on their previous Sandostatin subcutaneous treatment. Eighty patients finished the initial 24 weeks of Sandostatin exposure in Study 1. In Study 1, comparable numbers of patients were randomized to each dose.

Table 4 below reflects the adverse events occurring in ≥ 15% of patients regardless of presumed causality to study drug. Table 4. Adverse Events Occurring in ≥ 15% of Carcinoid Tumor and VIPoma Patients in Study Gallbladder Abnormalities In clinical trials, 62% of malignant carcinoid patients, who received SANDOSTATIN LAR DEPOT for up to 18 months, developed new biliary abnormalities including jaundice, gallstones, sludge, and dilatation.

New gallstones occurred in a total of 24% of patients. Glucose Metabolism - Hypoglycemia/Hyperglycemia In carcinoid patients, hypoglycemia occurred in 4% and hyperglycemia in 27% of patients treated with SANDOSTATIN LAR DEPOT. Hypothyroidism In carcinoid patients, hypothyroidism has only been reported in isolated patients and goiter has not been reported.

Cardiac Electrocardiograms were performed only in carcinoid patients receiving SANDOSTATIN LAR DEPOT. In carcinoid syndrome patients, sinus bradycardia developed in 19%, conduction abnormalities occurred in 9%, and arrhythmias developed in 3%. Other Clinical Studies Adverse Events Other clinically significant adverse events (relationship to drug not established) in acromegalic and/or carcinoid syndrome patients receiving SANDOSTATIN LAR DEPOT were malignant hyperpyrexia, cerebral vascular disorder, rectal bleeding, ascites, pulmonary embolism, pneumonia, and pleural effusion.

Postmarketing Experience

The following adverse reactions have been identified during the postapproval use of SANDOSTATIN LAR DEPOT. Because these 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. Blood and lymphatic: pancytopenia, thrombocytopenia Cardiac: myocardial infarction, cardiac arrest, atrial fibrillation Ear and labyrinth: deafness Endocrine: diabetes insipidus, adrenal insufficiency in patients 18 months of age and under, pituitary apoplexy Eye: glaucoma, visual field defect, scotoma, retinal vein thrombosis Gastrointestinal: intestinal obstruction, peptic/gastric ulcer, abdomen enlarged, pancreatic exocrine insufficiency General and administration site: generalized edema, facial edema Hepatobiliary: gallbladder polyp, fatty liver, hepatitis Immune: anaphylactoid reactions including anaphylactic shock Infections and infestations: appendicitis Laboratory abnormalities: increased liver enzymes, CK increased, creatinine increased Metabolism and nutrition: diabetes mellitus Musculoskeletal: arthritis, joint effusion, Raynaud’s syndrome Nervous system: convulsions, aneurysm, intracranial hemorrhage, hemiparesis, paresis, suicide attempt, paranoia, migraines, Bell’s palsy, aphasia Renal and urinary: renal failure, renal insufficiency Reproductive and breast: gynecomastia, galactorrhea, libido decrease, breast carcinoma Respiratory: status asthmaticus, pulmonary hypertension, pulmonary nodule, pneumothorax aggravated Skin and subcutaneous tissue: urticaria, cellulitis, petechiae Vascular: orthostatic hypotension, hematuria, gastrointestinal hemorrhage, arterial thrombosis of the arm

Drug Interactions Octreotide has been associated with alterations in nutrient absorption, so it may have an effect on absorption of orally administered drugs. Concomitant administration of octreotide injection with cyclosporine may decrease blood levels of cyclosporine.

Pregnancy Risk Summary The limited data with SANDOSTATIN LAR DEPOT in pregnant women are insufficient to inform a drug-associated risk for major birth defects and miscarriage. In animal reproduction studies, no adverse developmental effects were observed with intravenous administration of octreotide to pregnant rats and rabbits during organogenesis at doses 7- and 13-times, respectively the maximum recommended human dose (MRHD) of 1.5 mg/day based on body surface area (BSA). Transient growth retardation, with no impact on postnatal development, was observed in rat offspring from a pre- and post-natal study of octreotide at intravenous doses below the MRHD based on BSA ( see Data ).

The estimated 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 respectively. Data Animal Data In embryo-fetal development studies in rats and rabbits, pregnant animals received intravenous doses of octreotide up to 1 mg/kg/day during the period of organogenesis.

A slight reduction in body weight gain was noted in pregnant rats at 0.1 and 1 mg/kg/day. There were no maternal effects in rabbits or embryo-fetal effects in either species up to the maximum dose tested. At 1 mg/kg/day in rats and rabbits, the dose multiple was approximately 7- and 13-times, respectively, at the highest recommended human dose of 1.5 mg/day based on BSA.

In a pre- and post-natal development rat study at intravenous doses of 0.02-1 mg/kg/day, a transient growth retardation of the offspring was observed at all doses which was possibly a consequence of growth hormone inhibition by octreotide. The doses attributed to the delayed growth are below the human dose of 1.5 mg/day, based on BSA.

Pediatric Use Safety and efficacy of SANDOSTATIN LAR DEPOT in the pediatric population have not been demonstrated. No formal controlled clinical trials have been performed to evaluate the safety and effectiveness of SANDOSTATIN LAR DEPOT in pediatric patients under 6 years of age. In postmarketing reports, serious adverse events, including hypoxia, necrotizing enterocolitis, and death, have been reported with Sandostatin use in children, most notably in children under 2 years of age.

The relationship of these events to octreotide acetate has not been established as the majority of these pediatric patients had serious underlying comorbid conditions. The efficacy and safety of SANDOSTATIN LAR DEPOT was examined in a single randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled, 6-month pharmacokinetics study in 60 pediatric patients age 6 to 17 years with hypothalamic obesity resulting from cranial insult. The mean octreotide concentration after 6 doses of 40 mg SANDOSTATIN LAR DEPOT administered by IM injection every four weeks was approximately 3 ng/mL.

Steady-state concentrations were achieved after 3 injections of a 40-mg dose. Efficacy was not demonstrated. Diarrhea occurred in 11 of 30 (37%) patients treated with SANDOSTATIN LAR DEPOT.

No unexpected adverse events were observed. However, with SANDOSTATIN LAR DEPOT 40 mg once a month, the incidence of new cholelithiasis in this pediatric population (33%) was higher than that seen in other adult indications, such as acromegaly (22%) or malignant carcinoid syndrome (24%), where SANDOSTATIN LAR DEPOT was dosed at 10 mg to 30 mg once a month.

Doses of 2.5 mg (2500 mcg) of Sandostatin Injection subcutaneously have caused hypoglycemia, flushing, dizziness, and nausea. Contact Poison Control (1-800-222-1222) for latest recommendations.