Syfovre Drug Information
Generic name: PEGCETACOPLAN
Complement Inhibitor [EPC]
Uses of Syfovre
SYFOVRE is indicated for the treatment of geographic atrophy (GA) secondary to age-related macular degeneration (AMD).
Dosage & Administration of Syfovre
Any excess volume should be disposed. Ensure that the injection is given immediately after the preparation of the dose. Prior to the intravitreal injection, patients should be monitored for elevated intraocular pressure (IOP) using tonometry.
If necessary, ocular hypotensive medication can be given to lower the IOP. The intravitreal injection procedure should be carried out under aseptic conditions, which includes the use of surgical hand disinfection, sterile gloves, a sterile drape, and a sterile eyelid speculum (or equivalent). Adequate anesthesia and a broad-spectrum topical microbicide to disinfect the periocular skin, eyelid, and ocular surface should be administered prior to the injection.
Inject slowly until the rubber stopper reaches the end of the syringe to deliver the volume of 0.1 mL. Confirm delivery of the full dose by checking that the rubber stopper has reached the end of the syringe barrel. Immediately following the intravitreal injection, patients should be monitored for elevations in IOP.
Additional evaluation may include checking for perfusion of the optic nerve head and tonometry. Following intravitreal injection patients should be instructed to report any symptoms suggestive of endophthalmitis (e.g., eye pain, redness of the eye, photophobia, blurring of vision) without delay. Each vial should only be used for the treatment of a single eye.
If the fellow eye requires treatment, a new sterile, vial should be used and the sterile field, syringe, gloves, drapes, eyelid speculum, filter, and injection needles should be changed before SYFOVRE administration. Repeat same procedure steps as above. Any unused medicinal product or waste material should be disposed of in accordance with local regulations.
| Store SYFOVRE in the refrigerator between 2°C to 8°C (36°F to 46°F); Keep the vial in the original carton to protect from light. SYFOVRE is available packaged as follows: Vial Only Vial Kit with Injection Components (filter needle, syringe, injection needle) | |
| Remove the carton from the refrigerator. Keep the vial in the original carton at room temperature 20°C to 25°C (68°F to 77°F), for at least 15 minutes prior to injection, but no longer than 8 hours. Fill the syringe immediately prior to the injection. | |
| Do not shake the vial. The vial is for use in a single eye. | |
| Inspect the solution. It is a clear, colorless to light yellow aqueous solution. Do not use if: particulates, cloudiness, or discoloration are visible, the vial shows signs of damage or tampering, the expiration date has passed the packaging or components show signs of damage or tampering |
| STEP 1 Gather the supplies needed: | |||
| One SYFOVRE vial One sterile 5-micron filter needle One sterile 1-mL Luer-lock syringe with a 0.1 mL dose mark One sterile ½ inch: 29-gauge (extra) thin-wall injection needle with Luer-lock hub (included with vial kit) or a 27-gauge needle with Luer-lock hub (not included) Note: Increased injection forces and/or increased injection time could be experienced if a smaller diameter injection needle is used (e.g., 30-gauge) Alcohol swab ( not included ) | |||
| Use aseptic technique to carry out the following preparation steps: | |||
| STEP 2 Remove the flip-off cap from the vial (see Figure 1a ) and clean the vial septum with an alcohol swab and wait for the alcohol to dry out (see Figure 1b ). | |||
| Figure 1a: | Figure 1b: | ||
| STEP 3 Attach the 5-micron filter needle onto a 1-mL Luer-lock syringe (see Figure 2 ) by twisting it onto the Luer-lock syringe tip. | |||
| Figure 2: | |||
| STEP 4 Push the filter needle into the center of the vial septum until the needle is submerged in the drug product to prevent withdrawal of air (see Figure 3a ). To withdraw the entire contents of the vial into the syringe, hold the vial at a slightly inclined position. Withdraw the drug product slowly to prevent air bubbles. Continue to tilt the vial during withdrawal keeping the bevel of the filter needle submerged in the liquid until all of the fluid is withdrawn from the vial (see Figure 3b ). *Do not tap the syringe to remove air bubbles. While maintaining the filter needle within the vial, invert the syringe and move the plunger down and up until bubbles move to the top (see Figure 3c ). | |||
| Figure 3a: | Figure 3b: | ||
| Figure 3c: | |||
| STEP 5 Using aseptic technique, disconnect the filter needle from the syringe and dispose of it. Do not use the filter needle for injection. | |||
| STEP 6 Aseptically and firmly attach the injection needle onto the 1-mL Luer-lock syringe (see Figure 4 ). | |||
| Figure 4: | |||
| STEP 7 Check for air bubbles by holding the syringe with the needle pointing up. Do not tap the syringe to remove air bubbles. If there are any air bubbles, remove the needle cap and with the needle end facing up gently advance the plunger to the 0.1 mL dose mark (see Figure 5 ). Only 0.1 mL (15 mg of SYFOVRE) should be administered to deliver a single dose. Any excess volume should be disposed. The syringe is ready for injection. | |||
| Figure 5: | |||
Side Effects of Syfovre
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. Four hundred nineteen of these patients were treated in the affected eye monthly and 420 were treated in the affected eye every other month. Four hundred seventeen patients were assigned to sham.
The most common adverse reactions (≥5%) reported in patients receiving SYFOVRE were ocular discomfort, neovascular age-related macular degeneration, vitreous floaters, and conjunctival hemorrhage. Table 1: Adverse Reactions in Study Eye Reported in ≥2% of Patients Treated with SYFOVRE Through Month 24 in Studies OAKS and DERBY Endophthalmitis, retinal detachment, hyphema and retinal tears were reported in less than 1% of patients. Optic ischemic neuropathy was reported in 1.7% of patients treated monthly, 0.2% of patients treated every other month and 0.0% of patients assigned to sham.
Deaths were reported in 6.7% of patients treated monthly, 3.6% of patients treated every other month and 3.8% of patients assigned to sham. The rates and causes of death were consistent with the elderly study population.
Postmarketing Experience
The following adverse reactions have been identified during postapproval use of SYFOVRE. 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. Eye disorders: retinal vasculitis with or without retinal vascular occlusion.
Systemic reactions: anaphylaxis, rash, and urticaria.
| Adverse Reactions | PM (N = 419) % | PEOM (N = 420) % | Sham Pooled (N = 417) % |
|---|---|---|---|
| PM: SYFOVRE monthly; PEOM: SYFOVRE every other month | |||
| Ocular discomfort The following reported terms were combined: Ocular discomfort included: eye pain, eye irritation, foreign body sensation in eyes, ocular discomfort, abnormal sensation in eye Neovascular age-related macular degeneration included: exudative age-related macular degeneration, choroidal neovascularization Punctate keratitis included: punctate keratitis, keratitis Intraocular inflammation included: vitritis, vitreal cells, iridocyclitis, uveitis, anterior chamber cells, iritis, anterior chamber flare | 13 | 10 | 11 |
| Neovascular age-related macular degeneration | 12 | 7 | 3 |
| Vitreous floaters | 10 | 7 | 1 |
| Conjunctival hemorrhage | 8 | 8 | 4 |
| Vitreous detachment | 4 | 6 | 3 |
| Retinal hemorrhage | 4 | 5 | 3 |
| Punctate keratitis | 5 | 3 | <1 |
| Posterior capsule opacification | 4 | 4 | 3 |
| Intraocular inflammation | 4 | 2 | <1 |
| Intraocular pressure increased | 2 | 3 | <1 |
Warnings & Cautions for Syfovre
Endophthalmitis and Retinal Detachments
Intravitreal injections, including those with SYFOVRE, may be associated with endophthalmitis and retinal detachments. Proper aseptic injection technique must always be used when administering SYFOVRE in order to minimize the risk of endophthalmitis. Patients should be instructed to report any symptoms suggestive of endophthalmitis or retinal detachment without delay and should be managed appropriately.
Retinal
Vasculitis and/or Retinal Vascular Occlusion Retinal vasculitis and/or retinal vascular occlusion, typically in the presence of intraocular inflammation, have been reported with the use of SYFOVRE. Cases may occur with the first dose of SYFOVRE and may result in severe vision loss. Discontinue treatment with SYFOVRE in patients who develop these events.
Patients should be instructed to report any change in vision without delay.
Neovascular AMD
In clinical trials, use of SYFOVRE was associated with increased rates of neovascular (wet) AMD or choroidal neovascularization (12% when administered monthly, 7% when administered every other month and 3% in the control group) by Month 24. Patients receiving SYFOVRE should be monitored for signs of neovascular AMD. In case anti-Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor (anti-VEGF) is required, it should be given separately from SYFOVRE administration.
Intraocular Inflammation
In clinical trials, use of SYFOVRE was associated with episodes of intraocular inflammation including: vitritis, vitreal cells, iridocyclitis, uveitis, anterior chamber cells, iritis, and anterior chamber flare. After inflammation resolves patients may resume treatment with SYFOVRE.
Increased Intraocular Pressure
Acute increase in IOP may occur within minutes of any intravitreal injection, including with SYFOVRE. Perfusion of the optic nerve head should be monitored following the injection and managed as needed.
Pregnancy Safety for Syfovre
Pregnancy Risk Summary There are no adequate and well-controlled studies of SYFOVRE administration in pregnant women to inform a drug-associated risk. The use of SYFOVRE may be considered following an assessment of the risks and benefits. Systemic exposure of SYFOVRE following ocular administration is low.
Subcutaneous administration of pegcetacoplan to pregnant monkeys from the mid gestation period through birth resulted in increased incidences of abortions and stillbirths at systemic exposures 1040-fold higher than that observed in humans at the maximum recommended human ophthalmic dose (MRHOD) of SYFOVRE (based on the area under the curve (AUC) systemically measured levels). No adverse maternal or fetal effects were observed in monkeys at systemic exposures approximately 470-fold higher than that observed in humans at the MRHOD (see Data ). In the U.S. general population, the estimated background risk of major birth defects and miscarriage in clinically recognized pregnancies is 2-4% and 15-20%, respectively.
Data Animal Data In embryofetal development studies, subcutaneous administration of pegcetacoplan to pregnant cynomolgus monkeys from the mid gestation period through birth produced increased incidences of abortions and stillbirths at doses of 28 mg/kg/day. Pegcetacoplan was not maternally toxic and did not produce adverse embryofetal effects in the monkey at subcutaneous doses of 7 mg/kg/day. (approximately 470-fold higher than the MRHOD). No developmental effects were observed in infants up to 6 months postpartum.
Minimal systemic exposure to pegcetacoplan (less than 1%, not pharmacologically significant) was detected in fetuses from monkeys treated subcutaneously with 28 mg/kg/day from the period of organogenesis through the second trimester.
Pediatric Use of Syfovre
Pediatric Use The safety and effectiveness of SYFOVRE in pediatric patients have not been established.
Contraindications for Syfovre
Ocular or Periocular Infections SYFOVRE is contraindicated in patients with ocular or periocular infections.
Active Intraocular Inflammation SYFOVRE is contraindicated in patients with active intraocular inflammation.
Hypersensitivity SYFOVRE is contraindicated in patients with hypersensitivity to pegcetacoplan or to any of the excipients in SYFOVRE. Systemic hypersensitivity reactions (e.g., anaphylaxis, rash, urticaria) have occurred in patients treated with SYFOVRE.
Clinical Studies of Syfovre
The safety and efficacy of SYFOVRE were assessed in two multi-center, randomized, sham-controlled studies in patients with GA (atrophic nonexudative age-related macular degeneration), with or without subfoveal involvement, secondary to AMD in a total of 1258 randomized patients (SYFOVRE 839 patients, sham 419 patients). Studies OAKS (APL2-304; NCT03525613) and DERBY (APL2-303; NCT03525600) were 24 months in duration, in which patients received treatment for the entire length of the study. Patient ages ranged from 60 to 100 years with a mean of 78.7 years.
Mean (standard deviation) total area of GA lesions(s) at baseline in the study eye (in mm 2 ) were 8.23 and 8.29 for OAKS and DERBY respectively. There was a reduction in the mean rate of GA lesion growth observed in both studies. Detailed results are shown in Table 2 and Figures 1 and 2.
Table 2: Analysis of Change from Baseline in Study Eye GA Lesion Area Measured by FAF in Studies OAKS and DERBY Figure 1: Mean Rate of Change from Baseline in Study Eye GA Lesion Area Measured by FAF in OAKS GA: Geographic atrophy; FAF: fundus autofluorescence; PM: SYFOVRE monthly; PEOM: SYFOVRE every other month; SE: standard error. The model included effects for treatment, baseline GA lesion area, time terms, presence of choroidal neovascularization in the fellow eye (yes or no), time terms by treatment interactions, and time terms by baseline GA lesion area interactions. Figure 1 Figure 2
| Time Period | Group | Rate of GA Lesion Area Growth (mm 2 ) Based on a mixed effects model for repeated measures assuming a piecewise linear trend in time with knots at Month 6, Month 12, and Month 18. The model included effects for treatment, baseline GA lesion area (<7.5 mm 2 or ≥7.5 mm 2 ), time terms, presence of choroidal neovascularization in the fellow eye (yes or no), time terms by treatment interactions, and time terms by baseline GA lesion area (<7.5 mm 2 or ≥7.5 mm 2 ) interactions. Time terms include a linear effect of time for each 6-month time period. | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Slope (SE) | Difference (95% CI) in Slope from Sham Pooled | Percent Difference from Sham Pooled | ||
| GA: Geographic atrophy; FAF: fundus autofluorescence; PM: SYFOVRE monthly; PEOM: SYFOVRE every other month; SE: standard error; CI: confidence interval | ||||
| OAKS (PM: N=202; PEOM: N=205; Sham Pooled: N=207) | ||||
| Baseline to Month 24 Slope for baseline to Month 24 is an average of slope of baseline to Month 6, Month 6 to Month 12, Month 12 to Month 18, and Month 18 to Month 24. | PM | 3.11 (0.148) | −0.87 (−1.27 to −0.47) | −21.9% |
| PEOM | 3.26 (0.134) | −0.72 (−1.10 to −0.33) | −18.1% | |
| Sham Pooled | 3.98 (0.143) | NA | ||
| Baseline to Month 6 | PM | 0.76 (0.046) | −0.22 (−0.35 to −0.09) | −22.7% |
| PEOM | 0.82 (0.043) | −0.16 (−0.29 to −0.04) | −16.4% | |
| Sham Pooled | 0.98 (0.047) | NA | ||
| Month 6 to Month 12 | PM | 0.78 (0.060) | −0.19 (−0.34 to −0.03) | −19.2% |
| PEOM | 0.82 (0.057) | −0.15 (−0.30 to −0.00) | −15.7% | |
| Sham Pooled | 0.97 (0.052) | NA | ||
| Month 12 to Month 18 | PM | 0.80 (0.050) | −0.23 (−0.37 to −0.08) | −22.1% |
| PEOM | 0.87 (0.050) | −0.16 (−0.30 to −0.02) | −15.4% | |
| Sham Pooled | 1.03 (0.053) | NA | ||
| Month 18 to Month 24 | PM | 0.76 (0.067) | −0.23 (−0.41 to −0.06) | −23.5% |
| PEOM | 0.75 (0.044) | −0.25 (−0.39 to −0.10) | −24.7% | |
| Sham Pooled | 1.00 (0.058) | NA | ||
| DERBY (PM: N=201; PEOM: N=201; Sham Pooled: N=195) | ||||
| Baseline to Month 24 | PM | 3.28 (0.125) | −0.73 (−1.14 to −0.31) | −18.1% |
| PEOM | 3.31 (0.129) | −0.70 (−1.11 to −0.28) | −17.4% | |
| Sham Pooled | 4.00 (0.169) | NA | ||
| Baseline to Month 6 | PM | 0.91 (0.048) | −0.05 (−0.19 to 0.08) | −5.7% |
| PEOM | 0.88 (0.047) | −0.08 (−0.21 to 0.05) | −8.2% | |
| Sham Pooled | 0.96 (0.050) | NA | ||
| Month 6 to Month 12 | PM | 0.84 (0.051) | −0.17 (−0.33 to −0.02) | −17.0% |
| PEOM | 0.85 (0.051) | −0.17 (−0.32 to −0.01) | −16.4% | |
| Sham Pooled | 1.01 (0.060) | NA | ||
| Month 12 to Month 18 | PM | 0.90 (0.049) | −0.14 (−0.29 to 0.00) | −13.8% |
| PEOM | 0.88 (0.051) | −0.17 (−0.32 to −0.02) | −16.0% | |
| Sham Pooled | 1.05 (0.056) | NA | ||
| Month 18 to Month 24 | PM | 0.63 (0.068) | −0.35 (−0.52 to −0.18) | −36.1% |
| PEOM | 0.69 (0.053) | −0.28 (−0.43 to −0.14) | −29.1% | |
| Sham Pooled | 0.98 (0.055) | NA | ||
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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