Taltz Drug Information

Plaque Psoriasis TALTZ ® is indicated for the treatment of patients 6 years of age and older with moderate-to-severe plaque psoriasis who are candidates for systemic therapy or phototherapy.

Psoriatic Arthritis TALTZ is indicated for the treatment of adult patients with active psoriatic arthritis.

Ankylosing Spondylitis TALTZ is indicated for the treatment of adult patients with active ankylosing spondylitis.

Non-radiographic Axial Spondyloarthritis TALTZ is indicated for the treatment of adult patients with active non-radiographic axial spondyloarthritis (nr-axSpA) with objective signs of inflammation.

Testing and Procedures Prior to Treatment Initiation Perform the following evaluations prior to TALTZ initiation: Evaluate patients for tuberculosis (TB) infection. TALTZ initiation is not recommended in patients with active TB infection. Initiate treatment of latent TB prior to initiation of TALTZ.

Complete all age-appropriate vaccinations as recommended by current immunization guidelines prior to initiating treatment with TALTZ.

Recommended Dosage in Adult Plaque Psoriasis TALTZ is administered by subcutaneous injection. The recommended dosage in pediatric patients from 6 to less than 18 years of age with moderate-to-severe plaque psoriasis is based on the following weight categories. For psoriatic arthritis patients with coexistent moderate-to-severe plaque psoriasis, use the dosing regimen for adult plaque psoriasis.

TALTZ may be administered alone or in combination with a conventional disease-modifying antirheumatic drug (cDMARD) (e.g., methotrexate).

Recommended Dosage in Ankylosing Spondylitis

The recommended dosage is 160 mg by subcutaneous injection (two 80 mg injections) at Week 0, followed by 80 mg every 4 weeks.

Recommended Dosage in Non-radiographic Axial Spondyloarthritis The recommended dosage is 80 mg by subcutaneous injection every 4 weeks.

Preparation and Administration Instructions TALTZ is intended for use under the guidance and supervision of a healthcare provider. Adult patients may self-inject or caregivers may give injections of TALTZ after training in subcutaneous injection technique using the autoinjector or prefilled syringe. Safety and effectiveness of pediatric self-administration has not been established.

Therefore, TALTZ should be administered to pediatric patients by a healthcare provider or by a caregiver who has received training and demonstrated proper subcutaneous injection technique. TALTZ 20 mg and 40 mg doses prepared from the TALTZ 80 mg/mL prefilled syringe should only be administered by a qualified healthcare professional. The TALTZ “Instructions for Use” contains more detailed instructions on the preparation and administration of TALTZ.

Before injection, remove TALTZ autoinjector or TALTZ prefilled syringe from the refrigerator and allow TALTZ to reach room temperature (30 minutes) without removing the needle cap. Inspect TALTZ visually for particulate matter and discoloration prior to administration. TALTZ is a clear and colorless to slightly yellow solution.

Do not use if the liquid contains visible particles, is discolored or cloudy (other than clear and colorless to slightly yellow). Administer each injection at a different anatomic location (such as upper arms, thighs or any quadrant of abdomen) than the previous injection, and not into areas where the skin is tender, bruised, erythematous, indurated or affected by psoriasis. Administration of TALTZ in the upper, outer arm may be performed by a caregiver or healthcare provider.

TALTZ does not contain preservatives, therefore discard any unused product. If a dose is missed, administer the dose as soon as possible. Thereafter, resume dosing at the regular scheduled time.

Alternative Preparation Instructions of TALTZ Doses for Pediatric Patients with Plaque Psoriasis Weighing 50 kg or Less If the 20 mg/0.25 mL or 40 mg/0.5 mL prefilled syringe is unavailable, TALTZ doses of 20 mg or 40 mg for pediatric patients with plaque psoriasis must be manually prepared according to the steps below using only the TALTZ 80 mg/mL prefilled syringe. The preparation and administration of the 20 mg and 40 mg doses should only be performed by a qualified healthcare professional. For additional preparation and administration instructions,.

Gather the following necessary supplies for preparation: 0.5 mL or 1 mL disposable syringe Sterile needle for withdrawal 27-gauge sterile needle for administration Sterile, clear glass vial. Expel the entire contents of the prefilled syringe into the sterile vial. DO NOT shake or swirl the vial.

Do not add other medications to solutions containing TALTZ. Remove the needle from the syringe and replace it with a 27-gauge needle prior to administering TALTZ. Storage of Prepared TALTZ If necessary, TALTZ 20 mg or 40 mg doses prepared from an 80 mg/mL prefilled syringe may be stored at room temperature for up to 4 hours from first puncturing the sterile vial.

Clinical Trials Experience

Because clinical trials are conducted under widely varying and controlled 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. Adult Plaque Psoriasis Weeks 0 to 12: Three placebo-controlled trials in subjects with plaque psoriasis were integrated to evaluate the safety of TALTZ compared to placebo for up to 12 weeks. In two of the trials, the safety of TALTZ (use up to 12 weeks) was also compared with an active comparator, U.S. approved etanercept.

Table 2 summarizes the adverse reactions that occurred at a rate of at least 1% and at a higher rate in the TALTZ group than in the placebo group during the 12-week placebo-controlled period of the pooled clinical trials. Table 2: Adverse Reactions Occurring in ≥1% of the TALTZ Group and More Frequently than in the Placebo Group in the Plaque Psoriasis Clinical Trials through Week 12 Adverse reactions that occurred at rates less than 1% in the TALTZ group and more frequently than in the placebo group during the 12-week induction period included rhinitis, oral candidiasis, urticaria, influenza, conjunctivitis, inflammatory bowel disease, and angioedema. Serious adverse events were reported in 4% of subjects treated with TALTZ (0.05 per subject-year of follow-up) and none in the subjects treated with placebo.

Specific Adverse Drug Reactions Injection Site Reactions The most frequent injection site reactions were erythema and pain. Most injection site reactions were mild-to-moderate in severity and did not lead to discontinuation of TALTZ. Infections In the 12-week, placebo-controlled period of the clinical trials in plaque psoriasis, infections occurred in 27% of subjects treated with TALTZ (1.2 per subject-year of follow-up) compared to 23% of subjects treated with placebo (1.0 per subject-year of follow-up).

Serious infections occurred in 0.9% of subjects treated with TALTZ (0.01 per subject-year of follow-up) and none in the subjects treated with placebo. Inflammatory Bowel Disease In adult subjects with plaque psoriasis, Crohn's disease and ulcerative colitis, including exacerbations, occurred at a greater frequency in the TALTZ 80 mg Q2W group (Crohn's disease 0.1%, ulcerative colitis 0.2%) than the placebo group (0%) during the 12-week, placebo-controlled period in clinical trials. Neutropenia in the TALTZ group was not associated with an increased rate of infection compared to the placebo group.

Thrombocytopenia in subjects treated with TALTZ was not associated with an increased rate of bleeding compared to subjects treated with placebo. Active Comparator Trials In the two clinical trials that included an active comparator, the rate of serious adverse events during weeks zero to twelve was 0.7% for U.S. approved etanercept and 2% for TALTZ 80 mg Q2W, and the rate of discontinuation from adverse events was 0.7% for U.S. approved etanercept and 2% for TALTZ 80 mg Q2W. The incidence of infections was 18% for U.S. approved etanercept and 26% for TALTZ 80 mg Q2W.

The rate of serious infections was 0.3% for both TALTZ 80 mg Q2W and U.S. approved etanercept. Pediatric Plaque Psoriasis TALTZ was evaluated in a placebo-controlled trial in pediatric subjects with moderate-to-severe psoriasis 6 to less than 18 years of age. A total of 171 subjects were studied (115 subjects on TALTZ and 56 subjects on placebo).

Overall, the safety profile observed in pediatric subjects with plaque psoriasis treated with TALTZ every 4 weeks is consistent with the safety profile in adult subjects with plaque psoriasis with the exception of the frequencies of conjunctivitis (2.6%), influenza (1.7%), and urticaria (1.7%). In this clinical trial, Crohn's disease occurred at a greater frequency in the TALTZ group (0.9%) than the placebo group (0%) during the 12-week, placebo-controlled period. Crohn's disease occurred in a total of 4 TALTZ treated subjects (2.0%) in the clinical trial.

Psoriatic Arthritis TALTZ was studied in two placebo-controlled trials in patients with psoriatic arthritis. A total of 678 patients were studied (454 patients on TALTZ and 224 on placebo). Overall, the safety profile observed in patients with psoriatic arthritis treated with TALTZ Q4W is consistent with the safety profile in adult patients with plaque psoriasis with the exception of the frequencies of influenza (1.3%) and conjunctivitis (1.3%).

Ankylosing Spondylitis TALTZ was studied in two placebo-controlled trials in patients with ankylosing spondylitis. A total of 566 patients were studied (376 patients on TALTZ and 190 on placebo). Overall, the safety profile observed in patients with ankylosing spondylitis treated with TALTZ Q4W is consistent with the safety profile in adult patients with plaque psoriasis.

Of these patients, serious events occurred in 1 patient in the TALTZ 80 mg Q4W group and 1 patient in the placebo group. Non-radiographic Axial Spondyloarthritis TALTZ was studied in a placebo-controlled trial in patients with non-radiographic axial spondyloarthritis. A total of 303 patients were studied (198 patients on TALTZ and 105 on placebo).

Overall, the safety profile observed in patients with non-radiographic axial spondyloarthritis treated with TALTZ 80 mg Q4W up to Week 16 is consistent with the previous experience of TALTZ in other indications.

Immunogenicity As with all therapeutic proteins there is the potential for immunogenicity with TALTZ. The assay to test for neutralizing antibodies has limitations detecting neutralizing antibodies in the presence of ixekizumab; therefore, the incidence of neutralizing antibodies development could be underestimated. Plaque Psoriasis Population By Week 12, approximately 9% of adult subjects treated with TALTZ every 2 weeks developed antibodies to ixekizumab.

Approximately 22% of subjects treated with TALTZ at the recommended dosing regimen developed antibodies to ixekizumab during the 60-week treatment period. The clinical effects of antibodies to ixekizumab are dependent on the antibody titer; higher antibody titers were associated with decreasing drug concentration and clinical response. Neutralizing antibodies were associated with reduced drug concentrations and loss of efficacy.

No conclusive evidence could be obtained on the potential association of neutralizing antibodies and clinical response and/or adverse events due to small number of pediatric subjects in the study. No patient had neutralizing antibodies. The detection of antibody formation is highly dependent on the sensitivity and specificity of the assay.

Additionally, the observed incidence of antibody (including neutralizing antibody) positivity in an assay may be influenced by several factors including assay methodology, sample handling, timing of sample collection, concomitant medications, and underlying disease. For these reasons, comparison of incidence of antibodies to TALTZ across indications or with the incidences of antibodies to other products may be misleading.

Postmarketing Experience

The following adverse reactions have been identified during post-approval use of TALTZ. Because the 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 TALTZ exposure. Immune system disorders: anaphylaxis.

Infections: bacterial, viral, and fungal opportunistic infections, including cryptococcal meningoencephalitis, esophageal and disseminated mucocutaneous candidiasis, pulmonary tuberculosis, toxoplasmosis, varicella zoster virus reactivation, cytomegalovirus colitis, pulmonary aspergillosis. Skin and subcutaneous tissue disorders: Eczematous eruptions (erythroderma, atopic dermatitis-like eruptions, and dyshidrotic eczema).

Pregnancy Pregnancy Exposure Registry There is a pregnancy exposure registry that monitors pregnancy outcomes in women exposed to TALTZ during pregnancy. Pregnant women exposed to TALTZ are encouraged to enroll in the TALTZ Pregnancy Registry by calling 1-800-284-1695. Contact information for the registry is also available on http://www.pregnancyregistry.lilly.com.

Risk Summary Available data from the published literature and the pharmacovigilance database with TALTZ use in pregnant women are insufficient to evaluate for a drug-associated risk of major birth defects, miscarriage or other adverse maternal or fetal outcomes. Human IgG is known to cross the placental barrier; therefore, TALTZ may be transmitted from the mother to the developing fetus. An embryofetal development study conducted in pregnant monkeys during organogenesis at doses up to 19 times the maximum recommended human dose (MRHD) revealed no evidence of harm to the developing fetus.

When dosing was continued until parturition, neonatal deaths were observed at 1.9 times the MRHD. The clinical significance of these nonclinical findings is unknown. The background risk of major birth defects and miscarriage for the indicated population is unknown.

All pregnancies have a background risk of birth defect, loss, or other adverse outcomes. 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 An embryofetal development study was conducted in cynomolgus monkeys administered ixekizumab.

No malformations or embryofetal toxicity were observed in fetuses from pregnant monkeys administered ixekizumab weekly by subcutaneous injection during organogenesis to near parturition at doses up to 19 times the MRHD (on a mg/kg basis of 50 mg/kg/week). Ixekizumab crossed the placenta in monkeys. In a pre- and post-natal development toxicity study, pregnant cynomolgus monkeys were administered weekly subcutaneous doses of ixekizumab up to 19 times the MRHD from the beginning of organogenesis to parturition.

Neonatal deaths occurred in the offspring of two monkeys administered ixekizumab at 1.9 times the MRHD (on a mg/kg basis of 5 mg/kg/week) and two monkeys administered ixekizumab at 19 times the MRHD (on a mg/kg basis of 50 mg/kg/week). These neonatal deaths were attributed to early delivery, trauma, or congenital defect. No ixekizumab-related effects on functional or immunological development were observed in the surviving infants from birth through 6 months of age.

Pediatric Use The safety and effectiveness of TALTZ have been established in pediatric subjects aged 6 years to less than 18 years with moderate-to-severe plaque psoriasis. The safety and effectiveness of TALTZ in other pediatric indications and for pediatric subjects less than 6 years of age have not been established.

TALTZ is contraindicated in patients with a previous serious hypersensitivity reaction, such as anaphylaxis, to ixekizumab or to any of the excipients.