One patient who received 3 mg/kg of BRINAVESS over 5 minutes (instead of the recommended 10 minutes) developed haemodynamically stable wide complex tachycardia which resolved without sequelae.
4 years.
The diluted sterile concentrate is chemically and physically stable for 12 hours at or below 25°C.
From a microbiological point of view, the medicinal product should be used immediately. If not used immediately, in-use storage times and conditions prior to use are the responsibility of the user and would normally not be longer than 24 hours at 2 °C to 8 °C, unless dilution has taken place in controlled and validated aseptic conditions.
-
- Patients with severe aortic stenosis, patients with systolic blood pressure < 100 mm Hg, and patients with heart failure class NYHA III and NYHA IV.
- Patients with prolonged QT at baseline (uncorrected > 440 msec), or severe bradycardia, sinus node dysfunction or second degree and third degree heart block in the absence of a pacemaker.
- Use of intravenous rhythm control antiarrhythmics (class I and class III) within 4 hours prior to, as well as in the first 4 hours after, BRINAVESS administration.
- Acute coronary syndrome (including myocardial infarction) within the last 30 days.
Citric acid (E330)
Sodium chloride
Water for injections
Sodium hydroxide (E524) (for pH-adjustment)
Concentrate for solution for infusion (sterile concentrate).
Clear and colourless to pale yellow solution with a pH of approximately 5.5.
The osmolality of the medicinal product is controlled between the following range:
270-320 mOsmol/kg
Summary of the safety profile
The safety of BRINAVESS has been evaluated in clinical studies involving 1148 subjects (patients and healthy volunteers) who received treatment with BRINAVESS. Based on data from 1018 patients in eight phase 2 and phase 3 trials, the most commonly reported adverse reactions (> 5%) seen in the first 24 hours after receiving BRINAVESS were dysgeusia (taste disturbance) (16.0%), sneezing (12.5%), and paraesthesia (6.9%). These reactions occurred around the time of infusion, were transient and were rarely treatment limiting.
Tabulated list of adverse reactions
Frequencies are defined as: very common (> 1/10); common (> 1/100 to < 1/10); uncommon (> 1/1,000 to < 1/100); rare (> 1/10,000 to < 1/1,000); very rare (< 1/10,000) and not known (cannot be estimated from the available data)
Table 1:
Adverse reactions with BRINAVESS *
| Nervous system disorders | Very common: Dysgeusia Common: Paraesthesia; dizziness; headache, hypoaesthesia Uncommon: Burning sensation; parosmia; somnolence; vasovagal syncope |
| Eye disorders | Uncommon: Eye irritation; lacrimation increased; visual impairment |
| Cardiac disorders | Common: Bradycardia**; atrial flutter** Uncommon: Sinus arrest; complete AV block; first degree AV block; left bundle branch block; right bundle branch block; ventricular extrasystoles; palpitations; sinus bradycardia; ventricular tachycardia; ECG QRS complex prolonged; ECG QT prolonged, cardiogenic shock |
| Vascular disorders | Common: Hypotension Uncommon: Flushing; hot flush; pallor |
| Respiratory, thoracic and mediastinal disorders | Very common: Sneezing Common: Cough; nasal discomfort Uncommon: Dyspnoea; suffocation feeling; rhinorrhoea; throat irritation; choking sensation; nasal congestion |
| Gastrointestinal disorders | Common: Nausea; vomiting; paraesthesia oral Uncommon: Diarrhoea; defecation urgency; dry mouth; hypoaesthesia oral |
| Skin and subcutaneous tissue disorders | Common: Pruritus; hyperhidrosis Uncommon: Generalised pruritus; cold sweat |
| Musculoskeletal and connective tissue disorders | Uncommon: Pain in extremity |
| General disorders and administrative site conditions | Common: Infusion site pain; feeling hot Uncommon: Infusion site irritation; infusion site hypersensitivity; infusion site paraesthesia; malaise; chest discomfort; fatigue |
*The adverse reactions included in the table occurred within 24 hours of administration of BRINAVESS
**see section below
Description of selected adverse reactions
Clinically significant adverse reactions observed in clinical trials included hypotension and ventricular arrhythmia. (see sections 4.4 Hypotension, Congestive Heart Failure).
Bradycardia was observed predominantly at the time of conversion to sinus rhythm. With a significantly higher conversion rate in patients treated with BRINAVESS, the incidence of bradycardia events was higher within the first 2 hours in vernakalant treated patients than in placebo-treated patients (5.4% versus 3.8%, respectively). Of the patients who did not convert to sinus rhythm, the incidence of bradycardia events in the first 2 hours post-dose was similar in placebo and vernakalant treated groups (4.0% and 3.8%, respectively). In general, bradycardia responded well to discontinuation of BRINAVESS and/or administration of atropine.
Atrial Flutter
Atrial fibrillation patients receiving BRINAVESS have a higher incidence of converting to atrial flutter within the first 2 hours post-dose (10% versus 2.5% in placebo). With continuation of the medicine infusion as recommended above, the majority of these patients continue to convert to sinus rhythm. In the remaining patients, electrical cardioversion can be recommended. In clinical studies to date, patients who developed atrial flutter following treatment with BRINAVESS did not develop 1:1 atrioventricular conduction. However, in post-marketing experience very rare cases of atrial flutter with 1:1 atrioventricular conduction are observed.
Reporting of suspected adverse reactions
Reporting suspected adverse reactions after authorisation of the medicinal product is important. It allows continued monitoring of the benefit/risk balance of the medicinal product. Healthcare professionals are asked to report any suspected adverse reactions via the national reporting system listed in Appendix V.
Non-clinical data revealed no special hazard for humans based on conventional studies of safety pharmacology, single- and repeated-dose toxicity, and genotoxicity.
With respect to reproduction no effects on pregnancy, embryo-foetal development, parturition or postnatal development were observed after intravenous administration of vernakalant at exposure levels (AUC) similar or below the human exposure levels (AUC) achieved after a single intravenous dose of vernakalant. In embryo-foetal development studies with oral administration of vernakalant two times a day resulting in exposure levels (AUC) generally higher than those achieved in humans after a single intravenous dose of vernakalant malformations (misshapen/absent/fused skull bones including cleft palates, bent radius, bent/misshapen scapula, constricted trachea, absent thyroid, undescendent testes) occurred in rats and increased embryo-foetal lethality, increased number of foetuses with fused and/or additional sternebrae were seen in rabbits at the highest doses tested.
Rapid conversion of recent onset atrial fibrillation to sinus rhythm in adults
-For non-surgery patients: atrial fibrillation ≤ 7 days duration
-For post-cardiac surgery patients: atrial fibrillation ≤ 3 days duration
Pharmacotherapeutic group: Cardiac therapy, other antiarrhythmics class I and III; ATC code: C01BG11.
Mechanism of action
Vernakalant is an antiarrhythmic medicine that acts preferentially in the atria to prolong atrial refractoriness and to rate-dependently slow impulse conduction. These anti-fibrillatory actions on refractoriness and conduction are thought to suppress re-entry, and are potentiated in the atria during atrial fibrillation. The relative selectivity of vernakalant on atrial versus ventricular refractoriness is postulated to result from the block of currents that are expressed in the atria, but not in the ventricles, as well as the unique electrophysiologic condition of the fibrillating atria. However, blockade of cationic currents, including hERG channels and cardiac voltage-dependent sodium channels, which are present in the ventricles has been documented.
Pharmacodynamics effects
In preclinical studies, vernakalant blocks currents in all phases of the atrial action potential, including potassium currents that are expressed specifically in the atria (e.g., the ultra-rapid delayed rectifier and the acetylcholine dependent potassium currents). During atrial fibrillation, the frequency- and voltage-dependent block of sodium channels further focuses the action of the medicine toward rapidly activating and partially depolarized atrial tissue rather than toward the normally polarized ventricle beating at lower heart rates. Additionally, the ability of vernakalant to block the late component of the sodium current limits effects on ventricular repolarisation induced by blockade of potassium currents in the ventricle. Targeted effects on atrial tissue coupled with block of late sodium current suggests that vernakalant has a low proarrhythmic potential. Overall, the combination of effects of vernakalant on cardiac potassium and sodium currents results in substantial antiarrhythmic effects that are mainly concentrated in the atria.
In an electrophysiological study in patients, vernakalant significantly prolonged atrial effective refractory period in a dose-dependent manner, which was not associated with a significant increase in ventricular effective refractory period. Across the Phase 3 population, vernakalant treated patients had an increase in heart rate-corrected QT (using Fridericia's correction, QTcF) compared to placebo (22.1 msec and 18.8 msec placebo-subtracted peaks after first and second infusions, respectively). By 90 minutes after the start of infusion, this difference was reduced to 8.1 msec.
Clinical efficacy and safety
Clinical Trial Design: The clinical effect of BRINAVESS in the treatment of patients with atrial fibrillation has been evaluated in three, randomised, double-blind, placebo-controlled studies, (ACT I, ACT II and ACT III) and in an active comparator trial versus intravenous amiodarone (AVRO). Some patients with typical atrial flutter were included in ACT II and ACT III and BRINAVESS was not found to be effective in converting atrial flutter. In clinical studies, the need for anticoagulation prior to administration of vernakalant was assessed as per clinical practice of the treating physician. For atrial fibrillation lasting less than 48 hours, immediate cardioversion was allowed. For atrial fibrillation lasting longer than 48 hours, anticoagulation was required as per treatment guidelines.
ACT I and ACT III studied the effect of BRINAVESS in the treatment of patients with sustained atrial fibrillation > 3 hours but not more than 45 days in duration. ACT II examined the effect of BRINAVESS on patients who developed atrial fibrillation of < 3 days duration after recently undergoing coronary artery bypass graft, (CABG) and/or valvular surgery (atrial fibrillation occurred more than 1 day but less than 7 days after surgery). AVRO studied the effect of vernakalant versus intravenous amiodarone in patients with recent onset atrial fibrillation (3 hrs to 48 hrs). In all studies, patients received a 10-minute infusion of 3.0 mg/kg BRINAVESS (or matching placebo) followed by a 15-minute observation period. If the patient was in atrial fibrillation or atrial flutter at the end of the 15-minute observation period, a second 10-minute infusion of 2.0 mg/kg BRINAVESS (or matching placebo) was administered. Treatment success (responder) was defined as conversion of atrial fibrillation to sinus rhythm within 90 minutes. Patients who did not respond to treatment were managed by the physician using standard care.
Efficacy in patients with sustained atrial fibrillation, (ACT I and ACT III)
Primary efficacy endpoint was the proportion of subjects with short duration atrial fibrillation (3 hours to 7 days) who had a treatment-induced conversion of atrial fibrillation to sinus rhythm for a minimum duration of one minute within 90 minutes of first exposure to study drug. Efficacy was studied in a total of 390 haemodynamically stable adult patients with short duration atrial fibrillation including patients with hypertension (40.5%), ischaemic heart disease (12.8%), valvular heart disease (9.2%) and CHF (10.8%). In these studies treatment with BRINAVESS effectively converted atrial fibrillation to sinus rhythm as compared with placebo (see Table 2). Conversion of atrial fibrillation to sinus rhythm occurred rapidly (in responders the median time to conversion was 10 minutes from start of first infusion) and sinus rhythm was maintained through 24 hours (97%). The vernakalant dose recommendation is a titrated therapy with two possible dose steps. In the performed clinical studies, the additive effect of the second dose, if any, cannot be independently established.
Table 2: Conversion of Atrial Fibrillation to Sinus Rhythm in ACT I and ACT III
| Duration of Atrial Fibrillation | ACT I | ACT III | ||||
| BRINAVESS | Placebo | P-Value†| BRINAVESS | Placebo | P-Value†| |
| > 3 hours to ≤ 7 days | 74/145 (51.0%) | 3/75 (4.0%) | < 0.0001 | 44/86 (51.2%) | 3/84 (3.6%) | < 0.0001 |
†Cochran-Mantel-Haenszel test
BRINAVESS was shown to provide relief of atrial fibrillation symptoms consistent with conversion to sinus rhythm.
No significant differences in safety or effectiveness were observed based on age, gender, use of rate control medications, use of antiarrhythmic medications, use of warfarin, history of ischaemic heart disease, renal impairment or expression of the cytochrome P450 2D6 enzyme.
Treatment with BRINAVESS did not affect the response rate to electrical cardioversion (including the median number of shocks or joules required for successful cardioversion) in cases when attempted within 2 to 24 hours of study medicine administration.
Conversion of atrial fibrillation in patients with longer-duration atrial fibrillation (> 7 days and ≤ 45 days) assessed as a secondary efficacy endpoint in a total of 185 patients did not show statistically significant differences between BRINAVESS and placebo.
Efficacy in patients who developed atrial fibrillation post cardiac surgery (ACT II)
Efficacy was studied in patients with atrial fibrillation after cardiac surgery in ACT II, a phase 3, double-blind, placebo-controlled, parallel group study (ACT II) in 150 patients with sustained atrial fibrillation (3 hours to 72 hours duration) that occurred between 24 hours and 7 days post coronary artery bypass graft and/or valvular surgery. Treatment with BRINAVESS effectively converted atrial fibrillation to sinus rhythm (47.0% BRINAVESS, 14.0% placebo; P value = 0.0001). Conversion of atrial fibrillation to sinus rhythm occurred rapidly (median time to conversion 12 minutes from the start of infusion).
Efficacy versus amiodarone (AVRO):
Vernakalant was studied in 116 pts with atrial fibrillation (3 hrs to 48 hrs) including patients with hypertension (74.1%), IHD (19%), valvular heart disease (3.4%) and CHF (17.2%). No patients with NYHA III/IV were included in the study. In AVRO, the amiodarone infusion was given over 2 hours (i.e., 1 hour loading dose of 5 mg/kg, followed by 1 hour maintenance infusion of 50 mg). The primary endpoint was the proportion of patients that achieved sinus rhythm (SR) at 90 minutes after initiating therapy, limiting the conclusions to the effects seen in this time window. Treatment with vernakalant, converted 51.7% of patients to SR at 90 minutes versus 5.2% with amiodarone resulting in a significantly faster conversion rate from AF to SR within the first 90 minutes compared to amiodarone (log-rank P-value < 0.0001).
Paediatric population
).
Absorption
In patients, average peak plasma concentrations of vernakalant were 3.9 μg/ml following a single 10 minute infusion of 3 mg/kg vernakalant hydrochloride, and 4.3 μg/ml following a second infusion of 2 mg/kg with a 15 minute interval between doses.
Distribution
Vernakalant is extensively and rapidly distributed in the body, with a volume of distribution of approximately 2 l/kg. The Cmax and AUC were dose proportional between 0.5 mg/kg and 5 mg/kg. In patients, the typical total body clearance of vernakalant was estimated to be 0.41 l/hr/kg. The free fraction of vernakalant in human serum is 53-63% at concentration range of 1-5 μg/ml.
Elimination/excretion
Vernakalant is mainly eliminated by CYP2D6 mediated O-demethylation in CYP2D6 extensive metabolisers. Glucuronidation and renal excretion are the main mechanisms of elimination in CYP2D6 poor metabolisers. The mean elimination half-life of vernakalant in patients was approximately 3 hours in CYP2D6 extensive metabolisers and approximately 5.5 hours in poor metabolisers.
Special patient groups
Acute exposure is not significantly influenced by gender, history of congestive heart failure, renal impairment, or concomitant administration of beta blockers and other medications, including warfarin, metoprolol, furosemide and digoxin. In patients with hepatic impairment, exposures were elevated by 9 to 25%. No dose adjustment of BRINAVESS is required for these conditions, nor on the basis of age, serum creatinine or CYP2D6 metaboliser status.
Detailed information on this medicinal product is available on the website of the European Medicines Agency http://www.ema.europa.eu.
BRINAVESS 20 mg/ml concentrate for solution for infusion
Cardiome UK Limited
Lakeside House
1 Furzeground Way
Stockley Park
Uxbridge
Middlesex
UB11 1BD
United Kingdom
This medicinal product does not require any special storage conditions.
Single-use glass (Type 1) vials with a chlorobutyl rubber stopper and an aluminium overseal. Pack size of 1 vial includes either 10 ml or 25 ml of concentrate.
Not all pack sizes may be marketed.
EU/1/10/645/001
EU/1/10/645/002
Pregnancy
There are no data from the use of vernakalant hydrochloride in pregnant women. Animal studies have shown malformations after repeated oral exposure. As a precautionary measure, it is preferable to avoid the use of vernakalant during pregnancy.
Breast-feeding
It is unknown whether vernakalant/metabolites are excreted in human milk. There is no information on the excretion of vernakalant/metabolites in animal milk. A risk to the breast-fed child cannot be excluded. Caution should be exercised when used in breast-feeding women.
Fertility
Vernakalant was not shown to alter fertility in animal studies.
Each ml of concentrate contains 20 mg of vernakalant hydrochloride which is equivalent to 18.1 mg of vernakalant.
Each 10 ml vial contains 200 mg of vernakalant hydrochloride equivalent to 181 mg of vernakalant.
Each 25 ml vial contains 500 mg of vernakalant hydrochloride equivalent to 452.5 mg of vernakalant.
After dilution the concentration of the solution is 4 mg/ml vernakalant hydrochloride.
Excipient with known effect:
Each vial of 200 mg contains approximately 1.4 mmol (32 mg) sodium.
Each vial of 500 mg contains approximately 3.5 mmol (80 mg) of sodium.
Each ml of the diluted solution contains approximately 3.5 mg of sodium (sodium chloride 9 mg/ml (0.9%) solution for injection), 0.64 mg sodium (5% glucose solution for injection) or 3.2 mg sodium (Lactated Ringers solution for injection).
Cases of serious hypotension have been reported during and immediately following BRINAVESS infusion. Patients should be carefully observed for the entire duration of the infusion and for at least 15 minutes after completion of the infusion with assessment of vital signs and continuous cardiac rhythm monitoring.
If any of the following signs or symptoms occurs, the administration of BRINAVESS should be discontinued and these patients should receive appropriate medical management:
- A sudden drop in blood pressure or heart rate, with or without symptomatic hypotension or bradycardia
- Hypotension
- Bradycardia
- ECG changes (such as a clinically meaningful sinus pause, complete heart block, new bundle branch block, significant prolongation of the QRS or QT interval, changes consistent with ischaemia or infarction and ventricular arrhythmia)
If these events occur during the first infusion of BRINAVESS, patients should not receive the second dose of BRINAVESS.
The patient should be further monitored for 2 hrs after the start of infusion and until clinical and ECG parameters have stabilised.
Direct-current cardioversion may be considered for patients who do not respond to therapy. There is no clinical experience with direct-current cardioversion under two hours post-dose.
Prior to attempting pharmacological cardioversion, patients should be adequately hydrated and haemodynamically optimized and if necessary patients should be anticoagulated in accordance with treatment guidelines. In patients with uncorrected hypokalemia (serum potassium of less than 3.5 mmol/l), potassium levels should be corrected prior to use of BRINAVESS.
Hypotension
Hypotension can occur in a small number of patients (vernakalant 7.6%, placebo 5.1%). Hypotension typically occurs early, either during the infusion or early after the end of the infusion, and can usually be corrected by standard supportive measures. Uncommonly, cases of severe hypotension have been observed. Patients with congestive heart failure (CHF) have been identified as a population at higher risk for hypotension.
The patient is required to be monitored for signs and symptoms of a sudden decrease in blood pressure or heart rate for the duration of the infusion and for at least 15 minutes after the completion of the infusion.
Congestive heart failure
Patients with CHF showed a higher overall incidence of hypotensive events, during the first 2 hours after dose in patients treated with vernakalant compared to patients receiving placebo (16.1% versus 4.7%, respectively). In patients without CHF the incidence of hypotension was not significantly different during the first 2 hours after dose in patients treated with vernakalant compared to patients receiving placebo (5.7% versus. 5.2%, respectively). Hypotension reported as a serious adverse experience or leading to medicinal product discontinuation occurred in CHF patients following exposure to BRINAVESS in 2.9% of these patients compared to 0% in placebo.
Patients with a history of CHF showed a higher incidence of ventricular arrhythmia in the first two hours post dose (7.3% for BRINAVESS compared to 1.6% in placebo). These arrhythmias typically presented as asymptomatic, monomorphic, non-sustained (average 3-4 beats) ventricular tachycardias. By contrast, ventricular arrhythmias were reported with similar frequencies in patients without a history of CHF who were treated with either BRINAVESS or placebo (3.2% for BRINAVESS versus 3.6% for placebo).
Due to the higher incidence of the adverse reactions of hypotension and ventricular arrhythmia in patients with CHF, vernakalant should be used cautiously in haemodynamically stable patients with CHF functional classes NYHA I to II. There is limited experience with the use of vernakalant in patients with previously documented LVEF ≤ 35%. Its use in these patients is not recommended. The use in CHF patients corresponding to NYHA III or NYHA IV is contraindicated.
Atrial flutter
BRINAVESS was not found to be effective in converting typical primary atrial flutter to sinus rhythm. Patients receiving BRINAVESS have a higher incidence of converting to atrial flutter within the first 2 hours post-dose. This risk is higher in patients who use Class I antiarrhythmics. If atrial flutter is observed as secondary to treatment, continuation of infusion should be considered. In post-marketing experience very rare cases of atrial flutter with 1:1 atrioventricular conduction are observed.
Use of AADs (antiarrhythmic drugs) prior to or after BRINAVESS
BRINAVESS cannot be recommended in patients previously administered intravenous AADs (class I and III) 4-24 hours prior to vernakalant due to lack of data. BRINAVESS must not be administered in patients who received intravenous AADs (class I and III) within 4 hours prior to vernakalant.
BRINAVESS should be used with caution in patients on oral AADs (class I and III), due to limited experience. Risk of atrial flutter may be increased in patients receiving class I AADs (see above).
There is limited experience with the use of intravenous rhythm control antiarrhythmics (class I and class III) in the first 4 hours after BRINAVESS administration, therefore these agents must not be used within this period.
Resumption or initiation of oral maintenance antiarrhythmic therapy can be considered starting 2 hours after vernakalant administration.
Valvular heart disease
In patients with valvular heart disease, there was a higher incidence of ventricular arrhythmia events in vernakalant patients. These patients should be monitored closely.
Other diseases and conditions not studied
BRINAVESS has been administered to patients with an uncorrected QT less than 440 msec without an increased risk of torsade de pointes.
Furthermore, BRINAVESS has not been evaluated in patients with clinically meaningful valvular stenosis, hypertrophic obstructive cardiomyopathy, restrictive cardiomyopathy, or constrictive pericarditis and its use cannot be recommended in such cases. There is limited experience with BRINAVESS in patients with pacemakers.
As the clinical trial experience in patients with advanced hepatic impairment is limited, vernakalant is not recommended in these patients.
Sodium content
This medicinal product contains approximately 1.4 mmol (32 mg) sodium in each 200 mg vial. Each vial of 500 mg contains approximately 3.5 mmol (80 mg) of sodium.
This should be taken into consideration by patients on a controlled sodium diet.
BRINAVESS has a minor to moderate influence on the ability to drive and use machines. Dizziness has been reported within the first two hours after receiving BRINAVESS.
BRINAVESS should be administered by intravenous infusion in a monitored clinical setting appropriate for cardioversion. Only a well-qualified healthcare professional should administer BRINAVESS and should frequently monitor the patient for the duration of the infusion and for at least 15 minutes after the completion of the infusion for signs and symptoms of a sudden decrease in blood pressure or heart rate. A pre-infusion checklist is provided with the medicinal product. Prior to administration the prescriber is asked to determine eligibility of the patient through use of the supplied checklist. The checklist should be placed on the infusion container to be read by the healthcare professional who will administer BRINAVESS.
Posology
BRINAVESS is dosed by patient body weight, with a maximum calculated dose based upon 113 kg.
The recommended initial infusion is 3 mg/kg to be infused over a 10 minute period. For patients weighing > 113 kg, the maximum initial dose of 339 mg (84.7 ml of 4 mg/ml solution) should not be exceeded. If conversion to sinus rhythm does not occur within 15 minutes after the end of the initial infusion, a second 10 minute infusion of 2 mg/kg may be administered. For patients weighing > 113 kg, the maximum second infusion of 226 mg (56.5 ml of 4 mg/ml solution) should not be exceeded. Cumulative doses of greater than 5 mg/kg should not be administered within 24 hours. Cumulative doses above 565 mg have not been evaluated.
There are no clinical data on repeat doses after the initial and second infusions. By 24 hours there appears to be insignificant levels of vernakalant.
The initial infusion of BRINAVESS is administered as a 3 mg/kg dose over 10 minutes. During this period, the patient should be carefully monitored for any signs or symptoms of a sudden decrease in blood pressure or heart rate. If such signs develop, with or without symptomatic hypotension or bradycardia, the infusion should be stopped immediately.
If conversion to sinus rhythm has not occurred, the patient's vital signs and cardiac rhythm should be observed for an additional 15 minutes.
If conversion to sinus rhythm did not occur with the initial infusion or within the 15 minute observation period, a 2 mg/kg second infusion should be administered over 10 minutes.
If conversion to sinus rhythm occurs during either the initial or second infusion, that infusion should be continued to completion. If haemodynamically stable atrial flutter is observed after the initial infusion, the second infusion of BRINAVESS may be administered as patients may convert to sinus rhythm.
Post-cardiac surgery patients:
No dose adjustment necessary.
Patients with renal impairment:
No dose adjustment necessary.
Patients with hepatic impairment:
No dose adjustment necessary.
Elderly (> 65 years):
No dose adjustment necessary.
Paediatric population:
There is no relevant use of BRINAVESS in children and adolescents < 18 years of age in the current indication and therefore BRINAVESS should not be used in this population.
Method of administration
Intravenous use.
An infusion pump is the preferred delivery device.
Read all steps before administration.
Preparation of BRINAVESS for infusion
Step 1: BRINAVESS vials should be visually inspected for particulate matter and discolouration before administration. Any vials exhibiting particulate matter or discolouration should not be used. Note: BRINAVESS concentrate for solution for infusion ranges from colourless to pale yellow. Variations of colour within this range do not affect potency.
Step 2: Dilution of concentrate
To ensure proper administration, a sufficient amount of BRINAVESS 20 mg/ml should be prepared at the outset of therapy to deliver the initial and second infusion should it be warranted.
Create a solution with a concentration of 4 mg/ml following the dilution guidelines below:
Patients ≤ 100 kg: 25 ml of BRINAVESS 20 mg/ml is added to 100 ml of diluent.
Patients > 100 kg: 30 ml of BRINAVESS 20 mg/ml is added to 120 ml of diluent.
Step 3: Inspection of the solution
The diluted sterile solution should be clear, colourless to pale yellow. The solution should be visually re-inspected for particulate matter and discolouration before administering.
Any unused medicinal product or waste material should be disposed of in accordance with local requirements.
Date of first authorisation: 01 September 2010
Date of latest renewal:
No formal interaction studies have been undertaken with vernakalant injection.
BRINAVESS must not be administered in patients who received intravenous AADs (class I and III) within 4 hours prior to vernakalant.
Within the clinical development program, oral maintenance antiarrhythmic therapy was halted for a minimum of 2 hours after BRINAVESS administration. Resumption or initiation of oral maintenance antiarrhythmic therapy after this time period can be considered.
Although vernakalant is a substrate of CYP2D6, population pharmacokinetic (PK) analyses demonstrated that no substantial differences in the acute exposure of vernakalant (Cmax and AUC0-90min) were observed when weak or potent CYP2D6 inhibitors were administered within 1 day prior to vernakalant infusion compared to patients that were not on concomitant therapy with CYP2D6 inhibitors. In addition, acute exposure of vernakalant in poor metabolisers of CYP2D6 is only minimally different when compared to that of extensive metabolisers. No dose adjustment of vernakalant is required on the basis of CYP2D6 metaboliser status, or when vernakalant is administered concurrently with 2D6 inhibitors.
Vernakalant is a moderate, competitive inhibitor of CYP2D6. However, acute intravenous administration of vernakalant is not expected to markedly impact the PK of chronically administered 2D6 substrates, as a consequence of vernakalant's short half-life and the ensuing transient nature of 2D6 inhibition. Vernakalant given by infusion is not expected to perpetrate meaningful drug interactions due to the rapid distribution and transient exposure, low protein binding, lack of inhibition of other CYP P450 enzymes tested (CYP3A4, 1A2, 2C9, 2C19 or 2E1) and lack of P-glycoprotein inhibition in a digoxin transport assay.
