Copaxone

Overdose

A few cases of overdose with Copaxone (up to 300 mg glatiramer acetate) have been reported.

In case of overdose, patients should be monitored and the appropriate symptomatic and supportive therapy instituted.

Shelf life

2 years

Contraindications

Copaxone is contraindicated under the following conditions:

- Hypersensitivity to glatiramer acetate or mannitol.

Incompatibilities

In the absence of compatibility studies, this medicinal product must not be mixed with other medicinal products.

List of excipients

Mannitol

Water for Injections

Pharmaceutical form

Solution for Injection, Pre-filled Syringe

Clear solution free of visible particles

The solution for injection has a pH of 5.5 - 7.0 and an osmolarity of about 265 mOsmol/L.

Undesirable effects

In all clinical trials, injection-site reactions were seen to be the most frequent adverse reactions and were reported by the majority of patients receiving Copaxone. In controlled studies, the proportion of patients reporting these reactions, at least once, was higher following treatment with Copaxone (70%) than placebo injections (37%). The most commonly reported injection-site reactions, in clinical trials and in post marketing experience, were erythema, pain, mass, pruritus, oedema, inflammation and hypersensitivity, and rare occurrences of lipoatrophy and skin necrosis.

A reaction, associated with at least one or more of the following symptoms, has been described as the Immediate Post-Injection Reaction: vasodilatation(flushing), chest pain, dyspnoea, palpitation or tachycardia. This reaction may occur within minutes of a Copaxone injection. At least one component of this Immediate Post-Injection Reaction was reported at least once by 31% of patients receiving Copaxone compared to 13% of patients receiving placebo.

All adverse reactions, which were more frequently reported in Copaxone vs. placebo-treated patients, are presented in the table below. This data was derived from four pivotal, double-blind, placebo-controlled clinical trials with a total of 512 patients treated with Copaxone and 509 patients treated with placebo for up to 36 months. Three trials in relapsing-remitting MS (RRMS) included a total of 269 patients treated with Copaxone and 271 patients treated with placebo for up to 35 months. The fourth trial in patients who have experienced a first clinical episode and were determined to be at high risk of developing clinically definite MS included 243 patients treated with Copaxone and 238 patients treated with placebo for up to 36 months.

* More than 2% (>2/100) higher incidence in the Copaxone treatment group than in the placebo group. Adverse reaction without the * symbol represents a difference of less than or equal to 2%.

§ The term 'Injection site reactions' (various kinds) comprises all adverse events occurring at the injection site excluding injection site atrophy and injection site necrosis, which are presented separately within the table.

♣ Includes terms which relate to localized lipoatrophy at the injection sites.

In the fourth trial noted above, an open-label treatment phase followed the placebo-controlled period. No change in the known risk profile of Copaxone was observed during the open-label follow-up period of up to 5 years.

The following adverse reaction reports were collected from MS patients treated with Copaxone in uncontrolled clinical trials and from post-marketing experience with Copaxone: hypersensitivity reactions (including rare occurrence of anaphylaxis, >1/10000, < 1/1000.

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 Yellow Card Scheme at: www.mhra.gov.uk/yellowcard.

Preclinical safety data

Preclinical data reveal no special hazard for humans based on studies of safety pharmacology, repeated dose toxicity, toxicity to reproduction, genotoxicity or carcinogenicity, beyond the information included in other sections of the SPC. Due to the lack of pharmacokinetic data in humans, margins of exposure between humans and animals can not be established.

Immune complex deposition in the glomeruli of the kidney was reported in a small number of rats and monkeys treated for at least 6 months. In a 2 years rat study, no indication of immune complex deposition in the glomeruli of the kidney was seen.

Anaphylaxis after administration to sensitised animals (guinea pigs or mice) was reported. The relevance of these data for humans is unknown.

Toxicity at the injection site was a common finding after repeated administration in animals.

Therapeutic indications

Copaxone is not indicated in primary or secondary progressive MS.

Pharmacotherapeutic group

Pharmacodynamic properties

Pharmacotherapeutic group: Antineoplastic and immunomodulating agents, Other Immunostimulants

ATC code: L03AX13

The mechanism(s) by which glatiramer acetate exerts its effects in patients with MS is (are) not fully elucidated. However, it is thought to act by modifying immune processes that are currently believed to be responsible for the pathogenesis of MS. This hypothesis is supported by findings of studies that have been carried out to explore the pathogenesis of experimental allergic encephalomyelitis (EAE), a condition induced in several animal species through immunisation against central nervous system derived material containing myelin and often used as an experimental animal model of MS. Studies in animals and in MS patients suggest that upon its administration, glatiramer acetate-specific suppressor T cells are induced and activated in the periphery.

RRMS:

A total of 269 patients have been treated with Copaxone in three controlled trials. The first was a two-year study involving 50 patients (Copaxone n=25, placebo n=25) who were diagnosed with relapsing-remitting MS by the then-applicable standard criteria, and who had at least two attacks of neurological dysfunction (exacerbations) during the preceding two years. The second study applied the same inclusion criteria and included 251 patients treated for up to 35 months (Copaxone n=125, placebo n=126). The third study was a nine-month study involving 239 patients (Copaxone n=119, placebo n=120) where inclusion criteria were similar to those in the first and second studies with the additional criterion that patients had to have at least one gadolinium-enhancing lesion on the screening MRI.

In clinical trials in MS patients receiving Copaxone, a significant reduction in the number of relapses, compared with placebo, was seen.

In the largest controlled study, the relapse rate was reduced by 32% from 1.98 under placebo to 1.34 under glatiramer acetate.

Exposure data are available for up to twelve years in 103 patients treated with Copaxone.

Copaxone has also demonstrated beneficial effects over placebo on MRI parameters relevant to relapsing-remitting MS.

Copaxone had, however, no beneficial effect on progression of disability in relapsing-remitting MS patients.

There is no evidence that Copaxone treatment has an effect on relapse duration or severity.

There is currently no evidence for the use of Copaxone in patients with primary or secondary progressive disease.

Single clinical event suggestive of MS:

One placebo-controlled study involving 481 patients (Copaxone n=243, placebo n=238) was performed in patients with a well-defined, single, unifocal neurological manifestation and MRI features highly suggestive of MS (at least two cerebral lesions on the T2-weighted MRI above 6 mm diameter). Any disease other than MS that could better explain signs and symptoms of the patient had to be excluded. The placebo-controlled period was followed by an open label treatment: Patients who either presented with MS symptoms or were asymptomatic for three years, whichever came first, were assigned to active drug treatment in an open-label phase for an additional period of two years, not exceeding a maximal total treatment duration of 5 years. Of the 243 patients initially randomized to Copaxone, 198 continued Copaxone treatment in the open-label phase. Of the 238 patients initially randomized to placebo, 211 switched to Copaxone treatment in the open-label phase.

During the placebo-controlled period of up to three years, Copaxone delayed the progression from the first clinical event to clinically definite multiple sclerosis (CDMS) according to Poser criteria in a statistically significant and clinically meaningful manner, corresponding to a risk reduction of 45% (Hazard Ratio = 0.55; 95% CI [0.40; 0.77], p-value=0.0005). The proportion of patients who converted to CDMS was 43% for the placebo group and 25% in the Copaxone group.

The favourable effect of treatment with Copaxone over placebo was also demonstrated in two secondary MRI endpoints, i.e. number of new T2 lesions and T2 lesion volume.

Post-hoc subgroup analyses were performed in patients with various baseline characteristics to identify a population at high risk to develop the second attack. For subjects with baseline MRI with at least one T1 Gd-enhancing lesion and 9 or more T2 lesions, conversion to CDMS was evident for 50% of the placebo subjects vs. 28% of the Copaxone subjects in 2.4 years. For subjects with 9 or more T2 lesions at baseline, conversion to CDMS was evident for 45% of the placebo subjects vs. 26% on Copaxone in 2.4 years. However, the impact of early treatment with Copaxone on the long term evolution of the disease is unknown even in these high-risk subgroups as the study was mainly designed to assess the time to the second event. In any case, treatment should only be considered for patients classified at high risk.

The effect shown in the placebo-controlled phase was sustained in the long-term follow-up period of up to 5 years. The time progression from the first clinical event to CDMS was prolonged with earlier Copaxone treatment as compared to delayed treatment, reflecting a 41% risk reduction with earlier versus later treatment (Hazard Ratio = 0.59; 95% CI [0.44; 0.80], p-value=0.0005). The proportion of subjects in the Delayed Start group who progressed was higher (49.6%) compared to those in the Early Start group (32.9%).

A consistent effect in favour of early treatment over delayed treatment across time was shown for the annualized number of lesions over the entire study period in new T1 Gd-enhancing lesions (reduced by 54%; p<0.0001), new T2 lesions (reduced by 42%; p<0.0001) and new T1 hypointense lesions (reduced by 52%; p<0.0001). An effect in reductions in favour of early versus delayed treatment was also observed for the total number of new T1 Gd-enhancing lesions (reduced by 46%; p=0.001), T1 Gd-enhancing lesion volume (a mean difference of -0.06 ml; p<0.001), as well as the total number of new T1 hypointense lesions (reduced by 46%; p<0.001) measured over the entire study period.

No appreciable differences between the Early Start and Delayed Start cohorts were observed for either hypointense T1 lesion volume or brain atrophy over 5 years. However, analysis of brain atrophy at last observed value (adjusted to treatment exposure) showed a reduction in favour of early treatment with GA (the mean difference of percent change in brain volume was 0.28%; p=0.0209).

Pharmacokinetic properties

Pharmacokinetic studies in patients have not been performed. In vitro data and limited data from healthy volunteers indicate that with subcutaneous administration of glatiramer acetate, the active substance is readily absorbed and that a large part of the dose is rapidly degraded to smaller fragments already in subcutaneous tissue.

Date of revision of the text

02/12/2016

Marketing authorisation holder

Teva Pharmaceuticals Ltd.

Ridings Point

Whistler Drive

Castleford

West Yorkshire

WF10 5HX United Kingdom

Special precautions for storage

Keep the pre-filled syringes in the outer carton, in order to protect from light.

Store in a refrigerator (2°C - 8°C).

Do not freeze.

If the pre-filled syringes cannot be stored in a refrigerator, they can be stored between 15°C and 25°C, once for up to one month.

After this one month period, if the Copaxone 20 mg/ml pre-filled syringes have not been used and are still in their original packaging, they must be returned to storage in a refrigerator (2°C to 8°C).

Nature and contents of container

A pre-filled syringe containing Copaxone solution for injection consists of a 1 ml long colourless type I glass syringe barrel with staked needle, a polypropylene (optional polystyrene) plunger rod, a rubber plunger stopper and a needle shield.

Copaxone is available in packs containing 7, 28 or 30 pre-filled syringes of 1 ml solution for injection or a multipack containing 90 (3 packs of 30) pre-filled syringes of 1 ml solution for injection.

Not all pack sizes may be marketed.

Marketing authorisation number(s)

PL 10921/0023

Fertility, pregnancy and lactation

Pregnancy

Studies in animals have not shown reproductive toxicity.

Current data on pregnant women indicate no malformative or feto/neonatal toxicity of Copaxone. To date, no relevant epidemiological data are available. As a precautionary measure, it is preferable to avoid the use of Copaxone during pregnancy unless the benefit to the mother outweighs the risk to the foetus.

Breastfeeding

Data regarding excretion of glatiramer acetate, its metabolites or antibodies in human milk are unavailable. Caution should be exercised when Copaxone is administered to a nursing mother. The relative risk and benefit to the mother and child should be taken into consideration.

Qualitative and quantitative composition

1 ml of solution for injection contains 20 mg glatiramer acetate *, equivalent to 18 mg of glatiramer base per pre-filled syringe

* The average molecular weight of glatiramer acetate mixture is in the range of 5,000-9,000 daltons. Due to its compositional complexity, no specified polypeptide can be fully characterized in terms of amino acid sequence, although the final glatiramer acetate composition is not entirely random.

Special warnings and precautions for use

Copaxone should only be administered subcutaneously. Copaxone should not be administered by intravenous or intramuscular routes.

The initiation of Copaxone treatment should be supervised by a neurologist or a physician experienced in the treatment of MS.

The treating physician should explain to the patient that a reaction associated with at least one of the following symptoms may occur within minutes of a Copaxone injection: vasodilatation (flushing), chest pain, dyspnoea, palpitations or tachycardia. The majority of these symptoms is short-lived and resolves spontaneously without any sequelae. Should a severe adverse event occur, the patient must immediately stop Copaxone treatment and contact his/her physician or any emergency doctor. Symptomatic treatment may be instituted at the discretion of the physician.

There is no evidence to suggest that any particular patient groups are at special risk from these reactions. Nevertheless, caution should be exercised when administering Copaxone to patients with pre-existing cardiac disorders. These patients should be followed up regularly during treatment.

Convulsions and/or anaphylactoid or allergic reactions have been reported rarely.

Serious hypersensitivity reactions (e.g. bronchospasm, anaphylaxis or urticaria) may rarely occur. If reactions are severe, appropriate treatment should be instituted and Copaxone should be discontinued.

Glatiramer acetate-reactive antibodies were detected in patients' sera during daily chronic treatment with Copaxone. Maximal levels were attained after average treatment duration of 3-4 months and, thereafter, declined and stabilised at a level slightly higher than baseline.

There is no evidence to suggest that these glatiramer acetate-reactive antibodies are neutralising or that their formation is likely to affect the clinical efficacy of Copaxone.

In patients with renal impairment, renal function should be monitored while they are treated with Copaxone. Whilst there is no evidence of glomerular deposition of immune complexes in patients, the possibility cannot be excluded.

Effects on ability to drive and use machines

No studies on the effects on the ability to drive and use machines have been performed.

Dosage (Posology) and method of administration

Posology

The recommended dosage in adults is 20 mg of glatiramer acetate (one pre-filled syringe), administered as a subcutaneous injection once daily.

At the present time, it is not known for how long the patient should be treated.

A decision concerning long term treatment should be made on an individual basis by the treating physician.

Paediatric population

Children and adolescents: No prospective, randomized, controlled clinical trials or pharmacokinetic studies have been conducted in children or adolescents. However, limited published data suggest that the safety profile in adolescents from 12 to 18 years of age receiving Copaxone 20 mg subcutaneously every day is similar to that seen in adults. There is not enough information available on the use of Copaxone in children below 12 years of age to make any recommendation for its use. Therefore, Copaxone should not be used in this population.

Elderly patients

Copaxone has not been specifically studied in the elderly.

Patients with renal impairment

Copaxone has not been specifically studied in patients with renal impairment.

Method of administration

Patients should be instructed in self-injection techniques and should be supervised by a health-care professional the first time they self-inject and for 30 minutes after.

A different site for injection should be chosen every day, so this will reduce the chances of any irritation or pain at the site of the injection. Sites for self-injection include the abdomen, arms, hips and thighs.

Special precautions for disposal and other handling

For single use only. Any unused product or waste material must be discarded.

Date of first authorisation/renewal of the authorisation

Date of first authorization: 7 April 2003

Interaction with other medicinal products and other forms of interaction

Interaction between Copaxone and other medicinal products have not been formally evaluated.

Observations from existing clinical trials and post-marketing experience do not suggest any significant interactions of Copaxone with therapies commonly used in MS patients, including the concurrent use of corticosteroids for up to 28 days.

In vitro work suggests that glatiramer acetate in blood is highly bound to plasma proteins but that it is not displaced by, and does not itself displace, phenytoin or carbamazepine. Nevertheless, as Copaxone has, theoretically, the potential to affect the distribution of protein bound substances, concomitant use of such medicinal products should be monitored carefully.