Norditropin flexpro

Overdose

The recommended dose of Norditropin FlexPro should not be exceeded.

Although there have been no reports of overdose with Norditropin FlexPro, acute overdose may result in an initial hypoglycaemia followed by a subsequent hyperglycaemia.

The effects of long-term, repeated use of Norditropin FlexPro in doses exceeding those recommended, are unknown. However, it is possible that such use might produce signs and symptoms consistent with the known effects of excess human growth hormone (e.g. acromegaly).

Contraindications

Hypersensitivity to somatropin or to any of the excipients.

Somatropin must not be used when there is any evidence of activity of a tumour. Intracranial tumours must be inactive and antitumour therapy must be completed prior to starting GH therapy. Treatment should be discontinued if there is evidence of tumour growth.

Somatropin should not be used for growth promotion in children with closed epiphyses.

Patients with acute critical illness suffering complications following open heart surgery, abdominal surgery, multiple accidental trauma, acute respiratory failure or similar conditions should not be treated with somatropin.

In children with chronic renal disease, treatment with somatropin should be discontinued at renal transplantation.

Incompatibilities

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

Pharmaceutical form

Undesirable effects

The subcutaneous administration of growth hormone may lead to loss or increase of adipose tissue as well as punctual haemorrhage and bruising at the injection site.

Pancreatitis has been reported post-marketing during GH therapy (frequency unknown).

Antibodies anti-somatropin: the protein somatropin may give rise to the formation of antibodies. Depending on the concerned product, these antibodies have been identified in a definite percentage of the treated population. Their binding capacity and their titres are generally low with no clinical consequence. However, testing for antibodies to somatropin should be performed in case of absence of response to somatropin therapy.

Leukaemia: cases of leukaemia (very rare) have been reported in children with a GH deficiency, some of them being treated with somatropin and included in the post-marketing experience. However, there is no evidence of an increased risk of leukaemia without predisposition factors.

Slipped capital femoral epiphysis and Legg-Calve-Perthes disease have been reported in children treated with GH. Slipped capital femoral epiphysis occurs more frequently in case of endocrine disorders and Legg-Calve-Perthes is more frequent in case of short stature. But, it is unknown if these 2 pathologies are more frequent or not while treated with somatropin. A discomfort, a pain in the hip and/or the knee must evocate their diagnosis.

Other adverse drug reactions may be considered as class effect, as the hyperglycaemia due to the decrease in insulin-sensitivity, the decreased of free thyroxin level and the possible development of a benign intra-cranial hypertension.

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, website: www.mhra.gov.uk/yellowcard.

Preclinical safety data

Non-clinical data reveal no special hazard for humans based on conventional studies of repeated-dose toxicity and genotoxicity.

Genetically engineered somatropin is identical to endogenous human pituitary growth hormone. It has the same biological properties and it is usually administered in physiological doses. Therefore, studies on safety pharmacology, toxicity to reproduction and carcinogenicity have not been conducted as no such effects are anticipated.

Therapeutic indications

Norditropin FlexPro is indicated for:

- the long-term treatment of children who have growth failure due to inadequate secretion of growth hormone

- the long-term treatment of growth retardation due to Turner's Syndrome confirmed by chromosome analysis.

Pharmacotherapeutic group

Pharmacodynamic properties

Pharmacotherapeutic group: Somatropin and somatropin agonists

ATC code: H 01 AC 01

Pharmacodynamic properties:

Identical to pituitary-derived human growth hormone (pit-hGH) in amino acid sequence, chain length (191 amino acids) and pharmacokinetic profile. Norditropin FlexPro can be expected to produce the same pharmacological effects as the endogenous hormone.

Skeletal system:

Growth hormone produces a generally proportional growth of the skeletal bone in man. Increased linear growth in children with confirmed deficiency of pit-hGH has been demonstrated after exogenous administration of Norditropin FlexPro. The measurable increase in height after administration of Norditropin FlexPro results from an effect on the epiphyseal plates of long bones. In children who lack adequate amounts of pit-hGH, Norditropin FlexPro produces increased growth rates and increased IGF-1 (Insulin-like Growth Factor/Somatomedin-C) concentrations that are similar to those seen after therapy with pit- hGH. Elevations in mean serum alkaline phosphatase concentrations are also involved.

Other organs and tissues:

An increase in size, proportional to total increase in body weight, occurs in other tissues in response to growth hormone, as well. Changes include: increased growth of connective tissues, skin and appendages; enlargement of skeletal muscle with increase in number and size of cells; growth of the thymus; liver enlargement with increased cellular proliferation; and a slight enlargement of the gonads, adrenals, and thyroid.

Disproportionate growth of the skin and flat bones, and accelerated sexual maturation have not been reported in association with the growth hormone replacement therapy.

Protein, carbohydrate and lipid metabolism:

Growth hormone exerts a nitrogen-retaining effect and increases the transport of amino acids into tissue. Both processes augment the synthesis of protein. Carbohydrate use and lipogenesis are depressed by growth hormone. With large doses or in the absence of insulin, growth hormone acts as a diabetogenic agent, producing effects seen typically during fasting (i.e. intolerance to carbohydrate, inhibition of lipogenesis, mobilisation of fat and ketosis).

Mineral metabolism:

Conservation of sodium, potassium, and phosphorous occurs after treatment with growth hormone. Increased calcium loss by the kidney is offset by increased absorption in the gut. Serum calcium concentrations are not significantly altered in patients treated with Norditropin FlexPro or with pit-hGH. Increased serum concentrations of inorganic phosphates have been shown to occur both after Norditropin FlexPro and pit-hGH. Accumulation of these minerals signals an increased demand during tissue synthesis.

Pharmacokinetic properties

Twenty-four (24) healthy adult subjects received 1.67 mg somatropin either by conventional s.c. injection or by ZomaJet Vision needle free device. Peak plasma levels of around 20 ng/ml were observed 3.5 to 4 hours after administration of the medicinal product.

A terminal half-life 2.6 hours was observed when the compound was administered with Zomajet vision needle-free device which is likely to be due to a rate limiting absorption process.

Data from other somatropin containing products suggest that the bioavailability subcutaneously administered somatropin is approximately 80% in healthy adults and that both liver and kidney have been shown to be important protein catabolism organs eliminating the compound.

Name of the medicinal product

Qualitative and quantitative composition

Special warnings and precautions for use

The maximum recommended daily dose should not be exceeded.

Very rare cases of myositis have been observed and may be due to the metacresol used as preservative.). At present, there is insufficient evidence to guide clinical decision making in patients with resolved intracranial hypertension. If growth hormone treatment is restarted, careful monitoring for symptoms of intracranial hypertension is necessary.

Leukaemia has been reported in a small number of growth hormone deficient patients treated with somatropin as well as in untreated patients. However, there is no evidence that leukaemia incidence is increased in growth hormone recipients without predisposition factors.

As with all somatropin containing products, a small percentage of patients may develop antibodies to somatropin. The binding capacity of these antibodies is low and there is no effect on growth rate. Testing for antibodies to somatropin should be carried out in any patient who fails to respond to therapy.

Growth hormone increases the extrathyroidal conversion of T4 to T3 and may, as such, unmask insipiens hypothyroidism. Monitoring of thyroid function should therefore be conducted in all patients. In patients with hypopituitarism, standard replacement therapy must be closely monitored when somatropin therapy is administered.

Because somatropin may reduce insulin sensitivity, patients should be monitored for evidence of glucose intolerance. For patients with diabetes mellitus, the insuline dose may require adjustment after somatropin containing product therapy is initiated. Patients with diabetes or glucose intolerance should be monitored closely during somatropin therapy. Norditropin FlexPro should also be used with caution in patients with a family history predisposing for the disease.

In patients with growth hormone deficiency secondary to an intra-cranial lesion, frequent monitoring for progression or recurrence of the underlying disease process is advised. In childhood cancer survivors, an increased risk of a second neoplasm has been reported in patients treated with somatropin after their first neoplasm. Intracranial tumours, in particular meningiomas, in patients treated with radiation to the head for their first neoplasm, were the most common of these second neoplasms

Discontinue Norditropin FlexPro therapy if progression or recurrence of the lesion occurs.

In patients with previous malignant diseases special attention should be given to signs and symptoms of relapse.

Scoliosis may progress in any child during rapid growth. Signs of scoliosis should be monitored during somatropin treatment.

Slipped capital femoral epiphysis may occur more frequently in patients with endocrine disorders. A patient treated with Norditropin FlexPro who develops a limp or complains of hip or knee pain should be evaluated by a physician.

The effects of treatment with growth hormone on recovery were studied in two placebo controlled trials involving 522 critically ill adult patients suffering complications following open heart surgery, abdominal surgery, multiple accidental trauma, or acute respiratory failure.

Mortality was higher (42 % vs. 19 %) among patients treated with growth hormones (doses 5.3 to 8 mg/day) compared to those receiving placebo. Based on this information, such patients should not be treated with growth hormones. As there is no information available on the safety of growth hormone substitution therapy in acutely critically ill patients, the benefits of continued treatment in this situation should be weighed against the potential risks involved.

Experience of local tolerability to administration of Norditropin FlexPro 10 mg/ml with Zomajet Vision X needle-free device has been studied before marketing authorisation in a 12 week study including only Caucasian children.

Although rare, pancreatitis should be considered in somatropin-treated patients, especially children who develop abdominal pain.

Effects on ability to drive and use machines

Somatropin containing products have no influence on the ability to drive and use machines.

Dosage (Posology) and method of administration

Norditropin FlexPro therapy should be used only under the supervision of a qualified physician experienced in the management of patients with growth hormone deficiency.

The dosage of administration of Norditropin FlexPro should be individualised for each patient.

The duration of treatment, usually a period of several years will depend on maximum achievable therapeutic benefit.

The subcutaneous administration of growth hormone may lead to loss or increase of adipose tissue at the injection site. Therefore, injection sites should be alternated.

Growth Hormone Deficiency

Generally a dose of 0.17 - 0.23 mg/kg bodyweight (approximating to 4.9 mg/m2 - 6.9 mg/m2 body surface area) per week divided into 6 - 7 s.c. injections is recommended (corresponding to a daily injection of 0.02 - 0.03 mg/kg bodyweight or 0.7 - 1.0 mg/m2 body surface area).

The total weekly dose of 0.27 mg/kg or 8 mg/m2 body surface area should not be exceeded (corresponding to daily injections of up to about 0.04 mg/kg).

Turner's Syndrome

Administration

The required dose of Norditropin FlexPro 10 mg/ml is administered with a ZOMAJET VISION X needle-free device or with an ordinary syringe.

Specific instructions for the use of the ZOMAJET VISION X device are given in a booklet supplied with the device.

Special precautions for disposal and other handling

Reconstitution

The powder should be reconstituted only by introducing the provided solvent contained in the syringe into the vial.

See the package leaflet for detailed instructions for reconstitution.

The following is a general description of the reconstitution and administration process. Reconstitution should be performed in accordance with good practice rules, particularly in the respect of asepsis.

1. Hands should be washed.

2. Flip off the yellow plastic protective caps from the vial.

3. The top of the vial should be wiped with an antiseptic solution to prevent contamination of the content.

4. Place the vial adaptor or the solvent transfer connector over the centre of the vial with the spike facing downwards then push down firmly until it clicks into place. Remove the adaptor cap.

5. Take the syringe. Remove the grey cap. Place the syringe into the adaptor / connector of the vial and inject the solvent slowly into the vial aiming the stream of liquid against the glass wall in order to avoid foam.

6. Place the adaptor cap / connector cap back on the adaptor / connector.

7. Gently swirl the vial a few times until the content is completely dissolved. Do not shake; this may cause denaturation of the active substance.

8. If the solution is cloudy or contains particulate matter, it should not be used. In the case of cloudiness after refrigeration, the product should be allowed to warm to room temperature. If cloudiness persists, discard the vial and its contents. The content must be clear and colourless after reconstitution.

Any unused product or waste material should be disposed of in accordance with local requirements.

Reconstitution with vial adaptor for use with ZomaJet Vision X device

Step 9

The vial must then be swirled gently until the powder has dissolved completely to form a clear, colourless solution.

Place the reconstituted vial of Norditropin FlexPro in an upright position in the refrigerator at 2°C to 8°C.

Avoid shaking or vigorous mixing. If the solution remains cloudy or contains particles, the vial and its contents should be discarded. In case of cloudiness after refrigeration, the solution should be allowed to warm up to room temperature. If cloudiness still persists, discard the vial and its contents.

Reconstitution with solvent transfer connector for injection with an ordinary syringe

Avoid shaking or vigorous mixing. If the solution remains cloudy or contains particles, the vial and its contents should be discarded. In case of cloudiness after refrigeration, the solution should be allowed to warm up to room temperature. If cloudiness still persists, discard the vial and its contents.