Prescription Drug Information: Dimethyl Fumarate

DIMETHYL FUMARATE — dimethyl fumarate
DIMETHYL FUMARATE- dimethyl fumarate capsule, delayed release
Zydus Pharmaceuticals USA Inc.

1 INDICATIONS AND USAGE

Dimethyl fumarate is indicated for the treatment of relapsing forms of multiple sclerosis (MS), to include clinically isolated syndrome, relapsing-remitting disease, and active secondary progressive disease, in adults.

2 DOSAGE AND ADMINISTRATION

2.1 Dosing Information

The starting dose for dimethyl fumarate delayed-release capsules is 120 mg twice a day orally. After 7 days, the dose should be increased to the maintenance dose of 240 mg twice a day orally. Temporary dose reductions to 120 mg twice a day may be considered for individuals who do not tolerate the maintenance dose. Within 4 weeks, the recommended dose of 240 mg twice a day should be resumed. Discontinuation of dimethyl fumarate delayed-release capsules should be considered for patients unable to tolerate return to the maintenance dose. The incidence of flushing may be reduced by administration of dimethyl fumarate delayed-release capsules with food. Alternatively, administration of non-enteric coated aspirin (up to a dose of 325 mg) 30 minutes prior to dimethyl fumarate delayed-release capsules dosing may reduce the incidence or severity of flushing [see Clinical Pharmacology (12.3)].

Dimethyl fumarate delayed-release capsules should be swallowed whole and intact. Dimethyl fumarate delayed-release capsules should not be crushed or chewed and the capsule contents should not be sprinkled on food. Dimethyl fumarate delayed-release capsules can be taken with or without food.

2.2 Blood Tests Prior to Initiation of Therapy

Obtain a complete blood cell count (CBC) including lymphocyte count before initiation of therapy [see Warnings and Precautions (5.4)].

Obtain serum aminotransferase, alkaline phosphatase, and total bilirubin levels prior to treatment with dimethyl fumarate delayed-release capsules [see Warnings and Precautions (5.5)].

3 DOSAGE FORMS AND STRENGTHS

Dimethyl Fumarate Delayed-release Capsules, 120 mg are hard gelatin, delayed release, size ‘0’ capsules with opaque light green cap printed with ‘1204’ in black ink and opaque white body. The capsules are filled with orange, round, coated tablets.

Dimethyl Fumarate Delayed-release Capsules, 240 mg are hard gelatin, delayed release, size ‘0’ capsules with opaque light green cap printed with ‘1205’ in black ink and opaque light green body. The capsules are filled with orange, round, coated tablets.

4 CONTRAINDICATIONS

Dimethyl fumarate is contraindicated in patients with known hypersensitivity to dimethyl fumarate or to any of the excipients of dimethyl fumarate delayed-release capsules. Reactions have included anaphylaxis and angioedema [see Warnings and Precautions (5.1)].

5 WARNINGS AND PRECAUTIONS

5.1 Anaphylaxis and Angioedema

Dimethyl fumarate delayed-release capsules can cause anaphylaxis and angioedema after the first dose or at any time during treatment. Signs and symptoms have included difficulty breathing, urticaria, and swelling of the throat and tongue. Patients should be instructed to discontinue dimethyl fumarate delayed-release capsules and seek immediate medical care should they experience signs and symptoms of anaphylaxis or angioedema.

5.2 Progressive Multifocal Leukoencephalopathy

Progressive multifocal leukoencephalopathy (PML) has occurred in patients with MS treated with dimethyl fumarate delayed-release capsules. PML is an opportunistic viral infection of the brain caused by the JC virus (JCV) that typically only occurs in patients who are immunocompromised, and that usually leads to death or severe disability. A fatal case of PML occurred in a patient who received dimethyl fumarate delayed-release capsules for 4 years while enrolled in a clinical trial. During the clinical trial, the patient experienced prolonged lymphopenia (lymphocyte counts predominantly <0.5×109 /L for 3.5 years) while taking dimethyl fumarate delayed-release capsules [see Warnings and Precautions (5.4)]. The patient had no other identified systemic medical conditions resulting in compromised immune system function and had not previously been treated with natalizumab, which has a known association with PML. The patient was also not taking any immunosuppressive or immunomodulatory medications concomitantly.

PML has also occurred in the postmarketing setting in the presence of lymphopenia (<0.9×109 /L). While the role of lymphopenia in these cases is uncertain, the PML cases have occurred predominantly in patients with lymphocyte counts <0.8×109 /L persisting for more than 6 months.

At the first sign or symptom suggestive of PML, withhold dimethyl fumarate delayed-release capsules and perform an appropriate diagnostic evaluation. Typical symptoms associated with PML are diverse, progress over days to weeks, and include progressive weakness on one side of the body or clumsiness of limbs, disturbance of vision, and changes in thinking, memory, and orientation leading to confusion and personality changes.

MRI findings may be apparent before clinical signs or symptoms. Cases of PML, diagnosed based on MRI findings and the detection of JCV DNA in the cerebrospinal fluid in the absence of clinical signs or symptoms specific to PML, have been reported in patients treated with other MS medications associated with PML. Many of these patients subsequently became symptomatic with PML. Therefore, monitoring with MRI for signs that may be consistent with PML may be useful, and any suspicious findings should lead to further investigation to allow for an early diagnosis of PML, if present. Lower PML-related mortality and morbidity have been reported following discontinuation of another MS medication associated with PML in patients with PML who were initially asymptomatic compared to patients with PML who had characteristic clinical signs and symptoms at diagnosis. It is not known whether these differences are due to early detection and discontinuation of MS treatment or due to differences in disease in these patients.

5.3 Herpes Zoster and Other Serious Opportunistic Infections

Serious cases of herpes zoster have occurred with dimethyl fumarate delayed-release capsules, including disseminated herpes zoster, herpes zoster ophthalmicus, herpes zoster meningoencephalitis, and herpes zoster meningomyelitis. These events may occur at any time during treatment. Monitor patients on dimethyl fumarate delayed-release capsules for signs and symptoms of herpes zoster. If herpes zoster occurs, appropriate treatment for herpes zoster should be administered.

Other serious opportunistic infections have occurred with dimethyl fumarate delayed-release capsules, including cases of serious viral (herpes simplex virus, West Nile virus, cytomegalovirus), fungal (Candida and Aspergillus), and bacterial (Nocardia, Listeria monocytogenes, Mycobacterium tuberculosis) infections. These infections have been reported in patients with reduced absolute lymphocyte counts (ALC) as well as in patients with normal ALC. These infections have affected the brain, meninges, spinal cord, gastrointestinal tract, lungs, skin, eye, and ear. Patients with symptoms and signs consistent with any of these infections should undergo prompt diagnostic evaluation and receive appropriate treatment.

Consider withholding dimethyl fumarate delayed-release capsules treatment in patients with herpes zoster or other serious infections until the infection has resolved [see Adverse Reactions (6.2)].

5.4 Lymphopenia

Dimethyl fumarate delayed-release capsules may decrease lymphocyte counts. In the MS placebo controlled trials, mean lymphocyte counts decreased by approximately 30% during the first year of treatment with dimethyl fumarate delayed-release capsules and then remained stable. Four weeks after stopping dimethyl fumarate delayed-release capsules, mean lymphocyte counts increased but did not return to baseline. Six percent (6%) of dimethyl fumarate delayed-release capsules patients and <1% of placebo patients experienced lymphocyte counts <0.5×109 /L (lower limit of normal 0.91×109 /L). The incidence of infections (60% vs. 58%) and serious infections (2% vs. 2%) was similar in patients treated with dimethyl fumarate delayed-release capsules or placebo, respectively. There was no increased incidence of serious infections observed in patients with lymphocyte counts <0.8×109 /L or <0.5×109 /L in controlled trials, although one patient in an extension study developed PML in the setting of prolonged lymphopenia (lymphocyte counts predominantly <0.5×109 /L for 3.5 years) [see Warnings and Precautions (5.2)].

In controlled and uncontrolled clinical trials, 2% of patients experienced lymphocyte counts <0.5 x 109 /L for at least six months, and in this group the majority of lymphocyte counts remained <0.5×109 /L with continued therapy. Dimethyl fumarate delayed-release capsules have not been studied in patients with pre-existing low lymphocyte counts.

Obtain a CBC, including lymphocyte count, before initiating treatment with dimethyl fumarate delayed-release capsules, 6 months after starting treatment, and then every 6 to 12 months thereafter, and as clinically indicated. Consider interruption of dimethyl fumarate delayed-release capsules in patients with lymphocyte counts less than 0.5 x 109 /L persisting for more than six months. Given the potential for delayed recovery of lymphocyte counts, continue to obtain lymphocyte counts until their recovery if dimethyl fumarate delayed-release capsules are discontinued or interrupted due to lymphopenia. Consider withholding treatment from patients with serious infections until resolution. Decisions about whether or not to restart dimethyl fumarate delayed-release capsules should be individualized based on clinical circumstances.

5.5 Liver Injury

Clinically significant cases of liver injury have been reported in patients treated with dimethyl fumarate delayed-release capsules in the postmarketing setting. The onset has ranged from a few days to several months after initiation of treatment with dimethyl fumarate delayed-release capsules. Signs and symptoms of liver injury, including elevation of serum aminotransferases to greater than 5-fold the upper limit of normal and elevation of total bilirubin to greater than 2-fold the upper limit of normal have been observed. These abnormalities resolved upon treatment discontinuation. Some cases required hospitalization. None of the reported cases resulted in liver failure, liver transplant, or death. However, the combination of new serum aminotransferase elevations with increased levels of bilirubin caused by drug-induced hepatocellular injury is an important predictor of serious liver injury that may lead to acute liver failure, liver transplant, or death in some patients.

Elevations of hepatic transaminases (most no greater than 3 times the upper limit of normal) were observed during controlled trials [see Adverse Reactions (6.1)].

Obtain serum aminotransferase, alkaline phosphatase (ALP), and total bilirubin levels prior to treatment with dimethyl fumarate delayed-release capsules and during treatment, as clinically indicated. Discontinue dimethyl fumarate delayed-release capsules if clinically significant liver injury induced by dimethyl fumarate delayed-release capsules is suspected.

5.6 Flushing

Dimethyl fumarate delayed-release capsules may cause flushing (e.g., warmth, redness, itching, and/or burning sensation). In clinical trials, 40% of dimethyl fumarate delayed-release capsules treated patients experienced flushing. Flushing symptoms generally began soon after initiating dimethyl fumarate delayed-release capsules and usually improved or resolved over time. In the majority of patients who experienced flushing, it was mild or moderate in severity. Three percent (3%) of patients discontinued dimethyl fumarate delayed-release capsules for flushing and <1% had serious flushing symptoms that were not life-threatening but led to hospitalization. Administration of dimethyl fumarate delayed-release capsules with food may reduce the incidence of flushing. Alternatively, administration of non-enteric coated aspirin (up to a dose of 325 mg) 30 minutes prior to dimethyl fumarate delayed-release capsules dosing may reduce the incidence or severity of flushing [see Dosing and Administration (2.1) and Clinical Pharmacology (12.3)].

RxDrugLabels.com provides trustworthy package insert and label information about marketed prescription drugs as submitted by manufacturers to the U.S. Food and Drug Administration. Package information is not reviewed or updated separately by RxDrugLabels.com. Every individual prescription drug label and package insert entry contains a unique identifier which can be used to secure further details directly from the U.S. National Institutes of Health and/or the FDA.

As a leading independent provider of trustworthy medication information, we source our database directly from the FDA's central repository of drug labels and package inserts under the Structured Product Labeling standard. RxDrugLabels.com provides the full prescription-only subset of the FDA's repository. Medication information provided here is not intended as a substitute for direct consultation with a qualified health professional.

Terms of Use | Copyright © 2024. All Rights Reserved.