Insulins and analogues for injection, fast-acting

Afrezza

Approved 27 Jun 2014InhalationPowder

The FDA lists this product in 3 strengths and forms.

Indications

AFREZZA ® is indicated to improve glycemic control in adult patients with diabetes mellitus. AFREZZA ® is a rapid acting inhaled human insulin indicated to improve glycemic control in adult patients with diabetes mellitus. ( 1 ) Limitations of Use : Not recommended for the treatment of diabetic ketoacidosis (DKA) ( 1 ) Not recommended in patients who smoke or who have recently stopped smoking ( 1 ) Limitations of Use: AFREZZA is not recommended for the treatment of diabetic ketoacidosis (DKA) [see Warning and Precautions ( 5.6 )] .

The safety and effectiveness of AFREZZA in patients who smoke have not been established. The use of AFREZZA is not recommended in patients who smoke or who have recently stopped smoking.

Contraindications

AFREZZA is contraindicated: During episodes of hypoglycemia [see Warnings and Precautions ( 5.3 )]. In patients with chronic lung disease, such as asthma or COPD, because of the risk of acute bronchospasm [see Warnings and Precautions ( 5.1 )]. In patients with a previous severe hypersensitivity reaction to any regular human insulin product or any of the inactive ingredients in AFREZZA. Severe, life-threatening, generalized allergy, including anaphylaxis, can occur with AFREZZA [see Warnings and Precautions ( 5.7 )].

During episodes of hypoglycemia ( 4 ) Chronic lung disease, such as asthma, or COPD ( 4 ) Hypersensitivity to any regular human insulin product or any of the inactive ingredients in AFREZZA ( 4 )

Warnings and precautions

Hypoglycemia or Hyperglycemia with Changes in Insulin Regimen : Make necessary changes to a patient's insulin regimen under close medical supervision with increased frequency of blood glucose monitoring. For patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus, oral antidiabetic treatment dosage modifications may be needed. ( 5.2 ) Hypoglycemia (may be life-threatening): Increase frequency of glucose monitoring in patients at higher risk for hypoglycemia and those who have reduced symptomatic awareness of hypoglycemia.

( 5.3 ) Decline in Pulmonary Function : Assess pulmonary function (e.g., spirometry (FEV 1 )) at baseline, after 6 months of therapy, and annually, even in the absence of pulmonary symptoms. In patients who have a decline of ≥ 20% in FEV 1 from baseline, consider discontinuing AFREZZA. Consider more frequent monitoring of pulmonary function in patients with pulmonary symptoms ( 5.4 ) Lung Cancer : In patients with active lung cancer, a prior history of lung cancer, or in patients at risk for lung cancer, consider whether the benefits of AFREZZA use outweigh this potential risk.

Interactions

2.5Dosage Modifications for Drug Interactions

Dosage modification may be needed when: AFREZZA is used concomitantly with certain drugs that increase and/or decrease the glucose lowering effect [see Drug Interactions ( 7.1 , 7.2 , 7.3 )]. Switching from another insulin to AFREZZA [see Dosage and Administration ( 2.3 ) and Warnings and Precautions ( 5.2 )] 7 DRUG INTERACTIONS Drugs that may increase the risk of hypoglycemia ( 7.1 , 7.3 ) Drugs that may decrease blood glucose lowering effect of AFREZZA ( 7.2 , 7.3 ) Drugs that may affect hypoglycemic signs and symptoms ( 7.4 )

7.1Drugs That May Increase the Risk of Hypoglycemia

The risk of hypoglycemia associated with AFREZZA use may be increased with antidiabetic agents, ACE inhibitors, angiotensin II receptor blocking agents, disopyramide, fibrates, fluoxetine, monoamine oxidase inhibitors, pentoxifylline, pramlintide, salicylates, somatostatin analogs (e.g., octreotide), and sulfonamide antibiotics. Dose modification and increased frequency of glucose monitoring may be required when AFREZZA is given concomitantly with these drugs.

7.2Drugs That May Decrease the Blood Glucose Lowering Effect of

AFREZZA The glucose lowering effect of AFREZZA may be decreased when given concomitantly with atypical antipsychotics (e.g., olanzapine and clozapine), corticosteroids, danazol, diuretics, estrogens, glucagon, isoniazid, niacin, oral contraceptives, phenothiazines, progestogens (e.g., in oral contraceptives), protease inhibitors, somatropin, sympathomimetic agents (e.g., albuterol, epinephrine, terbutaline) and thyroid hormones.

Dosage modification and increased frequency of glucose monitoring may be required when AFREZZA is given concomitantly with these drugs.

7.3Drugs That May Increase or Decrease the Blood Glucose Lowering Effect of

AFREZZA The glucose lowering effect of AFREZZA may be increased or decreased when used concomitantly with alcohol, beta-blockers, clonidine, and lithium salts. Pentamidine may cause hypoglycemia, which may sometimes be followed by hyperglycemia. Dosage modification and increased frequency of glucose monitoring may be required when AFREZZA is given concomitantly with these drugs.

7.4Drugs That May Affect Hypoglycemia Signs and Symptoms

The signs and symptoms of hypoglycemia may be blunted when beta-blockers, clonidine, guanethidine, and reserpine are given concomitantly with AFREZZA.

Pregnancy and breastfeeding

8.1Pregnancy Risk Summary

Limited available data with AFREZZA use in pregnant women are insufficient to determine drug-associated risks for adverse developmental outcomes. Available information from published studies with human insulin use during pregnancy has not reported a clear association with human insulin and adverse developmental outcomes ( see Data ). There are risks to the mother and fetus associated with poorly controlled diabetes in pregnancy ( see Clinical Considerations ).

In animal reproduction studies, there were no adverse developmental outcomes with subcutaneous administration of carrier particles (vehicle without insulin) to pregnant rats during organogenesis at doses 21 times the human daily dose of 99 mg AFREZZA, based on AUC (see Data ) . The estimated background risk of major birth defects is 6-10% in women with pre-gestational diabetes with HbA1c >7 and has been reported to be as high as 20-25% in women with HbA1c >10.

The estimated background risk of miscarriage for the indicated population is unknown. In the U.S. general population, the estimated background risk of major birth defects and miscarriage in clinically recognized pregnancies is 2-4% and 15-20%, respectively. Clinical Considerations Disease-associated maternal and/or embryo/fetal risk Poorly controlled diabetes in pregnancy increases the maternal risk for DKA, pre-eclampsia, spontaneous abortions, preterm delivery, stillbirth, and delivery complications.

Poorly controlled diabetes increases the fetal risk for major birth defects, stillbirth, and macrosomia- related morbidity. Data Human Data There are limited data with AFREZZA use in pregnant women. Published data do not report a clear association with human insulin and major birth defects, miscarriage, or adverse maternal or fetal outcomes when human insulin is used during pregnancy. However, these studies cannot definitely establish the absence of any risk because of methodological limitations including small sample size and lack of blinding.

Animal Data In pregnant rats given subcutaneous doses of 10, 30, and 100 mg/kg/day of carrier particles (vehicle without insulin) from gestation day 6 through 17 (organogenesis), no major malformations were observed at doses up to 100 mg/kg/day (21 times the human systemic exposure at a daily dose of 99 mg AFREZZA, based on AUC). In pregnant rabbits given subcutaneous doses of 2, 10, and 100 mg/kg/day of carrier particles (vehicle without insulin) from gestation day 7 through 19 (organogenesis), adverse maternal effects were observed in all dose groups (at human systemic exposure following a daily dose of 99 mg AFREZZA, based on AUC).

In pregnant rats given subcutaneous doses of 10, 30, and 100 mg/kg/day of carrier particles (vehicle without insulin) from gestation day 7 through lactation day 20 (weaning), decreased epididymis and testes weights were observed in F1 male offspring, however, no decrease in fertility was noted, and impaired learning were observed in F1 pups at ³ 30 mg/kg/day (6 times the human systemic exposure at a daily dose of 99 mg AFREZZA, based on AUC).

Adverse reactions

The following serious adverse reactions are described below and elsewhere in the labeling: Acute bronchospasm in patients with chronic lung disease [see Warnings and Precautions ( 5.1 )] Hypoglycemia [see Warnings and Precautions ( 5.3 )] Decline in pulmonary function [see Warnings and Precautions ( 5.4 )] Lung cancer [see Warnings and Precautions ( 5.5 )] Diabetic ketoacidosis [see Warnings and Precautions ( 5.6 )] Hypersensitivity reactions [see Warnings and Precautions ( 5.7 )] The most common adverse reactions associated with AFREZZA (2% or greater incidence) are hypoglycemia, cough, and throat pain or irritation ( 6 ) To report SUSPECTED ADVERSE REACTIONS, contact MannKind at 1-877-323-8505 or FDA at 1-800-FDA-1088 or www.fda.gov/medwatch.

6.1Clinical Trials Experience

Because clinical trials are conducted under widely varying 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. The data described below reflect exposure of 3,017 patients to AFREZZA and include 1,026 patients with type 1 diabetes and 1,991 patients with type 2 diabetes.

The mean exposure duration was 8.2 months for patients with type 1 diabetes and those with type 2 diabetes. In the overall population: 1,874 patients were exposed to AFREZZA for 6 months and 724 patients for greater than one year. 620 and 1,254 patients with type 1 and type 2 diabetes, respectively, were exposed to AFREZZA for up to 6 months. 238 and 486 patients with type 1 and type 2 diabetes, respectively, were exposed to AFREZZA for greater than one year (median exposure was 1.8 years).

AFREZZA was studied in placebo and active-controlled trials (n = 3 and n = 10, respectively). The mean age of the population was 50 years and 20 patients were older than 75 years of age; 51% of the population were males; 83% were White, 5% were Black or African American, and 2% were Asian; 10% were Hispanic. At baseline, the type 1 diabetes population had diabetes for an average of 17 years and had a mean HbA1c of 8.3%, and the type 2 diabetes population had diabetes for an average of 11 years and had a mean HbA1c of 8.8%.

At baseline, 33% of the population reported peripheral neuropathy, 32% reported retinopathy and 20% had a history of cardiovascular disease. Table 2 shows the frequency of common adverse reactions, excluding hypoglycemia, associated with the use of AFREZZA in the pool of controlled trials in type 2 diabetes patients that occurred more commonly on AFREZZA than on placebo and/or comparator and occurred in at least 2% of patients treated with AFREZZA.

Table 2. Common Adverse Reactions That Occurred in ≥ 2% in Patients with Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus (excluding Hypoglycemia) Treated with AFREZZA *Carrier particle without insulin was used as placebo [see Description ( 11.1 )] . AFREZZA (n = 1,991) % Placebo* (n = 290) % Non-placebo comparators (n=1,363) % Cough 26 4 3 3 2 2 2 20 4 3 1 1 1 0.3 5 1 2 2 1 1 1 Throat pain or irritation Headache Diarrhea Productive cough Fatigue Nausea Table 3 shows the frequency of common adverse reactions, excluding hypoglycemia, associated with the use of AFREZZA in the pool of active-controlled trials in type 1 diabetes patients.

These adverse reactions were not present at baseline, occurred more commonly on AFREZZA than on comparator, and occurred in at least 2% of patients treated with AFREZZA. Table 3. Common Adverse Reactions That Occurred in ≥ 2% in Patients with Type 1 Diabetes Mellitus (excluding Hypoglycemia) Treated with AFREZZA AFREZZA (n=1,026) Subcutaneous Insulin (n = 835) Cough 29 5 Throat pain or irritation 6 2 Headache 5 3 Pulmonary function test decreased 3 1 Bronchitis 3 2 Urinary tract infection 2 2 Hypoglycemia Hypoglycemia is the most commonly observed adverse reaction in patients using insulin, including AFREZZA [see Warnings and Precautions ( 5.3 )] .

The incidence of severe and non-severe hypoglycemia in AFREZZA-treated patients versus placebo-treated patients with type 2 diabetes is shown in Table 4 . A hypoglycemic episode was recorded if a patient reported symptoms of hypoglycemia with or without a blood glucose value consistent with hypoglycemia. Severe hypoglycemia was defined as an event with symptoms consistent with hypoglycemia requiring the assistance of another person and associated with either a blood glucose value consistent with hypoglycemia or prompt recovery after treatment for hypoglycemia.

Table 4. Incidence of Severe and Non-Severe Hypoglycemia in a Placebo-Controlled Study of Patients with Type 2 Diabetes AFREZZA (N=177) Placebo (N=176) Severe Hypoglycemia 5% 2% Non-Severe Hypoglycemia 67% 30% Cough Approximately 27% of patients treated with AFREZZA reported cough, compared to approximately 5% of patients treated with comparator. In clinical trials, cough was the most common reason for discontinuation of AFREZZA therapy (3% of AFREZZA-treated patients).

Pulmonary Function Decline In clinical trials lasting up to 2 years, excluding patients with chronic lung disease, patients treated with AFREZZA had a 40 mL (95% CI: -80, -1) greater decline from baseline in forced expiratory volume in one second (FEV 1 ) compared to patients treated with comparator anti-diabetes treatments. The decline occurred during the first 3 months of therapy and persisted over 2 years ( Figure 1 ).

A decline in FEV 1 of ≥ 15% occurred in 6% of AFREZZA-treated patients compared to 3% of comparator-treated patients [see Warnings and Precautions ( 5.4 )]. Figure 1. Mean (+/-SE) Change in FEV 1 (Liters) from Baseline for Type 1 and Type 2 Diabetes Patients Figure 1 Weight Gain Weight gain has occurred with some insulin therapies, including AFREZZA. Weight gain has been attributed to the anabolic effects of insulin and the decrease in glycosuria.

In a clinical trial of patients with type 2 diabetes [see Clinical Studies ( 14.3 )] , there was a mean 0.49 kg weight gain among AFREZZA-treated patients compared with a mean 1.13 kg weight loss among placebo-treated patients.

6.2Postmarketing Experience

The following adverse reaction has been identified during post approval use of AFREZZA. Because these 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 drug exposure: bronchospasm.

Afrezza

Indications

Contraindications

Warnings and precautions

Two medicines in one question?

5.3Hypoglycemia

5.4Decline in Pulmonary Function

5.5Lung Cancer

Interactions

2.5Dosage Modifications for Drug Interactions

7.1Drugs That May Increase the Risk of Hypoglycemia

7.2Drugs That May Decrease the Blood Glucose Lowering Effect of

7.3Drugs That May Increase or Decrease the Blood Glucose Lowering Effect of

7.4Drugs That May Affect Hypoglycemia Signs and Symptoms

Pregnancy and breastfeeding

8.1Pregnancy Risk Summary

Adverse reactions

6.1Clinical Trials Experience

6.2Postmarketing Experience

Composition

Strengths and forms

Official product information

At a glance

Guidelines