MEPRON oral suspension is a quinone antimicrobial drug indicated for:
Prevention of Pneumocystis jirovecii pneumonia (PCP) in adults and adolescents aged 13 years and older who cannot tolerate trimethoprim-sulfamethoxazole (TMP-SMX). ( 1.1 )
Treatment of mild-to-moderate PCP in adults and adolescents aged 13 years and older who cannot tolerate TMP-SMX. ( 1.2 ) Limitations of Use ( 1.3 ) :
Treatment of severe PCP (alveolar arterial oxygen diffusion gradient [(A-a)DO 2 ] >45 mm Hg) with MEPRON has not been studied.
The efficacy of MEPRON in subjects who are failing therapy with TMP-SMX has also not been studied.
1.1 Prevention of Pneumocystis jirovecii Pneumonia MEPRON oral suspension is indicated for the prevention of Pneumocystis jirovecii pneumonia (PCP) in adults and adolescents (aged 13 years and older) who cannot tolerate trimethoprim-sulfamethoxazole (TMP-SMX).
1.2Treatment of Mild-to-Moderate
Pneumocystis jirovecii Pneumonia MEPRON oral suspension is indicated for the acute oral treatment of mild-to-moderate PCP in adults and adolescents (aged 13 years and older) who cannot tolerate TMP-SMX.
1.3Limitations of Use
Clinical experience with MEPRON for the treatment of PCP has been limited to subjects with mild-to-moderate PCP (alveolar-arterial oxygen diffusion gradient [(A-a)DO 2 ] ≤45 mm Hg). Treatment of more severe episodes of PCP with MEPRON has not been studied. The efficacy of MEPRON in subjects who are failing therapy with TMP-SMX has also not been studied.
Contraindications
MEPRON oral suspension is contraindicated in patients who develop or have a history of hypersensitivity reactions to atovaquone or any of the components of MEPRON [see Warnings and Precautions ( 5.3 ), Adverse Reactions ( 6.2 )] . Known serious allergic/hypersensitivity reaction to atovaquone or any of the components of MEPRON. ( 4 )
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Failure to administer MEPRON oral suspension with food may result in lower plasma atovaquone concentrations and may limit response to therapy. Patients with gastrointestinal disorders may have limited absorption resulting in suboptimal atovaquone concentrations. ( 5.1 )
Hepatotoxicity: Elevated liver chemistry tests and cases of hepatitis and fatal liver failure have been reported. ( 5.2 )
Severe Cutaneous Adverse Reactions (SCARs): Cases of SCARs such as Stevens-Johnson Syndrome (SJS) have been reported. SCARs can be life-threatening or fatal. If symptoms or signs of SCARs develop, discontinue MEPRON immediately and institute appropriate therapy. ( 5.3 )
5.1Risk of Limited Oral Absorption Absorption
of orally administered MEPRON oral suspension is limited but can be significantly increased when the drug is taken with food. Failure to administer MEPRON oral suspension with food may result in lower plasma atovaquone concentrations and may limit response to therapy. Consider therapy with other agents in patients who have difficulty taking MEPRON oral suspension with food or in patients who have gastrointestinal disorders that may limit absorption of oral medications [see Clinical Pharmacology ( 12.3 )].
5.2Hepatotoxicity Cases
of cholestatic hepatitis, elevated liver enzymes, and fatal liver failure have been reported in patients treated with atovaquone [see Adverse Reactions ( 6.2 )]. If treating patients with severe hepatic impairment, closely monitor patients following administration of MEPRON.
5.3Severe Cutaneous Adverse Reactions Cases
of severe cutaneous adverse reactions (SCARs), including Stevens‑Johnson Syndrome (SJS), drug reaction with eosinophilia and systemic symptoms (DRESS), and erythema multiforme (EM) have been reported in patients treated with MEPRON [see Adverse Reactions ( 6.2 )]. SCARs can be life‑threatening or fatal. If symptoms or signs of SCARs develop, discontinue MEPRON immediately and institute appropriate therapy. Patients who have developed SCARs with the use of MEPRON must not receive MEPRON [see Contraindications ( 4 )].
Interactions
Concomitant administration of rifampin or rifabutin reduces atovaquone concentrations; concomitant use with MEPRON oral suspension is not recommended. ( 7.1 )
Concomitant administration of tetracycline reduces atovaquone concentrations; use caution when coadministering. Monitor patients for potential loss of efficacy of MEPRON if coadministration of tetracycline is necessary. ( 7.2 )
Concomitant administration with metoclopramide reduces atovaquone concentrations; administer concomitantly only if other antiemetics are not available. ( 7.3 )
Concomitant administration of indinavir reduces indinavir trough concentrations; use caution when coadministering. Monitor patients for potential loss of efficacy of indinavir if coadministration is necessary. ( 7.4 )
7.1Rifampin/Rifabutin
Concomitant administration of rifampin or rifabutin and MEPRON oral suspension is known to reduce atovaquone concentrations [see Clinical Pharmacology ( 12.3 )] . Concomitant administration of MEPRON oral suspension and rifampin or rifabutin is not recommended.
7.2Tetracycline
Concomitant administration of tetracycline and MEPRON oral suspension has been associated with a reduction in plasma concentrations of atovaquone [see Clinical Pharmacology ( 12.3 )]. Caution should be used when prescribing tetracycline concomitantly with MEPRON oral suspension. Monitor patients for potential loss of efficacy of MEPRON if coadministration is necessary.
7.3Metoclopramide
Metoclopramide may reduce the bioavailability of atovaquone and should be used only if other antiemetics are not available [see Clinical Pharmacology ( 12.3 )].
7.4Indinavir
Concomitant administration of atovaquone and indinavir did not result in any change in the steady-state AUC and C max of indinavir but resulted in a decrease in the C trough of indinavir [see Clinical Pharmacology ( 12.3 )]. Caution should be exercised when prescribing MEPRON oral suspension with indinavir due to the decrease in trough concentrations of indinavir. Monitor patients for potential loss of efficacy of indinavir if coadministration with MEPRON oral suspension is necessary.
Pregnancy and breastfeeding
8.1Pregnancy Risk Summary
Available data from postmarketing experience with use of MEPRON in pregnant women are insufficient to identify a drug-associated risk for major birth defects, miscarriage, or adverse maternal or fetal outcomes. Pregnant women with HIV who are infected with PCP are at increased risk of adverse pregnancy outcomes (see Clinical Considerations) . Atovaquone given orally by gavage to pregnant rats and rabbits during organogenesis did not cause fetal malformations at plasma concentrations up to 3 times and 0.5 times, respectively, the estimated human exposure based on steady-state plasma concentrations (see Data) .
The estimated background risk of major birth defects and miscarriage for the indicated population is unknown. All pregnancies have a background risk of birth defect, loss, or other adverse outcomes. In the U.S. general population, the background risk of major birth defects and miscarriage in clinically recognized pregnancies is 2% to 4% and 15% to 20%, respectively. Clinical Considerations Disease-Associated Maternal and/or Embryo/Fetal Risk: Pregnant women with HIV who are infected with PCP are at increased risk of severe illness and maternal death associated with PCP compared with non-pregnant women.
Data Animal Data: Atovaquone administered in oral doses of 250, 500, and 1,000 mg/kg/day to pregnant rats during organogenesis (Gestation Day [GD] 6 to GD15) did not cause maternal or embryo-fetal toxicity at doses up to 1,000 mg/kg/day corresponding to maternal plasma concentrations approximately 3 times the estimated human exposure during the treatment of PCP based on steady-state plasma concentrations. In pregnant rabbits, atovaquone administered in oral doses of 300, 600, and 1,200 mg/kg/day during organogenesis (GD6 to GD18) caused decreased fetal body length at a maternally toxic dose of 1,200 mg/kg/day corresponding to a plasma concentration that is approximately 0.5 times the estimated human exposure based on steady-state plasma concentrations.
In a pre- and post-natal study in rats, atovaquone administered in oral doses of 250, 500, and 1,000 mg/kg/day from GD15 until Lactation Day (LD) 20 did not impair the growth or developmental effects in first generation offspring at doses up to 1,000 mg/kg/day corresponding to approximately 3 times the estimated human exposure based on steady-state plasma concentrations during the treatment of PCP. Atovaquone crossed the placenta and was present in fetal rat and rabbit tissue.
Adverse reactions
The following adverse reactions are discussed in another section of the labeling:
Hepatotoxicity [see Warnings and Precautions ( 5.2 )].
Severe Cutaneous Adverse Reactions [see Warnings and Precautions ( 5.3 )] .
PCP Prevention: The most frequent adverse reactions (≥25% that required discontinuation) were diarrhea, rash, headache, nausea, and fever. ( 6.1 )
PCP Treatment: The most frequent adverse reactions (≥14% that required discontinuation) were rash (including maculopapular), nausea, diarrhea, headache, vomiting, and fever. ( 6.1 ) To report SUSPECTED ADVERSE REACTIONS, contact GlaxoSmithKline at 1-888-825-5249 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 with rates in the clinical trials of another drug and may not reflect the rates observed in practice. Additionally, because many subjects who participated in clinical trials with MEPRON had complications of advanced human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) disease, it was often difficult to distinguish adverse reactions caused by MEPRON from those caused by underlying medical conditions.
PCP Prevention Trials In 2 clinical trials, MEPRON oral suspension was compared with dapsone or aerosolized pentamidine in HIV-1–infected adolescent (13 to 18 years) and adult subjects at risk of PCP (CD4 count <200 cells/mm 3 or a prior episode of PCP) and unable to tolerate TMP-SMX. Dapsone Comparative Trial: In the dapsone comparative trial (n = 1,057), the majority of subjects were white (64%), male (88%), and receiving prophylaxis for PCP at randomization (73%); the mean age was 38 years.
Subjects received MEPRON oral suspension 1,500 mg once daily (n = 536) or dapsone 100 mg once daily (n = 521); median durations of exposure were 6.7 and 6.5 months, respectively. Adverse reaction data were collected only for adverse reactions requiring discontinuation of treatment, which occurred at similar frequencies in subjects treated with MEPRON oral suspension or dapsone ( Table 1 ). Among subjects taking neither dapsone nor atovaquone at enrollment (n = 487), adverse reactions requiring discontinuation of treatment occurred in 43% of subjects treated with dapsone and 20% of subjects treated with MEPRON oral suspension.
Gastrointestinal adverse reactions (nausea, diarrhea, and vomiting) were more frequently reported in subjects treated with MEPRON oral suspension ( Table 1 ). Table 1. Percentage (>2%) of Subjects with Selected Adverse Reactions Requiring Discontinuation of Treatment in the Dapsone Comparative PCP Prevention Trial Adverse Reaction All Subjects MEPRON Oral Suspension 1,500 mg/day (n = 536) % Dapsone 100 mg/day (n = 521) % Rash 6.3
8.8 Nausea 4.1
0.6 Diarrhea 3.2
0.2 Vomiting 2.2
0.6 Aerosolized Pentamidine Comparative Trial: In the aerosolized pentamidine comparative trial (n = 549), the majority of subjects were white (79%), male (92%), and were primary prophylaxis patients at enrollment (58%); the mean age was 38 years. Subjects received MEPRON oral suspension once daily at a dose of 750 mg (n = 188) or 1,500 mg (n = 175) or received aerosolized pentamidine 300 mg every 4 weeks (n = 186); the median durations of exposure were 6.2, 6.0, and 7.8 months, respectively.
Table 2 summarizes the clinical adverse reactions reported by ≥20% of the subjects receiving either the 1,500-mg dose of MEPRON oral suspension or aerosolized pentamidine. Rash occurred more often in subjects treated with MEPRON oral suspension (46%) than in subjects treated with aerosolized pentamidine (28%). Treatment‑limiting adverse reactions occurred in 25% of subjects treated with MEPRON oral suspension 1,500 mg once daily and in 7% of subjects treated with aerosolized pentamidine.
The most frequent adverse reactions requiring discontinuation of dosing in the group receiving MEPRON oral suspension 1,500 mg once daily were rash (6%), diarrhea (4%), and nausea (3%). The most frequent adverse reaction requiring discontinuation of dosing in the group receiving aerosolized pentamidine was bronchospasm (2%). Table 2. Percentage (≥20%) of Subjects with Selected Adverse Reactions in the Aerosolized Pentamidine Comparative PCP Prevention Trial Adverse Reaction MEPRON Oral Suspension 1,500 mg/day (n = 175) % Aerosolized Pentamidine (n = 186) % Diarrhea 42 35 Rash 39 28 Headache 28 22 Nausea 26 23 Fever 25 18 Rhinitis 24 17 Other reactions occurring in ≥10% of subjects receiving the recommended dose of MEPRON oral suspension (1,500 mg once daily) included vomiting, sweating, flu syndrome, sinusitis, pruritus, insomnia, depression, and myalgia.
PCP Treatment Trials Safety information is presented from 2 clinical efficacy trials of the MEPRON tablet formulation: 1) a randomized, double‑blind trial comparing MEPRON tablets with TMP‑SMX in subjects with acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS) and mild‑to‑moderate PCP [(A-a)DO 2 ] ≤45 mm Hg and PaO 2 ≥60 mm Hg on room air; 2) a randomized, open-label trial comparing MEPRON tablets with intravenous (IV) pentamidine isethionate in subjects with mild‑to‑moderate PCP who could not tolerate trimethoprim or sulfa antimicrobials.
TMP ‑ SMX Comparative Trial: In the TMP‑SMX comparative trial (n = 408), the majority of subjects were white (66%) and male (95%); the mean age was 36 years. Subjects received MEPRON 750 mg (three 250‑mg tablets) 3 times daily for 21 days or TMP 320 mg plus SMX 1,600 mg 3 times daily for 21 days; median durations of exposure were 21 and 15 days, respectively. Table 3 summarizes all clinical adverse reactions reported by ≥10% of the trial population regardless of attribution.
Nine percent of subjects who received MEPRON and 24% of subjects who received TMP‑SMX discontinued therapy due to an adverse reaction. Among the subjects who discontinued, 4% of subjects receiving MEPRON and 8% of subjects in the TMP-SMX group discontinued therapy due to rash. The incidence of adverse reactions with MEPRON oral suspension at the recommended dose (750 mg twice daily) was similar to that seen with the tablet formulation.
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Composition
Active ingredients
ATOVAQUONE 750MG/5ML
Strengths and forms
The FDA lists each strength of a product separately; these pages share one label.
Prognia shows this product information for reference and learning. It is not treatment advice and can lag behind the official text. Always check the current product information and local protocols before prescribing.
At a glance
Brand name
Mepron
Active substance
atovaquone
Drug class
Other agents against amoebiasis and other protozoal diseases
Table 3. Percentage (≥10%) of Subjects with Selected Adverse Reactions in the TMP-SMX Comparative PCP Treatment Trial Adverse Reaction MEPRON Tablets (n = 203) % TMP ‑ SMX (n = 205) % Rash (including maculopapular) 23 34 Nausea 21 44 Diarrhea 19 7 Headache 16 22 Vomiting 14 35 Fever 14 25 Insomnia 10 9 Two percent of subjects treated with MEPRON and 7% of subjects treated with TMP‑SMX had therapy prematurely discontinued due to elevations in ALT/AST.
Pentamidine Comparative Trial: In the pentamidine comparative trial (n = 174), the majority of subjects in the primary therapy trial population (n = 145) were white (72%) and male (97%); the mean age was 37 years. Subjects received MEPRON 750 mg (three 250‑mg tablets) 3 times daily for 21 days or a 3- to 4‑mg/kg single pentamidine isethionate IV infusion daily for 21 days; the median durations of exposure were 21 and 14 days, respectively.
Table 4 summarizes the clinical adverse reactions reported by ≥10% of the primary therapy trial population regardless of attribution. Fewer subjects who received MEPRON reported adverse reactions than subjects who received pentamidine (63% vs. 72%). However, only 7% of subjects discontinued treatment with MEPRON due to adverse reactions, while 41% of subjects who received pentamidine discontinued treatment for this reason.
Of the 5 subjects who discontinued therapy with MEPRON, 3 reported rash (4%). Rash was not severe in any subject. The most frequently cited reasons for discontinuation of pentamidine therapy were hypoglycemia (11%) and vomiting (9%). Table 4. Percentage (≥10%) of Subjects with Selected Adverse Reactions in the Pentamidine Comparative PCP Treatment Trial (Primary Therapy Group) Adverse Reaction MEPRON Tablets (n = 73) % Pentamidine (n = 71) % Fever 40 25 Na
