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Indications
Renal, Cardiac, and Hepatic Transplant Mycophenolate mofetil is indicated for the prophylaxis of organ rejection in patients receiving allogeneic renal, cardiac or hepatic transplants. Mycophenolate mofetil should be used concomitantly with cyclosporine and corticosteroids.
Contraindications
Allergic reactions to mycophenolate mofetil have been observed; therefore, mycophenolate mofetil is contraindicated in patients with a hypersensitivity to mycophenolate mofetil, mycophenolic acid or any component of the drug product.
Warnings and precautions
(see boxed WARNING ) Embryofetal Toxicity Mycophenolate mofetil can cause fetal harm when administered to a pregnant female. Use of mycophenolate mofetil during pregnancy is associated with an increased risk of first trimester pregnancy loss and an increased risk of congenital malformations, especially external ear and other facial abnormalities including cleft lip and palate, and anomalies of the distal limbs, heart, esophagus, kidney and nervous system (see PRECAUTIONS: Pregnancy ).
Pregnancy Exposure Prevention and Planning Females of reproductive potential must be made aware of the increased risk of first trimester pregnancy loss and congenital malformations and must be counseled regarding pregnancy prevention and planning. For recommended pregnancy testing and contraception methods (see PRECAUTIONS: Pregnancy Exposure Prevention and Planning ). Lymphoma and Malignancy Patients receiving immunosuppressive regimens involving combinations of drugs, including mycophenolate mofetil, as part of an immunosuppressive regimen are at increased risk of developing lymphomas and other malignancies, particularly of the skin (see ADVERSE REACTIONS ).
The risk appears to be related to the intensity and duration of immunosuppression rather than to the use of any specific agent. As usual for patients with increased risk for skin cancer, exposure to sunlight and UV light should be limited by wearing protective clothing and using a sunscreen with a high protection factor. Lymphoproliferative disease or lymphoma developed in 0.4% to 1% of patients receiving mycophenolate mofetil (2 g or 3 g) with other immunosuppressive agents in controlled clinical trials of renal, cardiac, and hepatic transplant patients (see ADVERSE REACTIONS ).
In pediatric patients, no other malignancies besides lymphoproliferative disorder (2/148 patients) have been observed (see ADVERSE REACTIONS ). Combination with Other Immunosuppressive Agents Mycophenolate mofetil has been administered in combination with the following agents in clinical trials: antithymocyte globulin (ATGAM ®† ), OKT3 (Orthoclone OKT ®† 3), cyclosporine (Sandimmune ®† , Neoral ®† ) and corticosteroids.
The efficacy and safety of the use of mycophenolate mofetil in combination with other immunosuppressive agents have not been determined. Serious Infections Patients receiving immunosuppressants, including mycophenolate mofetil, are at increased risk of developing bacterial, fungal, protozoal and new or reactivated viral infections, including opportunistic infections. These infections may lead to serious, including fatal outcomes.
Because of the danger of oversuppression of the immune system which can increase susceptibility to infection, combination immunosuppressant therapy should be used with caution (see ADVERSE REACTIONS ). New or Reactivated Viral Infections Polyomavirus associated nephropathy (PVAN), JC virus associated progressive multifocal leukoencephalopathy (PML), cytomegalovirus (CMV) infections, reactivation of hepatitis B (HBV) or hepatitis C (HCV) have been reported in patients treated with immunosuppressants, including mycophenolate mofetil.
Reduction in immunosuppression should be considered for patients who develop evidence of new or reactivated viral infections. Physicians should also consider the risk that reduced immunosuppression represents to the functioning allograft. PVAN, especially due to BK virus infection, is associated with serious outcomes, including deteriorating renal function and renal graft loss (see ADVERSE REACTIONS: Postmarketing Experience ).
Patient monitoring may help detect patients at risk for PVAN. PML, which is sometimes fatal, commonly presents with hemiparesis, apathy, confusion, cognitive deficiencies, and ataxia. Risk factors for PML include treatment with immunosuppressant therapies and impairment of immune function (see ADVERSE REACTIONS: Postmarketing Experience ). In immunosuppressed patients, physicians should consider PML in the differential diagnosis in patients reporting neurological symptoms and consultation with a neurologist should be considered as clinically indicated.
The risk of CMV viremia and CMV disease is highest among transplant recipients seronegative for CMV at time of transplant who receive a graft from a CMV seropositive donor. Therapeutic approaches to limiting CMV disease exist and should be routinely provided. Patient monitoring may help detect patients at risk for CMV disease. Viral reactivation has been reported in patients infected with HBV or HCV. Monitoring infected patients for clinical and laboratory signs of active HBV or HCV infection is recommended.
Neutropenia Severe neutropenia [absolute neutrophil count (ANC) < 0.5 x 10 3 /µL] developed in up to 2% of renal, up to 2.8% of cardiac, and up to 3.6% of hepatic transplant patients receiving mycophenolate mofetil 3 g daily (see ADVERSE REACTIONS ). Patients receiving mycophenolate mofetil should be monitored for neutropenia (see PRECAUTIONS: Laboratory Tests ). The development of neutropenia may be related to mycophenolate mofetil itself, concomitant medications, viral infections, or some combination of these causes.
If neutropenia develops (ANC < 1.3 x 10 3 /µL), dosing with mycophenolate mofetil should be interrupted or the dose reduced, appropriate diagnostic tests performed, and the patient managed appropriately (see DOSAGE AND ADMINISTRATION ). Neutropenia has been observed most frequently in the period from 31 to 180 days posttransplant in patients treated for prevention of renal, cardiac, and hepatic rejection. Patients receiving mycophenolate mofetil should be instructed to report immediately any evidence of infection, unexpected bruising, bleeding or any other manifestation of bone marrow depression.
Pure Red Cell Aplasia (PRCA) Cases of pure red cell aplasia (PRCA) have been reported in patients treated with mycophenolate mofetil in combination with other immunosuppressive agents. The mechanism for mycophenolate mofetil induced PRCA is unknown; the relative contribution of other immunosuppressants and their combinations in an immunosuppression regimen are also unknown. In some cases, PRCA was found to be reversible with dose reduction or cessation of mycophenolate mofetil therapy.
In transplant patients, however, reduced immunosuppression may place the graft at risk.
Interactions
Drug Interactions Drug interaction studies with mycophenolate mofetil have been conducted with acyclovir, antacids, cholestyramine, cyclosporine, ganciclovir, oral contraceptives, sevelamer, trimethoprim/sulfamethoxazole, norfloxacin, and metronidazole. Drug interaction studies have not been conducted with other drugs that may be commonly administered to renal, cardiac or hepatic transplant patients. Mycophenolate mofetil has not been administered concomitantly with azathioprine.
Acyclovir Coadministration of mycophenolate mofetil (1 g) and acyclovir (800 mg) to 12 healthy volunteers resulted in no significant change in MPA AUC and C max . However, MPAG and acyclovir plasma AUCs were increased 10.6% and 21.9%, respectively. Because MPAG plasma concentrations are increased in the presence of renal impairment, as are acyclovir concentrations, the potential exists for mycophenolate and acyclovir or its prodrug (e.g., valacyclovir) to compete for tubular secretion, further increasing the concentrations of both drugs.
Antacids with Magnesium and Aluminum Hydroxides Absorption of a single dose of mycophenolate mofetil (2 g) was decreased when administered to ten rheumatoid arthritis patients also taking Maalox ®† TC (10 mL qid). The C max and AUC (0-24h) for MPA were 33% and 17% lower, respectively, than when mycophenolate mofetil was administered alone under fasting conditions. Mycophenolate mofetil may be administered to patients who are also taking antacids containing magnesium and aluminum hydroxides; however, it is recommended that mycophenolate mofetil and the antacid not be administered simultaneously.
Proton Pump Inhibitors (PPIs) Coadministration of PPIs (e.g., lansoprazole, pantoprazole) in single doses to healthy volunteers and multiple doses to transplant patients receiving mycophenolate mofetil has been reported to reduce the exposure to mycophenolic acid (MPA). An approximate reduction of 30% to 70% in the C max and 25% to 35% in the AUC of MPA has been observed, possibly due to a decrease in MPA solubility at an increased gastric pH.
The clinical impact of reduced MPA exposure on organ rejection has not been established in transplant patients receiving PPIs and mycophenolate mofetil. Because clinical relevance has not been established, PPIs should be used with caution when coadministered to transplant patients being treated with mycophenolate mofetil. Cholestyramine Following single-dose administration of 1.5 g mycophenolate mofetil to 12 healthy volunteers pretreated with 4 g tid of cholestyramine for 4 days, MPA AUC decreased approximately 40%.
This decrease is consistent with interruption of enterohepatic recirculation which may be due to binding of recirculating MPAG with cholestyramine in the intestine. Therefore, mycophenolate mofetil is not recommended to be given with cholestyramine or other agents that may interfere with enterohepatic recirculation. Cyclosporine Cyclosporine (Sandimmune ®† ) pharmacokinetics (at doses of 275 to 415 mg/day) were unaffected by single and multiple doses of 1.5 g bid of mycophenolate mofetil in ten stable renal transplant patients.
The mean (± SD) AUC (0-12h) and C max of cyclosporine after 14 days of multiple doses of mycophenolate mofetil were 3290 (± 822) ng
h/mL and 753 (± 161) ng/mL, respectively, compared to 3245 (± 1088) ng
h/mL and 700 (± 246) ng/mL, respectively, one week before administration of mycophenolate mofetil. Cyclosporine A interferes with MPA enterohepatic recirculation. In renal transplant patients, mean MPA exposure (AUC 0-12h ) was approximately 30% to 50% greater when mycophenolate mofetil is administered without cyclosporine compared with when mycophenolate mofetil is coadministered with cyclosporine. This interaction is due to cyclosporine inhibition of multidrug-resistance-associated protein 2 (MRP-2) transporter in the biliary tract, thereby preventing the excretion of MPAG into the bile that would lead to enterohepatic recirculation of MPA. This information should be taken into consideration when mycophenolate mofetil is used without cyclosporine; changes in MPA exposure should be expected when switching patients from cyclosporine A to one of the immunosuppressants which do not interfere with MPA’s enterohepatic cycle (e.g., tacrolimus; belatacept). Telmisartan Concommitant administration of telmisartan and mycophenolate mofetil resulted in an approximately 30% decrease in mycophenolic acid (MPA) concentrations. Telmisartan changes MPA’s elimination by enhancing PPAR gamma (peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor gamma) expression, which in turn results in an enhanced UGT1A9 expression and activity. Ganciclovir Following single-dose administration to 12 stable renal transplant patients, no pharmacokinetic interaction was observed between mycophenolate mofetil (1.5 g) and intravenous ganciclovir (5 mg/kg). Mean (± SD) ganciclovir AUC and C max (n = 10) were 54.3 (± 19) mcg
h/mL and 11.5 (± 1.8) mcg/mL, respectively, after coadministration of the two drugs, compared to 51 (± 17) mcg
h/mL and 10.6 (± 2) mcg/mL, respectively, after administration of intravenous ganciclovir alone. The mean (± SD) AUC and C max of MPA (n = 12) after coadministration were 80.9 (± 21.6) mcg
h/mL and 27.8 (± 13.9) mcg/mL, respectively, compared to values of 80.3 (± 16.4) mcg
h/mL and 30.9 (± 11.2) mcg/mL, respectively, after administration of mycophenolate mofetil alone. Because MPAG plasma concentrations are increased in the presence of renal impairment, as are ganciclovir concentrations, the two drugs will compete for tubular secretion and thus further increases in concentrations of both drugs may occur. In patients with renal impairment in which mycophenolate mofetil and ganciclovir or its prodrug (e.g., valganciclovir) are coadministered, patients should be monitored carefully. Oral Contraceptives A study of coadministration of mycophenolate mofetil (1 g bid) and combined oral contraceptives containing ethinylestradiol (0.02 mg to 0.04 mg) and levonorgestrel (0.05 mg to 0.20 mg), desogestrel (0.15 mg) or gestodene (0.05 mg to 0.10 mg) was conducted in 18 women with psoriasis over three consecutive menstrual cycles. Mean AUC (0-24h) was similar for ethinylestradiol and 3-keto desogestrel; however, mean levonorgestrel AUC (0-24h) significantly decreased by about 15%. There was large inter-patient variability (% CV in the range of 60% to 70%) in the data, especially for ethinylestradiol. Mean serum levels of LH, FSH and progesterone were not significantly affected. Mycophenolate mofetil may not have any influence on the ovulation-suppressing action of the studied oral contraceptives. It is recommended to coadminister mycophenolate mofetil with hormonal contraceptives (e.g., birth control pill, transdermal patch, vaginal ring, injection, and implant) with caution and additional barrier contraceptive methods must be used (see PRECAUTIONS: Pregnancy Exposure Prevention and Planning ). Sevelamer Concomitant administration of sevelamer and mycophenolate mofetil in adult and pediatric patients decreased the mean MPA C max and AUC 0-12h by 36% and 26% respectively. This data suggest that sevelamer and other calcium free phosphate binders should not be administered simultaneously with mycophenolate mofetil. Alternatively, it is recommended that sevelamer and other calcium free phosphate binders preferentially could be given 2 hours after mycophenolate mofetil intake to minimize the impact on the absorption of MPA. Trimethoprim/Sulfamethoxazole Following single-dose administration of mycophenolate mofetil (1.5 g) to 12 healthy male volunteers on day 8 of a 10 day course of trimethoprim 160 mg/sulfamethoxazole 800 mg administered bid, no effect on the bioavailability of MPA was observed. The mean (± SD) AUC and C max of MPA after concomitant administration were 75.2 (± 19.8) mcg
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Adverse reactions
The principal adverse reactions associated with the administration of mycophenolate mofetil include diarrhea, leukopenia, sepsis, vomiting, and there is evidence of a higher frequency of certain types of infections e.g., opportunistic infection (see WARNINGS: Serious Infections and WARNINGS: New or Reactivated Viral Infections ). Mycophenolate Mofetil Oral The incidence of adverse events for mycophenolate mofetil was determined in randomized, comparative, double-blind trials in prevention of rejection in renal (two active, one placebo-controlled trials), cardiac (one active-controlled trial), and hepatic (one active-controlled trial) transplant patients.
Geriatrics Elderly patients (≥ 65 years), particularly those who are receiving mycophenolate mofetil as part of a combination immunosuppressive regimen, may be at increased risk of certain infections (including cytomegalovirus [CMV] tissue invasive disease) and possibly gastrointestinal hemorrhage and pulmonary edema, compared to younger individuals (see PRECAUTIONS ). Safety data are summarized below for all active-controlled trials in renal (two trials), cardiac (one trial), and hepatic (one trial) transplant patients.
Approximately 53% of the renal patients, 65% of the cardiac patients, and 48% of the hepatic patients have been treated for more than one year. Adverse events reported in ≥ 20% of patients in the mycophenolate mofetil treatment groups are presented below. Table 9: Adverse Events in Controlled Studies in Prevention of Renal, Cardiac or Hepatic Allograft Rejection (Reported in ≥ 20% of Patients in the Mycophenolate Mofetil Group) Renal Studies Cardiac Study Hepatic Study Mycophenolate Mofetil 2 g/day Mycophenolate Mofetil 3 g/day Azathioprine 1 to 2 mg/kg/day or 100 to 150 mg/day Mycophenolate Mofetil 3 g/day Azathioprine 1.5 to 3 mg/kg/day Mycophenolate Mofetil 3 g/day Azathioprine 1 to 2 mg/kg/day (n = 336) (n = 330) (n = 326) (n = 289) (n = 289) (n = 277) (n = 287) % % % % % % % Body as a Whole Pain 33 31.2 32.2 75.8 74.7 74
35.5 Insomnia - - - 40.8 37.7 52.3 47 Dizziness - - - 28.7 27.7 - - Anxiety - - - 28.4 23.9 - - Paresthesia - - - 20.8 18 - - The placebo-controlled renal transplant study generally showed fewer adverse events occurring in ≥ 20% of patients. In addition, those that occurred were not only qualitatively similar to the azathioprine-controlled renal transplant studies, but also occurred at lower rates, particularly for infection, leukopenia, hypertension, diarrhea and respiratory infection.
The above data demonstrate that in three controlled trials for prevention of renal rejection, patients receiving 2 g/day of mycophenolate mofetil had an overall better safety profile than did patients receiving 3 g/day of mycophenolate mofetil. The above data demonstrate that the types of adverse events observed in multicenter controlled trials in renal, cardiac, and hepatic transplant patients are qualitatively similar except for those that are unique to the specific organ involved.
Sepsis, which was generally CMV viremia, was slightly more common in renal transplant patients treated with mycophenolate mofetil compared to patients treated with azathioprine. The incidence of sepsis was comparable in mycophenolate mofetil and in azathioprine-treated patients in cardiac and hepatic studies. In the digestive system, diarrhea was increased in renal and cardiac transplant patients receiving mycophenolate mofetil compared to patients receiving azathioprine, but was comparable in hepatic transplant patients treated with mycophenolate mofetil or azathioprine.
Patients receiving mycophenolate mofetil alone or as part of an immunosuppressive regimen are at increased risk of developing lymphomas and other malignancies, particularly of the skin (see WARNINGS: Lymphoma and Malignancy ). The incidence of malignancies among the 1,483 patients treated in controlled trials for the prevention of renal allograft rejection who were followed for ≥ 1 year was similar to the incidence reported in the literature for renal allograft recipients.
Lymphoproliferative disease or lymphoma developed in 0.4% to 1% of patients receiving mycophenolate mofetil (2 g or 3 g daily) with other immunosuppressive agents in controlled clinical trials of renal, cardiac, and hepatic transplant patients followed for at least one year (see WARNINGS: Lymphoma and Malignancy ). Non-melanoma skin carcinomas occurred in 1.6% to 4.2% of patients, other types of malignancy in 0.7% to 2.1% of patients.
Three-year safety data in renal and cardiac transplant patients did not reveal any unexpected changes in incidence of malignancy compared to the one year data. In pediatric patients, no other malignancies besides lymphoproliferative disorder (2/148 patients) have been observed. Severe neutropenia (ANC < 0.5 x 10 3 /µL) developed in up to 2% of renal transplant patients, up to 2.8% of cardiac transplant patients and up to 3.6% of hepatic transplant patients receiving mycophenolate mofetil 3 g daily (see WARNINGS: Neutropenia , PRECAUTIONS: Laboratory Tests and DOSAGE AND ADMINISTRATION ).
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h/mL and 34 (± 6.6) mcg/mL, respectively, compared to 79.2 (± 27.9) mcg
h/mL and 34.2 (± 10.7) mcg/mL, respectively, after admi
All transplant patients are at increased risk of opportunistic infections. The risk increases with total immunosuppressive load (see WARNINGS: Serious Infections and WARNINGS: New or Reactivated Viral Infections ). Table 10 shows the incidence of opportunistic infections that occurred in the renal, cardiac, and hepatic transplant populations in the azathioprine-controlled prevention trials. Table 10: Viral and Fungal Infections in Controlled Studies in Prevention of Renal, Cardiac or Hepatic Transplant Rejection Renal Studies Cardiac Study Hepatic Study Mycophenolate Mofetil 2 g/day Mycophenolate Mofetil 3 g/day Azathioprine 1 to 2 mg/kg/day or 100 to 150 mg/day Mycophenolate Mofetil 3 g/day Azathioprine 1.5 to 3 mg/kg/day Mycophenolate Mofetil 3 g/day Azathioprine 1 to 2 mg/kg/day (n = 336) (n = 330) (n = 326) (n = 289) (n = 289) (n = 277) (n = 287) % % % % % % % Herpes simplex 16.7 20 19 20.8 14.5 10.1
