Corticosteroids acting locally

Uceris

Approved 14 Jan 2013OralTablet, extended release

The FDA lists this product in 2 strengths and forms.

Indications

UCERIS ® extended-release tablets are indicated for the induction of remission in patients with active, mild to moderate ulcerative colitis. UCERIS (budesonide) is a glucocorticosteroid indicated for the induction of remission in patients with active, mild to moderate ulcerative colitis. ( 1 )

Contraindications

UCERIS is contraindicated in patients with hypersensitivity to budesonide or any of the ingredients of UCERIS. Anaphylactic reactions have occurred with other budesonide formulations [see Adverse Reactions ( 6.2 )]. Known hypersensitivity to budesonide or any of the ingredients in UCERIS tablets ( 4 )

Warnings and precautions

Hypercorticism and adrenal suppression : May occur with treatment; monitor for signs and symptoms. ( 5.1 ) Transferring patients from systemic glucocorticoids: Risk of impaired adrenal function when transferring from glucocorticoid treatment with higher systemic effects to glucocorticoid treatment with lower systemic effects, such as UCERIS. Taper patients slowly from systemic corticosteroids if transferring to UCERIS.

( 5.2 ) Immunosuppression and Increased Risk of Infection: Increased risk of viral, bacterial, fungal, protozoal and helminthic infections, including potentially fatal varicella and measles infection. Monitor patients for new or worsening infection and consider drug discontinuation. Avoid use in patients with fungal infections, Strongyloides infestation, cerebral malaria and ocular herpes simplex. Screen for hepatitis B infection.

(5.3) Kaposi’s Sarcoma: Reported to occur in patients receiving corticosteroid therapy, most often for chronic conditions. (5.4)

5.1Hypercorticism and Adrenal Axis Suppression

Systemic effects such as hypercorticism and adrenal suppression may occur with use corticosteroids, including UCERIS. Monitor patients for signs and symptoms of hypercorticism and adrenal axis suppression during treatment with UCERIS. Patients with moderate to severe liver disease should be monitored for increased signs and/or symptoms of hypercorticism. Discontinuing the use of UCERIS tablets should be considered in these patients [see Use in Specific Populations (8.6)].

Pregnancy and breastfeeding

8.1Pregnancy Risk Summary

Limited published studies report on the use of budesonide in pregnant women; however, the data are insufficient to inform a drug-associated risk for major birth defects and miscarriage. There are clinical considerations (see Clinical Considerations). In animal reproduction studies with pregnant rats and rabbits, subcutaneous administration of budesonide during organogenesis at doses 0.5 times and 0.05 times, respectively, the maximum recommended human dose, resulted in increased fetal loss, decreased pup weights, and skeletal abnormalities.

Maternal toxicity was observed in both rats and rabbits at these dose levels ( see Data ). Based on animal data, advise pregnant women of the potential risk to a fetus. The estimated background risk of major birth defects and miscarriage of 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 estimated 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 Embryofetal Risk Published data suggest that increased disease activity is associated with the risk of developing adverse pregnancy outcomes in women with ulcerative colitis. Adverse pregnancy outcomes include preterm delivery (before 37 weeks of gestation), low birth weight (less than 2500 g) infants, and small for gestational age at birth. Fetal/Neonatal Adverse Reactions Hypoadrenalism may occur in infants born of mothers receiving corticosteroids during pregnancy.

Infants should be carefully observed for signs of hypoadrenalism, such as poor feeding, irritability, weakness, and vomiting, and managed accordingly [see Warnings and Precautions (5.1)] . Data Animal Data Budesonide was teratogenic and embryolethal in rabbits and rats. In an embryofetal development study in pregnant rats dosed subcutaneously with budesonide during the period of organogenesis from gestation days 6-15 there were effects on fetal development and survival at subcutaneous doses up to approximately 500 mcg/kg in rats (approximately 0.5 times the maximum recommended human dose on a body surface area basis).

In an embryofetal development study in pregnant rabbits dosed during the period of organogenesis from gestation days 6-18, there was an increase in maternal abortion, and effects on fetal development and reduction in litter weights at subcutaneous doses up to approximately 25 mcg/kg in rabbits (approximately 0.05 times the maximum recommended human dose on a body surface area basis). Maternal toxicity, including reduction in body weight gain, was observed at subcutaneous doses of 5 mcg/kg in rabbits (approximately 0.01 times the maximum recommended human dose on a body surface area basis) and 500 mcg/kg in rats (approximately 0.5 times the maximum recommended human dose on a body surface area basis).

In a peri- and postnatal development study, rats dosed subcutaneously with budesonide during the period of Day 15 post coitum to Day 21 postpartum, budesonide had no effects on delivery but did have an effect on growth and development of offspring. In addition, offspring survival was reduced, and surviving offspring had decreased mean body weights at birth and during lactation at exposures 0.02 times the MRHD (on a mg/m 2 basis at maternal subcutaneous doses of 20 mcg/kg/day and higher).

These findings occurred in the presence of maternal toxicity.

Adverse reactions

Systemic glucocorticosteroid use may result in the following: Hypercorticism and Adrenal Suppression [see Warnings and Precautions ( 5.1 )] Symptoms of steroid withdrawal in those patients transferring from Systemic Glucocorticosteroid Therapy [see Warnings and Precautions ( 5.2 )] Immunosuppression and Increased Risk of Infection [see Warnings and Precautions ( 5.3 )] Kaposi’s Sarcoma [see Warnings and Precautions ( 5.4 )] Increased Systemic Glucocorticoid Susceptibility [see Warnings and Precautions ( 5.5 )] Other Glucocorticosteroid Effects [see Warnings and Precautions ( 5.6 )] Most common adverse reactions (incidence ≥2%) are headache, nausea, decreased blood cortisol, upper abdominal pain, fatigue, flatulence, abdominal distension, acne, urinary tract infection, arthralgia, and constipation.

( 6.1 ) To report SUSPECTED ADVERSE REACTIONS, contact Salix Pharmaceuticals at 1-800-321-4576 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 safety of UCERIS has been evaluated in controlled and open-label clinical trials which enrolled a combined total of 1,105 patients with ulcerative colitis.

In two 8-week, placebo-controlled studies in patients with active disease (Study 1 and Study 2), a total of 255 patients received UCERIS 9 mg, 254 patients received UCERIS 6 mg, and 258 patients received placebo. They ranged in age from 18-77 years (mean=43), 56% were male, and 75% were Caucasian. The most common adverse reactions were headache, nausea, decreased blood cortisol, upper abdominal pain, fatigue, flatulence, abdominal distension, acne, urinary tract infection, arthralgia, and constipation.

The adverse reactions occurring in 2% or more of patients on therapy with UCERIS 9 mg are summarized in Table 1. Table 1: Summary of Adverse Reactions in Two Placebo-Controlled Trials Experienced by at Least 2% of the UCERIS 9 mg Group (Studies 1 and 2) UCERIS 9 mg (N=255) n (%) UCERIS 6 mg (N=254) n (%) Placebo (N=258) n (%) Headache 29 (11.4) 37 (14.6) 27 (10.5) Nausea 13 (5.1) 12 (4.7) 11 (4.3) Decreased blood cortisol 11 (4.3) 6 (2.4) 1 (0.4) Upper abdominal pain 10 (3.9) 8 (3.1) 5 (1.9) Fatigue 8 (3.1) 5 (2.0) 5 (1.9) Flatulence 6 (2.4) 8 (3.1) 5 (1.9) Abdominal distension 6 (2.4) 4 (1.6) 2 (0.8) Acne 6 (2.4) 2 (0.8) 5 (1.9) Urinary tract infection 5 (2.0) 1 (0.4) 1 (0.4) Arthralgia 5 (2.0) 5 (2.0) 4 (1.6) Constipation 5 (2.0) 1 (0.4) 2 (0.8) Of UCERIS 9 mg patients, a total of 15% discontinued treatment due to any adverse event (including adverse reactions) compared with 17% in the placebo group.

Table 2 summarizes the percentages of patients reporting glucocorticoid-related effects in the 2 placebo-controlled studies. Table 2: Summary of Glucocorticoid-Related Effects in Two Placebo-Controlled Trials (Studies 1 and 2) UCERIS 9 mg (N=255) n (%) UCERIS 6 mg (N=254) n (%) Placebo (N=258) n (%) Overall 26 (10.2) 19 (7.5) 27 (10.5) Mood changes 9 (3.5) 10 (3.9) 11 (4.3) Sleep changes 7 (2.7) 10 (3.9) 12 (4.7) Insomnia 6 (2.4) 6 (2.4) 8 (3.1) Acne 6 (2.4) 2 (0.8) 5 (1.9) Moon face 3 (1.2) 3 (1.2) 4 (1.6) Fluid retention 2 (0.8) 3 (1.2) 3 (1.2) Hirsutism 1 (0.4) 0 0 Striae rubrae 0 0 2 (0.8) Flushing 0 1 (0.4) 3 (1.2) No clinically significant differences were observed with respect to the overall percentages of patients with any glucocorticoid-related effects between UCERIS and placebo after 8 weeks of induction therapy.

Study 3 was an open-label study evaluating UCERIS 9 mg once daily for 8 weeks in 60 patients who had previously completed an 8-week induction study (Study 1) but had not achieved remission. Among patients who took UCERIS 9 mg up to 16 weeks cumulatively across Study 1 and Study 3 combined, similar rates of adverse reactions and glucocorticoid-related effects were seen compared to those who took UCERIS 9 mg for 8 weeks in Study 1.

In Study 4, the safety of long-term treatment with UCERIS 6 mg was evaluated in a placebo-controlled 12-month maintenance study of 123 patients. Patients who had previously completed 8 weeks of therapy in any induction study (Study 1, 2, or 3) and were in remission were randomized to UCERIS 6 mg or placebo once daily for 12 months. In patients who took UCERIS 6 mg for up to 12 months, similar rates of adverse reactions were seen between placebo and UCERIS 6 mg.

After up to 12 months of study treatment, 77% (27/35) of the patients in the UCERIS 6 mg and 74% (29/39) of the patients in the placebo treatment groups had normal bone density scans. In Study 4, the glucocorticoid-related effects were similar in patients with up to 12 months of therapy with UCERIS 6 mg and placebo (Table 3). Table 3: Summary of Glucocorticoid-Related Effects Over 12-Month Treatment (Study 4) UCERIS 6 mg (N=62) n (%) Placebo (N=61) n (%) Overall 9 (14.5) 7 (11.5) Insomnia 4 (6.5) 4 (6.6) Mood changes 4 (6.5) 2 (3.3) Moon face 3 (4.8) 3 (4.9) Sleep changes 3 (4.8) 3 (4.9) Acne 3 (4.8) 0 Hirsutism 3 (4.8) 0 Flushing 1 (1.6) 1 (1.6) Fluid retention 1 (1.6) 1 (1.6)

6.2Postmarketing Experience

In addition to adverse events reported from clinical trials, the following adverse reactions have been identified during post-approval use of oral budesonide. 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. These events have been chosen for inclusion due to either their seriousness, frequency of reporting or causal connection to UCERIS, or a combination of these factors.

Gastrointestinal Disorders : diarrhea, rectal bleeding General Disorders and Administrative Site Conditions: peripheral edema Immune System Disorders: anaphylactic reactions Musculoskeletal and Connective Tissue Disorders: muscle cramps/spasms Nervous System Disorders: benign intracranial hypertension, dizziness Psychiatric Disorders: mood swings Skin and Subcutaneous Tissue Disorders: rash Vascular Disorders: increased blood pressure

Uceris

Indications

Contraindications

Warnings and precautions

5.1Hypercorticism and Adrenal Axis Suppression

Two medicines in one question?

5.2Transferring Patients from Systemic Glucocorticosteroid Therapy

5.3Immunosuppression and Increased Risk of Infection

5.4Kaposi’s Sarcoma

5.5Increased Systemic Glucocorticoid Susceptibility

5.6Other Glucocorticosteroid Effects

Interactions

7.1Interaction with CYP3A4 Inhibitors

7.2Inhibitors of Gastric Acid Secretion Since

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