Aflibercept-Mrbb (1 brand name, 1 dosage form, 1 route)
Available dosage forms: INJECTABLE.
Routes of administration: INJECTION.
Brand Names
- AHZANTIVE
Indications and Usage
INDICATIONS AND USAGE AHZANTIVE is indicated for the treatment of: 1.1 Neovascular (Wet) Age-Related Macular Degeneration (AMD) 1.2 Macular Edema Following Retinal Vein Occlusion (RVO) 1.3 Diabetic Macular Edema (DME) 1.4 Diabetic Retinopathy (DR)
Dosage and Administration
- DOSAGE AND ADMINISTRATION 2.1 Important Injection Instructions For ophthalmic intravitreal injection. AHZANTIVE must only be administered by a qualified physician. Pre-filled Syringe: A 30-gauge × ½-inch sterile injection needle is needed but not provided. Vial: A 5-micron sterile filter needle (18-gauge × 1½-inch), a 1-mL sterile Luer lock syringe and a 30‑gauge × ½-inch sterile injection needle are needed, but not provided. AHZANTIVE is available packaged as follows: Pre-filled Syringe. The AHZANTIVE pre-filled syringe cap and plunger are not made with natural rubber latex. Vial Only. The AHZANTIVE vial stopper is not made with natural rubber latex. [see How Supplied/Storage and Handling (16)]. 2.2 Neovascular (Wet) Age-Related Macular Degeneration (AMD) The recommended dose for AHZANTIVE is 2 mg (0.05 mL of 40 mg/mL solution) administered by intravitreal injection every 4 weeks (approximately every 28 days, monthly) for the first 12 weeks (3 months), followed by 2 mg (0.05 mL of 40 mg/mL solution) via intravitreal injection once every 8 weeks (2 months). Although AHZANTIVE may be dosed as frequently as 2 mg every 4 weeks (approximately every 25 days, monthly), additional efficacy was not demonstrated in most patients when aflibercept was dosed every 4 weeks compared to every 8 weeks [see Clinical Studies (14.1)]. Some patients may need every 4 week (monthly) dosing after the first 12 weeks (3 months). Although not as effective as the recommended every 8 week dosing regimen, patients may also be treated with one dose every 12 weeks after one year of effective therapy. Patients should be assessed regularly. 2.3 Macular Edema Following Retinal Vein Occlusion (RVO) The recommended dose for AHZANTIVE is 2 mg (0.05 mL of 40 mg/mL solution) administered by intravitreal injection once every 4 weeks (approximately every 25 days, monthly) [see Clinical Studies (14.2), (14.3)]. 2.4 Diabetic Macular Edema (DME) The recommended dose for AHZANTIVE is 2 mg (0.05 mL of 40 mg/
Contraindications
- CONTRAINDICATIONS 4.1 Ocular or Periocular Infections AHZANTIVE is contraindicated in patients with ocular or periocular infections. 4.2 Active Intraocular Inflammation AHZANTIVE is contraindicated in patients with active intraocular inflammation. 4.3 Hypersensitivity AHZANTIVE is contraindicated in patients with known hypersensitivity to aflibercept or any of the excipients in AHZANTIVE. Hypersensitivity reactions may manifest as rash, pruritus, urticaria, severe anaphylactic/anaphylactoid reactions, or severe intraocular inflammation.
Warnings and Precautions
- WARNINGS AND PRECAUTIONS 5.1 Endophthalmitis, Retinal Detachments, and Retinal Vasculitis with or without Occlusion Intravitreal injections, including those with aflibercept products, have been associated with endophthalmitis and retinal detachments [see Adverse Reactions (6.1)] and, more rarely, retinal vasculitis with or without occlusion [see Adverse Reactions (6.2)]. Proper aseptic injection technique must always be used when administering AHZANTIVE. Patients and/or caregivers should be instructed to report any signs and/or symptoms suggestive of endophthalmitis, retinal detachment, or retinal vasculitis without delay and should be managed appropriately [see Dosage and Administration (2.7) and Patient Counseling Information (17)]. 5.2 Increase in Intraocular Pressure Acute increases in intraocular pressure have been seen within 60 minutes of intravitreal injection, including with aflibercept products [see Adverse Reactions (6.1)]. Sustained increases in intraocular pressure have also been reported after repeated intravitreal dosing with vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) inhibitors. Intraocular pressure and the perfusion of the optic nerve head should be monitored and managed appropriately [see Dosage and Administration (2.7)]. 5.3 Thromboembolic Events There is a potential risk of arterial thromboembolic events (ATEs) following intravitreal use of VEGF inhibitors, including aflibercept products. ATEs are defined as nonfatal stroke, nonfatal myocardial infarction, or vascular death (including deaths of unknown cause). The incidence of reported thromboembolic events in wet AMD studies during the first year was 1.8% (32 out of 1824) in the combined group of patients treated with aflibercept compared with 1.5% (9 out of 595) in patients treated with ranibizumab; through 96 weeks, the incidence was 3.3% (60 out of 1824) in the aflibercept group compared with 3.2% (19 out of 595) in the ranibizumab group. The incidence in the DME studies from baseline to we
Adverse Reactions
ADVERSE REACTIONS The following potentially serious adverse reactions are described elsewhere in the labeling: Hypersensitivity [see Contraindications (4.3)] Endophthalmitis, Retinal Detachments, and Retinal Vasculitis with or without Occlusion [see Warnings and Precautions (5.1)] Increase in intraocular pressure [see Warnings and Precautions (5.2)] Thromboembolic events [see Warnings and Precautions (5.3)] 6.1 Clinical 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 other clinical trials of the same or another drug and may not reflect the rates observed in practice. A total of 2980 adult patients treated with aflibercept constituted the safety population in eight phase 3 studies. Among those, 2379 patients were treated with the recommended dose of 2 mg. Serious adverse reactions related to the injection procedure have occurred in <0.1% of intravitreal injections with aflibercept including endophthalmitis and retinal detachment. The most common adverse reactions (≥5%) reported in patients receiving aflibercept were conjunctival hemorrhage, eye pain, cataract, vitreous detachment, vitreous floaters, and intraocular pressure increased. Neovascular (Wet) Age-Related Macular Degeneration (AMD) The data described below reflect exposure to aflibercept in 1824 patients with wet AMD, including 1223 patients treated with the 2-mg dose, in 2 double-masked, controlled clinical studies (VIEW1 and VIEW2) for 24 months (with active control in year 1) [see Clinical Studies (14.1)]. Safety data observed in the aflibercept group in a 52-week, double-masked, Phase 2 study were consistent with these results. Table 1: Most Common Adverse Reactions (≥1%) in Wet AMD Studies Adverse Reactions Baseline to Week 52 Baseline to Week 96 Aflibercept (N=1824) Active Control (ranibizumab) (N=595) Aflibercept (N=1824) Control (ranibizumab) (N=595) Conj
Overdosage
OVERDOSAGE Overdosing with increased injection volume may increase intraocular pressure. Therefore, in case of overdosage, intraocular pressure should be monitored and if deemed necessary by the treating physician, adequate treatment should be initiated.