Sapropterin Dihydrochloride (3 brand names, 2 dosage forms, 1 route)
Available dosage forms: FOR SOLUTION, TABLET.
Routes of administration: ORAL.
Brand Names
- KUVAN
- SAPROPTERIN DIHYDROCHLORIDE
- ZELVYSIA
Indications and Usage
Sapropterin dihydrochloride powder for oral solution is indicated to reduce blood phenylalanine (Phe) levels in adult and pediatric patients one month of age and older with hyperphenylalaninemia (HPA) due to tetrahydrobiopterin-(BH4-) responsive Phenylketonuria (PKU). Sapropterin dihydrochloride powder for oral solution is to be used in conjunction with a Phe-restricted diet.
Dosage and Administration
Treatment with sapropterin dihydrochloride powder for oral solution should be directed by physicians knowledgeable in the management of PKU. All patients with PKU who are being treated with sapropterin dihydrochloride powder for oral solution should also be treated with a Phe-restricted diet, including dietary protein and Phe restriction. Starting Dosage Pediatric Patients 1 month to 6 years: The recommended starting dose of sapropterin dihydrochloride powder for oral solution is 10 mg/kg taken once daily. Patients 7 years and older: The recommended starting dose of sapropterin dihydrochloride powder for oral solution is 10 to 20 mg/kg taken once daily. Dosage Adjustment (Evaluation Period) Existing dietary protein and Phe intake should not be modified during the evaluation period. If a 10 mg/kg per day starting dose is used, then response to therapy is determined by change in blood Phe following treatment with sapropterin dihydrochloride powder for oral solution at 10 mg/kg per day for a period of up to 1 month. Blood Phe levels should be checked after 1 week of sapropterin dihydrochloride powder for oral solution treatment and periodically for up to a month. If blood Phe does not decrease from baseline at 10 mg/kg per day, the dose may be increased to 20 mg/kg per day. Patients whose blood Phe does not decrease after 1 month of treatment at 20 mg/kg per day do not show a biochemical response and treatment with sapropterin dihydrochloride powder for oral solution should be discontinued in these patients. If a 20 mg/kg per day starting dose is used, then response to therapy is determined by change in blood Phe following treatment with sapropterin dihydrochloride powder for oral solution at 20 mg/kg per day for a period of 1 month. Blood Phe levels should be checked after 1 week of sapropterin dihydrochloride powder for oral solution treatment and periodically during the first month. Treatment should be discontinued in patients who do not show a biochemical response
Contraindications
None.
Warnings and Precautions
Sapropterin dihydrochloride is not recommended in patients with a history of anaphylaxis to sapropterin dihydrochloride. Hypersensitivity reactions, including anaphylaxis and rash, have occurred [see Adverse Reactions (6.2)]. Signs of anaphylaxis include wheezing, dyspnea, coughing, hypotension, flushing, nausea, and rash. Discontinue treatment with sapropterin dihydrochloride in patients who experience anaphylaxis and initiate appropriate medical treatment. Continue dietary protein and Phe restriction in patients who experience anaphylaxis.
Adverse Reactions
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 the rates in the clinical trials of another drug and may not reflect the rates observed in clinical practice. PKU Clinical Studies The safety of sapropterin dihydrochloride was evaluated in 7 clinical studies in patients with PKU (aged 1 month to 50 years) [see Clinical Studies (14)]. In Studies 1 to 4 (controlled and uncontrolled studies), 579 patients with PKU aged 4 to 49 years received sapropterin dihydrochloride in doses ranging from 5 to 20 mg/kg per day for lengths of treatment ranging from 1 to 164 weeks. The patient population was evenly distributed in gender, and approximately 95% of patients were Caucasian. The most common adverse reactions (≥4% of patients) were headache, rhinorrhea, pharyngolaryngeal pain, diarrhea, vomiting, cough, and nasal congestion. The data described in Table 3 reflect exposure of 74 patients with PKU to sapropterin dihydrochloride at doses of 10 to 20 mg/kg per day for 6 to 10 weeks in two double-blind, placebo-controlled clinical trials (Studies 2 and 4). Table 3 enumerates adverse reactions occurring in at least 4% of patients treated with sapropterin dihydrochloride in the double-blind, placebo-controlled clinical trials described above. Table 3: Summary of Adverse Reactions Occurring in ≥4% of Patients in Placebo-Controlled Clinical Studies with Sapropterin Dihydrochloride Me d DRA Preferred Term T re atment Sapropterin Dihydrochloride ( N=74) P lacebo ( N=59) No. Patients (%) No. Patients (%) Headache 11 (15) 8 (14) Rhinorrhea 8 (11) 0 Pharyngolaryngeal pain 7 (10) 1 (2) Diarrhea 6 (8) 3 (5) Vomiting 6 (8) 4 (7) Cough 5 (7) 3 (5) Nasal congestion 3 (4) 0 In open-label, uncontrolled clinical trials (Studies 1 and 3) all patients received sapropterin dihydrochloride in doses of 5 to 20 mg/kg per day, and adverse reactions were similar in type and frequency to tho
Drug Interactions
Table 4 includes drugs with clinically important drug interactions when administered with sapropterin dihydrochloride and instructions for preventing or managing them. Table 4: Clinically Relevant Drug Interactions Levodopa Clinical Impact Sapropterin dihydrochloride may increase the availability of tyrosine, a precursor of levodopa. Neurologic events were reported post-marketing in patients receiving sapropterin and levodopa concomitantly for a non-PKU indication [see Warnings and Precautions (5.5)] Intervention Monitor patients for a change in neurologic status. Inhibitors of Folate Synthesis (e.g., methotrexate, valproic acid, phenobarbital, trimethoprim) Clinical Impact In vitro and in vivo nonclinical data suggest that drugs that inhibit folate synthesis may decrease the bioavailability of endogenous BH4 by inhibiting the enzyme dihydrofolate reductase, which is involved in the recycling (regeneration) of BH4. This reduction in net BH4 levels may increase Phe levels. Intervention Consider monitoring blood Phe levels more frequently during concomitant administration. An increased dosage of sapropterin dihydrochloride may be necessary to achieve a biochemical response. Drugs Affecting Nitric Oxide-Mediated Vasorelaxation (e.g., PDE-5 inhibitors such as sildenafil, vardenafil, or tadalafil) Clinical Impact Both sapropterin dihydrochloride and PDE-5 inhibitors may induce vasorelaxation. A reduction in blood pressure could occur; however, the combined use of these medications has not been evaluated in humans. Intervention Monitor blood pressure.
Mechanism of Action
Sapropterin dihydrochloride is a synthetic form of BH4, the cofactor for the enzyme phenylalanine hydroxylase (PAH). PAH hydroxylates Phe through an oxidative reaction to form tyrosine. In patients with PKU, PAH activity is absent or deficient. Treatment with BH4 can activate residual PAH enzyme activity, improve the normal oxidative metabolism of Phe, and decrease Phe levels in some patients.
Overdosage
Two unintentional overdosages with sapropterin dihydrochloride have been reported. One adult patient in a sapropterin dihydrochloride clinical trial received a single sapropterin dihydrochloride dose of 4,500 mg (36 mg/kg) instead of 2,600 mg (20 mg/kg). The patient reported mild headache and mild dizziness immediately after taking the dose; both symptoms resolved within 1 hour with no treatment intervention. There were no associated laboratory test abnormalities. The patient suspended therapy for 24 hours and then restarted sapropterin dihydrochloride with no reports of abnormal signs or symptoms. In postmarketing, one pediatric patient received sapropterin dihydrochloride doses of 45 mg/kg per day instead of 20 mg/kg per day. The patient reported hyperactivity that began at an unspecified time after overdosage and resolved after the sapropterin dihydrochloride dose was reduced to 20 mg/kg per day. In a clinical study to evaluate the effects of sapropterin dihydrochloride on cardiac repolarization, a single supra-therapeutic dose of 100 mg/kg (5 times the maximum recommended dose) was administered to 54 healthy adults. No serious adverse reactions were reported during the study. The only adverse reactions reported in more than 1 subject who received the supra-therapeutic dose were upper abdominal pain (6%) and dizziness (4%). A dose-dependent shortening of the QT interval was observed [see Clinical Pharmacology (12.2)]. Patients should be advised to notify their physicians in cases of overdosage.