Βeta-adrenergic blockers: Patients taking beta-adrenergic blockers may be unresponsive to the usual doses of epinephrine used to treat serious systemic reactions, including anaphylaxis. Specifically, beta-adrenergic blockers antagonize the cardiostimulating and bronchodilating effects of epinephrine.
Alpha-adrenergic blockers, ergot alkaloids: Patients taking alpha-adrenergic blockers may be unresponsive to the usual doses of epinephrine used to treat serious systemic reactions, including anaphylaxis. Specifically, alpha-adrenergic blockers antagonize the vasoconstricting and hypertensive effects of epinephrine. Similarly, ergot alkaloids may reverse the pressor effects of epinephrine.
Tricyclic antidepressants, levothyroxine sodium, monoamine oxidase inhibitors, and certain antihistamines: The adverse effects of epinephrine may be potentiated in patients taking tricyclic antidepressants, levothyroxine sodium, monoamine oxidase inhibitors, and the antihistamines chlorpheniramine, and diphenhydramine.
Cardiac glycosides, diuretics: Patients who receive epinephrine while taking cardiac glycosides or diuretics should be observed carefully for the development of cardiac arrhythmias.
Risk Summary
All pregnancies have a 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 2-4% and 15-20%, respectively. Available human data do not establish the presence or absence of RAGWITEK-associated risks during pregnancy.
In an embryo/fetal developmental toxicity study, RAGWITEK subcutaneously administered to mice during gestation at doses up to approximately 3 times the human sublingual dose did not reveal adverse developmental outcomes in fetuses (see 8.1 Data).
Data
Animal Data
In a developmental toxicity study, the effect of RAGWITEK on embryo/fetal development was evaluated in mice. Animals were administered RAGWITEK subcutaneously daily from day 6 to day 15 of the gestation period at doses approximately 1 to 3 times the human sublingual dose of 12 Amb a 1-U. There were no RAGWITEK-related post-implantation losses, fetal malformations or variations.
Risk Summary
It is not known whether RAGWITEK is present in human milk. Data are not available to assess the effects of RAGWITEK on the breastfed child or on milk production/excretion. The developmental and health benefits of breastfeeding should be considered along with the mother's clinical need for RAGWITEK and any potential adverse effects on the breastfed child from RAGWITEK or from the underlying maternal condition.
The efficacy of RAGWITEK in the treatment of ragweed pollen-induced allergic rhinitis, with or without conjunctivitis, was investigated in two double-blind, placebo-controlled clinical trials in adults 18 through 50 years of age. Subjects received RAGWITEK or placebo for approximately 12 weeks prior to the start of the ragweed pollen season and throughout the ragweed pollen season.
The subject population was 86% White, 9% African American, and 3% Asian. The subject population was almost equally divided between males and females. Overall, the mean age of subjects was 36 years. Subjects with asthma who participated in clinical trials had asthma of a severity that required, at most, a daily low dose of an inhaled corticosteroid. Approximately 16% of subjects had mild asthma at baseline.
Efficacy was established by self-reporting of rhinoconjunctivitis daily symptom scores (DSS) and daily medication scores (DMS). Daily rhinoconjunctivitis symptoms included four nasal symptoms (runny nose, stuffy nose, sneezing, and itchy nose), and two ocular symptoms (gritty/itchy eyes and watery eyes). The rhinoconjunctivitis symptoms were measured on a scale of 0 (none) to 3 (severe). Subjects in clinical trials were allowed to take symptom-relieving medications (including systemic and topical antihistamines, and topical and oral corticosteroids) as needed. The daily medication score measured the use of standard open-label allergy medications. Predefined values were assigned to each class of medication. Generally, systemic and topical antihistamines were given the lowest score, topical steroids an intermediate score, and oral corticosteroids the highest score.
The sums of the DSS and DMS were combined into the Total Combined Score (TCS) which was averaged over the peak ragweed pollen season. Also, in each study, the average TCS over the entire ragweed season was assessed. Other endpoints in both studies included the average DSS during the peak and entire ragweed season, and the average DMS during the peak ragweed season.
Trial 1
The first study was a placebo-controlled trial which evaluated subjects 18 through 50 years of age comparing RAGWITEK (n=187) and placebo (n=188) administered as a sublingual tablet daily. In this trial, approximately 22% of subjects had mild asthma and 85% were sensitized to other allergens in addition to short ragweed. Subjects with asthma who participated in this trial had asthma of a severity that required, at most, a daily low dose of an inhaled corticosteroid. Subjects with a clinical history of symptomatic allergies to non-short ragweed pollen allergens that required treatment during the ragweed pollen season were excluded from the trial. The subject population was 78% White, 12% African American, and 8% Asian, and almost equally divided between males and females. The mean age of subjects in this study was 35.4 years. The two treatment groups were balanced with regard to baseline characteristics. The results of this study are shown in Table 2.
Trial 2
The second study was a placebo-controlled trial which evaluated subjects 18 through 50 years of age comparing RAGWITEK (n=194) and placebo (n=198) administered as a sublingual tablet daily. Approximately 17% of subjects had mild asthma and 78% were sensitized to other allergens in addition to short ragweed. Subjects with asthma who participated in this trial had asthma of a severity that required, at most, a daily low dose of an inhaled corticosteroid. Subjects with a clinical history of symptomatic allergies to non-short ragweed pollen allergens that required treatment during the ragweed pollen season were excluded from the trial. The subject population was 88% White, 8.9% African American, 2% Asian, and almost equally divided between males and females. The mean age of subjects in this study was 36.4 years. The two treatment groups were balanced with regard to baseline characteristics. The results of this study are shown in Table 3.
A decrease in TCS during the peak ragweed season for subjects treated with RAGWITEK compared to placebo-treated subjects was demonstrated in both trials. Subjects treated with RAGWITEK also showed a decrease in the average TCS from the start of and throughout the entire ragweed pollen season. Similar decreases were observed in subjects treated with RAGWITEK for other endpoints (see Tables 2 and 3).
Table 2: Trial 1: Total Combined Scores (TCS), Rhinoconjunctivitis Daily Symptom Scores (DSS), and Daily Medication Scores (DMS) During the Ragweed Pollen Season| Endpoint Parametric analysis using analysis of variance model for all endpoints. | RAGWITEK (N)Number of subjects in analyses. ScoreThe estimated group means are reported and difference relative to placebo is based on estimated group means. | Placebo (N) Score | Treatment Difference (RAGWITEK – Placebo) | Difference Relative to Placebo Difference relative to placebo computed as: (RAGWITEK - placebo)/placebo × 100. Estimate (95% CI) |
|---|
| TCS=Total Combined Score (DSS + DMS); DSS=Daily Symptom Score; DMS=Daily Medication Score. |
TCS Peak SeasonPeak ragweed season was defined as maximum 15 days with the highest moving average pollen counts during the ragweed season. | (159) 6.22 | (164) 8.46 | -2.24 | -26% (-38.7, -14.6) |
TCS Entire Season | (160) 5.21 | (166) 7.01 | -1.80 | -26% (-37.6, -13.5) |
DSS Peak Season | (159) 4.65 | (164) 5.59 | -0.94 | -17% (-28.6, -4.6) |
DSS Entire Season | (160) 4.05 | (166) 4.87 | -0.82 | -17% (-28.5, -4.5) |
DMS Peak Season | (159) 1.57 | (164) 2.87 | -1.30 | -45% (-65.4, -27.0) |
Table 3: Trial 2: Total Combined Scores (TCS), Rhinoconjunctivitis Daily Symptom Scores (DSS), and Daily Medication Scores (DMS) During the Ragweed Pollen Season| Endpoint Parametric analysis using analysis of variance model for all endpoints. | RAGWITEK (N)Number of subjects in analyses. ScoreThe estimated group means are reported and difference relative to placebo is based on estimated group means. | Placebo (N) Score | Treatment Difference (RAGWITEK – Placebo) | Difference Relative to Placebo Difference relative to placebo computed as: (RAGWITEK - placebo)/placebo × 100. Estimate (95% CI) |
|---|
| TCS=Total Combined Score (DSS + DMS); DSS=Daily Symptom Score; DMS=Daily Medication Score. |
TCS Peak SeasonPeak ragweed season was defined as maximum 15 days with the highest moving average pollen counts during the ragweed season. | (152) 6.41 | (169) 8.46 | -2.04 | -24% (-36.5, -11.3) |
TCS Entire Season | (158) 5.18 | (174) 7.09 | -1.92 | -27% (-38.8, -14.1) |
DSS Peak Season | (152) 4.43 | (169) 5.37 | -0.94 | -18% (-29.2, -4.5) |
DSS Entire Season | (158) 3.62 | (174) 4.58 | -0.96 | -21% (-31.6, -8.8) |
DMS Peak Season | (152) 1.99 | (169) 3.09 | -1.10 | -36% (-55.8, -14.6) |
Severe Allergic Reactions
Advise patients that RAGWITEK may cause life-threatening systemic or local allergic reactions, including anaphylaxis. Educate patients about the signs and symptoms of these allergic reactions [see Warnings and Precautions (5.1)]. The signs and symptoms of a severe allergic reaction may include: syncope, dizziness, hypotension, tachycardia, dyspnea, wheezing, bronchospasm, chest discomfort, cough, abdominal pain, vomiting, diarrhea, rash, pruritus, flushing, and urticaria.
Ensure that patients have auto-injectable epinephrine and instruct patients in its proper use. Instruct patients who experience a severe allergic reaction to seek immediate medical care, discontinue RAGWITEK, and resume treatment only when advised by a physician to do so. [See Warnings and Precautions (5.2).]
Advise patients to read the patient information for epinephrine.
Inform patients that the first dose of RAGWITEK must be administered in a healthcare setting under the supervision of a physician and that they will be monitored for at least 30 minutes to watch for signs and symptoms of life-threatening systemic or local allergic reaction [see Warnings and Precautions (5.1)].
Because of the risk of upper airway compromise, instruct patients with persistent and escalating adverse reactions in the mouth or throat to discontinue RAGWITEK and to contact their healthcare professional. [See Warnings and Precautions (5.3).]
Because of the risk of eosinophilic esophagitis, instruct patients with severe or persistent symptoms of esophagitis to discontinue RAGWITEK and to contact their healthcare professional. [See Warnings and Precautions (5.4).]
Asthma
Instruct patients with asthma that if they have difficulty breathing or if their asthma becomes difficult to control, they should stop taking RAGWITEK and contact their healthcare professional immediately [see Warnings and Precautions (5.5)].
Administration Instructions
Instruct patients to carefully remove the foil from the blister unit with dry hands and then take the sublingual tablet immediately by placing it under the tongue where it will dissolve. Also instruct patients to wash their hands after handling the tablet, and to avoid food or beverages for 5 minutes after taking the tablet. [See Dosage and Administration (2.2).]
Manufactured for: ALK-Abelló A/S
ALK-Abelló A/S, Bøge Allé 6-8, DK-2970 Hørsholm, Denmark
U.S. License No. 1292
Manufactured by:
Catalent Pharma Solutions Limited, Blagrove,
Swindon, Wiltshire, SN5 8RU UK
Copyright © 2014-2017 Merck Sharp & Dohme Corp., a subsidiary of Merck & Co., Inc.
All rights reserved.
1061020
Manufactured for: ALK-Abelló A/S
ALK-Abelló A/S, Bøge Allé 6-8, DK-2970 Hørsholm, Denmark
U.S. License No. 1292
Manufactured by:
Catalent Pharma Solutions Limited, Blagrove,
Swindon, Wiltshire, SN5 8RU UK
Copyright © 2014 Merck Sharp & Dohme Corp., a subsidiary of Merck & Co., Inc.
All rights reserved.
Revised: 04/2017
1061020