Triferic Avnu
FDA Label NDC 57278-318

Triferic AVNU is an iron replacement product indicated for the replacement of iron to maintain hemoglobin in adult patients with hemodialysis-dependent chronic kidney disease (HDD-CKD).

Limitations of Use

• Triferic AVNU is not intended for use in patients receiving peritoneal dialysis.
• Triferic AVNU  has not been studied in patients receiving home hemodialysis.

The recommended dosage of Triferic AVNU is 6.75 mg iron (III) undiluted as a slow continuous intravenous infusion over 3 to  4 hours via the pre-dialyzer infusion line, post-dialyzer infusion line, or via a separate connection to the venous blood line during hemodialysis.

Administer Triferic AVNU at each dialysis procedure for as long as patients are receiving maintenance hemodialysis therapy for CKD.

The dosage of Triferic AVNU solution is expressed as mg of iron (III).  Each mL of Triferic AVNU injection for intravenous  administration contains 1.5 mg iron as iron (III).

Each ampule of Triferic AVNU is intended for single-use only.

Use aseptic technique to prepare Triferic AVNU as follows:

• Visually inspect Triferic AVNU solution for signs of precipitation prior to use. The solution should be clear and slightly yellow-green in color.
• Holding the top of the ampule, shake with one single downward movement in order to remove the solution remaining in the cap.
• To open, twist the ampule body and the ampule head in opposite directions until the neck breaks off the top.
• Attach a 10 mL or 20 mL luer-lock syringe to the ampule and withdraw the contents (6.75 mg in 4.5 mL).
• Connect the syringe to the attached pre-dialyzer infusion line, post-dialyzer infusion line, or to a separate connection to the venous blood line. 
• Mount the syringe on an infusion pump and administer as a slow continuous infusion of Triferic AVNU (4.5 mL) over 3 to 4 hours.
• Discard unused portion.

Injection: 6.75 mg iron (III) per 4.5 mL solution (1.5 mg iron (III) per mL) in single-dose luer lock ampule.

None

Hypersensitivity Reactions: Observe for signs and symptoms of hypersensitivity during and after hemodialysis and until clinically stable.

Serious hypersensitivity reactions, including anaphylactic-type reactions, some of which have been life-threatening and fatal, have been reported in patients receiving parenteral iron products. Patients may present with shock, clinically significant hypotension, loss of consciousness, and/or collapse. Monitor patients for signs and symptoms of hypersensitivity during and after hemodialysis until clinically stable. Personnel and therapies should be immediately available for the treatment of serious hypersensitivity reactions. [ see Adverse Reactions (6.1)]

Hypersensitivity reactions have been reported in 1 (0.3%) of 292 patients receiving ferric pyrophosphate citrate ^{in two randomized clinical trials.} 

Determine iron status on pre-dialysis blood samples. Post-dialysis serum iron parameters may overestimate serum iron and transferrin saturation.

The following clinically significant adverse reactions are described below and elsewhere in the labeling:

• Hypersensitivity Reactions.  [ see Warnings and Precautions (5.1)]

Because clinical trials are conducted under widely varying conditions, adverse reaction rates observed in the clinical trials of a drug may not reflect the rates observed in practice.

The safety of ferric pyrophosphate citrate injection, for intravenous use, has been established based on adequate and well-controlled studies of ferric pyrophosphate citrate solution for hemodialysis [ see Clinical Studies (14)]. Below is a display of the adverse reactions of ferric pyrophosphate citrate solution for hemodialysis in these adequate and well-controlled studies.

The safety of ferric pyrophosphate citrate solution for hemodialysis was evaluated in 292 patients in two randomized, placebo-controlled clinical trials (CRUISE 1 (NCT01320202) and CRUISE 2 (NCT01322347)) who were administered ferric pyrophosphate citrate solution for hemodialysis usefor periods of up to 1 year[ see Clinical Studies (14)].  The mean total exposure in the randomized treatment period was 5 months.  A total of 296 patients received placebo treatment for a similar time period. In the two studies, 64% were male and 54% were Caucasian. The median age of patients was 60 years (range, 20 to 89 years).

Adverse reactions occurring in 3% or greater of patients treated with ferric pyrophosphate citrate solution for hemodialysis use in the randomized clinical trials are listed in Table 1.

Other​ Adverse Reactions:

Less common adverse reactions occurring at a frequency of <3%:

• Hypersensitivity Reactions. [see Warnings and Precautions (5.1)]

Adverse Reactions Leading to Treatment Discontinuation:

In clinical trials,adverse reactionsleading to treatment discontinuation include headache, asthenia, dizziness, constipation,nausea,hypersensitivity reactions, intradialytic hypotension, pruritis and pyrexia.

Risk Summary

There are no available data on Triferic AVNU usein pregnant women to inform a drug-associated risk of major birth defects,  miscarriage or adverse maternal or fetal outcomes. In animal reproduction studies, intravenous administration of ferric pyrophosphate citrate to pregnant rats and rabbits during organogenesis caused adverse developmental outcomes at maternally toxic dose levels that were higher than the maximum theoretical amount of iron transferred to patients from Triferic AVNU (see Data). 

The estimated background risk of major birth defects and miscarriage for 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 2-4% and 15-20%, respectively.

Data

Animal Data

In a fertility and early embryonic development study in female rats, the maternally toxic ferric pyrophosphate citrate dose of 40 mg/kg administered three times per week by intravenous  infusion was not toxic to the developing embryo.

In embryo-fetal developmental toxicity studies, ferric pyrophosphate citrate was administered during the period of organogenesis as a one-hour intravenous infusion to pregnant rats and rabbits.  No maternal or developmental toxicity was observed at doses up to 30 mg/kg/day in rats and 20 mg/kg/day in rabbits.  Maternally toxic doses affected embryo-fetal development, resulting in post-implantation loss due to early resorptions, abnormal placentae, decreased fetal body weight and fetal head and vertebral malformations at 90 mg/kg/day in rats and vertebral malformations at 40 mg/kg/day in rabbits. 

A pre-and post-natal development study was conducted in pregnant rats with intravenous doses of ferric pyrophosphate citrate up to 90 mg/kg/day.  The maternally toxic dose of 90 mg/kg/day resulted in reductions in the number of live offspring and lower offspring body weights.  There were no adverse effects on survival of offspring at doses up to 30 mg/kg/day, or on behavior, sexual maturation or reproductive parameters of offspring at any dose level.     

Risk Summary
There are no data on the presence of ferric pyrophosphate citrate in human milk, the effects on the breastfed child, or the effect on milk production. The developmental and health benefits of breastfeeding should be considered along with the mother’s clinical need for Triferic AVNU and any potential adverse effects on the breastfed child from Triferic AVNU or from the underlying maternal condition.

Safety and effectiveness have not been established in pediatric patients

In controlled clinical trials, 99 (29%) patients ≥ 65 years of age were treated with ferric pyrophosphate citrate. No overall differences in safety and efficacy were observed between older and younger patients in these trials [see Clinical Studies (14)].

Triferic AVNU (ferric pyrophosphate citrate), an iron replacement product, is a mixed-ligand iron complex in which iron (III) is bound to pyrophosphate and citrate.  It has a molecular formula of Fe ₄(C ₆H ₄O ₇) ₃(H ₂P ₂O ₇) ₂(P ₂O ₇)and a relative molecular weight of approximately 1313 daltons. Ferric pyrophosphate citrate has the following structure:  

Triferic AVNU (ferric pyrophosphate citrate) injection is a clear, slightly yellow-green color sterile solution containing 6.75 mg of elemental iron (III) per 4.5 mL (1.5 mg iron (III) per mL) filled in a 5 mL low density polyethylene (LDPE) luer-lock ampule. Each Triferic AVNU ampule contains iron (0.14-0.17 % w/w), and less than 0.1% w/w citrate, pyrophosphate, phosphate, sodium and sulfate. One Triferic AVNU ampule is administered directly into the pre-dialyzer infusion line, post-dialyzer infusion line, or to a separate connection to the venous blood line over 3 to 4 hours.

Triferic AVNU contains iron in the form of ferric pyrophosphate citrate.  Iron binds to transferrin for transport to erythroid precursor cells to be incorporated into hemoglobin. 

Ferric pyrophosphate citrate exposure-response relationships and the time course of pharmacodynamics response are unknown.

Drug interaction Studies
In vitro studies showed that ferric pyrophosphate citrate did not impact the pharmacodynamics of unfractionated heparin or low molecular weight heparin.

Following administration of ferric pyrophosphate citrate 6.75 mg via a 3-hour intravenous infusion at a rate of 1.5 mg/hr (6.5 mg delivered), the total plasma iron and transferrin bound iron exposure values are provided in Table 2.

Studies examining the carcinogenic potential of ferric pyrophosphate citrate have not been conducted.

Ferric pyrophosphate citrate was clastogenic in the in vitro chromosomal aberration assay in CHO cells in the presence of metabolic activation.  Ferric pyrophosphate citrate was not mutagenic in the in vitro bacterial reverse mutation (Ames) test or clastogenic in the in vitro chromosomal aberration assay in CHO cells in the absence of metabolic activation or in the in vivo mouse micronucleus assay.

In a combined male and female fertility study in rats, ferric pyrophosphate citrate was administered intravenously over one hour three times per week at doses of up to 40 mg/kg.  No adverse effects on fertility or reproduction were noted.

The efficacy of Triferic AVNU has been established based on adequate and well-controlled adult studies of ferric pyrophosphate citrate in iron replacement in patients with hemodialysis-dependent chronic kidney disease (HDD-CKD).  Below is a display of the results of the adequate and well-controlled studies of ferric pyrophosphate citrate in this condition.

The efficacy of ferric pyrophosphate citrate in patients with HDD-CKD was assessed in two randomized, single blind, placebo-controlled clinical trials.  Patients with hemoglobin of 9 g/dL to 12 g/dL with TSAT > 20% and serum ferritin concentrations > 200 mcg/L were enrolled. Patients were to remain in randomized treatment until pre-specified hemoglobin or ferritin criteria were met, indicating the need for a change in anemia management or if they completed 48 weeks.  Ferric pyrophosphate citrate was added to bicarbonate concentrate with a final concentration of 110 mcg iron/L in the dialysate and was administered  3 or 4 times per week during hemodialysis. Most patients were receiving stable dose of erythropoiesis stimulating agents (ESAs) at baseline.  After randomization, patients ESA doses were not to be changed.

In CRUISE 1 (NCT01320202), the mean age of patients was 58 years (range 23 to 89); 68% were male, 55% were Caucasian, 32% were African American, and 13% were other races.  

In  CRUISE 2 (NCT01322347), the mean age of patients was 58 years (range 20 to 89); 59% were male, 54% were Caucasian, 40% were African American, and 6% were other races.

Efficacy was assessed by the mean change in hemoglobin from baseline to the end-of-treatment period (average hemoglobin of the last one-sixth (1/6th) of the time in the randomized treatment period).  About 18% of patientscompleted the planned 48 week treatment duration.  

Table 3 shows the mean changes in hemoglobin (Hgb) and iron parameters in each treatment group from baseline to the end-of-treatment period for the ITT population.

Triferic AVNUinjection is a clear to slightly yellow-green solution available in single-dose luer lock ampules in the following package sizes:

Store ampules protected from light in the aluminum pouch at controlled room temperature (20° to 25°C [68° to 77°F]); excursions permitted to 15°-30°C (59° to 86°F) [See USP Controlled Room Temperature]. Do not freeze.

Prior to the administration of Triferic AVNU:

• Question patients regarding any prior history of reactions to parenteral iron products.
• Advise patients of the risk of hypersensitivity reactions associated with Triferic AVNU.
• Advise patient to report any signs and symptoms of hypersensitivity that may develop during and after the dialysis session, such as rash, itching, dizziness, lightheadedness, swelling and breathing problems [ see Warnings and Precautions (5)].

NDC 57278-318-02

40 Amplules in 4 -10 Ampule pouches

Rx Only

Triferic AVNU ^®

ferric pyrophosphate citrate injection

6.75 mg Fe/4.5 ml (1.5 mg Fe/mL)

Protect from Light

For intravenous infusion during hemodialysis only
Connect the syringe to the attached pre-dialyzer infusion line, post-dialyzer infusion line,or to a separate connection to the venous blood line.
Protect from light. Keep ampule in pouch until time of use.