Initial Dosing:
The recommended dose of ZURNAI in adults and pediatric patients aged 12 years and older is 1.5 mg delivered by intramuscular or subcutaneous injection into the anterolateral aspect of the thigh, through clothing if necessary.
Repeat Dosing:
Seek emergency medical assistance as soon as possible after administration of the first dose of ZURNAI. The requirement for repeat doses of ZURNAI depends upon the amount, type, and route of administration of the opioid being antagonized.
If the patient responds to ZURNAI and subsequently relapses back into respiratory depression before emergency assistance arrives, administer an additional dose of ZURNAI using a new auto-injector and continue surveillance of the patient.
If the desired response is not obtained after 2 to 5 minutes, administer an additional dose of ZURNAI using a new auto-injector. If there is still no response and additional doses are available, administer additional doses of ZURNAI every 2 to 5 minutes using a new ZURNAI auto-injector for each dose until emergency medical assistance arrives.
Additional supportive and/or resuscitative measures may be helpful while awaiting emergency medical assistance.
Injection: 1.5 mg/0.5 mL nalmefene (base), clear, colorless to light yellow solution in a pre-filled, single-dose auto-injector. Each ZURNAI auto-injector delivers 1.5 mg nalmefene (base) injection (0.5 mL).
Adult Clinical Trial 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 ZURNAI is supported by pharmacokinetic and pharmacodynamic studies of ZURNAI in healthy subjects in a normal state and under steady state opioid agonism. The following adverse reactions were observed.
In a pharmacokinetic study (NAL1005) of 21 healthy adult volunteers exposed to one dose of ZURNAI the most common adverse reactions were: dizziness and headache.
In a pharmacodynamic study (NAL1004) of 23 healthy adult volunteers exposed to one dose of ZURNAI, the most common adverse reactions were: feeling hot, chills, nausea, allodynia, and headache.
Table 1: Relative Frequencies of Most Common Adverse Reactions that Occurred in Greater than 5% of Subjects in Study NAL1004 and Study NAL1005 (pooled dataset) | Nalmefene Auto-Injector 1.5 mg IM |
|---|
System Organ Class Preferred Term | Pooled NAL1004 and NAL1005 N=44 n (%) | Study NAL1004 N=23 n (%) | Study NAL1005 N=21 n (%) |
|---|
| Any AR | 28 (63.6) | 21 (91.3) | 7 (33.3) |
| Cardiac disorders |
| Palpitations | 4 (9.1) | 4 (17.4) | 0 |
| Ear and labyrinth disorders | |
| Tinnitus | 4 (9.1) | 4 (17.4) | 0 |
| Ear discomfort | 3 (6.8) | 3 (13.0) | 0 |
| Gastrointestinal disorders | |
| Nausea | 8 (18.2) | 6 (26.1) | 2 (9.5) |
| Vomiting | 5 (11.4) | 3 (13.0) | 2 (9.5) |
| General disorders and administration site conditions |
| Feeling hot | 11 (25.0) | 11 (47.8) | 0 |
| Chills | 6 (13.6) | 6 (26.1) | 0 |
| Feeling abnormal | 3 (6.8) | 3 (13.0) | 0 |
| Nervous system disorders |
| Dizziness | 7 (15.9) | 4 (17.4) | 3 (14.3) |
| Headache | 8 (18.2) | 5 (21.7) | 3 (14.3) |
| Allodynia | 5 (11.4) | 5 (21.7) | 0 |
| Burning sensation | 3 (6.8) | 3 (13.0) | 0 |
| Psychiatric disorders |
| Irritability | 3 (6.8) | 3 (13.0) | 0 |
| Vascular disorders |
| Hot flush | 3 (6.8) | 3 (13.0) | 0 |
Adverse reaction information was obtained following administration of nalmefene hydrochloride injection to 152 healthy volunteers and to 1127 patients in controlled clinical trials for the treatment of opioid overdose or for postoperative opioid reversal.
TABLE 2: Relative Frequencies of Common Adverse Reactions with an Incidence Greater than 1% (all patients, all clinical settings)| Adverse Reaction | Nalmefene N=1127 | Placebo N=77 |
|---|
| Nausea | 18% | 6% |
| Vomiting | 9% | 4% |
| Tachycardia | 5% | - |
| Hypertension | 5% | - |
| Postoperative pain | 4% | N/A |
| Fever | 3% | - |
| Dizziness | 3% | 1% |
| Headache | 1% | 4% |
| Chills | 1% | - |
| Hypotension | 1% | - |
| Vasodilatation | 1% | - |
Incidence less than 1%
CARDIOVASCULAR: Bradycardia, arrhythmia
DIGESTIVE: Diarrhea, dry mouth
NERVOUS SYSTEM: Somnolence, depression, agitation, nervousness, tremor, confusion, withdrawal syndrome, myoclonus
RESPIRATORY: Pharyngitis
SKIN: Pruritus
UROGENITAL: Urinary retention
The incidence of adverse events was highest in patients who received more than the recommended dose of nalmefene hydrochloride injection.
Risk Summary
Life-sustaining therapy for opioid overdose should not be withheld [see Clinical Considerations]. There are no available data on nalmefene use in pregnant women to evaluate for a drug-associated risk of major birth defects or miscarriage. In animal reproduction studies, no effects on embryo-fetal development were observed in rats and rabbits treated with nalmefene [see Data].
The 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% to 4% and 15% to 20%, respectively.
Clinical Considerations
Disease-associated maternal and/or embryo/fetal risk
An opioid overdose is a medical emergency and can be fatal for the pregnant woman and fetus if left untreated. Treatment with ZURNAI for opioid overdose should not be withheld because of potential concerns regarding the effects of ZURNAI on the fetus.
Data
Animal Data
Reproduction studies have been performed in rats and rabbits by oral administration and in rabbits by intravenous administration of nalmefene. No effects on embryo-fetal development were observed at rat oral doses up to 1200 mg/m2/day and rabbit oral doses up to 2400 mg/m2/day, and intravenous dose up to 96 mg/m2/day, which is 52 times the human dose of 3.0 mg (two ZURNAI administrations) based on body surface area comparison. The treatment in rats did not affect offspring survival.
Risk Summary
There are no data on the presence of nalmefene and its metabolites in human milk, the effects of nalmefene on the breastfed child, or the effects on milk production. Nalmefene and its metabolites are present in rat milk [see Data]. When a drug is present in animal milk, it is likely that the drug will be present in human milk.
Data
Nalmefene and its metabolites were secreted into rat milk, reaching concentrations approximately three times those in plasma at one hour and decreasing to about half the corresponding plasma concentrations by 24 hours following bolus administration. The concentration of nalmefene in animal milk does not necessarily predict the concentration of drug in human milk.
Absorption
After administration of one ZURNAI to healthy adult subjects, the median Tmax for ZURNAI was 0.250 hours, compared to 0.5 hours for the intramuscular nalmefene 1 mg injection.
Based on dose-normalized area under the curve (AUCinf), the mean bioavailability of ZURNAI was 1.13 (Frel) relative to intramuscular administration of nalmefene 1 mg and was 1.15 (Fabs) relative to intravenous administration of nalmefene 1 mg.
Distribution
Following a 1 mg parenteral dose, nalmefene was rapidly distributed. In a study of brain receptor occupancy, a 1 mg dose of nalmefene blocked over 80% of brain opioid receptors within 5 minutes after administration. The apparent volumes of distribution centrally (Vc) and at steady state (Vdss) are 3.9 ± 1.1 L/kg and 8.6 ± 1.7 L/kg, respectively. Ultrafiltration studies of nalmefene have demonstrated that 45% (CV 4.1%) is bound to plasma proteins over a concentration range of 0.1 to 2 mcg/mL. An in vitro determination of the distribution of nalmefene in human blood demonstrated that nalmefene distributed 67% (CV 8.7%) into red blood cells and 39% (CV 6.4%) into plasma. The whole blood to plasma ratio was 1.3 (CV 6.6%) over the nominal concentration range in whole blood from 0.376 to 30 ng/mL.
Elimination
After administration of ZURNAI to healthy adult subjects, plasma concentrations have a terminal elimination half-life of 9.07 (%CV 26.2) hours. Following a 1 mg parenteral dose, the apparent clearance of nalmefene is 55.46 (%CV 8.41) L/hr.
Metabolism
Nalmefene is metabolized by the liver, primarily by glucuronide conjugation.
Nalmefene is also metabolized to trace amounts of an N-dealkylated metabolite. Nalmefene glucuronide is inactive and the N-dealkylated metabolite has minimal pharmacological activity.
Excretion
Nalmefene and its metabolites are excreted in the urine. Less than 5% of nalmefene is excreted in the urine unchanged. Seventeen percent (17%) of the nalmefene dose is excreted in the feces. The plasma concentration-time profile in some subjects suggests that nalmefene undergoes enterohepatic recycling.
Specific Populations
Geriatric Population
In previous studies with nalmefene hydrochloride injection, dose proportionality was observed in nalmefene AUC0-inf following 0.5 to 2 mg intravenous administration to elderly male subjects. Following a 1 mg intravenous nalmefene dose, there were no significant differences between young (19 to 32 years) and elderly (62 to 80 years) adult male subjects with respect to plasma clearance, steady-state volume of distribution, or half-life. There was an apparent age-related decrease in the central volume of distribution (young: 3.9 ± 1.1 L/kg, elderly: 2.8 ± 1.1 L/kg) that resulted in a greater initial nalmefene concentration in the elderly group. While initial nalmefene plasma concentrations were transiently higher in the elderly, it would not be anticipated that this population would require dosing adjustment. No clinical adverse events were noted in the elderly following the 1 mg intravenous nalmefene dose.
Pediatric Patients
No pharmacokinetic studies were conducted with ZURNAI in pediatric patients. Based on population PK simulations, compared to an adult population (mean weight 76 kg), 12-year-old subjects with a median weight 49 kg, range 33 to 71 kg are expected to have 27% higher mean Cmax and 15% higher mean AUC0-∞ [See Use in Specific Populations (8.4)].
Male and Female Patients
There is insufficient experience with the use of nalmefene hydrochloride injection to detect sex variations in pharmacokinetics.
Patients with Renal Impairment
The pharmacokinetics of ZURNAI have not been studied in renally impaired subjects. In previous studies with nalmefene hydrochloride injection, there was a statistically significant 27% decrease in plasma clearance of nalmefene in the end-stage renal disease (ESRD) population during interdialysis (0.57 ± 0.20 L/hr/kg) and a 25% decreased plasma clearance in the ESRD population during intradialysis (0.59 ± 0.18 L/hr/kg) compared to normal patients (0.79 ± 0.24 L/hr/kg). The elimination half-life was prolonged in ESRD patients from 10.2 ± 2.2 hours in normal patients to 26.1 ± 9.9 hours.
Patients with Hepatic Impairment
The pharmacokinetics of ZURNAI have not been studied in hepatically impaired subjects. In previous studies with nalmefene hydrochloride injection, in subjects with hepatic disease, when compared to matched normal controls, had a 28.3% decrease in plasma clearance of nalmefene (0.56 ± 0.21 L/hr/kg versus 0.78 ± 0.24 L/hr/kg, respectively). Elimination half-life increased from 10.2 ± 2.2 hours to 11.9 ± 2.0 hours in the hepatically impaired. No dosage adjustment is recommended since nalmefene will be administered as an acute course of therapy.
Low Body Weight Patients and High Body Weight Patients
The effect of weight on nalmefene PK following a single dose of 1.5 mg ZURNAI administration was assessed using population pharmacokinetic simulations. Compared to the mean PK values across the full population in the PK dataset (median weight 76 kg), the 1st quartile of body weight (54.0 to 67.3 kg) had + 17.6% higher Cmax and + 13.4% higher AUC0-∞ whereas the 4th quartile of body weight (86.8 to 117.1 kg) had – 15.3% lower Cmax and – 11.8% lower AUC0-∞.
Carcinogenesis
Long-term animal studies to evaluate the carcinogenic potential of nalmefene have not been completed.
Mutagenesis
Nalmefene did not have mutagenic activity in the Ames test with five bacterial strains or the mouse lymphoma assay. Clastogenic activity was not observed in the mouse micronucleus test or in the cytogenic bone marrow assay in rats. However, nalmefene did exhibit a weak but significant clastogenic activity in the human lymphocyte metaphase assay in the absence but not in the presence of exogenous metabolic activation.
Impairment of Fertility
Oral administration of nalmefene up to 1200 mg/m2/day did not affect fertility in rats.
Recognition of Opioid Overdose
Instruct patients and their family members or caregivers about how to recognize the signs and symptoms of an opioid overdose, such as the following:
- Extreme somnolence – inability to awaken a patient verbally or upon a firm sternal rub
- Respiratory depression – this can range from slow or shallow respiration to no respiration in a patient who is unarousable
- Other signs and symptoms that may accompany somnolence and respiratory depression include the following:
- Miosis
- Bradycardia and/or hypotension
Risk of Recurrent Respiratory and Central Nervous System Depression
While the duration of action of nalmefene is as long as most opioids, instruct patients and their family members or caregivers that they must seek immediate emergency medical assistance after administration of the first dose of ZURNAI, and keep the patient under continued surveillance even after an apparently adequate initial response to ZURNAI. A second dose may be necessary if there is recurrence of symptoms of opioid overdose [see Dosage and Administration (2.2), Warnings and Precautions (5.1)].
Limited Efficacy for/with Partial Agonists or Mixed Agonist/Antagonists
Instruct patients and their family members or caregivers that the reversal of respiratory depression caused by partial agonists or mixed agonist/antagonists, such as buprenorphine and pentazocine, may be incomplete and may require repeated administration of ZURNAI, using a new ZURNAI auto-injector each time [see Dosage and Administration (2.2), Warnings and Precautions (5.2)].
Precipitation of Severe Opioid Withdrawal
Instruct patients and their family members or caregivers that the use of ZURNAI in patients who are opioid dependent may precipitate opioid withdrawal [see Warnings and Precautions (5.3), Adverse Reactions (6)].
Administration Instructions
Instruct patients and their family member or caregivers to:
- Ensure ZURNAI is readily available in locations where persons may be intentionally or accidentally exposed to an opioid overdose (i.e., opioid emergencies).
- Use ZURNAI one time only. DO NOT test or prime prior to use [see Dosage and Administration (2.1)].
- Carefully read the Instructions for Use that comes with ZURNAI.
- Administer ZURNAI as quickly as possible if a person is unresponsive and an opioid overdose is suspected, even when in doubt, because prolonged respiratory depression may result in damage to the central nervous system or death. ZURNAI is not a substitute for emergency medical care [see Dosage and Administration (2.1)].
- Administer ZURNAI directly into the outer thigh. Press the needle end firmly into the injection site (through clothing, if necessary) and hold for 3 seconds [see Dosage and Administration (2.1)]. After 3 seconds, the viewing window should turn completely orange, signaling that ZURNAI has delivered the intended dose of nalmefene.
- Remove ZURNAI from the outer thigh.
- Call 911 immediately after injecting the first dose of ZURNAI.
- Move the person to the recovery position by turning them to their side. Additional supportive and/or resuscitative measures may be helpful while awaiting emergency medical assistance [see Dosage and Administration (2.1)].
- Watch the person carefully. Wait 2 to 5 minutes to see if the person wakes up.
- If the person is not responding or responds and then relapses back into respiratory depression, administer additional doses of ZURNAI every 2 to 5 minutes using a new ZURNAI auto-injector [see Dosage and Administration (2.1)].
- Remain with the person until emergency medical help arrives, even if they wake up.
- Visually inspect the nalmefene solution through the viewing window every 30 days. If the solution is discolored, cloudy, or contains solid particles, replace it with a new ZURNAI.
- Replace ZURNAI before its expiration date.
Healthcare professionals can telephone Purdue Pharma's Medical Information Department (1-888-726-7535) for information on this product.
Manufactured for:
Purdue Pharma L.P.
Stamford, CT 06901-3431
©2024, Purdue Pharma L.P., Stamford, CT 06901-3431