FDA Label for Anascorp

5.1 Hypersensitivity Reactions

Severe hypersensitivity reactions, including anaphylaxis, may occur with Anascorp. Close patient monitoring for hypersensitivity reactions and readiness with intravenous therapy using epinephrine, corticosteroids, and diphenhydramine hydrochloride is recommended during the infusion of Anascorp. If an anaphylactic reaction occurs during the infusion, terminate administration at once and administer appropriate emergency medical care.

Patients with known allergies to horse protein are particularly at risk for an anaphylactic reaction. Patients who have had previous therapy with Anascorp or another equine antivenom/antitoxin may have become sensitized to equine protein and be at risk for a severe hypersensitivity reaction.

5.2 Delayed Allergic Reactions (Serum Sickness)

Monitor patients with follow-up visit(s) for signs and symptoms of delayed allergic reactions or serum sickness (e.g., rash, fever, myalgia, arthralgia), and treat appropriately if necessary. Eight out of 1,534 (0.5%) patients in the clinical trials exhibited symptoms suggestive of serum sickness. (6.1)

5.3 Transmissible Infectious Agents

Anascorp is made from equine (horse) plasma, it may therefore carry a risk of transmitting infectious agents, e.g., viruses.

5.4 Reaction To Cresol

Trace amounts of cresol from the manufacturing process are contained in Anascorp. Localized reactions and generalized myalgias have been reported with the use of cresol as an injectable excipient.

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 the clinical trials of another drug and may not reflect the rates observed in clinical practice.

A total of 1534 patients were treated with Anascorp, ranging from less than one month to 90 years old. The patient population was comprised of 802 males and 732 females. Patients were monitored for signs and symptoms of adverse reactions, including acute hypersensitivity reactions and serum sickness. Follow-up telephone interviews were conducted at 24 hours, 7 days, and 14 days after treatment to assess symptoms suggestive of ongoing venom effect, serum sickness, and any other adverse reactions.

Table 1 shows the adverse reactions occurring in patients across all clinical trials for Anascorp. Twenty-seven percent (421/1534) of patients receiving Anascorp reported at least one adverse reaction.

No patients died or discontinued study participation for severe adverse reactions.

Eight patients were considered to have serum sickness (Type III hypersensitivity); no patient manifested the full serum sickness syndrome. Three patients were treated with systemic corticosteroids and five others received either no treatment or symptomatic therapy.

34 patients experienced a total of 39 severe adverse reactions such as respiratory distress, aspiration, hypoxia, ataxia, pneumonia, and eye swelling. It is not clear whether these adverse reactions were related to Anascorp envenomation or a combination of both.

6.2 Postmarketing Experience

The following adverse reactions have been identified during post approval use of Anascorp. Because these reactions are reported voluntarily from a population of uncertain size, it is not always possible to reliably estimate their frequency or establish a causal relationship to drug exposure.

Chest tightness, palpitations, rash and pruritus.

8.1 Pregnancy

Pregnancy Category C: Animal reproduction studies have not been conducted with Anascorp. It is also not known whether Anascorp can cause fetal harm when administered to a pregnant woman or can affect reproduction capacity. Anascorp should be given to a pregnant woman only if clearly needed.

8.3 Nursing Mothers

It is not known whether Anascorp is excreted in human breast milk. Because many drugs are excreted in human milk, caution should be exercised when Anascorp is administered to a nursing woman.

8.4 Pediatric Use

Seventy-eight percent of the patients enrolled in the clinical studies were pediatrics subjects(1204/1534), with ages ranging from less than one month to 18.7 years of age. Patient age groups were as follows: < 2 years of age, 29%, 2 to 5 years, 37%, 5 to 18 years, 34%. The efficacy and safety of Anascorp is comparable in pediatric and adult patients.

8.5 Geriatric Use

Specific studies in elderly patients have not been conducted, Anascorp was administered to 77 patients over the age of 65 years with comparable efficacy and safety to the overall patient population.

11 Description

Anascorp [Centruroides (Scorpion) Immune F(ab')₂ (Equine) Injection] is a sterile nonpyrogenic, lyophilized, polyvalent preparation of equine immune globulin F(ab')₂ fragments, manufactured from plasma of horses immunized with with venom of C. noxius, C.l. limpidus, C.l. tecomanus, and C.s.suffusus. The product is obtained by pepsin digestion of horse plasma to remove the F_c portion of immune globulin, followed by fractionation and purification steps. The F(ab')₂ content is not less than 85%, F(ab) content is not more than 7%, and the product contains less than 5% intact immunoglobulin. Each vial of Anascorp contains 45-80 milligrams of sodium chloride, 4.3 - 38.3 milligrams of sucrose, and 6.6-94.9 milligrams of glycine as stabilizers. Trace amounts of pepsin, cresol (< 0.41 mg/vial), borates (< 1 mg/vial) and Sulfates (< 1.7 mg/vial) may be present from the manufacturing process. Each vial contains no more than 120 milligrams of protein and will neutralize at least 150 LD₅₀ of Centruroides scorpion venom in a mouse neutralization assay.

The manufacturing procedures that contribute to the reduction of risk of viral transmission include pepsin digestion, ammonium sulfate precipitation/heat treatment and nanofiltration.

12.1 Mechanism Of Action

Anascorp is composed of venom-specific F(ab')₂ fragments of immunoglobulin G (IgG) that bind and neutralize venom toxins, facilitating redistribution away from target tissues and elimination from the body.¹

12.3 Pharmacokinetics

Eight clinically healthy volunteers (6 males and 2 females, age: 17 to 26 years) received a bolus intravenous dose of 47.5 mg of Centruroides (Scorpion) Immune F(ab’)₂, (Equine) Injection. Blood samples were collected till 504 hours (21 days) and pharmacokinetic parameters were estimated by non-compartmental analysis which are summarized in Table 2.

14 Clinical Studies

The efficacy of Anascorp was assessed in a prospective double-blind randomized placebo-controlled study, four open-label studies and one retrospective study in various treatment settings in the United States and Mexico, where scorpion envenomation is common. A total of 1534 patients ranging from less than one month to 90 years old were treated. The majority of patients (78%, 1204/1534) were pediatric, ranging from less than one month to 18.7 years of age. Male (52.3%) and female patients (47.7%) were equally represented. Treatment success was determined by resolution of clinically important signs of scorpion envenomation within four hours of starting infusion. The randomized placebo study enrolled 15 subjects, eight to the Anascorp treated group and seven to the placebo. The symptom resolution success rate was 100% for the Anascorp treated and 14.3% for the placebo group.

A retrospective hospital chart review provided historical data from envenomated patients (N=97) who did not receive antivenom but were treated with sedatives and supportive care for symptoms of envenomation. These data were used as a historical control for expected outcomes in the absence of antivenom treatment. The historical controls were pediatric patients admitted to two pediatric intensive care units between 1990 and 2003 for the treatment of scorpion envenomation with supportive care only. The proportion of patients that required intensive care support four hours after intensive care unit admission, and the overall duration of the intensive care support requirement were calculated.

Overall, 95-100% of patients were relieved of systemic signs associated with scorpion envenomation in less than four hours after initiating Anascorp treatment. In the historical control database, only 3.1% of patients experienced relief of symptoms within 4 hours of hospital admission.

In 1396/1534 patients the mean time from start of Anascorp infusion to resolution of clinical signs and symptoms of envenomation was 1.42 hours (0.2 to 20.5 hours). Pediatric patients generally experienced a slightly faster time to resolution (1.28 ± 0.8 hours) compared with that of adult patients (1.91 ±1.4 hours). The time to resolution of symptoms was not affected by use of sedatives (474 patients who received sedatives resolved in 1.49 ± 1.1 hours and 922 patients who did not receive sedatives resolved in 1.38 ± 0.9 hours).

15 References

1. Krifi M.H, Savin S, Debray M, Bon C, Ayeb M.E, Choumet V. Pharmacokinetic studies of scorpion venom before and after antivenom immunotherapy. Toxicon, 2005; 45: 187–198.

2. Curry SC, Vance MV, Ryan PJ, Kunkel DB, Northey WT. Envenomation by the scorpion Centruroides sculpturatus, J Toxicol Clin Toxicol , 1983-1984; 21(4-5): 417-49.

3. Gibly R, Williams M, Walter FG, McNally J, Conroy C, Berg RA. Continuous intravenous midazolam infusion for Centruroides exilicauda scorpion envenomation. Ann Emerg Med,1999;34(5):620-5.

4. Vasquez H, Chavez-Haro A, Garcia-Ubbelohde W, et al., Pharmacokinetics of a F(ab’)₂ scorpion antivenin in healthy human volunteers, Toxicon, 2005;46: 797-805.

5. Boyer LV, Theodorou AA, Berg RA, Mallie J. Antivenom for Critically Ill Children with Neurotoxicity from Scorpion Stings. N Engl J Med,2009;360:2090-8.

16 How Supplied/Storage And Handling

Anascorp is supplied as a sterile lyophilized preparation in a single-use vial. When reconstituted, each vial contains not more than 24 milligrams per milliliter of protein, and not less than 150 mouse LD₅₀ neutralizing units.

Each carton NDC 66621-0150-2 contains 1 vial of Anascorp NDC 66621-0150-1.

• Store at room temperature (up to 25 °C (77 °F)). Brief temperature excursions are permitted up to 40 °C (104°F).
• DO NOT FREEZE.
• Discard partially used vials.

17 Patient Counseling Information

Advise patients to contact the physician or emergency department immediately if they experience any signs and symptoms of delayed allergic reactions or serum sickness up to 14 days following hospital discharge. Symptoms include rash, pruritus, joint pain, arthralgia, fever, lymphoadenopathy, and malaise.

Manufactured by:

Instituto Bioclon S.A. de C.V.

Mexico D.F., Mexico

www.bioclon.com.mx

Manufactured for:

Rare Disease Therapeutics

2550 Meridian Blvd., Suite 150

Franklin, TN 37067

www.raretx.com

U.S. License No. 1860

RDT Part No. Anascorp PI003

PACKAGE LABEL