xolair

Important safety information

Anaphylaxis: Initiate XOLAIR therapy in a healthcare setting prepared to manage anaphylaxis which can be life-threatening and observe patients for an appropriate period of time after administration. ( 5.1 ) Malignancy: Malignancies have been observed in clinical studies. ( 5.2 ) Acute Asthma Symptoms: Do not use for the treatment of acute bronchospasm or status asthmaticus. ( 5.3 ) Corticosteroid Reduction: Do not abruptly discontinue corticosteroids upon initiation of XOLAIR therapy. ( 5.4 ) Eosinophilic Conditions: Be alert to eosinophilia, vasculitic rash, worsening pulmonary symptoms, cardiac complications, and/or neuropathy, especially upon reduction of oral corticosteroids. ( 5.5 ) Fever, Arthralgia, and Rash: Stop XOLAIR if patients develop signs and symptoms similar to serum sickness. ( 5.6 ) Potential Medication Error Related to Emergency Treatment of Anaphylaxis: XOLAIR should not be used for emergency treatment of allergic reactions, including anaphylaxis. ( 5.9 ) 5.1 Anaphylaxis Anaphylaxis has been reported to occur after administration of XOLAIR in premarketing clinical trials and in postmarketing spontaneous reports [see Boxed Warning and Adverse Reactions (6.2) ] . Signs and symptoms in these reported cases have included bronchospasm, hypotension, syncope, urticaria, and/or angioedema of the throat or tongue. Some of these events have been life-threatening. In premarketing clinical trials in patients with asthma, anaphylaxis was reported in 3 of 3507 (0.1%) patients. Anaphylaxis occurred with the first dose of XOLAIR in two patients and with the fourth dose in one patient. The time to onset of anaphylaxis was 90 minutes after administration in two patients and 2 hours after administration in one patient. A case-control study in asthma patients showed that, among XOLAIR users, patients with a history of anaphylaxis to foods, medications, or other causes were at increased risk of anaphylaxis associated with XOLAIR, compared to those with no prior history of anaphylaxis [see Adverse Reactions (6.1) ] . In postmarketing spontaneous reports, the frequency of anaphylaxis attributed to XOLAIR use was estimated to be at least 0.2% of patients based on an estimated exposure of about 57,300 patients from June 2003 through December 2006. Anaphylaxis has occurred as early as after the first dose of XOLAIR, but also has occurred beyond one year after beginning regularly scheduled treatment. Approximately 60% to 70% of anaphylaxis cases have been reported to occur within the first three doses of XOLAIR, with additional cases occurring sporadically beyond the third dose. Initiate XOLAIR only in a healthcare setting equipped to manage anaphylaxis, which can be life-threatening. Observe patients closely for an appropriate period of time after administration of XOLAIR, taking into account the time to onset of anaphylaxis seen in premarketing clinical trials and postmarketing spontaneous reports [see Adverse Reactions (6.1 , 6.2) ] . Inform patients of the signs and symptoms of anaphylaxis, and instruct them to seek immediate medical care should signs or symptoms occur. Once XOLAIR therapy has been established, administration of XOLAIR prefilled syringe or autoinjector outside of a healthcare setting by a patient or a caregiver may be appropriate for selected patients. Patient selection, determined by the healthcare provider in consultation with the patient, should take into account the pattern of anaphylaxis events seen in premarketing clinical trials and postmarketing spontaneous reports, as well as individual patient risk factors (e.g., prior history of anaphylaxis), ability to recognize signs and symptoms of anaphylaxis, and ability to perform subcutaneous injections with XOLAIR prefilled syringe or autoinjector with proper technique according to the prescribed dosing regimen and Instructions for Use [see Dosage and Administration (2.6) , Adverse Reactions (6.1 , 6.2) ]. Discontinue XOLAIR in patients who experience a severe hypersensitivity reaction [see Contraindications (4) ] . 5.2 Malignancy Malignant neoplasms were observed in 20 of 4127 (0.5%) XOLAIR-treated patients compared with 5 of 2236 (0.2%) control patients in clinical studies of adults and adolescents ≥12 years of age with asthma and other allergic disorders. The observed malignancies in XOLAIR-treated patients were a variety of types, with breast, non-melanoma skin, prostate, melanoma, and parotid occurring more than once, and five other types occurring once each. The majority of patients were observed for less than 1 year. The impact of longer exposure to XOLAIR or use in patients at higher risk for malignancy (e.g., elderly, current smokers) is not known. In a subsequent observational study of 5007 XOLAIR-treated and 2829 non-XOLAIR-treated adolescent and adult patients with moderate to severe persistent asthma and a positive skin test reaction or in vitro reactivity to a perennial aeroallergen, patients were followed for up to 5 years. In this study, the incidence rates of primary malignancies (per 1000 patient years) were similar among XOLAIR-treated (12.3) and non-XOLAIR-treated patients (13.0) [see Adverse Reactions (6.1) ] . However, study limitations preclude definitively ruling out a malignancy risk with XOLAIR. Study limitations include: the observational study design, the bias introduced by allowing enrollment of patients previously exposed to XOLAIR (88%), enrollment of patients (56%) while a history of cancer or a premalignant condition were study exclusion criteria, and the high study discontinuation rate (44%). 5.3 Acute Asthma Symptoms and Deteriorating Disease XOLAIR has not been shown to alleviate asthma exacerbations acutely. Do not use XOLAIR to treat acute bronchospasm or status asthmaticus. Patients should seek medical advice if their asthma remains uncontrolled or worsens after initiation of treatment with XOLAIR. 5.4 Corticosteroid Reduction Do not discontinue systemic or inhaled corticosteroids abruptly upon initiation of XOLAIR therapy for asthma or CRSwNP. Decrease corticosteroids gradually under the direct supervision of a physician. In CSU patients, the use of XOLAIR in combination with corticosteroids has not been evaluated. 5.5 Eosinophilic Conditions In rare cases, patients with asthma on therapy with XOLAIR may present with serious systemic eosinophilia sometimes presenting with clinical features of vasculitis consistent with Churg-Strauss syndrome, a condition which is often treated with systemic corticosteroid therapy. These events usually, but not always, have been associated with the reduction of oral corticosteroid therapy. Physicians should be alert to eosinophilia, vasculitic rash, worsening pulmonary symptoms, cardiac complications, and/or neuropathy presenting in their patients. A causal association between XOLAIR and these underlying conditions has not been established. 5.6 Fever, Arthralgia, and Rash In post-approval use, some patients have experienced a constellation of signs and symptoms including arthritis/arthralgia, rash, fever, and lymphadenopathy with an onset 1 to 5 days after the first or subsequent injections of XOLAIR. These signs and symptoms have recurred after additional doses in some patients. Although circulating immune complexes or a skin biopsy consistent with a Type III reaction were not seen with these cases, these signs and symptoms are similar to those seen in patients with serum sickness. Physicians should stop XOLAIR if a patient develops this constellation of signs and symptoms [see Adverse Reactions (6.2) ] . 5.7 Parasitic (Helminth) Infection Monitor patients at high risk of geohelminth infection while on XOLAIR therapy. Insufficient data are available to determine the length of monitoring required for geohelminth infections after stopping XOLAIR treatment. In a one-year clinical trial conducted in Brazil in adult and adolescent patients at high risk for geohelminthic infections (roundworm, hookworm, whipworm,…