TTEX should not be administered intravenously or intramuscularly. If a dose is missed, that dose should be taken as soon as possible on that day. Do not take 2 doses on the same day.
Monitoring to Assess Safety
A colonoscopy (or alternate imaging) of the entire colon with removal of polyps should be done within 6 months prior to starting treatment with GATTEX. A follow-up colonoscopy (or alternate imaging) is recommended at the end of 1 year of GATTEX. If no polyp is found, subsequent colonoscopies should be done no less frequently than every 5 years. If a polyp is found, adherence to current polyp follow-up guidelines is recommended.
Slideshow: Psoriasis: Treatment Options to Manage Your Symptoms
Patients should undergo initial laboratory assessments (bilirubin, alkaline phosphatase, lipase and amylase) within 6 months prior to starting treatment with GATTEX. Subsequent laboratory assessments are recommended every 6 months. If clinically meaningful elevation is seen, further diagnostic workup is recommended as clinically indicated (ie, imaging of the biliary tract, liver, or pancreas). [see Warnings and Precautions (5.1) (5.5)]
Dosage Modifications in Renal Impairment
Reduce the dose by 50% in patients with moderate and severe renal impairment (creatinine clearance less than 50 mL/min), and end-stage renal disease [see Use in Specific Populations (8.6) and Clinical Pharmacology (12.3)]
Discontinuation of Treatment
Discontinuation of treatment with GATTEX may result in fluid and electrolyte imbalance. Therefore, patients' fluid and electrolyte status should be carefully monitored.
Preparation for Administration
Reconstitute each vial of GATTEX by slowly injecting the 0.5 mL of preservative-free Sterile Water for Injection provided in the prefilled syringe. Allow the vial containing GATTEX and water to stand for approximately 30 seconds and then gently roll the vial between your palms for about 15 seconds. Do not shake the vial. Allow the mixed contents to stand for about 2 minutes. Inspect the vial for any undissolved powder. If undissolved powder is observed, gently roll the vial again until all material is dissolved. Do not shake the vial. If the product remains undissolved after the second attempt, do not use. GATTEX does not contain any preservatives and is for single-use only. Discard any unused portion. The product should be used within 3 hours after reconstitution. [see How Supplied/Storage and Handling (16.2)]
Dosage Forms and Strengths
For Injection: Each single-use glass vial contains a dose of 5 mg teduglutide as a lyophilized powder that upon reconstitution with the 0.5 mL Sterile Water for Injection provided in the prefilled syringe delivers a maximum of 0.38 mL of the reconstituted sterile solution which contains 3.8 mg of teduglutide.
Contraindications
None.
Warnings and Precautions
Acceleration of Neoplastic Growth
Based on the pharmacologic activity and findings in animals, GATTEX has the potential to cause hyperplastic changes including neoplasia. In patients at increased risk for malignancy, the clinical decision to use GATTEX should be considered only if the benefits outweigh the risks. In patients with active gastrointestinal malignancy (GI tract, hepatobiliary, pancreatic), GATTEX therapy should be discontinued. In patients with active non-gastrointestinal malignancy, the clinical decision to continue GATTEX should be made based on risk-benefit considerations. [see Clinical P |
