weeks. Partial recovery followed discontinuation of Injectafer.
8 USE IN SPECIFIC POPULATIONS
8.1 Pregnancy
Risk Summary
Published studies on the use of ferric carboxymaltose in pregnant women have not reported an association with ferric carboxymaltose and adverse developmental outcomes. However, these studies cannot establish or exclude the absence of any drug-related risk during pregnancy because the studies were not designed to assess for the risk of major birth defects (see Data). There are risks to the mother and fetus associated with untreated iron deficiency anemia (IDA) in pregnancy (see Clinical Considerations).
In animal reproduction studies, administration of ferric carboxymaltose to rabbits during the period of organogenesis caused adverse developmental outcomes including fetal malformations and increased implantation loss at maternally toxic doses of approximately 12% to 23% of the human weekly dose of 750 mg (based on body surface area).
The estimated background risk of major birth defects and miscarriage for the indicated populations is unknown. Adverse outcomes in pregnancy occur regardless of the health of the mother or the use of medications. 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.
Clinical Considerations
Disease-Associated Maternal and/or Embryo/Fetal Risk
Untreated iron deficiency anemia (IDA) in pregnancy is associated with adverse maternal outcomes such as post-partum anemia. Adverse pregnancy outcomes associated with IDA include increased risk for preterm delivery and low birth weight.
Data
Human Data
Published data from randomized controlled studies, prospective observational studies and retrospective studies on the use of ferric carboxymaltose in pregnant women have not reported an association with ferric carboxymaltose and adverse developmental outcomes. However, these studies cannot establish or exclude the absence of any drug-related risk during pregnancy because of methodological limitations, including that the studies were not primarily designed to capture safety data nor designed to assess the risk of major birth defects. Maternal adverse events reported in these studies are similar to those reported during clinical trials in adult males and non-pregnant females [see Adverse Reactions (6.1)].
Animal Data
Administration of ferric carboxymaltose to rats as a one-hour intravenous infusion up to 30 mg/kg/day iron on gestation days 6 to 17 did not result in adverse embryonic or fetal findings. This daily dose in rats is approximately 40% of the human weekly dose of 750 mg based on body surface area. In rabbits, ferric carboxymaltose was administered as a one-hour infusion on gestation days 6 to 19 at iron doses of 4.5, 9, 13.5, and 18 mg/kg/day. Malformations were seen starting at the daily dose of 9 mg/kg (23% of the human weekly dose of 750 mg). Spontaneous abortions occurred starting at the daily iron dose of 4.5 mg/kg (12% of the human weekly dose based on body surface area). Pre-implantation loss was at the highest dose. Adverse embryonic or fetal effects were observed in the presence of maternal toxicity.
A pre- and post-natal development study was conducted in rats at intravenous doses up to 18 mg/kg/day of iron (approximately 23% of the weekly human dose of 750 |
