ndicated in pregnancy and lactation (see section 4.3). Basiliximab has potentially hazardous immunosuppressive effects with respect to the course of gestation and the suckling neonate exposed to basiliximab in breast milk. Women of childbearing potential must use effective contraception during and up to 16 weeks after treatment.
There is no animal or human data available concerning excretion of basiliximab into breast milk. However, based on the IgG1 nature of basiliximab, excretion into milk should be expected. Breast-feeding must therefore be avoided.
4.7 Effects on ability to drive and use machines
No studies on the effects on the ability to drive and use machines have been performed.
4.8 Undesirable effects
Basiliximab has been tested in four randomised, double-blind, placebo-controlled studies in renal transplant recipients as an induction agent in combination with the following immunosuppressive regimens: ciclosporin for microemulsion and corticosteroids in two studies (346 and 380 patients), ciclosporin for microemulsion, azathioprine and corticosteroids in one study (340 patients), and ciclosporin for microemulsion, mycophenolate mofetil and corticosteroids in another study (123 patients). Safety data in paediatric patients have been obtained from one open-label pharmacokinetic and pharmacodynamic study in renal transplant recipients (41 patients).
Incidence of adverse events: In the above four placebo-controlled trials, the pattern of adverse events in 590 patients treated with the recommended dose of basiliximab was comparable to that observed in 595 patients treated with placebo. The overall incidence of treatment-related adverse events among all patients in the individual studies was not significantly different between the basiliximab (7.1% - 40%) and the placebo (7.6% - 39%) treatment groups.
Adult patients
The most commonly reported (> 20%) events following dual or triple therapy in both treatment groups (basiliximab vs. placebo) were constipation, urinary tract infection, pain, nausea, peripheral oedema, hypertension, anaemia, headache, hyperkalaemia, hypercholesterolaemia, postoperative wound complication, weight increase, increase in blood creatinine, hypophosphataemia, diarrhoea and upper respiratory tract infection.
Paediatric patients
The most commonly reported (> 20%) events following dual therapy in both (< 35 kg vs. ≥ 35 kg weight) cohorts were urinary tract infection, hypertrichosis, rhinitis, pyrexia, hypertension, upper respiratory tract infection, viral infection, sepsis and constipation.
Incidence of malignant neoplasms: The overall incidence of malignancies among all patients in the individual studies was similar between the basiliximab and the comparator treatment groups. Overall, lymphoma/lymphoproliferative disease occurred in 0.1% (1/701) of patients in the basiliximab group compared with 0.3% (2/595) of patients receiving placebo, both in combination with dual and triple immunosuppressive therapy. Other malignancies were reported among 1.0% (7/701) of patients in the basiliximab group compared with 1.2% (7/595) of placebo patients. In a pooled analysis of two five-year extension studies, the incidence of LPDs and cancer was found to be equal with basilixi
