2.1 Recommended Dose

The recommended dose is 500 mg to be administered intramuscularly into the buttocks slowly (1 - 2 minutes per injection) as two 5 mL injections, one in each buttock, on days 1, 15, 29 and once monthly thereafter [see Clinical Studies (14)].

2.2 Dose Modification

Hepatic Impairment:

A dose of 250 mg is recommended for patients with moderate hepatic impairment (Child-Pugh class B) to be administered intramuscularly into the buttock slowly (1 - 2 minutes) as one 5 mL injection on days 1, 15, 29 and once monthly thereafter.

FASLODEX has not been eva luated in patients with severe hepatic impairment (Child-Pugh class C) [see Warnings and Precautions (5.2) and Use in Specific Populations (8.6)].

2.3 Administration Technique

The proper method of administration of FASLODEX for intramuscular use is described in the instructions that follow:

 

Remove glass syringe barrel from tray and check that it is not damaged.

 

Remove perforated patient record label from syringe.

 

Peel open the safety needle (SafetyGlide ™) outer packaging. For complete SafetyGlide ™ instructions refer below to the "Directions for Use of SafetyGlide ™".

 

Break the seal of the white plastic cover on the syringe luer connector to remove the cover with the attached rubber tip cap (see Figure 1).

 

Twist to lock the needle to the luer connector.

 

Remove needle sheath.

 

Remove excess gas from the syringe (a small gas bubble may remain).

 

Administer intramuscularly slowly in the buttock.

 

Immediately activate needle protection device upon withdrawal from patient by pushing lever arm completely forward until needle tip is fully covered (see Figure 2).

 

Visually confirm that the lever arm has fully advanced and the needle tip is covered. If unable to activate, discard immediately into an approved sharps collector.

 

Repeat steps 1 through 10 for second syringe.

How To Use FASLODEX

For the 2 x 5 mL syringe package, the contents of both syringes must be injected to receive the 500 mg recommended dose.

SAFETYGLIDE™ INSTRUCTIONS FROM BECTON DICKINSON

SafetyGlide™ is a trademark of Becton Dickinson and Company.

Reorder number: 305917

CAUTION CONCERNING SAFETYGLIDE™

Federal (USA) law restricts this device to sale by or on the order of a physician. To help avoid HIV (AIDS), HBV (Hepatitis), and other infectious diseases due to accidental needlesticks, contaminated needles should not be recapped or removed, unless there is no alternative or that such action is required by a specific medical procedure.

WARNING CONCERNING SAFETYGLIDE™

Do not autoclave SafetyGlide™ Needle before use. Hands must remain behind the needle at all times during use and disposal.

DIRECTIONS FOR USE OF SAFETYGLIDE™

For each syringe:

Remove glass syringe barrel from tray and check that it is not damaged.

Peel apart packaging of the SafetyGlide™, break the seal of the white plastic cover on the syringe Luer connector and attach the SafetyGlide™ needle to the Luer Lock of the syringe by twisting.

Transport filled syringe to point of administration.

Pull shield straight off needle to avoid damaging needle point.

Administer injection following package instruction.

For user convenience, the needle ‘bevel up’ position is orientated to the lever arm, as shown in Figure 3.

Immediately activate needle protection device upon withdrawal from patient by pushing lever arm completely forward until needle tip is fully covered (Figure 2).

Visually confirm that the lever arm has fully advanced and the needle tip is covered. If unable to activate, discard immediately into an approved sharps collector.

Activation of the protective mechanism may cause minimal splatter of fluid that may remain on the needle after injection.

For greatest safety, use a one-handed technique and activate away from self and others.

After single use, discard in an approved sharps collector in accordance with applicable regulations and institutional policy.

Becton Dickinson guarantees the contents of their unopened or undamaged packages to be sterile, non-toxic and non-pyrogenic.

Figure 1

Figure 2

Figure 3

5.1 Blood Disorders

Because FASLODEX is administered intramuscularly, it should be used with caution in patients with bleeding diatheses, thrombocytopenia, or anticoagulant use.

5.2 Hepatic Impairment

The safety and pharmacokinetics of FASLODEX were eva luated in a study in seven subjects with moderate hepatic impairment (Child-Pugh class B) and seven subjects with normal hepatic function. Exposure was increased in patients with moderate hepatic impairment, therefore a dose of 250 mg is recommended [see Dosage and Administration (2.2)].

FASLODEX has not been studied in patients with severe hepatic impairment (Child-Pugh class C) [see Use in Specific Populations (8.6)].

5.3 Use in Pregnancy

Based on its mechanism of action and findings in animals, FASLODEX can cause fetal harm when administered to a pregnant woman. Fulvestrant caused fetal loss or abnormalities in animals when administered during the period of organogenesis at doses significantly smaller than the maximum recommended human dose based on the body surface area. There are no adequate and well-controlled studies in pregnant women using FASLODEX. Women of childbearing potential should be advised not to become pregnant while receiving FASLODEX. If FASLODEX is used during pregnancy, or if the patient becomes pregnant while receiving this drug, the patient should be apprised of the potential hazard to the fetus [see Use in Specific Populations (8.1)].

6.1 Clinical Trials Experience

Because clinical trials are conducted under widely varying conditions, the adverse reaction rates observed cannot be directly compared to rates in other trials and may not reflect the rates observed in clinical practice.

Comparison of FASLODEX 500 mg and FASLODEX 250 mg

The following frequency categories for adverse reactions (ARs) were calculated based on the safety analysis of Study 1 that compared FASLODEX 500 mg with FASLODEX 250 mg. The most frequently reported adverse reactions in the fulvestrant 500 mg group were injection site pain (11.6% of patients), nausea (9.7% of patients) and bone pain (9.4% of patients); the most frequently reported adverse reactions in the fulvestrant 250 mg group were nausea (13.6% of patients), back pain (10.7% of patients) and injection site pain (9.1% of patients).

Table 1 lists adverse reactions reported with an incidence of 5% or greater, regardless of assessed causality, from the controlled clinical trial Study 1 comparing the administration of FASLODEX 500 mg intramuscularly once a month with FASLODEX 250 mg intramuscularly once a month.

Table 1: Summary of Most Commonly Reported Adverse Reactions in Study 1 (≥ 5% in either treatment group): Safety Population

In the pooled safety population (N=1127) from clinical trials comparing FASLODEX 500 mg to FASLODEX 250 mg, post-baseline increases of ≥1 CTC grade in either AST, ALT, or alkaline phosphatase were observed in > 15% of patients receiving FASLODEX. Grade 3-4 increases were observed in 1-2% of patients. The incidence and severity of increased hepatic enzymes (ALT, AST, ALP) did not differ between the 250 mg and the 500 mg FASLODEX arms.

Comparison of FASLODEX 250 mg and Anastrozole 1 mg in Combined Trials (Studies 2 and 3)

The most commonly reported adverse reactions in the FASLODEX and anastrozole treatment groups, regardless of the investigator’s assessment of causality, were gastrointestinal symptoms (including nausea, vomiting, constipation, diarrhea and abdominal pain), headache, back pain, vasodilatation (hot flashes), and pharyngitis.

Injection site reactions with mild transient pain and inflammation were seen with FASLODEX and occurred in 7% of patients (1% of treatments) given the single 5 mL injection (predominantly European Trial Study 3) and in 27% of patients (4.6% of treatments) given the 2 x 2.5 mL injections (North American Trial Study 2).

Table 2 lists adverse reactions reported with an incidence of 5% or greater, regardless of assessed causality, from the two controlled clinical trials comparing the administration of FASLODEX 250 mg intramuscularly once a month with anastrozole 1 mg orally once a day.

Table 2: Combined Data from Studies 2 and 3, Adverse Reactions ≥ 5%

6.2 Post-Marketing Experience

For FASLODEX 250 mg, other adverse reactions reported as drug-related and seen infrequently (<1%) include thromboembolic phenomena, myalgia, vertigo, leukopenia, and hypersensitivity reactions including angioedema and urticaria.

Vaginal bleeding has been reported infrequently (<1%), mainly in patients during the first 6 weeks after changing from existing hormonal therapy to treatment with FASLODEX. If bleeding persists, further eva luation should be considered.

Elevation of bilirubin, elevation of gamma GT, hepatitis, and liver failure have been reported infrequently (<1%).