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Soliris (Eculizumab) - Side Effects and Adverse Reactions

 
 



ADVERSE REACTIONS

Clinical Trial Experience

Meningococcal infections are the most important adverse reactions experienced by patients receiving Soliris. In PNH clinical studies, two patients experienced meningococcal sepsis. Both patients had previously received a meningococcal vaccine. In clinical studies among patients without PNH, meningococcal meningitis occurred in one unvaccinated patient. Meningococcal sepsis occurred in one previously vaccinated patient enrolled in the retrospective aHUS study during the post-study follow-up period [ see Warnings and Precautions (5.1) ].

PNH

The data described below reflect exposure to Soliris in 196 adult patients with PNH, age 18-85, of whom 55% were female. All had signs or symptoms of intravascular hemolysis. Soliris was studied in a placebo-controlled clinical study (in which 43 patients received Soliris and 44, placebo); a single arm clinical study and a long term extension study. 182 patients were exposed for greater than one year. All patients received the recommended Soliris dose regimen.

Because clinical trials are conducted under widely varying conditions, adverse reaction rates observed in the clinical trials of a drug cannot be directly compared to rates in the clinical trials of another drug and may not reflect the rates observed in practice. Table 4 summarizes the adverse reactions that occurred at a numerically higher rate in the Soliris group than the placebo group and at a rate of 5% or more among patients treated with Soliris.

Table 4: Adverse Reactions Reported In 5% Or More Of Soliris Treated Patients And Greater Than Placebo In The Controlled Clinical Study
Reaction Soliris
N = 43
N (%)
Placebo
N = 44
N (%)
Headache 19 (44) 12 (27)
Nasopharyngitis 10 (23) 8 (18)
Back pain 8 (19) 4 (9)
Nausea 7 (16) 5 (11)
Fatigue 5 (12) 1 (2)
Cough 5 (12) 4 (9)
Herpes simplex infections 3 (7) 0
Sinusitis 3 (7) 0
Respiratory tract infection 3 (7) 1 (2)
Constipation 3 (7) 2 (5)
Myalgia 3 (7) 1 (2)
Pain in extremity 3 (7) 1 (2)
Influenza-like illness 2 (5) 1 (2)

In the placebo-controlled clinical study, serious adverse reactions occurred among 4 (9%) patients receiving Soliris and 9 (21%) patients receiving placebo. The serious reactions included infections and progression of PNH. No deaths occurred in the study and no patients receiving Soliris experienced a thrombotic event; one thrombotic event occurred in a patient receiving placebo.

Among 193 patients with PNH treated with Soliris in the single arm, clinical study or the follow-up study, the adverse reactions were similar to those reported in the placebo-controlled clinical study. Serious adverse reactions occurred among 16% of the patients in these studies. The most common serious adverse reactions were: viral infection (2%), headache (2%), anemia (2%), and pyrexia (2%).

aHUS

The safety of Soliris therapy in patients with aHUS was evaluated in two prospective, single-arm studies (aHUS Studies 1 and 2) and one retrospective study (aHUS Study 3). The data described below were derived from 37 adult and adolescent patients with aHUS enrolled in aHUS Study 1 and aHUS Study 2. All patients received the recommended dosage of Soliris. Median exposure was 38 weeks (range: 2-64 weeks).

Because clinical trials are conducted under widely varying conditions, adverse reaction rates observed in the clinical trials of a drug cannot be directly compared to rates in the clinical trials of another drug and may not reflect the rates observed in practice. Table 5 summarizes all adverse events reported in at least 10% of patients in aHUS Studies 1 and 2 combined.

Table 5: Per Patient Incidence of Adverse Events in Adult and Adolescent Patients Enrolled in aHUS Study 1 and aHUS Study 2 Separately and in Total
a. includes the preferred terms hypertension, accelerated hypertension, and malignant hypertension.
b. includes the preferred terms upper respiratory tract infection and nasopharyngitis.
MedDRA ver. 11.0 Number (%) of Patients
Study 1 (n=17) Study 2 (n=20) Total (n=37)
Vascular Disorders
    Hypertensiona 8(47) 5 (25) 13 (35)
Infections and Infestations
    Upper respiratory tract infectionb 5 (29) 8 (40) 13(35)
    Urinary tract infection 4 (24) 2 (10) 6 (16)
Gastrointestinal Disorders
    Diarrhea 6 (35) 6 (30) 12 (32)
    Vomiting 5 (29) 3 (15) 8 (22)
    Nausea 4 (24) 3 (15) 7 (19)
    Abdominal pain 0 4 (20) 4 (11)
Nervous System Disorders
    Headache 7 (41) 4 (20) 11 (30)
Blood and Lymphatic System Disorders
    Anemia 6 (35) 3 (15) 9 (24)
    Leukopenia 4 (24) 2 (10) 6 (16)
Psychiatric Disorders
    Insomnia 4 (24) 1 (5) 5 (14)
Respiratory, Thoracic and Mediastinal Disorders
    Cough 2 (12) 3 (15) 5 (14)
    Pharyngolaryngeal pain 1 (6) 4 (20) 5 (14)
General Disorders and Administration Site Conditions
    Fatigue 3 (18) 1 (5) 4 (11)
    Peripheral edema 3 (18) 1 (5) 4 (11)
    Pyrexia 3 (18) 1 (5) 4 (11)
Ear and Labyrinth Disorders
    Vertigo 1 (6) 3 (15) 4 (11)
Musculoskeletal and Connective Tissue Disorders
    Pain in extremity 1 (6) 3 (15) 4 (11)

In aHUS Studies 1 and 2 combined, 54% (20/37) of patients experienced a serious adverse event (SAE). The most commonly reported SAEs were hypertension (16%) and infections (14%). One patient discontinued Soliris due to adverse events deemed unrelated to Soliris.

Analysis of retrospectively collected adverse event data from pediatric and adult patients enrolled in aHUS Study 3 (N=30) revealed a safety profile that was similar to that which was observed in the two prospective studies. aHUS Study 3 included 19 pediatric patients less than 18 years of age. Overall, the safety of Soliris in pediatric patients with aHUS enrolled in Study 3 appeared similar to that observed in adult patients. The most common (≥15%) adverse events occurring in pediatric patients are presented in Table 6.

Table 6: Adverse Reactions Occurring in at Least 15% of Patients Less than 18 Years of Age Enrolled in aHUS Study 3
a. includes the preferred terms upper respiratory tract infection and nasopharyngitis.
MedDRA ver. 11.0 Number (%) of Patients
< 2 yrs
(n=5)
2 to < 12 yrs
(n=10)
12 to < 18 yrs
(n=4)
Total
(n=19)
General Disorders and Administration Site Conditions
    Pyrexia 4 (80) 4 (60) 1 (25) 9 (47)
Gastrointestinal Disorders
    Diarrhea 1 (20) 4 (40) 1 (25) 6 (32)
    Vomiting 2 (40) 1 (10) 1 (25) 4 (21)
Infections and Infestations
    Upper respiratory tract infectiona 2 (40) 3 (30) 1 (25) 6 (32)
Respiratory, Thoracic and Mediastinal Disorders
    Cough 3 (60) 2 (20) 0 (0) 5 (26)
    Nasal congestion 2 (40) 2 (20) 0 (0) 4 (21)
Cardiac Disorders
    Tachycardia 2 (40) 2 (20) 0 (0) 4 (21)

Immunogenicity

As with all proteins there is a potential for immunogenicity. The immunogenicity of Soliris has been evaluated using two different immunoassays for the detection of anti-eculizumab antibodies: a direct enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) using the Fab fragment of eculizumab as target was used for the PNH indication; and an electro-chemiluminescence (ECL) bridging assay using the eculizumab whole molecular as target was used for the aHUS indication as well as for additional PNH patients. In the PNH population, antibodies to Soliris were detected in 3/196 (2%) PNH patients treated with Soliris using the ELISA assay and in 5/161 (3%) patients treated with Soliris using the ECL assay. In patients with aHUS treated with Soliris, antibodies to Soliris were detected in 1/37 (2.7%) by the ECL assay. An ECL based neutralizing HAHA assay with a low sensitivity of 2 mcg/mL was performed to detect neutralizing antibodies for the 37 patients with aHUS and also for the 5 PNH patients with positive samples by the ECL assay. No neutralizing activity to Soliris was detected in patients with aHUS treated with Soliris. In the PNH group, 2/161 (1.2%) patients had low positive values for neutralizing antibodies. No apparent correlation of antibody development to clinical response was observed in both indications. The immunogenicity data reflect the percentage of patients whose test results were considered positive for antibodies to Soliris in an ELISA-based assay and/or an ECL-based assay are highly dependent on the sensitivity and specificity of the assay used. Additionally, the observed incidence of antibody positivity in the assay may be influenced by several factors including sample handling, timing of sample collection, concomitant medications and underlying disease. For these reasons, comparison of the incidence of antibodies to Soliris with the incidence of antibodies to other products may be misleading.

Postmarketing Experience

Cases of serious or fatal meningococcal infections have been reported.



REPORTS OF SUSPECTED SOLIRIS SIDE EFFECTS / ADVERSE REACTIONS

Below is a sample of reports where side effects / adverse reactions may be related to Soliris. The information is not vetted and should not be considered as verified clinical evidence.

Possible Soliris side effects / adverse reactions in 38 year old female

Reported by a physician from United States on 2011-10-10

Patient: 38 year old female

Reactions: Death, Renal Impairment, Drug Intolerance, NO Therapeutic Response, Haemolysis

Adverse event resulted in: death

Suspect drug(s):
Soliris



Possible Soliris side effects / adverse reactions in 18 month old female

Reported by a pharmacist from United States on 2011-10-10

Patient: 18 month old female

Reactions: Lung Consolidation, Sudden Death

Adverse event resulted in: death

Suspect drug(s):
Soliris
    Dosage: 300 mg and 300 mg within 1 hour of plasmapheresis
    Indication: Heart Transplant

Soliris
    Indication: Transplant Rejection



Possible Soliris side effects / adverse reactions in 38 year old female

Reported by a physician from United States on 2011-10-13

Patient: 38 year old female

Reactions: Multi-Organ Failure, Renal Impairment

Adverse event resulted in: death

Suspect drug(s):
Soliris



See index of all Soliris side effect reports >>

Drug label data at the top of this Page last updated: 2012-03-31

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