Synagis® (palivizumab) is a humanized monoclonal antibody (IgG1[kgr ]) produced by recombinant DNA technology, directed to an epitope in the A antigenic site of the F protein of respiratory syncytial virus (RSV). Palivizumab is a composite of human (95%) and murine (5%) antibody sequences. The human heavy chain sequence was derived from the constant domains of human IgG1 and the variable framework regions of the V H genes Cor (1) and Cess (2). The human light chain sequence was derived from the constant domain of C[kgr ] and the variable framework regions of the V L gene K104 with J[kgr ] -4 (3). The murine sequences were derived from a murine monoclonal antibody, Mab 1129 (4), in a process which involved the grafting of the murine complementarity determining regions into the human antibody frameworks. Synagis® is composed of two heavy chains and two light chains and has a molecular weight of approximately 148,000 Daltons.

Synagis® is supplied as a sterile lyophilized product for reconstitution with sterile water for injection. Reconstituted Synagis® is to be administered by intramuscular injection only. Upon reconstitution, Synagis® contains the following excipients: 47 mM histidine, 3.0 mM glycine and 5.6% mannitol and the active ingredient, palivizumab, at a concentration of 100 milligrams per vial. The reconstituted solution should appear clear or slightly opalescent.

Mechanism of Action:    Synagis® exhibits neutralizing and fusion-inhibitory activity against RSV. These activities inhibit RSV replication in laboratory experiments. Although resistant RSV strains may be isolated in laboratory studies, a panel of 57 clinical RSV isolates were all neutralized by Synagis® (5). Synagis® serum concentrations of >/= 40 µg/ml have been shown to reduce pulmonary RSV replication in the cotton rat model of RSV infection by 100-fold (5). The in vivo neutralizing activity of the active ingredient in Synagis® was assessed in a randomized, placebo-controlled study of 35 pediatric patients tracheally intubated because of RSV disease. In these patients, palivizumab significantly reduced the quantity of RSV in the lower respiratory tract compared to control patients (6).

  In studies in adult volunteers Synagis® had a pharmacokinetic profile similar to a human IgG1 antibody in regard to the volume of distribution and the half-life (mean 18 days). In pediatric patients less than 24 months of age, the mean half-life of Synagis® was 20 days and monthly intramuscular doses of 15 mg/kg achieved mean ±SD 30 day trough serum drug concentrations of 37 ±21 µg/mL after the first injection, 57 ±41 µg/mL after the second injection, 68 ±51 µg/mL after the third injection and 72 ±50 µg/mL after the fourth injection (7). In pediatric patients given Synagis® for a second season, the mean ±SD serum concentrations following the first and fourth injections were 61 ±17 µg/mL and 86 ±31 µg/mL, respectively.

CLINICAL STUDIES

The safety and efficacy of Synagis® were assessed in a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial (IMpact-RSV Trial) of RSV disease prophylaxis among high-risk pediatric patients (7). This trial, conducted at 139 centers in the United States, Canada and the United Kingdom, studied patients </= 24 months of age with bronchopulmonary dysplasia (BPD) and patients with premature birth (</= 35 weeks gestation) who were </= 6 months of age at study entry. Patients with uncorrected congenital heart disease were excluded from enrollment. In this trial, 500 patients were randomized to receive five monthly placebo injections and 1,002 patients were randomized to receive five monthly injections of 15 mg/kg of Synagis®. Subjects were randomized into the study from November 15 to December 13, 1996, and were followed for safety and efficacy for 150 days. Ninety-nine percent of all subjects completed the study and 93% received all five injections. The primary endpoint was the incidence of RSV hospitalization

RSV hospitalizations occurred among 53 of 500 (10.6%) patients in the placebo group and 48 of 1002 (4.8%) patients in the Synagis® group, a 55% reduction (p<0.001). The reduction of RSV hospitalization was observed both in patients enrolled with a diagnosis of BPD (34/266 [12.8%] placebo vs 39/496 [7.9%] Synagis®) and patients enrolled with a diagnosis of prematurity without BPD (19/234 [8.1%] placebo vs 9/506 [1.8%] Synagis®). The reduction of RSV hospitalization was observed throughout the course of the RSV season.

Among secondary endpoints, the incidence of ICU admission during hospitalization for RSV infection was lower among subjects receiving Synagis® (1.3%) than among those receiving placebo (3.0%), but there was no difference in the mean duration of ICU care between the two groups for patients requiring ICU care. Overall, the data do not suggest that RSV illness was less severe among patients who received Synagis® and who required hospitalization due to RSV infection than among placebo patients who required hospitalization due to RSV infection. Synagis® did not alter the incidence and mean duration of hospitalization for non-RSV respiratory illness or the incidence of otitis media.

Synagis® is indicated for the prevention of serious lower respiratory tract disease caused by respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) in pediatric patients at high risk of RSV disease. Safety and efficacy were established in infants with bronchopulmonary dysplasia (BPD) and infants with a history of prematurity (</= 35 weeks gestational age). (See Clinical Studies section

CONTRAINDICATIONS

Synagis® should not be used in pediatric patients with a history of a severe prior reaction to Synagis® or other components of this product.

Anaphylactoid reactions following the administration of Synagis® have not been observed but can occur following the administration of proteins. If anaphylaxis or severe allergic reaction occurs, administer epinephrine (1:1000) and provide supportive care as required.

PRECAUTIONS

General:   Synagis® is for intramuscular use only. As with any intramuscular injection, Synagis® should be given with caution to patients with thrombocytopenia or any coagulation disorder.

The safety and efficacy of Synagis® have not been demonstrated for treatment of established RSV disease.

The single-use vial of Synagis® does not contain a preservative. Injections should be given within 6 hours after reconstitution.

Immunogenicity:    In the IMpact-RSV trial, the incidence of anti-humanized antibody following the fourth injection was 1.1% in the placebo group and 0.7% in the Synagis® group. In pediatric patients receiving Synagis® for a second season, one of fifty-six patients had transient, low titer reactivity. This reactivity was not associated with adverse events or alteration in Synagis® serum concentrations.

Drug Interactions:   No formal drug-drug interaction studies were conducted. In the IMpact-RSV trial, the proportions of patients in the placebo and Synagis® groups who received routine childhood vaccines, influenza vaccine, bronchodilators or corticosteroids were similar and no incremental increase in adverse reactions was observed among patients receiving these agents.

Carcinogenesis, Mutagenesis, Impairment of Fertility: Carcinogenesis, mutagenesis and reproductive toxicity studies have not performed.

Pregnancy    Pregnancy Category C: Synagis® is not indicated for adult usage and animal reproduction studies have not been conducted. It is also not known whether Synagis® can cause fetal harm when administered to a pregnant woman or could affect reproductive capacity.

ADVERSE REACTIONS

In the combined pediatric prophylaxis studies of pediatric patients with BPD or prematurity involving 520 subjects receiving placebo and 1168 subjects receiving Synagis®, the proportions of subjects in the placebo and Synagis® groups who experienced any adverse event or any serious adverse event were similar.

Most of the safety information was derived from the IMpact-RSV trial. In this study, Synagis® (palivizumab) was discontinued in five patients: two because of vomiting and diarrhea, one because of erythema and moderate induration at the site of the fourth injection, and two because of pre-existing medical conditions which required management (one with congenital anemia and one with pulmonary venous stenosis requiring cardiac surgery). Deaths in study patients occurred in five of 500 placebo recipients and four of 1002 Synagis® recipients. Sudden infant death syndrome was responsible for two of these deaths in the placebo group and one death in the Synagis® group. Adverse events which occurred in more than 1% of patients receiving Synagis® in the IMpact-RSV study for which the incidence in the Synagis® group was 1% greater than in the placebo group are shown in Table 1.

Table 1. Adverse Events Occurring in IMpact-RSV Study at Greater Frequency in the Synagis® Group
% of patients
with:
Placebo
n = 500
Synagis®
n = 1002
49.0% 52.6%
40.0% 41.9%
23.4% 28.7%
22.4% 25.6%
6.8% 8.5%
5.0% 6.3%
SGOT increased
3.8% 4.9%
1.4% 2.6%

Other adverse events reported in more than 1% of the Synagis® group included: fever, cough, wheeze, bronchiolitis, pneumonia, bronchitis, asthma, croup, dyspnea, sinusitis, apnea, failure to thrive, nervousness, diarrhea, vomiting, and gastroenteritis, SGPT increase, liver function abnormality, study drug injections site reaction, conjunctivitis, viral infection, oral monilia, fungal dermatitis, eczema, seborrhea, anemia and flu syndrome. The incidence of these adverse events was similar between the Synagis® and placebo groups.

OVERDOSAGE

No data from clinical studies are available on overdosage. No toxicity was observed in rabbits administered a single intramuscular or subcutaneous injection of Synagis® at a dose of 50 mg/kg. No data are available from human subjects who have received more than 5 monthly Synagis® doses during a single RSV season.

DOSAGE AND ADMINISTRATION

The recommended dose of Synagis® is 15 mg/kg of body weight. Patients, including those who develop an RSV infection, should receive monthly doses throughout the RSV season. The first dose should be administered prior to commencement of the RSV season. In the northern hemisphere, the RSV season typically commences in November and lasts through April, but it may begin earlier or persist later in certain communities.

Synagis® should be administered in a dose of 15 mg/kg intramuscularly using aseptic technique, preferably in the anterolateral aspect of the thigh. The gluteal muscle should not be used routinely as an injection site because of the risk of damage to the sciatic nerve. The dose per month = [patient weight (kg) × 15 mg/kg ÷ 100 mg/mL of Synagis®]. Injection volumes over 1 mL should be given as a divided dose.

Preparation for Administration

To prevent the transmission of hepatitis viruses or other infectious agents from one person to another, sterile disposable syringes and needles should be used. Do not reuse syringes and needles.

HOW SUPPLIED

Synagis® is supplied in single use vials as lyophilized powder to deliver either 50 milligrams or 100 milligrams when reconstituted with sterile water for injection.

50 mg vial                                  NDC 60574-4112-1

Upon reconstitution the 50 mg vial contains 50 milligrams Synagis® in 0.5 mL.

100 mg vial                                NDC 60574-4111-1

Upon reconstitution the 100 mg vial contains 100 milligrams Synagis® in 1.0 mL.

Upon receipt and until reconstitution for use, Synagis® should be stored between 2 and 8°C (35.6° and 46.4°F) in its original container. Do not freeze. Do not use beyond the expiration date.

REFERENCES

  1. Press E, and Hogg N. The amino acid sequences of the Fd Fragments of Two Human gamma-1 heavy chains. Biochem. J. 1970;117:641-660.
  2. Takahashi N, Noma T, and Honjo T. Rearranged immunoglobulin heavy chain variable region (V H ) pseudogene that deletes the second complementarity-determining region. Proc. Nat. Acad. Sci. USA 1984;81:5194-5198.
  3. Bentley D, and Rabbitts T. Human immunoglobulin variable region genes - DNA sequences of two V k genes and a pseudogene. Nature 1980;288:730-733.
  4. Beeler JA and Van Wyke Coelingh K. Neutralization epitopes of the F Protein of Respiratory Syncytial Virus: Effect of mutation upon fusion function. J. Virology 1989;63:2941-2950
  5. Johnson S, Oliver C, Prince GA, et al. Development of a humanized monoclonal antibody (MEDI-493) with potent in vitro and in vivo activity against respiratory syncytial virus. J. Infect. Dis. 1997; 176:1215-1224.
  6. DeVincenzo, JP, Malley R, Ramilo O, et al. Viral Concentraction in Upper and Lower Respiratory Secretions from Respiratory Syncytial Virus (RSV) Infected Children Treated with RSV Monoclonal Antibody (MEDI-493). Pediatric Research 1998; 43: 144A [Abstract 830].
  7. The IMpact RSV Study Group. Palivizumab, a Humanized Respiratory Syncytial Virus Monoclonal Antibody, Reduces Hospitalization From Respiratory Syncytial Virus Infection in High-risk Infants. Pediatrics in press.

® Synagis is a registered trademark of MedImmune Inc.

Manufactured by:

MedImmune, Inc.

Gaithersburg, MD 20878

(1-877-633-4411)

Co-Marketed by:

Ross Products Division

Abbott Laboratories, Inc.

Columbus, Ohio 43215-1724

Rev. date: December 2, 1999                            3AG1103

PRODUCT PHOTO(S):

NOTE: These photos can be used only for identification by shape, color, and imprint. They do not depict actual or relative size.

The product samples shown here have been supplied by the manufacturer and reproduced in full color by PDR as a quick-reference identification aid. While every effort has been made to assure accurate reproduction, please remember that any visual identification should be considered preliminary. In cases of poisoning or suspected overdosage, the drug' identity should be verified by chemical analysis.

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