Cimerli
(ranibizumab-eqrn)Dosage & Administration
For ophthalmic intravitreal injection only ( 2.1)
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Cimerli Prescribing Information
CIMERLI is indicated for the treatment of patients with:
Neovascular (Wet) Age-Related Macular Degeneration (AMD)
Macular Edema Following Retinal Vein Occlusion (RVO)
Diabetic Macular Edema (DME)
Diabetic Retinopathy (DR)
Myopic Choroidal Neovascularization (mCNV)
General Dosing Information
FOR OPHTHALMIC INTRAVITREAL INJECTION.
Vials: A 5-micron sterile filter needle (19-gauge × 1-1/2 inch), a 1-mL Luer lock syringe and a 30-gauge × 1/2 inch sterile injection needle are needed but not included.
Neovascular (Wet) Age-Related Macular Degeneration (AMD)
CIMERLI 0.5 mg (0.05 mL of 10 mg/mL solution) is recommended to be administered by intravitreal injection once a month (approximately 28 days).
Although not as effective, patients may be treated with 3 monthly doses followed by less frequent dosing with regular assessment. In the 9 months after three initial monthly doses, less frequent dosing with 4-5 doses on average is expected to maintain visual acuity while monthly dosing may be expected to result in an additional average 1-2 letter gain. Patients should be assessed regularly [see Clinical Studies (14.1)] .
Although not as effective, patients may also be treated with one dose every 3 months after 4 monthly doses. Compared with continued monthly dosing, dosing every 3 months over the next 9 months will lead to an approximate 5-letter (1-line) loss of visual acuity benefit, on average. Patients should be assessed regularly [see Clinical Studies (14.1)] .
Macular Edema Following Retinal Vein Occlusion (RVO)
CIMERLI 0.5 mg (0.05 mL of 10 mg/mL solution) is recommended to be administered by intravitreal injection once a month (approximately 28 days).
In Studies RVO-1 and RVO-2, patients received monthly injections of ranibizumab for 6 months. In spite of being guided by optical coherence tomography and visual acuity re-treatment criteria, patients who were then not treated at Month 6 experienced on average, a loss of visual acuity at Month 7, whereas patients who were treated at Month 6 did not. Patients should be treated monthly [see Clinical Studies (14.2)] .
Diabetic Macular Edema (DME) and Diabetic Retinopathy (DR)
CIMERLI 0.3 mg (0.05 mL of 6 mg/mL solution) is recommended to be administered by intravitreal injection once a month (approximately 28 days).
Myopic Choroidal Neovascularization (mCNV)
CIMERLI 0.5 mg (0.05 mL of 10 mg/mL solution) is recommended to be initially administered by intravitreal injection once a month (approximately 28 days) for up to 3 months. Patients may be retreated if needed [(see Clinical Studies 14.5)] .
Preparation for Administration
Vial:
Using aseptic technique, all of the CIMERLI vial contents are withdrawn through a 5-micron (19-gauge × 1-1/2 inch), sterile filter needle attached to a 1 mL syringe (not included). The filter needle should be discarded after withdrawal of the vial contents and should not be used for intravitreal injection. The filter needle should be replaced with a sterile 30-gauge × 1/2 inch needle for the intravitreal injection.
Use aseptic technique to carry out the following preparation steps:
- Prepare for intravitreal injection with the following medical devices for use in a single eye (not included):
- a 5-micron sterile filter needle (19-gauge × 1-1/2 inch)
- a 1 mL sterile Luer lock syringe (with marking to measure 0.05 mL)
- a sterile injection needle (30-gauge × 1/2-inch)
- Before withdrawal, disinfect the outer part of the rubber stopper of the vial.
- Place a 5-micron filter needle (19-gauge × 1-1/2 inch) onto a 1 mL Luer lock syringe using aseptic technique.
- Push the filter needle into the center of the vial stopper until the needle touches the bottom edge of the vial.
- Withdraw all the liquid from the vial, keeping the vial in an upright position, slightly inclined to ease complete withdrawal.
- Ensure that the plunger rod is drawn sufficiently back when emptying the vial in order to completely empty the filter needle.
- The filter needle should be discarded after withdrawal of the vial contents and must not be used for the intravitreal injection.
- Attach a 30-gauge × 1/2-inch sterile injection needle firmly onto the syringe by screwing it tightly onto the Luer lock. Carefully remove the needle cap by pulling it straight off. Do not wipe the needle at any time.
- Hold the syringe with the needle pointing up. If there are any air bubbles, gently tap the syringe with your finger until the bubbles rise to the top.
- Hold the syringe at eye level, and carefully push the plunger rod until the plunger tip is aligned with the line that marks 0.05 mL on the syringe.
Administration
The intravitreal injection procedure should be carried out under controlled aseptic conditions, which include the use of sterile gloves, a sterile drape, and a sterile eyelid speculum (or equivalent). Adequate anesthesia and a broad-spectrum microbicide should be given prior to the injection.
Prior to and 30 minutes following the intravitreal injection, patients should be monitored for elevation in intraocular pressure using tonometry. Monitoring may also consist of a check for perfusion of the optic nerve head immediately after the injection [see Warnings and Precautions (5.2)] . Patients should also be monitored for and instructed to report any symptoms suggestive of endophthalmitis without delay following the injection [see Warnings and Precautions (5.1)] .
Each vial should only be used for the treatment of a single eye. If the contralateral eye requires treatment, a new vial should be used and the sterile field, syringe, gloves, drapes, eyelid speculum, filter needle, and injection needles should be changed before CIMERLI is administered to the other eye.
No special dosage modification is required for any of the populations that have been studied (e.g., gender, elderly).
Single-dose glass vial designed to provide 0.05 mL for intravitreal injection.
- Colorless to pale yellow 10 mg/mL solution (0.5 mg)
- Colorless to pale yellow 6 mg/mL solution (0.3 mg)
Pregnancy
Risk Summary
There are no adequate and well-controlled studies of ranibizumab products administered in pregnant women.
Administration of ranibizumab to pregnant monkeys throughout the period of organogenesis resulted in a low incidence of skeletal abnormalities at intravitreal doses 13-times the predicted human exposure (based on maximal serum trough levels [C max]) after a single eye treatment at the recommended clinical dose. No skeletal abnormalities were observed at serum trough levels equivalent to the predicted human exposure after a single eye treatment at the recommended clinical dose [see Animal Data] .
Animal reproduction studies are not always predictive of human response, and it is not known whether ranibizumab products can cause fetal harm when administered to a pregnant woman. Based on the anti-VEGF mechanism of action for ranibizumab products [see Clinical Pharmacology (12.1)] , treatment with ranibizumab products may pose a risk to human embryofetal development.
CIMERLI should be given to a pregnant woman only if clearly needed.
Data
Animal Data
An embryo-fetal developmental toxicity study was performed on pregnant cynomolgus monkeys. Pregnant animals received intravitreal injections of ranibizumab every 14 days starting on Day 20 of gestation, until Day 62 at doses of 0, 0.125, and 1 mg/eye. Skeletal abnormalities including incomplete and/or irregular ossification of bones in the skull, vertebral column, and hindlimbs and shortened supernumerary ribs were seen at a low incidence in fetuses from animals treated with 1 mg/eye of ranibizumab. The 1 mg/eye dose resulted in trough serum ranibizumab levels up to 13 times higher than predicted C max levels with single eye treatment in humans. No skeletal abnormalities were seen at the lower dose of 0.125 mg/eye, a dose which resulted in trough exposures equivalent to single eye treatment in humans. No effect on the weight or structure of the placenta, maternal toxicity, or embryotoxicity was observed.
Lactation
Risk Summary
There are no data available on the presence of ranibizumab products in human milk, the effects of ranibizumab products on the breastfed infant or the effects of ranibizumab products on milk production/excretion.
Because many drugs are excreted in human milk, and because the potential for absorption and harm to infant growth and development exists, caution should be exercised when CIMERLI is administered to a nursing woman.
The developmental and health benefits of breastfeeding should be considered along with the mother's clinical need for CIMERLI and any potential adverse effects on the breastfed child from CIMERLI.
Females and Males of Reproductive Potential
Infertility
No studies on the effects of ranibizumab products on fertility have been conducted and it is not known whether ranibizumab products can affect reproduction capacity. Based on the anti-VEGF mechanism of action for ranibizumab products, treatment with ranibizumab products may pose a risk to reproductive capacity.
Pediatric Use
The safety and effectiveness of CIMERLI in pediatric patients have not been established.
Geriatric Use
In the clinical studies, approximately 76% (2449 of 3227) of patients randomized to treatment with ranibizumab were ≥ 65 years of age and approximately 51% (1644 of 3227) were ≥ 75 years of age [see Clinical Studies (14)] . No notable differences in efficacy or safety were seen with increasing age in these studies. Age did not have a significant effect on systemic exposure.
Ocular or Periocular Infections
CIMERLI is contraindicated in patients with ocular or periocular infections.
Hypersensitivity
CIMERLI is contraindicated in patients with known hypersensitivity to ranibizumab products or any of the excipients in CIMERLI. Hypersensitivity reactions may manifest as severe intraocular inflammation.
Endophthalmitis and Retinal Detachments
Intravitreal injections, including those with ranibizumab products, have been associated with endophthalmitis and retinal detachments. Proper aseptic injection technique should always be used when administering CIMERLI. In addition, patients should be monitored following the injection to permit early treatment should an infection occur [see Dosage and Administration (2.6, 2.7) and Patient Counseling Information (17)] .
Increases in Intraocular Pressure
Increases in intraocular pressure have been noted both pre-injection and post-injection (at 60 minutes) while being treated with ranibizumab products. Monitor intraocular pressure prior to and following intravitreal injection with CIMERLI and manage appropriately [see Dosage and Administration (2.7)] .
Thromboembolic Events
Although there was a low rate of arterial thromboembolic events (ATEs) observed in the ranibizumab clinical trials, there is a potential risk of ATEs following intravitreal use of VEGF inhibitors. Arterial thromboembolic events are defined as nonfatal stroke, nonfatal myocardial infarction, or vascular death (including deaths of unknown cause).
Neovascular (Wet) Age-Related Macular Degeneration
The ATE rate in the three controlled neovascular AMD studies (AMD-1, AMD-2, AMD-3) during the first year was 1.9% (17 of 874) in the combined group of patients treated with 0.3 mg or 0.5 mg ranibizumab compared with 1.1% (5 of 441) in patients from the control arms [see Clinical Studies (14.1)] . In the second year of Studies AMD-1 and AMD-2, the ATE rate was 2.6% (19 of 721) in the combined group of ranibizumab-treated patients compared with 2.9% (10 of 344) in patients from the control arms. In Study AMD-4, the ATE rates observed in the 0.5 mg arms during the first and second year were similar to rates observed in Studies AMD-1, AMD-2, and AMD-3.
In a pooled analysis of 2-year controlled studies [AMD-1, AMD-2, and a study of ranibizumab used adjunctively with verteporfin photodynamic therapy (PDT)], the stroke rate (including both ischemic and hemorrhagic stroke) was 2.7% (13 of 484) in patients treated with 0.5 mg ranibizumab compared to 1.1% (5 of 435) in patients in the control arms [odds ratio 2.2 (95% confidence interval (0.8-7.1)].
Macular Edema Following Retinal Vein Occlusion
The ATE rate in the two controlled RVO studies during the first 6 months was 0.8% in both the ranibizumab and control arms of the studies (4 of 525 in the combined group of patients treated with 0.3 mg or 0.5 mg ranibizumab and 2 of 260 in the control arms) [see Clinical Studies (14.2)] . The stroke rate was 0.2% (1 of 525) in the combined group of ranibizumab-treated patients compared to 0.4% (1 of 260) in the control arms.
Diabetic Macular Edema and Diabetic Retinopathy
Safety data are derived from studies D-1 and D-2. All enrolled patients had DME and DR at baseline [see Clinical Studies (14.3, 14.4)] .
In a pooled analysis of Studies D-1 and D-2 [see Clinical Studies (14.3)] , the ATE rate at 2 years was 7.2% (18 of 250) with 0.5 mg ranibizumab, 5.6% (14 of 250) with 0.3 mg ranibizumab, and 5.2% (13 of 250) with control. The stroke rate at 2 years was 3.2% (8 of 250) with 0.5 mg ranibizumab, 1.2% (3 of 250) with 0.3 mg ranibizumab, and 1.6% (4 of 250) with control. At 3 years, the ATE rate was 10.4% (26 of 249) with 0.5 mg ranibizumab and 10.8% (27 of 250) with 0.3 mg ranibizumab; the stroke rate was 4.8% (12 of 249) with 0.5 mg ranibizumab and 2.0% (5 of 250) with 0.3 mg ranibizumab.
Fatal Events in Patients with Diabetic Macular Edema and Diabetic Retinopathy at Baseline
Diabetic Macular Edema and Diabetic Retinopathy
Safety data are derived from studies D-1 and D-2. All enrolled patients had DME and DR at baseline [see Clinical Studies (14.3, 14.4)] .
A pooled analysis of Studies D-1 and D-2 [see Clinical Studies (14.3)] , showed that fatalities in the first 2 years occurred in 4.4% (11 of 250) of patients treated with 0.5 mg ranibizumab, in 2.8% (7 of 250) of patients treated with 0.3 mg ranibizumab, and in 1.2% (3 of 250) of control patients. Over 3 years, fatalities occurred in 6.4% (16 of 249) of patients treated with 0.5 mg ranibizumab and in 4.4% (11 of 250) of patients treated with 0.3 mg ranibizumab. Although the rate of fatal events was low and included causes of death typical of patients with advanced diabetic complications, a potential relationship between these events and intravitreal use of VEGF inhibitors cannot be excluded.
5.5 Retinal Vasculitis with or without Occlusion
Retinal vasculitis with or without occlusion, typically in the presence of preexisting intraocular inflammation or post-treatment with other intravitreal agents, have been reported with the use of ranibizumab products. Discontinue treatment with CIMERLI in patients who develop these events. Patients should be instructed to report any change in vision without delay [see Patient Counseling Information (17)].