Get your patient on Edurant (Rilpivirine Hydrochloride)

Planned Missed Injections for Patients on Monthly Dosing Schedule

If a patient plans to miss a scheduled monthly injection of CABENUVA by more than 7 days, take daily oral therapy for up to 2 months to replace missed injection visits. The recommended oral daily dose is one 25 mg tablet of EDURANT and one 30 mg tablet of VOCABRIA (cabotegravir). Take EDURANT with VOCABRIA (cabotegravir) at approximately the same time each day with a meal. The first dose of oral therapy should be initiated at approximately the same time as the planned missed injection and continued until the day injection dosing is restarted. For oral therapy with EDURANT and VOCABRIA of durations greater than 2 months, an alternative oral regimen is recommended, which may include EDURANT. See full prescribing information for CABENUVA to resume monthly injection dosing.

Planned Missed Injections for Patients on Every-2-Month Dosing Schedule

If a patient plans to miss a scheduled every-2-month injection of CABENUVA by more than 7 days, take daily oral therapy for a duration of up to 2 months to replace 1 missed scheduled every-2-month injection. The recommended oral daily dose is one 25 mg tablet of EDURANT and one 30 mg tablet of VOCABRIA (cabotegravir). Take EDURANT with VOCABRIA (cabotegravir) at approximately the same time each day with a meal. The first dose of oral therapy should be initiated at approximately the same time as the planned missed injection and continued until the day injection dosing is restarted. For oral therapy with EDURANT and VOCABRIA of durations greater than 2 months, an alternative oral regimen is recommended, which may include EDURANT. See full prescribing information for CABENUVA to resume every-2-month injection dosing.

Dosing During Pregnancy and the Postpartum Period

Based on the experience of HIV-1-infected pregnant women who completed a clinical trial through the postpartum period with a rilpivirine-based regimen, no dose adjustments are required for pregnant patients who are already on a stable EDURANT regimen prior to pregnancy and who are virologically suppressed (HIV-1 RNA less than 50 copies per mL) [see Dosage and Administration (2.5) ]. Lower exposures of rilpivirine were observed during pregnancy, therefore viral load should be monitored closely [see Clinical Pharmacology (12.3) ] .

Human Data

Based on prospective reports to the APR of over 550 exposures to rilpivirine during the first trimester of pregnancy resulting in live births, there was no significant difference between the overall risk of birth defects with rilpivirine compared to the background birth defect rate of 2.7% in the U.S. reference population of the MACDP. The prevalence of birth defects in live births was 1.4% (95% CI: 0.6% to 2.8%) and 1.5% (95% CI: 0.3% to 4.3%) following first and second/third trimester exposure, respectively, to rilpivirine-containing regimens.

Rilpivirine in combination with a background regimen was evaluated in a clinical trial of 19 HIV-1 infected pregnant women during the second and third trimesters and postpartum. Each of the women were on a rilpivirine-based regimen at the time of enrollment. Twelve subjects completed the trial through the postpartum period (6–12 weeks after delivery) and pregnancy outcomes are missing for six subjects. The exposure (C _0h and AUC) of total rilpivirine was approximately 30 to 40% lower during pregnancy compared with postpartum (6 to 12 weeks). The protein binding of rilpivirine was similar (>99%) during second trimester, third trimester, and postpartum period. One subject discontinued the trial following spontaneous termination of the pregnancy at 25 weeks gestation due to suspected premature rupture of membranes. Among the 12 subjects who were virologically suppressed at baseline (less than 50 copies/mL), virologic response was preserved in 10 subjects (83.3%) through the third trimester visit and in 9 subjects (75%) through the 6–12 week postpartum visit. Virologic outcomes during the third trimester visit were missing for two subjects who were withdrawn (one subject was nonadherent to the study drug and one subject withdrew consent). Among the 10 infants with HIV test results available, born to 10 HIV-infected pregnant women, all had test results that were negative for HIV-1 at the time of delivery and up to 16 weeks postpartum. All 10 infants received antiretroviral prophylactic treatment with zidovudine. Rilpivirine was well tolerated during pregnancy and postpartum. There were no new safety findings compared with the known safety profile of rilpivirine in HIV–1-infected adults.

Animal Data

Rilpivirine was administered orally to pregnant rats (40, 120, or 400 mg per kg per day) and rabbits (5, 10, or 20 mg per kg per day) through organogenesis (on gestation Days 6 through 17, and 6 through 19, respectively). No significant toxicological effects were observed in embryo-fetal toxicity studies performed with rilpivirine in rats and rabbits at exposures 15 (rats) and 70 (rabbits) times higher than the exposure in humans (≥12 years of age and weighing >32 kg) at the recommended dose of 25 mg once daily. In a pre- and postnatal development study, rilpivirine was administered orally up to 400 mg/kg/day through lactation. No adverse effects were noted in the offspring at maternal exposures up to 63 times the exposure in humans (≥12 years of age and weighing >32 kg) at the recommended dose of 25 mg daily.

Animal Data

Animal lactation studies with rilpivirine have not been conducted. However, rilpivirine was detected in the plasma of nursing pups on lactation day 7 in the rat pre- and postnatal development study.

Common Adverse Reactions

Adverse reactions of at least moderate intensity (≥Grade 2) reported in at least 2% of adult subjects are presented in Table 3. Selected laboratory abnormalities are included in Table 4.

No new adverse reaction terms were identified in adult subjects in the Phase 3 TMC278-C209 and TMC278-C215 trials between 48 weeks and 96 weeks nor in the Phase 2b TMC278-C204 trial through 240 weeks. The incidence of adverse events in the Phase 2b TMC278-C204 trial was similar to the Phase 3 trials through 96 weeks.

Less Common Adverse Reactions

Adverse reactions of at least moderate intensity (≥Grade 2) occurring in less than 2% of antiretroviral treatment-naïve subjects receiving EDURANT are listed below by System Organ Class. Some adverse events have been included because of investigator's assessment of potential causal relationship and were considered serious or have been reported in more than 1 subject treated with EDURANT.

Gastrointestinal Disorders : diarrhea, abdominal discomfort

Hepatobiliary Disorders : cholecystitis, cholelithiasis

Metabolism and Nutrition Disorders : decreased appetite

Nervous System Disorders : somnolence

Psychiatric Disorders : sleep disorders, anxiety

Renal and Urinary Disorders : glomerulonephritis membranous, glomerulonephritis mesangioproliferative, nephrolithiasis

Laboratory Abnormalities in Treatment-Naïve Subjects

The percentage of subjects treated with EDURANT or efavirenz in the Phase 3 trials with selected laboratory abnormalities (Grades 1 to 4), representing worst Grade toxicity are shown in Table 4.

Adrenal Function

In the pooled Phase 3 trials, at Week 96, there was an overall mean change from baseline in basal cortisol of -0.69 (-1.12, 0.27) micrograms/dL in the EDURANT group and of -0.02 (-0.48, 0.44) micrograms/dL in the efavirenz group.

In the EDURANT group, 43/588 (7%) of subjects with a normal 250 micrograms ACTH stimulation test at baseline developed an abnormal 250 micrograms ACTH stimulation test (peak cortisol level <18.1 micrograms/dL) during the trial compared to 18/561 (3%) in the efavirenz group. Of the subjects who developed an abnormal 250 micrograms ACTH stimulation test during the trial, fourteen subjects in the EDURANT group and nine subjects in the efavirenz group had an abnormal 250 micrograms ACTH stimulation test at Week 96. Overall, there were no serious adverse events, deaths, or treatment discontinuations that could clearly be attributed to adrenal insufficiency. The clinical significance of the higher abnormal rate of 250 micrograms ACTH stimulation tests in the EDURANT group is not known.

Serum Creatinine

In the pooled Phase 3 trials, an increase in serum creatinine was observed over the 96 weeks of treatment with EDURANT. Most of this increase occurred within the first four weeks of treatment, with a mean change of 0.1 mg/dL (range: -0.3 mg/dL to 0.6 mg/dL) observed after 96 weeks of treatment. In subjects who entered the trial with mild or moderate renal impairment, the serum creatinine increase observed was similar to that seen in subjects with normal renal function. These changes are not considered to be clinically relevant and no subject discontinued treatment due to increases in serum creatinine. Serum creatinine increases occurred regardless of the background N(t)RTI regimen.

Serum Lipids

Changes from baseline in total cholesterol, LDL-cholesterol, HDL-cholesterol and triglycerides are presented in Table 5. The clinical benefit of these findings has not been demonstrated.

Subjects Co-infected with Hepatitis B and/or Hepatitis C Virus

In subjects co-infected with hepatitis B or C virus receiving EDURANT, the incidence of hepatic enzyme elevation was higher than in subjects receiving EDURANT who were not co-infected. This observation was the same in the efavirenz arm. The pharmacokinetic exposure of rilpivirine in co-infected subjects was comparable to that in subjects without co-infection.

Use in Combination with Cabotegravir

Safety findings from Phase 3/3b trials in adults were similar when EDURANT was administered in combination with VOCABRIA (cabotegravir) or other antiretrovirals. See full prescribing information for VOCABRIA and CABENUVA (cabotegravir extended-release injectable suspension; rilpivirine extended-release injectable suspension) for additional information.

Pediatric Population (≥12 to less than 18 years of age)

Trial TMC278-C213 Cohort 2

Cohort 2 of the single-arm, open-label Phase 2 trial, TMC278-C213 evaluated the safety of the EDURANT and EDURANT PED weight adjusted doses 25, 15 and 12.5 mg once daily in antiretroviral treatment-naïve HIV-1 infected patients (≥6 to <12 years of age and weighing at least 17 kg) [see Clinical Studies (14.4) ] . The median duration of exposure for patients in the Week 48 analysis (including post-Week 48 extension) was 69.5 (range 35 to 218) weeks.

All adverse reactions were Grade 1 or 2. Adverse reactions reported in at least 2 subjects, regardless of grading, in Trial TMC278-C213 Cohort 2 were: decreased appetite (3/18, 17%), vomiting (2/18, 11%), ALT increased (2/18, 11%), AST increased (2/18, 11%), and rash (2/18, 11%). No adverse reactions led to discontinuation.

Trial TMC278HTX2002

The single arm, open-label Phase 2 trial, TMC278HTX2002, evaluated the safety of EDURANT and EDURANT PED weight-adjusted doses 25, 15 and 12.5 mg once daily in virologically suppressed HIV-1 infected patients (≥2 to <12 years of age and weighing at least 16 kg). The median duration of exposure for patients in the Week 48 analysis was 48.4 (range 47 to 52) weeks.

All adverse reactions were Grade 1 or 2. Adverse reactions reported in at least 2 subjects, regardless of grading, in Trial TMC278HTX2002 were: vomiting (4/26, 15%), abdominal pain (3/26, 12%), nausea (2/26, 8%), ALT increased (3/26, 12%), AST increased (2/26, 8%), and decreased appetite (2/26, 8%). No adverse reactions led to discontinuation.

Effects of Food on Oral Absorption

The exposure to rilpivirine was approximately 40% lower when EDURANT was taken in a fasted condition as compared to a normal caloric meal (533 kcal) or high-fat high-caloric meal (928 kcal). When EDURANT was taken with only a protein-rich nutritional drink, exposures were 50% lower than when taken with a meal.

Administration of the EDURANT PED 2.5 mg tablets dispersed in drinking water in fasted conditions or after yogurt consumption resulted in a 31% and 28% lower exposure, respectively, compared to administration in fed conditions (a meal containing 533 kcal) in adults.

Pregnancy and Postpartum

The exposure (C _0h and AUC _24h ) to total rilpivirine after intake of rilpivirine 25 mg once daily as part of an antiretroviral regimen was 30 to 40% lower during pregnancy (similar for the second and third trimester), compared with postpartum (see Table 8 ). However, the exposure during pregnancy was not significantly different from exposures obtained in Phase 3 trials. Based on the exposure-response relationship for rilpivirine, this decrease is not considered clinically relevant in patients who are virollogically suppressed. The protein binding of rilpivirine was similar (>99%) during the second trimester, third trimester, and postpartum.

Pediatric Patients

The pharmacokinetics of rilpivirine in HIV-1 infected pediatric patients 2 to less than 18 years of age and weighing at least 16 kg receiving the recommended weight-based dosing regimen of EDURANT and EDURANT PED were comparable or slightly higher than those obtained in treatment-naïve HIV-1 infected adult patients (see Table 9 and Table 10 ).

Renal Impairment

Pharmacokinetic analysis indicated that rilpivirine exposure was similar in HIV-1 infected subjects with mild renal impairment relative to HIV-1 infected subjects with normal renal function. No dose adjustment is required in patients with mild renal impairment. There is limited or no information regarding the pharmacokinetics of rilpivirine in patients with moderate or severe renal impairment or in patients with end-stage renal disease, and rilpivirine concentrations may be increased due to alteration of drug absorption, distribution, and metabolism secondary to renal dysfunction. The potential impact is not expected to be of clinical relevance for HIV-1-infected subjects with moderate renal impairment, and no dose adjustment is required in these patients. Rilpivirine should be used with caution and with increased monitoring for adverse effects in patients with severe renal impairment or end-stage renal disease. As rilpivirine is highly bound to plasma proteins, it is unlikely that it will be significantly removed by hemodialysis or peritoneal dialysis [see Use in Specific Populations (8.6) ] .

Hepatic Impairment

Rilpivirine is primarily metabolized and eliminated by the liver. In a study comparing 8 subjects with mild hepatic impairment (Child-Pugh score A) to 8 matched controls, and 8 subjects with moderate hepatic impairment (Child-Pugh score B) to 8 matched controls, the multiple dose exposure of rilpivirine was 47% higher in subjects with mild hepatic impairment and 5% higher in subjects with moderate hepatic impairment. EDURANT has not been studied in subjects with severe hepatic impairment (Child-Pugh score C) [see Use in Specific Populations (8.7) ] .

Sex, Race, Hepatitis B and/or Hepatitis C Virus Co-infection

No clinically relevant differences in the pharmacokinetics of rilpivirine have been observed between sex, race and patients with hepatitis B and/or C-virus co-infection.

Drug Interactions

[see Contraindications (4) and Drug Interactions (7) ].

Rilpivirine is primarily metabolized by cytochrome P450 (CYP)3A, and drugs that induce or inhibit CYP3A may thus affect the clearance of rilpivirine. Coadministration of EDURANT or EDURANT PED and drugs that induce CYP3A may result in decreased plasma concentrations of rilpivirine and loss of virologic response and possible resistance. Coadministration of EDURANT and EDURANT PED and drugs that inhibit CYP3A may result in increased plasma concentrations of rilpivirine. Coadministration of EDURANT and EDURANT PED with drugs that increase gastric pH may result in decreased plasma concentrations of rilpivirine and loss of virologic response and possible resistance to rilpivirine and to the class of NNRTIs.

EDURANT and EDURANT PED at the recommended doses are not likely to have a clinically relevant effect on the exposure of medicinal products metabolized by CYP enzymes.

Drug interaction studies were performed with EDURANT and other drugs likely to be coadministered or commonly used as probes for pharmacokinetic interactions. The effects of coadministration of other drugs on the C _max , AUC, and C _min values of rilpivirine are summarized in Table 11 (effect of other drugs on EDURANT). The effect of coadministration of EDURANT on the C _max , AUC, and C _min values of other drugs are summarized in Table 12 (effect of EDURANT on other drugs). [For information regarding clinical recommendations, see Drug Interactions (7) ].

Antiviral Activity in Cell Culture

Rilpivirine exhibited activity against laboratory strains of wild-type HIV-1 in an acutely infected T-cell line with a median EC ₅₀ value for HIV-1 _IIIB of 0.73 nM (0.27 ng/mL). Rilpivirine demonstrated limited activity in cell culture against HIV-2 with a median EC ₅₀ value of 5220 nM (range 2510 to 10830 nM) (920 to 3970 ng/mL).

Rilpivirine demonstrated antiviral activity against a broad panel of HIV-1 group M (subtype A, B, C, D, F, G, H) primary isolates with EC ₅₀ values ranging from 0.07 to 1.01 nM (0.03 to 0.37 ng/mL) and was less active against group O primary isolates with EC ₅₀ values ranging from 2.88 to 8.45 nM (1.06 to 3.10 ng/mL).

The antiviral activity of rilpivirine was not antagonistic when combined with the NNRTIs efavirenz, etravirine or nevirapine; the N(t)RTIs abacavir, didanosine, emtricitabine, lamivudine, stavudine, tenofovir or zidovudine; the PIs amprenavir, atazanavir, darunavir, indinavir, lopinavir, nelfinavir, ritonavir, saquinavir or tipranavir; the fusion inhibitor enfuvirtide; the CCR5 co-receptor antagonist maraviroc, or the integrase strand transfer inhibitor raltegravir.

In Cell Culture

Rilpivirine-resistant strains were selected in cell culture starting from wild-type HIV-1 of different origins and subtypes as well as NNRTI resistant HIV-1. The frequently observed amino acid substitutions that emerged and conferred decreased phenotypic susceptibility to rilpivirine included: L100I, K101E, V106I and A, V108I, E138K and G, Q, R, V179F and I, Y181C and I, V189I, G190E, H221Y, F227C and M230I and L.

In Treatment-Naïve Adult Subjects

In the Week 96 pooled resistance analysis of the Phase 3 trials TMC278-C209 and TMC278-C215, the emergence of resistance was greater among subjects' viruses in the EDURANT arm compared to the efavirenz arm, and was dependent on baseline viral load. In the pooled resistance analysis, 58% (57/98) of the subjects who qualified for resistance analysis (resistance analysis subjects) in the EDURANT arm had virus with genotypic and/or phenotypic resistance to rilpivirine compared to 45% (25/56) of the resistance analysis subjects in the efavirenz arm who had genotypic and/or phenotypic resistance to efavirenz. Moreover, genotypic and/or phenotypic resistance to a background drug (emtricitabine, lamivudine, tenofovir, abacavir or zidovudine) emerged in viruses from 52% (51/98) of the resistance analysis subjects in the rilpivirine arm compared to 23% (13/56) in the efavirenz arm.

Emerging NNRTI substitutions in the rilpivirine resistance analysis of subjects' viruses included V90I, K101E/P/T, E138K/A/Q/G, V179I/L, Y181C/I, V189I, H221Y, F227C/L and M230L, which were associated with a rilpivirine phenotypic fold change range of 2.6 – 621. The E138K substitution emerged most frequently during rilpivirine treatment commonly in combination with the M184I substitution. The emtricitabine and lamivudine resistance-associated substitutions M184I or V and NRTI resistance-associated substitutions (K65R/N, A62V, D67N/G, K70E, Y115F, T215S/T, or K219E/R) emerged more frequently in rilpivirine resistance analysis subjects compared to efavirenz resistance analysis subjects (see Table 13 ).

NNRTI- and NRTI-resistance substitutions emerged less frequently in resistance analysis of viruses from subjects with baseline viral load of ≤100,000 copies/mL compared to viruses from subjects with baseline viral load of >100,000 copies/mL: 26% (14/54) compared to 74% (40/54) of NNRTI-resistance substitutions and 22% (11/50) compared to 78% (39/50) of NRTI-resistance substitutions. This difference was also observed for the individual emtricitabine/lamivudine and tenofovir resistance substitutions: 23% (11/47) compared to 77% (36/47) for M184I/V and 0% (0/8) compared to 100% (8/8) for K65R/N. Additionally, NNRTI- and NRTI-resistance substitutions emerged less frequently in the resistance analysis of viruses from subjects with baseline CD4+ cell counts ≥200 cells/mm ³ compared to viruses from subjects with baseline CD4+ cell counts <200 cells/mm ³ : 37% (20/54) compared to 63% (34/54) of NNRTI-resistance substitutions and 28% (14/50) compared to 72% (36/50) of NRTI-resistance substitutions.

Treatment--Naïve HIV-1-Infected Pediatric Subjects

In trial TMC278-C213 Cohort 1, a single-arm, open-label Phase 2 trial in antiretroviral treatment-naïve HIV-1-infected pediatric subjects ≥12 to less than 18 years [see Clinical Studies (14.3) ] , rilpivirine resistance-associated substitutions were observed in 62.5% (5/8) of subjects with virologic failure and post-baseline genotypic data at 48 weeks with 4 of 5 having ≥2.5-fold decrease in susceptibility to rilpivirine. In addition, 4 of the 5 subjects with rilpivirine resistance substitutions also had at least 1 treatment-emergent resistance substitution to nucleos(t)ide reverse transcriptase inhibitors.

In trial TMC278-C213 Cohort 2, a single-arm, open-label Phase 2 trial in antiretroviral treatment-naïve HIV-1-infected pediatric subjects 6 to less than 12 years of age [see Clinical Studies (14.4) ] , 83% (5/6) of subjects with virologic failure (3 subjects failed ≤48 weeks and 3 subjects failed after 48 weeks) had treatment-emergent rilpivirine resistance-associated substitutions with 4 showing reduced rilpivirine susceptibility. Additionally, 4 of the virologic failures also had treatment-emergent resistance substitutions to nucleos(t)ide reverse transcriptase inhibitors.

The emergent rilpivirine resistance-associated substitutions in pediatric patients are consistent with those seen in adults failing on a rilpivirine-containing regimen (see Table 13 ).

Site-Directed NNRTI Mutant Virus

Cross-resistance has been observed among NNRTIs. The single NNRTI substitutions K101P, Y181I and Y181V conferred 52-fold, 15-fold and 12-fold decreased susceptibility to rilpivirine, respectively. The combination of E138K and M184I showed 6.7-fold reduced susceptibility to rilpivirine compared to 2.8-fold for E138K alone. The K103N substitution did not result in reduced susceptibility to rilpivirine by itself. However, the combination of K103N and L100I resulted in a 7-fold reduced susceptibility to rilpivirine. Combinations of 2 or 3 NNRTI resistance-associated substitutions had decreased susceptibility to rilpivirine (fold change range of 3.7 – 554) in 38% and 66% of mutants analyzed, respectively.

Treatment-Naïve HIV-1-Infected Adult Subjects

Considering all available cell culture and clinical data, any of the following amino acid substitutions, when present at baseline, are likely to decrease the antiviral activity of rilpivirine: K101E, K101P, E138A, E138G, E138K, E138R, E138Q, V179L, Y181C, Y181I, Y181V, Y188L, H221Y, F227C, M230I or M230L.

Cross-resistance to efavirenz, etravirine and/or nevirapine is likely after virologic failure and development of rilpivirine resistance. In the Week 96 pooled analyses of the Phase 3 TMC278-C209 and TMC278-C215 clinical trials, 50 of the 87 (57%) rilpivirine resistance analysis subjects with post-baseline resistance data had virus with decreased susceptibility to rilpivirine (≥2.5-fold change). Of these, 86% (n=43/50) were resistant to efavirenz (≥3.3-fold change), 90% (n=45/50) were resistant to etravirine (≥3.2-fold change) and 62% (n=31/50) were resistant to nevirapine (≥6-fold change). In the efavirenz arm, 3 of the 21 (14%) efavirenz resistance analysis subjects' viruses were resistant to etravirine and rilpivirine, and 95% (n=20/21) were resistant to nevirapine. Virus from subjects experiencing virologic failure on EDURANT developed more NNRTI resistance-associated substitutions conferring more cross-resistance to the NNRTI class and had a higher likelihood of cross-resistance to all NNRTIs in the class compared to virus from subjects who failed on efavirenz.