Krystexxa

Limitations of Use:

KRYSTEXXA is not recommended for the treatment of asymptomatic hyperuricemia.

 Important Administration Instructions

 Recommended Dosage and Administration

The recommended dosage is KRYSTEXXA 8 mg given as an intravenous infusion every two weeks, co-administered with weekly oral methotrexate 15 mg and folic acid or folinic acid supplementation. KRYSTEXXA alone may be used in patients for whom methotrexate is contraindicated or not clinically appropriate.

If co-administering with methotrexate, start weekly methotrexate and folic acid or folinic acid supplementation at least 4 weeks prior to initiating, and throughout treatment with KRYSTEXXA. [see Clinical Studies (14)]. Refer to the Full Prescribing Information for methotrexate.

The optimal treatment duration with KRYSTEXXA has not been established.

 Preparation Instructions

Visually inspect KRYSTEXXA for particulate matter and discoloration before administration, whenever solution and container permit. Do not use vials if either is present.

Use appropriate aseptic technique. Withdraw 1 mL of KRYSTEXXA from the vial into a sterile syringe. Discard any unused portion of product remaining in the vial. Inject into a single 250 mL bag of 0.9% Sodium Chloride Injection, USP or 0.45% Sodium Chloride Injection, USP for intravenous infusion. Do not mix or dilute with other drugs.

Invert the infusion bag containing the dilute KRYSTEXXA solution a number of times to ensure thorough mixing. Do not shake.

KRYSTEXXA diluted in infusion bags is stable for 4 hours at 2ºC to 8ºC (36ºF to 46ºF) and at room temperature (20ºC to 25ºC, 68ºF to 77ºF). However, it is recommended that diluted solutions be stored under refrigeration, not frozen, protected from light, and used within 4 hours of dilution [see How Supplied/Storage and Handling (16)].

Before administration, allow the diluted solution of KRYSTEXXA to reach room temperature. KRYSTEXXA in a vial or in an intravenous infusion fluid should never be subjected to artificial heating (e.g., hot water, microwave).

 Pregnancy

 Lactation

 Pediatric Use

The safety and effectiveness of KRYSTEXXA in pediatric patients less than 18 years of age have not been established.

 Geriatric Use

Of the total number of patients treated with KRYSTEXXA 8 mg every 2 weeks in the controlled studies, 34% (29 of 85) were 65 years of age and older and 12% (10 of 85) were 75 years of age and older. No overall differences in safety or effectiveness were observed between older and younger patients, but greater sensitivity of some older individuals cannot be ruled out. No dose adjustment is needed for patients 65 years of age and older.

 Renal Impairment

No dose adjustment is required for patients with renal impairment. In a 52-week, randomized, double-blind trial which evaluated KRYSTEXXA co-administered with methotrexate compared to KRYSTEXXA alone, 85% of patients had chronic kidney disease based on estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR) of ≥ 40 to < 90 mL/min/1.73m2 at baseline. In the pre-marketing 24-week controlled clinical trials with KRYSTEXXA alone, a total of 32% (27 of 85) of patients treated with KRYSTEXXA 8 mg every 2 weeks had a creatinine clearance of ≤62.5 mL/min. No overall differences in efficacy were observed.

 Anaphylaxis

In a 52-week controlled trial, which evaluated KRYSTEXXA co-administered with methotrexate compared to KRYSTEXXA alone, patients were pre-treated with standardized infusion reaction prophylaxis and were discontinued from treatment with KRYSTEXXA if serum uric acid levels increased to above 6 mg/dL at 2 consecutive visits after the initiation of KRYSTEXXA therapy to reduce the risk of anaphylaxis. One patient randomized to the group treated with KRYSTEXXA co-administered with methotrexate (1%) experienced anaphylaxis during the first infusion and no patients experienced anaphylaxis in the group treated with KRYSTEXXA alone [see Adverse Reactions (6.1), Clinical Studies (14)].

During pre-marketing clinical trials with KRYSTEXXA alone, KRYSTEXXA was not discontinued following 2 consecutive serum uric acid levels above 6 mg/dL. Anaphylaxis was reported with a frequency of 6.5% (8/123) of patients treated with KRYSTEXXA every 2 weeks and 4.8% (6/126) for the every 4-week dosing regimen. There were no cases of anaphylaxis in patients receiving placebo. Anaphylaxis generally occurred within 2 hours after treatment.

Diagnostic criteria of anaphylaxis were skin or mucosal tissue involvement, and, either airway compromise, and/or reduced blood pressure with or without associated symptoms, and a temporal relationship to KRYSTEXXA or placebo injection with no other identifiable cause. Manifestations included wheezing, peri-oral or lingual edema, or hemodynamic instability, with or without rash or urticaria, nausea or vomiting. Cases occurred in patients being pre-treated with one or more doses of an oral antihistamine, an intravenous corticosteroid and/or acetaminophen. This pre-treatment may have blunted or obscured symptoms or signs of anaphylaxis and therefore the reported frequency may be an underestimate.

KRYSTEXXA should be administered in a healthcare setting by healthcare providers prepared to manage anaphylaxis. Patients should be pre-treated with antihistamines and corticosteroids. Anaphylaxis may occur with any infusion, including a first infusion, and generally manifests within 2 hours of the infusion. However, delayed type hypersensitivity reactions have also been reported. Patients should be closely monitored for an appropriate period of time for anaphylaxis after administration of KRYSTEXXA. Patients should be informed of the symptoms and signs of anaphylaxis and instructed to seek immediate medical care should anaphylaxis occur after discharge from the healthcare setting.

The risk of anaphylaxis is higher in patients whose uric acid level increases to above 6 mg/dL, particularly when 2 consecutive levels above 6 mg/dL are observed. Monitor serum uric acid levels prior to infusions and discontinue treatment if levels increase to above 6 mg/dL. Because of the possibility that concomitant use of oral urate-lowering therapy and KRYSTEXXA may potentially blunt the rise of serum uric acid levels, it is recommended that before starting KRYSTEXXA patients discontinue oral urate-lowering medications and not institute therapy with oral urate-lowering agents while taking KRYSTEXXA.

 Infusion Reactions

In a 52-week, controlled trial which evaluated KRYSTEXXA co-administered with methotrexate compared to KRYSTEXXA alone [see Adverse Reactions (6.1), Clinical Studies (14)], patients were pre-treated with standardized infusion reaction prophylaxis and were discontinued from treatment with KRYSTEXXA if serum uric acid levels increased to above 6 mg/dL at 2 consecutive visits after the initiation of KRYSTEXXA therapy to reduce the risk of infusion reactions. Infusion reactions were reported in 4% of patients in the KRYSTEXXA co-administered with methotrexate group compared to 31% of patients treated with KRYSTEXXA alone experienced infusion reactions [see Adverse Reactions (6.1), Clinical Studies (14). In both treatment groups, the majority of infusion reactions occurred at the first or second KRYSTEXXA infusion and during the time of infusion. Manifestations of these infusion reactions were similar to that observed in the pre-marketing trials.

During pre-marketing 24-week controlled clinical trials with KRYSTEXXA alone, KRYSTEXXA was not discontinued following 2 consecutive serum uric acid levels above 6 mg/dL. Infusion reactions were reported in 26% of patients treated with KRYSTEXXA 8 mg every 2 weeks, and 41% of patients treated with KRYSTEXXA 8 mg every 4 weeks, compared to 5% of patients treated with placebo. These infusion reactions occurred in patients being pre-treated with an oral antihistamine, intravenous corticosteroid and/or acetaminophen. This pre-treatment may have blunted or obscured symptoms or signs of infusion reactions and therefore the reported frequency may be an underestimate.

Manifestations of these reactions included urticaria (frequency of 10.6%), dyspnea (frequency of 7.1%), chest discomfort (frequency of 9.5%), chest pain (frequency of 9.5%), erythema (frequency of 9.5%), and pruritus (frequency of 9.5%). These manifestations overlap with the symptoms of anaphylaxis, but in a given patient did not occur together to satisfy the clinical criteria for diagnosing anaphylaxis. Infusion reactions are thought to result from release of various mediators, such as cytokines. Infusion reactions occurred at any time during a course of treatment with approximately 3% occurring with the first infusion, and approximately 91% occurred during the time of infusion.

KRYSTEXXA should be administered in a healthcare setting by healthcare providers prepared to manage infusion reactions. Patients should be pre-treated with antihistamines and corticosteroids. KRYSTEXXA should be infused slowly over no less than 120 minutes. In the event of an infusion reaction, the infusion should be slowed, or stopped and restarted at a slower rate.

The risk of infusion reaction is higher in patients whose uric acid level increases to above 6 mg/dL, particularly when 2 consecutive levels above 6 mg/dL are observed. Monitor serum uric acid levels prior to infusions and discontinue treatment if levels increase to above 6 mg/dL. Because of the possibility that concomitant use of oral urate-lowering therapy and KRYSTEXXA may potentially blunt the rise of serum uric acid levels, it is recommended that before starting KRYSTEXXA patients discontinue oral urate-lowering medications and not institute therapy with oral urate-lowering agents while taking KRYSTEXXA.

 G6PD Deficiency Associated Hemolysis and Methemoglobinemia

Life threatening hemolytic reactions and methemoglobinemia have been reported with KRYSTEXXA in patients with glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase (G6PD) deficiency. Because of the risk of hemolysis and methemoglobinemia, do not administer KRYSTEXXA to patients with G6PD deficiency [see Contraindications (4)]. Screen patients at risk for G6PD deficiency prior to starting KRYSTEXXA. For example, patients of African, Mediterranean (including Southern European and Middle Eastern), and Southern Asian ancestry are at increased risk for G6PD deficiency.

 Gout Flares

In a 52-week, randomized, double-blind trial which evaluated KRYSTEXXA co-administered with methotrexate compared to KRYSTEXXA alone, patients were administered gout flare prophylaxis similar to that in the pre-marketing, placebo-controlled trials. In this trial, the percentages of patients with any flare for the first 3 months were 66% and 69% for the group treated with KRYSTEXXA co-administered with methotrexate and the group treated with KRYSTEXXA alone, respectively. In the group treated with KRYSTEXXA co-administered with methotrexate, the percentages of patients with any flare for the subsequent 3 month increments of treatment were 27% during Month 6, 8% during Month 9 and 9% during Month 12. In the group treated with KRYSTEXXA alone, the percentages of patients with any flare were 14% during Month 6, 9% during Month 9 and 21% during Month 12.

During pre-marketing, 24-week controlled clinical trials with KRYSTEXXA alone, the frequencies of gout flares were high in all treatment groups, but more so with KRYSTEXXA treatment during the first 3 months of treatment, and decreased in the subsequent 3 months of treatment. The percentages of patients with any flare for the first 3 months were 74%, 81%, and 51%, for KRYSTEXXA 8 mg every 2 weeks, KRYSTEXXA 8 mg every 4 weeks, and placebo, respectively. The percentages of patients with any flare for the subsequent 3 months were 41%, 57%, and 67%, for KRYSTEXXA 8 mg every 2 weeks, KRYSTEXXA 8 mg every 4 weeks, and placebo, respectively. Patients received gout flare prophylaxis with colchicine and/or nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) starting at least one week before receiving KRYSTEXXA.

Gout flares may occur after initiation of KRYSTEXXA. An increase in gout flares is frequently observed upon initiation of anti-hyperuricemic therapy, due to changing serum uric acid levels resulting in mobilization of urate from tissue deposits. Gout flare prophylaxis with a non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drug (NSAID) or colchicine is recommended starting at least 1 week before initiation of KRYSTEXXA therapy and lasting at least 6 months, unless medically contraindicated or not tolerated. KRYSTEXXA does not need to be discontinued because of a gout flare. The gout flare should be managed concurrently as appropriate for the individual patient [see Dosage and Administration (2)].

 Congestive Heart Failure

KRYSTEXXA has not been formally studied in patients with congestive heart failure, but some patients in the pre-marketing, 24-week controlled clinical trials experienced exacerbation of congestive heart failure. Two cases of congestive heart failure exacerbation occurred during the trials in patients receiving treatment with KRYSTEXXA 8 mg every 2 weeks. No cases were reported in placebo-treated patients. Four subjects had exacerbations of pre-existing congestive heart failure while receiving KRYSTEXXA 8 mg every 2 weeks during the open-label extension study.

Exercise caution when using KRYSTEXXA in patients who have congestive heart failure and monitor patients closely following infusion.

 Re-treatment with KRYSTEXXA

No controlled trial data are available on the safety and efficacy of re-treatment with KRYSTEXXA after stopping treatment for longer than 4 weeks. Due to the immunogenicity of KRYSTEXXA, patients receiving re-treatment may be at increased risk of anaphylaxis and infusion reactions. Therefore, patients receiving re-treatment after a drug-free interval should be monitored carefully [see Adverse Reactions (6.2)].

 Clinical Trials Experience

Because clinical studies are conducted under widely varying and controlled conditions, adverse reaction rates observed in clinical studies of a drug cannot be directly compared to rates in the clinical studies of another drug, and may not predict the rates observed in a broader patient population in clinical practice.

 Immunogenicity

As with all therapeutic proteins, there is a potential for immunogenicity. The observed incidence of antibody positivity in an assay is highly dependent on several factors including assay sensitivity and specificity and assay methodology, sample handling, timing of sample collection, concomitant medications, and underlying disease. For these reasons, the comparison of the incidence of antibodies to pegloticase with the incidence of antibodies to other products may be misleading.

In a 52-week, randomized, double-blind trial which evaluated KRYSTEXXA co-administered with methotrexate compared to KRYSTEXXA alone, approximately 26% of patients had pre-existing antibodies to pegloticase. Patients with an increase in titer from baseline or who were negative at baseline and developed an anti-pegloticase response at one or more post dose time points was 30% and 51%, for the KRYSTEXXA co-administered with methotrexate and KRYSTEXXA alone treatment groups, respectively. Patients with higher antibody titers were more likely to have faster clearance and lower efficacy.

During pre-marketing 24-week controlled clinical trials with KRYSTEXXA alone, anti-pegloticase antibodies developed in 92% of patients treated with KRYSTEXXA every 2 weeks, and 28% for placebo. Anti-PEG antibodies were also detected in 42% of patients treated with KRYSTEXXA. High anti-pegloticase antibody titer was associated with a failure to maintain pegloticase-induced normalization of uric acid. The impact of anti-PEG antibodies on patients' responses to other PEG-containing therapeutics is unknown.

There was a higher incidence of infusion reactions in patients with high anti-pegloticase antibody titer: 53% (16 of 30) in the KRYSTEXXA every 2 weeks group compared to 6% in patients who had undetectable or low antibody titers.

 Postmarketing Experience

The following adverse reactions have been identified during postapproval use of KRYSTEXXA. Because these reactions are reported voluntarily from a population of uncertain size, it is not always possible to reliably estimate their frequency or establish a causal relationship.

General disorders and administration site conditions: asthenia, malaise, peripheral swelling

 Methotrexate

KRYSTEXXA 8 mg every 2 weeks has been studied in patients with chronic gout refractory to conventional therapy taking concomitant oral methotrexate 15 mg weekly [see Clinical Studies (14)]. Co-administration of methotrexate with KRYSTEXXA may increase pegloticase concentration compared to KRYSTEXXA alone [see Clinical Pharmacology (12.3)].

 PEGylated products

Because anti-pegloticase antibodies appear to bind to the PEG portion of the drug, there may be potential for binding with other PEGylated products. The impact of anti-PEG antibodies on patients' responses to other PEG-containing therapeutics is unknown.

 Mechanism of Action

KRYSTEXXA is a uric acid specific enzyme which is a recombinant uricase and achieves its therapeutic effect by catalyzing the oxidation of uric acid to allantoin, thereby lowering serum uric acid. Allantoin is an inert and water-soluble purine metabolite; it is readily eliminated, primarily by renal excretion.

 Pharmacodynamics

Approximately 24 hours following the first dose of KRYSTEXXA, mean plasma uric acid levels for subjects in the KRYSTEXXA groups were 0.7 mg/dL for the KRYSTEXXA 8 mg every 2 weeks group. In comparison, the mean plasma uric acid level for the placebo group was 8.2 mg/dL.

In a single-dose, dose-ranging trial, following 1-hour intravenous infusions of 0.5, 1, 2, 4, 8 or 12 mg of pegloticase in 24 patients with symptomatic gout (n=4 subjects/dose group), plasma uric acid decreased with increasing pegloticase dose or concentrations. The duration of suppression of plasma uric acid appeared to be positively associated with pegloticase dose. Sustained decrease in plasma uric acid below the solubility concentration of 6 mg/dL for more than 300 hours was observed with doses of 8 mg and 12 mg.

 Pharmacokinetics

Pegloticase levels were determined in serum based on measurements of uricase enzyme activity.

Following single intravenous infusions of 0.5 mg to 12 mg pegloticase in 23 patients with symptomatic gout, maximum serum concentrations of pegloticase increased in proportion to the dose administered.

The population pharmacokinetic analysis showed that age, sex, weight, and creatinine clearance did not influence the pharmacokinetics of pegloticase. Significant covariates impacting pegloticase pharmacokinetics were body surface area and anti-pegloticase antibodies.

 Carcinogenesis, Mutagenesis, Impairment of Fertility

Long-term animal studies have not been performed to evaluate the carcinogenic potential of pegloticase.

The genotoxic potential of pegloticase has not been evaluated.

There was no evidence of impairment on fertility at pegloticase doses up to 40 mg/kg (approximately 50 times the MRHD on mg/m2 basis) every other day in rats.

  Animal Toxicology and/or Pharmacology

Pegloticase at similar to and higher than the maximum recommended human dose (MRHD) on a plasma AUC basis [at intravenous (IV) doses of ≥ 0.4 mg/kg in dogs] caused cytoplasmic vacuoles in multiple organs, and edema and histiocyte infiltration in the aortic outflow tract in dogs. Organs with cytoplasmic vacuoles included the spleen, adrenal gland, liver, heart, duodenum, and jejunum. Vacuoles in the spleen, adrenal glands, and heart persisted after a 1-year recovery period at pegloticase doses (≥ 1.5 mg/kg in dogs) approximately 5 times the MRHD, but were absent at a dose similar to the MRHD. Vacuoles in the liver, duodenum, and jejunum persisted after a 3-month recovery period at a pegloticase dose (10 mg/kg in dogs) approximately 30 times the MRHD, but were absent at doses (≤ 1.5 mg/kg) approximately 5 times and similar to the MRHD. The edema and histiocyte infiltration in the aortic outflow tract was absent after recovery periods of 6 and 12 months, respectively.

Vacuoles in the spleen, liver, duodenum, and jejunum were within macrophages and most likely represented phagocytic removal of pegloticase from the circulation. However, the vacuolated cells in the heart and adrenal gland did not stain as macrophages. In the aortic outflow tract of the heart, vacuoles were in the cytoplasm of endothelial cells in the intimal lining of the aorta. In the adrenal gland, vacuoles were located within cortical cells in the zona reticularis and zona fasciculata. The clinical significance of these findings and the functional consequences are unknown.

Co-administration with Methotrexate

A 52-week, randomized, double-blind trial was conducted in adult patients with chronic gout refractory to conventional therapy, to evaluate administration of KRYSTEXXA 8 mg every 2 weeks co-administered with weekly administration of methotrexate 15 mg, compared to KRYSTEXXA alone: Trial 1 (NCT03994731). In this trial, patients were naïve to KRYSTEXXA therapy. Patients who were able to tolerate two weeks on oral methotrexate 15 mg were then randomized to receive four additional weeks on either methotrexate 15 mg or matching placebo prior to initiating KRYSTEXXA therapy in a 2:1 ratio. Patients were pre-treated with a standardized infusion reaction prophylaxis regimen consisting of an oral fexofenadine, acetaminophen and intravenous methylprednisolone prior to each KRYSTEXXA infusion. Methotrexate or placebo was continued weekly throughout the KRYSTEXXA treatment period with daily oral folic acid in order to evaluate the immunomodulatory effect of methotrexate to attenuate development of anti-drug antibodies.

Entry criteria for patients to be eligible for this trial were: baseline serum uric acid ≥7 mg/dL and inability to maintain serum uric acid <6 mg/dL on other urate-lowering therapy, intolerable side effects associated with current urate-lowering therapy, and/or presence of clinically evident tophaceous deposits.

The primary endpoint was the proportion of Month 6 responders, where a responder was defined as achieving and maintaining serum uric acid less than 6 mg/dL for at least 80% of the time during Month 6. The proportion of Month 12 responders was a key secondary endpoint. A significantly greater proportion of patients receiving KRYSTEXXA co-administered with methotrexate compared to KRYSTEXXA alone achieved both the primary and secondary endpoints (see Table 3).

The effect of KRYSTEXXA co-administered with methotrexate and KRYSTEXXA alone on tophi was assessed using standardized digital photography, image analysis and Central Readers blinded to treatment assignment. Approximately 53.3% (81/152) of randomized patients had tophi at baseline (Week -6) that were confirmed by digital photography. Of those, 54% (28/52) in the KRYSTEXXA co-administered with methotrexate group and 31% (9/29) in the KRYSTEXXA alone group achieved a complete response at Month 12 (defined as 100% resolution of at least one target tophus, no new tophi appear and no single tophus showing progression). The difference between the two treatment groups was statistically significant (22.8%, 95% CI: 1.2%, 44.4%).

KRYSTEXXA Alone

The efficacy of KRYSTEXXA was studied in adult patients with chronic gout refractory to conventional therapy in two replicate, multicenter, randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled studies of six months duration: Trial 2 and Trial 3. Patients were randomized to receive KRYSTEXXA 8 mg every 2 weeks or every 4 weeks or placebo in a 2:2:1 ratio.

Studies were stratified for the presence of tophi. Seventy-one percent (71%) of patients had baseline tophi. All patients were prophylaxed with an oral antihistamine, intravenous corticosteroid and acetaminophen. Patients also received prophylaxis for gout flares with non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) or colchicine, or both, beginning at least one week before KRYSTEXXA treatment unless medically contraindicated or not tolerated. Patients who completed the randomized clinical trials were eligible to enroll in a 2-year open label extension study.

Entry criteria for patients to be eligible for the trials were: baseline serum uric acid of at least 8 mg/dL; had symptomatic gout with at least 3 gout flares in the previous 18 months or at least 1 gout tophus or gouty arthritis; and had a self-reported medical contraindication to allopurinol or medical history of failure to normalize uric acid (to less than 6 mg/dL) with at least 3 months of allopurinol treatment at the maximum medically appropriate dose.

The mean age of study subjects was 55 years (23-89); 82% were male, mean body mass index (BMI) was 33 kg/m2, mean duration of gout was 15 years, and mean baseline serum uric acid was 10 mg/dL.

To assess the efficacy of KRYSTEXXA in lowering uric acid, the primary endpoint in both trials was the proportion of patients who achieved plasma uric acid (PUA) less than 6 mg/dL for at least 80% of the time during Month 3 and Month 6. As shown in Table 4, a greater proportion of patients treated with KRYSTEXXA every 2 weeks achieved urate lowering to below 6 mg/dL than patients receiving placebo. Although the 4 week regimen also demonstrated efficacy for the primary endpoint, this regimen was associated with increased frequency of anaphylaxis and infusion reactions and less efficacy with respect to tophi.

The effect of treatment on tophi was a secondary efficacy endpoint and was assessed using standardized digital photography, image analysis, and a Central Reader blinded to treatment assignment. Approximately 70% of patients had tophi at baseline. A pooled analysis of data from Trial 2 and Trial 3 (NCT00325195) was performed as pre-specified in the protocols. At Month 6, the percentage of patients who achieved a complete response (defined as 100% resolution of at least one target tophus, no new tophi appear and no single tophus showing progression) was 45%, 26%, and 8%, with KRYSTEXXA 8 mg every 2 weeks, KRYSTEXXA 8 mg every 4 weeks, and placebo, respectively. The difference between KRYSTEXXA and placebo was statistically significant for the every 2 week dosing regimen, but not for the every 4 week dosing regimen.

How Supplied

KRYSTEXXA (pegloticase) injection is supplied as a sterile, clear and colorless solution containing 8 mg of uricase protein in 1 mL in phosphate buffered saline intended for intravenous infusion after dilution. KRYSTEXXA is supplied in a single-dose glass vial with a coated (latex-free) rubber injection stopper.

Storage and Handling

Before the preparation for use, KRYSTEXXA must be stored in the carton and maintained at all times under refrigeration between 2°C to 8°C (36°F to 46°F). Protect from light. Do not shake or freeze.

Do not use beyond the expiration date stamped.

NDC# 75987-080-10