Leqvio

     Recommended Dosage

• The recommended dosage of LEQVIO, in combination with statin therapy, is 284 mg administered as a single subcutaneous injection initially, again at 3 months, and then every 6 months.
• If a planned dose is missed by less than 3 months, administer LEQVIO and maintain dosing according to the patient’s original schedule.
• If a planned dose is missed by more than 3 months, restart with a new dosing schedule - administer LEQVIO initially, again at 3 months, and then every 6 months.
• Assess LDL-C when clinically indicated. The LDL-lowering effect of LEQVIO may be measured as early as 30 days after initiation and anytime thereafter without regard to timing of the dose.

     Important Administration Instructions

• LEQVIO should be administered by a healthcare professional.
• Inject LEQVIO subcutaneously into the abdomen, upper arm, or thigh. Do not inject in areas of active skin disease or injury, such as sunburns, skin rashes, inflammation, or skin infections.
• Inspect LEQVIO visually before use. It should appear clear and colorless to pale yellow. Do not use if particulate matter or discoloration is seen.

For more detailed instruction on administration of the prefilled syringe, see Instructions for Use.

     Pregnancy

Risk Summary

Discontinue LEQVIO when pregnancy is recognized. Alternatively, consider the ongoing therapeutic needs of the individual patient. Inclisiran increases LDL-C uptake and lowers LDL-C levels in the circulation, thus decreasing cholesterol and possibly other biologically active substances derived from cholesterol; therefore, LEQVIO may cause fetal harm when administered to pregnant patients based on the mechanism of action [see Clinical Pharmacology (12.1)]. In addition, treatment of hyperlipidemia is not generally necessary during pregnancy. Atherosclerosis is a chronic process and the discontinuation of lipid-lowering drugs during pregnancy should have little impact on the outcome of long-term therapy of primary hyperlipidemia for most patients.

There are no available data on the use of LEQVIO in pregnant patients to evaluate for a drug-associated risk of major birth defects, miscarriage or adverse maternal or fetal outcomes.

In animal reproduction studies, no adverse developmental effects were observed in rats and rabbits with subcutaneous administration of inclisiran during organogenesis at doses up to 5 to 10 times the maximum recommended human dose (MRHD) based on body surface area (BSA) comparison (see Data). No adverse developmental outcomes were observed in offspring of rats administered inclisiran from organogenesis through lactation at 5 times the MRHD based on BSA comparison (see Data).

The estimated background risk of major birth defects and miscarriage for the indicated population is unknown. In the U.S. general population, the estimated background risk of major birth defects and miscarriage in clinically recognized pregnancies is 2%–4% and 15%–20%, respectively.

Data

Animal Data

In embryo-fetal development studies conducted in Sprague-Dawley rats and New Zealand White rabbits, inclisiran was administered by subcutaneous injection at dose levels of 50, 100, and 150 mg/kg once daily during organogenesis (rats: Gestation Days 6 to 17; rabbits: Gestation Days 7 to 19). There was no evidence of embryo-fetal toxicity or teratogenicity at doses up to 5 and 10 times, respectively, the MRHD based on BSA comparison/dose. Inclisiran crosses the placenta and was detected in rat fetal plasma at concentrations that were 65 to 154 times lower than maternal levels.

In a pre- and postnatal development study conducted in Sprague-Dawley rats, inclisiran was administered once daily by subcutaneous injection at levels of 50, 100, and 150 mg/kg from Gestation Day 6 through Lactation Day 20. Inclisiran was well-tolerated in maternal rats, with no evidence of maternal toxicity and no effects on maternal performance. There were no effects on the development of the F1 generation, including survival, growth, physical and reflexological development, behavior, and reproductive performance at doses up to 5 times the MRHD, based on BSA comparison/dose.

     Lactation

Risk Summary

There is no information on the presence of inclisiran in human milk, the effects on the breastfed infant, or the effects on milk production. Inclisiran was present in the milk of lactating rats in all dose groups. When a drug is present in animal milk, it is likely that the drug will be present in human milk (see Data). Oligonucleotide-based products typically have poor oral bioavailability; therefore, it is considered unlikely that low levels of inclisiran present in milk will adversely impact an infant’s development during lactation. The developmental and health benefits of breastfeeding should be considered along with the mother’s clinical need for LEQVIO and any potential adverse effects on the breastfed infant from LEQVIO or from the underlying maternal condition.

Data

In lactating rats, inclisiran was detected in milk at mean maternal plasma:milk ratios that ranged between 0.361 and 1.79. However, there is no evidence of systemic absorption in the suckling rat neonates.

     Pediatric Use

The safety and effectiveness of LEQVIO have not been established in pediatric patients.

     Geriatric Use

Of the 1,833 patients treated with LEQVIO in clinical studies, 981 (54%) patients were 65 years of age and older, while 239 (13%) patients were 75 years of age and older. No overall differences in safety or effectiveness were observed between patients 65 years of age and older and younger adult patients.

     Renal Impairment

No dose adjustments are necessary for patients with mild, moderate, or severe renal impairment [see Clinical Pharmacology (12.3)]. LEQVIO has not been studied in patients with end stage renal disease [see Clinical Pharmacology (12.3)].

     Hepatic Impairment

No dose adjustment is necessary in patients with mild to moderate hepatic impairment. LEQVIO has not been studied in patients with severe hepatic impairment [see Clinical Pharmacology (12.3)].

     Clinical Trials Experience

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.

The data in Table 1 are derived from 3 placebo-controlled trials that included 1,833 patients treated with LEQVIO, including 1,682 exposed for 18 months (median treatment duration of 77 weeks) [see Clinical Studies (14)]. The mean age of the population was 64 years, 32% of the population were women, 92% were White, 6% were Black or African American, 1% were Asian, and < 1% were other races; 6% identified as Hispanic or Latino ethnicity. At baseline, 12% of patients had a diagnosis of HeFH and 85% had clinical atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease (ASCVD).

Adverse reactions reported in at least 3% of LEQVIO-treated patients, and more frequently than in placebo-treated patients, are shown in Table 1.

Adverse reactions led to discontinuation of treatment in 2.5% of patients treated with LEQVIO and 1.9% of patients treated with placebo. The most common adverse reactions leading to treatment discontinuation in patients treated with LEQVIO were injection site reactions (0.2% versus 0% for LEQVIO and placebo, respectively).

     Postmarketing Experience

The following adverse reactions have been identified during post-approval use of LEQVIO. 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 to drug exposure.

Hypersensitivity: angioedema, rash, and urticaria.

     Mechanism of Action

Inclisiran is a double-stranded small interfering ribonucleic acid (siRNA), conjugated on the sense strand with triantennary N-Acetylgalactosamine (GalNAc) to facilitate uptake by hepatocytes. In hepatocytes, inclisiran utilizes the RNA interference mechanism and directs catalytic breakdown of mRNA for PCSK9. This increases LDL-C receptor recycling and expression on the hepatocyte cell surface, which increases LDL-C uptake and lowers LDL-C levels in the circulation.

     Pharmacodynamics

Following a single subcutaneous administration of 284 mg of inclisiran, LDL-C reduction was apparent within 14 days post dose. Mean reductions of 38% to 51% for LDL-C were observed 30 to 180 days post dose. At Day 180, LDL-C levels were still reduced by approximately 53%.

Following a dose at Day 1 and Day 90 of 284 mg of inclisiran, mean serum PCSK9 levels were reduced by approximately 75% and 69% at Day 120, and Day 180, respectively.

In the clinical studies, following four doses of LEQVIO at Day 1, Day 90 (3 months), Day 270 (~6 months) and Day 450 (~12 months), LDL-C, total cholesterol, ApoB, and non-HDL-C were reduced [see Clinical Studies (14)].

Cardiac Electrophysiology

At a dose 3 times the maximum recommended dose, inclisiran does not prolong the QT interval to any clinically relevant extent.

     Pharmacokinetics

Absorption

Following a single subcutaneous administration, systemic exposure to inclisiran increased in a linear and dose proportional manner over a range from 25 mg to 800 mg of inclisiran sodium. At the recommended dosing regimen of 284 mg of LEQVIO, plasma concentrations reached peak in approximately 4 hours post dose with a mean Cmax of 509 ng/mL. Concentrations reached undetectable levels after 24 to 48 hours post dosing. The mean area under the plasma concentration-time curve from dosing extrapolated to infinity was 7,980 ng*h/mL. Pharmacokinetic findings following multiple subcutaneous administrations of LEQVIO were similar to single-dose administration.

Distribution

 Inclisiran is 87% protein bound in vitro at the relevant clinical plasma concentrations. Following a single subcutaneous 284 mg dose of LEQVIO to healthy adults, the apparent volume of distribution is approximately 500 L. Inclisiran has been shown to have high uptake into, and selectively for the liver, the target organ for cholesterol lowering.

Elimination

The terminal elimination half-life of LEQVIO is approximately 9 hours, and no accumulation occurs with multiple dosing. Approximately 16% of LEQVIO is cleared through the kidney.

Metabolism

Inclisiran is primarily metabolized by nucleases to shorter nucleotides of varying length. Inclisiran is not a substrate for CYP450 or transporters.

Specific Populations

Male and Female Patients and Racial or Ethnic Groups

A population pharmacodynamic analysis was conducted on data from 4,328 patients. Age, body weight, gender, race, and creatinine clearance were found not to significantly influence inclisiran pharmacokinetics.

Patients with Renal Impairment

Pharmacokinetic analysis of data from a dedicated renal impairment study reported increases in inclisiran Cmax and AUC of approximately 2.3 to 3.3-fold and 1.6 to 2.3-fold, respectively, in patients with mild, moderate or severe renal impairment, relative to patients with normal renal function. Despite the higher plasma exposures, reductions in LDL-C were similar across all groups based on renal function.

Patients with Hepatic Impairment

Pharmacokinetic analysis of data from a dedicated hepatic impairment study reported increases in inclisiran Cmax and AUC of approximately 1.1- to 2.1-fold and 1.3- to 2.0-fold, respectively, in patients with mild and moderate hepatic impairment, relative to patients with normal hepatic function. Despite the higher plasma inclisiran exposures, reductions in LDL-C were similar between the groups of patients administered inclisiran with normal hepatic function and mild hepatic impairment. In patients with moderate hepatic impairment, baseline PCSK9 levels were lower and reductions in LDL-C were less than those observed in patients with normal hepatic function. LEQVIO has not been studied in patients with severe hepatic impairment.

Drug Interaction Studies

No formal clinical drug interaction studies have been performed. The components of LEQVIO are not substrates, inhibitors or inducers of cytochrome P450 enzymes or transporters. In a population pharmacokinetic analysis, concomitant use of inclisiran did not have a clinically significant impact on atorvastatin or rosuvastatin concentrations. LEQVIO is not expected to cause drug-drug interactions or to be affected by inhibitors or inducers of cytochrome P450 enzymes or transporters.

     Immunogenicity

The observed incidence of anti-drug antibodies is highly dependent on the sensitivity and specificity of the assay. Differences in assay methods preclude meaningful comparisons of the incidence of anti-drug antibodies in the studies described below with the incidence of anti-drug antibodies in other studies, including those of inclisiran.

The immunogenicity of LEQVIO has been evaluated using screening and confirmatory immunoassays for the detection of binding anti-inclisiran antibodies.

Samples from 1,830 patients in the placebo-controlled clinical trials were tested for anti-drug antibodies [see Clinical Studies (14)]. Confirmed positivity was detected in 33 (2%) patients prior to receiving LEQVIO and in 90 (5%) patients during the 18 months of treatment with LEQVIO. Approximately 31 (2%) LEQVIO-treated patients with a negative sample at baseline had a persistent anti-inclisiran antibody response, defined as two confirmed positive samples separated by at least 16 weeks or a single confirmed positive final sample. There was no identified clinically significant effect of anti-inclisiran antibodies on pharmacodynamics, safety, or effectiveness of LEQVIO over the treatment duration of 18 months. However, the long-term consequences of continuing LEQVIO treatment in the presence of anti-inclisiran binding antibodies are unknown.

     Carcinogenesis, Mutagenesis, Impairment of Fertility

In a 2-year carcinogenicity study, Sprague-Dawley rats were administered subcutaneous doses of 40, 95, or 250 mg/kg inclisiran once every 28 days (1, 3, or 8 times the MRHD, based on BSA comparison/dose). Inclisiran was not carcinogenic up to the highest dose tested.

In a 26-week study in RasH2Tg mice, subcutaneous doses of 300, 600, or 1,500 mg/kg once every 28 days were administered. Inclisiran was not carcinogenic up to the highest dose tested.

Inclisiran was not mutagenic or clastogenic in a standard battery of genotoxicity tests, including a bacterial mutagenicity assay, an in vitro chromosome aberration assay using human peripheral lymphocytes, and an in vivo bone marrow micronucleus assay in rats.

Fertility and early embryonic-development studies were conducted in male and female rats. In male rats, inclisiran was administered subcutaneously at dose levels of 10, 50, and 250 mg/kg every 2 weeks for 4 weeks before cohabitation through mating, and until termination between Days 64 and 67. In female rats, inclisiran was administered subcutaneously at dose levels of 10, 50, and 250 mg/kg once every 4 days beginning 14 days prior to cohabitation and through mating, followed by 10, 50, or 150 mg/kg once daily during the gestation period up to Gestation Day 7. There were no adverse effects on fertility up to the highest dose examined, corresponding to 8 times the MRHD, based on BSA comparison/dose.