Nexlizet
(bempedoic acid / ezetimibe)Dosage & Administration
By using PrescriberAI, you agree to the AI Terms of Use.
Nexlizet Prescribing Information
NEXLIZET, a combination of bempedoic acid and ezetimibe, is indicated:
- As an adjunct to diet, alone or in combination with other low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C) lowering therapies, to reduce LDL-C in adults with primary hyperlipidemia, including heterozygous familial hypercholesterolemia (HeFH).
The bempedoic acid component of NEXLIZET is indicated:
- To reduce the risk of myocardial infarction and coronary revascularization in adults who are unable to take recommended statin therapy (including those not taking a statin) with:
- established cardiovascular disease (CVD), or
- a high risk for a CVD event but without established CVD.
Recommended Dosage and Administration
- The recommended dosage of NEXLIZET is one tablet orally once daily. One tablet of NEXLIZET contains 180 mg of bempedoic acid and 10 mg of ezetimibe.
- Swallow the tablet whole. NEXLIZET can be taken with or without food.
- If a dose is missed, take the missed dose as soon as possible. Do not double the next dose.
- After initiation of NEXLIZET, analyze lipid levels within 8 to 12 weeks.
Coadministration with Bile Acid Sequestrants
Administer NEXLIZET either at least 2 hours before or at least 4 hours after administration of a bile acid sequestrant [see Drug Interactions (7)].
NEXLIZET is available as:
- Tablets: 180 mg/10 mg, blue, oval shaped, debossed with "818" on one side and "ESP" on the other side.
Pregnancy
Risk Summary
Discontinue NEXLIZET when pregnancy is recognized unless the benefits of therapy outweigh the potential risks to the fetus.
There are insufficient data on bempedoic acid use in pregnant women to evaluate for a drug-associated risk of major birth defects, miscarriage, or adverse maternal or fetal outcomes. There are insufficient data on ezetimibe use in pregnant women to evaluate for a drug-associated risk of major birth defects, miscarriage, or adverse maternal or fetal outcomes. In animal reproduction studies, bempedoic acid was not teratogenic in rats and rabbits when administered at doses resulting in exposures up to 11 and 12 times, respectively, the human exposures at the maximum clinical dose, based on AUC. In oral (gavage) embryo-fetal development studies of ezetimibe conducted in rats and rabbits during organogenesis, there was no evidence of maternal toxicity or embryo-fetal teratogenic or toxicologic effects at exposures up to 10 and 150 times the human exposure, respectively, based on AUC (see Data). NEXLIZET decreases cholesterol synthesis and possibly the synthesis of other biologically active substances derived from cholesterol; therefore, NEXLIZET may cause fetal harm when administered to pregnant women 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.
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.
Report pregnancies to the Esperion Therapeutics, Inc. Adverse Event reporting line at 1-833-377-7633.
Data
Animal Data
Bempedoic acid
Bempedoic acid was not teratogenic when given orally at doses of 60 and 80 mg/kg/day, resulting in 11 and 12 times the systemic exposure in humans at the maximum recommended human dose (MRHD) of 180 mg to pregnant rats and rabbits, respectively. In an embryofetal development study in rats, bempedoic acid was given orally to pregnant rats at 10, 30, and 60 mg/kg/day during the period of organogenesis from gestation day 6 to 17. There were increases in the incidence of non-adverse fetal skeletal variations (bent long bones and bent scapula and incomplete ossification) at doses ≥ 10 mg/kg/day (less than the clinical exposure) in the absence of maternal toxicity. At maternally toxic doses, bempedoic acid caused decreases in the numbers of viable fetuses, increases in post-implantation loss, and increased total resorptions at 60 mg/kg/day (11 times MRHD) and reduced fetal body weight at ≥ 30 mg/kg/day (4 times the MRHD). No adverse development effects were observed when bempedoic acid was given to pregnant rabbits during the period of organogenesis (gestation day 6 to 18) at doses up to 80 mg/kg/day (12 times MRHD).
In a pre- and post-natal development study in pregnant rats given oral doses of bempedoic acid at 5, 10, 20, 30 and 60 mg/kg/day throughout pregnancy and lactation (gestation day 6 to lactation day 20), there were adverse effects on delivery in the presence of maternal toxicity, including: increases in stillborn pups, reductions in numbers of live pups, pup survival, pup growth and slight delays in learning and memory at ≥ 10 mg/kg/day (at exposures equivalent to the MRHD).
Ezetimibe
In oral (gavage) embryo-fetal development studies of ezetimibe conducted in rats (gestation days 6-15) and rabbits (gestation days 7-19), there was no evidence of maternal toxicity or embryolethal effects at the doses tested (250, 500, 1,000 mg/kg/day). In rats, increased incidences of common fetal skeletal findings (extra pair of thoracic ribs, unossified cervical vertebral centra, shortened ribs) were observed at 1,000 mg/kg/day (approximately 10 times the human exposure at 10 mg daily based on AUC0-24hr for total ezetimibe). In rabbits treated with ezetimibe, an increased incidence of extra thoracic ribs was observed at 1,000 mg/kg/day (150 times the human exposure at 10 mg daily based on AUC0-24hr for total ezetimibe). The animal-to-human exposure multiple for total ezetimibe at the no-observed effect level was 6 times for rat and 134 times for rabbit.
Fetal exposure to ezetimibe (conjugated and unconjugated) was confirmed in subsequent placental transfer studies conducted using a maternal dose of 1,000 mg/kg/day. The fetal maternal plasma exposure ratio (total ezetimibe) was 1.5 for rats on gestation day 20 and 0.03 for rabbits on gestation day 22.
The effect of ezetimibe on prenatal and postnatal development and maternal function was evaluated in pregnant rats at doses of 100, 300 or 1,000 mg/kg/day from gestation day 6 through lactation day 21. No maternal toxicity or adverse developmental outcomes were observed up to and including the highest dose tested (17 times the human exposure at 10 mg daily based on AUC0-24hr for total ezetimibe).
Multiple-dose studies of ezetimibe given in combination with statins in rats and rabbits during organogenesis resulted in higher ezetimibe and statin exposures. Reproductive findings occurred at lower doses in combination therapy compared to monotherapy.
Bempedoic acid/ezetimibe fixed combination drug product (FCDP)
In a combination embryofetal development study in rats, bempedoic acid and ezetimibe were given orally at 4 and 112-times MRHD (based on AUC) during the period of organogenesis (gestation day 6 to 17) in pregnant rats. Bempedoic acid in combination with ezetimibe did not alter the effects on embryo-fetal development profile of bempedoic acid or ezetimibe.
Lactation
Risk Summary
There is no information regarding the presence of bempedoic acid in human or animal milk, the effects of the drug on the breastfed infant, or the effects of the drug on milk production. There is no information about the presence of ezetimibe in human milk. Ezetimibe is present in rat milk (see Data). When a drug is present in animal milk, it is likely that the drug will be present in human milk. There is no information about the effects of ezetimibe on the breastfed infant or the effects of ezetimibe on milk production.
NEXLIZET decreases cholesterol synthesis and possibly the synthesis of other biologically active substances derived from cholesterol and may cause harm to the breastfed infant. Because of the potential for serious adverse reactions in a breastfed infant, based on the mechanism of action, advise patients that breastfeeding is not recommended during treatment with NEXLIZET [see Use in Specific Populations (8.1), Clinical Pharmacology (12.1)].
Data
Animal Data
Ezetimibe was present in the milk of lactating rats. The pup to maternal plasma ratio for total ezetimibe was 0.5 on lactation day 12.
Pediatric Use
The safety and effectiveness of NEXLIZET have not been established in pediatric patients.
Geriatric Use
Of the 301 patients in the clinical trial of NEXLIZET, 149 (50%) were 65 years of age and older, while 49 (16%) were 75 years of age and over. No overall differences in safety or effectiveness of NEXLIZET have been observed between patients 65 years of age and older and younger adult patients.
Renal Impairment
No dosage adjustment is necessary in patients with mild or moderate renal impairment. There is limited experience with bempedoic acid in patients with severe renal impairment (eGFR < 30mL/min/1.73 m2), and bempedoic acid has not been studied in patients with end-stage renal disease (ESRD) receiving dialysis [see Clinical Pharmacology (12.3)].
Hepatic Impairment
No dosage adjustment is necessary in patients with mild hepatic impairment (Child-Pugh A) [see Clinical Pharmacology (12.3)]. NEXLIZET is not recommended in patients with moderate or severe hepatic impairment (Child-Pugh B or C) due to the unknown effects of the increased exposure to ezetimibe [see Clinical Pharmacology (12.3)].
NEXLIZET is contraindicated in patients with a prior hypersensitivity to ezetimibe or bempedoic acid or any of the excipients in NEXLIZET [see Adverse Reactions (6.2)]. Serious hypersensitivity reactions, such as anaphylaxis, angioedema, rash and urticaria have been reported with ezetimibe or bempedoic acid.
Hyperuricemia
Bempedoic acid, a component of NEXLIZET, inhibits renal tubular OAT2 and may increase blood uric acid levels [see Clinical Pharmacology (12.3)]. In the primary hyperlipidemia trials [see Clinical Studies (14.1)], 26% of bempedoic acid-treated patients with normal baseline uric acid values (versus 9.5% placebo) experienced hyperuricemia one or more times, and 3.5% of patients experienced clinically significant hyperuricemia reported as an adverse reaction (versus 1.1% placebo). Increases in uric acid levels usually occurred within the first 4 weeks of treatment initiation, persisted throughout treatment, and returned to baseline following discontinuation of treatment. After 12 weeks of treatment, the mean placebo-adjusted increase in uric acid compared to baseline was 0.8 mg/dL for patients treated with bempedoic acid. In the cardiovascular outcomes trial [see Clinical Studies (14.2)], 16.4% of bempedoic acid-treated patients experienced clinically significant hyperuricemia reported as an adverse reaction (versus 8.2% placebo).
Elevated blood uric acid may lead to the development of gout. In the primary hyperlipidemia trials, gout was reported in 1.5% of patients treated with bempedoic acid versus 0.4% of patients treated with placebo. In the cardiovascular outcomes trial, gout was reported in 3.2% of patients treated with bempedoic acid and 2.2% treated with placebo.
Advise patients to contact their healthcare provider if symptoms of hyperuricemia occur. Assess serum uric acid when clinically indicated. Monitor patients for signs and symptoms of hyperuricemia, and initiate treatment with urate-lowering drugs as appropriate.
Tendon Rupture
Bempedoic acid, a component of NEXLIZET, is associated with an increased risk of tendon rupture or injury. In the primary hyperlipidemia trials [see Clinical Studies (14.1)], tendon rupture occurred in 0.5% of patients treated with bempedoic acid versus 0% of placebo-treated patients and involved the rotator cuff (the shoulder), biceps tendon, or Achilles tendon. Tendon rupture occurred within weeks to months of starting bempedoic acid. In the cardiovascular outcomes trial [see Clinical Studies (14.2)], tendon rupture events occurred in 1.2% of bempedoic acid-treated patients versus 0.9% of placebo-treated patients. Tendon rupture may occur more frequently in patients over 60 years of age, in those taking corticosteroid or fluoroquinolone drugs, in patients with renal failure, and in patients with previous tendon disorders.
Discontinue NEXLIZET immediately if the patient experiences rupture of a tendon. Consider discontinuing NEXLIZET if the patient experiences joint pain, swelling, or inflammation. Advise patients to rest at the first sign of tendinitis or tendon rupture and to contact their healthcare provider if tendinitis or tendon rupture symptoms occur. Consider alternative therapy in patients with a history of tendon disorders or tendon rupture.