Learn more about PAH-associated CTD.
Developed under the direction and sponsorship of Actelion Pharmaceuticals US, Inc.
e-M.D./alert(R) Providing important information to healthcare professionals since 1976
Opsumit. macitentan tablets 10mg. Explore the data in PAH-CTD. WHAT YOU START WITH CAN CHANGE THE OUTCOME Consider OPSUMIT in PAH (WHO Group I, FC II-III).
Dear [First_name_Last_name],
PAH is a well-known complication in some patients with CTD. PAH-CTD is the second most prevalent type of PAH after IPAH.1
SSc is the most common form of CTD associated with PAH, and patients with PAH-SSc have a poorer prognosis than patients with IPAH.1,2
IMPORTANT SAFETY INFORMATION
BOXED WARNING: EMBRYO-FETAL TOXICITY
Do not administer OPSUMIT® (macitentan) to a pregnant female because it may cause fetal harm.
Females of reproductive potential: Exclude pregnancy before the start of treatment, monthly during treatment, and 1 month after stopping treatment. Prevent pregnancy during treatment and for one month after stopping treatment by using acceptable methods of contraception.
For all female patients, OPSUMIT is available only through a restricted program called the OPSUMIT Risk Evaluation and Mitigation Strategy (REMS).
INDICATION
OPSUMIT is an endothelin receptor antagonist (ERA) indicated for the treatment of pulmonary arterial hypertension (PAH, WHO Group I) to reduce the risks of disease progression and hospitalization for PAH.
Effectiveness was established in a long-term study in PAH patients with predominantly WHO Functional Class II-III symptoms treated for an average of 2 years. Patients had idiopathic and heritable PAH (57%), PAH caused by connective tissue disorders (31%), and PAH caused by congenital heart disease with repaired shunts (8%).
Please scroll down for additional Important Safety Information.
In SERAPHIN, one of the largest PAH pivotal trials (N=742), 31% of patients had PAH-CTD.3
SERAPHIN was a large, event-driven, multicenter, long-term (average treatment duration 2 years), randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled, phase 3 trial in patients with PAH (WHO Group I).3-5
OPSUMIT is the only ERA approved to reduce the risks of disease progression* and PAH-related hospitalization as both monotherapy AND in combination with PDE-5is or inhaled prostanoids in PAH (WHO Group I) patients with FC II and III symptoms.3
*
The primary endpoint in the SERAPHIN trial was time to the first occurrence of death or a significant morbidity event, defined as atrial septostomy, lung transplantation, initiation of IV or SC prostanoids, or clinical worsening of PAH (decrease in 6MWD of at least 15%, worsened PAH symptoms, and need for additional PAH treatment).3,4
OPSUMIT is approved in combination with PDE-5is or inhaled prostanoids, but not oral prostanoids.
Consider OPSUMIT in PAH (WHO Group I, FC II-III). Explore the data in PAH-CTD.
LEARN MORE ABOUT OPSUMIT >
IMPORTANT SAFETY INFORMATION (CONTINUED)
CONTRAINDICATIONS
Pregnancy: OPSUMIT may cause fetal harm when administered to a pregnant woman. OPSUMIT is contraindicated in females who are pregnant. If OPSUMIT is used during pregnancy, advise the patient of the potential risk to a fetus.
WARNINGS AND PRECAUTIONS
Embryo-fetal Toxicity and OPSUMIT REMS Program
Due to the risk of embryo-fetal toxicity, OPSUMIT is available for females only through a restricted program called the OPSUMIT REMS Program. For females of reproductive potential, exclude pregnancy prior to initiation of therapy, ensure use of acceptable contraceptive methods, and obtain monthly pregnancy tests.
Notable requirements of the OPSUMIT REMS Program include:
Prescribers must be certified with the program by enrolling and completing training.
All females, regardless of reproductive potential, must enroll in the OPSUMIT REMS Program prior to initiating OPSUMIT. Male patients are not enrolled in the REMS.
Females of reproductive potential must comply with the pregnancy testing and contraception requirements.
Pharmacies must be certified with the program and must only dispense to patients who are authorized to receive OPSUMIT.
Hepatotoxicity
ERAs have caused elevations of aminotransferases, hepatotoxicity, and liver failure. The incidence of elevated aminotransferases in the SERAPHIN study >3 x ULN was 3.4% for OPSUMIT vs 4.5% for placebo, and >8 x ULN was 2.1% vs 0.4%, respectively. Discontinuations for hepatic adverse events were 3.3% for OPSUMIT vs 1.6% for placebo.
Obtain liver enzyme tests prior to initiation of OPSUMIT and repeat during treatment as clinically indicated.
Advise patients to report symptoms suggesting hepatic injury (nausea, vomiting, right upper quadrant pain, fatigue, anorexia, jaundice, dark urine, fever, or itching).
If clinically relevant aminotransferase elevations occur, or if elevations are accompanied by an increase in bilirubin >2 x ULN, or by clinical symptoms of hepatotoxicity, discontinue OPSUMIT. Consider re-initiation of OPSUMIT when hepatic enzyme levels normalize in patients who have not experienced clinical symptoms of hepatotoxicity.
Fluid Retention
Peripheral edema and fluid retention are known consequences of PAH and ERAs. In the pivotal PAH study SERAPHIN, edema was reported in 21.9% of the OPSUMIT group vs 20.5% for placebo.
Patients with underlying left ventricular dysfunction may be at particular risk for developing significant fluid retention after initiation of ERA treatment. In a small study of pulmonary hypertension due to left ventricular dysfunction, more patients in the OPSUMIT group developed significant fluid retention and had more hospitalizations due to worsening heart failure compared to placebo. Postmarketing cases of edema and fluid retention occurring within weeks of starting OPSUMIT, some requiring intervention with a diuretic or hospitalization for decompensated heart failure, have been reported.
Monitor for signs of fluid retention after OPSUMIT initiation. If clinically significant fluid retention develops, evaluate the patient to determine the cause and the possible need to discontinue OPSUMIT.
Hemoglobin Decrease
Decreases in hemoglobin concentration and hematocrit have occurred following administration of other ERAs and in clinical studies with OPSUMIT. These decreases occurred early and stabilized thereafter.
In the SERAPHIN study, OPSUMIT caused a mean decrease in hemoglobin (from baseline to 18 months) of about 1.0 g/dL vs no change in the placebo group. A decrease in hemoglobin to below 10.0 g/dL was reported in 8.7% of the OPSUMIT group vs 3.4% for placebo. Decreases in hemoglobin seldom require transfusion.
Initiation of OPSUMIT is not recommended in patients with severe anemia. Measure hemoglobin prior to initiation of treatment and repeat during treatment as clinically indicated.
Pulmonary Edema with Pulmonary Veno-occlusive Disease (PVOD)
Should signs of pulmonary edema occur, consider the possibility of associated PVOD. If confirmed, discontinue OPSUMIT.
Decreased Sperm Counts
OPSUMIT, like other ERAs, may have an adverse effect on spermatogenesis. Counsel men about potential effects on fertility.
ADVERSE REACTIONS
Most common adverse reactions (more frequent than placebo by ≥3%) were anemia (13% vs 3%), nasopharyngitis/pharyngitis (20% vs 13%), bronchitis (12% vs 6%), headache (14% vs 9%), influenza (6% vs 2%), and urinary tract infection (9% vs 6%).
DRUG INTERACTIONS
Strong inducers of CYP3A4 such as rifampin significantly reduce macitentan exposure. Concomitant use of OPSUMIT with strong CYP3A4 inducers should be avoided.
Strong inhibitors of CYP3A4 like ketoconazole approximately double macitentan exposure. Many HIV drugs like ritonavir are strong inhibitors of CYP3A4. Avoid concomitant use of OPSUMIT with strong CYP3A4 inhibitors. Use other PAH treatment options when strong CYP3A4 inhibitors are needed as part of HIV treatment.
Please click here for full Prescribing Information, including BOXED WARNING.
cp-113979
6MWD=6-minute walk distance; CTD=connective tissue disease; ERA=endothelin receptor antagonist; FC=functional class; IPAH=idiopathic PAH; IV=intravenous; PAH=pulmonary arterial hypertension; PAH-CTD=PAH associated with CTD; PAH-SSc=PAH associated with SSc; PDE-5i=phosphodiesterase type 5 inhibitor; SC=subcutaneous; SERAPHIN=Study with an Endothelin Receptor Antagonist in Pulmonary Arterial Hypertension to Improve CliNical Outcome; SSc=systemic sclerosis; WHO=World Health Organization.
References: 1. Galiè N, Humbert M, Vachièry JL, et al. 2015 ESC/ERS Guidelines for the diagnosis and treatment of pulmonary hypertension. Eur Respir J. 2015;46(4):903-975. 2. Simonneau G, Gatzoulis MA, Adatia I, et al. Updated clinical classification of pulmonary hypertension. J Am Coll Cardiol. 2013;62(25 suppl):D34-D41. 3. OPSUMIT [prescribing information]. South San Francisco, CA: Actelion Pharmaceuticals US, Inc. 4. Pulido T, Adzerikho I, Channick RN, et al; for the SERAPHIN Investigators. Macitentan and morbidity and mortality in pulmonary arterial hypertension. N Engl J Med. 2013;369:809-818 and Suppl 1-21. 5. Center for Drug Evaluation and Research, US Food and Drug Administration. Opsumit (macitentan) NDA 204410. Accessed July 15, 2020. http://www.accessdata.fda.gov/drugsatfda_docs/nda/2013/204410Orig1s000MedR.pdf
JANSSEN PHARMACEUTICAL COMPANIES OF Johnson & Johnson
©2020 Actelion Pharmaceuticals US, Inc.
All rights reserved.  cp-165780v1 1020
Actelion Pharmaceuticals US, Inc.
5000 Shoreline Court, Suite 200
South San Francisco, CA 94080
e-M.D./alert was sent to you by /alert Marketing, Inc.
160 Chubb Avenue, Suite 304
Lyndhurst, NJ 07071
Be sure to add emdalert@emsg.alertmarketingmail.com to your address book.
Click here if you do not wish to receive further e-mails from e-M.D./alert.