LANTUS SOLOSTAR (Page 4 of 8)

8.5 Geriatric Use

Of the total number of subjects in controlled clinical studies of patients with type 1 and type 2 diabetes who were treated with LANTUS, 15% (n=316) were ≥65 years of age and 2% (n=42) were ≥75 years of age. No overall differences in safety or effectiveness of LANTUS have been observed between patients 65 years of age and older and younger adult patients.

Nevertheless, caution should be exercised when LANTUS is administered to geriatric patients. In geriatric patients with diabetes, the initial dosing, dosage increments, and maintenance dosage should be conservative to avoid hypoglycemic reactions. Hypoglycemia may be difficult to recognize in geriatric patients.

8.6 Renal Impairment

The effect of kidney impairment on the pharmacokinetics of LANTUS has not been studied. Some studies with human insulin have shown increased circulating levels of insulin in patients with kidney failure. Frequent glucose monitoring and dosage adjustment may be necessary for LANTUS in patients with kidney impairment [see Warnings and Precautions (5.3)].

8.7 Hepatic Impairment

The effect of hepatic impairment on the pharmacokinetics of LANTUS has not been studied. Frequent glucose monitoring and dosage adjustment may be necessary for LANTUS in patients with hepatic impairment [see Warnings and Precautions (5.3)].

10 OVERDOSAGE

Excess insulin administration may cause hypoglycemia and hypokalemia [see Warnings and Precautions (5.3, 5.6)].

Mild episodes of hypoglycemia can usually be treated with oral carbohydrates. Lowering the insulin dosage, and adjustments in meal patterns or exercise may be needed.

More severe episodes of hypoglycemia with coma, seizure, or neurologic impairment may be treated with glucagon for emergency use or concentrated intravenous glucose. After apparent clinical recovery from hypoglycemia, continued observation and additional carbohydrate intake may be necessary to avoid recurrence of hypoglycemia.

Hypokalemia must be corrected appropriately.

11 DESCRIPTION

Insulin glargine is a long-acting human insulin analog produced by recombinant DNA technology utilizing a non-pathogenic laboratory strain of Escherichia coli (K12). Insulin glargine differs from human insulin in that the amino acid asparagine at position A21 is replaced by glycine and two arginines are added to the C-terminus of the B-chain. Insulin glargine has a molecular weight of 6063 Da.

LANTUS (insulin glargine) injection is a sterile, clear and colorless solution for subcutaneous use in a 10 mL multiple-dose vial or a 3 mL single-patient use prefilled pen (LANTUS Solostar).

Prefilled Pen (LANTUS Solostar) and Vial: Each mL contains 100 units of insulin glargine and the inactive ingredients: glycerol 85% (20 mg), m-cresol (2.7 mg), zinc (30 mcg), and Water for Injection, USP. The vial also contains polysorbate 20 (20 mcg). The pH is adjusted by addition of aqueous solutions of hydrochloric acid and sodium hydroxide. LANTUS has a pH of approximately 4.

12 CLINICAL PHARMACOLOGY

12.1 Mechanism of Action

The primary activity of insulin, including insulin glargine, is regulation of glucose metabolism. Insulin and its analogs lower blood glucose by stimulating peripheral glucose uptake, especially by skeletal muscle and fat, and by inhibiting hepatic glucose production. Insulin inhibits lipolysis and proteolysis, and enhances protein synthesis.

12.2 Pharmacodynamics

In clinical studies, the glucose-lowering effect on a molar basis (i.e., when given at the same doses) of intravenous LANTUS is approximately the same as that for human insulin. Figure 1 shows results from a study in patients with type 1 diabetes conducted for a maximum of 24 hours after subcutaneous injection of LANTUS or NPH insulin. The median time between subcutaneous injection and the end of pharmacological effect was 14.5 hours (range: 9.5 to 19.3 hours) for NPH insulin, and 24 hours (range: 10.8 to >24 hours) (24 hours was the end of the observation period) for LANTUS.

* Determined as amount of glucose infused to maintain constant plasma glucose levels
Figure 1: Glucose-Lowering Effect Over 24 Hours in Patients with Type 1 Diabetes
Figure 1
(click image for full-size original)

The duration of action after abdominal, deltoid, or thigh subcutaneous administration of LANTUS was similar. The time course of action of insulins, including LANTUS, may vary between patients and within the same patient.

12.3 Pharmacokinetics

Absorption

After subcutaneous injection of LANTUS in healthy subjects and in patients with diabetes, the insulin serum concentrations indicated a slower, more prolonged absorption and a relatively constant concentration/time profile over 24 hours with no pronounced peak in comparison to NPH insulin.

Elimination

Metabolism

A metabolism study in humans indicates that insulin glargine is partly metabolized at the carboxyl terminus of the B chain in the subcutaneous depot to form two active metabolites with in vitro activity similar to that of human insulin, M1 (21A -Gly-insulin) and M2 (21A -Gly-des-30B -Thr-insulin). Unchanged drug and these degradation products are also present in the circulation.

Specific Populations

Age, Race, Body Mass Index, and Gender

Effect of age, race, body mass index (BMI), and gender on the pharmacokinetics of insulin glargine has not been evaluated. However, in controlled clinical studies in adults (n=3,890) and a controlled clinical study in pediatric patients (n=349), subgroup analyses based on age, race, BMI, and gender did not show differences in safety and efficacy between LANTUS and NPH insulin [see Clinical Studies (14)].

13 NONCLINICAL TOXICOLOGY

13.1 Carcinogenesis, Mutagenesis, Impairment of Fertility

In mice and rats, standard two-year carcinogenicity studies with insulin glargine were performed at doses up to 0.455 mg/kg, which was for the rat approximately 65 times the recommended human subcutaneous starting dosage of 0.2 units/kg/day (0.007 mg/kg/day) on a mg/kg basis. Histiocytomas were found at injection sites in male rats and mice in acid vehicle containing groups and are considered a response to chronic tissue irritation and inflammation in rodents. These tumors were not found in female animals, in saline control, or insulin comparator groups using a different vehicle.

Insulin glargine was not mutagenic in tests for detection of gene mutations in bacteria and mammalian cells (Ames and HGPRT-test) and in tests for detection of chromosomal aberrations (cytogenetics in vitro in V79 cells and in vivo in Chinese hamsters).

In a combined fertility and prenatal and postnatal study in male and female rats at subcutaneous doses up to 0.36 mg/kg/day, which was approximately 50 times the recommended human subcutaneous starting dose of 0.2 units/kg/day (0.007 mg/kg/day) maternal toxicity due to dose-dependent hypoglycemia, including some deaths, was observed. Consequently, a reduction of the rearing rate occurred in the high-dose group only. Similar effects were observed with NPH insulin.

14 CLINICAL STUDIES

14.1 Overview of Clinical Studies

The safety and effectiveness of LANTUS given once-daily at bedtime was compared to that of once-daily and twice-daily NPH insulin in open-label, randomized, active-controlled, parallel studies of 2,327 adult patients and 349 pediatric patients with type 1 diabetes mellitus and 1,563 adult patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus (see Tables 9–11). In general, the reduction in glycated hemoglobin (HbA1c) with LANTUS was similar to that with NPH insulin.

14.2 Clinical Studies in Adult and Pediatric Patients with Type 1 Diabetes

Adult Patients with Type 1 Diabetes

In two clinical studies (Studies A and B), adult patients with type 1 diabetes (Study A, n=585, Study B n=534) were randomized to 28 weeks of basal-bolus treatment with LANTUS or NPH insulin. Regular human insulin was administered before each meal. LANTUS was administered at bedtime. NPH insulin was administered either as once daily at bedtime or in the morning and at bedtime when used twice daily.

In Study A, the average age was 39 years. The majority of patients were White (99%) and 56% were male. The mean BMI was approximately 24.9 kg/m2. The mean duration of diabetes was 16 years.

In Study B, the average age was 39 years. The majority of patients were White (95%) and 51% were male. The mean BMI was approximately 25.8 kg/m2. The mean duration of diabetes was 17 years.

In another clinical study (Study C), patients with type 1 diabetes (n=619) were randomized to 16 weeks of basal-bolus treatment with LANTUS or NPH insulin. Insulin lispro was used before each meal. LANTUS was administered once daily at bedtime and NPH insulin was administered once or twice daily. The average age was 39 years. The majority of patients were White (97%) and 51% were male. The mean BMI was approximately 25.6 kg/m2. The mean duration of diabetes was 19 years.

In these 3 adult studies, LANTUS and NPH insulin had similar effects on HbA1c (Table 9) with a similar overall rate of severe symptomatic hypoglycemia [see Adverse Reactions (6.1)].

Table 9: Type 1 Diabetes Mellitus – Adults
Study A Study B Study C
Treatment duration 28 weeks 28 weeks 16 weeks
Treatment in combination with Regular insulin Regular insulin Insulin lispro
LANTUS NPH LANTUS NPH LANTUS NPH
Number of subjects treated 292 293 264 270 310 309
HbA1c
Baseline HbA1c 8.0 8.0 7.7 7.7 7.6 7.7
Adjusted mean change at study end +0.2 +0.1 -0.2 -0.2 -0.1 -0.1
Treatment Difference (95% CI) +0.1 (0.0; +0.2) +0.1 (-0.1; +0.2) 0.0 (-0.1; +0.1)
Basal insulin dose
Baseline mean 21 23 29 29 28 28
Mean change from baseline -2 0 -4 +2 -5 +1
Total insulin dose
Baseline mean 48 52 50 51 50 50
Mean change from baseline -1 0 0 +4 -3 0
Fasting blood glucose (mg/dL)
Baseline mean 167 166 166 175 175 173
Adj. mean change from baseline -21 -16 -20 -17 -29 -12
Body weight (kg)
Baseline mean 73.2 74.8 75.5 75.0 74.8 75.6
Mean change from baseline 0.1 -0.0 0.7 1.0 0.1 0.5

Pediatric Patients with Type 1 Diabetes

In a randomized, controlled clinical study (Study D), pediatric patients (age range 6 to 15 years) with type 1 diabetes (n=349) were treated for 28 weeks with a basal-bolus insulin regimen where regular human insulin was used before each meal. LANTUS was administered once daily at bedtime and NPH insulin was administered once or twice daily. The average age was 11.7 years. The majority of patients were White (97%) and 52% were male. The mean BMI was approximately 18.9 kg/m2. The mean duration of diabetes was 5 years. Similar effects on HbA1c (Table 10) were observed in both treatment groups [see Adverse Reactions (6.1)].

Table 10: Type 1 Diabetes Mellitus – Pediatric Patients
Study D
Treatment duration 28 weeks
Treatment in combination with Regular insulin
LANTUS + Regular insulin NPH + Regular insulin
Number of subjects treated 174 175
HbA1c
Baseline mean 8.5 8.8
Change from baseline (adjusted mean) +0.3 +0.3
Difference from NPH (adjusted mean) 0.0
(95% CI ) (-0.2; +0.3)
Basal insulin dose
Baseline mean 19 19
Mean change from baseline -1 +2
Total insulin dose
Baseline mean 43 43
Mean change from baseline +2 +3
Fasting blood glucose (mg/dL)
Baseline mean 194 191
Mean change from baseline -23 -12
Body weight (kg)
Baseline mean 45.5 44.6
Mean change from baseline 2.2 2.5

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