Venofer

VENOFER- iron sucrose injection, solution
A-S Medication Solutions

1 INDICATIONS AND USAGE

Venofer is indicated for the treatment of iron deficiency anemia (IDA) in patients with chronic kidney disease (CKD).

2 DOSAGE AND ADMINISTRATION

Venofer must only be administered intravenously either by slow injection or by infusion. The dosage of Venofer is expressed in mg of elemental iron. Each mL contains 20 mg of elemental iron.

2.1 Mode of Administration

Administer Venofer only intravenously by slow injection or by infusion. The dosage of Venofer is expressed in mg of elemental iron. Each mL contains 20 mg of elemental iron.

2.2 Adult Patients with Hemodialysis Dependent-Chronic Kidney Disease (HDD-CKD)

Administer Venofer 100 mg undiluted as a slow intravenous injection over 2 to 5 minutes, or as an infusion of 100 mg diluted in a maximum of 100 mL of 0.9% NaCl over a period of at least 15 minutes, per consecutive hemodialysis session [see How Supplied/Storage and Handling (16.2).] Administer Venofer early during the dialysis session (generally within the first hour). The usual total treatment course of Venofer is 1000 mg. Venofer treatment may be repeated if iron deficiency reoccurs.

2.3 Adult Patients with Non-Dialysis Dependent-Chronic Kidney Disease (NDD-CKD)

Administer Venofer 200 mg undiluted as a slow intravenous injection over 2 to 5 minutes or as an infusion of 200 mg in a maximum of 100 mL of 0.9% NaCl over a period of 15 minutes. Administer on 5 different occasions over a 14 day period. There is limited experience with administration of an infusion of 500 mg of Venofer, diluted in a maximum of 250 mL of 0.9% NaCl, over a period of 3.5 to 4 hours on Day 1 and Day 14 [see How Supplied/Storage and Handling (16.2).] Venofer treatment may be repeated if iron deficiency reoccurs.

2.4 Adult Patients with Peritoneal Dialysis Dependent-Chronic Kidney Disease (PDD-CKD)

Administer Venofer in 3 divided doses, given by slow intravenous infusion, within a 28 day period: 2 infusions each of 300 mg over 1.5 hours 14 days apart followed by one 400 mg infusion over 2.5 hours 14 days later. Dilute Venofer in a maximum of 250 mL of 0.9% NaCl [see How Supplied/Storage and Handling (16.2).] Venofer treatment may be repeated if iron deficiency reoccurs.

2.5 Pediatric Patients (2 Years of Age and Older) with HDD-CKD for Iron Maintenance Treatment

For iron maintenance treatment: Administer Venofer at a dose of 0.5 mg/kg, not to exceed 100 mg per dose, every two weeks for 12 weeks given undiluted by slow intravenous injection over 5 minutes or diluted in 0.9% NaCl at a concentration of 1 to 2 mg/mL and administered over 5 to 60 minutes. Do not dilute to concentrations below 1 mg/mL [see How Supplied/Storage and Handling [16.2].) Venofer treatment may be repeated if necessary.
The dosing for iron replacement treatment in pediatric patients with HDD-CKD has not been established.

2.6 Pediatric Patients (2 Years of Age and Older) with NDD-CKD or PDD-CKD who are on Erythropoietin Therapy for Iron Maintenance Treatment

For iron maintenance treatment: Administer Venofer at a dose of 0.5 mg/kg, not to exceed 100 mg per dose, every four weeks for 12 weeks given undiluted by slow intravenous injection over 5 minutes or diluted in 0.9% NaCl at a concentration of 1 to 2 mg/mL and administered over 5 to 60 minutes. Do not dilute to concentrations below 1 mg/mL [see How Supplied/Storage and Handling (16.2).] Venofer treatment may be repeated if necessary. The dosing for iron replacement treatment in pediatric patients with NDD-CKD or PDD-CKD has not been established.

3 DOSAGE FORMS AND STRENGTHS

Injection: 50 mg/2.5 mL, 100 mg/5 mL, or 200 mg/10 mL (20 mg/mL) in single-dose vials. (3)

4 CONTRAINDICATIONS

• Known hypersensitivity to Venofer.

5 WARNINGS AND PRECAUTIONS

5.1 Hypersensitivity Reactions

Serious hypersensitivity reactions, including anaphylactic-type reactions, some of which have been life-threatening and fatal, have been reported in patients receiving Venofer. Patients may present with shock, clinically significant hypotension, loss of consciousness, and/or collapse. If hypersensitivity reactions or signs of intolerance occur during administration, stop Venofer immediately. Monitor patients for signs and symptoms of hypersensitivity during and after Venofer administration for at least 30 minutes and until clinically stable following completion of the infusion. Only administer Venofer when personnel and therapies are immediately available for the treatment of serious hypersensitivity reactions. Most reactions associated with intravenous iron preparations occur within 30 minutes of the completion of the infusion [see Adverse Reactions (6.1 and 6.2)].

5.2 Hypotension

Venofer may cause clinically significant hypotension. Monitor for signs and symptoms of hypotension following each administration of Venofer. Hypotension following administration of Venofer may be related to the rate of administration and/or total dose administered [see Dosage and Administration (2), Warnings and Precautions (5.1), and Adverse Reactions (6.2)].

5.3 Iron Overload

Excessive therapy with parenteral iron can lead to excess storage of iron with the possibility of iatrogenic hemosiderosis. All adult and pediatric patients receiving Venofer require periodic monitoring of hematologic and iron parameters (hemoglobin, hematocrit, serum ferritin and transferrin saturation). Do not administer Venofer to patients with evidence of iron overload. Transferrin saturation (TSAT) values increase rapidly after intravenous administration of iron sucrose; do not perform serum iron measurements for at least 48 hours after intravenous dosing [see Dosage and Administration (2) and Overdosage (10)].

6 ADVERSE REACTIONS

The following clinically significant adverse reactions are described elsewhere in the labeling:

• Hypersensitivity Reactions [see Warnings and Precautions (5.1)]

• Hypotension [see Warnings and Precautions (5.2)]

• Iron Overload [see Warnings and Precautions (5.3)]

6.1 Adverse Reactions in Clinical Trials

Because clinical trials are conducted under widely varying conditions, adverse reaction rates observed in the clinical trials of a drug may not reflect the rates observed in practice.

Adverse Reactions in Adults Patients with CKD

The frequency of adverse reactions associated with the use of Venofer has been documented in six clinical trials involving 231 patients with HDD-CKD, 139 patients with NDD-CKD and 75 patients with PDD-CKD. Adverse reactions reported by ≥ 2% of treated patients in the six clinical trials for which the rate for Venofer exceeds the rate for comparator are listed by indication in Table 1. Patients with HDD-CKD received 100 mg doses at 10 consecutive dialysis sessions until a cumulative dose of 1000 mg was administered. Patients with NDD-CKD received either 5 doses of 200 mg over 2 weeks or 2 doses of 500 mg separated by fourteen days, and patients with PDD-CKD received 2 doses of 300 mg followed by a dose of 400 mg over a period of 4 weeks.

Table 1. Adverse Reactions Reported in ≥ 2% of Study Populations and for which the Rate for Venofer Exceeds the Rate for Comparator

* EPO=Erythropoietin
Body System/Adverse Reactions	HDD-CKD	NDD-CKD		PDD-CKD
	Venofer	Venofer	Oral Iron	Venofer	EPO* Only
	(N=231)	(N=139)	(N=139)	(N=75)	(N=46)
	%	%	%	%	%
Subjects with any adverse reaction	78.8	76.3	73.4	72.0	65.2
Ear and Labyrinth Disorders
Ear Pain	0	2.2	0.7	0	0
Eye Disorders
Conjunctivitis	0.4	0	0	2.7	0
Gastrointestinal Disorders
Abdominal pain	3.5	1.4	2.9	4.0	6.5
Diarrhea	5.2	7.2	10.1	8.0	4.3
Dysgeusia	0.9	7.9	0	0	0
Nausea	14.7	8.6	12.2	5.3	4.3
Vomiting	9.1	5.0	8.6	8.0	2.2
General Disorders and
Administration Site Conditions
Asthenia	2.2	0.7	2.2	2.7	0
Chest pain	6.1	1.4	0	2.7	0
Feeling abnormal	3.0	0	0	0	0
Infusion site pain or burning	0	5.8	0	0	0
Injection site extravasation	0	2.2	0	0	0
Peripheral edema	2.6	7.2	5.0	5.3	10.9
Pyrexia	3.0	0.7	0.7	1.3	0
Infections and Infestations
Nasopharyngitis, Sinusitis, Upper respiratory tract infections, Pharyngitis	2.6	2.2	4.3	16.0	4.3
Injury, Poisoning and Procedural
Complications
Graft complication	9.5	1.4	0	0	0
Metabolism and Nutrition Disorders
Fluid overload	3.0	1.4	0.7	1.3	0
Gout	0	2.9	1.4	0	0
Hyperglycemia	0	2.9	0	0	2.2
Hypoglycemia	0.4	0.7	0.7	4.0	0
Musculoskeletal and Connective
Tissue Disorders
Arthralgia	3.5	1.4	2.2	4.0	4.3
Back pain	2.2	2.2	3.6	1.3	4.3
Muscle cramp	29.4	0.7	0.7	2.7	0
Myalgia	0	3.6	0	1.3	0
Pain in extremity	5.6	4.3	0	2.7	6.5
Nervous System Disorders
Dizziness	6.5	6.5	1.4	1.3	4.3
Headache	12.6	2.9	0.7	4.0	0
Respiratory, Thoracic and
Mediastinal Disorders
Cough	3.0	2.2	0.7	1.3	0
Dyspnea	3.5	5.8	1.4	1.3	2.2
Nasal congestion	0	1.4	2.2	1.3	0
Skin and Subcutaneous
Tissue Disorders
Pruritus	3.9	2.2	4.3	2.7	0
Vascular Disorders
Hypertension	6.5	6.5	4.3	8.0	6.5
Hypotension	39.4	2.2	0.7	2.7	2.2

One hundred thirty (11%) of the 1,151 patients evaluated in the 4 U.S. trials in HDD-CKD patients (studies A, B and the two post marketing studies) had prior other intravenous iron therapy and were reported to be intolerant (defined as precluding further use of that iron product). When these patients were treated with Venofer there were no occurrences of adverse reactions that precluded further use of Venofer [see Warning and Precautions (5)].