Taclonex

Taclonex^® (calcipotriene and betamethasone dipropionate) Ointment is indicated for the topical treatment of psoriasis vulgaris in adults 18 years of age and older for up to 4 weeks.

• Taclonex^® Ointment should not be applied to the face, axillae or groin.
• Taclonex^® Ointment should not be used if there is skin atrophy at the treatment site.
  

Apply an adequate layer of Taclonex^® Ointment to the affected area(s) once daily for up to 4 weeks. The maximum weekly dose should not exceed 100 g. Treatment of more than 30% body surface area is not recommended. Taclonex^® Ointment should be rubbed in gently and completely. Patients should wash their hands after applying Taclonex^® Ointment.

Taclonex^® Ointment is not for oral, ophthalmic, or intravaginal use.

Hypercalcemia and hypercalciuria have been reported with use of Taclonex^®. If hypercalcemia or hypercalciuria develop, treatment should be discontinued until parameters of calcium metabolism have normalized. In the trials that included assessment of the effects of Taclonex^® Ointment on calcium metabolism, such testing was done after 4 weeks of treatment. The effects of Taclonex^® Ointment on calcium metabolism following treatment durations of longer than 4 weeks have not been evaluated.

Systemic absorption of topical corticosteroids can produce reversible hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) axis suppression with the potential for clinical glucocorticosteroid insufficiency. This may occur during treatment or upon withdrawal of the topical corticosteroid.

HPA axis suppression has been observed with Taclonex^® Ointment [see Clinical Pharmacology (12.2) ]. The effects of Taclonex^® Ointment on the HPA axis following treatment durations of longer than 4 weeks have not been adequately studied.

In a study of 32 subjects concomitantly treated with Taclonex^® Scalp Topical Suspension on the scalp and Taclonex^® Ointment on the body, adrenal suppression was identified in 5 of 32 subjects (15.6%) after 4 weeks of treatment [see CLINICAL PHARMACOLOGY Pharmacodynamics (12.2) ].

Because of the potential for systemic absorption, use of topical corticosteroids may require that patients be periodically evaluated for HPA axis suppression. Factors that predispose a patient using a topical corticosteroid to HPA axis suppression include the use of more potent steroids, use over large surface areas, use over prolonged periods, use under occlusion, use on an altered skin barrier, and use in patients with liver failure.

An ACTH stimulation test may be helpful in evaluating patients for HPA axis suppression. If HPA axis suppression is documented, an attempt should be made to gradually withdraw the drug, to reduce the frequency of application, or to substitute a less potent steroid. Manifestations of adrenal insufficiency may require supplemental systemic corticosteroids. Recovery of HPA axis function is generally prompt and complete upon discontinuation of topical corticosteroids.

Cushing's syndrome, hyperglycemia, and unmasking of latent diabetes mellitus can also result from systemic absorption of topical corticosteroids.

Use of more than one corticosteroid-containing product at the same time may increase the total systemic corticosteroid exposure.

Pediatric patients may be more susceptible to systemic toxicity from use of topical corticosteroids [see Use in Specific Populations (8.4) ].

Local adverse reactions may be more likely to occur with occlusive use, prolonged use or use of higher potency corticosteroids. Reactions may include atrophy, striae, telangiectasias, burning, itching, irritation, dryness, folliculitis, acneiform eruptions, hypopigmentation, perioral dermatitis, allergic contact dermatitis, secondary infection, and miliaria. Some local adverse reactions may be irreversible.

Allergic contact dermatitis to any component of topical corticosteroids is usually diagnosed by a failure to heal rather than a clinical exacerbation. Clinical diagnosis of allergic contact dermatitis can be confirmed by patch testing.

Allergic contact dermatitis has been observed with use of topical calcipotriene. Clinical diagnosis of allergic contact dermatitis can be confirmed by patch testing.

Concomitant skin infections should be treated with an appropriate antimicrobial agent. If the infection persists, Taclonex^® Ointment should be discontinued until the infection has been adequately treated.

If irritation develops, treatment with Taclonex^® Ointment should be discontinued and appropriate therapy instituted.

The safety and efficacy of Taclonex^® Ointment in patients with known or suspected disorders of calcium metabolism have not been evaluated.

The safety and efficacy of Taclonex^® Ointment in patients with erythrodermic, exfoliative, or pustular psoriasis have not been evaluated.

The safety and efficacy of Taclonex^® Ointment in patients with severe renal insufficiency or severe hepatic disorders have not been evaluated.

Patients who apply Taclonex^® Ointment to exposed skin should avoid excessive exposure to either natural or artificial sunlight, including tanning booths, sun lamps, etc. Physicians may wish to limit or avoid use of phototherapy in patients who use Taclonex^® Ointment.

The data described below reflect exposure to Taclonex^® Ointment in 2448 subjects, including 1992 exposed for 4 weeks, and 289 exposed for 8 weeks. Taclonex^® Ointment was studied primarily in placebo- and active-controlled trials (N = 1176, and N = 1272, respectively). The population was 15-97 years old, 61% males and 39% females, mostly white (97%) and had a baseline disease severity ranging from mild to very severe. Most subjects received once daily application, and the median weekly dose was 24.5 g.

The percentage of subjects reporting at least one adverse event was 27.1% in the Taclonex^® Ointment group, 33.0% in the calcipotriene group, 28.3% in the betamethasone group, and 33.4% in the vehicle group.

Table 1

Adverse Events Reported by ≥1% of Subjects by Preferred Term

The following adverse reactions associated with the use of Taclonex^® Ointment have been identified post-approval: pustular psoriasis and rebound effect.

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.

Teratogenic Effects: Pregnancy Category C

There are no adequate and well-controlled studies in pregnant women. Pregnant women were excluded from the clinical studies conducted with Taclonex^® Ointment. Taclonex^® Ointment should be used during pregnancy only if the potential benefit to the patient justifies the potential risk to the fetus. Animal reproduction studies have not been conducted with Taclonex^® Ointment. Taclonex^® Ointment contains calcipotriene that has been shown to be fetotoxic and betamethasone dipropionate that has been shown to be teratogenic in animals when given systemically.

Teratogenicity studies with calcipotriene were performed by the oral route in rats and rabbits. In rabbits, increased maternal and fetal toxicity were noted at a dosage of 12 mcg/kg/day (144 mcg/m²/day); a dosage of 36 mcg/kg/day (432 mcg/m²/day) resulted in a significant increase in the incidence of incomplete ossification of the pubic bones and forelimb phalanges of fetuses. In a rat study, a dosage of 54 mcg/kg/day (324 mcg/m²/day) resulted in a significantly increased incidence of skeletal abnormalities (enlarged fontanelles and extra ribs). The enlarged fontanelles are most likely due to the effect of calcipotriene upon calcium metabolism. The estimated maternal and fetal no-adverse effect levels (NOAEL) in the rat (108 mcg/m²/day) and rabbit (48 mcg/m²/day) derived from oral studies are lower than the estimated maximum topical dose of calcipotriene in man (460 mcg/m²/day).

Systemically administered corticosteroids appear in human milk and could suppress growth, interfere with endogenous corticosteroid production, or cause other untoward effects.

It is not known whether topically administered calcipotriene or corticosteroids could result in sufficient systemic absorption to produce detectable quantities in human milk.

Because many drugs are excreted in human milk, caution should be exercised when Taclonex^® Ointment is administered to a nursing woman.

Safety and effectiveness of the use of Taclonex^® Ointment in pediatric patients have not been studied. Because of a higher ratio of skin surface area to body mass, children under the age of 12 years may be at particular risk of systemic adverse effects when they are treated with topical medication [see Warnings and Precautions (5.2) ].

HPA axis suppression, Cushing's syndrome, linear growth retardation, delayed weight gain, and intracranial hypertension have been reported in children receiving topical corticosteroids. Manifestations of adrenal suppression in children include low plasma cortisol levels and absence of response to ACTH stimulation. Manifestations of intracranial hypertension include bulging fontanelles, headaches, and bilateral papilledema.

Of the total number of subjects in the clinical studies of Taclonex^® Ointment, approximately 14% were 65 years and older and approximately 3% were 75 years and over.

No overall differences in safety or effectiveness of Taclonex^® Ointment were observed between these subjects and younger subjects. All other reported clinical experience has not identified any differences in response between elderly and younger patients.

Taclonex^® Ointment combines the pharmacological effects of calcipotriene hydrate as a synthetic vitamin D₃ analogue and betamethasone dipropionate as a synthetic corticosteroid. However, while their pharmacologic and clinical effects are known, the exact mechanisms of their actions in psoriasis vulgaris are unknown.

Vasoconstriction:

In a vasoconstrictor study, the skin blanching response of Taclonex^® Ointment was consistent with that of a potent corticosteroid.

Hypothalamic-Pituitary-Adrenal (HPA) Axis Suppression:

Taclonex^® Ointment was applied once daily for 4 weeks to adult subjects (N = 12) with psoriasis vulgaris to study its effects on the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) axis. Of eleven subjects tested, none demonstrated adrenal suppression as indicated by a 30-minute post-stimulation cortisol level ≤ 18 mcg/dL.

However in another clinical study of Taclonex^® Ointment, one subject (N = 19) demonstrated adrenal suppression.

HPA axis suppression was evaluated in adult subjects (N=32) with extenisve psoriasis involving at least 30% of the scalp and, in total, 15-30% of the body surface area. Treatment consited of once daily application of Talconex Scalp^® Topical Suspension on the scalp in combination with Taclonex^® Ointment on the body. Adrenal suppression as indicated by a 30-minutes post-stimulation cortisol level less than or equal to 18 mcg/dL was observed in 5 of 32 subjects (15.6%) after 4 weeks of treatment as per the recommended duration of use (see Dosage and Administration (2.1) .

Effects on Calcium Metabolism

In the combination use study described above, the effects of once daily application of Taclonex^® Ointment on the body in combination with Taclonex Scalp^® Topical Suspension on the scalp on calcium metabolism were also examined. Elevated urinary calcium levels outside the normal range were observed in 1 of 35 subjects (2.9%) after 4 weeks of treatment.

Absorption

The systemic effect of Taclonex^® Ointment in extensive psoriasis was investigated in the study described above. In this study, the serum levels of calcipotriene and betamethasone dipropionate and their major metabolites were measured after 4 weeks (maximum recommended duration of treatment) and also after 8 weeks of once daily application of Taclonex^® Ointment on the body in combination with Taclonex Scalp^® Topical Suspension on the scalp. Both calcipotriene and betamethasone dipropionate were below the lower limit of quantification in all serum samples of the 34 subjects evaluated. However, one major metabolite of calcipotriene (MC1080) was quantifiable in 10 of 34 (29.4%) subjects at week 4 and in five of 12 (41.7%) subjects at week 8. The major metabolite of betamethasone dipropionate, betamethasone 17-propionate (B17P) was also quantifiable in 19 of 34 (55.9%) subjects at week 4 and seven of 12 (58.3%) subjects at week 8. The serum concentrations for MC1080 ranged from 20-75 pg/mL. The clinical significance of this finding is unknown.

Metabolism

Calcipotriene:
Calcipotriene metabolism following systemic uptake is rapid and occurs in the liver. The primary metabolites of calcipotriene are less potent than the parent compound.

Calcipotriene is metabolized to MC1046 (the alpha,beta-unsaturated ketone analogue of calcipotriene), which is metabolized further to MC1080 (a saturated ketone analogue). MC1080 is the major metabolite in plasma. MC1080 is slowly metabolized to calcitroic acid.

Betamethasone dipropionate:
Betamethasone dipropionate is metabolized to betamethasone 17-propionate and betamethasone, including the 6beta-hydroxy derivatives of those compounds by hydrolysis. Betamethasone 17-propionate (B17P) is the primary metabolite.

When calcipotriene was applied topically to mice for up to 24 months at dosages of 3, 10 and 30 mcg/kg/day (corresponding to 9, 30 and 90 mcg/m²/day), no significant changes in tumor incidence were observed when compared to control.

In a study in which albino hairless mice were exposed to both ultra-violet radiation (UVR) and topically applied calcipotriene, a reduction in the time required for UVR to induce the formation of skin tumors was observed (statistically significant in males only), suggesting that calcipotriene may enhance the effect of UVR to induce skin tumors.

Long-term animal studies have not been performed to evaluate the carcinogenic potential of betamethasone dipropionate.

Calcipotriene did not elicit any genotoxic effects in the Ames mutagenicity assay, the mouse lymphoma TK locus assay, the human lymphocyte chromosome aberration test, or the mouse micronucleus test.

Betamethasone dipropionate did not elicit any genotoxic effects in the Ames mutagenicity assay, the mouse lymphoma TK locus assay, or in the rat micronucleus test.

Studies in rats with oral doses of up to 54 mcg/kg/day (324 mcg/m²/day) of calcipotriene indicated no impairment of fertility or general reproductive performance.

Studies in male rats at oral doses of up to 200 mcg/kg/day (1200 mcg/m²/day), and in female rats at oral doses of up to 1000 mcg/kg/day (6000 mcg/m²/day), of betamethasone dipropionate indicated no impairment of fertility.

In an international, multi-center, double-blind, vehicle- and active-controlled, parallel-group study, 1603 subjects with mild to very severe psoriasis vulgaris on trunk and limbs were treated once daily for 4 weeks. Subjects were randomized to one of four treatment arms: Taclonex^® Ointment, calcipotriene hydrate 50 mcg/g in the same vehicle, betamethasone dipropionate 0.64 mg/g in the same vehicle, and vehicle alone. The mean age of the subjects was 48.4 years and 60.5% were male. Most subjects had disease of moderate severity at baseline.

Efficacy was assessed as the proportion of subjects with absent or very mild disease according to the Investigator's Global Assessment of Disease Severity at end of treatment (4 weeks). "Absent" disease was defined as no evidence of redness, thickness, or scaling. "Very mild disease" was defined as controlled disease, but not entirely cleared: lesions with some discoloration with absolutely minimal thickness, i.e. the edges to the lesions(s) could just be felt. Table 3 contains the response rates for this trial.

Table 3

Percentage of Subjects with Absent or Very Mild Disease According to the Investigator's Global Assessment of Disease Severity at End of Treatment (4 weeks).*

Taclonex^® Ointment is available in collapsible tubes of:

60 gram      (NDC 54868-5680-0)

Store Taclonex^® Ointment between 20 - 25° C (68 - 77° F); excursions permitted between 15 - 30° C (59 - 86° F).

Keep out of reach of children.

This medication is to be used as directed by the physician. It is for external use only. Avoid contact with the face or eyes. As with any topical medication, patients should wash hands after application. This medication should not be used for any disorder other than that for which it has been prescribed. The treated skin area should not be bandaged or otherwise covered as to be occlusive, unless directed by the physician.

Patients should report any signs of adverse reactions to their physician.

Other products containing calcipotriene or a corticosteroid should not be used with Taclonex^® Ointment without first talking to the physician.

Patients who apply Taclonex^® Ointment to exposed portions of the body should avoid excessive exposure to either natural or artificial sunlight (including tanning booths, sun lamps, etc.). Physicians may wish to limit or avoid use of phototherapy in patients who use Taclonex^® Ointment.

Additional barcode labeling by:
Physicians Total Care, Inc.
Tulsa, Oklahoma       74146