Pediatric Patients Younger than 4 Months of Age
Treatment of Candidemia, Acute Disseminated Candidiasis, Candida Peritonitis and Abscesses Without Meningoencephalitis and/or Ocular Dissemination in Pediatric Patients Younger Than 4 Months of Age
The safety and effectiveness of micafungin for the treatment of candidemia, acute disseminated candidiasis, Candida peritonitis and abscesses without meningoencephalitis and/or ocular dissemination at a dosage of 4 mg/kg once daily have been established in pediatric patients younger than 4 months of age. This use and dosage of micafungin are supported by evidence from adequate and well-controlled studies in adult and pediatric patients 4 months of age and older with additional pharmacokinetic and safety data in pediatric patients younger than 4 months of age [see Adverse Reactions (6.1) and Clinical Pharmacology (12.3)].
Treatment of Candidemia, Acute Disseminated Candidiasis, Candida Peritonitis and Abscesses With Meningoencephalitis and/or Ocular Dissemination in Pediatric Patients Younger Than 4 Months of Age
The safety and effectiveness of micafungin have not been established for the treatment of candidemia with meningoencephalitis and/or ocular dissemination in pediatric patients younger than 4 months of age.
In a rabbit model of hematogenous Candida meningoencephalitis (HCME) with Candida albicans (minimum inhibitory concentration of 0.125 mcg/mL), a decrease in mean fungal burden in central nervous system (CNS) compartment assessed as the average of combined fungal burden in the cerebrum, cerebellum, and spinal cord relative to untreated controls, was observed with increasing micafungin dosages administered once daily for 7 days. Data from the rabbit model suggest that a micafungin dose regimen of 4 mg/kg once daily is inadequate to treat meningoencephalitis and that a dose regimen of approximately 10 to 25 mg/kg once daily may be necessary to lower fungal burden in the CNS in pediatric patients younger than 4 months of age [see Microbiology (12.4)]. In this rabbit model, micafungin concentrations could not be reliably detected in cerebrospinal fluid (CSF). Due to limitations of the study design, the clinical significance of a decreased CNS fungal burden in the rabbit HCME model is uncertain.
A randomized controlled trial evaluated a micafungin dose regimen of 10 mg/kg once daily in pediatric patients younger than 4 months of age with suspected or proven Candida meningoencephalitis. Fungal-free survival at 1 week after end of therapy was observed in 60% of micafungin-treated vs. 70% of amphotericin B-treated patients, and all- cause mortality was 15% vs. 10%, respectively. However, because this study was terminated early and enrolled only 30 pediatric patients younger than 4 months of age (20 treated with micafungin and 10 treated with amphotericin B) which was 13% of the planned enrollment for the study, no conclusions can be drawn regarding efficacy of micafungin at this dose regimen.
In six uncontrolled, open-label studies, and a neonatal intensive care unit (ICU) medical records database, pediatric patients younger than 4 months of age with suspected Candida meningoencephalitis or disseminated candidemia received micafungin at dose regimens ranging from 5 to 15 mg/kg once daily. Across the entire micafungin development program, only 6 pediatric patients with proven Candida meningoencephalitis were treated with dosages of 2 mg/kg, 8 mg/kg and 10 mg/kg once daily. Micafungin was detected in the CSF of pediatric patients with suspected Candida meningoencephalitis. No conclusions regarding the efficacy of a particular dosage of micafungin or the penetration of micafungin into the CSF can be drawn due to limitations of the data, including but not limited to, multiple confounding factors, variable study designs, and limited numbers of patients. No new safety signals were observed with the use of micafungin at dosages of 5 to 15 mg/kg once daily in pediatric patients younger than 4 months of age, and there was no discernible dose-response for adverse events.
Although the dosage for the treatment of candidemia with meningoencephalitis has not been established, antifungal activity in various CNS compartments in the rabbit HCME model and limited clinical trial data suggest that in patients younger than 4 months of age, dose regimens 10 mg/kg once daily or higher may be necessary for the treatment of candidemia with meningoencephalitis. Safety data from clinical studies for micafungin at dose regimens of 10 to 15 mg/kg once daily in pediatric patients younger than 4 months of age did not reveal new safety signals.
Treatment of Esophageal Candidiasis and Prophylaxis of Candida Infections in Patients Undergoing Hematopoietic Stem Cell Transplantation in Pediatric Patients Younger Than 4 Months of Age
The safety and effectiveness of micafungin in pediatric patients younger than 4 months of age have not been established for the:
- Treatment of esophageal candidiasis
- Prophylaxis of Candida infections in patients undergoing hematopoietic stem cell transplantation