LANREOTIDE - Amneal Pharmaceuticals LLC | Amneal Pharmaceuticals Private Limited

Lanreotide injection is indicated for the long-term treatment of acromegalic patients who have had an inadequate response to surgery and/or radiotherapy, or for whom surgery and/or radiotherapy is not an option.

The goal of treatment in acromegaly is to reduce growth hormone (GH) and insulin growth factor-1 (IGF-1) levels to normal.

Lanreotide injection is indicated for the treatment of adult patients with unresectable, well or moderately differentiated, locally advanced or metastatic gastroenteropancreatic neuroendocrine tumors (GEP-NETs) to improve progression-free survival.

Lanreotide injection is indicated for the treatment of adults with carcinoid syndrome; when used, it reduces the frequency of short-acting somatostatin analog rescue therapy.

• For deep subcutaneous injection only.
• Lanreotide injection is intended for administration by a healthcare provider.
• Refer to the Instructions For Use (IFU) for complete administration instructions with illustrations.

Preparation

1. Remove lanreotide injection from the refrigerator 30 minutes prior to administration and allow to come to room temperature.
2. Keep pouch sealed until just prior to injection.
3. Product left in its sealed pouch at room temperature (not to exceed 104°F or 40°C) for up to 72 hours may be returned to the refrigerator for continued storage and use at a later time.
4. Prior to administration, inspect the lanreotide injection syringe visually for particulate matter and discoloration. Do not administer if particulate matter or discoloration is observed. The content of the pre-filled syringe is a semi-solid phase having a gel-like appearance, with viscous characteristics and a color varying from white to pale yellow. The supersaturated solution can also contain micro bubbles that can clear up during injection. These differences are normal and do not interfere with the quality of the product.

Administration

1.   Slowly administer for 20 seconds as a deep subcutaneous injection in the superior external quadrant of the buttock.

 2.   Alternate the injection site between the right and left sides from one injection to the next.

 3.   Discard unused portion.

Acromegaly

The recommended starting dosage of lanreotide injection is 90 mg given via the deep subcutaneous route, at 4-week intervals for 3 months.

After 3 months, the dosage may be adjusted as follows:

• GH greater than 1 ng/mL to less than or equal to 2.5 ng/mL, IGF-1 normal, and clinical symptoms controlled: maintain lanreotide injection dosage at 90 mg every 4 weeks.
• GH greater than 2.5 ng/mL, IGF-1 elevated, and/or clinical symptoms uncontrolled: increase lanreotide injection dosage to 120 mg every 4 weeks.
• GH less than or equal to 1 ng/mL, IGF-1 normal, and clinical symptoms controlled: reduce lanreotide injection dosage to 60 mg every 4 weeks.

Thereafter, the dosage should be adjusted according to the response of the patient as judged by a reduction in serum GH and/or IGF-1 levels; and/or changes in symptoms of acromegaly.

Patients who are controlled on lanreotide injection 60 mg or 90 mg may be considered for an extended dosing interval of lanreotide injection 120 mg every 6 or 8 weeks. GH and IGF-1 levels should be obtained 6 weeks after this change in dosing regimen to evaluate persistence of patient response.

Continued monitoring of patient response with dosage adjustments for biochemical and clinical symptom control, as necessary, is recommended.

Gastroenteropancreatic Neuroendocrine Tumors (GEP-NETs)

The recommended dosage of lanreotide injection is 120 mg administered every 4 weeks by deep subcutaneous injection.

Carcinoid Syndrome

The recommended dosage of lanreotide injection is 120 mg administered every 4 weeks by deep subcutaneous injection.

If patients are already being treated with lanreotide injection for GEP-NETs, do not administer an additional dose for the treatment of carcinoid syndrome.

Acromegaly

The recommended starting dosage of lanreotide injection in acromegalic patients with moderate or severe renal impairment (creatinine clearance less than 60 mL/min) is 60 mg via the deep subcutaneous route at 4-week intervals for 3 months followed by dosage adjustment [see Dosage and Administration (2.2), Use in Specific Populations (8.6)].

Acromegaly

The recommended starting dosage of lanreotide injection in acromegalic patients with moderate or severe hepatic impairment (Child-Pugh Class B or C) is 60 mg via the deep subcutaneous route at 4-week intervals for 3 months followed by dosage adjustment [see  Dosage and Administration (2.2), Use in Specific Populations (8.7)].

Lanreotide injection may reduce gallbladder motility and lead to gallstone formation; therefore, patients may need to be monitored periodically [see Adverse Reactions (6.1),  Clinical Pharmacology (12.2)]. There have been post-marketing reports of cholelithiasis (gallstones) resulting in complications, including cholecystitis, cholangitis, and pancreatitis, and requiring cholecystectomy in patients taking lanreotide injection. If complications of cholelithiasis are suspected, discontinue lanreotide injection and treat appropriately.

Pharmacological studies in animals and humans show that lanreotide, like somatostatin and other somatostatin analogs, inhibits the secretion of insulin and glucagon. Hence, patients treated with lanreotide injection may experience hypoglycemia or hyperglycemia. Blood glucose levels should be monitored when lanreotide treatment is initiated, or when the dose is altered, and antidiabetic treatment should be adjusted accordingly [see Adverse  Reactions (6.1)].

The most common overall cardiac adverse reactions observed in three pooled lanreotide injection cardiac studies in patients with acromegaly were sinus bradycardia (12/217, 5.5%), bradycardia (6/217, 2.8%), and hypertension (12/217, 5.5%) [see Adverse  Reactions (6.1)].

In 81 patients with baseline heart rates of 60 beats per minute (bpm) or greater treated with lanreotide injection in Study 3, the incidence of heart rate less than 60 bpm was 23% (19/81) as compared to 16% (15/94) of placebo treated patients; 10 patients (12%) had documented heart rates less than 60 bpm on more than one visit. The incidence of documented episodes of heart rate less than 50 bpm as well as the incidence of bradycardia reported as an adverse event was 1% in each treatment group. Initiate appropriate medical management in patients who develop symptomatic bradycardia.

In patients without underlying cardiac disease, lanreotide injection may lead to a decrease in heart rate without necessarily reaching the threshold of bradycardia. In patients suffering from cardiac disorders prior to lanreotide injection treatment, sinus bradycardia may occur. Care should be taken when initiating treatment with lanreotide injection in patients with bradycardia.

Slight decreases in thyroid function have been seen during treatment with lanreotide in acromegalic patients, though clinical hypothyroidism is rare (less than 1%). Thyroid function tests are recommended where clinically indicated.

Acromegaly: Serum GH and IGF-1 levels are useful markers of the disease and the effectiveness of treatment [see Dosage and Administration (2.2)].

New onset steatorrhea, stool discoloration and loose stools have been reported in patients receiving somatostatin analogs, including lanreotide injection. Somatostatin analogs reversibly inhibit secretion of pancreatic enzymes and bile acids, which may result in malabsorption of dietary fats and subsequent symptoms of steatorrhea, loose stools, abdominal bloating, and weight loss. If new occurrence or worsening of these symptoms are reported in patients receiving lanreotide injection, evaluate patients for potential pancreatic exocrine insufficiency and manage accordingly.

Because clinical trials are conducted under widely varying conditions, adverse reaction rates observed in the clinical trials of a drug cannot be directly compared to rates in the clinical trials of another drug and may not reflect the rates observed in practice.

Acromegaly

The data described below reflect exposure to lanreotide injection in 416 acromegalic patients in seven studies. One study was a fixed-dose pharmacokinetic study. The other six studies were open-label or extension studies, one had a placebo-controlled, run-in period, and another had an active control. The population was mainly Caucasian (329/353, 93%) with a median age of 53 years of age (range 19 years to 84 years). Fifty-four subjects (13%) were age 66 to 74 and 18 subjects (4.3%) were 75 years of age and older.

Patients were evenly matched for sex (205 males and 211 females). The median average monthly dose was 91.2 mg (e.g., 90 mg injected via the deep subcutaneous route every 4 weeks) over 385 days with a median cumulative dose of 1,290 mg. Of the patients reporting acromegaly, severity at baseline (N=265), serum GH levels were less than 10 ng/mL for 69% (183/265) of the patients and 10 ng/mL or greater for 31% (82/265) of the patients.

The most commonly reported adverse reactions reported by greater than 5% of patients who received lanreotide injection (N=416) in the overall pooled safety studies in acromegaly patients were gastrointestinal disorders (diarrhea, abdominal pain, nausea, constipation, flatulence, vomiting, loose stools), cholelithiasis, and injection site reactions.

Tables 1 and 2 present adverse reaction data from clinical studies with lanreotide injection in acromegalic patients. The tables include data from a single clinical study and pooled data from seven clinical studies.

Adverse Reactions in Parallel Fixed-Dose Phase of Study 1

The incidence of treatment-emergent adverse reactions for lanreotide injection 60 mg, 90 mg, and 120 mg by dose as reported during the first 4 months (fixed-dose phase) of Study 1 [see  Clinical Studies (14.1)] are provided in Table 1.

Table 1: Adverse Reactions at an Incidence of Greater than 5% with Lanreotide Overall and Occurring at Higher Rate than Placebo: Placebo-Controlled and Fixed-Dose Phase of Study 1 By Dose

In Study 1, the adverse reactions of diarrhea, abdominal pain, and flatulence increased in incidence with increasing dose of lanreotide injection.

Adverse Reactions in Long-Term Clinical Trials

Table 2 provides the most common adverse reactions (greater than 5%) that occurred in 416 acromegalic patients treated with lanreotide injection pooled from 7 studies compared to those patients from the 2 efficacy studies (Studies 1 and 2). Patients with elevated GH and IGF-1 levels were either naive to somatostatin analog therapy or had undergone a 3-month washout [see Clinical Studies (14.1)].

Table 2: Adverse Reactions in Lanreotide-Treated Patients at an Incidence Greater than 5% in Overall Group Versus Adverse Reactions Reported in Studies 1 and 2

In addition to the adverse reactions listed in Table 2, the following reactions were also seen:

• Sinus bradycardia occurred in 7% (12) of patients in the pooled Study 1 and 2 and in 3% (13) of patients in the overall pooled studies.
• Hypertension occurred in 7% (11) of patients in the pooled Study 1 and 2 and in 5% (20) of patients in the overall pooled studies.
• Anemia occurred in 7% (12) of patients in the pooled Study 1 and 2 and in 3% (14) of patients in the overall pooled studies.

Gastrointestinal Adverse Reactions

In the pooled clinical studies of lanreotide injection therapy, a variety of gastrointestinal (GI) reactions occurred, the majority of which were mild to moderate in severity. One percent of acromegalic patients treated with lanreotide injection in the pooled clinical studies discontinued treatment because of gastrointestinal reactions.

Pancreatitis was reported in less than 1% of patients.

Gallbladder Adverse Reactions

In clinical studies involving 416 acromegalic patients treated with lanreotide injection, cholelithiasis and gallbladder sludge were reported in 20% of the patients. Among 167 acromegalic patients treated with lanreotide injection who underwent routine evaluation with gallbladder ultrasound, 17% had gallstones at baseline. New cholelithiasis was reported in 12% of patients. Cholelithiasis may be related to dose or duration of exposure [see Warnings and Precautions (5.1)].

Injection Site Reactions

In the pooled clinical studies, injection site pain (4%) and injection site mass (2%) were the most frequently reported local adverse drug reactions that occurred with the administration of lanreotide injection. In a specific analysis, 20 of 413 patients (5%) presented indurations at the injection site. Injection site adverse reactions were more commonly reported soon after the start of treatment and were less commonly reported as treatment continued. Such adverse reactions were usually mild or moderate but did lead to withdrawal from clinical studies in two subjects.

Glucose Metabolism Adverse Reactions

In the clinical studies in acromegalic patients treated with lanreotide injection, adverse reactions of dysglycemia (hypoglycemia, hyperglycemia, diabetes) were reported by 14% (47/332) of patients and were considered related to study drug in 7% (24/332) of patients [see  Warnings and Precautions (5.2)].

Cardiac Adverse Reactions

In the pooled clinical studies, sinus bradycardia (3%) was the most frequently observed heart rate and rhythm disorder. All other cardiac adverse drug reactions were observed in less than 1% of patients. The relationship of these events to lanreotide injection could not be established because many of these patients had underlying cardiac disease [see Warnings and  Precautions (5.3)].

A comparative echocardiography study of lanreotide and another somatostatin analog demonstrated no difference in the development of new or worsening valvular regurgitation between the 2 treatments over 1 year. The occurrence of clinically significant mitral regurgitation (i.e., moderate or severe in intensity) or of clinically significant aortic regurgitation (i.e., at least mild in intensity) was low in both groups of patients throughout the study.

Other Adverse Reactions

For the most commonly occurring adverse reactions in the pooled analysis, diarrhea, abdominal pain, and cholelithiasis, there was no apparent trend for increasing incidence with age. GI disorders and renal and urinary disorders were more common in patients with documented hepatic impairment; however, the incidence of cholelithiasis was similar between groups.

Gastroenteropancreatic Neuroendocrine Tumors

The safety of lanreotide injection 120 mg for the treatment of patients with gastroenteropancreatic neuroendocrine tumors (GEP-NETs) was evaluated in Study 3, a double-blind, placebo-controlled trial. Patients in Study 3 were randomized to receive lanreotide injection (N=101) or placebo (N=103) administered by deep subcutaneous injection once every 4 weeks. The data below reflect exposure to lanreotide injection in 101 patients with GEP-NETs, including 87 patients exposed for at least 6 months and 72 patients exposed for at least 1 year (median duration of exposure 22 months). Patients treated with lanreotide injection had a median age of 64 years (range 30 years to 83 years), 53% were men and 96% were Caucasian. Eighty-one percent of patients (83/101) in the lanreotide injection arm and 82% of patients (82/103) in the placebo arm did not have disease progression within 6 months of enrollment and had not received prior therapy for GEP-NETs. The rates of discontinuation due to treatment-emergent adverse reactions were 5% (5/101 patients) in the lanreotide injection arm and 3% (3/103 patients) in the placebo arm.

Table 3 compares the adverse reactions reported with an incidence of 5% and greater in patients receiving lanreotide injection 120 mg administered every 4 weeks and reported more commonly than placebo.

Table 3: Adverse Reactions Occurring in 5% and Greater of Lanreotide-Treated Patients and at a Higher Rate Than in Placebo-Treated Patients in Study 3

Carcinoid Syndrome

The safety of lanreotide injection, 120 mg in patients with histopathologically confirmed neuroendocrine tumors and a history of carcinoid syndrome (flushing and/or diarrhea) was evaluated in Study 4, a double-blind, placebo-controlled trial. Patients were randomized to receive lanreotide injection (N=59) or placebo (N=56) administered by deep subcutaneous injection once every 4 weeks. Patients in both arms of Study 4 had access to subcutaneous octreotide as rescue medication for symptom control.

Adverse reactions reported in Study 4 were generally similar to those reported in Study 3 for the GEP-NETs population shown in Table 3 above. Adverse reactions occurring in Study 4 in 5% and greater of lanreotide injection-treated patients and occurring at least 5% more than in placebo-treated patients were headache (12% vs 5%, respectively), dizziness (7% vs 0%, respectively), and muscle spasm (5% vs 0%, respectively) by week 16.

As with all peptides, there is potential for immunogenicity. The detection of antibody formation is highly dependent on the sensitivity and specificity of the assay. Additionally, the observed incidence of antibody (including neutralizing antibody) positivity in an assay may be influenced by several factors including assay methodology, sample handling, timing of sample collection, concomitant medications, and underlying disease. For these reasons, comparison of the incidence of antibodies to lanreotide in the studies described below with the incidence of antibodies in other studies or to other products may be misleading.

Laboratory investigations of acromegalic patients treated with lanreotide injection in clinical studies show that the percentage of patients with putative antibodies at any time point after treatment is low (less than 1% to 4% of patients in specific studies whose antibodies were tested). The antibodies did not appear to affect the efficacy or safety of lanreotide injection.

In Study 3, development of anti-lanreotide antibodies was assessed using a radioimmunoprecipitation assay. In patients with GEP NETs receiving lanreotide injection, the incidence of anti-lanreotide antibodies was 4% (3 of 82) at 24 weeks, 10% (7 of 67) at 48 weeks, 11% (6 of 57) at 72 weeks, and 10% (8 of 84) at 96 weeks. Assessment for neutralizing antibodies was not conducted. In Study 4, less than 2% (2 of 108) of the patients treated with lanreotide injection developed anti-lanreotide antibodies.

The following adverse reactions have been identified during post-approval use of lanreotide injection. 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.

Gastrointestinal disorders: pancreatic exocrine insufficiency

Hepatobiliary: steatorrhea; cholecystitis, cholangitis, pancreatitis, which have sometimes required cholecystectomy

Hypersensitivity: angioedema and anaphylaxis

Injection site reactions: injection site abscess

Lanreotide, like somatostatin and other somatostatin analogs, inhibits the secretion of insulin and glucagon. Therefore, blood glucose levels should be monitored when lanreotide injection treatment is initiated or when the dose is altered, and antidiabetic treatment should be adjusted accordingly [see Warnings and Precautions (5.2)].

Concomitant administration of cyclosporine with lanreotide injection may decrease the absorption of cyclosporine, and therefore, may necessitate adjustment of cyclosporine dose to maintain therapeutic drug concentrations [see Clinical Pharmacology (12.3)].

Limited published data indicate that concomitant administration of a somatostatin analog and bromocriptine may increase the absorption of bromocriptine [see Clinical Pharmacology  (12.3)].

Concomitant administration of bradycardia-inducing drugs (e.g., beta-blockers) may have an additive effect on the reduction of heart rate associated with lanreotide. Dosage adjustments of concomitant drugs may be necessary.

The limited published data available indicate that somatostatin analogs may decrease the metabolic clearance of compounds known to be metabolized by cytochrome P450 enzymes, which may be due to the suppression of growth hormone. Since it cannot be excluded that lanreotide injection may have this effect, avoid other drugs mainly metabolized by CYP3A4 and which have a low therapeutic index (e.g., quinidine, terfenadine). Drugs metabolized by the liver may be metabolized more slowly during lanreotide injection treatment and dose reductions of the concomitantly administered medications should be considered [see Clinical Pharmacology (12.3)].

Risk Summary

Limited available data based on post-marketing case reports with lanreotide injection use in pregnant women are not sufficient to determine a drug-associated risk of adverse developmental outcomes. In animal reproduction studies, decreased embryo/fetal survival was observed in pregnant rats and rabbits at subcutaneous doses 5- and 2-times the maximum recommended human dose (MRHD) of 120 mg, respectively (see Data).

The estimated background risk of major birth defects and miscarriage for the indicated populations is unknown. All pregnancies have a background risk of birth defect, loss, or other adverse outcomes. In the U.S. general population, the estimated background risk of major birth defects and miscarriage in clinically recognized pregnancies is 2% to 4% and 15% to 20%, respectively.

Data

Animal Data

A reproductive study in pregnant rats given 30 mg/kg of lanreotide by subcutaneous injection every 2 weeks (5 times the human dose, based on body surface area comparisons) resulted in decreased embryo/fetal survival. A study in pregnant rabbits given subcutaneous injections of 0.45 mg/kg/day (2 times the human therapeutic exposures at the maximum recommended dose of 120 mg, based on comparisons of relative body surface area) shows decreased fetal survival and increased fetal skeletal/soft tissue abnormalities.

Risk Summary

There is no information available on the presence of lanreotide in human milk, the effects of the drug on the breastfed infant, or the effects of the drug on milk production. Studies show that lanreotide acetate administered subcutaneously passes into the milk of lactating rats; however, due to specifies-specific differences in lactation physiology, animal data may not reliably predict drug levels in human milk. Because of the potential for serious adverse reactions in breastfed infants from lanreotide injection, including effects on glucose metabolism and bradycardia, advise women not to breastfeed during treatment with lanreotide injection and for 6 months (6 half-lives) following the last dose.

Infertility

Females

Based on results from animal studies conducted in female rats, lanreotide injection may reduce fertility in females of reproductive potential [see Nonclinical Toxicology (13.1)].

The safety and effectiveness of lanreotide injection in pediatric patients have not been established.

No overall differences in safety or effectiveness were observed between elderly patients with acromegaly compared with younger patients and other reported clinical experience has not identified differences in responses between the elderly and younger patients, but greater sensitivity of some older individuals cannot be ruled out. Studies 3 and 4, conducted in patients with neuroendocrine tumors, did not include sufficient numbers of patients aged 65 and over to determine whether they respond differently from younger patients.

Other reported clinical experience has not identified differences in responses between the elderly and younger patients. In general, dose selection for an elderly patient should be cautious, usually starting at the low end of the dosing range, reflecting the greater frequency of decreased hepatic, renal, or cardiac function, and of concomitant disease or other drug therapy.

Acromegaly

Lanreotide has been studied in patients with end-stage renal function on dialysis, but has not been studied in patients with mild, moderate, or severe renal impairment. It is recommended that patients with moderate or severe renal impairment receive a starting dose of lanreotide of 60 mg. Caution should be exercised when considering patients with moderate or severe renal impairment for an extended dosing interval of lanreotide injection 120 mg every 6 or 8 weeks [see Dosage and Administration (2.1) and Clinical Pharmacology (12.3)].

Neuroendocrine Tumors (NET) – Gastroenteropancreatic Neuroendocrine Tumors

No effect was observed in total clearance of lanreotide in patients with mild to moderate renal impairment receiving lanreotide injection 120 mg. Patients with severe renal impairment were not studied [see Clinical Pharmacology (12.3)].

Acromegaly

It is recommended that patients with moderate or severe hepatic impairment receive a starting dose of lanreotide of 60 mg. Caution should be exercised when considering patients with moderate or severe hepatic impairment for an extended dosing interval of lanreotide injection 120 mg every 6 or 8 weeks [see Dosage and Administration (2.1) and Clinical Pharmacology (12.3)].

Neuroendocrine Tumors (NET) – Gastroenteropancreatic Neuroendocrine Tumors

Lanreotide injection has not been studied in patients with hepatic impairment.

Lanreotide, the active component of lanreotide acetate is an octapeptide analog of natural somatostatin. The mechanism of action of lanreotide is believed to be similar to that of natural somatostatin.

Lanreotide has a high affinity for human somatostatin receptors (SSTR) 2 and 5 and a reduced binding affinity for human SSTR1, 3, and 4. Activity at human SSTR2 and 5 is the primary mechanism believed responsible for GH inhibition. Like somatostatin, lanreotide is an inhibitor of various endocrine, neuroendocrine, exocrine, and paracrine functions.

The primary pharmacodynamic effect of lanreotide is a reduction of GH and/or IGF-1 levels enabling normalization of levels in acromegalic patients [see Clinical Studies (14.1)]. In acromegalic patients, lanreotide reduces GH levels in a dose-dependent way. After a single injection of lanreotide acetate, plasma GH levels fall rapidly and are maintained for at least 28 days.

In Study 4, patients with carcinoid syndrome treated with lanreotide injection, 120 mg every 4 weeks had reduced levels of urinary 5-hydroxyindoleacetic acid (5-HIAA) compared with placebo [see Clinical Studies (14.3)].

Lanreotide inhibits the basal secretion of motilin, gastric inhibitory peptide, and pancreatic polypeptide, but has no significant effect on the secretion of secretin. Lanreotide inhibits postprandial secretion of pancreatic polypeptide, gastrin, and cholecystokinin (CCK). In healthy subjects, lanreotide produces a reduction and a delay in postprandial insulin secretion, resulting in transient, mild glucose intolerance.

Lanreotide inhibits meal-stimulated pancreatic secretions, and reduces duodenal bicarbonate and amylase concentrations, and produces a transient reduction in gastric acidity.

Lanreotide has been shown to inhibit gallbladder contractility and bile secretion in healthy subjects [see Warnings and Precautions (5.1)].

In healthy subjects, lanreotide inhibits meal-induced increases in superior mesenteric artery and portal venous blood flow, but has no effect on basal or meal-stimulated renal blood flow. Lanreotide has no effect on renal plasma flow or renal vascular resistance. However, a transient decrease in glomerular filtration rate (GFR) and filtration fraction has been observed after a single injection of lanreotide.

In healthy subjects, non-significant reductions in glucagon levels were seen after lanreotide administration. In diabetic non-acromegalic subjects receiving a continuous infusion (21-day) of lanreotide, serum glucose concentrations were temporarily decreased by 20% to 30% after the start and end of the infusion. Serum glucose concentrations returned to normal levels within 24 hours. A significant decrease in insulin concentrations was recorded between baseline and Day 1 only [see Warnings and Precautions (5.2)].

Lanreotide inhibits the nocturnal increase in thyroid-stimulating hormone (TSH) seen in healthy subjects. Lanreotide reduces prolactin levels in acromegalic patients treated on a long-term basis [see Warnings and Precautions (5.4)].

Lanreotide acetate is thought to form a drug depot at the injection site due to the interaction of the formulation with physiological fluids. The most likely mechanism of drug release is a passive diffusion of the precipitated drug from the depot towards the surrounding tissues, followed by the absorption to the bloodstream.

After a single, deep subcutaneous administration, the mean absolute bioavailability of lanreotide acetate in healthy subjects was 73.4%, 69%, and 78.4% for the 60 mg, 90 mg, and 120 mg doses, respectively. Mean C_max values ranged from 4.3 ng/mL to 8.4 ng/mL during the first day. Single-dose linearity was demonstrated with respect to AUC and C_max; and showed high inter-subject variability. Lanreotide acetate showed sustained release of lanreotide with a half-life of 23 days to 30 days. Mean serum concentrations were > 1 ng/mL throughout 28 days at 90 mg and 120 mg and > 0.9 ng/mL at 60 mg.

In studies evaluating excretion, < 5% of lanreotide was excreted in urine and less than 0.5% was recovered unchanged in feces, indicative of some biliary excretion.

Acromegaly

In a repeat-dose administration pharmacokinetics (PK) study in acromegalic patients, rapid initial release was seen giving peak levels during the first day after administration. At doses of lanreotide acetate between 60 mg and 120 mg, linear pharmacokinetics were observed in acromegalic patients. At steady state, mean C_max values were 3.8 ± 0.5 ng/mL, 5.7 ± 1.7 ng/mL, and 7.7 ± 2.5 ng/mL, increasing linearly with dose. The mean accumulation ratio index was 2.7, which is in line with the range of values for the half-life of lanreotide acetate. The steady-state trough serum lanreotide concentrations in patients receiving lanreotide acetate every 28 days were 1.8 ± 0.3 ng/mL; 2.5 ± 0.9 ng/mL and 3.8 ± 1 ng/mL at 60 mg, 90 mg, and 120 mg doses, respectively. A limited initial burst effect and a low peak-to-trough fluctuation (81% to 108%) of the serum concentration at the plateau were observed.

For the same doses, similar values were obtained in clinical studies after at least four administrations (2.3 ± 0.9 ng/mL, 3.2 ± 1.1 ng/mL, and 4 ± 1.4 ng/mL, respectively).

Pharmacokinetic data from studies evaluating extended dosing use of lanreotide injection 120 mg demonstrated mean steady-state, C_min values between 1.6 ng/mL and 2.3 ng/mL for the 8- and 6-week treatment interval, respectively.

Gastroenteropancreatic Neuroendocrine Tumors

In patients with GEP-NETs treated with lanreotide injection 120 mg every 4 weeks, steady state concentrations were reached after 4 to 5 injections and the mean trough serum lanreotide concentrations at steady state ranged from 5.3 ng/mL to 8.6 ng/mL.

Specific Populations

Lanreotide injection has not been studied in specific populations. However, the pharmacokinetics of lanreotide in renal impaired, hepatic impaired, and geriatric subjects were evaluated after  intravenous administration of lanreotide immediate release formulation (IRF) at 7 mcg/kg dose.

Geriatric

Studies in healthy elderly subjects showed an 85% increase in half-life and a 65% increase in mean residence time (MRT) of lanreotide compared to those seen in healthy young subjects; however, there was no change in either AUC or C_max of lanreotide in elderly as compared to healthy young subjects. Age has no effect on clearance of lanreotide based on population PK analysis in patients with GEP-NET which included 122 patients aged 65 years to 85 years with neuroendocrine tumors.

Renal Impairment

An approximate 2-fold decrease in total serum clearance of lanreotide, with a consequent 2-fold increase in half-life and AUC was observed. Patients with acromegaly and with moderate to severe renal impairment should begin treatment with lanreotide injection 60 mg. Caution should be exercised when considering patients with moderate or severe renal impairment for an extended dosing interval of lanreotide injection 120 mg every 6 or 8 weeks.

Mild (CLcr 60 mL/min to 89 mL/min) or moderate (CLcr 30 mL/min to 59 mL/min) renal impairment has no effect on clearance of lanreotide in patients with GEP-NET based on population PK analysis which included 106 patients with mild and 59 patients with moderate renal impairment treated with lanreotide injection. GEP-NET patients with severe renal impairment (CLcr < 30 mL/min) were not studied.

Hepatic Impairment

In subjects with moderate to severe hepatic impairment, a 30% reduction in clearance of lanreotide was observed. Patients with acromegaly and with moderate to severe hepatic impairment should begin treatment with lanreotide injection 60 mg. Caution should be exercised when considering patients with moderate or severe hepatic impairment for an extended dosing interval of lanreotide injection 120 mg every 6 or 8 weeks.

The effect of hepatic impairment on clearance of lanreotide has not been studied in patients with GEP-NET.

Standard lifetime carcinogenicity bioassays were conducted in mice and rats. Mice were given daily subcutaneous doses of lanreotide at 0.5 mg/kg, 1.5 mg/kg, 5 mg/kg, 10 mg/kg, and 30 mg/kg for 104 weeks. Cutaneous and subcutaneous tumors of fibrous connective tissues at the injection sites were observed at the high dose of 30 mg/kg/day. Fibrosarcomas in both genders and malignant fibrous histiocytomas were observed in males at 30 mg/kg/day resulting in exposures 3 times higher than the clinical therapeutic exposure at the maximum therapeutic dose of 120 mg given by monthly subcutaneous injection based on the AUC values. Rats were given daily subcutaneous doses of lanreotide at 0.1 mg/kg, 0.2 mg/kg, and 0.5 mg/kg for 104 weeks. Increased cutaneous and subcutaneous tumors of fibrous connective tissues at the injection sites were observed at the dose of 0.5 mg/kg/day resulting in exposures less than the clinical therapeutic exposure at 120 mg given by monthly subcutaneous injection. The increased incidence of injection site tumors in rodents is likely related to the increased dosing frequency (daily) in animals compared to monthly dosing in humans and therefore may not be clinically relevant.

Lanreotide was not genotoxic in tests for gene mutations in a bacterial mutagenicity (Ames) assay, or mouse lymphoma cell assay with or without metabolic activation. Lanreotide was not genotoxic in tests for the detection of chromosomal aberrations in a human lymphocyte and in vivo mouse micronucleus assay.

In a fertility study conducted with lanreotide in rats, reduced female fecundity was observed at estimated exposure corresponding to approximately 10-fold the plasma exposure at the MRHD of 120 mg. The fertility of male rats was unaffected by the treatment up to an estimated exposure corresponding to approximately 11-fold the plasma exposure at the MRHD of 120 mg.

The effect of lanreotide injection on reducing GH and IGF-levels and control of symptoms in patients with acromegaly was studied in 2 long-term, multiple-dose, randomized, multicenter studies.

Study 1

This 1-year study included a 4-week, double-blind, placebo-controlled phase; a 16-week single-blind, fixed-dose phase; and a 32-week, open-label, dose-titration phase. Patients with active acromegaly, based on biochemical tests and medical history, entered a 12-week washout period if there was previous treatment with a somatostatin analog or a dopaminergic agonist.

Upon entry, patients were randomly allocated to receive a single, deep subcutaneous injection of lanreotide injection 60 mg, 90 mg, or 120 mg or placebo. Four weeks later, patients entered a fixed-dose phase where they received 4 injections of lanreotide injection followed by a dose-titration phase of 8 injections for a total of 13 injections over 52 weeks (including the placebo phase). Injections were given at 4-week intervals. During the dose-titration phase of the study, the dose was titrated twice (every fourth injection), as needed, according to individual GH and IGF-1 levels.

A total of 108 patients (51 males, 57 females) were enrolled in the initial placebo-controlled phase of the study. Half (54/108) of the patients had never been treated with a somatostatin analog or dopamine agonist, or had stopped treatment for at least 3 months prior to their participation in the study and were required to have a mean GH level greater than 5 ng/mL at their first visit. The other half of the patients had received prior treatment with a somatostatin analog or a dopamine agonist before study entry and at study entry were required to have a mean GH concentration greater than 3 ng/mL and at least a 100% increase in mean GH concentration after washout of medication.

One hundred and seven (107) patients completed the placebo-controlled phase, 105 patients completed the fixed-dose phase, and 99 patients completed the dose-titration phase. Patients not completing withdrew due to adverse events (5) or lack of efficacy (4).

In the double-blind phase of Study 1, a total of 52 (63%) of the 83 lanreotide-treated patients had a greater than 50% decrease in mean GH from baseline to Week 4, including 52%, 44%, and 90% of patients in the 60 mg, 90 mg, and 120 mg groups, respectively, compared to placebo (0%, 0/25). In the fixed-dose phase at Week 16, 72% of all 107 lanreotide-treated patients had a decrease from baseline in mean GH of greater than 50%, including 68% (23/34), 64% (23/36), and 84% (31/37) of patients in the 60 mg, 90 mg, and 120 mg lanreotide treatment groups, respectively. Efficacy achieved in the first 16 weeks was maintained for the duration of the study (see Table 4).

Table 4: Overall Efficacy Results Based on GH and IGF-1 Levels by Treatment Phase in Study 1

Study 2

This was a 48-week, open-label, uncontrolled, multicenter study that enrolled patients who had an IGF-1 concentration 1.3 times or greater than the upper limit of the normal age-adjusted range. Patients receiving treatment with a somatostatin analog (other than lanreotide injection) or a dopaminergic agonist had to attain this IGF-1 concentration after a washout period of up to 3 months.

Patients were initially enrolled in a 4-month, fixed-dose phase where they received 4 deep subcutaneous injections of lanreotide injection 90 mg, at 4-week intervals. Patients then entered a dose-titration phase where the dose of lanreotide injection was adjusted based on GH and IGF-1 levels at the beginning of the dose-titration phase and, if necessary, again after another 4 injections. Patients titrated up to the maximum dose (120 mg) were not allowed to titrate down again.

A total of 63 patients (38 males, 25 females) entered the fixed-dose phase of the trial and 57 patients completed 48 weeks of treatment. Six patients withdrew due to adverse reactions (3), other reasons (2), or lack of efficacy (1).

After 48 weeks of treatment with lanreotide injection at 4-week intervals, 43% (27/63) of the acromegalic patients in this study achieved normal age-adjusted IGF-1 concentrations. Mean IGF-1 concentrations after treatment completion were 1.3 ± 0.7 times the upper limit of normal compared to 2.5 ± 1.1 times the upper limit of normal at baseline.

The reduction in IGF-1 concentrations over time correlated with a corresponding marked decrease in mean GH concentrations. The proportion of patients with mean GH concentrations less than 2.5 ng/mL increased significantly from 35% to 77% after the fixed-dose phase and 85% at the end of the study. At the end of treatment, 24/63 (38%) of patients had both normal IGF-1 concentrations and a GH concentration of less than or equal to 2.5 ng/mL (see Table 5) and 17/63 patients (27%) had both normal IGF-1 concentrations and a GH concentration of less than 1 ng/mL.

Table 5: Overall Efficacy Results Based on GH and IGF-1 Levels by Treatment Phase in Study 2

Examination of age and gender subgroups did not identify differences in response to lanreotide injection among these subgroups. The limited number of patients in the different racial subgroups did not raise any concerns regarding efficacy of lanreotide injection in these subgroups.

The efficacy of lanreotide injection was established in a multicenter, randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial of 204 patients with unresectable, well or moderately differentiated, metastatic or locally advanced, gastroenteropancreatic neuroendocrine tumors. Patients were required to have non-functioning tumors without hormone-related symptoms. Patients were randomized 1:1 to receive lanreotide injection 120 mg (n=101) or placebo (n=103) every 4 weeks until disease progression, unacceptable toxicity, or a maximum of 96 weeks of treatment. Randomization was stratified by the presence or absence of prior therapy and by the presence or absence of disease progression within 6 months of enrollment. The major efficacy outcome measure was progression-free survival (PFS), defined as time to disease progression as assessed by central independent radiological review using the Response Evaluation Criteria in Solid Tumors (RECIST 1.0) or death.

The median patient age was 63 years (range 30 years to 92 years) and 95% were Caucasian. Disease progression was present in nine of 204 patients (4.4%) in the 6 months prior to enrollment and 29 patients (14%) received prior chemotherapy. Ninety-one patients (45%) had primary sites of disease in the pancreas, with the remainder originating in the midgut (35%), hindgut (7%), or unknown primary location (13%). The majority (69%) of the study population had grade 1 tumors. Baseline prognostic characteristics were similar between arms with one exception; there were 39% of patients in the lanreotide injection arm and 27% of patients in the placebo arm who had hepatic involvement by tumor of greater than 25%.

Patients on the lanreotide injection arm had a statistically significant improvement in PFS compared to patients receiving placebo (see Table 6 and Figure 1).

Table 6: Efficacy Results in Study 3

Figure 1: Kaplan-Meier Curves of Progression-Free Survival

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Study 4 was a multicenter, randomized, 16-week, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial in 115 patients with histopathologically-confirmed neuroendocrine tumors and a history of carcinoid syndrome (flushing and/or diarrhea) who were treatment naïve or stable on another somatostatin analog and who were randomized 1:1 to receive lanreotide injection, 120 mg (n=59) or placebo (n=56) by deep subcutaneous injection every 4 weeks. Patients were instructed to self-administer a short-acting somatostatin analog (octreotide) as rescue medication as needed for symptom control. The use of rescue therapy and the severity and frequency of diarrhea and flushing symptoms were reported daily in electronic patient diaries. During the 16 week double-blind phase, the primary efficacy outcome measure was the percentage of days in which patients administered at least one injection of rescue medication for symptom control. Average daily frequencies of diarrhea and flushing events were assessed secondarily.

The patient population had a mean age of 59 years (range 27 years to 85 years), 58% were female and 77% were Caucasian. Patients in the lanreotide injection arm experienced 15% fewer days on rescue medication compared to patients in the placebo arm (34% vs. 49% of days, respectively; p=0.02). The average daily frequencies of diarrhea and flushing events in patients treated with lanreotide injection (and rescue medication) were numerically lower relative to patients treated with placebo (and rescue medication), but were not statistically significantly different via hierarchical testing.