2.1 Important Administration Instructions

• Read the Instructions for Use at the time of receiving a single-dose, pre-filled NALOXONE HYDROCHLORIDE injection auto-injector.
• Administer NALOXONE HYDROCHLORIDE injection as soon as possible after known or suspected opioid exposure because prolonged respiratory depression may result in damage to the central nervous system or death.
• NALOXONE HYDROCHLORIDE injection contains 10 mg/0.4 mL naloxone HCl in a single-dose, pre-filled auto-injector for intramuscular or subcutaneous use only.
• Do not attempt to reuse the NALOXONE HYDROCHLORIDE injection auto-injector.
• Periodically visually inspect NALOXONE HYDROCHLORIDE injection through the viewing window for particulate matter. Request a replacement if the solution is cloudy or contains particles, or if the glass container is damaged.
• Once the red safety guard is removed, NALOXONE HYDROCHLORIDE injection auto-injector must be used immediately or disposed of properly. Do not attempt to replace the red safety guard once it is removed.

2.2 Dosing in Adults and Pediatric Patients at Least 12 Years Old

• Inject NALOXONE HYDROCHLORIDE injection into the anterolateral aspect of the thigh according to the Instructions for Use and the printed instructions on the device label.
• In summary,
  • Ensure that the injection site is free of other materials (e.g., equipment or other obstructions), except for clothing.
  • Pull the auto-injector from the outer case.
  • When ready to use, firmly pull off the red safety guard. Do not touch the black base of the auto-injector, which is where the needle comes out.
  • Place the black end of the auto-injector against the anterolateral aspect of the thigh, through clothing, if needed.
  • Press firmly until you hear a click and hiss sound and then hold in place for 5 seconds.
• Upon actuation, the auto-injector automatically inserts the needle intramuscularly or subcutaneously, delivers the naloxone HCl injection, and retracts the needle into the device. The needle will not be visible before, during, or after the injection.
• Post-injection, the black base locks in place and a red indicator appears in the drug viewing window.
• NALOXONE HYDROCHLORIDE injection can be injected through clothing or MOPP4 PPE.
• NALOXONE HYDROCHLORIDE injection can be self- or buddy-administered.

Emergency treatment of patients 12 years of age and older where use of high-potency opioids such as fentanyl analogues as a chemical weapon is suspected.

• Seek immediate emergency medical assistance immediately after administration of the first dose of NALOXONE HYDROCHLORIDE injection.
• Keep the patient under continued surveillance until medical care is available.
• If the patient relapses into respiratory and/or central nervous system depression after the first dose of NALOXONE HYDROCHLORIDE injection, administer additional naloxone HCl, as necessary, until emergency medical assistance becomes available.
• If the patient does not show some improvement after administering the dose of NALOXONE HYDROCHLORIDE injection, consider if the respiratory depression is due to a non-opioid etiology.

Temporary prophylaxis of respiratory and/or central nervous system depression in military personnel and chemical incident responders entering an area contaminated with high-potency opioids such as fentanyl analogues.

• Administer immediately prior to entering an area believed to be contaminated with high-potency opioids.
• Each pre-filled NALOXONE HYDROCHLORIDE injection can only be used one time.
• NALOXONE HYDROCHLORIDE injection provides temporary protection. If exposure to high potency opioids is prolonged, additional doses may be necessary.

5.1 Precipitation of Severe Opioid Withdrawal

The safety of NALOXONE HYDROCHLORIDE injection, 10 mg, in an auto-injector has not been established in opioid-dependent adults. Because NALOXONE HYDROCHLORIDE injection is expected to cause abrupt opioid withdrawal in opioid-dependent individuals, use NALOXONE HYDROCHLORIDE injection when the potential benefits are expected to outweigh the risks. Use of a product that delivers a dose lower than 10 mg naloxone HCl may be preferable in treatment of a patient with known opioid dependence.

Abrupt reversal of opioid depression after using naloxone HCl may result in nausea, vomiting, sweating, tremulousness, tachycardia, hypotension, hypertension, seizures, ventricular tachycardia and fibrillation, pulmonary edema, and cardiac arrest. Death, coma, and encephalopathy have been reported as sequelae of these events. Although a direct cause and effect relationship has not been established, after use of naloxone HCl, monitor individuals with opioid-dependence for hypotension, ventricular tachycardia or fibrillation, and pulmonary edema in an appropriate healthcare setting. It has been suggested that the pathogenesis of pulmonary edema associated with the use of naloxone HCl is similar to neurogenic pulmonary edema, i.e., a centrally mediated massive catecholamine response leading to a dramatic shift of blood volume into the pulmonary vascular bed resulting in increased hydrostatic pressures.

5.2 Risk of Recurrent Respiratory and Central Nervous System Depression

The duration of action of most opioids may exceed that of naloxone HCl resulting in a return of respiratory and/or central nervous system depression after an initial improvement in symptoms. Therefore, it is necessary to seek emergency medical assistance immediately after delivering the first dose of NALOXONE HYDROCHLORIDE injection. Keep the patient under continued surveillance and administer additional naloxone HCl as necessary [see Dosage and Administration (2.2)]. Additional supportive and/or resuscitative measures may be helpful while awaiting emergency medical assistance.

6.1 Clinical Trials Experience

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

In three pharmacokinetic studies with a total of 78 healthy adult subjects exposed to NALOXONE HYDROCHLORIDE injection 0.4 mg auto-injector, two NALOXONE HYDROCHLORIDE injection 0.4 mg (0.8 mg naloxone HCl total) auto-injectors, NALOXONE HYDROCHLORIDE injection 2 mg auto-injector, or NALOXONE HYDROCHLORIDE injection 10 mg auto-injector, adverse reactions occurring in more than one subject were dizziness, feeling hot, headache, and injection site erythema.

6.2 Postmarketing Experience

The following adverse reactions have been identified during the use of naloxone HCl to reverse the effects of opioids. 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: aggression, anger, anxiety, back pain, bradycardia, cardiac arrest, confusion, depression, disorientation, dyspnea, hypertension, hypotension, loss of consciousness, malaise, miosis, pain, pulmonary edema, somnolence, unresponsiveness to stimuli, and ventricular tachycardia and fibrillation. Death, coma, and encephalopathy have been reported as sequelae of these events. Excessive doses of naloxone HCl have resulted in significant reversal of analgesia and have caused agitation [see Warnings and Precautions (5.1)].

8.1 Pregnancy

Risk Summary

Life-sustaining therapy for opioid overdose should not be withheld (see Clinical Considerations). There is an absence of data on naloxone HCl administered for known or suspected opioid overdose in pregnant patients. Available data from retrospective cohort studies on oral naloxone use in pregnant women for opioid use disorder have not identified a drug-associated risk of major birth defects, miscarriage, or other adverse maternal or fetal outcomes. In animal reproduction studies, no embryotoxic or teratogenic effects were observed in mice and rats treated with naloxone HCl during the period of organogenesis at doses equivalent to 4-times and 8-times, respectively, the dose of a 50 kg human given 10 mg naloxone HCl [see Data].

The estimated background risk of major birth defects and miscarriage for the indicated population 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.

Clinical Considerations

Disease-associated maternal and/or embryo/fetal risk

An opioid overdose is a medical emergency and can be fatal for the pregnant woman and fetus if left untreated. Treatment with NALOXONE HYDROCHLORIDE injection for opioid overdose should not be withheld because of potential concerns regarding the effects of NALOXONE HYDROCHLORIDE injection on the fetus.

Data

Animal Data

Naloxone HCl was administered during organogenesis to mice and rats at doses 4-times and 8-times, respectively, the dose of 10 mg/day given to a 50 kg human (when based on body surface area or mg/m2). These studies demonstrated no embryotoxic or teratogenic effects due to naloxone HCl.

8.2 Lactation

Risk Summary

Naloxone is minimally orally available and is unlikely to affect the breastfed infant. There is no information regarding the presence of naloxone in human milk, or the effects of naloxone on the breastfed infant or on milk production. Published studies in lactating women have shown that naloxone does not affect prolactin or oxytocin hormone levels.

8.4 Pediatric Use

The safety and effectiveness of NALOXONE HYDROCHLORIDE injection, 10 mg, in an auto-injector have been established in pediatric patients 12 years of age and older for emergency treatment where use of high-potency opioids such as fentanyl analogues as a chemical weapon is suspected.

Use of NALOXONE HYDROCHLORIDE injection in this age group is supported by evidence from adult bioavailability studies, adult PK/PD modeling and simulation analysis supporting an effective dose, along with additional evidence from the reported safe and effective use of other naloxone HCl products [see Clinical Pharmacology (12.2)]. No pediatric studies were conducted for NALOXONE HYDROCHLORIDE injection.

The safety and effectiveness of NALOXONE HYDROCHLORIDE injection for intramuscular and subcutaneous use have not been established for pediatric patients less than 12 years old. Absorption of naloxone HCl following subcutaneous or intramuscular administration in pediatric patients may be erratic or delayed. Even when the opiate-intoxicated pediatric patient responds appropriately to naloxone HCl injection, the patient must be carefully monitored for at least 24 hours as a relapse may occur as naloxone is metabolized.

In opioid-dependent pediatric patients, administration of naloxone HCl may result in an abrupt and complete reversal of opioid effects, precipitating an acute opioid withdrawal syndrome. In these settings where it may be preferable to avoid the abrupt precipitation of acute opioid withdrawal symptoms, consider use of an alternative naloxone HCl product that can be dosed according to weight and titrated to effect [see Warnings and Precautions (5.1)].

8.5 Geriatric Use

Clinical studies of naloxone HCl did not include sufficient numbers of subjects aged 65 and over to determine whether they respond differently from younger subjects. Other reported clinical experience has not identified differences in responses between the elderly and younger patients.

Geriatric patients have a greater frequency of decreased hepatic, renal, or cardiac function and of concomitant disease or other drug therapy. Therefore, the systemic exposure of naloxone can be higher in these patients.

12.1 Mechanism of Action

Naloxone HCl is an opioid antagonist that antagonizes opioid effects by competing for the same receptor sites.

Naloxone HCl reverses the effects of opioids, including respiratory depression, sedation, and hypotension. Also, it can reverse the psychotomimetic and dysphoric effects of agonist-antagonists such as pentazocine.

12.2 Pharmacodynamics

When naloxone HCl is administered intravenously, the onset of action is generally apparent within two minutes. The time to onset of action is shorter for intravenous compared to subcutaneous or intramuscular routes of administration.

The duration of action is dependent upon the dose and route of administration of naloxone HCl.

Simulations based on data from healthy volunteer studies demonstrated that a single 10 mg naloxone HCl dose could improve depressed ventilation induced by morphine, buprenorphine, fentanyl, and carfentanil. The ability to reverse decreased ventilation rate after naloxone HCl treatment was dependent on the administered opioid, amount of opioid, amount of naloxone, and timing of naloxone HCl administration relative to opioid exposure.

12.3 Pharmacokinetics

A pharmacokinetic study using a crossover design was conducted in 24 fasted healthy subjects to evaluate a single 2 mg NALOXONE HYDROCHLORIDE injection (0.4 mL of 5 mg/mL naloxone HCl solution) and a single 10 mg NALOXONE HYDROCHLORIDE injection (0.4 mL of 25 mg/mL naloxone HCl solution) administered to the anterolateral aspect of the thigh. Plasma samples were analyzed for naloxone 12-hours post dose. The pharmacokinetic parameters obtained in this study are shown in Table 1 and the plasma concentration time profiles of naloxone are presented in Figure 1. A slightly greater than 5-fold increase was observed for 10 mg NALOXONE HYDROCHLORIDE injection compared to 2 mg NALOXONE HYDROCHLORIDE injection for the mean pharmacokinetic parameters of Cmax, AUC0-t, and AUC0-inf.

Table 1 Mean Pharmacokinetic Parameters (%CV) for Naloxone Following NALOXONE HYDROCHLORIDE injection Intramuscular/Subcutaneous Administration to Healthy Subjects

Figure 1 Mean ± SD Plasma Concentration of Naloxone, (a) 0-8 h and (b) 0-3 h Following Intramuscular/Subcutaneous Administration using NALOXONE HYDROCHLORIDE injection

(a)

(b)

Absorption

The median Tmax for NALOXONE HYDROCHLORIDE injection is 15.6 minutes (range 5.4 to 40.2 minutes).

Distribution

Following parenteral administration, naloxone is distributed in the body and readily crosses the placenta. Plasma protein binding occurs but is relatively weak. Plasma albumin is the major binding constituent, but significant binding of naloxone also occurs to plasma constituents other than albumin. It is not known whether naloxone is excreted into human milk.

Elimination

The mean plasma half-life of naloxone in healthy adults was 1.46 hours (14.1%CV) following a single administration of NALOXONE HYDROCHLORIDE injection.

Metabolism

Naloxone HCl is metabolized in the liver, primarily by glucuronide conjugation with naloxone-3-glucoronide as the major metabolite.

Excretion

After an oral or intravenous dose, about 25-40% of naloxone is excreted as metabolites in urine within 6 hours, about 50% in 24 hours, and 60-70% in 72 hours.

13.1 Carcinogenesis, Mutagenesis, Impairment of Fertility

Carcinogenesis

Long-term animal studies to evaluate the carcinogenic potential of naloxone have not been completed.

Mutagenesis

Naloxone was weakly positive in the Ames mutagenicity and in the in vitro human lymphocyte chromosome aberration test but was negative in the in vitro Chinese hamster V79 cell HGPRT mutagenicity assay and in the in vivo rat bone marrow chromosome aberration study.

Impairment of Fertility

Reproduction studies conducted in mice and rats at doses 4-times and 8-times, respectively, the dose of a 50 kg human given 10 mg/day (when based on surface area or mg/m2), demonstrated no adverse effect of naloxone HCl on fertility.

16.1 How Supplied

NALOXONE HYDROCHLORIDE injection, a colorless to yellow solution of 10 mg/0.4 mL naloxone HCl, provided as follows:

NDC 60842-002-02: Package containing ten single-dose 10 mg/0.4 mL auto-injectors

16.2 Storage and Handling

Storage and Shipping

Store at controlled room temperature 15°C - 25°C (59°F - 77°F); excursions permitted between 4°C and 40°C (39°F and 104°F). Do not freeze. Protect from heat.

Use and Handling

Store the NALOXONE HYDROCHLORIDE injection auto-injector in the outer case provided.

If NALOXONE HYDROCHLORIDE injection is frozen and is needed in an emergency, do NOT wait for NALOXONE HYDROCHLORIDE injection to thaw; get emergency medical help right away. Once thawed, NALOXONE HYDROCHLORIDE injection may be used.

Manufactured for:
Kaleo, Inc.
Richmond, VA 23219

This product may be covered by one or more U.S. patents or pending patent applications. See www.kaleopharma.com/pat for details.