5.1 Risk of Immunosuppression

Prolonged systemic use of calcineurin inhibitors for sustained immunosuppression in animal studies and transplant patients following systemic administration has been associated with an increased risk of infections, lymphomas, and skin malignancies. These risks are associated with the intensity and duration of immunosuppression.

Based on this information and the mechanism of action, there is a concern about a potential risk with the use of topical calcineurin inhibitors, including Pimecrolimus Cream, 1%. While a causal relationship has not been established, rare cases of skin malignancy and lymphoma have been reported in patients treated with topical calcineurin inhibitors, including Pimecrolimus Cream, 1%. Therefore:

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Continuous long-term use of topical calcineurin inhibitors, including Pimecrolimus Cream, 1%, in any age group should be avoided, and application limited to areas of involvement with atopic dermatitis.

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Pimecrolimus Cream, 1% is not indicated for use in children less than 2 years of age.

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Pimecrolimus Cream, 1% should not be used in immunocompromised adults and children, including patients on systemic immunosuppressive medications.

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If signs and symptoms of atopic dermatitis do not improve within 6 weeks, patients should be re-examined by their healthcare provider and their diagnosis be confirmed.

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The safety of Pimecrolimus Cream, 1% has not been established beyond 1 year of non-continuous use.

5.2 Application to Malignant or Pre-malignant Skin Conditions

The use of Pimecrolimus Cream, 1% should be avoided on malignant or pre-malignant skin conditions. Malignant or pre-malignant skin conditions, such as cutaneous T-cell lymphoma (CTCL), can present as dermatitis.

Pimecrolimus Cream, 1% should not be used in patients with Netherton’s Syndrome or other skin diseases where there is the potential for increased systemic absorption of pimecrolimus. The safety of Pimecrolimus Cream, 1% has not been established in patients with generalized erythroderma.

The use of Pimecrolimus Cream, 1% may cause local symptoms such as skin burning (burning sensation, stinging, soreness) or pruritus. Localized symptoms are most common during the first few days of Pimecrolimus Cream, 1% application and typically improve as the lesions of atopic dermatitis resolve [see Adverse Reactions (6.1)].

5.3 Bacterial and Viral Skin Infections

Before commencing treatment with Pimecrolimus Cream, 1%, bacterial or viral infections at treatment sites should be resolved. Trials have not evaluated the safety and efficacy of Pimecrolimus Cream, 1% in the treatment of clinically infected atopic dermatitis.

While patients with atopic dermatitis are predisposed to superficial skin infections including eczema herpeticum (Kaposi’s varicelliform eruption), treatment with Pimecrolimus Cream, 1% may be independently associated with an increased risk of varicella zoster virus infection (chickenpox or shingles), herpes simplex virus infection, or eczema herpeticum.

In clinical trials, 15/1544 (1%) cases of skin papilloma (warts) were observed in subjects using Pimecrolimus Cream, 1%. The youngest subject was age 2 and the oldest was age 12. In cases where there is worsening of skin papillomas or they do not respond to conventional therapy, discontinuation of Pimecrolimus Cream, 1% should be considered until complete resolution of the warts is achieved.

5.4 Patients with Lymphadenopathy

In clinical trials, 14/1544 (0.9%) cases of lymphadenopathy were reported while using Pimecrolimus Cream, 1%. These cases of lymphadenopathy were usually related to infections and noted to resolve upon appropriate antibiotic therapy. Of these 14 cases, the majority had either a clear etiology or were known to resolve. Patients who receive Pimecrolimus Cream, 1% and who develop lymphadenopathy should have the etiology of their lymphadenopathy investigated. In the absence of a clear etiology for the lymphadenopathy, or in the presence of acute infectious mononucleosis, Pimecrolimus Cream, 1% should be discontinued. Patients who develop lymphadenopathy should be monitored to ensure that the lymphadenopathy resolves.

5.5 Sun Exposure

During the course of treatment, it is prudent for patients to minimize or avoid natural or artificial sunlight exposure, even while Pimecrolimus Cream, 1% is not on the skin. The potential effects of Pimecrolimus Cream, 1% on skin response to ultraviolet damage are not known.

5.6 Immunocompromised Patients

The safety and efficacy of Pimecrolimus Cream, 1% in immunocompromised patients have not been studied.

6.1 Clinical Trials Experience

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.

No phototoxicity and no photoallergenicity were detected in clinical trials with 24 and 33 normal volunteers, respectively. In human dermal safety trials, Pimecrolimus Cream, 1% did not induce contact sensitization or cumulative irritation.

In a 1-year safety trial in pediatric subjects age 2-17 years old involving sequential use of Pimecrolimus Cream, 1% and a topical corticosteroid, 43% of Pimecrolimus Cream, 1% treated subjects and 68% of vehicle-treated subjects used corticosteroids during the trial. Corticosteroids were used for more than 7 days by 34% of Pimecrolimus Cream, 1% treated subjects and 54% of vehicle-treated subjects. An increased incidence of impetigo, skin infection, superinfection (infected atopic dermatitis), rhinitis, and urticaria were found in the subjects that had used Pimecrolimus Cream, 1% and topical corticosteroid sequentially as compared to Pimecrolimus Cream, 1% alone.

In three randomized, double-blind vehicle-controlled pediatric trials and one active-controlled adult trial, 843 and 328 subjects, respectively, were treated with Pimecrolimus Cream, 1%. In these clinical trials, 48 (4%) of the 1171 Pimecrolimus Cream, 1% treated subjects and 13 (3%) of 408 vehicle-treated subjects discontinued therapy due to adverse events. Discontinuations for AEs were primarily due to application site reactions and cutaneous infections. The most common application site reaction was application site burning, which occurred in 8%-26% of subjects treated with Pimecrolimus Cream, 1%.

Table 1 depicts the incidence of adverse events pooled across the two identically designed 6-week trials with their open label extensions and the 1-year safety trial for pediatric subjects ages 2-17. Data from the adult active-controlled trial are also included in Table 1. Adverse events are listed regardless of relationship to trial drug.

Two cases of septic arthritis have been reported in infants less than one year of age in clinical trials conducted with Pimecrolimus Cream, 1% (n = 2443). Causality has not been established.

6.2 Postmarketing Experience

The following adverse reactions have been identified during post-approval use of Pimecrolimus Cream, 1%. 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.

General: Anaphylactic reactions, ocular irritation after application of the cream to the eye lids or near the eyes, angioneurotic edema, facial edema, skin flushing associated with alcohol use, skin discoloration.

Hematology/Oncology: Lymphomas, basal cell carcinoma, malignant melanoma, squamous cell carcinoma.

8.1 Pregnancy

8.3 Nursing Mothers

It is not known whether this drug is excreted in human milk. Because of the potential for serious adverse reactions in nursing infants from pimecrolimus, a decision should be made whether to discontinue nursing or to discontinue the drug, taking into account the importance of the drug to the mother.

8.4 Pediatric Use

Pimecrolimus Cream, 1% is not indicated for use in children less than 2 years of age.

The long-term safety and effects of Pimecrolimus Cream, 1% on the developing immune system are unknown.

Three Phase 3 pediatric trials were conducted involving 1114 subjects 2-17 years of age. Two trials were 6-week randomized vehicle-controlled trials with a 20-week open-label phase and one was a vehicle-controlled (up to 1 year) safety trial with the option for sequential topical corticosteroid use. Of these subjects, 542 (49%) were 2-6 years of age. In the short-term trials, 11% of Pimecrolimus subjects did not complete these trials and 1.5% of Pimecrolimus subjects discontinued due to adverse events. In the 1-year trial, 32% of Pimecrolimus subjects did not complete this trial and 3% of Pimecrolimus subjects discontinued due to adverse events. Most discontinuations were due to unsatisfactory therapeutic effect.

The most common local adverse event in the short-term trials of Pimecrolimus Cream, 1% in pediatric subjects ages 2-17 was application site burning (10% vs. 13% vehicle); the incidence in the long-term trial was 9% Pimecrolimus vs. 7% vehicle [see Adverse Reactions (6.1)]. Adverse events that were more frequent (>5%) in subjects treated with Pimecrolimus Cream, 1% compared to vehicle were headache (14% vs. 9%) in the short-term trial. Nasopharyngitis (26% vs. 21%), influenza (13% vs. 4%), pharyngitis (8% vs. 3%), viral infection (7% vs. 1%), pyrexia (13% vs. 5%), cough (16% vs. 11%), and headache (25% vs. 16%) were increased over vehicle in the 1-year safety trial [see Adverse Reactions (6.1)]. In 843 subjects ages 2-17 years treated with Pimecrolimus Cream, 1%, 9 (0.8%) developed eczema herpeticum (5 on Pimecrolimus Cream, 1% alone and 4 on Pimecrolimus Cream, 1% used in sequence with corticosteroids). In 211 subjects on vehicle alone, there were no cases of eczema herpeticum. The majority of adverse events were mild to moderate in severity.

Two Phase 3 trials were conducted involving 436 infants age 3 months-23 months. One 6-week randomized vehicle-controlled trial with a 20-week open-label phase and one safety trial, up to one year, were conducted. In the 6-week trial, 11% of Pimecrolimus and 48% of vehicle subjects did not complete this trial; no subject in either group discontinued due to adverse events. Infants on Pimecrolimus Cream, 1% had an increased incidence of some adverse events compared to vehicle. In the 6-week vehicle-controlled trial, these adverse events included pyrexia (32% vs. 13% vehicle), URI (24% vs. 14%), nasopharyngitis (15% vs. 8%), gastroenteritis (7% vs. 3%), otitis media (4% vs. 0%), and diarrhea (8% vs. 0%). In the open-label phase of the trial, for infants who switched to Pimecrolimus Cream, 1% from vehicle, the incidence of the above-cited adverse events approached or equaled the incidence of those subjects who remained on Pimecrolimus Cream, 1%. In the 6-month safety data, 16% of Pimecrolimus and 35% of vehicle subjects discontinued early and 1.5% of Pimecrolimus and 0% of vehicle subjects discontinued due to adverse events. Infants on Pimecrolimus Cream, 1% had a greater incidence of some adverse events as compared to vehicle. These included pyrexia (30% vs. 20%), URI (21% vs. 17%), cough (15% vs. 9%), hypersensitivity (8% vs. 2%), teething (27% vs. 22%), vomiting (9% vs. 4%), rhinitis (13% vs. 9%), viral rash (4% vs. 0%), rhinorrhea (4% vs. 0%), and wheezing (4% vs. 0%).

The systemic exposure to pimecrolimus from Pimecrolimus Cream, 1% was investigated in 28 pediatric subjects with atopic dermatitis (20%-80% BSA involvement) between the ages of 8 months-14 years. Following twice daily application for 3 weeks, blood concentrations of pimecrolimus were <2 ng/mL with 60% (96/161) of the blood samples having blood concentration below the limit of quantification (0.5 ng/mL). However, more children (23 children out of the total 28 children investigated) had at least one detectable blood level as compared to the adults (12 adults out of the total 52 adults investigated) over a 3-week treatment period. Due to the erratic nature of the blood levels observed, no correlation could be made between amount of cream, degree of BSA involvement, and blood concentrations. In general, the blood concentrations measured in adult atopic dermatitis subjects were comparable to those seen in the pediatric population.

In a second group of 30 pediatric subjects aged 3-23 months with 10%-92% BSA involvement, following twice daily application for 3 weeks, blood concentrations of pimecrolimus were <2.6 ng/mL with 65% (75/116) of the blood samples having blood concentration below 0.5 ng/mL, and 27% (31/116) below the limit of quantification (0.1 ng/mL) for these trials.

Overall, a higher proportion of detectable blood levels was seen in the pediatric subject population as compared to adult population. This increase in the absolute number of positive blood levels may be due to the larger surface area to body mass ratio seen in these younger subjects. In addition, a higher incidence of upper respiratory symptoms/infections was also seen relative to the older age group in the PK trials. At this time, a causal relationship between these findings and Pimecrolimus use cannot be ruled out.

8.5 Geriatric Use

Nine (9) subjects ≥65 years old received Pimecrolimus Cream, 1% in Phase 3 trials. Clinical trials of Pimecrolimus Cream, 1% did not include sufficient numbers of subjects aged 65 and over to assess efficacy and safety.

12.1 Mechanism of Action

The mechanism of action of pimecrolimus in atopic dermatitis is not known. While the following have been observed, the clinical significance of these observations in atopic dermatitis is not known. It has been demonstrated that pimecrolimus binds with high affinity to macrophilin-12 (FKBP-12) and inhibits the calcium-dependent phosphatase, calcineurin. As a consequence, it inhibits T-cell activation by blocking the transcription of early cytokines. In particular, pimecrolimus inhibits at nanomolar concentrations Interleukin-2 and interferon gamma (Th1-type) and Interleukin-4 and Interleukin-10 (Th2-type) cytokine synthesis in human T-cells. In addition, pimecrolimus prevents the release of inflammatory cytokines and mediators from mast cells in vitro after stimulation by antigen/IgE.

12.3 Pharmacokinetics

Absorption

In adult subjects (n=52) being treated for atopic dermatitis [13%-62% Body Surface Area (BSA) involvement] for periods up to a year, a maximum pimecrolimus concentration of 1.4 ng/mL was observed among those subjects with detectable blood levels. In the majority of samples in adult (91%; 1244/1362) subjects, blood concentrations of pimecrolimus were below 0.5 ng/mL. Data on blood levels of pimecrolimus measured in pediatric subjects are described in Use in Specific Populations (8.4).

Distribution

Laboratory in vitro plasma protein binding studies using equilibrium gel filtration have shown that 99.5% of pimecrolimus in plasma is bound to proteins over the pimecrolimus concentration range of 2-100 ng/mL tested. The major fraction of pimecrolimus in plasma appears to be bound to various lipoproteins. As with other topical calcineurin inhibitors, it is not known whether pimecrolimus is absorbed into cutaneous lymphatic vessels or in regional lymph nodes.

Metabolism

Following the administration of a single oral radiolabeled dose of pimecrolimus, numerous circulating O-demethylation metabolites were seen. Studies with human liver microsomes indicate that pimecrolimus is metabolized in vitro by the CYP3A subfamily of metabolizing enzymes. No evidence of skin mediated drug metabolism was identified in vivo using the minipig or in vitro using stripped human skin.

Elimination

Based on the results of the aforementioned radiolabeled study, following a single oral dose of pimecrolimus, ~81% of the administered radioactivity was recovered, primarily in the feces (78.4%) as metabolites. Less than 1% of the radioactivity found in the feces was due to unchanged pimecrolimus.

13.1 Carcinogenesis, Mutagenesis, Impairment of Fertility

In a 2-year rat dermal carcinogenicity study using Pimecrolimus Cream, 1%, a statistically significant increase in the incidence of follicular cell adenoma of the thyroid was noted in low, mid and high dose male animals compared to vehicle and saline control male animals. Follicular cell adenoma of the thyroid was noted in the dermal rat carcinogenicity study at the lowest dose of 2 mg/kg/day [0.2% pimecrolimus cream; 1.5X the Maximum Recommended Human Dose (MRHD) based on AUC comparisons]. No increase in the incidence of follicular cell adenoma of the thyroid was noted in the oral carcinogenicity study in male rats up to 10 mg/kg/day (66X MRHD based on AUC comparisons). However, oral studies may not reflect continuous exposure or the same metabolic profile as by the dermal route. In a mouse dermal carcinogenicity study using pimecrolimus in an ethanolic solution, no increase in incidence of neoplasms was observed in the skin or other organs up to the highest dose of 4 mg/kg/day (0.32% pimecrolimus in ethanol) 27X MRHD based on AUC comparisons. However, lymphoproliferative changes (including lymphoma) were noted in a 13-week repeat dose dermal toxicity study conducted in mice using pimecrolimus in an ethanolic solution at a dose of 25 mg/kg/day (47X MRHD based on AUC comparisons). No lymphoproliferative changes were noted in this study at a dose of 10 mg/kg/day (17X MRHD based on AUC comparison). However, the latency time to lymphoma formation was shortened to 8 weeks after dermal administration of pimecrolimus dissolved in ethanol at a dose of 100 mg/kg/day (179-217X MRHD based on AUC comparisons).

In a mouse oral (gavage) carcinogenicity study, a statistically significant increase in the incidence of lymphoma was noted in high dose male and female animals compared to vehicle control male and female animals. Lymphomas were noted in the oral mouse carcinogenicity study at a dose of 45 mg/kg/day (258-340X MRHD based on AUC comparisons). No drug-related tumors were noted in the mouse oral carcinogenicity study at a dose of 15 mg/kg/day (60-133X MRHD based on AUC comparisons).

In an oral (gavage) rat carcinogenicity study, a statistically significant increase in the incidence of benign thymoma was noted in 10 mg/kg/day pimecrolimus treated male and female animals compared to vehicle control treated male and female animals. In addition, a significant increase in the incidence of benign thymoma was noted in another oral (gavage) rat carcinogenicity study in 5 mg/kg/day pimecrolimus treated male animals compared to vehicle control treated male animals. No drug-related tumors were noted in the rat oral carcinogenicity study at a dose of 1 mg/kg/day male animals (1.1X MRHD based on AUC comparisons) and at a dose of 5 mg/kg/day for female animals (21X MRHD based on AUC comparisons).

In a 52-week dermal photocarcinogenicity study, the median time to onset of skin tumor formation was decreased in hairless mice following chronic topical dosing with concurrent exposure to UV radiation (40 weeks of treatment followed by 12 weeks of observation) with the Pimecrolimus Cream, 1% vehicle alone. No additional effect on tumor development beyond the vehicle effect was noted with the addition of the active ingredient, pimecrolimus, to the vehicle cream.

A 39-week oral monkey toxicology study was conducted with pimecrolimus doses of 15, 45 and 120 mg/kg/day. A dose-dependent increase in expression of immunosuppressive-related lymphoproliferative disorder (IRLD) associated with lymphocryptovirus (a monkey strain of virus related to human Epstein Barr virus) was observed. IRLD in monkeys mirrors what has been noted in human transplant patients after chronic systemic immunosuppressive therapy, post-transplantation lymphoproliferative disease (PTLD), after treatment with chronic systemic immunosuppressive therapy. Both IRLD and PTLD can progress to lymphoma, which is dependent on the dose and duration of systemic immunosuppressive therapy. A dose-dependent increase in opportunistic infections (a signal of systemic immunosuppression) was also noted in this monkey study. A no observed adverse effect level (NOAEL) for IRLD and opportunistic infections was not established in this study. IRLD occurred at the lowest dose of 15 mg/kg/day for 39 weeks [31X the Maximum Recommended Human Dose (MRHD) of Pimecrolimus Cream, 1% based on AUC comparisons] in this study. A partial recovery from IRLD was noted upon cessation of dosing in this study.

A battery of in vitro genotoxicity tests, including Ames assay, mouse lymphoma L5178Y assay, and chromosome aberration test in V79 Chinese hamster cells and an in vivo mouse micronucleus test revealed no evidence for a mutagenic or clastogenic potential for the drug.

An oral fertility and embryofetal developmental study in rats revealed estrus cycle disturbances, post-implantation loss and reduction in litter size at the 45 mg/kg/day dose (38X MRHD based on AUC comparisons). No effect on fertility in female rats was noted at 10 mg/kg/day (12X MRHD based on AUC comparisons). No effect on fertility in male rats was noted at 45 mg/kg/day (23X MRHD based on AUC comparisons), which was the highest dose tested in this study.

A second oral fertility and embryofetal developmental study in rats revealed reduced testicular and epididymal weights, reduced testicular sperm counts and motile sperm for males and estrus cycle disturbances, decreased corpora lutea, decreased implantations and viable fetuses for females at 45 mg/kg/day dose (123X MRHD for males and 192X MRHD for females based on AUC comparisons). No effect on fertility in female rats was noted at 10 mg/kg/day (5X MRHD based on AUC comparisons). No effect on fertility in male rats was noted at 2 mg/kg/day (0.7X MRHD based on AUC comparisons).