2.1 Recommended Dosage

The recommended dose of LYSTEDA for women with normal renal function is two 650 mg tablets taken three times daily (3900 mg/day) for a maximum of 5 days during monthly menstruation. LYSTEDA may be administered without regard to meals. Tablets should be swallowed whole and not chewed or broken apart.

2.2 Renal Impairment

In patients with renal impairment, the plasma concentration of tranexamic acid increased as serum creatinine concentration increased [see Clinical Pharmacology (12.3)]. Dosage adjustment is needed in patients with serum creatinine concentration higher than 1.4 mg/dL (Table 1).

4.1 Thromboembolic Risk

Do not prescribe LYSTEDA to women who are known to have the following conditions:

• Active thromboembolic disease (e.g., deep vein thrombosis, pulmonary embolism, or cerebral thrombosis)
• A history of thrombosis or thromboembolism, including retinal vein or artery occlusion
• An intrinsic risk of thrombosis or thromboembolism (e.g., thrombogenic valvular disease, thrombogenic cardiac rhythm disease, or hypercoagulopathy)

Venous and arterial thrombosis or thromboembolism, as well as cases of retinal artery and retinal vein occlusions, have been reported with tranexamic acid.

4.2 Hypersensitivity to Tranexamic Acid

Do not prescribe LYSTEDA to women with known hypersensitivity to tranexamic acid [see Warnings and Precautions (5.2) and Adverse Reactions (6.1)].

5.1 Thromboembolic Risk

5.2 Severe Allergic Reaction

A case of severe allergic reaction to LYSTEDA was reported in the clinical trials, involving a subject who experienced dyspnea, tightening of her throat, and facial flushing that required emergency medical treatment. A case of anaphylactic shock has also been reported in the literature, involving a patient who received an intravenous bolus of tranexamic acid.

5.3 Subarachnoid Hemorrhage

Cerebral edema and cerebral infarction may be caused by use of LYSTEDA in women with subarachnoid hemorrhage.

5.4 Ligneous Conjunctivitis

Ligneous conjunctivitis has been reported in patients taking tranexamic acid. The conjunctivitis resolved following cessation of the drug.

6.1 Clinical Trial 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 the rates in the clinical trials of another drug and may not reflect the rates observed in clinical practice.

Short-term Studies

The safety of LYSTEDA in the treatment of heavy menstrual bleeding (HMB) was studied in two randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled studies [see Clinical Studies (14)]. One study compared the effects of two doses of LYSTEDA (1950 mg and 3900 mg given daily for up to 5 days during each menstrual period) versus placebo over a 3-cycle treatment duration. A total of 304 women were randomized to this study, with 115 receiving at least one dose of 3900 mg/day of LYSTEDA. A second study compared the effects of LYSTEDA (3900 mg/day) versus placebo over a 6-cycle treatment duration. A total of 196 women were randomized to this study, with 117 receiving at least one dose of LYSTEDA. In both studies, subjects were generally healthy women who had menstrual blood loss of ≥ 80 mL.

In these studies, subjects were 18 to 49 years of age with a mean age of approximately 40 years, had cyclic menses every 21-35 days, and a BMI of approximately 32 kg/m2. On average, subjects had a history of HMB for approximately 10 years and 40% had fibroids as determined by transvaginal ultrasound. Approximately 70% were Caucasian, 25% were Black, and 5% were Asian, Native American, Pacific Islander, or Other. Seven percent (7%) of all subjects were of Hispanic origin. Women using hormonal contraception were excluded from the trials.

The rates of discontinuation due to adverse events during the two clinical trials were comparable between LYSTEDA and placebo. In the 3-cycle study, the rate in the 3900 mg LYSTEDA dose group was 0.8% as compared to 1.4% in the placebo group. In the 6-cycle study, the rate in the LYSTEDA group was 2.4% as compared to 4.1% in the placebo group. Across the studies, the combined exposure to 3900 mg/day LYSTEDA was 947 cycles and the average duration of use was 3.4 days per cycle.

A list of adverse events occurring in ≥ 5% of subjects and more frequently in LYSTEDA treated subjects receiving 3900 mg/day compared to placebo is provided in Table 2.

Long-term Studies

Long-term safety of LYSTEDA was studied in two open-label studies. In one study, subjects with physician-diagnosed heavy menstrual bleeding (not using the alkaline hematin methodology) were treated with 3900 mg/day for up to 5 days during each menstrual period for up to 27 menstrual cycles. A total of 781 subjects were enrolled and 239 completed the study through 27 menstrual cycles. A total of 12.4% of the subjects withdrew due to adverse events. Women using hormonal contraception were excluded from the study. The total exposure in this study to 3900 mg/day LYSTEDA was 10,213 cycles. The average duration of LYSTEDA use was 2.9 days per cycle.

A long-term open-label extension study of subjects from the two short-term efficacy studies was also conducted in which subjects were treated with 3900 mg/day for up to 5 days during each menstrual period for up to 9 menstrual cycles. A total of 288 subjects were enrolled and 196 subjects completed the study through 9 menstrual cycles. A total of 2.1% of the subjects withdrew due to adverse events. The total exposure to 3900 mg/day LYSTEDA in this study was 1,956 cycles. The average duration of LYSTEDA use was 3.5 days per cycle.

The types and severity of adverse events in these two long-term open-label trials were similar to those observed in the double-blind, placebo-controlled studies although the percentage of subjects reporting them was greater in the 27-month study, most likely because of the longer study duration.

A case of severe allergic reaction to LYSTEDA was reported in the extension trial, involving a subject on her fourth cycle of treatment, who experienced dyspnea, tightening of her throat, and facial flushing that required emergency medical treatment.

6.2 Postmarketing Experience

The following adverse reactions have been identified from postmarketing experience with tranexamic acid. 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.

Based on US and worldwide postmarketing reports, the following have been reported in patients receiving tranexamic acid for various indications:

• Nausea, vomiting, and diarrhea
• Allergic skin reactions
• Anaphylactic shock and anaphylactoid reactions
• Thromboembolic events (e.g., deep vein thrombosis, pulmonary embolism, cerebral thrombosis, acute renal cortical necrosis, and central retinal artery and vein obstruction)
• Impaired color vision and other visual disturbances
• Dizziness

7.1 Hormonal Contraceptives

Because LYSTEDA is antifibrinolytic, concomitant use of hormonal contraception and LYSTEDA may further exacerbate the increased thrombotic risk associated with combination hormonal contraceptives. Women using hormonal contraception should use LYSTEDA only if there is a strong medical need and the benefit of treatment will outweigh the potential increased risk of a thrombotic event [see Warnings and Precautions (5.1) and Clinical Pharmacology (12.3)].

7.2 Tissue Plasminogen Activators

Concomitant therapy with tissue plasminogen activators may decrease the efficacy of both LYSTEDA and tissue plasminogen activators. Therefore, exercise caution if a woman taking LYSTEDA therapy requires tissue plasminogen activators.

7.3 Factor IX Complex Concentrates or Anti-Inhibitor Coagulant Concentrates

LYSTEDA is not recommended for women taking either Factor IX complex concentrates or anti-inhibitor coagulant concentrates because the risk of thrombosis may be increased [see Warnings and Precautions (5.1) and Clinical Pharmacology (12.3)].

7.4 All-Trans Retinoic Acid (Oral Tretinoin)

Exercise caution when prescribing LYSTEDA to women with acute promyelocytic leukemia taking all-trans retinoic acid for remission induction because of possible exacerbation of the procoagulant effect of all-trans retinoic acid [see Warnings and Precautions (5.1) and Clinical Pharmacology (12.3)].

8.1 Pregnancy (Category B)

LYSTEDA is not indicated for use in pregnant women. Reproduction studies have been performed in mice, rats and rabbits and have revealed no evidence of impaired fertility or harm to the fetus due to tranexamic acid. However, tranexamic acid is known to cross the placenta and appears in cord blood at concentrations approximately equal to the maternal concentration. There are no adequate and well-controlled studies in pregnant women [see Nonclinical Toxicology (13.1)].

An embryo-fetal developmental toxicity study in rats and a perinatal developmental toxicity study in rats were conducted using tranexamic acid. No adverse effects were observed in either study at doses up to 4 times the recommended human oral dose of 3900 mg/day based on mg/m2 (actual animal dose 1500 mg/kg/day).

8.3 Nursing Mothers

Tranexamic acid is present in the mother's milk at a concentration of about one hundredth of the corresponding serum concentration. LYSTEDA should be used during lactation only if clearly needed.

8.4 Pediatric Use

LYSTEDA is indicated for women of reproductive age and is not intended for use in premenarcheal girls.

LYSTEDA has not been studied in adolescents under age 18 with heavy menstrual bleeding.

8.5 Geriatric Use

LYSTEDA is indicated for women of reproductive age and is not intended for use by postmenopausal women.

8.6 Renal Impairment

The effect of renal impairment on the pharmacokinetics of LYSTEDA has not been studied. Because tranexamic acid is primarily eliminated via the kidneys by glomerular filtration with more than 95% excreted as unchanged in urine, dosage adjustment in patient with renal impairment is needed [see Dosage and Administration (2.2) and Clinical Pharmacology (12.3)].

8.7 Hepatic Impairment

The effect of hepatic impairment on the pharmacokinetics of LYSTEDA has not been studied. Because only a small fraction of the drug is metabolized, dosage adjustment in patients with hepatic impairment is not needed [see Clinical Pharmacology (12.3)].

12.1 Mechanism of Action

Tranexamic acid is a synthetic lysine amino acid derivative, which diminishes the dissolution of hemostatic fibrin by plasmin. In the presence of tranexamic acid, the lysine receptor binding sites of plasmin for fibrin are occupied, preventing binding to fibrin monomers, thus preserving and stabilizing fibrin's matrix structure.

The antifibrinolytic effects of tranexamic acid are mediated by reversible interactions at multiple binding sites within plasminogen. Native human plasminogen contains 4 to 5 lysine binding sites with low affinity for tranexamic acid (Kd = 750 μmol/L) and 1 with high affinity (Kd = 1.1 μmol/L). The high affinity lysine site of plasminogen is involved in its binding to fibrin. Saturation of the high affinity binding site with tranexamic acid displaces plasminogen from the surface of fibrin. Although plasmin may be formed by conformational changes in plasminogen, binding to and dissolution of the fibrin matrix is inhibited.

12.2 Pharmacodynamics

Tranexamic acid, at in vitro concentrations of 25 - 100 μM, reduces by 20 - 60% the maximal rate of plasmin lysis of fibrin catalyzed by tissue plasminogen activator (tPA).

Elevated concentrations of endometrial, uterine, and menstrual blood tPA are observed in women with heavy menstrual bleeding (HMB) compared to women with normal menstrual blood loss. The effect of tranexamic acid on lowering endometrial tPA activity and menstrual fluid fibrinolysis is observed in women with HMB receiving tranexamic acid total oral doses of 2-3 g/day for 5 days.

In healthy subjects, tranexamic acid at blood concentrations less than 10 mg/mL has no effect on the platelet count, the coagulation time or various coagulation factors in whole blood or citrated blood. Tranexamic acid, however, at blood concentrations of 1 and 10 mg/mL prolongs the thrombin time.

12.3 Pharmacokinetics

13.1 Carcinogenesis, Mutagenesis, Impairment of Fertility

13.2 Animal Toxicology and/or Pharmacology

14.1 Three-Cycle Treatment Study

This study compared the effects of two doses of LYSTEDA (1950 mg and 3900 mg given daily for up to 5 days during each menstrual period) versus placebo on MBL over a 3-cycle treatment duration. Of the 294 evaluable subjects, 115 LYSTEDA 1950 mg/day subjects, 112 LYSTEDA 3900 mg/day subjects and 67 placebo subjects took at least one dose of study drug and had post-treatment data available.

Results are shown in Table 4. MBL was statistically significantly reduced in patients treated with 3900 mg/day LYSTEDA compared to placebo. Study success also required achieving a reduction in MBL that was determined to be clinically meaningful to the subjects. The 1950 mg/day LYSTEDA dose did not meet the criteria for success.

LYSTEDA also statistically significantly reduced limitations on social, leisure, and physical activities in the 3900 mg/day dose group compared to placebo (see Table 5). No statistically significant treatment difference was observed in response rates on the number of large stains.

14.2 Six-Cycle Treatment Study

This study compared the effects of LYSTEDA 3900 mg/day given daily for up to 5 days during each menstrual period versus placebo on MBL over a 6-cycle treatment duration. Of the 187 evaluable subjects, 115 LYSTEDA subjects and 72 placebo subjects took at least one dose of study drug and had post-treatment data available.

Results are shown in Table 6. MBL was statistically significantly reduced in patients treated with 3900 mg/day LYSTEDA compared to placebo. Study success also required achieving a reduction in MBL that was determined to be clinically meaningful to the subjects.

Limitations on social, leisure, and physical activities were also statistically significantly reduced in the LYSTEDA group compared to placebo (see Table 7). No statistically significant treatment difference was observed in response rates on the number of large stains.

14.3 MBL Results over Time

The efficacy of LYSTEDA 3900 mg/day over 3 menstrual cycles and over 6 menstrual cycles was demonstrated versus placebo in the double-blind, placebo-controlled efficacy studies (see Figure 1). The change in MBL from baseline was similar across all post-baseline treatment cycles.

Figure 1: MBL Levels over Duration of Therapy

Storage

Store at room temperature 25° C (77° F); excursions permitted to 15-30° C (59-86° F). [See USP Controlled Room Temperature].