Serostim

1 INDICATIONS AND USAGE SEROSTIM (somatropin) is indicated for the treatment of HIV patients with wasting or cachexia to increase lean body mass and body weight, and improve physical endurance. Concomitant antiretroviral therapy is necessary. SEROSTIM is indicated for the treatment of HIV patients with wasting or cachexia to increase lean body mass and body weight, and improve physical endurance ( 1 )

2 DOSAGE AND ADMINISTRATION SEROSTIM is administered by subcutaneous injection. SEROSTIM therapy should be carried out under the regular guidance of a physician who is experienced in the diagnosis and management of HIV infection. The recommended dose of SEROSTIM is 0.1 mg/kg subcutaneously (SC) daily (up to 6 mg) at bedtime for HIV patients with wasting or cachexia ( 2.1 ) Injection sites, which may be located on thigh, upper arm, abdomen or buttock, should be rotated to avoid local irritation ( 2.2 ) 2.1 HIV-associated wasting or cachexia The usual starting dose of SEROSTIM is 0.1 mg/kg subcutaneously once daily (up to a total dose of 6 mg). SEROSTIM should be administered subcutaneously once daily at bedtime according to the following body weight-based dosage recommendations: Weight Range Dose >55kg (>121 lb) 6 mg Based on an approximate daily dosage of 0.1 mg/kg. SC daily 45-55 kg (99-121 lb) 5 mg SC daily 35-45 kg (75-99 lb) 4 mg SC daily <35 kg (<75 lb) 0.1 mg/kg SC daily Treatment with SEROSTIM 0.1 mg/kg every other day was associated with fewer side effects, and resulted in a similar improvement in work output, as compared with SEROSTIM 0.1 mg/kg daily. Therefore, a starting dose of SEROSTIM 0.1 mg/kg every other day should be considered in patients at increased risk for adverse effects related to recombinant human growth hormone therapy (i.e., glucose intolerance). In general, dose reductions (i.e., reducing the total daily dose or the number of doses per week) should be considered for side effects potentially related to recombinant human growth hormone therapy. Most of the effect of SEROSTIM on work output and lean body mass was apparent after 12 weeks of treatment. The effect was maintained during an additional 12 weeks of therapy. There are no safety or efficacy data available from controlled studies in which patients were treated with SEROSTIM continuously for more than 48 weeks. There are no safety or efficacy data available from trials in which patients with HIV wasting or cachexia were treated intermittently with SEROSTIM. 2.2 Preparation and Administration Each vial of SEROSTIM 5 mg or 6 mg is reconstituted with 0.5 to 1 mL Sterile Water for Injection, USP. Each vial of SEROSTIM 4 mg is reconstituted in 0.5 to 1 mL of Bacteriostatic Water for Injection, USP (0.9% Benzyl Alcohol preserved). For patients sensitive to Benzyl Alcohol, SEROSTIM may be reconstituted with Sterile Water for Injection, USP [see Pediatric Use (8.4) ]. When SEROSTIM is reconstituted with Sterile Water for Injection, USP, the reconstituted solution should be used immediately and any unused portion should be discarded. When SEROSTIM is reconstituted with Bacteriostatic Water for Injection, USP (0.9% Benzyl Alcohol preserved) the reconstituted solution may be refrigerated (2-8°C/36-46°F) for up to 14 days. Approximately 10% mechanical loss can be associated with reconstitution and administration from multi-dose vials. To reconstitute SEROSTIM, inject the diluent into the vial of SEROSTIM aiming the liquid against the glass vial wall. Swirl the vial with a GENTLE rotary motion until contents are dissolved completely. DO NOT SHAKE. Parenteral drug products should always be inspected visually for particulate matter and discoloration prior to administration, whenever solution and container permit. SEROSTIM MUST NOT BE INJECTED if the solution is cloudy or contains particulate matter. Use it only if it is clear and colorless. SEROSTIM can be administered using (1) a standard sterile, disposable syringe and needle, (2) a compatible SEROSTIM needle-free injection device or (3) a compatible SEROSTIM needle injection device. For proper use, refer to the Instructions for Use provided with the administration device. Injection sites, which may be located on the thigh, upper arm, abdomen or buttock, should be rotated to avoid local irritation.

5 WARNINGS AND PRECAUTIONS Acute Critical Illness: Increased mortality in patients with acute critical illness following open heart surgery, abdominal surgery or multiple accidental trauma, or those with acute respiratory failure has been reported after treatment with pharmacologic amounts of somatropin ( 5.1 ) Concomitant Antiretroviral Therapy: In vitro experimental systems have demonstrated the potential to potentiate HIV replication. No significant somatropin-associated increase in viral load was observed in clinical trials. HIV patients should be maintained on antiretroviral therapy for the duration of SEROSTIM treatment ( 5.2 ) Neoplasms: Monitor all patients with a history of any neoplasm routinely while on somatropin therapy for progression, recurrences, or development of a tumor ( 5.3 ) Impaired Glucose Tolerance/Diabetes: May be unmasked. Periodically monitor glucose levels. Dose adjustment of concurrent antihyperglycemic drugs in diabetics may be required ( 5.4 ) Intracranial Hypertension: Exclude preexisting papilledema. May develop and is usually reversible after discontinuation or dose reduction ( 5.5 ) Hypersensitivity: Serious hypersensitivity reactions may occur. In the event of an allergic reaction, seek prompt medical attention ( 5.6 ) Fluid Retention (edema, arthralgia)/Carpal Tunnel Syndrome: May occur frequently. Reduce dose as necessary ( 5.7 ) Pancreatitis: Consider pancreatitis in patients with persistent severe abdominal pain ( 5.9 ) 5.1 Acute Critical Illness Increased mortality in patients with acute critical illness due to complications following open heart surgery, abdominal surgery or multiple accidental trauma, or those with acute respiratory failure has been reported after treatment with pharmacologic amounts of somatropin. Two placebo-controlled clinical trials in non-growth hormone deficient adult patients (n=522) with these conditions revealed a significant increase in mortality (42% vs. 19%) among somatropin-treated patients (doses 5.3-8 mg/day) compared to those receiving placebo [see Contraindications (4) ] . 5.2 Concomitant Antiretroviral Therapy In some experimental systems, somatropin has been shown to potentiate HIV replication in vitro at concentrations ranging from 50-250 ng/mL. There was no increase in virus production when the antiretroviral agents, zidovudine, didanosine or lamivudine were added to the culture medium. Additional in vitro studies have shown that somatropin does not interfere with the antiviral activity of zalcitabine or stavudine. In the controlled clinical trials, no significant somatropin-associated increase in viral burden was observed. However, the protocol required all participants to be on concomitant antiretroviral therapy for the duration of the study. In view of the potential for acceleration of virus replication, it is recommended that HIV patients be maintained on antiretroviral therapy for the duration of SEROSTIM treatment. 5.3 Neoplasms Because malignancies are more common in HIV positive individuals, the risks and benefits of starting somatropin in HIV positive patients should be carefully considered before initiating SEROSTIM treatment and patients should be monitored carefully for the development of neoplasms if treatment with somatropin is initiated. Monitor all patients with a history of any neoplasm routinely while on somatropin therapy for progression or recurrence of the tumor [see Contraindications (4) ]. Monitor patients on somatropin therapy carefully for increased growth, or potential malignant changes of preexisting nevi. 5.4 Impaired Glucose Tolerance/Diabetes Hyperglycemia may occur in HIV infected individuals due to a variety of reasons. In wasting patients, treatment with SEROSTIM 0.1 mg/kg daily and 0.1 mg/kg every other day for 12 weeks was associated with approximately 10 mg/dL and 6 mg/dL increases in mean fasting blood glucose concentrations, respectively. The increases occurred early in treatment. Patients with other risk facto…

4 CONTRAINDICATIONS Acute Critical Illness Growth hormone therapy should not be initiated in patients with acute critical illness due to complications following open heart or abdominal surgery, multiple accidental trauma or acute respiratory failure [see Warnings and Precautions (5.1) ]. Active Malignancy In general, somatropin is contraindicated in the presence of active malignancy. Any preexisting malignancy should be inactive and its treatment complete prior to instituting therapy with somatropin. Somatropin should be discontinued if there is evidence of recurrent activity [see Warnings and Precautions (5.3) ] . Hypersensitivity SEROSTIM is contraindicated in patients with a known hypersensitivity to somatropin or any of its excipients. Systemic hypersensitivity reactions have been reported with postmarketing use of somatropin products [see Warnings and Precautions (5.6) ]. Diabetic Retinopathy Somatropin is contraindicated in patients with active proliferative or severe non-proliferative diabetic retinopathy. Acute Critical Illness ( 4 ) Active Malignancy ( 4 ) Diabetic Retinopathy ( 4 ) Hypersensitivity to somatropin or excipients ( 4 )

7 DRUG INTERACTIONS Formal drug interaction studies have not been conducted. No data are available on drug interactions between SEROSTIM and HIV protease inhibitors or the non-nucleoside reverse transcriptase inhibitors. Inhibition of 11β-Hydroxysteroid Dehydrogenase Type 1: May require the initiation of glucocorticoid replacement therapy. Patients treated with glucocorticoid replacement for previously diagnosed hypoadrenalism may require an increase in their maintenance doses ( 7.1 ) Cytochrome P450-Metabolized Drugs: Monitor carefully if used with somatropin ( 7.2 ) Oral Estrogen: Larger doses of somatropin may be required in women ( 7.3 ) Insulin and/or Oral/Injectable Hypoglycemic Agents: May require adjustment ( 7.4 ) 7.1 11β-Hydroxysteroid Dehydrogenase Type 1 The microsomal enzyme 11β-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase type 1 (11βHSD-1) is required for conversion of cortisone to its active metabolite, cortisol, in hepatic and adipose tissue. Somatropin inhibits 11βHSD-1. Patients treated with glucocorticoid replacement for previously diagnosed hypoadrenalism may require an increase in their maintenance or stress doses following initiation of somatropin treatment; this may be especially true for patients treated with cortisone acetate and prednisone since conversion of these drugs to their biologically active metabolites is dependent on the activity of 11βHSD-1. 7.2 Cytochrome P450-metabolized drugs Limited published data indicate that somatropin treatment increases cytochrome P450 (CYP450)-mediated antipyrine clearance in man. These data suggest that somatropin administration may alter the clearance of compounds metabolized by CYP450 liver enzymes (e.g., corticosteroids, sex steroids, anticonvulsants, cyclosporine). Therefore, careful monitoring is advised when somatropin is administered in combination with drugs metabolized by CYP450 liver enzymes. However, formal drug interaction studies have not been conducted. 7.3 Oral Estrogen Because oral estrogens may reduce the serum IGF-1 response to somatropin treatment, girls and women receiving oral estrogen replacement may require greater somatropin dosages [see Dosage and Administration (2) ] . 7.4 Insulin and/or Other Oral/Injectable Hypoglycemic Agents Patients with diabetes mellitus who receive concomitant treatment with somatropin may require adjustment of their doses of insulin and/or other hypoglycemic agents [see Warnings and Precautions (5.4) ] .

8.1 Pregnancy Reproduction studies have been performed in rats and rabbits. Doses up to 5 to 10 times the human dose, based on body surface area, have revealed no evidence of impaired fertility or harm to the fetus due to SEROSTIM. There are, however, no adequate and well-controlled studies in pregnant women. Because animal reproduction studies are not always predictive of human response, SEROSTIM should be used during pregnancy only if clearly needed.

8.3 Nursing Women It is not known whether SEROSTIM is excreted in human milk. Because many drugs are excreted in human milk, caution should be exercised when SEROSTIM is administered to a nursing woman.

6 ADVERSE REACTIONS The following important adverse reactions are also described elsewhere in the labeling: Acute Critical Illness [see Warnings and Precautions (5.1) ] Neoplasms [see Warnings and Precautions (5.3) ] Impaired glucose tolerance and diabetes mellitus [see Warnings and Precautions (5.4) ] Intracranial hypertension [see Warnings and Precautions (5.5) ] Severe hypersensitivity [see Warnings and Precautions (5.6) ] Fluid retention/Carpal tunnel syndrome [see Warnings and Precautions (5.7) ] Lipoatrophy [see Warnings and Precautions (5.8) ] Pancreatitis [see Warnings and Precautions (5.9) ] Most common adverse reactions include (incidence >10%) tissue turgor (edema, myalgia, hypoesthesia) and musculoskeletal discomfort (arthralgia, pain in extremities) ( 6 ) To report SUSPECTED ADVERSE REACTIONS, contact EMD Serono at 1-800-283-8088 ext 5563 or FDA at 1-800-FDA-1088 or www.fda.gov/medwatch 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 clinical practice. Clinical trials in HIV-associated wasting or cachexia: In the 12-week, placebo-controlled Clinical Trial 2, 510 patients were treated with SEROSTIM. The most common adverse reactions judged to be associated with SEROSTIM were musculoskeletal discomfort and increased tissue turgor (swelling, particularly of the hands or feet), and were more frequently observed when SEROSTIM 0.1 mg/kg was administered on a daily basis [Table 1 and Warnings and Precautions (5)]. These symptoms often subsided with continued treatment or dose reduction. Approximately 23% of patients receiving SEROSTIM 0.1 mg/kg daily and 11% of patients receiving 0.1 mg/kg every other day required dose reductions. Discontinuations as a result of adverse reactions occurred in 10.3% of patients receiving SEROSTIM 0.1 mg/kg daily and 6.6% of patients receiving 0.1 mg/kg every other day. The most common reasons for dose reduction and/or drug discontinuation were arthralgia, myalgia, edema, carpal tunnel syndrome, elevated glucose levels, and elevated triglyceride levels. Clinical adverse reactions which occurred during the first 12 weeks of study in at least 5% of the patients in either active treatment group and at an incidence greater than placebo are listed below, without regard to causality assessment. Table 1: Controlled Clinical Trial 2 Adverse Reactions Occurring in at least 5% of Patients in one of the Treatment Groups, and at an Incidence Greater than Placebo Placebo 0.1 mg/kg every other day SEROSTIM 0.1 mg/kg daily SEROSTIM Patients (n=247) Patients (n=257) Patients (n=253) Body System Preferred Term % % % Musculoskeletal System Disorders Arthralgia 11.3 24.5 36.4 Myalgia 11.7 17.9 30.4 Arthrosis 3.6 7.8 10.7 Gastrointestinal System Disorders Nausea 4.9 5.4 9.1 Body As A Whole - General Disorders Edema Peripheral 2.8 11.3 26.1 Fatigue 4.5 3.5 5.1 Endocrine Disorders Gynecomastia 0.4 3.5 5.5 Central and Peripheral Nervous System Disorders Paresthesia 4.5 7.4 7.9 Hypoesthesia 2.4 1.6 5.1 Metabolic and Nutritional Disorders Edema Generalized 1.2 1.2 5.9 Adverse reactions that occurred in 1% to less than 5% of trial participants receiving SEROSTIM during the first 12 weeks of Clinical Trial 2 thought to be related to SEROSTIM included dose dependent edema, periorbital edema, carpal tunnel syndrome, hyperglycemia and hypertriglyceridemia. During the 12-week, placebo-controlled portion of Clinical Trial 2, the incidence of hyperglycemia reported as an adverse reaction was 3.6% for the placebo group, 1.9% for the 0.1 mg/kg every other day group and 3.2% for the 0.1 mg/kg daily group. One case of diabetes mellitus was noted in the 0.1 mg/kg daily group during the first 12-weeks of therapy. In addition, during the extension phase of Clinical Trial 2, two patients converted …