Liraglutide

1 INDICATIONS AND USAGE Liraglutide injection is indicated: as an adjunct to diet and exercise to improve glycemic control in adults and pediatric patients aged 10 years and older with type 2 diabetes mellitus Limitations of Use : Liraglutide injection should not be used in patients with type 1 diabetes mellitus. Liraglutide injection contains liraglutide and should not be coadministered with other liraglutide-containing products. Liraglutide injection is a glucagon-like peptide-1 (GLP-1) receptor agonist indicated: as an adjunct to diet and exercise to improve glycemic control in adults and pediatric patients aged 10 years and older with type 2 diabetes mellitus ( 1 ). Limitations of Use : Not for treatment of type 1 diabetes mellitus. Should not be coadministered with other liraglutide-containing products.

2 DOSAGE AND ADMINISTRATION Adult Patients : Initiate at 0.6 mg injected subcutaneously once daily for one week then increase to 1.2 mg daily. If additional glycemic control is required, increase the dose to 1.8 mg daily after one week of treatment with the 1.2 mg daily dose ( 2.1 ). Pediatric Patients : Initiate at 0.6 mg injected subcutaneously once daily for at least one week. If additional glycemic control is required increase the dose to 1.2 mg daily and if additional glycemic control is still required, increase the dose to 1.8 mg daily after at least one week of treatment with the 1.2 mg daily dose ( 2.1 ). Inspect visually prior to each injection. Only use if solution is clear, colorless, and contains no particles ( 2.3 ). Inject liraglutide injection subcutaneously once-daily at any time of day, independently of meals, in the abdomen, thigh or upper arm ( 2.3 ). When using liraglutide injection with insulin, administer as separate injections. Never mix. ( 2.3 ). 2.1 Recommended Dosage Adult Patients The recommended starting dosage of liraglutide injection is 0.6 mg injected subcutaneously once daily for one week. The 0.6 mg once daily dosage is intended to reduce gastrointestinal symptoms [see Adverse Reactions ( 6.1 )] during initial titration and is not effective for glycemic control in adults. After one week at the 0.6 mg once daily dosage, increase the dosage to 1.2 mg injected subcutaneously once daily. If additional glycemic control is required, increase the dosage to the maximum recommended dosage of 1.8 mg injected subcutaneously once daily after at least one week of treatment with the 1.2 mg once daily dosage. Pediatric Patients Aged 10 Years and Older The recommended starting dosage of liraglutide injection is 0.6 mg injected subcutaneously once daily. If additional glycemic control is required, increase the dosage in 0.6 mg increments after at least one week on the current dosage. The maximum recommended dosage is 1.8 mg injected subcutaneously once daily. 2.2 Recommendations Regarding Missed Dose Instruct patients who miss a dose of liraglutide injection to resume the once -daily dosage regimen as prescribed with the next scheduled dose. Do not administer an extra dose or increase the dose to make up for the missed dose. If more than 3 days have elapsed since the last liraglutide injection dose, reinitiate liraglutide injection at 0.6 mg once daily to mitigate any gastrointestinal symptoms associated with reinitiation of treatment. Upon reinitiation, liraglutide injection should be titrated at the discretion of the healthcare provider. 2.3 Important Administration Instructions Inspect visually prior to each injection. Only use if solution is clear, colorless, and contains no particles. Inject liraglutide injection subcutaneously once daily at any time of day, independently of meals. Inject liraglutide injection subcutaneously in the abdomen, thigh or upper arm. No dosage adjustment is needed if changing the injection site and/or timing. Rotate injection sites within the same region in order to reduce the risk of cutaneous amyloidosis [see Adverse Reactions ( 6.2 )] . When using liraglutide injection with insulin, administer as separate injections. Never mix. It is acceptable to inject liraglutide injection and insulin in the same body region but the injections should not be adjacent to each other.

5 WARNINGS AND PRECAUTIONS Pancreatitis : Postmarketing reports, including fatal and non-fatal hemorrhagic or necrotizing pancreatitis. Discontinue promptly if pancreatitis is suspected. Do not restart if pancreatitis is confirmed ( 5.2 ). Never share a liraglutide injection pen between patients, even if the needle is changed ( 5.3 ). Hypoglycemia: Adult patients taking an insulin secretagogue or insulin may have an increased risk of hypoglycemia, including severe hypoglycemia. In pediatric patients 10 years of age and older, the risk of hypoglycemia was higher with liraglutide injection regardless of insulin and/or metformin use. Reduction in the dose of insulin secretagogues or insulin may be necessary ( 5.4 ). Acute Kidney Injury : Postmarketing, usually in association with nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, or dehydration which may sometimes require hemodialysis. Use caution when initiating or escalating doses of liraglutide injection in patients with renal impairment ( 5.5 ). Hypersensitivity Reactions : Postmarketing reports of serious hypersensitivity reactions (e.g., anaphylactic reactions and angioedema). Discontinue liraglutide injection and promptly seek medical advice ( 5.6 ). Acute Gallbladder Disease : If cholelithiasis or cholecystitis are suspected, gallbladder studies are indicated ( 5.7 ). Pulmonary Aspiration During General Anesthesia or Deep Sedation : Has been reported in patients receiving GLP-1 receptor agonists undergoing elective surgeries or procedures. Instruct patients to inform healthcare providers of any planned surgeries or procedures (5.8). 5.1 Risk of Thyroid C-cell Tumors Liraglutide causes dose-dependent and treatment-duration-dependent thyroid C-cell tumors (adenomas and/or carcinomas) at clinically relevant exposures in both genders of rats and mice [see Nonclinical Toxicology ( 13.1 )] . Malignant thyroid C-cell carcinomas were detected in rats and mice. It is unknown whether liraglutide injection will cause thyroid C-cell tumors, including medullary thyroid carcinoma (MTC), in humans, as the human relevance of liraglutide-induced rodent thyroid C-cell tumors has not been determined. Cases of MTC in patients treated with liraglutide injection have been reported in the postmarketing period; the data in these reports are insufficient to establish or exclude a causal relationship between MTC and liraglutide injection use in humans. Liraglutide injection is contraindicated in patients with a personal or family history of MTC or in patients with MEN 2. Counsel patients regarding the potential risk for MTC with the use of liraglutide injection and inform them of symptoms of thyroid tumors (e.g., a mass in the neck, dysphagia, dyspnea, persistent hoarseness). Routine monitoring of serum calcitonin or using thyroid ultrasound is of uncertain value for early detection of MTC in patients treated with liraglutide injection. Such monitoring may increase the risk of unnecessary procedures, due to low test specificity for serum calcitonin and a high background incidence of thyroid disease. Significantly elevated serum calcitonin may indicate MTC and patients with MTC usually have calcitonin values >50 ng/L. If serum calcitonin is measured and found to be elevated, the patient should be further evaluated. Patients with thyroid nodules noted on physical examination or neck imaging should also be further evaluated. 5.2 Pancreatitis Based on spontaneous postmarketing reports, acute pancreatitis, including fatal and non-fatal hemorrhagic or necrotizing pancreatitis, has been observed in patients treated with liraglutide injection. After initiation of liraglutide injection, observe patients carefully for signs and symptoms of pancreatitis (including persistent severe abdominal pain, sometimes radiating to the back and which may or may not be accompanied by vomiting). If pancreatitis is suspected, liraglutide injection should promptly be discontinued and appropriate management should be initiated. If pancreatitis is …

4 CONTRAINDICATIONS Liraglutide injection is contraindicated in patients with a: personal or family history of medullary thyroid carcinoma (MTC) or in patients with Multiple Endocrine Neoplasia syndrome type 2 (MEN 2) [see Warnings and Precautions ( 5.1 )] . serious hypersensitivity reaction to liraglutide or to any of the excipients in liraglutide injection. Serious hypersensitivity reactions including anaphylactic reactions and angioedema have been reported with liraglutide injection [see Warnings and Precautions ( 5.6 )]. Patients with a personal or family history of medullary thyroid carcinoma or in patients with Multiple Endocrine Neoplasia syndrome type 2 ( 4 ). Patients with a serious hypersensitivity reaction to liraglutide or any of the excipients in liraglutide injection ( 4 ).

7 DRUG INTERACTIONS Effects of delayed gastric emptying on oral medications: Liraglutide injection delays gastric emptying and may impact absorption of concomitantly administered oral medications ( 7 ). 7.1 Effects of Delayed Gastric Emptying on Oral Medications Liraglutide injection causes a delay of gastric emptying, and thereby has the potential to impact the absorption of concomitantly administered oral medications. In clinical pharmacology trials, liraglutide injection did not affect the absorption of the tested orally administered medications to any clinically relevant degree [see Clinical Pharmacology ( 12.3 )] . Nonetheless, caution should be exercised when oral medications are concomitantly administered with liraglutide injection. 7.2 Concomitant Use with an Insulin Secretagogue (e.g., Sulfonylurea) or with Insulin Liraglutide injection stimulates insulin release in the presence of elevated blood glucose concentrations. Patients receiving liraglutide injection in combination with an insulin secretagogue (e.g., sulfonylurea) or insulin may have an increased risk of hypoglycemia, including severe hypoglycemia. When initiating liraglutide injection, consider reducing the dose of concomitantly administered insulin secretagogues (such as sulfonylureas) or insulin to reduce the risk of hypoglycemia [see Warnings and Precautions ( 5.4 ) and Adverse Reactions ( 6.1 )].

8.1 Pregnancy Risk Summary Based on animal reproduction studies, there may be risks to the fetus from exposure to liraglutide injection during pregnancy. Liraglutide injection should be used during pregnancy only if the potential benefit justifies the potential risk to the fetus. Animal reproduction studies identified increased adverse developmental outcomes from exposure during pregnancy. Liraglutide exposure was associated with early embryonic deaths and an imbalance in some fetal abnormalities in pregnant rats administered liraglutide during organogenesis at doses that approximate clinical exposures at the maximum recommended human dose (MRHD) of 1.8 mg/day. In pregnant rabbits administered liraglutide during organogenesis, decreased fetal weight and an increased incidence of major fetal abnormalities were seen at exposures below the human exposures at the MRHD [see Animal Data] . The estimated background risk of major birth defects for women with uncontrolled pre-gestational diabetes (Hemoglobin A 1C >7) is 6 to 10%. The major birth defect rate has been reported to be as high as 20 to 25% in women with a Hemoglobin A 1C >10. 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 Poorly controlled diabetes in pregnancy increases the maternal risk for diabetic ketoacidosis, pre-eclampsia, spontaneous abortions, preterm delivery, and delivery complications. Poorly controlled diabetes increases the fetal risk for major birth defects, still birth, and macrosomia related morbidity. Animal Data Female rats given subcutaneous doses of 0.1, 0.25 and 1.0 mg/kg/day liraglutide beginning 2 weeks before mating through gestation day 17 had estimated systemic exposures 0.8-, 3-, and 11-times the human exposure at the MRHD based on plasma AUC comparison. The number of early embryonic deaths in the 1 mg/kg/day group increased slightly. Fetal abnormalities and variations in kidneys and blood vessels, irregular ossification of the skull, and a more complete state of ossification occurred at all doses. Mottled liver and minimally kinked ribs occurred at the highest dose. The incidence of fetal malformations in liraglutide-treated groups exceeding concurrent and historical controls were misshapen oropharynx and/or narrowed opening into larynx at 0.1 mg/kg/day and umbilical hernia at 0.1 and 0.25 mg/kg/day. Pregnant rabbits given subcutaneous doses of 0.01, 0.025 and 0.05 mg/kg/day liraglutide from gestation day 6 through day 18 inclusive, had estimated systemic exposures less than the human exposure at the MRHD of 1.8 mg/day at all doses, based on plasma AUC. Liraglutide decreased fetal weight and dose-dependently increased the incidence of total major fetal abnormalities at all doses. The incidence of malformations exceeded concurrent and historical controls at 0.01 mg/kg/day (kidneys, scapula), ≥ 0.01 mg/kg/day (eyes, forelimb), 0.025 mg/kg/day (brain, tail and sacral vertebrae, major blood vessels and heart, umbilicus), ≥ 0.025 mg/kg/day (sternum) and at 0.05 mg/kg/day (parietal bones, major blood vessels). Irregular ossification and/or skeletal abnormalities occurred in the skull and jaw, vertebrae and ribs, sternum, pelvis, tail, and scapula; and dose-dependent minor skeletal variations were observed. Visceral abnormalities occurred in blood vessels, lung, liver, and esophagus. Bilobed or bifurcated gallbladder was seen in all treatment groups, but not in the control group. In pregnant female rats given subcutaneous doses of 0.1, 0.25 and 1.0 mg/kg/day liraglutide from gestation day 6 through weaning or termination of nursing on lactation day 24, estimated systemic exposures were 0.8-, 3-, and 11-times human exposure at the MRHD of 1.8 mg/day, based on plasma AUC. A slight delay in parturition was observed in the majority of treated rats. Gro…

6 ADVERSE REACTIONS The following serious adverse reactions are described below or elsewhere in the prescribing information: Risk of Thyroid C-cell Tumors [see Warnings and Precautions ( 5.1 )] Pancreatitis [see Warnings and Precautions ( 5.2 )] Hypoglycemia [see Warnings and Precautions ( 5.4 )] Acute Kidney Injury [see Warnings and Precautions ( 5.5 )] Hypersensitivity Reactions [see Warnings and Precautions ( 5.6 )] Acute Gallbladder Disease [see Warnings and Precautions ( 5.7 )] Pulmonary Aspiration During General Anesthesia or Deep Sedation [see Warnings and Precautions ( 5.8 )] Most common adverse reactions (incidence ≥5%) in clinical trials are nausea, diarrhea, vomiting, decreased appetite, dyspepsia, constipation ( 6.1 ). Immunogenicity-related events, including urticaria, were more common among liraglutide injection-treated patients (0.8%) than among comparator-treated patients (0.4%) in clinical trials ( 12.6 ). To report SUSPECTED ADVERSE REACTIONS, contact Hikma Pharmaceuticals USA Inc. at 1-877-845-0689 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 practice. Common Adverse Reactions The safety of liraglutide injection in patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus was evaluated in 5 glycemic control, placebo-controlled trials in adults and one trial of 52 weeks duration in pediatric patients 10 years of age and older [see Clinical Studies ( 14.1 )] . The data in Table 1 reflect exposure of 1,673 adult patients to liraglutide injection and a mean duration of exposure to liraglutide injection of 37.3 weeks. The mean age of adult patients was 58 years, 4% were 75 years or older and 54% were male. The population was 79% White, 6% Black or African American, 13% Asian; 4% were of Hispanic or Latino ethnicity. At baseline the population had diabetes for an average of 9 years and a mean HbA 1c of 8.4%. Baseline estimated renal function was normal or mildly impaired in 88% and moderately impaired in 12% of the pooled population. Table 1 shows common adverse reactions in adults, excluding hypoglycemia, associated with the use of liraglutide injection for the treatment of type 2 diabetes mellitus. These adverse reactions occurred more commonly on liraglutide injection than on placebo and occurred in at least 5% of patients treated with liraglutide injection. Overall, the type, and severity of adverse reactions in pediatric patients 10 years of age and older and above were comparable to that observed in the adult population. Table 1 Adverse reactions reported in ≥ 5% of Adult Patients Treated with Liraglutide Injection for Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus Placebo N=661 Liraglutide 1.2 mg N= 645 Liraglutide 1.8 mg N= 1024 Adverse Reaction (%) (%) (%) Nausea 5 18 20 Diarrhea 4 10 12 Headache 7 11 10 Nasopharyngitis 8 9 10 Vomiting 2 6 9 Decreased appetite 1 10 9 Dyspepsia 1 4 7 Upper Respiratory Tract Infection 6 7 6 Constipation 1 5 5 Back Pain 3 4 5 Cumulative proportions were calculated combining studies using Cochran-Mantel-Haenszel weights. In an analysis of placebo- and active-controlled trials, the types and frequency of common adverse reactions, excluding hypoglycemia, were similar to those listed in Table 1. Other Adverse Reactions Gastrointestinal Adverse Reactions In the pool of 5 glycemic control, placebo-controlled adult clinical trials, withdrawals due to gastrointestinal adverse reactions, occurred in 4.3% of liraglutide injection-treated patients and 0.5% of placebo-treated patients. Withdrawal due to gastrointestinal adverse events mainly occurred during the first 2 to 3 months of the trials. Injection site reactions Injection site reactions (e.g., injection site rash, erythema) were reported in approximately 2% of liraglutide injection-tr…