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Complera Label Adds Low Viral Load Restriction, Liver Toxicity Warning

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) last week approved revised label information for Complera, Gilead Sciences' tenofovir/emtricitabine/rilpivirine single-tablet regimen. Among the changes, the updated label clarifies that this regimen is indicated for previously untreated people with low baseline viral load, as those with higher levels were more likely to experience treatment failure in clinical trials.

Below is an edited excerpt from the recent FDA advisory describing the changes.

HIV/AIDS Update -- Labeling changes for Complera (emtricitabine/rilpivirine/tenofovir disoproxil fumarate)

On January 25, 2013, FDA approved changes to the Complera (emtricitabine/rilpivirine/tenofovir disoproxil fumarate) package insert. The major changes include restricting the indication to treatment-naive adult patients with HIV-1 RNA less than or equal to 100,000 copies/mL, updating the package insert with the 96 week results from the Phase 3 trials and adding a new Contraindication and new Warning and Precaution for hepatotoxicity. Below is a summary of the recent changes.

Section 1 - Indications and Usage

Complera, a combination of 2 nucleoside analog HIV‑1 reverse transcriptase inhibitors (emtricitabine and tenofovir disoproxil fumarate) and 1 non-nucleoside reverse transcriptase inhibitor (rilpivirine), is indicated for use as a complete regimen for the treatment of HIV‑1 infection in treatment-naive adult patients with HIV-1 RNA less than or equal to 100,000 copies/mL. 

This indication is based on safety and efficacy analyses through 96 weeks from 2 randomized, double‑blind, active controlled, Phase 3 trials in treatment‑naive subjects.

The following points should be considered when initiating therapy with Complera:

• More rilpivirine-treated subjects with HIV-1 RNA greater than 100,000 copies/mL at the start of therapy experienced virologic failure (HIV-1 RNA > 50 copies/mL) compared to rilpivirine-treated subjects with HIV-1 RNA less than or equal to 100,000 copies/mL.
• Regardless of HIV-1 RNA level at the start of therapy, more rilpivirine-treated subjects with CD4+ cell count less than 200 cells/mm³ at the start of therapy experienced virologic failure compared to subjects with CD4+ cell count greater than or equal to 200 cells/mm³.
• The observed virologic failure rate in rilpivirine-treated subjects conferred a higher rate of overall treatment resistance and cross-resistance to the NNRTI class compared to efavirenz.
• More subjects treated with rilpivirine developed tenofovir andlamivudine/emtricitabine associated resistance compared to efavirenz.

Section 4 - Contraindications

Dexlansoprazole was added to the list of Contraindicated medications.

Section 5.6 - Hepatotoxicity

Hepatic adverse events have been reported in patients receiving a rilpivirine-containing regimen. Patients with underlying hepatitis B or C, or marked elevations in serum liver biochemistries prior to treatment may be at increased risk for worsening or development of serum liver biochemistries elevations with use of Complera. A few cases of hepatic toxicity have been reported in patients receiving a rilpivirine-containing regimen who had no pre-existing hepatic disease or other identifiable risk factors. Appropriate laboratory testing prior to initiating therapy and monitoring for hepatotoxicity during therapy with Complera is recommended in patients with underlying hepatic disease such as hepatitis B or C, or in patients with marked elevations in serum liver biochemistries prior to treatment initiation. Serum liver biochemistries monitoring should also be considered for patients without pre-existing hepatic dysfunction or other risk factors.

Section 6 - Adverse Reactions

Updated with the Week 96 data from the Phase 3 trials TMC278-C209 and TMC278-C215. Nephrolithiasis was added to the less common adverse drug reactions subsection.

Section 6.2 - Postmarketing Experience

Nephrotic syndrome was added to the postmarketing experience subsection.

Section 7 - Drug Interactions

Troleandomycin was removed from table 7. Telithromycin was added with the clinical comment that telithromycin may cause an increase in the plasma concentrations of rilpivirine (inhibition of CYP3A enzymes). Where possible, alternatives such as azithromycin should be considered.

Section 12.4 - Microbiology

Updated with the Week 96 data. The following new paragraph was also added to this section.

NNRTI- and NRTI-resistance substitutions emerged less frequently in the resistance analysis of viruses from subjects with baseline viral loads of <100,000 copies/mL compared to viruses from subjects with baseline viral loads of >100,000 copies/mL: 23% (10/44) compared to 77% (34/44) of NNRTI-resistance substitutions and 20% (9/44) compared to 80% (35/44) of NRTI-resistance substitutions. This difference was also observed for the individual emtricitabine/lamivudine and tenofovir resistance substitutions: 22% (9/41) compared to 78% (32/41) for M184I/V and 0% (0/8) compared to 100% (8/8) for K65R/N. Additionally, NNRTI and/or NRTI-resistance substitutions emerged less frequently in the resistance analysis of the viruses from subjects with baseline CD4+ cell counts >200 cells/mm³ compared to the viruses from subjects with baseline CD4+ cell counts <200 cells/mm³: 32% (14/44) compared to 68% (30/44) of NNRTI-resistance substitutions and 27% (12/44) compared to 73% (32/44) of NRTI-resistance substitutions.

Section 14 - Clinical Studies

Updated as follows:

The virologic outcome of randomized treatment of studies TMC278-C209 and TMC278-C215 at Week 96 is represented in the following table:

[See website for table]

The complete updated label will become available shortly on FDA's web site at Drugs@FDA.

1/29/13

Source

R Klein and K Struble, FDA. Labeling changes for Complera (emtricitabine/rilpivirine/tenofovir disoproxil fumarate). HIV/AIDS Update, January 27, 2013.