4.1. Therapeutic indications

Prevention of nausea and vomiting associated with highly and moderately emetogenic cancer chemotherapy in adults and adolescents from the age of 12.

EMEND 125 mg/80 mg is given as part of combination therapy (see section 4.2).

4.2. Posology and method of administration

Posology

Adults

EMEND is given for 3 days as part of a regimen that includes a corticosteroid and a 5-HT3 antagonist. The recommended dose is 125 mg orally once daily one hour before start of chemotherapy on Day 1 and 80 mg orally once daily on Days 2 and 3 in the morning.

The following regimens are recommended in adults for the prevention of nausea and vomiting associated with emetogenic cancer chemotherapy:

Highly Emetogenic Chemotherapy Regimen

Day 1

Day 2

Day 3

Day 4

EMEND

125 mg orally

80 mg orally

80 mg orally

none

Dexamethasone

12 mg orally

8 mg orally

8 mg orally

8 mg orally

5-HT3 antagonists

Standard dose of 5-HT3 antagonists. See the product information for the selected 5-HT3 antagonist for appropriate dosing information

none

none

none

Dexamethasone should be administered 30 minutes prior to chemotherapy treatment on Day 1 and in the morning on Days 2 to 4. The dose of dexamethasone accounts for active substance interactions.

Moderately Emetogenic Chemotherapy Regimen

Day 1

Day 2

Day 3

EMEND

125 mg orally

80 mg orally

80 mg orally

Dexamethasone

12 mg orally

none

none

5-HT3 antagonists

Standard dose of 5-HT3 antagonists. See the product information for the selected 5-HT3 antagonist for appropriate dosing information

none

none

Dexamethasone should be administered 30 minutes prior to chemotherapy treatment on Day 1. The dose of dexamethasone accounts for active substance interactions.

Paediatric population

Adolescents (aged 12 through 17 years)

EMEND is given for 3 days as part of a regimen that includes a 5-HT3 antagonist. The recommended dose of capsules of EMEND is 125 mg orally on Day 1 and 80 mg orally on Days 2 and 3. EMEND is administered orally 1 hour prior to chemotherapy on Days 1, 2 and 3. If no chemotherapy is given on Days 2 and 3, EMEND should be administered in the morning. See the Summary of Product Characteristics (SmPC) for the selected 5-HT3 antagonist for appropriate dosing information. If a corticosteroid, such as dexamethasone, is co-administered with EMEND, the dose of the corticosteroid should be administered at 50 % of the usual dose (see sections 4.5 and 5.1).

The safety and efficacy of the 80 mg and 125 mg capsules have not been demonstrated in children less than 12 years of age. No data are available. Refer to the powder for oral suspension SmPC for appropriate dosing in infants, toddlers and children aged 6 months to less than 12 years.

General

Efficacy data in combination with other corticosteroids and 5-HT3 antagonists are limited. For additional information on the co-administration with corticosteroids, see section 4.5. Please refer to the SmPC of co-administered 5-HT3 antagonist medicinal products.

Special populations

Elderly (≥ 65 years)

No dose adjustment is necessary for the elderly (see section 5.2).

Gender

No dose adjustment is necessary based on gender (see section 5.2).

Renal impairment

No dose adjustment is necessary for patients with renal impairment or for patients with end stage renal disease undergoing haemodialysis (see section 5.2).

Hepatic impairment

No dose adjustment is necessary for patients with mild hepatic impairment. There are limited data in patients with moderate hepatic impairment and no data in patients with severe hepatic impairment. Aprepitant should be used with caution in these patients (see sections 4.4 and 5.2).

Method of administration

The hard capsule should be swallowed whole.

EMEND may be taken with or without food.

4.3. Contraindications

Hypersensitivity to the active substance or to any of the excipients listed in section 6.1.

Co-administration with pimozide, terfenadine, astemizole or cisapride (see section 4.5).

4.4. Special warnings and precautions for use

Patients with moderate to severe hepatic impairment

There are limited data in patients with moderate hepatic impairment and no data in patients with severe hepatic impairment. EMEND should be used with caution in these patients (see section 5.2).

CYP3A4 interactions

EMEND should be used with caution in patients receiving concomitant orally administered active substances that are metabolised primarily through CYP3A4 and with a narrow therapeutic range, such as cyclosporine, tacrolimus, sirolimus, everolimus, alfentanil, ergot alkaloid derivatives, fentanyl, and quinidine (see section 4.5). Additionally, concomitant administration with irinotecan should be approached with particular caution as the combination might result in increased toxicity.

Co-administration with warfarin (a CYP2C9 substrate)

In patients on chronic warfarin therapy, the International Normalised Ratio (INR) should be monitored closely during treatment with EMEND and for 14 days following each 3-day course of EMEND (see section 4.5).

Co-administration with hormonal contraceptives

The efficacy of hormonal contraceptives may be reduced during and for 28 days after administration of EMEND. Alternative non-hormonal back-up methods of contraception should be used during treatment with EMEND and for 2 months following the last dose of EMEND (see section 4.5).

Excipients

EMEND capsules contain sucrose. Patients with rare hereditary problems of fructose intolerance, glucose-galactose malabsorption or sucrase-isomaltase insufficiency should not take this medicine.

Sodium

This medicinal product contains less than 1 mmol sodium (23 mg) per capsule, that is to say essentially 'sodium-free'.

4.5. Interaction with other medicinal products and other forms of interaction

Aprepitant (125 mg/80 mg) is a substrate, a moderate inhibitor, and an inducer of CYP3A4. Aprepitant is also an inducer of CYP2C9. During treatment with EMEND, CYP3A4 is inhibited. After the end of treatment, EMEND causes a transient mild induction of CYP2C9, CYP3A4 and glucuronidation. Aprepitant does not seem to interact with the P-glycoprotein transporter, as suggested by the lack of interaction of aprepitant with digoxin.

Effect aprepitant on the pharmacokinetics of other active substances

CYP3A4 inhibition

As a moderate inhibitor of CYP3A4, aprepitant (125 mg/80 mg) can increase plasma concentrations of co-administered active substances that are metabolised through CYP3A4. The total exposure of orally administered CYP3A4 substrates may increase up to approximately 3-fold during the 3-day treatment with EMEND; the effect of aprepitant on the plasma concentrations of intravenously administered CYP3A4 substrates is expected to be smaller. EMEND must not be used concurrently with pimozide, terfenadine, astemizole, or cisapride (see section 4.3). Inhibition of CYP3A4 by aprepitant could result in elevated plasma concentrations of these active substances, potentially causing serious or life-threatening reactions. Caution is advised during concomitant administration of EMEND and orally administered active substances that are metabolised primarily through CYP3A4 and with a narrow therapeutic range, such as cyclosporine, tacrolimus, sirolimus, everolimus, alfentanil, diergotamine, ergotamine, fentanyl, and quinidine (see section 4.4).

Corticosteroids

Dexamethasone: The usual oral dexamethasone dose should be reduced by approximately 50 % when co-administered with EMEND 125 mg/80 mg regimen. The dose of dexamethasone in chemotherapy induced nausea and vomiting (CINV) clinical trials was chosen to account for active substance interactions (see section 4.2). EMEND, when given as a regimen of 125 mg with dexamethasone co-administered orally as 20 mg on Day 1, and EMEND when given as 80 mg/day with dexamethasone co-administered orally as 8 mg on Days 2 through 5, increased the AUC of dexamethasone, a CYP3A4 substrate, 2.2-fold on Days 1 and 5.

Methylprednisolone: The usual intravenously administered methylprednisolone dose should be reduced approximately 25 %, and the usual oral methylprednisolone dose should be reduced approximately 50 % when co-administered with EMEND 125 mg/80 mg regimen. EMEND, when given as a regimen of 125 mg on Day 1 and 80 mg/day on Days 2 and 3, increased the AUC of methylprednisolone, a CYP3A4 substrate, by 1.3-fold on Day 1 and by 2.5-fold on Day 3, when methylprednisolone was co-administered intravenously as 125 mg on Day 1 and orally as 40 mg on Days 2 and 3.

During continuous treatment with methylprednisolone, the AUC of methylprednisolone may decrease at later time points within 2 weeks following initiation of the EMEND dose, due to the inducing effect of aprepitant on CYP3A4. This effect may be expected to be more pronounced for orally administered methylprednisolone.

Chemotherapeutic medicinal products

In pharmacokinetic studies, EMEND, when given as a regimen of 125 mg on Day 1 and 80 mg/day on Days 2 and 3, did not influence the pharmacokinetics of docetaxel administered intravenously on Day 1 or vinorelbine administered intravenously on Day 1 or Day 8. Because the effect of EMEND on the pharmacokinetics of orally administered CYP3A4 substrates is greater than the effect of EMEND on the pharmacokinetics of intravenously administered CYP3A4 substrates, an interaction with orally administered chemotherapeutic medicinal products metabolised primarily or partly by CYP3A4 (e.g., etoposide, vinorelbine) cannot be excluded. Caution is advised and additional monitoring may be appropriate in patients receiving medicinal products metabolised primarily or partly by CYP3A4 (see section 4.4). Post-marketing events of neurotoxicity, a potential adverse reaction of ifosfamide, have been reported after aprepitant and ifosfamide co-administration.

Immunosuppressants

During the 3-day CINV regimen, a transient moderate increase followed by a mild decrease in exposure of immunosuppressants metabolised by CYP3A4 (e.g., cyclosporine, tacrolimus, everolimus and sirolimus) is expected. Given the short duration of the 3-day regimen and the time-dependent limited changes in exposure, dose reduction of the immunosuppressant is not recommended during the 3 days of co-administration with EMEND.

Midazolam

The potential effects of increased plasma concentrations of midazolam or other benzodiazepines metabolised via CYP3A4 (alprazolam, triazolam) should be considered when co-administering these medicinal products with EMEND (125 mg/80 mg).

EMEND increased the AUC of midazolam, a sensitive CYP3A4 substrate, 2.3-fold on Day 1 and 3.3-fold on Day 5, when a single oral dose of 2 mg midazolam was co-administered on Days 1 and 5 of a regimen of EMEND 125 mg on Day 1 and 80 mg/day on Days 2 to 5.

In another study with intravenous administration of midazolam, EMEND was given as 125 mg on Day 1 and 80 mg/day on Days 2 and 3, and 2 mg midazolam was given intravenously prior to the administration of the 3-day regimen of EMEND and on Days 4, 8, and 15. EMEND increased the AUC of midazolam 25 % on Day 4 and decreased the AUC of midazolam 19 % on Day 8 and 4 % on Day 15. These effects were not considered clinically important.

In a third study with intravenous and oral administration of midazolam, EMEND was given as 125 mg on Day 1 and 80 mg/day on Days 2 and 3, together with ondansetron 32 mg Day 1, dexamethasone 12 mg Day 1 and 8 mg Days 2-4. This combination (i.e. EMEND, ondansetron and dexamethasone) decreased the AUC of oral midazolam 16 % on Day 6, 9 % on Day 8, 7 % on Day 15 and 17 % on Day 22. These effects were not considered clinically important.

An additional study was completed with intravenous administration of midazolam and EMEND. Intravenous 2 mg midazolam was given 1 hour after oral administration of a single dose of EMEND 125 mg. The plasma AUC of midazolam was increased by 1.5-fold. This effect was not considered clinically important.

Induction

As a mild inducer of CYP2C9, CYP3A4 and glucuronidation, aprepitant can decrease plasma concentrations of substrates eliminated by these routes within two weeks following initiation and treatment. This effect may become apparent only after the end of a 3-day treatment with EMEND. For CYP2C9 and CYP3A4 substrates, the induction is transient with a maximum effect reached 3-5 days after end of the EMEND 3-day treatment. The effect is maintained for a few days, thereafter slowly declines and is clinically insignificant by two weeks after end of EMEND treatment. Mild induction of glucuronidation is also seen with 80 mg oral aprepitant given for 7 days. Data are lacking regarding effects on CYP2C8 and CYP2C19. Caution is advised when warfarin, acenocoumarol, tolbutamide, phenytoin or other active substances that are known to be metabolised by CYP2C9 are administered during this time period.

Warfarin

In patients on chronic warfarin therapy, the prothrombin time (INR) should be monitored closely during treatment with EMEND and for 2 weeks following each 3-day course of EMEND for chemotherapy induced nausea and vomiting (see section 4.4). When a single 125 mg dose of EMEND was administered on Day 1 and 80 mg/day on Days 2 and 3 to healthy subjects who were stabilised on chronic warfarin therapy, there was no effect of EMEND on the plasma AUC of R(+) or S(-) warfarin determined on Day 3; however, there was a 34 % decrease in S(-) warfarin (a CYP2C9 substrate) trough concentration accompanied by a 14 % decrease in INR 5 days after completion of treatment with EMEND.

Tolbutamide

EMEND, when given as 125 mg on Day 1 and 80 mg/day on Days 2 and 3, decreased the AUC of tolbutamide (a CYP2C9 substrate) by 23 % on Day 4, 28 % on Day 8, and 15 % on Day 15, when a single dose of tolbutamide 500 mg was administered orally prior to the administration of the 3-day regimen of EMEND and on Days 4, 8, and 15.

Hormonal contraceptives

The efficacy of hormonal contraceptives may be reduced during and for 28 days after administration of EMEND. Alternative non-hormonal back-up methods of contraception should be used during treatment with EMEND and for 2 months following the last dose of EMEND.

In a clinical study, single doses of an oral contraceptive containing ethinyl estradiol and norethindrone were administered on Days 1 through 21 with EMEND, given as a regimen of 125 mg on Day 8 and 80 mg/day on Days 9 and 10 with ondansetron 32 mg intravenously on Day 8 and oral dexamethasone given as 12 mg on Day 8 and 8 mg/day on Days 9, 10, and 11. During days 9 through 21 in this study, there was as much as a 64 % decrease in ethinyl estradiol trough concentrations and as much as a 60 % decrease in norethindrone trough concentrations.

5-HT3 antagonists

In clinical interaction studies, aprepitant did not have clinically important effects on the pharmacokinetics of ondansetron, granisetron, or hydrodolasetron (the active metabolite of dolasetron).

Effect of other medicinal products on the pharmacokinetics of aprepitant

Concomitant administration of EMEND with active substances that inhibit CYP3A4 activity (e.g., ketoconazole, itraconazole, voriconazole, posaconazole, clarithromycin, telithromycin, nefazodone, and protease inhibitors) should be approached cautiously, as the combination is expected to result several-fold in increased plasma concentrations of aprepitant (see section 4.4).

Concomitant administration of EMEND with active substances that strongly induce CYP3A4 activity (e.g., rifampicin, phenytoin, carbamazepine, phenobarbital) should be avoided as the combination results in reductions of the plasma concentrations of aprepitant that may result in decreased efficacy of EMEND. Concomitant administration of EMEND with herbal preparations containing St. John's Wort (Hypericum perforatum) is not recommended.

Ketoconazole

When a single 125 mg dose of aprepitant was administered on Day 5 of a 10-day regimen of 400 mg/day of ketoconazole, a strong CYP3A4 inhibitor, the AUC of aprepitant increased approximately 5-fold and the mean terminal half-life of aprepitant increased approximately 3-fold.

Rifampicin

When a single 375 mg dose of aprepitant was administered on Day 9 of a 14-day regimen of 600 mg/day of rifampicin, a strong CYP3A4 inducer, the AUC of aprepitant decreased 91 % and the mean terminal half-life decreased 68 %.

Paediatric population

Interaction studies have only been performed in adults.

4.6. Fertility, pregnancy and lactation

Contraception in males and females

The efficacy of hormonal contraceptives may be reduced during and for 28 days after administration of EMEND. Alternative non-hormonal back-up methods of contraception should be used during treatment with EMEND and for 2 months following the last dose of EMEND (see sections 4.4 and 4.5).

Pregnancy

For aprepitant no clinical data on exposed pregnancies are available. The potential for reproductive toxicity of aprepitant has not been fully characterised, since exposure levels above the therapeutic exposure in humans at the 125 mg/80 mg dose could not be attained in animal studies. These studies did not indicate direct or indirect harmful effects with respect to pregnancy, embryonal/foetal development, parturition or postnatal development (see section 5.3). The potential effects on reproduction of alterations in neurokinin regulation are unknown. EMEND should not be used during pregnancy unless clearly necessary.

Breast-feeding

Aprepitant is excreted in the milk of lactating rats. It is not known whether aprepitant is excreted in human milk; therefore, breast-feeding is not recommended during treatment with EMEND.

Fertility

The potential for effects of aprepitant on fertility has not been fully characterised because exposure levels above the therapeutic exposure in humans could not be attained in animal studies. These fertility studies did not indicate direct or indirect harmful effects with respect to mating performance, fertility, embryonic/foetal development, or sperm count and motility (see section 5.3).

4.7. Effects on ability to drive and use machines

EMEND may have minor influence on the ability to drive, cycle and use machines. Dizziness and fatigue may occur following administration of EMEND (see section 4.8).

4.8. Undesirable effects

Summary of the safety profile

The safety profile of aprepitant was evaluated in approximately 6,500 adults in more than 50 studies and 184 children and adolescents in 2 pivotal paediatric clinical trials.

The most common adverse reactions reported at a greater incidence in adults treated with the aprepitant regimen than with standard therapy in patients receiving Highly Emetogenic Chemotherapy (HEC) were: hiccups (4.6 % versus 2.9 %), alanine aminotransferase (ALT) increased (2.8 % versus 1.1 %), dyspepsia (2.6 % versus 2.0 %), constipation (2.4 % versus 2.0 %), headache (2.0 % versus 1.8 %), and decreased appetite (2.0 % versus 0.5 %). The most common adverse reaction reported at a greater incidence in patients treated with the aprepitant regimen than with standard therapy in patients receiving Moderately Emetogenic Chemotherapy (MEC) was fatigue (1.4 % versus 0.9 %).

The most common adverse reactions reported at a greater incidence in paediatric patients treated with the aprepitant regimen than with the control regimen while receiving emetogenic cancer chemotherapy were hiccups (3.3 % versus 0.0 %) and flushing (1.1 % versus 0.0 %).

Tabulated list of adverse reactions

The following adverse reactions were observed in a pooled analysis of the HEC and MEC studies at a greater incidence with aprepitant than with standard therapy in adults or paediatric patients or in post-marketing use. The frequency categories given in the table are based on the studies in adults; the observed frequencies in the paediatric studies were similar or lower, unless shown in the table. Some less common ADRs in the adult population were not observed in the paediatric studies.

Frequencies are defined as: very common (≥ 1/10); common (≥ 1/100 to < 1/10); uncommon (≥ 1/1,000 to < 1/100); rare (≥ 1/10,000 to < 1/1,000) and very rare (< 1/10,000), not known (cannot be estimated from the available data).

System organ class

Adverse reaction

Frequency

Infection and infestations

candidiasis, staphylococcal infection

rare

Blood and lymphatic system disorders

febrile neutropenia, anaemia

uncommon

Immune system disorders

hypersensitivity reactions including anaphylactic reactions

not known

Metabolism and nutrition disorders

decreased appetite

common

polydipsia

rare

Psychiatric disorders

anxiety

uncommon

disorientation, euphoric mood

rare

Nervous system disorders

headache

common

dizziness, somnolence

uncommon

cognitive disorder, lethargy, dysgeusia

rare

Eye disorders

conjunctivitis

rare

Ear and labyrinth disorders

tinnitus

rare

Cardiac disorders

palpitations

uncommon

bradycardia, cardiovascular disorder

rare

Vascular disorders

hot flush/flushing

uncommon

Respiratory, thoracic and mediastinal disorders

hiccups

common

oropharyngeal pain, sneezing, cough, postnasal drip, throat irritation

rare

Gastrointestinal disorders

constipation, dyspepsia

common

eructation, nausea†, vomiting†, gastroesophageal reflux disease, abdominal pain, dry mouth, flatulence

uncommon

duodenal ulcer perforation, stomatitis, abdominal distension, faeces hard, neutropenic colitis

rare

Skin and subcutaneous tissue disorders

rash, acne

uncommon

photosensitivity reaction, hyperhidrosis, seborrhoea, skin lesion, rash pruritic, Stevens-Johnson syndrome/toxic epidermal necrolysis

rare

pruritus, urticaria

not known

Musculoskeletal and connective tissue disorders

muscular weakness, muscle spasms

rare

Renal and urinary disorders

dysuria

uncommon

pollakiuria

rare

General disorders and administration site conditions

fatigue

common

asthenia, malaise

uncommon

oedema, chest discomfort, gait disturbance

rare

Investigations

ALT increased

common

AST increased, blood alkaline phosphatase increased

uncommon

red blood cells urine positive, blood sodium decreased, weight decreased, neutrophil count decreased, glucose urine present, urine output increased

rare

†Nausea and vomiting were efficacy parameters in the first 5 days of post-chemotherapy treatment and were reported as adverse reactions only thereafter.

Description of selected adverse reactions

The adverse reactions profiles in adults in the Multiple-Cycle extension of HEC and MEC studies for up to 6 additional cycles of chemotherapy were generally similar to those observed in Cycle 1.

In an additional active-controlled clinical study in 1,169 adult patients receiving aprepitant and HEC, the adverse reactions profile was generally similar to that seen in the other HEC studies with aprepitant.

Non-CINV studies

Additional adverse reactions were observed in adult patients treated with a single 40 mg dose of aprepitant for postoperative nausea and vomiting (PONV) with a greater incidence than with ondansetron: abdominal pain upper, bowel sounds abnormal, constipation*, dysarthria, dyspnoea, hypoaesthesia, insomnia, miosis, nausea, sensory disturbance, stomach discomfort, sub-ileus*, visual acuity reduced, wheezing.

*Reported in patients taking a higher dose of aprepitant.

Reporting of suspected adverse reactions

Reporting suspected adverse reactions after authorisation of the medicinal product is important. It allows continued monitoring of the benefit/risk balance of the medicinal product. Healthcare professionals are asked to report any suspected adverse reactions via the Yellow Card Scheme at: www.mhra.gov.uk/yellowcard or search for MHRA Yellow Card in the Google Play or Apple App Store.

4.9. Overdose

In the event of overdose, EMEND should be discontinued and general supportive treatment and monitoring should be provided. Because of the antiemetic activity of aprepitant, emesis induced by a medicinal product may not be effective.

Aprepitant cannot be removed by haemodialysis.