4.1. Therapeutic indications

In adult women

• Anovulation (including polycystic ovarian syndrome) in women who have been unresponsive to treatment with clomiphene citrate.

• Stimulation of multifollicular development in women undergoing superovulation for assisted reproductive technologies (ART) such as in vitro fertilisation (IVF), gamete intra-fallopian transfer and zygote intra-fallopian transfer.

• GONAL-f in association with a luteinising hormone (LH) preparation is indicated for the stimulation of follicular development in women with severe LH and FSH deficiency.

In adult men

• GONAL-f is indicated for the stimulation of spermatogenesis in men who have congenital or acquired hypogonadotrophic hypogonadism with concomitant human chorionic gonadotropin (hCG) therapy.

4.2. Posology and method of administration

Treatment with GONAL-f should be initiated under the supervision of a physician experienced in the treatment of fertility disorders.

Posology

Clinical assessment of GONAL-f indicates that its daily doses, regimens of administration, and treatment monitoring procedures should be individualised to optimise follicular development and to minimise the risk of unwanted ovarian hyperstimulation. It is advised to adhere to the recommended starting doses indicated below.

Women with anovulation (including polycystic ovarian syndrome)

GONAL-f may be given as a course of daily injections. In menstruating women treatment should commence within the first 7 days of the menstrual cycle.

In the registration trials, a commonly used regimen commenced at 75 to 150 IU FSH daily and was increased preferably by 37.5 or 75 IU at 7- or preferably 14-day intervals if necessary, to obtain an adequate, but not excessive, response.

In clinical practice, the starting dose is typically individualised based on the patient's clinical characteristics, such as markers of ovarian reserve, age, body mass index, and, if applicable, previous ovarian response to ovarian stimulation.

Starting dose

The starting dose can be adjusted in a stepwise manner (a) lower than 75 IU per day if an excessive ovarian response in terms of number of follicles is anticipated based on the patient's clinical profile (age, body mass index, ovarian reserve); or (b) higher than 75 up to a maximum of 150 IU per day may be considered if a low ovarian response is anticipated.

The patient's response should be closely monitored by measuring follicle size and number by ultrasound and/or estrogen secretion.

Dose adjustments

If a patient fails to respond adequately (either low or excessive ovarian response), continuation of that treatment cycle should be evaluated and managed according to the physician's standard of care. In cases of low response, the daily dose should not exceed 225 IU FSH.

If an excessive ovarian response is obtained according to the physician's assessment, treatment should be stopped and hCG withheld (see section 4.4). Treatment should recommence in the next cycle at a dose lower than that of the previous cycle.

Final follicular maturation

When an optimal ovarian response is obtained, a single injection of 250 micrograms recombinant human choriogonadotropin alfa (r-hCG) or 5 000 IU, up to 10 000 IU hCG should be administered 24 to 48 hours after the last GONAL-f injection. The patient is recommended to have coitus on the day of, and the day following, hCG administration. Alternatively, intrauterine insemination may be performed.

Women undergoing ovarian stimulation for multiple follicular development prior to in vitro fertilisation or other assisted reproductive technologies

In the registration trials, a commonly used regimen for superovulation involved the administration of 150 to 225 IU of GONAL-f daily, commencing on days 2 or 3 of the cycle.

In clinical practice, the starting dose is typically individualised based on the patient's clinical characteristics, such as markers of ovarian reserve, age, body mass index, and, if applicable, previous ovarian response to ovarian stimulation.

Starting dose

If a low ovarian response is anticipated, the starting dose may be adjusted in a stepwise manner to not higher than 450 IU daily. Conversely, if an excessive ovarian response is expected, the starting dose may be decreased below 150 IU.

The patient's response should continue to be closely monitored by measuring follicle size and number by ultrasound and/or estrogen secretion until adequate follicular development has been achieved. GONAL-f can be given either alone, or, to prevent premature luteinisation, in combination with a gonadotropin-releasing hormone (GnRH) agonist or antagonist.

Dose adjustments

If a patient fails to respond adequately (either low or excessive ovarian response), continuation of that treatment cycle should be evaluated and managed according to the physician's standard of care. In cases of low response, the daily dose should not exceed 450 IU FSH.

Final follicular maturation

When an optimal ovarian response is obtained, a single injection of 250 micrograms r-hCG or 5 000 IU up to 10 000 IU hCG is administered 24 to 48 hours after the last GONAL-f injection to induce final follicular maturation.

Women with severe LH and FSH deficiency

In LH and FSH deficient women, the objective of GONAL-f therapy in association with a luteinising hormone (LH) preparation is to promote follicular development followed by final maturation after the administration of human chorionic gonadotropin (hCG). GONAL-f should be given as a course of daily injections simultaneously with lutropin alfa. If the patient is amenorrhoeic and has low endogenous estrogen secretion, treatment can commence at any time.

A recommended regimen commences at 75 IU of lutropin alfa daily with 75 to 150 IU FSH. Treatment should be tailored to the individual patient's response as assessed by measuring follicle size by ultrasound and estrogen response.

If an FSH dose increase is deemed appropriate, dose adaptation should preferably be after 7- to 14-day intervals and preferably by 37.5 to 75 IU increments. It may be acceptable to extend the duration of stimulation in any one cycle to up to 5 weeks.

When an optimal response is obtained, a single injection of 250 micrograms r-hCG or 5 000 IU up to 10 000 IU hCG should be administered 24 to 48 hours after the last GONAL-f and lutropin alfa injections. The patient is recommended to have coitus on the day of, and on the day following, hCG administration. Alternatively, intrauterine insemination or another medically assisted reproduction procedure may be performed based on the physician's judgment of the clinical case.

Luteal phase support may be considered since lack of substances with luteotrophic activity (LH/hCG) after ovulation may lead to premature failure of the corpus luteum.

If an excessive response is obtained, treatment should be stopped and hCG withheld. Treatment should recommence in the next cycle at a dose of FSH lower than that of the previous cycle (see section 4.4).

Men with hypogonadotrophic hypogonadism

GONAL-f should be given at a dose of 150 IU three times a week, concomitantly with hCG, for a minimum of 4 months. If after this period, the patient has not responded, the combination treatment may be continued; current clinical experience indicates that treatment for at least 18 months may be necessary to achieve spermatogenesis.

Special populations

Elderly

There is no relevant use of GONAL-f in the elderly population. Safety and efficacy of GONAL-f in elderly patients have not been established.

Renal or hepatic impairment

Safety, efficacy and pharmacokinetics of GONAL-f in patients with renal or hepatic impairment have not been established.

Paediatric population

There is no relevant use of GONAL-f in the paediatric population.

Method of administration

GONAL-f is intended for subcutaneous use. The injection should be given at the same time each day.

The first injection of GONAL-f should be performed under direct medical supervision. Selfadministration of GONAL-f should only be performed by patients who are well motivated, adequately trained and have access to expert advice.

The injection site should be alternated daily.

For instructions on reconstitution of the medicinal product see section 6.6 and the package leaflet.

4.3. Contraindications

• hypersensitivity to the active substance or to any of the excipients listed in section 6.1

• tumours of the hypothalamus or pituitary gland

• ovarian enlargement or ovarian cyst unrelated to polycystic ovarian disease and of unknown origin

• gynaecological haemorrhages of unknown origin

• ovarian, uterine or mammary carcinoma

GONAL-f must not be used when an effective response cannot be obtained, such as:

• primary ovarian failure

• malformations of sexual organs incompatible with pregnancy

• fibroid tumours of the uterus incompatible with pregnancy

• primary testicular insufficiency

4.4. Special warnings and precautions for use

Traceability

In order to improve the traceability of biological medicinal products, the name and the batch number of the administered product should be clearly recorded.

General recommendations

GONAL-f is a potent gonadotrophic substance capable of causing mild to severe adverse reactions and should only be used by physicians who are thoroughly familiar with infertility problems and their management.

Gonadotropin therapy requires a certain time commitment by physicians and supportive health care professionals, as well as the availability of appropriate monitoring facilities. In women, safe and effective use of GONAL-f calls for monitoring of ovarian response with ultrasound, alone or preferably in combination with measurement of serum estradiol levels, on a regular basis. There may be a degree of inter-patient variability in response to FSH administration, with a poor response to FSH in some patients and exaggerated response in others. The lowest effective dose in relation to the treatment objective should be used in both men and women.

Porphyria

Patients with porphyria or a family history of porphyria should be closely monitored during treatment with GONAL-f. Deterioration or a first appearance of this condition may require cessation of treatment.

Treatment in women

Before starting treatment, the couple's infertility should be assessed as appropriate and putative contraindications for pregnancy evaluated. In particular, patients should be evaluated for hypothyroidism, adrenocortical deficiency, hyperprolactinemia and appropriate specific treatment given.

Patients undergoing stimulation of follicular growth, whether as treatment for anovulatory infertility or ART procedures, may experience ovarian enlargement or develop hyperstimulation. Adherence to recommended GONAL-f dose and regimen of administration and careful monitoring of therapy will minimise the incidence of such events. For accurate interpretation of the indices of follicle development and maturation, the physician should be experienced in the interpretation of the relevant tests.

In clinical trials, an increase of the ovarian sensitivity to GONAL-f was shown when administered with lutropin alfa. If an FSH dose increase is deemed appropriate, dose adaptation should preferably be at 7- to 14-day intervals and preferably with 37.5 to 75 IU increments.

No direct comparison of GONAL-f/LH versus human menopausal gonadotropin (hMG) has been performed. Comparison with historical data suggests that the ovulation rate obtained with GONAL-f/LH is similar to that obtained with hMG.

Ovarian Hyperstimulation Syndrome (OHSS)

A certain degree of ovarian enlargement is an expected effect of controlled ovarian stimulation. It is more commonly seen in women with polycystic ovarian syndrome and usually regresses without treatment.

In distinction to uncomplicated ovarian enlargement, OHSS is a condition that can manifest itself with increasing degrees of severity. It comprises marked ovarian enlargement, high serum sex steroids, and an increase in vascular permeability which can result in an accumulation of fluid in the peritoneal, pleural and, rarely, in the pericardial cavities.

The following symptomatology may be observed in severe cases of OHSS: abdominal pain, abdominal distension, severe ovarian enlargement, weight gain, dyspnoea, oliguria and gastrointestinal symptoms including nausea, vomiting and diarrhoea. Clinical evaluation may reveal hypovolaemia, haemoconcentration, electrolyte imbalances, ascites, haemoperitoneum, pleural effusions, hydrothorax, or acute pulmonary distress. Very rarely, severe OHSS may be complicated by ovarian torsion or thromboembolic events such as pulmonary embolism, ischaemic stroke or myocardial infarction.

Independent risk factors for developing OHSS include young age, lean body mass, polycystic ovarian syndrome, higher doses of exogenous gonadotropins, high absolute or rapidly rising serum estradiol levels and previous episodes of OHSS, large number of developing ovarian follicles and large number of oocytes retrieved in assisted reproductive technology (ART) cycles.

Adherence to recommended GONAL-f dose and regimen of administration can minimise the risk of ovarian hyperstimulation (see sections 4.2 and 4.8). Monitoring of stimulation cycles by ultrasound scans as well as estradiol measurements are recommended to early identify risk factors.

There is evidence to suggest that hCG plays a key role in triggering OHSS and that the syndrome may be more severe and more protracted if pregnancy occurs. Therefore, if signs of ovarian hyperstimulation occur, it is recommended that hCG be withheld and the patient be advised to refrain from coitus or to use barrier contraceptive methods for at least 4 days. OHSS may progress rapidly (within 24 hours) or over several days to become a serious medical event. It most often occurs after hormonal treatment has been discontinued and reaches its maximum at about seven to ten days following treatment. Therefore, patients should be followed for at least two weeks after hCG administration.

In ART, aspiration of all follicles prior to ovulation may reduce the occurrence of hyperstimulation.

Mild or moderate OHSS usually resolves spontaneously. If severe OHSS occurs, it is recommended that gonadotropin treatment be stopped if still ongoing, and that the patient be hospitalised and appropriate therapy be started.

Multiple pregnancy

In patients undergoing ovulation induction, the incidence of multiple pregnancy is increased compared with natural conception. The majority of multiple conceptions are twins. Multiple pregnancy, especially of high order, carries an increased risk of adverse maternal and perinatal outcomes.

To minimise the risk of multiple pregnancy, careful monitoring of ovarian response is recommended.

In patients undergoing ART procedures the risk of multiple pregnancy is related mainly to the number of embryos replaced, their quality and the patient age.

The patients should be advised of the potential risk of multiple births before starting treatment.

Pregnancy loss

The incidence of pregnancy loss by miscarriage or abortion is higher in patients undergoing stimulation of follicular growth for ovulation induction or ART than following natural conception.

Ectopic pregnancy

Women with a history of tubal disease are at risk of ectopic pregnancy, whether the pregnancy is obtained by spontaneous conception or with fertility treatments. The prevalence of ectopic pregnancy after ART, was reported to be higher than in the general population.

Reproductive system neoplasms

There have been reports of ovarian and other reproductive system neoplasms, both benign and malignant, in women who have undergone multiple treatment regimens for infertility treatment. It is not yet established whether or not treatment with gonadotropins increases the risk of these tumours in infertile women.

Congenital malformation

The prevalence of congenital malformations after ART may be slightly higher than after spontaneous conceptions. This is thought to be due to differences in parental characteristics (e.g. maternal age, sperm characteristics) and multiple pregnancies.

Thromboembolic events

In women with recent or ongoing thromboembolic disease or women with generally recognised risk factors for thromboembolic events, such as personal or family history, treatment with gonadotropins may further increase the risk for aggravation or occurrence of such events. In these women, the benefits of gonadotropin administration need to be weighed against the risks. It should be noted however that pregnancy itself as well as OHSS also carry an increased risk of thromboembolic events.

Treatment in men

Elevated endogenous FSH levels are indicative of primary testicular failure. Such patients are unresponsive to GONAL-f/hCG therapy. GONAL-f should not be used when an effective response cannot be obtained.

Semen analysis is recommended 4 to 6 months after the beginning of treatment as part of the assessment of the response.

Sodium content

GONAL-f contains less than 1 mmol sodium (23 mg) per dose, i.e. it is essentially “sodium-free”.

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

Concomitant use of GONAL-f with other medicinal products used to stimulate ovulation (e.g. hCG, clomiphene citrate) may potentiate the follicular response, whereas concurrent use of a GnRH agonist or antagonist to induce pituitary desensitisation may increase the dose of GONAL-f needed to elicit an adequate ovarian response. No other clinically significant medicinal product interaction has been reported during GONAL-f therapy.

4.6. Fertility, pregnancy and lactation

Pregnancy

There is no indication for use of GONAL-f during pregnancy. Data on a limited number of exposed pregnancies (less than 300 pregnancy outcomes) indicate no malformative or feto/neonatal toxicity of follitropin alfa.

No teratogenic effect has been observed in animal studies (see section 5.3).

In case of exposure during pregnancy, clinical data are not sufficient to exclude a teratogenic effect of GONAL-f.

Breast-feeding

GONAL-f is not indicated during breast-feeding.

Fertility

GONAL-f is indicated for use in infertility (see section 4.1).

4.7. Effects on ability to drive and use machines

GONAL-f has no or negligible influence on the ability to drive and use machines.

4.8. Undesirable effects

Summary of the safety profile

The most commonly reported adverse reactions are headache, ovarian cysts and local injection site reactions (e.g. pain, erythema, haematoma, swelling and/or irritation at the site of injection).

Mild or moderate ovarian hyperstimulation syndrome (OHSS) has been commonly reported and should be considered as an intrinsic risk of the stimulation procedure. Severe OHSS is uncommon (see section 4.4).

Thromboembolism may occur very rarely (see section 4.4).

List of adverse reactions

The following definitions apply to the frequency terminology used hereafter: 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), very rare (< 1/10 000).

Treatment in women

Immune system disorders

Very rare:

Mild to severe hypersensitivity reactions including anaphylactic reactions and shock

Nervous system disorders

Very common:

Headache

Vascular disorders

Very rare:

Thromboembolism (both in association with and separate from OHSS)

Respiratory, thoracic and mediastinal disorders

Very rare:

Exacerbation or aggravation of asthma

Gastrointestinal disorders

Common:

Abdominal pain, abdominal distension, abdominal discomfort, nausea, vomiting, diarrhoea

Reproductive system and breast disorders

Very common:

Ovarian cysts

Common:

Mild or moderate OHSS (including associated symptomatology)

Uncommon:

Severe OHSS (including associated symptomatology) (see section 4.4)

Rare:

Complication of severe OHSS

General disorders and administration site conditions

Very common:

Injection site reactions (e.g. pain, erythema, haematoma, swelling and/or irritation at the site of injection)

Treatment in men

Immune system disorders

Very rare:

Mild to severe hypersensitivity reactions including anaphylactic reactions and shock

Respiratory, thoracic and mediastinal disorders

Very rare:

Exacerbation or aggravation of asthma

Skin and subcutaneous tissue disorders

Common:

Acne

Reproductive system and breast disorders

Common:

Gynaecomastia, varicocele

General disorders and administration site conditions

Very common:

Injection site reactions (e.g. pain, erythema, haematoma, swelling and/or irritation at the site of injection)

Investigations

Common:

Weight gain

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

United Kingdom

Yellow Card Scheme

Website: www.mhra.gov.uk/yellowcard or search for MHRA Yellow Card in the Google Play or Apple App Store.

4.9. Overdose

The effects of an overdose of GONAL-f are unknown, nevertheless, there is a possibility that OHSS may occur (see section 4.4).