4.1. Therapeutic indications

For adult patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus, Sitagliptin is indicated to improve glycaemic control:

as monotherapy

• in patients inadequately controlled by diet and exercise alone and for whom metformin is inappropriate due to contraindications or intolerance.

as dual oral therapy in combination with

• metformin when diet and exercise plus metformin alone do not provide adequate glycaemic control.

• a sulphonylurea when diet and exercise plus maximal tolerated dose of a sulphonylurea alone do not provide adequate glycaemic control and when metformin is inappropriate due to contraindications or intolerance.

• a peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor gamma (PPARγ) agonist (i.e. a thiazolidinedione) when use of a PPARγ agonist is appropriate and when diet and exercise plus the PPARγ agonist alone do not provide adequate glycaemic control.

as triple oral therapy in combination with

• a sulphonylurea and metformin when diet and exercise plus dual therapy with these medicinal products do not provide adequate glycaemic control.

• a PPARγ agonist and metformin when use of a PPARγ agonist is appropriate and when diet and exercise plus dual therapy with these medicinal products do not provide adequate glycaemic control.

Sitagliptin is also indicated as add-on to insulin (with or without metformin) when diet and exercise plus stable dose of insulin do not provide adequate glycaemic control.

4.2. Posology and method of administration

Posology

The dose is 100 mg (4 ml of oral solution) sitagliptin once daily. When used in combination with metformin and/or a PPARγ agonist, the dose of metformin and/or PPARγ agonist should be maintained, and Sitagliptin administered concomitantly.

When Sitagliptin is used in combination with a sulphonylurea or with insulin, a lower dose of the sulphonylurea or insulin may be considered to reduce the risk of hypoglycaemia (see section 4.4).

If a dose of Sitagliptin is missed, it should be taken as soon as the patient remembers. A double dose should not be taken on the same day.

Special populations

Renal impairment

When considering the use of sitagliptin in combination with another anti-diabetic medicinal product, its conditions for use in patients with renal impairment should be checked.

For patients with mild renal impairment (glomerular filtration rate [GFR] ≥ 60 to < 90 ml/min), no dose adjustment is required.

For patients with moderate renal impairment (GFR ≥ 45 to < 60 ml/min), no dosage adjustment is required.

For patients with moderate renal impairment (GFR ≥ 30 to < 45 ml/min), the dose of Sitagliptin is 50 mg (2 ml of oral solution) once daily.

For patients with severe renal impairment (GFR ≥ 15 to <30 ml/min) or with end-stage renal disease (ESRD) (GFR < 15 ml/min), including those requiring haemodialysis or peritoneal dialysis, the dose of Sitagliptin is 25 mg (1 ml of oral solution) once daily. Treatment may be administered without regard to the timing of dialysis.

Because there is a dosage adjustment based upon renal function, assessment of renal function is recommended prior to initiation of Sitagliptin and periodically thereafter.

Hepatic impairment

No dose adjustment is necessary for patients with mild to moderate hepatic impairment. Sitagliptin has not been studied in patients with severe hepatic impairment and care should be exercised (see section 5.2).

However, because sitagliptin is primarily renally eliminated, severe hepatic impairment is not expected to affect the pharmacokinetics of sitagliptin.

Elderly

No dose adjustment is necessary based on age.

Paediatric population

Sitagliptin should not be used in children and adolescents 10 to 17 years of age because of insufficient efficacy.

Currently available data are described in sections 4.8, 5.1, and 5.2. Sitagliptin has not been studied in paediatric patients under 10 years of age.

Method of administration

Sitagliptin can 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 (see section 4.4 and 4.8).

4.4. Special warnings and precautions for use

General

Sitagliptin should not be used in patients with type 1 diabetes or for the treatment of diabetic ketoacidosis.

Acute pancreatitis

Use of DPP-4 inhibitors has been associated with a risk of developing acute pancreatitis. Patients should be informed of the characteristic symptom of acute pancreatitis: persistent, severe abdominal pain. Resolution of pancreatitis has been observed after discontinuation of sitagliptin (with or without supportive treatment), but very rare cases of necrotising or haemorrhagic pancreatitis and/or death have been reported. If pancreatitis is suspected, Sitagliptin and other potentially suspect medicinal products should be discontinued; if acute pancreatitis is confirmed, Sitagliptin should not be restarted.

Caution should be exercised in patients with a history of pancreatitis.

Hypoglycaemia when used in combination with other anti-hyperglycaemic medicinal products

In clinical trials of Sitagliptin as monotherapy and as part of combination therapy with medicinal products not known to cause hypoglycaemia (i.e. metformin and/or a PPARγ agonist), rates of hypoglycaemia reported with sitagliptin were similar to rates in patients taking placebo.

Hypoglycaemia has been observed when sitagliptin was used in combination with insulin or a sulphonylurea. Therefore, to reduce the risk of hypoglycaemia, a lower dose of sulphonylurea or insulin may be considered (see section 4.2).

Renal impairment

Sitagliptin is renally excreted. To achieve plasma concentrations of sitagliptin similar to those in patients with normal renal function, lower dosages are recommended in patients with GFR < 45 ml/min, as well as in ESRD patients requiring haemodialysis or peritoneal dialysis (see section 4.2 and 5.2).

When considering the use of sitagliptin in combination with another anti-diabetic medicinal product, its conditions for use in patients with renal impairment should be checked.

Hypersensitivity reactions

Post-marketing reports of serious hypersensitivity reactions in patients treated with sitagliptin have been reported. These reactions include anaphylaxis, angioedema, and exfoliative skin conditions including Stevens-Johnson syndrome. Onset of these reactions occurred within the first 3 months after initiation of treatment, with some reports occurring after the first dose. If a hypersensitivity reaction is suspected, Sitagliptin should be discontinued. Other potential causes for the event should be assessed, and alternative treatment for diabetes initiated.

Bullous pemphigoid

There have been post-marketing reports of bullous pemphigoid in patients taking DPP-4 inhibitors including sitagliptin. If bullous pemphigoid is suspected, Sitagliptin should be discontinued.

Excipients with known effect:

Sodium Methyl Parahydroxybenzoate (E219). May cause allergic reactions (possibly delayed).

Forest fruits flavour containing Benzyl alcohol (E1519; may cause allergic reactions), Ethyl alcohol (E1510; the small amount of alcohol on this medicine will not have any noticeable effects).

Sitagliptin contains less than 1 mmol sodium (23 mg) per 1 ml, that is to say essentially “sodium-free”.

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

Effects of other medicinal products on sitagliptin

Clinical data described below suggest that the risk for clinically meaningful interactions by co-administered medicinal products is low.

In vitro studies indicated that the primary enzyme responsible for the limited metabolism of sitagliptin is CYP3A4, with contribution from CYP2C8. In patients with normal renal function, metabolism, including via CYP3A4, plays only a small role in the clearance of sitagliptin. Metabolism may play a more significant role in the elimination of sitagliptin in the setting of severe renal impairment or end-stage renal disease (ESRD). For this reason, it is possible that potent CYP3A4 inhibitors (i.e. ketoconazole, itraconazole, ritonavir, clarithromycin) could alter the pharmacokinetics of sitagliptin in patients with severe renal impairment or ESRD. The effect of potent CYP3A4 inhibitors in the setting of renal impairment has not been assessed in a clinical study.

In vitro transport studies showed that sitagliptin is a substrate for p-glycoprotein and organic anion transporter-3 (OAT3). OAT3 mediated transport of sitagliptin was inhibited in vitro by probenecid, although the risk of clinically meaningful interactions is considered to be low. Concomitant administration of OAT3 inhibitors has not been evaluated in vivo.

Metformin: Co-administration of multiple twice-daily doses of 1,000 mg metformin with 50 mg sitagliptin did not meaningfully alter the pharmacokinetics of sitagliptin in patients with type 2 diabetes.

Ciclosporin: A study was conducted to assess the effect of ciclosporin, a potent inhibitor of p-glycoprotein, on the pharmacokinetics of sitagliptin. Co-administration of a single 100 mg oral dose of sitagliptin and a single 600 mg oral dose of ciclosporin increased the AUC and Cmax of sitagliptin by approximately 29% and 68%, respectively. These changes in sitagliptin pharmacokinetics were not considered to be clinically meaningful. The renal clearance of sitagliptin was not meaningfully altered.

Therefore, meaningful interactions would not be expected with other p-glycoprotein inhibitors.

Effects of sitagliptin on other medicinal products

Digoxin: Sitagliptin had a small effect on plasma digoxin concentrations. Following administration of 0.25 mg digoxin concomitantly with 100 mg of sitagliptin daily for 10 days, the plasma AUC of digoxin was increased on average by 11%, and the plasma Cmax on average by 18%. No dose adjustment of digoxin is recommended. However, patients at risk of digoxin toxicity should be monitored for this when sitagliptin and digoxin are administered concomitantly.

In vitro data suggest that sitagliptin does not inhibit nor induce CYP450 isoenzymes. In clinical studies, sitagliptin did not meaningfully alter the pharmacokinetics of metformin, glyburide, simvastatin, rosiglitazone, warfarin, or oral contraceptives, providing in vivo evidence of a low propensity for causing interactions with substrates of CYP3A4, CYP2C8, CYP2C9, and organic cationic transporter (OCT). Sitagliptin may be a mild inhibitor of p-glycoprotein in vivo.

4.6. Fertility, pregnancy and lactation

Pregnancy

There are no adequate data from the use of sitagliptin in pregnant women. Studies in animals have shown reproductive toxicity at high doses (see section 5.3). The potential risk for humans is unknown.

Due to lack of human data, Sitagliptin should not be used during pregnancy.

Breast-feeding

It is unknown whether sitagliptin is excreted in human breast milk. Animal studies have shown excretion of sitagliptin in breast milk. Sitagliptin should not be used during breast-feeding.

Fertility

Animal data do not suggest an effect of treatment with sitagliptin on male and female fertility. Human data are lacking.

4.7. Effects on ability to drive and use machines

Sitagliptin has no or negligible influence on the ability to drive and use machines. However, when driving or using machines, it should be taken into account that dizziness and somnolence have been reported.

In addition, patients should be alerted to the risk of hypoglycaemia when Sitagliptin is used in combination with a sulphonylurea or with insulin.

4.8. Undesirable effects

Summary of the safety profile

Serious adverse reactions including pancreatitis and hypersensitivity reactions have been reported.

Hypoglycaemia has been reported in combination with sulphonylurea (4.7 % - 13.8 %) and insulin (9.6 %) (see section 4.4).

Tabulated list of adverse reactions

Adverse reactions are listed below (Table 1) by system organ class and frequency. 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); very rare (< 1/10,000) and not known (cannot be estimated from the available data).

Table 1. The frequency of adverse reactions identified from placebo-controlled clinical studies of sitagliptin monotherapy and post-marketing experience

Adverse reaction

Frequency of adverse reaction

Blood and lymphatic system disorders

thrombocytopenia

Rare

Immune system disorders

hypersensitivity reactions including anaphylactic responses *,†

Frequency not known

Metabolism and nutrition disorders

hypoglycaemia†

Common

Nervous system disorders

headache

Common

dizziness

Uncommon

Respiratory, thoracic and mediastinal disorders

interstitial lung disease*

Frequency not known

Gastrointestinal disorders

constipation

Uncommon

vomiting*

Frequency not known

acute pancreatitis*,†,‡

Frequency not known

fatal and non-fatal haemorrhagic and necrotizing pancreatitis*,†

Frequency not known

Skin and subcutaneous tissue disorders

pruritus*

Uncommon

angioedema*,†

Frequency not known

rash*,†

Frequency not known

urticaria*,†

Frequency not known

cutaneous vasculitis*,†

Frequency not known

exfoliative skin conditions including Stevens-Johnson syndrome*,†

Frequency not known

bullous pemphigoid*

Frequency not known

Musculoskeletal and connective tissue disorders

arthralgia*

Frequency not known

myalgia*

Frequency not known

back pain*

Frequency not known

arthropathy*

Frequency not known

Renal and urinary disorders

Renal and urinary disorders

Frequency not known

acute renal failure*

Frequency not known

*Adverse reactions were identified through post-marketing surveillance.

† See section 4.4.

‡ See TECOS Cardiovascular Safety Study below.

Description of selected adverse reactions

In addition to the drug-related adverse experiences described above, adverse experiences reported regardless of causal relationship to medication and occurring in at least 5% and more commonly in patients treated with sitagliptin included upper respiratory tract infection and nasopharyngitis.

Additional adverse experiences reported regardless of causal relationship to medication that occurred more frequently in patients treated with sitagliptin (not reaching the 5% level, but occurring with an incidence of > 0.5% higher with sitagliptin than that in the control group) included osteoarthritis and pain in extremity.

Some adverse reactions were observed more frequently in studies of combination use of sitagliptin with other anti-diabetic medicinal products than in studies of sitagliptin monotherapy. These included hypoglycaemia (frequency very common with the combination of sulphonylurea and metformin), influenza (common with insulin (with or without metformin)), nausea and vomiting (common with metformin), flatulence (common with metformin or pioglitazone), constipation (common with the combination of sulphonylurea and metformin), peripheral oedema (common with pioglitazone or the combination of pioglitazone and metformin), somnolence and diarrhoea (uncommon with metformin), and dry mouth (uncommon with insulin (with or without metformin)).

Paediatric population

In clinical trials with sitagliptin in paediatric patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus aged 10 to17 years, the profile of adverse reactions was comparable to that observed in adults.

TECOS Cardiovascular Safety Study

The Trial Evaluating Cardiovascular Outcomes with sitagliptin (TECOS) included 7,332 patients treated with sitagliptin, 100 mg daily (or 50 mg daily if the baseline eGFR was ≥ 30 and < 50 ml/min/1.73 m2), and 7,339 patients treated with placebo in the intention-to-treat population.

Both treatments were added to usual care targeting regional standards for HbA1c and CV risk factors.

The overall incidence of serious adverse events in patients receiving sitagliptin was similar to that in patients receiving placebo.

In the intention-to-treat population, among patients who were using insulin and/or a sulfonylurea at baseline, the incidence of severe hypoglycaemia was 2.7% in sitagliptin-treated patients and 2.5% in placebo-treated patients; among patients who were not using insulin and/or a sulfonylurea at baseline, the incidence of severe hypoglycaemia was 1.0% in sitagliptin-treated patients and 0.7% in placebo-treated patients. The incidence of adjudication-confirmed pancreatitis events was 0.3% in sitagliptin-treated patients and 0.2% in placebo-treated patients.

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

During controlled clinical trials in healthy subjects, single doses of up to 800 mg sitagliptin were administered. Minimal increases in QTc, not considered to be clinically relevant, were observed in one study at a dose of 800 mg sitagliptin. There is no experience with doses above 800 mg in clinical studies. In Phase I multiple-dose studies, there were no dose-related clinical adverse reactions observed with sitagliptin with doses of up to 600 mg per day for periods of up to 10 days and 400 mg per day for periods of up to 28 days.

In the event of an overdose, it is reasonable to employ the usual supportive measures, e.g., remove unabsorbed material from the gastrointestinal tract, employ clinical monitoring (including obtaining an electrocardiogram), and institute supportive therapy if required.

Sitagliptin is modestly dialysable. In clinical studies, approximately 13.5% of the dose was removed over a 3- to 4-hour haemodialysis session. Prolonged haemodialysis may be considered if clinically appropriate. It is not known if sitagliptin is dialysable by peritoneal dialysis.