OPSUMIT for Clinicians

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Indication

OPSUMIT is an endothelin receptor antagonist (ERA) indicated for the treatment of pulmonary arterial hypertension (PAH, WHO Group I) to reduce the risks of disease progression and hospitalization for PAH.

Effectiveness was established in a long-term study in PAH patients with predominantly WHO Functional Class II-III symptoms treated for an average of 2 years. Patients had idiopathic and heritable PAH (57%), PAH caused by connective tissue disorders (31%), and PAH caused by congenital heart disease with repaired shunts (8%).

Expert treatment guidelines and recommendations for OPSUMIT

OPSUMIT added to sildenafil received the highest class recommendation (Class I, Level B) in PAH (WHO Group I) FC II-III patients for sequential combination therapy from the 2015 Treatment Guidelines of the European Society of Cardiology (ESC) and European Respiratory Society (ERS).2 Several other therapies also received a Class I, Level B recommendation in FC II-III patients.

OPSUMIT significantly reduced the risk of disease progression by 45% vs placebo

The primary endpoint in the SERAPHIN trial was time to the first occurrence of death or a significant morbidity event, defined as atrial septostomy, lung transplantation, initiation of IV or SC prostanoids, or clinical worsening of PAH (decrease in 6MWD of at least 15%, worsened PAH symptoms, and need for additional PAH treatment).

Kaplan-Meier estimates of risk of first primary endpoint event in SERAPHIN:

Summary of primary endpoint events

The beneficial effect of OPSUMIT was primarily attributable to a reduction in clinical worsening events (decrease in 6MWD of at least 15%, worsened PAH symptoms, and need for additional PAH treatment).

Enrollment

How to Prescribe Macitentan & Address Adverse Effects:

For Patients

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Prescribing Information

Combination therapy exploratory subgroup analysis

Patients experienced a 38% incremental risk reduction when OPSUMIT® (macitentan) was added to stable PAH-specific background therapy

At baseline, 64% of enrolled patients were treated with a stable dose of PAH-specific background therapy (61% PDE-5is; 6% inhaled or oral prostanoids). OPSUMIT is approved in combination with PDE-5is or inhaled prostanoids, but not oral prostanoids.

Kaplan-Meier estimates of risk of first primary endpoint event:

Combination therapy exploratory subgroup safety

  • The safety profile of OPSUMIT as part of a combination therapy regimen was consistent with that of OPSUMIT in the overall SERAPHIN population, and the most common adverse reactions (more frequent than placebo by ≥3%) in the combination group were anemia (16% vs 5%), nasopharyngitis/pharyngitis (18% vs 13%), bronchitis (11% vs 6%), headache (14% vs 11%), and diarrhea (13% vs 10%)
  • The incidence of peripheral edema, a known ERA-related adverse event, was similar in OPSUMIT- and placebo-treated patients receiving background therapy (19.5% and 23.5%, respectively)
  • Treatment discontinuations due to adverse events in patients receiving background therapy were similar in those receiving OPSUMIT and those receiving placebo (9.1% and 11.8%, respectively)

OPSUMIT: Additional Endpoints from the SERAPHIN Trial

SERAPHIN included secondary and exploratory endpoints from baseline to Month 6.

Significant improvement from baseline in 6MWD at Month 6

At Month 6, 6MWD had increased by a mean of 12.5 m in the group receiving OPSUMIT 10 mg (n=242); 6MWD decreased by a mean of 9.4 m in the placebo group (n=249) (placebo-corrected mean increase of 22.0 m; 97.5% CI, 3.0-41.0; P=0.0078).

Significant improvement from baseline in WHO FC at Month 6

Secondary endpoint in the overall population (OPSUMIT: n=242,
placebo: n=249).

Improvement from baseline in key measures of hemodynamics at Month 6

Exploratory hemodynamic substudy within SERAPHIN (OPSUMIT: n=57, placebo: n=67).

IMPORTANT SAFETY INFORMATION

BOXED WARNING: EMBRYO-FETAL TOXICITY

  • Do not administer OPSUMIT to a pregnant female because it may cause fetal harm.
  • Females of reproductive potential: Exclude pregnancy before the start of treatment, monthly during treatment, and 1 month after stopping treatment. Prevent pregnancy during treatment and for one month after stopping treatment by using acceptable methods of contraception.
  • For all female patients, OPSUMIT is available only through a restricted program called the OPSUMIT Risk Evaluation and Mitigation Strategy (REMS).

WARNINGS AND PRECAUTIONS

Embryo-fetal Toxicity and OPSUMIT REMS Program

Due to the risk of embryo-fetal toxicity, OPSUMIT is available for females only through a restricted program called the OPSUMIT REMS Program. For females of reproductive potential, exclude pregnancy prior to initiation of therapy, ensure use of acceptable contraceptive methods, and obtain monthly pregnancy tests.

Notable requirements of the OPSUMIT REMS Program include:

  • Prescribers must be certified with the program by enrolling and completing training.
  • All females, regardless of reproductive potential, must enroll in the OPSUMIT REMS Program prior to initiating OPSUMIT. Male patients are not enrolled in the REMS.
  • Females of reproductive potential must comply with the pregnancy testing and contraception requirements.
  • Pharmacies must be certified with the program and must only dispense to patients who are authorized to receive OPSUMIT.

Hepatotoxicity

  • ERAs have caused elevations of aminotransferases, hepatotoxicity, and liver failure. The incidence of elevated aminotransferases in the SERAPHIN study >3 x ULN was 3.4% for OPSUMIT vs 4.5% for placebo, and >8 x ULN was 2.1% vs 0.4%, respectively. Discontinuations for hepatic adverse events were 3.3% for OPSUMIT vs 1.6% for placebo.
  • Obtain liver enzyme tests prior to initiation of OPSUMIT and repeat during treatment as clinically indicated.
  • Advise patients to report symptoms suggesting hepatic injury (nausea, vomiting, right upper quadrant pain, fatigue, anorexia, jaundice, dark urine, fever, or itching).
  • If clinically relevant aminotransferase elevations occur, or if elevations are accompanied by an increase in bilirubin >2 x ULN, or by clinical symptoms of hepatotoxicity, discontinue OPSUMIT. Consider re-initiation of OPSUMIT when hepatic enzyme levels normalize in patients who have not experienced clinical symptoms of hepatotoxicity.

Fluid Retention

  • Peripheral edema and fluid retention are known consequences of PAH and ERAs. In the pivotal PAH study SERAPHIN, edema was reported in 21.9% of the OPSUMIT group vs 20.5% for placebo.
  • Patients with underlying left ventricular dysfunction may be at particular risk for developing significant fluid retention after initiation of ERA treatment. In a small study of pulmonary hypertension due to left ventricular dysfunction, more patients in the OPSUMIT group developed significant fluid retention and had more hospitalizations due to worsening heart failure compared to placebo. Postmarketing cases of edema and fluid retention occurring within weeks of starting OPSUMIT, some requiring intervention with a diuretic or hospitalization for decompensated heart failure, have been reported.
  • Monitor for signs of fluid retention after OPSUMIT initiation. If clinically significant fluid retention develops, evaluate the patient to determine the cause and the possible need to discontinue OPSUMIT.

Hemoglobin Decrease

  • Decreases in hemoglobin concentration and hematocrit have occurred following administration of other ERAs and in clinical studies with OPSUMIT. These decreases occurred early and stabilized thereafter.
  • In the SERAPHIN study, OPSUMIT caused a mean decrease in hemoglobin (from baseline to 18 months) of about 1.0 g/dL vs no change in the placebo group. A decrease in hemoglobin to below 10.0 g/dL was reported in 8.7% of the OPSUMIT group vs 3.4% for placebo. Decreases in hemoglobin seldom require transfusion.
  • Initiation of OPSUMIT is not recommended in patients with severe anemia. Measure hemoglobin prior to initiation of treatment and repeat during treatment as clinically indicated.

Pulmonary Edema with Pulmonary Veno-occlusive Disease (PVOD)

Should signs of pulmonary edema occur, consider the possibility of associated PVOD. If confirmed, discontinue OPSUMIT.

Decreased Sperm Counts

OPSUMIT, like other ERAs, may have an adverse effect on spermatogenesis. Counsel men about potential effects on fertility.

ADVERSE REACTIONS

Most common adverse reactions (more frequent than placebo by ≥3%) were anemia (13% vs 3%), nasopharyngitis/pharyngitis (20% vs 13%), bronchitis (12% vs 6%), headache (14% vs 9%), influenza (6% vs 2%), and urinary tract infection (9% vs 6%).

DRUG INTERACTIONS

  • Strong inducers of CYP3A4 such as rifampin significantly reduce macitentan exposure. Concomitant use of OPSUMIT with strong CYP3A4 inducers should be avoided.
  • Strong inhibitors of CYP3A4 like ketoconazole approximately double macitentan exposure. Many HIV drugs like ritonavir are strong inhibitors of CYP3A4. Avoid concomitant use of OPSUMIT with strong CYP3A4 inhibitors. Use other PAH treatment options when strong CYP3A4 inhibitors are needed as part of HIV treatment.

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