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Drug Safety-related Labeling Changes (SrLC)

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ARGATROBAN (NDA-201811)

(ARGATROBAN)

Safety-related Labeling Changes Approved by FDA Center for Drug Evaluation and Research (CDER)

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07/13/2026 (SUPPL-12)

Approved Drug Label (PDF)

6 Adverse Reactions

6.1 Clinical Trials Experience

Newly added subsection title. No change in information to this section; please refer to label for complete information. 

. . .

6.2 Postmarketing Experience

Newly added subsection

The following adverse reactions have been identified during post approval use of argatroban. Because these reactions are reported voluntarily from a population of uncertain size, it is not always possible to reliably estimate their frequency or establish a causal relationship to drug exposure.

  • Anaphylaxis


01/30/2018 (SUPPL-6)

Approved Drug Label (PDF)

8 Use in Specific Populations

8.1 Pregnancy

(Pregnancy and Lactation Labeling Rule (PLLR) Conversion; additions and/or revisions are underlined)

Risk Summary

Limited data from published literature and postmarketing reports do not suggest an association between argatroban and adverse fetal developmental outcomes. There are risks to the mother associated with untreated thrombosis in pregnancy and a risk of hemorrhage in the mother and fetus associated with use of anticoagulants (see Clinical Considerations). In animal reproductive studies, there was no evidence of adverse developmental outcomes with intravenous administration of argatroban during organogenesis in rats and rabbits at doses up to 0.3- and 0.2-times, respectively, the maximum recommended human dose (MHRD)

The estimated background risk of major birth defects and miscarriage for the indicated population is unknown. All pregnancies have a background risk of birth defect, loss, or other adverse outcomes. In the U.S. general population, the estimated background risk of major birth defects and miscarriage in clinically recognized pregnancies is 2%-4% and 15%-20%, respectively.


Clinical Considerations

Disease-Associated Maternal and/or Embryo/Fetal Risk

Pregnancy confers an increased risk for thromboembolism that is higher for women with underlying thromboembolic disease and certain high risk pregnancy conditions. Published data describe that women with a previous history of venous thrombosis are at high risk for recurrence during pregnancy.


Fetal/Neonatal Adverse Reactions

Use of anticoagulants, including argatroban, may increase the risk of bleeding in the fetus and neonate. Monitor neonates for bleeding.


Labor or Delivery

All patients receiving anticoagulants, including pregnant women, are at risk for bleeding. Pregnant women receiving argatroban should be carefully monitored for evidence of excessive bleeding or unexpected changes in coagulation parameters .


Data

Animal data

...

8.2 Lactation

(Pregnancy and Lactation Labeling Rule (PLLR) Conversion; additions and/or revisions are underlined)

Risk Summary

There are no data on the presence of argatroban in human milk, or its effects on milk production. Argatroban is present in rat milk. The developmental and health benefits of breastfeeding should be considered along with the mother’s clinical need for Argatroban and any potential adverse effects on the breastfed infant from Argatroban or from the underlying maternal condition.


Data

Argatroban is detected in rat milk.


8.4 Pediatric Use

(Pregnancy and Lactation Labeling Rule (PLLR) Conversion; additions and/or revisions are underlined)

...

During the 30-day study period, thrombotic events occurred during argatroban administration to two patients: and following argatroban discontinuation in three other patients.  Major bleeding occurred among two patients: one patient experienced an intracranial hemorrhage after 4 days of argatroban therapy in the setting of sepsis and thrombocytopenia and another patient experienced an intracranial hemorrhage after receiving argatroban for greater than 14 days. The study findings did not establish the safe and effective use of argatroban in pediatric patients and the dosing of 1 mcg/kg/min was not supported by the pharmacokinetic data described below.


Pediatric Pharmacokinetics (PK) and Pharmacodynamics (PD)

PK parameters of argatroban were characterized in population PK/PD analysis model with sparse data from 15 seriously ill pediatric patients. Argatroban clearance in these seriously ill pediatric patients (0.16 L/hr/kg) was 50% lower compared to argatroban clearance in healthy adults (0.31 L/hr/kg).  Four pediatric patients with elevated bilirubin (secondary to cardiac complications or hepatic impairment) had, on average, 80% lower clearance (0.03 L/hr/kg) when compared to pediatric patients with normal bilirubin levels.


These PK/PD analysis models based on a goal of aPTT prolongation of 1.5 to 3 times the baseline value and avoidance of an aPTT>100 seconds for seriously ill pediatric patients with HIT/HITTS who require an alternative to heparin suggested the following:

      • For patients with normal hepatic function, a starting infusion rate of 0.75 mcg/kg/min may have comparable aPTT responses as a starting dose of 2 mcg/kg/min in healthy adults. Additionally, based on an evaluation of aPTT every two hours, increasing the dosage by 0.1 to 0.25 mcg/kg/min could achieve additional aPTT responses.
      • For patients with hepatic impairment a starting infusion rate of 0.2 mcg/kg/min with increasing dosing by increments of 0.05 mcg/kg/min may have comparable argatroban exposure as expected with adult doses.


The safety and effectiveness of argatroban with the above dosing have not been adequately assessed in pediatric patients and the safety and effectiveness of argatroban is not established in pediatric patients. In addition, the described dosage did not  take into account multiple factors that could affect the dosage such as current aPTT, target aPTT, and the clinical status of the patient.