Approved Drug Label (PDF)
4
Contraindications
(revision underlined)
Hypersensitivity
Nutropin is contraindicated in patients with a known
hypersensitivity to somatropin or any of its excipients. Systemic
hypersensitivity reactions have been reported with postmarketing use of
somatropin products.
5
Warnings and Precautions
5.13 Osteodystrophy in Pediatric Patients with Chronic Kidney Disease
(addition underlined)
Children with growth failure secondary to CKD should
be examined periodically for evidence of progression of renal osteodystrophy.
SCFE or avascular necrosis of the femoral head may be seen in children with
advanced renal osteodystrophy, and it is uncertain whether these problems are
affected by somatropin therapy. X-rays of the hip should be obtained prior to
initiating somatropin therapy in CKD patients and physicians and parents should
be alert to the development of a limp or complaints of hip or knee pain in these
patients treated with Nutropin. No studies have been completed evaluating
Nutropin therapy in patients who have received renal transplants. Currently,
treatment of 241 patients with
functioning renal allografts is not indicated.
5.3 Neoplasms
(additions underlined)
In childhood cancer survivors who were treated
with radiation to the brain/head for their first neoplasm and who developed
subsequent GHD and were treated with somatropin, an increased risk of a
second neoplasm has been reported. Intracranial tumors, in particular
meningiomas, were the most common of these second neoplasms. In adults, it is
unknown whether there is any relationship between somatropin replacement
therapy and CNS tumor recurrenc. Monitor
all patients with a history of GHD secondary to an intracranial neoplasm
routinely while on somatropin therapy for progression or recurrence of the
tumor.
Because
children with certain rare genetic causes of short stature have an increased
risk of developing malignancies, practitioners should thoroughly consider the
risks and benefits of starting somatropin in these patients. If treatment with
somatropin is initiated, these patients should be carefully monitored for
development of neoplasms.
Monitor patients on somatropin therapy carefully for
increased growth, or potential malignant changes, of preexisting nevi.
5.6 Severe Hypersensitivity
(new subsection added)
Serious systemic hypersensitivity reactions including anaphylactic
reaction and angioedema have been reported with postmarketing use of somatropin
products. Patients and caregivers should be informed that such reactions are
possible and that prompt medical attention should be sought if an allergic
reaction occurs
5.8 Hypoadrenalism
(New subsection added)
Patients receiving somatropin therapy who have or
are at risk for pituitary hormone deficiency(s) may be at risk for reduced
serum cortisol levels and/or unmasking of central (secondary) hypoadrenalism.
In addition, patients treated with glucocorticoid replacement for previously
diagnosed hypoadrenalism may require an increase in their maintenance or stress
doses following initiation of somatropin treatment.
6
Adverse Reactions
(additions underlined)
The following important adverse reactions are also described elsewhere in
the labeling:
Increased mortality
in patients with acute critical illness
·
Fatalities in
children with Prader-Willi syndrome
·
Neoplasms in
pediatric patients
·
Glucose intolerance
and diabetes mellitus
·
Intracranial
hypertension
·
Severe
hypersensitivity
·
Fluid retention
·
Hypoadrenalism
·
Hypothyroidism
·
Slipped capital
femoral epiphysis in pediatric patients
·
Progression of
preexisting scoliosis in pediatric patients
·
Otitis media and
cardiovascular disorders in patients with Turner syndrome
·
Osteodystrophy
in pediatric patients with chronic kidney disease
·
Lipoatrophy
·
Pancreatitis
6.1 Clinical Trials Experience
(addition underlined)
In a post-marketing surveillance study, the National
Cooperative Growth Study (NCGS), the pattern of adverse events in over 8,000
patients with ISS was consistent with the known safetyprofile of growth
hormone (GH), and no new safety signals attributable to GH were identified.
…The between-treatment group difference on the
change from baseline to Month 12 in median fasting insulin level was significant, p less than 0.0001.
6.3 Post-Marketing Experience
(addition underlined)
Because these adverse events 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.
The adverse events reported during post-marketing surveillance do not differ
from those listed/discussed above in Sections 6.1 and 6.2 in children and
adults.
Serious
systemic hypersensitivity reactions including anaphylactic reactions and
angioedema have been reported with postmarketing use of somatropin products.
Leukemia
has been reported in a small number of GHD children treated with somatropin,
somatrem (methionylated rhGH) and GH of pituitary origin. It is uncertain
whether these cases of leukemia are related to GH therapy, the pathology of GHD
itself, or other associated treatments such as radiation therapy. On the basis
of current evidence, experts have not been able to conclude that GH therapy per
se was responsible for these cases of leukemia. The risk for children with GHD,
CKD, or TS, if any, remains to be established .
The following additional adverse reactions have been
reported in GH-treated patients:
gynecomastia (children), and pancreatitis.