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Drug Safety-related Labeling Changes (SrLC)

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TOBI (NDA-050753)

(TOBRAMYCIN)

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

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02/10/2023 (SUPPL-28)

Approved Drug Label (PDF)

5 Warnings and Precautions

5.2 Ototoxicity

Additions and/or revisions underlined:

Ototoxicity with use of TOBI

Ototoxicity, manifested as both auditory and vestibular toxicity, has been reported with parenteral aminoglycosides.

Risk of Ototoxicity Due to Mitochondrial DNA Variants

Cases of ototoxicity with aminoglycosides have been observed in patients with certain variants in the mitochondrially encoded 12S rRNA gene (MT-RNR1), particularly the m.1555A>G variant. Ototoxicity occurred in some patients even when their aminoglycoside serum levels were within the recommended range. Mitochondrial DNA variants are present in less than 1% of the general US population, and the proportion of the variant carriers who may develop ototoxicity as well as the severity of ototoxicity is unknown. In case of known maternal history of ototoxicity due to aminoglycoside use or a known mitochondrial DNA variant in the patient, consider alternative treatments other than aminoglycosides unless the increased risk of permanent hearing loss is outweighed by the severity of infection and lack of safe and effective alternative therapies.

17 PCI/PI/MG (Patient Counseling Information/Patient Information/Medication Guide)

PATIENT INFORMATION

Additions and/or revisions underlined:

Before you take TOBI, tell your healthcare provider about all of your medical conditions, including if you:

  • have or have had hearing problems (including noises in your ears such as ringing or hissing), hearing loss, or your mother has had hearing problems after taking an aminoglycoside.

  • have been told you have certain gene variants (a change in the gene) related to hearing abnormalities inherited from your mother.

10/05/2018 (SUPPL-22)

Approved Drug Label (PDF)

5 Warnings and Precautions

5.1 Bronchospasm

(Additions and/or revisions are underlined)

 Bronchospasm can occur with inhalation of TOBI. In clinical studies with TOBI, changes in FEV1 measured after the inhaled dose were similar in tobramycin inhalation solution and placebo groups. Bronchospasm that occurs during the use of TOBI should be treated as medically appropriate.

5.2 Ototoxicity

(Additions and/or revisions are underlined)

Ototoxicity, manifested as both auditory and vestibular toxicity, has been reported with parenteral aminoglycosides.

Transient tinnitus occurred in eight TOBI treated patients versus no placebo patients in the clinical studies. Tinnitus may be a sentinel symptom of ototoxicity, and therefore the onset of this symptom warrants further clinical investigation.

InOtotoxicity, as measured by complaints of hearing loss or by audiometric evaluations, did not occur with TOBI therapy during clinical studies, however in postmarketing experience, patients receiving TOBI have reported hearing loss.

Vestibular toxicity may be manifested by vertigo, ataxia or dizziness. Patients with known or suspected auditory or vestibular dysfunction should be closely monitored when taking TOBI. Monitoring might include obtaining audiometric evaluations and serum tobramycin levels. If ototoxicity is noted, the patient should be managed as medically appropriate, including potentially discontinuing TOBI.

5.3 Nephrotoxicity

(Additions and/or revisions are underlined)

Nephrotoxicity was not seen during clinical studies with TOBI but has beenwith aminoglycosides as a class. Patients with known or suspected renal dysfunction or taking concomitant nephrotoxic drugs along with TOBI should have serum concentrations of tobramycin and laboratory measurements of renal function obtained at the discretion of the treating physician. If nephrotoxicity develops, the patient should be managed as medically appropriate, including potentially discontinuing TOBI.

5.4 Neuromuscular Disorders

(Additions and/or revisions are underlined)

Aminoglycosides, including tobramycin, may aggravate muscle weakness because of a potential curare-like effect on neuromuscular function. Neuromuscular blockade, respiratory failure, and prolonged respiratory paralysis may occur more commonly in patients with underlying neuromuscular disorders, such as myasthenia gravis or Parkinson’s disease.

Prolonged respiratory paralysis may also occur in patients

receiving concomitant neuromuscular blocking agents. If neuromuscular blockade occurs, it may be reversed by the administration of calcium salts but mechanical assistance may be necessary.

 

5.5 Embryo-fetal Toxicity

(Additions and/or revisions are underlined)

Aminoglycosides can cause fetal harm when administered to a pregnant woman. Aminoglycosides cross the placenta, and streptomycin has been associated with several reports of total, irreversible, bilateral congenital deafness in pediatric patients exposed in utero. However, systemic absorption of tobramycin following inhaled administration is expected to be minimal. Patients who use TOBI during pregnancy or become pregnant while taking TOBI should be apprised of the potential hazard to the fetus.

5.6 Concomitant Use of Systemic Aminoglycosides

(Newly added subsection)

Patients receiving concomitant TOBI and parenteral aminoglycoside therapy should be monitored as clinically appropriate for toxicities associated with aminoglycosides as a class. Serum tobramycin levels should be monitored.

6 Adverse Reactions

6. ADVERSE REACTIONS

(Additions and/or revisions are underlined)

 The following serious adverse reactions are described below and elsewhere in the labeling:

  • Bronchospasm

  • Ototoxicity

  • Nephrotoxicity

  • Neuromuscular Disorders

  • Embryo-fetal Toxicity

  • Concomitant Use of Systemic Aminoglycosides

6.1 Clinical Trials Experience

(Additions and/or revisions are underlined)

Because clinical trials are conducted under widely varying conditions, adverse reaction rates observed in the clinical trials of a drug cannot be directly compared to rates in the clinical trials of another drug and may not reflect the rates observed in practice.

TOBI was studied in two phase 3 clinical studies involving 258 cystic fibrosis patients ranging in age from 6 to 48 years. Patients received TOBI in alternating periods of 28 days on and 28 days off drug in addition to their standard cystic fibrosis therapy for a total of 24 weeks.

Table 1 lists the percent of patients with selected adverse reactions that occurred in >5% of TOBI patients during the two Phase III studies.

Selected adverse reactions that occurred in less than or equal to 5% of patients treated with TOBI:

Ear and labyrinth disorders: Tinnitus

Musculoskeletal and connective tissue disorders: Myalgia

Infections and infestations: Laryngitis

Voice Alteration and Tinnitus

Voice alteration and tinnitus were the only adverse reactions reported by significantly more TOBI-treated patients. Thirty- three patients (13%) treated with TOBI complained of voice alteration compared to 17 (7%) placebo patients. Voice alteration was more common in the on-drug periods.

Eight patients from the TOBI group (3%) reported tinnitus compared to no placebo patients. All episodes were transient, resolved without discontinuation of the TOBI treatment regimen, and were not associated with loss of hearing in audiograms. Tinnitus is one of the sentinel symptoms of cochlear toxicity, and patients with this symptom should be carefully monitored for high frequency hearing loss. The numbers of patients reporting vestibular adverse experiences such as dizziness were similar in the TOBI and placebo groups.

 

Changes in Serum Creatinine

Nine (3%) patients in the TOBI group and nine (3%) patients in the placebo group had increases in serum creatinine of at least 50% over baseline. In all nine patients in the TOBI group, creatinine decreased at the next visit.

6.2 Postmarketing Experience

(Additions and/or revisions are underlined)

 The following adverse reactions have been identified during post-approval use of TOBI. 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.

Ear and labyrinth disorders

Hearing loss: Some of these reports occurred in patients with previous or concomitant treatment with systemic aminoglycosides. Patients with hearing loss frequently reported tinnitus.

Skin and subcutaneous tissue disorders Hypersensitivity, pruritus, urticaria, rash

Nervous system disorders

Aphonia, dysgeusia

Respiratory, thoracic, and mediastinal disorders

Bronchospasm, oropharyngeal pain

Metabolism and Nutrition Disorders

Decreased appetite

 

7 Drug Interactions

7.1 Drugs with Neurotoxic, Nephrotoxic or Ototoxic Potential

(Newly added subsection)

 

Concurrent and/or sequential use of TOBI with other drugs with neurotoxic, nephrotoxic, or ototoxic potential should be avoided.

 

7.2 Diuretics

(Additions and/or revisions are underlined)

 

Some diuretics can enhance aminoglycoside toxicity by altering aminoglycoside concentrations in serum and tissue. TOBI should not be administered concomitantly with ethacrynic acid, furosemide, urea, or intravenous mannitol. The interaction between inhaled mannitol and TOBI has not been evaluated.

8 Use in Specific Populations

8.1 Pregnancy

(Pregnancy and Lactation Labeling Rule (PLLR) Conversion)

Risk Summary

Aminoglycosides can cause fetal harm. Published literature reports that use of streptomycin, an aminoglycoside, can cause total, irreversible, bilateral congenital deafness when administered to a pregnant woman. Although there are no available data on TOBI use in pregnant women to inform a drug-associated risk of major birth defects, miscarriage or adverse maternal or fetal outcomes, systemic absorption of tobramycin following inhaled administration is expected to be minimal. There are risks to the mother associated with cystic fibrosis in pregnancy. In animal reproduction studies with subcutaneous administration of tobramycin in pregnant rats and rabbits during organogenesis there were no adverse developmental outcomes;  however, ototoxicity was not evaluated in the offspring from these studies. Advise pregnant women of            the potential risk to a fetus.

The estimated background risk of major birth defects and miscarriage for the indicated populations are 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 to 4% and 15 to 20%, respectively.

Clinical Considerations

Disease-Associated Maternal and/or Embryo/Fetal Risk

Cystic fibrosis may increase the risk for preterm delivery.

Data

Animal Data

No reproductive toxicity studies have been conducted with TOBI (tobramycin administered by inhalation). However, subcutaneous administration of tobramycin at doses of up to 100 (rat) or 20 (rabbit) mg/kg/day during organogenesis was not associated with adverse developmental outcomes. Doses of tobramycin greater than or equal to 40 mg/kg/day were severely maternally toxic to rabbits and precluded the evaluation of adverse developmental outcomes. Ototoxicity was not evaluated in offspring during non-clinical reproductive toxicity studies with tobramycin.

 

8.2 Lactation

(Pregnancy and Lactation Labeling Rule (PLLR) Conversion)

 

Risk Summary

 

There are no data on the presence of TOBI in either human or animal milk, the effects on the breastfed infant, or the effects on milk production. Limited published data on other formulations of tobramycin in lactating women indicate that tobramycin is present in human milk. However, systemic absorption of tobramycin following inhaled administration is expected to be minimal. Tobramycin may cause alteration in the intestinal flora of the breastfeeding infant. The developmental and health benefits of breastfeeding should be considered along with the mother's clinical need for TOBI and any potential adverse effects on the breastfed infant from TOBI or from the underlying maternal condition.

 

Clinical Considerations

Tobramycin may cause intestinal flora alteration. Advise a woman to monitor the breastfed infant for loose or bloody stools and candidiasis (thrush, diaper rash).

 

8.4 Pediatric Use

(Pregnancy and Lactation Labeling Rule (PLLR) Conversion)

 

The safety and efficacy of TOBI in pediatric patients under 6 years of age has not been established. The use of TOBI is not indicated in children <6 years of age.

17 PCI/PI/MG (Patient Counseling Information/Patient Information/Medication Guide)

17 PATIENT COUNSELING INFORMATION

(Newly added subsection)

Advise the patient to read the FDA-approved patient labeling (Patient Information and Instructions for Use). Difficulty Breathing

Advise patients to inform their physicians if they experience shortness of breath or wheezing after administration of tobramycin inhalation solution. Tobramycin inhalation solution can cause a narrowing of the airway.

Hearing Loss:

Advise patients to inform their physician if they experience ringing in the ears, dizziness, or any changes in hearing because tobramycin inhalation solution has been associated with hearing loss.

Kidney Damage:

Advise patients to inform their physician if they have any history of kidney problems because tobramycin inhalation solution is in a class of drugs that have caused kidney damage.

Embryofetal Toxicity:

Advise pregnant women that aminoglycosides can cause irreversible congenital deafness when administered to a pregnant woman.

Lactation:

Advise a woman to monitor their breastfed infants for diarrhea and/or bloody stools.

 

Other

PATIENT INFORMATION

(Patient Information section has been added, please refer to the label)