Table of Contents
SUMMARY PRODUCT INFORMATION 3 INDICATIONS AND CLINICAL USE 3 CONTRAINDICATIONS 3 WARNINGS AND PRECAUTIONS 4 ADVERSE REACTIONS 8 DRUG INTERACTIONS 11 DOSAGE AND ADMINISTRATION 12 OVERDOSAGE 14 ACTION AND CLINICAL PHARMACOLOGY 14 STORAGE AND STABILITY 22 DOSAGE FORMS, COMPOSITION AND PACKAGING 23
PHARMACEUTICAL INFORMATION 24 CLINICAL TRIALS 24 DETAILED PHARMACOLOGY 30 TOXICOLOGY 34 REFERENCES 45
ABOUT THIS MEDICATION 46 WARNINGS AND PRECAUTIONS 46 INTERACTIONS WITH THIS MEDICATION 47 PROPER USE OF THIS MEDICATION 47 SIDE EFFECTS AND WHAT TO DO ABOUT THEM 48 HOW TO STORE IT 48
PrBARACLUDE * (entecavir)
| Route of Administration | Dosage Form / Strength | Clinically Relevant Nonmedicinal Ingredients |
| Oral | Tablets 0.5 mg Solution 0.05 mg/mL | lactose monohydrate maltitol For a complete listing, see Dosage Forms, Composition and Packaging section |
BARACLUDE (entecavir) is indicated for the treatment of chronic hepatitis B virus infection in adults with evidence of active viral replication and either evidence of persistent elevations in serum aminotransferases (ALT or AST) or histologically active disease. This indication is based on efficacy and safety data in nucleoside-treatment-naive and in lamivudine-refractory adult patients with HBeAg-positive or HBeAg-negative chronic HBV infection with compensated liver disease and on more limited data in adult patients with HIV/HBV co-infection who have received prior lamivudine therapy.
BARACLUDE is contraindicated in patients with previously demonstrated hypersensitivity to entecavir or any component of the product. (For a complete listing, see Dosage Forms, Composition and Packaging section).
).
General
BARACLUDE tablets contain lactose and are not recommended for patients with rare hereditary problems of galactose intolerance, the Lapp lactase deficiency or glucose-galactose malabsorption. BARACLUDE Oral Solution is lactose-free and available as an alternative (see Dosage Forms, Composition and Packaging)
Carcinogenesis, Mutagenesis, Impairment of Fertility
Positive carcinogenic results were found in two-year carcinogenicity studies with entecavir conducted in mice and rats. In male mice, increases in the incidences of lung adenomas were observed at exposures >= 3 times the exposure in humans at 1 mg and lung carcinomas were observed in male and female mice at approximately 40 times the exposure in humans at 1 mg. Tumor development was preceded by pneumocyte proliferation in the lung, which was not observed in rats, dogs, or monkeys administered entecavir, indicating that a key event in lung tumor development observed in mice likely was species specific. Drug-related increased incidences of other types of tumors were seen at the highest entecavir exposures [in mice approximately 40 times and in rats 35 times (males) and 24 times (females) human exposure at 1 mg], including liver carcinomas in male mice, benign vascular tumors in female mice, brain microglial tumors in male and female rats, and liver adenomas and carcinomas in female rats. Skin fibromas were observed in female rats at both the high (0.4 mg/kg/day; equivalent to 4 times the exposure in humans at 1 mg) and highest (2.6 mg/kg/day; equivalent to 24 times the exposure in humans at 1 mg) doses. (see TOXICOLOGY, Carcinogenesis, Mutagenesis, Impairment of Fertility for more detailed information). It is not known how predictive the results of rodent carcinogenicity studies may be for humans. Entecavir was clastogenic to human lymphocyte cultures and in mouse lymphoma cells in vitro. Entecavir was not mutagenic in the Ames bacterial reverse mutation assay, a mammalian-cell gene mutation assay, and a transformation assay with Syrian hamster embryo cells. Entecavir was also negative in an oral micronucleus study and an oral DNA repair study in rats. In reproductive toxicology studies in which rats were administered entecavir at up to 30 mg/kg for up to 4 weeks, no evidence of impaired fertility was seen in males or females at systemic exposures >90 times those in humans at 1 mg. In rodent and dog toxicology studies, seminiferous tubular degeneration was observed at >= 35 times the exposure in humans at 1 mg. No testicular changes were evident in monkeys administered entecavir for 1 year at 167 times the exposure in humans at 1 mg.
Liver Transplant Recipients
The safety and efficacy of BARACLUDE in liver transplant recipients are unknown. The potential for pharmacokinetic interaction between entecavir and the immunosuppressants cyclosporine A or tacrolimus was not formally evaluated. If BARACLUDE treatment is determined to be necessary for a liver transplant recipient who has received or is receiving cyclosporine or tacrolimus, renal function must be carefully monitored both before and during treatment with BARACLUDE (see ACTION AND CLINICAL PHARMACOLOGY: Special Populations and DOSAGE AND ADMINISTRATION: Renal Impairment).
Renal Impairment
BARACLUDE is predominantly eliminated by the kidney. Dosage adjustment of BARACLUDE is recommended for patients with a creatinine clearance <50 mL/min, including patients on hemodialysis or CAPD [continuous ambulatory peritoneal dialysis] (see DOSAGE AND ADMINISTRATION: Renal Impairment).
Patients co-infected with HIV and HBV
BARACLUDE has not been evaluated in patients who are co-infected with HIV and HBV and are not concurrently receiving effective HIV treatment. Limited clinical experience suggests there is a potential for the development of resistance to HIV nucleoside reverse transcriptase inhibitors if BARACLUDE is used to treat chronic hepatitis B virus infection in patients with HIV infection that is not being treated. Therefore therapy with BARACLUDE is not recommended for HIV/HBV co-infected patients who are not also receiving highly active antiretroviral therapy (HAART). BARACLUDE has not been studied as a treatment for HIV infection and is not recommended for this use. (See ACTION AND CLINICAL PHARMACOLOGY: Special Populations and Conditions, Patients Co-infected with HIV and HBV and CLINICAL TRIALS: Special Populations, Patients Co-infected with HIV and HBV). Before initiating BARACLUDE therapy, HIV antibody testing should be offered to all patients.
Pregnant Women
There are no adequate and well-controlled studies in pregnant women. BARACLUDE should be used during pregnancy only if the potential benefit justifies the potential risk to the fetus. Entecavir caused effects on embryo-fetal development in rats at doses that also produced maternal toxicity; at these doses, exposures to entecavir were 180 times those in humans at 1 mg. In rabbits, embryo-fetal toxicity was observed at exposures to entecavir 883 times those in humans at 1 mg. There were no adverse effects on growth, development, and reproductive performance in the progeny of rats administered entecavir at doses associated with exposures to entecavir > 94 times those in humans at 1 mg. (see TOXICOLOGY, Reproductive Toxicology for more detailed information).
Pregnancy Registry: To monitor maternal-fetal outcomes of pregnant women exposed to BARACLUDE a Pregnancy Registry has been established. To register patients, physicians must obtain prior consent. Physicians can register patients by calling 1-800-258-4263.
Labor and Delivery
There are no studies in pregnant women and no data on the effect of BARACLUDE on transmission of HBV from mother to infant. Therefore, appropriate interventions should be used to prevent neonatal acquisition of HBV.
Nursing Women
Entecavir is excreted in the milk of rats. It is not known whether this drug is excreted in human milk. Mothers should be instructed not to breast-feed if they are taking BARACLUDE.
Pediatrics (<16 years of age)
Safety and effectiveness of BARACLUDE in pediatric patients below the age of 16 years have not been established.
Geriatrics (>65 years of age)
Clinical studies of BARACLUDE did not include sufficient numbers of subjects aged 65 years and over to determine whether they respond differently from younger subjects. Entecavir is substantially excreted by the kidney, and the risk of toxic reactions to this drug may be greater in patients with impaired renal function. Because elderly patients are more likely to have decreased renal function, care should be taken in dose selection, and it may be useful to monitor renal function (see DOSAGE AND ADMINISTRATION: Renal Impairment).
Use in Racial/Ethnic Groups
Clinical studies of BARACLUDE did not include sufficient numbers of subjects from some racial/ethnic minorities (black/African American, Hispanic) to determine whether they respond differently to treatment with the drug. There are no significant racial differences in entecavir pharmacokinetics.
Adverse Drug Reaction Overview
Assessment of adverse reactions is based on four pivotal studies (AI463014, AI463022, AI463026, and AI463027) in which 1720 patients with chronic hepatitis B infection received double-blind treatment with BARACLUDE 0.5 mg/day (n=679), BARACLUDE 1 mg/day (n=183), or lamivudine (n=858) for up to two years (Studies AI463022, AI463027 for nucleoside-naive patients and studies AI463014, AI463026 for lamivudine-refractory patients). The safety profiles of BARACLUDE and lamivudine were comparable in these studies. The safety profile of BARACLUDE 1 mg (n=51) in HIV/HBV co-infected patients enrolled in Study AI463038 was similar to that of placebo (n=17) through 24 weeks of blinded treatment and similar to that seen in non-HIV infected patients. (See WARNINGS AND PRECAUTIONS - Special Populations: Patients Co-infected with HIV and HBV) The most common (>= 3%) adverse events of any severity with at least a possible relation to study drug for BARACLUDE-treated patients were headache, fatigue, dizziness, and nausea. The most common adverse events among lamivudine-treated patients were headache, fatigue, and dizziness. One percent of BARACLUDE-treated patients in these four studies compared with 4% of lamivudine-treated patients discontinued for adverse events or abnormal laboratory test results.
Clinical Trial Adverse Drug Reactions
Because clinical trials are conducted under very specific conditions the adverse reaction rates observed in the clinical trials may not reflect the rates observed in practice and should not be compared to the rates in the clinical trials of another drug. Adverse drug reaction information from clinical trials is useful for identifying drug-related adverse events and for approximating rates.
Clinical adverse reactions occurring in >= 3% of BARACLUDE-treated patients during therapy in four clinical studies in which BARACLUDE was compared with lamivudine, in addition to selected clinical adverse reactions that occurred in < 3% of patients are presented in Table 1.
Table 1:Clinical Adverse Reactions Reported in >= 3% of BARACLUDE-treated Patients, Plus Selected Clinical Adverse Reactions in Four BARACLUDE Clinical Trials - Through 2 Years of Treatment
| Body System / Adverse Event a | Nucleoside-Naive b | Lamivudine-Refractory c | ||
| BARACLUDE 0.5 mg n = 679 % | Lamivudine 100 mg n = 668 % | BARACLUDE 1 mg n = 183 % | Lamivudine 100 mg n = 190 % | |
| Gastrointestinal | ||||
| Nausea | 3 | 2 | 4 | 3 |
| Abdominal pain upper | 3 | 2 | 2 | 5 |
| Dyspepsia | 2 | 2 | 3 | <1 |
| Diarrhea | 1 | <1 | 2 | 1 |
| Vomiting | 1 | <1 | 1 | <1 |
| General | ||||
| Fatigue | 5 | 5 | 9 | 6 |
| Nervous System | ||||
| Headache | 8 | 8 | 10 | 7 |
| Dizziness | 4 | 3 | 5 | 2 |
| Somnolence | 1 | 1 | 2 | 1 |
| Psychiatric | ||||
| Insomnia | 2 | 1 | 1 | <1 |
a Includes events of possible, probable, certain, or unknown relationship to treatment regimen.
Studies AI463022 and AI463027 Mean duration of therapy was 69 weeks for BARACLUDE-treated and 63 weeks for lamivudine-treated patients.
Includes Study AI463026 and the BARACLUDE 1-mg and lamivudine treatment arms of Study
AI463014, a Phase 2 multinational, randomized, double-blind study of three doses of BARACLUDE (0.1, 0.5, and 1 mg) once daily versus continued lamivudine 100 mg once daily for up to 52 weeks in patients who experienced recurrent viremia on lamivudine therapy. Mean duration of therapy was 73 weeks for BARACLUDE-treated and 51 weeks for lamivudine-treated patients.
Exacerbations of Hepatitis After Discontinuation of Treatment
In the Phase 3 studies, a subset of patients was allowed to discontinue treatment at or after 52 weeks if they achieved a protocol-defined response to therapy. An exacerbation of hepatitis or ALT flare was defined as ALT >10 X ULN and >2 X the patient's reference level (minimum of the baseline or last measurement at end of dosing). As demonstrated in Table 2, a proportion of patients experienced post-treatment ALT flares. If BARACLUDE is discontinued without regard to treatment response, the rate of post-treatment flares could be higher.
Table 2: Exacerbations of Hepatitis During Off-Treatment Follow-up, Patients in Studies AI463022 , AI463027 and AI463026
| Patients with ALT Elevations > 10xULN and >2 x Reference a | ||
| BARACLUDE | Lamivudine | |
| Total Nucleoside-naive | 28/476 (6%) | 43/417 (10%) |
| HBeAg-positive | 4/174 (2%) | 13/147 (9%) |
| HBeAg-negative | 24/302 (8%) | 30/270 (11%) |
| Lamivudine-refractory | 6/52 (12%) | 0/16 |
a
Reference is the minimum of the baseline or last measurement at end of dosing. Median time to off-treatment exacerbation was 23 weeks for BARACLUDE-treated patients and 10 weeks for lamivudine-treated patients.
Abnormal Hematologic and Clinical Chemistry Findings
Frequencies of selected treatment-emergent laboratory abnormalities reported during therapy in four clinical trials of BARACLUDE compared with lamivudine are listed in Table 3.
Table 3: Selected Treatment-Emergenta Laboratory Abnormalities Reported in Four BARACLUDE Clinical Trials -Through 2 Years
| Test | Nucleoside -Naive b | Lamivudine-Refractory c | ||
| BARACLUDE 0.5 mg (n = 679) | Lamivudine 100 mg (n = 668) | BARACLUDE 1 mg (n = 183) | Lamivudine 100 mg (n = 190) | |
| ALT> 10 x ULN and > 2 x baseline | 2% | 4% | 2% | 11% |
| ALT > 5.0 ULN | 11% | 16% | 12% | 24% |
| AST > 5.0 ULN | 5% | 8% | 5% | 17% |
| Albumin < 2.5 g/dL | <1% | <1% | 0% | 2% |
| Total bilirubin > 2.5 x ULN | 2% | 2% | 3% | 2% |
| Amylase > 2.1 x ULN | 2% | 2% | 3% | 3% |
| Lipase > 2.1 x ULN | 7% | 6% | 7% | 7% |
| Creatinine 3.0 x ULN | 0% | 0% | 0% | 0% |
| Confirmed creatinine increase >= 44.2 mmol/L | 1% | 1% | 2% | 1% |
| Hyperglycemia fasting >13.8 mmol/L | 2% | 1% | 3% | 1% |
| Glycosuria d | 4% | 3% | 4% | 6% |
| Hematuria e | 9% | 10% | 9% | 6% |
| Platelets < 50,000/mm 3 | <1% | <1% | <1% | <1% |
On-treatment value worsened from baseline to Grade 3 or Grade 4 for all parameters except albumin (any on treatment value <2.5 g/dL), confirmed creatinine increase >= 44.2 mmol/L and ALT >10 X ULN and >2 X baseline.
Studies AI463022 and AI463027. . Mean duration of therapy was 69 weeks for BARACLUDE-treated and 63 weeks for lamivudine-treated patients.
Includes Study AI463026 and the BARACLUDE 1-mg and lamivudine treatment arms of Study AI463014, a Phase 2 multinational, randomized, double-blind study of three doses of BARACLUDE (0.1, 0.5, and 1 mg) once daily versus
continued lamivudine 100 mg once daily for up to 52 weeks in patients who experienced recurrent viremia on lamivudine therapy. Mean duration of therapy was 73 weeks for BARACLUDE-treated and 51 weeks for lamivudine- treated patients.
Grade 3=3+, large, >= 500 mg/dL; Grade 4=4+, marked, severe
Grade 3=3+, large, Grade 4 = >= 4+, marked, severe, many ULN= upper limit of normal
Among BARACLUDE-treated patients in these studies, on-treatment ALT elevations >10 X ULN and >2 X baseline generally resolved with continued treatment. A majority of these exacerbations were associated with a >= 2 log10/mL reduction in viral load that preceded or coincided with the ALT elevation. Periodic monitoring of hepatic function is recommended during treatment.
Post-Market Adverse Drug Reactions
The following events have been identified during postapproval use of BARACLUDE. Because reports are voluntary from a population of unknown size, an estimate of frequency cannot be made, as well, the existence of underlying medical conditions confounds the assessment of causality.
Gastrointestinal disorders: upper abdominal pain Metabolism and nutrition disorders: lactose intolerance
Skin and subcutaneous tissue disorders:
rash
Blood and lymphatic system disorders: leukopenia, neutropenia, platelet count decreased Gastrointestinal disorders: pancreatitis
Since entecavir is primarily eliminated by the kidneys (see ACTION AND CLINICAL
Metabolism and Elimination
), coadministration of BARACLUDE with drugs that reduce renal function or compete for active tubular secretion may increase serum concentrations of either entecavir or the coadministered drug. In clinical trials, coadministration of BARACLUDE with lamivudine, adefovir dipivoxil, or tenofovir disoproxil fumarate did not result in significant drug interactions. The effects of coadministration of BARACLUDE with other drugs that are renally eliminated or are known to affect renal function have not been evaluated, and patients should be monitored closely for adverse events when BARACLUDE is coadministered with such drugs.
The metabolism of entecavir was evaluated in in vitro and in vivo studies. Entecavir is not a substrate, inhibitor, or inducer of the cytochrome P450 (CYP450) enzyme system. At concentrations up to approximately 10,000-fold higher than those obtained in humans, entecavir inhibited none of the major human CYP450 enzymes 1A2, 2C9, 2C19, 2D6, 3A4, 2B6, and 2E1. At concentrations up to approximately 340-fold higher than those observed in humans, entecavir did not induce the human CYP450 enzymes 1A2, 2C9, 2C19, 3A4, 3A5, and 2B6. (See ACTION AND CLINICAL PHARMACOLOGY: Metabolism and Elimination.) The pharmacokinetics of entecavir are unlikely to be affected by coadministration with agents that are either metabolized by, inhibit, or induce the CYP450 system. Likewise, the pharmacokinetics of known CYP substrates are unlikely to be affected by coadministration of BARACLUDE.
In clinical studies, the steady-state pharmacokinetics of BARACLUDE and coadministered drug were not altered in interaction studies of entecavir with lamivudine, adefovir dipivoxil, and tenofovir disoproxil fumarate.
Oral administration of 0.5 mg of BARACLUDE with a standard high-fat meal (945 kcal, 54.6 g fat) or a light meal (379 kcal, 8.2 g fat) resulted in a minimal delay in absorption (1.0-1.5 hour fed vs. 0.75 hours fasted), a decrease in Cmax of 44%-46%, and a decrease in AUC of 18%-20%. Therefore, BARACLUDE should be administered on an empty stomach (at least 2 hours after a meal and 2 hours before the next meal).
The usual recommended dose of BARACLUDE for chronic hepatitis B virus infection in adults and adolescents 16 years of age or older is 0.5 mg once daily. For adults and adolescents 16 years of age or older with a history of hepatitis B viremia while receiving lamivudine or with known lamivudine resistance mutations, the recommended dose of BARACLUDE is 1 mg (two 0.5 mg tablets) once daily. BARACLUDE should be administered on an empty stomach (at least 2 hours after a meal and 2 hours before the next meal). BARACLUDE Oral Solution contains 0.05 mg of entecavir per milliliter. Therefore, 10 mL of the oral solution provides a 0.5-mg dose and 20 mL provides a 1-mg dose of entecavir.
In patients with renal impairment, the apparent oral clearance of entecavir decreased as creatinine clearance decreased. Dosage adjustment is recommended for patients with creatinine clearance <50 mL/min, including patients on hemodialysis or CAPD (continuous ambulatory peritoneal dialysis), as shown in Table 4.
Table 4:Recommended Dosage of BARACLUDE in Patients with Renal Impairment
| Creatinine Clearance (mL/min) | Usual Dose (0.5 mg) | Lamivudine Refractory (1 mg) |
| >= 50 | 0.5 mg once daily | 1 mg once daily |
| 30 to <50 | 0.25 mg once daily a OR 0.5 mg every 48 hours | 0.5 mg once daily OR 1 mg every 48 hours |
| 10 to <30 | 0.15 mg once daily a OR 0.5 mg every 72 hours | 0.3 mg once daily a OR 1 mg every 72 hours |
| <10 Hemodialysis b or CAPD | 0.05 mg once daily a OR 0.5 mg every 7 days | 0.1 mg once daily a OR 1 mg every 7 days |
a
For doses less than 0.5 mg, BARACLUDE Oral Solution is recommended
b
On hemodialysis days, administer after hemodialysis.
No dosage adjustment is necessary for patients with hepatic impairment.
The optimal duration of treatment with BARACLUDE for patients with chronic hepatitis B infection and the relationship between treatment and long-term outcomes such as cirrhosis and hepatocellular carcinoma are unknown.
Activated charcoal may be administered to aid in the removal of unabsorbed drug. General supportive measures are recommended. Healthy subjects who received single entecavir doses up to 40 mg or multiple doses up to 20 mg/day for up to 14 days had no increase in, or unexpected, adverse events. If overdose occurs, the patient must be monitored for evidence of toxicity, and standard supportive treatment applied as necessary. Following a single 1-mg dose of entecavir, a 4-hour hemodialysis session removed approximately 13% of the entecavir dose.
Entecavir is a guanosine nucleoside analogue that is efficiently phosphorylated to the active triphosphate form and exhibits selective activity against HBV polymerase, competes with the natural substrate deoxyguanosine triphosphate, and inhibits all three functional activities of the HBV polymerase (reverse transcriptase, rt): (1) base priming, (2) reverse transcription of the negative strand from the pregenomic messenger RNA, and (3) synthesis of the positive strand of HBV DNA. Entecavir triphosphate has an inhibition constant (Ki) for HBV DNA polymerase of 0.0012 mM and is a weak inhibitor of cellular DNA polymerases a, ss, and d and mitochondrial DNA polymerase g with Ki values ranging from 18 to >160 mM.
Entecavir inhibited HBV DNA synthesis (50% reduction, EC50) at a concentration of 0.004 mM in human HepG2 cells transfected with wild-type HBV. The median EC50 value for entecavir against lamivudine resistant HBV (rtL180M, rtM204V) was 0.026 mM (range 0.010-0.059 mM). A comprehensive analysis of the inhibitory activity of entecavir against a panel of laboratory and clinical HIV-1 isolates using a variety of cells and assay conditions yielded EC50 values ranging from 0.026 to >10 uM: the lower EC50 values were observed when decreased levels of virus were used in the assay. In cell culture, entecavir selected for an M184I substitution in HIV reverse transcriptase at micromolar concentrations, confirming inhibitory pressure at high entecavir concentrations. HIV variants containing the M184I substitution showed loss of susceptibility to entecavir. The coadministration of HIV nucleoside/nucleotide reverse transcriptase inhibitors (NRTIs) with BARACLUDE is unlikely to reduce the antiviral efficacy of BARACLUDE against HBV or of any of these agents against HIV. In HBV combination assays in vitro, abacavir, didanosine, lamivudine, stavudine, tenofovir, or zidovudine were not antagonistic to the anti-HBV activity of entecavir over a wide range of concentrations. In HIV antiviral assays, entecavir was not antagonistic to the in vitro anti-HIV activity of these six NRTIs or emtricitabine at concentrations greater than 100 times the Cmax of entecavir using the 1-mg dose.
Clinical Studies
In nucleoside-naive studies (AI463022, AI463027, and rollover study AI463901) and in studies of lamivudine-refractory HBV (AI463026, AI463014, AI463015, and rollover study AI463901), all patients in clinical trials initially treated with entecavir 0.5 mg (nucleotise-naive) or 1.0 mg (lamivudine refractory) and with an on-therapy PCR HBV DNA measurement at or after Week 24 were monitored for resistance. Virologic breakthroughs due to resistance to entecavir are observed in viruses which harbour primary lamivudine resistance substitutions (M204I/V +- L180M) along with additional substitutions at residues T184, S202 and/or M250 of the viral polymerase. Nucleoside-naive patients: Through Year 4, genotypic evidence of entecavir resistance (ETVr) substitutions at residues T184, S202 or M250 was observed in 3 patients (<1%), 2 of whom experienced virologic breakthrough (see Table 5). The results reflect use of a 1 mg dose of entecavir in 147 out of 149 patients in Year 3 and all patients in Year 4 and entecavir-lamivudine combination therapy (followed by long-term entecavir monotherapy) for a median of 20 weeks for 130 of 149 patients in Year 3 and for 1 week for one of the patients in Year 4 in a rollover study. Table 5: Genotypic Entecavir Resistance and Virologic Breakthrough with Resistance Through Year 4, Nucleoside-Naive Studies Year 1 Year 2 Year 3a Year 4a Subjects treated and monitored for resistanceb 663 278 149 120 Genotypic ETVc,d 1 (<1%) 1 (<1%) 1 (<1%) 0 Virologic breakthroughe due to ETVr 1 (<1%) 0 1 (<1%) 0
a
Results reflect the use of a 1-mg dose of entecavir for 147 of 149 subjects in Year 3 and all 120 subjects in Year 4 and of combination entecavir-lamivudine therapy (followed by long-term entecavir therapy) for a median of 20 weeks for 130 of 149 subjects in Year 3 and for 1 week for 1 of 120 subjects in Year 4 in rollover study.
b
Includes subjects with at least one on-therapy HBV DNA measurement by PCR at or after week 24 through week 58 (Year 1),
after week 58 through week 102 (Year 2), after week 102 through week 156 (Year 3) or after week 156 through week 204 (Year
4).
c
ETVr = entecavir resistance substitutions at residues T184, S202 and/or M250.
d
Subjects also have amino acid substitutions at rtM204V and rtL180M.
e>=1 log10 increase above nadir in HBV DNA by PCR, confirmed with successive measurements or at the end of the windowed point. The cumulative probability of emerging ETVr substitutions was 0.2%, 0.5%, 1.2% and 1.2% through Year 1, Year 2, Year 3 and Year 4, respectively. The cumulative probability of virologic breakthrough with ETVr substitutions was 0.2%, 0.2%, 0.8% and 0.8% through Year 1, Year 2, Year 3 and Year 4, respectively. Emerging amino acid substitutions at M204I/V +- L180M, L80I, or V173L, which conferred decreased phenotypic susceptibility to entecavir in the absence of S202, T184, or M250 changes, were detected in the HBV of 3 patients (3/663 = <1%) who experienced virologic breakthrough by the end of Year 4. Lamivudine-refractory patients. Through Year 4, genotypic evidence of entecavir resistance (ETVr) substitutions at residues T184, S202 or M250 was observed in 45 patients, 38 of whom experienced virologic breakthrough (see Table 6) The results reflect the use of entecavir-lamivudine combination therapy (followed by long-term entecavir monotherapy) for a median of 13 weeks for 48 of 80 patients in Year 3 and a median of 38 weeks for 10 of 53 patients in Year 4 in a rollover study. Table 6: Genotypic Entecavir Resistance and Virologic Breakthrough with Resistance Through Year 4, Lamivudine-Refractory Studies Year 1 Year 2 Year 3a Year 4a Subjects treated and monitored for resistanceb 187 146 80 53 Genotypic ETVc,d 11 (6%) 12 (8%) 16 (20%) 6 (11%) Virologic breakthroughe due to ETVr 2 (1%)f 14 (10%) f 13 (16%) f 9 (17%) f aResults reflect the use of combination entecavir-lamivudine therapy (followed by long-term entecavir therapy) for a median of 13 weeks for 48 of 80 subjects in Year 3 and for a median of 38 weeks for 10 of 53 subjects in Year 4 in a rollover study.
b
Includes subjects with at least one on-therapy HBV DNA measurement by PCR at or after week 24 through week 58 (Year 1),
after week 58 through week 102 (Year 2), after week 102 through week 156 (Year 3) or after week 156 through week 204 (Year
4).
c
ETVr = entecavir resistance substitutions at residues T184, S202 and/or M250.
d
Subjects also have amino acid substitutions at rtM204V and rtL180M.
e>=1 log10 increase above nadir in HBV DNA by PCR, confirmed with successive measurements or at the end of the windowed point.
f
ETVr emerging in any year virologic breakthrough in a specified year.
The cumulative probability of emerging ETVr substitutions was 6%, 15%, 36% and 46% through Year 1, Year 2, Year 3 and Year 4, respectively. The cumulative probability of virologic breakthrough with ETVr substitutions was 1%, 11%, 27% and 41% through Year 1, Year 2, Year 3 and Year 4, respectively. The presence of ETVr substitutions at baseline in isolates from 10 (5%) of 187 lamivudine- refractory patients indicates that prior lamivudine treatment can select these resistance substitutions and they can exist at a low frequency before entecavir treatment. Through Year 4, 3 of the 10 patients experienced virologic breakthrough. Isolates from patients who experienced virologic breakthrough with the emergence of S202, T184 and/or M250 substitutions (n=38), had a median 284 fold-change in entecavir susceptibility as compared to wild type HBV. Three additional subjects experienced virologic breakthrough with the emergence of M204I/V +- L180M, L80V or V173L/M alone.
Cross-resistance has been observed among HBV nucleoside analogues. In cell-based assays, HBV containing lamivudine resistance substitutions M204V/I +/- L180M was 8-fold less susceptible to entecavir than wild type virus. Further reductions (>70 fold) in entecavir phenotypic susceptibility required the presence of primary lamivudine resistance amino acid substitutions (M204V/I +/- L180M ) along with additional substitutions at residues rtT184, rtS202, or rtM250, or a combination of these substitutions with or without an rtI169 substitution in the HBV polymerase. Recombinant HBV genomes encoding adefovir resistance-associated substitutions at either rtN236T or rtA181V remained susceptible to entecavir. HBV isolates from lamivudine-refractory patients failing BARACLUDE therapy were susceptible in vitro to adefovir but retained resistance to lamivudine.
The single- and multiple-dose pharmacokinetics of entecavir were evaluated in healthy subjects and patients with chronic hepatitis B infection (including liver transplant recipients). Steady-state Pharmacokinetics of entecavir are summarized in Table 7.
| Cmax (ng/mL) | T 1/2 (h) | AUC(TAU) 1 (ng.h/mL) | Clearance (CLT/F) (mL/min) | CLR (mL/min) | |
| Steady-state mean (0.5 mg) | 4.2 | 130 | 14.8 | 572 | 360 |
| Steady-state mean (1.0 mg) | 8.2 | 149 | 26.4 | 636 | 471 |
Geometric mean
Absorption
Following oral administration in healthy subjects, entecavir was rapidly absorbed with peak plasma concentrations occurring between 0.5 and 1.5 hours. Following multiple daily doses ranging from 0.1 to 1.0 mg, Cmax and area under the concentration-time curve (AUC) at steady state increased in proportion to dose. Steady state was achieved after 6-10 days of once-daily administration with approximately 2 fold accumulation. For a 0.5-mg oral dose, Cmax at steady state was 4.2 ng/mL and trough plasma concentration (Ctrough) was 0.3 ng/mL. For a 1 mg oral dose, Cmax was 8.2 ng/mL and Ctrough was 0.5 ng/mL. A bioavailability study was performed on 24 healthy subjects under fasting conditions comparing the rate and extent of absorption of a 10 mL single oral dose of entecavir 0.05 mg/mL oral solution and a single oral dose of entecavir 0.5 mg tablet. Results showed that the bioavailability following administration of the 0.05 mg/mL oral solution was comparable to the bioavailability following administration of the 0.5 mg tablet. (see CLINICAL TRIALS for further details). Effects of food on oral absorption: Oral administration of 0.5 mg of entecavir with a standard high-fat meal (945 kcal, 54.6 g fat) or a light meal (379 kcal, 8.2 g fat) resulted in a delay in absorption (1.0-1.5 hours fed vs. 0.75 hours fasted), a decrease in Cmax of 44%-46%, and a decrease in AUC of 18%-20%. Therefore, BARACLUDE should be administered on an empty stomach (at least 2 hours after a meal and 2 hours before the next meal).
Distribution
Based on the pharmacokinetic profile of entecavir after oral dosing, the estimated apparent volume of distribution is in excess of total body water, suggesting that entecavir is extensively distributed into tissues. Protein binding to human serum protein in vitro was approximately 13%.
Metabolism
The metabolism of entecavir was evaluated in in vitro and in vivo studies. Entecavir is not a substrate, inhibitor, or inducer of the cytochrome P450 (CYP450) enzyme system. At concentrations approximately 10,000 fold higher than those obtained in humans, entecavir inhibited none of the major human CYP450 enzymes 1A2, 2C9, 2C19, 2D6, 3A4, 2B6, and 2E1. At concentrations approximately 340 fold higher than those observed in humans, entecavir did not induce the human CYP450 enzymes 1A2, 2C9, 2C19, 3A4, 3A5, and 2B6. Following administration of 14C-entecavir in humans and rats, no oxidative or acetylated metabolites were observed. Minor amounts of the phase II metabolites glucuronide and sulfate conjugate were observed.
Excretion
After reaching peak concentration, entecavir plasma concentrations decreased in a bi- exponential manner with a terminal elimination half-life of approximately 128-149 hours. The observed drug accumulation index is approximately 2 fold with once-daily dosing, indicating an effective accumulation half-life of approximately 24 hours. Entecavir is predominantly eliminated by the kidney with urinary recovery of unchanged drug at steady state ranging from 62% to 73% of the administered dose. Renal clearance is independent of dose and ranges from 360 to 471 mL/min suggesting that entecavir undergoes both glomerular filtration and net tubular secretion (see DRUG INTERACTIONS).
Patients Co-Infected with HIV and HBV
Study AI463038 was a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled study of BARACLUDE versus placebo in 68 patients co-infected with HIV and HBV, who experienced recurrence of HBV viremia while receiving a lamivudine-containing highly active antiretroviral (HAART) regimen. Patients continued their lamivudine-containing HAART regimen (lamivudine dose 300 mg/day) and were assigned to add either BARACLUDE 1 mg once daily (51 patients) or placebo (17 patients) for 24 weeks followed by an open-label phase for an additional 24 weeks where all patients received BARACLUDE. At baseline, patients had a mean serum HBV DNA level by PCR of 9.13 log 10 copies /mL. Ninety-nine percent of patients were HBeAg-positive at baseline, with a mean baseline ALT level of 71.5 U/L. Median HIV RNA level remained stable at approximately 2 log10 copies/mL through 24 weeks of blinded therapy. Virologic and biochemical endpoints at Week 24 are shown in Table8. There are no data in patients with HIV/HBV co-infection who have not received prior lamivudine therapy. BARACLUDE has not been evaluated in HIV/HBV co-infected patients who were not simultaneously receiving effective HIV treatment. (See WARNINGS AND PRECAUTIONS - Special Populations: Patients Co-Infected with HIV and HBV)
| BARACLUDE 1 mg a N=51 | Placebo a N=17 | |
| HBV DNA b Proportion undetectable (<300 copies/mL) | 6% | 0 |
| Mean change from baseline (log 10 copies/mL) | (-3.65 *) | (+0.11) |
| ALT normalization (<= 1 x ULN) | (34%) c | (8%) c |
All patients also received a lamivudine-containing HAART regimen
Roche COBAS Amplicor PCR assay (LLOQ = 300 copies/mL)
Percentage of patients with abnormal ALT (> 1 x ULN) at baseline who achieved ALT normalization (n=35
for BARACLUDE and n=12 for placebo)
* p
< 0.0001
For patients originally assigned to BARACLUDE, at the end of the open-label phase (Week 48), 8% of patients had HBV DNA < 300 copies/mL by PCR, the mean change from baseline HBV DNA by PCR was -4.20 log10 copies/mL, and 37% of patients with abnormal ALT at baseline had ALT normalization (<= 1 X ULN).
Pediatrics
Pharmacokinetic studies have not been conducted in children.
Geriatrics
The effect of age on the pharmacokinetics of entecavir was evaluated following administration of a single 1mg oral dose in healthy young (20-40 years old) and elderly (65-83 years old) volunteers. Entecavir AUC was 29.3% greater in elderly subjects compared to young subjects. The disparity in exposure between elderly and young subjects was most likely attributable to differences in renal function. Dosage adjustment of BARACLUDE should be based on the renal function of the patient, rather than age (see DOSAGE AND ADMINISTRATION: Renal Impairment).
Gender / race
There are no significant gender/racial differences in entecavir pharmacokinetics.
Hepatic Impairment
No dosage adjustment of BARACLUDE is recommended for patients with hepatic impairment. The pharmacokinetics of entecavir following a single 1 mg dose were studied in patients (without chronic hepatitis B infection) with moderate and severe hepatic impairment. The pharmacokinetics of entecavir were similar between hepatically impaired patients and healthy control subjects.
Post-liver transplant
The safety and efficacy of BARACLUDE in liver transplant recipients are unknown. However, in a small pilot study of entecavir use in HBV-infected liver transplant recipients on a stable dose of cyclosporine A (n=5) or tacrolimus (n=4), entecavir exposure was approximately 2 fold the exposure in healthy subjects with normal renal function. Altered renal function contributed to the increase in entecavir exposure in these patients. The potential for pharmacokinetic interactions between entecavir and cyclosporine A or tacrolimus was not formally evaluated. Renal function must be carefully monitored both before and during treatment with BARACLUDE in liver transplant recipients who have received or are receiving an immunosuppressant that may affect renal function, such as cyclosporine or tacrolimus (see DOSAGE AND ADMINISTRATION: Renal Impairment).
Renal Insufficiency
The pharmacokinetics of entecavir following a single 1 mg dose were studied in patients (without chronic hepatitis B infection) with selected degrees of renal impairment, including patients whose renal impairment was managed by hemodialysis or continuous ambulatory peritoneal dialysis (CAPD). Results are shown in Table 9.
| Baseline Creatinine Clearance (mL/min) | Severe Managed with Hemodialysis a (n = 6) | Severe Managed with CAPD (n = 4) | ||||
| Unimpaired > 80 (n = 6) | Mild > 50 <= 80 (n = 6) | Moderate 30-50 (n = 6) | Severe < 30 (n = 6) | |||
| C max (ng/mL) | 8.1 | 10.4 | 10.5 | 15.3 | 15.4 | 16.6 |
| (CV%) | (30.7) | (37.2) | (22.7) | (33.8) | (56.4) | (29.7) |
| AUC (0-T) (ng *h/mL) | 27.9 | 51.5 | 69.5 | 145.7 | 233.9 | 221.8 |
| (CV) | (25.6) | (22.8) | (22.7) | (31.5) | (28.4) | (11.6) |
| CLR (mL/min) (SD) | 383.2 (101.8) | 197.9 (78.1) | 135.6 (31.6) | 40.3 (10.1) | NA | NA |
| CLT/F (mL/min) | 588.1 | 309.2 | 226.3 | 100.6 | 50.6 | 35.7 |
| (SD) | (153.7) | (62.6) | (60.1) | (29.1) | (16.5) | (19.6) |
a
Dosed immediately following hemodialysis CLR=renal clearance; CLT/F=apparent oral clearance.
Dosage adjustment is recommended for patients with a creatinine clearance <50 mL/min, including patients on hemodialysis or CAPD. (See DOSAGE AND ADMINISTRATION: Renal Impairment). Following a single 1 mg dose of BARACLUDE, hemodialysis removed approximately 13% of the BARACLUDE dose over 4 hours and CAPD removed approximately 0.3% of the dose over 7 days. BARACLUDE should be administered after hemodialysis.
BARACLUDE Tablets should be stored in a tightly closed container at 25deg C; excursions permitted between 15-30deg C. BARACLUDE Oral Solution should be stored at 25deg C; excursions permitted between 15-30deg C. Protect from light. Store bottle in outer carton. After opening, the oral solution can be used up to the expiration date on the bottle. The bottle and its contents should be discarded after the expiration date.
BARACLUDE (entecavir) film-coated tablets and oral solution contain entecavir as the active ingredient. BARACLUDE film-coated tablets contain the following inactive ingredients: lactose monohydrate, microcrystalline cellulose, crospovidone, povidone, and magnesium stearate. The tablet coating contains titanium dioxide, hypromellose, polyethylene glycol 400, polysorbate 80. BARACLUDE oral solution contains the following inactive ingredients: maltitol, sodium citrate, citric acid, methylparaben, propylparaben, and orange flavour. BARACLUDE Tablets and Oral Solution are available in the following strengths and configurations of plastic bottles with child-resistant closures:
| Product Strength and Dosage Form | Description | Quantity |
| 0.5 mg film-coated tablet | White to off-white, triangular-shaped tablet, debossed with "BMS" on one side and "1611" on the other side | 30 tablets 90 tablets |
| 0.05 mg/mL oral solution | Ready-to-use orange-flavored, clear, colorless to pale yellow aqueous solution in a 260-mL bottle | 210 mL |
BARACLUDE Oral Solution is a ready-to-use product; dilution or mixing with water or any other solvent or liquid product is not recommended. Each bottle of the oral solution is accompanied by a dosing spoon that is calibrated in 1 mL increments up to 10 mL. Patients should be instructed to hold the spoon in a vertical position and fill it gradually to the mark corresponding to the prescribed dose. Rinsing of the dosing spoon with water is recommended after each daily dose.