Bimzelx - patient leaflet, side effects, dosage

- If you get any side effects, talk to your doctor, pharmacist or nurse. This includes any possible side effects not listed in this leaflet. See section 4.

What is in this leaflet

• 1. What Bimzelx is and what it is used for

• 2. What you need to know before you use Bimzelx

• 3. How to use Bimzelx

• 4. Possible side effects

• 5. How to store Bimzelx

• 6. Contents of the pack and other information Instructions for use

1. What Bimzelx is and what it is used for

What Bimzelx is

Bimzelx contains the active substance bimekizumab.

What Bimzelx is used for

Bimzelx is used in adults to treat a skin condition called plaque psoriasis. Bimzelx reduces the symptoms, including pain, itching, and scaling of the skin.

How Bimzelx works

Bimekizumab, the active substance in Bimzelx, belongs to a group of medicines called interleukin (IL) inhibitors. Bimekizumab works by reducing the activity of two proteins called IL-17A and IL-17F, which are involved in causing inflammation. There are higher levels of these proteins in inflammatory diseases such as psoriasis.

2. What you need to know before you use Bimzelx

Do not use Bimzelx

• if you are allergic to bimekizumab or any of the other ingredients of this medicine (listed in

section 6).

• if you have an infection, including tuberculosis (TB), which your doctor thinks is important.

Warnings and precautions

Talk to your doctor, pharmacist or nurse before using Bimzelx if:

• you have an infection or an infection that keeps coming back.
• you recently had or plan to have a vaccination. You should not be given certain types of

vaccines (live vaccines) while using Bimzelx.

• you have ever had tuberculosis (TB).
• you have ever had inflammatory bowel disease (Crohn’s disease or ulcerative colitis).

Inflammatory bowel disease (Crohn’s disease or ulcerative colitis)

Stop using Bimzelx and tell your doctor or get medical help immediately if you notice blood in the stool, abdominal cramps, pain, diarrhoea or weight loss. These may be signs of new or worsening inflammatory bowel disease (Crohn’s disease or ulcerative colitis).

Look out for infections and allergic reactions

Bimzelx can rarely cause serious infections. Talk to your doctor or get medical help immediately if you notice any signs of a serious infection. Such signs are listed under “Serious side effects” in section 4.

Bimzelx can potentially cause serious allergic reactions. Talk to your doctor or get medical help immediately if you notice any signs of a serious allergic reaction. Such signs may include:

• difficulty breathing or swallowing
• low blood pressure, which can make you dizzy or light-headed
• swelling of the face, lips, tongue or throat
• severe itching of the skin, with a red rash or raised bumps.

Children and adolescents

Do not give this medicine to children and young people under 18 years of age. This is because it has not been studied in this age group.

Other medicines and Bimzelx

Tell your doctor or pharmacist if you are using, have recently used or might use any other medicines.

Pregnancy, breast-feeding and fertility

If you are pregnant, think you may be pregnant or are planning to have a baby, ask your doctor for advice before using this medicine. It is preferable to avoid the use of Bimzelx in pregnancy. This is because it is not known how this medicine will affect the baby.

If you are a woman who can become pregnant, you should use contraception while using this medicine and for at least 17 weeks after your last dose of Bimzelx.

If you are breast-feeding or are planning to breast-feed, talk to your doctor before using this medicine.

You and your doctor should decide if you can breast-feed or use Bimzelx.

Driving and using machines

Bimzelx is unlikely to affect your ability to drive and use machines.

Bimzelx contains sodium

This medicine contains less than 1 mmol (23 mg) sodium per dose, that is to say essentially “sodium free”.

3. How to use Bimzelx

Always use this medicine exactly as your doctor or pharmacist has told you. Check with your doctor or pharmacist if you are not sure.

How much Bimzelx is given and for how long

The recommended dose, given as injections under your skin (‘subcutaneous injections’) is as follows:

• 320 mg (given as two pre-filled syringes, containing 160 mg each) at weeks 0, 4, 8, 12, 16.
• From week 16, you will use 320 mg (two pre-filled syringes, containing 160 mg each) every 8

weeks. If you weigh more than 120 kg, your doctor may decide to continue your injections every 4 weeks from week 16.

You and your doctor or nurse will decide if you should inject this medicine yourself. Do not inject this medicine unless you have been trained by a healthcare professional. A caregiver may also give your injections after they have been trained.

Read the ‘

Instructions for use

’ at the end of this leaflet before injecting Bimzelx pre-filled syringe yourself.

If you use more Bimzelx than you should

Tell your doctor if you have used more Bimzelx than you should or if you have injected your dose earlier than you should.

If you forget to use Bimzelx

Talk to your doctor if you have forgotten to inject a dose of Bimzelx.

If you stop using Bimzelx

Talk to your doctor before you stop using Bimzelx. If you stop treatment, your psoriasis symptoms may come back.

If you have any further questions on the use of this medicine, ask your doctor, pharmacist or nurse.

4. Possible side effects

Like all medicines, this medicine can cause side effects, although not everybody gets them.

Serious side effects

Tell your doctor or get medical help immediately if you get any of the following side effects:

Possible serious infection – the signs may include:

• fever, flu-like symptoms, night sweats
• feeling tired or short of breath, cough which will not go away
• warm, red and painful skin, or a painful skin rash with blisters

Your doctor will decide if you can keep using Bimzelx.

Other side effects

Tell your doctor, pharmacist or nurse if you get any of the following side effects:

Very common (may affect more than 1 in 10 people)

• upper respiratory infections with symptoms such as sore throat and stuffy nose

Common (may affect up to 1 in 10 people)

• thrush in the mouth or throat with symptoms such as white or yellow patches; red or sore mouth and pain with swallowing
• fungal infection of the skin, such as athlete’s foot between the toes
• ear infections
• cold sores (herpes simplex infections)
• stomach flu (gastroenteritis)
• inflamed hair follicles which may look like pimples
• headache
• itchy, dry skin or an eczema-like rash sometimes with swollen and reddened skin (dermatitis)
• acne
• redness, pain or swelling at the site of injection
• feeling tired

Uncommon (may affect up to 1 in 100 people)

• lowered levels of white blood cells (neutropenia)
• fungal infections of the skin and mucous membranes (including oesophageal candidiasis)
• discharge from the eye with itching, redness and swelling (conjunctivitis)
• blood in the stool, abdominal cramps and pain, diarrhoea or weight loss (signs of bowel problems)

Reporting of side effects

If you get any side effects, talk to your doctor, pharmacist or nurse. This includes any possible side effects not listed in this leaflet. Y ou can also report side effects directly via the national reporting system listed in Appendix V. By reporting side effects you can help provide more information on the safety of this medicine.

5. How to store Bimzelx

Keep this medicine out of the sight and reach of children.

Do not use this medicine after the expiry date which is stated on the label and carton after EXP. The expiry date refers to the last day of that month.

Store in a refrigerator between 2°C and 8°C. Do not freeze.

Keep the pre-filled syringes in the original carton in order to protect from light.

Bimzelx can be kept out of the refrigerator for up to 25 days. This must be in the outer carton, not above 25°C and away from direct light. Do not use the pre-filled syringes after this time period. There is a space on the box so you can write the date it was taken out of the refrigerator.

Do not throw away any medicines via wastewater or household waste. Ask your pharmacist how to throw away medicines you no longer use. These measures will help protect the environment.

6. Contents of the pack and other information

What Bimzelx contains

• The active substance is bimekizumab. Each pre-filled syringe contains 160 mg of bimekizumab in the 1 mL solution.
• The other ingredients are glycine, sodium acetate trihydrate, glacial acetic acid, polysorbate 80 and water for injections.

What Bimzelx looks like and contents of the pack

Bimzelx is a clear to slightly opalescent and pale brownish-yellow liquid. It comes in a single use disposable pre-filled syringe with needle cap.

Bimzelx is available in unit packs containing 1 or 2 pre-filled syringe(s) and in multipacks comprising 3 cartons, each containing 1 pre-filled syringe, or in multipacks comprising 2 cartons, each containing 2 pre-filled syringes.

Not all pack sizes may be marketed.

Marketing Authorisation Holder

UCB Pharma S.A.

Allée de la Recherche 60

B-1070 Bruxelles, Belgium

Manufacturer

UCB Pharma S.A.

Chemin du Foriest

B-1420 Braine-l’Alleud, Belgium

For any information about this medicine, please contact the local representative of the Marketing Authorisation Holder:

Belgie/Belgiqu­e/Belgien UCB Pharma S.A./NV Tél/Tel: + 32 / (0)2 559 92 00	Lietuva UCB Pharma Oy Finland Tel: + 358 9 2514 4221 (Suomija)
Efc^rapufl TO CH EH Etnrapua EOOfl Tea.: + 359 (0) 2 962 30 49	Luxembourg/Lu­xemburg UCB Pharma S.A./NV Tél/Tel: + 32 / (0)2 559 92 00 (Belgique/Belgien)
Česká republika UCB s.r.o. Tel: + 420 221 773 411	Magyarország UCB Magyarország Kft. Tel.: + 36-(1) 391 0060
Danmark UCB Nordic A/S Tlf: + 45 / 32 462 400	Malta Pharmasud Ltd. Tel: + 356 / 21 37 64 36
Deutschland UCB Pharma GmbH Tel: + 49 /(0) 2173 48 4848	Nederland UCB Pharma B.V. Tel.: + 31 / (0)76–573 11 40
Eesti UCB Pharma Oy Finland Tel: + 358 9 2514 4221 (Soome)	Norge UCB Nordic A/S Tlf: + 47 / 67 16 5880
EZZáSa UCB A.E. Tql: + 30 /2109974000	Österreich UCB Pharma GmbH Tel: + 43-(0)1 291 80 00
España UCB Pharma, S.A. Tel: + 34 / 91 570 34 44	Polska UCB Pharma Sp. z o.o. / VEDIM Sp. z o.o. Tel: + 48 22 696 99 20
France UCB Pharma S.A. Tél: + 33 / (0)1 47 29 44 35	Portugal UCB Pharma (Produtos Farmacéuticos), Lda Tel: + 351 21 302 5300

Romania

UCB Pharma Romania S.R.L.

Tel: + 40 21 300 29 04

Slovenija

Medis, d.o.o.

Tel: + 386 1 589 69 00

Slovenská republika

UCB s.r.o., organizačná zložka

Tel: + 421 (0) 2 5920 2020

Suomi/Finland

UCB Pharma Oy Finland

Puh/Tel: + 358 9 2514 4221

Sverige

UCB Pharma AB

Tel: + 46 / (0) 40 294 900

United Kingdom (Northern Ireland)

UCB (Pharma) Ireland Ltd.

Tel : + 353 / (0)1–46 37 395

This leaflet was last revised in.

Other sources of information

Detailed information on this medicine is available on the European Medicines Agency website:

Instructions for use

Read all the instructions below before you use Bimzelx pre-filled syringe.

Important information:

• Your healthcare professional should show you how to prepare and inject Bimzelx using the prefilled syringe. Do not inject yourself or someone else until you have been shown how to inject Bimzelx the right way.
• You and/or your caregiver should read these Instructions for Use before each use of Bimzelx.
• Call your healthcare professional if you or your caregiver have any questions about how to

inject Bimzelx the right way.

• To receive your full dose, you will need to use 2 Bimzelx pre-filled syringes, one after the other.
• The Bimzelx pre-filled syringe has a needle safety feature. This will cover the needle automatically after the injection is finished. The needle safety feature will help to prevent needle injury to anyone who handles the pre-filled syringe after injection.

Do not use this medicine and return it to the pharmacy if:

• the expiry date (EXP) has passed.
• the carton seal is broken.
• the pre-filled syringe has been dropped or looks damaged.
• the liquid has ever been frozen (even if thawed).

For a more comfortable injection: Take the Bimzelx pre-filled syringes out of the refrigerator and let them sit on a flat surface at room temperature for 30 to 45 minutes before injecting.

• Do not warm in any other way, such as in a microwave or in hot water.
• Do not shake the pre-filled syringes.
• Do not uncap the pre-filled syringes until you are ready to inject.

Follow the steps below each time you use Bimzelx.

Step 1: Setting up for your injections

Place the following items on a clean flat, well-lit work surface, like a table:

• 2 Bimzelx pre-filled syringes

You will also need (not included in the carton):

• 2 alcohol wipes
• 2 clean cotton balls
• 1 sharps disposal container. See “Throw away the used Bimzelx pre-filled syringe” at the end of

these Instructions for Use.

Start with one pre-filled syringe for the first injection.

For the full dose, you need 2 injections, one after the other.

Step 2: Choose injection site and prepare your injection

2a: Choose your injection site

• The places you may chose for your injection are:

o your stomach (abdomen) or your thigh (see Figure B ).

o the back of your arm may also be used if a caregiver is giving you the injection (see Figure C ).

• Do not inject into areas where the skin is tender, bruised, red, scaly, hard or areas with scars or stretch marks.
• Do not inject within 5 cm of the belly-button (navel).
• You should use a different place for each injection. Do not use the same place to inject twice in a row.

2b: Wash your hands well with soap and water and dry with a clean towel

2c: Prepare your skin

• Clean the injection site with an alcohol wipe. Let the area dry completely. Do not touch the cleaned area again before injecting.

2d: Check the pre-filled syringe (see Figure D)

• Make sure the name Bimzelx and expiry date appear on the label.
• Check the medicine through the viewing window. The medicine should be pale brownish-

yellow and free of particles. You may see air bubbles in the liquid. This is normal.

• Do not use the Bimzelx pre-filled syringe if the medicine is cloudy, discoloured, or has

particles.

Step 3: Inject Bimzelx

3a: Remove the pre-filled syringe needle cap

• Hold the pre-filled syringe around the finger grip with one hand. Pull the cap straight off the pre-filled syringe with the other hand (see Figure E). You may see a drop of liquid on the tip of the needle, this is normal.

o Do not touch the needle or let the needle touch any surface.

o Do not hold the plunger rod when you remove the cap. If you accidentally remove the plunger rod, throw the pre-filled syringe in the sharps disposal container and get a new one.

o Do not put the needle cap back on. If you do, you could damage the needle or prick yourself by accident.

3b: Gently pinch and hold with one hand a fold of skin that you cleaned for the injection. With the other hand, insert the needle into your skin at about 45 degree angle

• Push the needle all the way in. Then gently let go of your skin. Make sure the needle is in place

(see Figure F ).

3c: Firmly push the plunger head all the way down until all the medicine is injected (see Figure

G)

• All the medicine is injected when you cannot push the plunger head any further (see Figure H).

3d: Lift your thumb off the plunger head (see Figure I). The needle will automatically move back in and lock in place

• Press a dry cotton ball over the injection site for a few seconds. Do not rub the injection site. You may see slight bleeding or a drop of liquid. This is normal. You may cover the injection site with a small adhesive plaster, if needed.