Doribax - summary of medicine characteristics

1. NAME OF THE MEDICINAL PRODUCT

Doribax 250 mg powder for solution for infusion

2. QUALITATIVE AND QUANTITATIVE COMPOSITION

Each vial contains doripenem monohydrate equivalent to 250 mg doripenem.

3. PHARMACEUTICAL FORM

Powder for solution for infusion (powder for infusion)

White to slightly yellowish off-white crystalline powder

4. CLINICAL PARTICULARS4.1 Therapeutic indications

Doribax is indicated for the treatment of the following infections in adults (see sections 4.4 and 5.1):

• • Nosocomial pneumonia (including ventilator-associated pneumonia)
• • Complicated intra-abdominal infections
• • Complicated urinary tract infections

Consideration should be given to official guidance on the appropriate use of antibacterial agents.

4.2 Posology and method of administration

Posology

The recommended dose and administration by infection is shown in the following table:

Infection	Dose	Frequency	Infusion time
Nosocomial pneumonia including	500 mg or 1 g*	every 8 hours	1 or 4 hours
ventilator-associated pneumonia
Complicated intra-abdominal infection	500 mg	every 8 hours	1 hour
Complicated UTI, including pyelonephritis	500 mg	every 8 hours	1 hour

*  1 g every 8 hours as a 4-hour infusion may be considered in patients with augmented renal clearance (particularly

those with creatinine clearance (CrCl) >150 ml/min) and/or in infections due to non-fermenting gram-negative pathogens (such as Pseudomonas spp. and Acinetobacter spp.). This dose regimen is based on PK/PD data (see sections 4.4, 4.8 and 5.1).

Based mainly on PK/PD considerations, a 4-hour infusion time may be more suitable for infection with less susceptible pathogens (see section 5.1). This dosing regimen should also be considered in particularly severe infections.

Duration of treatment

The usual treatment duration of doripenem therapy ranges from 5–14 days and should be guided by the severity, site of the infection, infecting pathogen and the patient’s clinical response. The usual treatment duration for patients with nosocomial pneumonia, including ventilator-associated pneumonia is 10 to 14 days and is often in the upper range for patients infected with non-fermenting gram-negative pathogens (such as Pseudomonas spp. and Acinetobacter spp. ) (see section 5.1).

Doripenem was given for up to 14 days in clinical studies and the safety of longer durations of therapy has not been established. After commencing treatment with intravenous doripenem, a switch to appropriate oral therapy to complete the treatment course is possible once clinical improvement has been established.

Elderly patients ( > 65 years of age)

No dose adjustment is necessary in elderly patients, except in cases of moderate to severe renal impairment (see Renal impairment below and section 5.2).

Renal impairment

In patients with mild renal impairment (i.e. creatinine clearance (CrCl) is > 50 to < 80 ml/min), no dose adjustment is necessary.

In patients with moderate renal impairment (CrCl >30 to < 50 ml/min), the dose of doripenem should be 250 mg every 8 hours (see section 6.6). In patients with severe renal impairment

(CrCl < 30 ml/min), the dose of doripenem should be 250 mg every 12 hours (see section 6.6). In patients prescribed 1 g every 8 hours as a 4-hour infusion, the dose should be similarly adjusted (moderate renal impairment: 500 mg every 8 hours; severe renal impairment: 500 mg every 12 hours).

Due to limited clinical data and an expected increased exposure to doripenem and its metabolite (doripenem-M-1), Doribax should be used with caution in patients with severe renal impairment (see section 5.2).

Dose in patients on dialysis

Doribax dosing and administration recommendations for patients on continuous renal replacement therapies are shown in the following table.

CRRT procedure	Glomerular filtration rate	Dose	Frequency^ <	Infusion timea, b	Target attainment (MIC)
CVVH	<30 ml/min	250 mg	every 12 hours	4 hours	< 1 mg/l
CVVHDF	< 5 ml/min	250 mg	every 12 hours	4 hours	< 1 mg/l
CVVHDF	5–30 ml/min	500 mg	every 12 hours	4 hours	< 1 mg/l

CRRT: continuous renal replacement therapy; CVVH: continuous venovenous haemofiltration; CVVHDF: continuous venovenous haemodiafiltration; MIC: minimum inhibitory concentration

a   For patients with acute renal insufficiency on CRRT, an infusion time of 4 hours is required, taking into consideration the possible

increases in non-renal clearance of carbapenems in patients with acute renal insufficiency.

bPatients with chronic renal impairment on CRRT can be treated with either a 1 or 4-hour infusion time. Based mainly on PK/PD considerations, a 4-hour infusion time may be more suitable to maximize the percentage time during the dosing interval that the plasma concentration of doripenem exceeds the minimum inhibitory concentration (%T > MIC), (see section 5.1).

Dosing recommendations for pathogens with MIC > 1 mg/l have not been established for continuous renal replacement therapy due to the potential for accumulation of doripenem and doripenem-M-1 metabolite (see sections 4.4 and 5.2). Close safety monitoring is advised for patients on continuous renal replacement therapy, due to limited clinical data and an expected increased exposure to doripenem-M-1 metabolite (see section 4.4).

There is insufficient information to make dose adjustment recommendations for patients on other forms of dialysis (see section 5.2).

Hepatic impairment

No dose adjustment is necessary.

Paediatric patients

The safety and efficacy of Doribax in children aged less than 18 years have not yet been established. No data are available.

Method of administration

Doribax is to be reconstituted and then further diluted (see section 6.6) prior to administration by intravenous infusion over a period of 1 or 4 hours.

4.3 Contraindications

Hypersensitivity to the active substance

Hypersensitivity to any other carbapenem antibacterial agent

Severe hypersensitivity (e.g. anaphylactic reaction, severe skin reaction) to any other type of beta-lactam antibacterial agent (e.g. penicillins or cephalosporins).

4.4 Special warnings and precautions for use

General

The selection of doripenem to treat an individual patient should take into account the appropriateness of using a carbapenem antibacterial agent based on factors such as severity of the infection, the prevalence of resistance to other suitable antibacterial agents and the risk of selecting for carbapenem-resistant bacteria.

Caution on the choice of antibiotic agent and dose should be taken when treating patients wit late-onset ventilator-associated pneumonia (> 5 days hospitalisation) and in other nosocomial pneumonia cases where pathogens with decreased susceptibility are suspected or con Pseudomonas spp. and Acinetobacter spp. (see sections 4.2 and 5.1).

Concomitant use of an aminoglycoside may be indicated when Pseudomonas ae are suspected or proven to be involved in the approved indications (see section 4

Hypersensitivity reactions

Serious and occasionally fatal hypersensitivity (anaphylactic) reactions have occurred in patients receiving beta-lactam antibiotics. Before therapy with Doribax is started, careful inquiry should be made concerning a previous history of hypersensitivity reactions to other active substances in this class or to beta-lactam antibiotics. Doribax should be used with caution in patients with such a history. Should a hypersensitivity reaction to doripenem occur, it should be discontinued immediately and appropriate measures taken. Serious acute hypersensitivity (anaphylactic) reactions require immediate emergency treatment.

Seizures

Seizures have been reported during treatment with carbapenems, including doripenem (see section 4.8). Seizures in clinical trials with doripenem occurred most commonly in those with pre-existing central nervous system (CNS) disorders (e.g. stroke or history of seizures), compromised renal function and at doses greater than 500 mg.

Pseudomembranous colitis

Pseudomembranous colitis due to Clostridium difficile has been reported with Doribax and may range in severity from mild to life-threatening. Therefore, it is important to consider this diagnosis in patients who present with diarrhoea during or subsequent to the administration of Doribax (see section 4.8).

Overgrowth of non-susceptible bacteria

Administration of doripenem, like other antibiotics, has been associated with emergence and selection of strains with reduced susceptibility. Patients should be carefully monitored during therapy. If

on occurs, appropriate measures should be taken. Prolonged use of Doribax should be

Drug interaction with valproic acid

The concomitant use of doripenem and valproic acid/sodium valproate is not recommended (see section 4.5).

Pneumonitis with inhalational use

When Doribax was used investigationally via inhalation, pneumonitis occurred. Therefore, doripenem should not be administered by this route.

Continuous renal replacement therapy

The exposure to the metabolite doripenem-M-1 in patients on continuous renal replacement therapy may be increased to levels where no in vivo safety data are presently available. The metabolite lacks target pharmacological activity but other possible pharmacological effects are unknown. Therefore, close safety monitoring is advised. (see sections 4.2 and 5.2)

Description of the patient population treated in clinical studies

In two clinical trials of patients with nosocomial pneumonia (N=979), 60% of the clinically-evaluable Doribax-treated patients had ventilator-associated pneumonia (VAP). Of these, 50% had late-onset VAP (defined as that occurring after five days of mechanical ventilation), 54% had an APACHE (Acute Physiology And Chronic Health Evaluation) II score > 15 and 32% received concomitant aminoglycosides (76% for more than 3 days).

In two clinical trials of patients with complicated intra-abdominal infections (N=962) the most common anatomical site of infection in microbiologically-evaluable Doribax-treated patients was the appendix (62%). Of these, 51% had generalised peritonitis at baseline. Other sources of infection included colon perforation (20%), complicated cholecystitis (5%) and infections at other sites (14%). Eleven percent had an APACHE II score of > 10, 9.5% had post-operative infections, 27% had single or multiple intra-abdominal abscesses and 4% had concurrent bacteraemia at baseline.

In two clinical trials of patients with complicated urinary tract infections (N=1,179), 52% of microbiologically-evaluable Doribax-treated patients had complicated lower urinary tract infections and 48% had pyelonephritis, of which 16% were complicated. Overall, 54% of patients had a persistent complication, 9% had concurrent bacteraemia and 23% were infected with a levofloxacin resistant uropathogen at baseline.

The experience in patients who are severely immunocompromised, receiving immunosuppressive therapy, and patients with severe neutropenia is limited since this population was excluded from phase III trials.

4.5 Interaction with other medicinal products and other forms of interaction

Doripenem undergoes little to no Cytochrome P450 (CYP450) mediated metabolism. Based on in vitro studies it is not expected that doripenem will inhibit or induce the activities of CYP450.

Therefore, no CYP450-related drug interactions are to be expected (see section 5.2).

It has been shown that co-administration of doripenem and valproic acid significantly reduces serum valproic acid levels below the therapeutic range. The lowered valproic acid levels can lead to inadequate seizure control. In an interaction study, the serum concentrations of valproic acid were markedly reduced (AUC was reduced by 63%) following co-administration of doripenem and valproic acid. The interaction had a fast onset. Since patients were administered only four doses of doripenem, a further decrease of valproic acid levels with longer concomitant administration cannot be excluded. Decreases in valproic acid levels have also been reported when co-administered with other carbapenem agents, achieving a 60–100% decrease in valproic acid levels in about two days. Therefore, alternative antibacterial or supplemental anticonvulsant therapies should be considered.

Probenecid competes with doripenem for renal tubular secretion and reduces the renal clearance of doripenem. In an interaction study, the mean doripenem AUC increased by 75% following co-administration with probenecid. Therefore, co-administration of probenecid with Doribax is not recommended. An interaction with other medicinal products eliminated by renal tubular secretion cannot be excluded.

4.6 Fertility, pregnancy and lactation

Pregnancy

For doripenem, limited clinical data on exposed pregnancies are available. Animal studies are insufficient with respect to pregnancy, embryonal/foetal development, parturition or postnatal development (see section 5.3). The potential risk for humans is unknown. Doribax should not be used during pregnancy unless clearly necessary.

Breast-feeding

It is unknown whether doripenem is excreted in human breast milk. A study in rats has shown that doripenem and its metabolite are transferred to milk. A decision on whether to continue/discon­tinue breast-feeding or to continue/discon­tinue therapy with Doribax should be made taking into account the benefit of breast-feeding to the child and the benefit of Doribax therapy to the woman.

Fertility

There are no clinical data available regarding potential effects of doripenem treatment on male or female fertility. Intravenous injection of doripenem had no adverse effects on general fertility of treated male and female rats or on postnatal development and reproductive performance of the offspring at doses as high as 1 g/kg/day (based on AUC, at least equal to the exposure to humans at the dose of 500 mg administered every 8 hours).

4.7 Effects on ability to drive and use machines

No studies on the effects of Doribax on the ability to drive and use machines have been performed. Based on reported adverse drug reactions, it is not anticipated that Doribax will affect the ability to drive and use machines.

4.8 Undesirable effects

Summary of the safety profile

In 3,142 adult patients (1,817 of which received Doribax) evaluated for safety in phase II and phase III clinical trials, adverse reactions due to Doribax 500 mg every 8 hours occurred at a rate of 32%.

Doribax was discontinued because of adverse drug reactions in 0.1% of patients overall. Adverse drug reactions that led to Doribax discontinuation were nausea (0.1%), diarrhoea (0.1%), pruritus (0.1%), vulvomycotic infection (0.1%), hepatic enzyme increased (0.2%) and rash (0.2%). The most common adverse reactions were headache (10%), diarrhoea (9%) and nausea (8%).

The safety profile in approximately 500 patients who received Doribax 1 g every 8 hours as a 4-hour infusion in phase I, II and III clinical trials, was consistent with the safety profile for patients receiving 500 mg every 8 hours.

Tabulated list of adverse reactions

Adverse drug reactions identified during clinical trials and post-marketing experience with Doribax are listed below by frequency category. Frequency categories are defined as follows: Very common (> 1/10); Common (> 1/100 to < 1/10); Uncommon (> 1/1,000 to < 1/100); Not known (cannot be estimated from the available data).

Within each frequency grouping, undesirable effects are presented in order of decreasing seriousness.

Adverse drug reactions identified during clinical trials and post-marketing experience with Doribax
Infections and infestation	Common: oral candidiasis, vulvomycotic infection
Blood and lymphatic system disorders	Uncommon: thrombocytopenia, neutropenia
Immune system disorders	Uncommon: hypersensitivity reactions (see section 4.4) Not known: anaphylaxis (see section 4.4)
Nervous system disorders	Very common: headache Uncommon: seizures (see section 4.4)
Vascular disorders	Common: phlebitis
Gastrointestinal disorders	Common: nausea, diarrhoea Uncommon: C. difficile colitis (see section 4.4)
Hepatobiliary disorders	Common: hepatic enzyme increased

Skin and subcutaneous tissue disorders

Common: pruritus, rash Not known: toxic epidermal necrolysis, Stevens-Johnson syndrome

4.9 Overdose

In a phase I study in healthy subjects receiving doripenem 2 g infused over 1 hour every 8 hours for 10 to 14 days, the incidence of rash was very common (5 of 8 subjects). The rash resolved within 10 days

after doripenem administration was discontinued.

In the event of overdose, Doribax should be discontinued and general supportive treatment given unti renal elimination takes place. Doribax can be removed by continuous renal replacement therapy or haemodialysis (see section 5.2). However, no information is available on the use of either of these therapies to treat overdose.

5. PHARMACOLOGICAL PROPERTIES5.1 Pharmacodynamic properties

Pharmacotherapeutic group: Antibacterials for systemic use, carbapenems, ATC code: J01DH04.

Mechanism of action

Doripenem is a synthetic carbapenem antibacterial agent.

Doripenem exerts its bactericidal activity by inhibiting bacterial cell wall biosynthesis. Doripenem inactivates multiple essential penicillin-binding proteins (PBPs) resulting in inhibition of cell wall synthesis with subsequent cell death.

In vitro doripenem showed little potential to antagonise or be antagonised by other antibacterial agents. Additive activity or weak synergy with amikacin and levofloxacin has been seen for

Pseudomonas aeruginosa and for gram-positive bacteria with daptomycin, linezolid, levofloxacin, and vancomycin.

Pharmacokinetic/phar­macodynamic relationship

Similar to other beta-lactam antimicrobial agents, the time that the plasma concentration of doripenem exceeds the minimum inhibitory concentration (%T>MIC) of the infecting organism has been shown to best correlate with efficacy in pre-clinical pharmacokinetic/phar­macodynamic (PK/PD) studies. Monte Carlo simulations using pathogen susceptibility results from completed phase III trials and population PK data indicated that the %T>MIC target of 35% was achieved in greater than 90% of patients with nosocomial pneumonia, complicated urinary tract infections and complicated intra-abdominal infections, for all degrees of renal function.

Extending the infusion time of doripenem to 4 hours maximises the % T>MIC for a given dose and is the basis for the option to administer 4-hour infusions in patients with nosocomial pneumonia including ventilator-associated pneumonia. In seriously ill patients or those with an impaired immune response, a 4-hour infusion time may be more suitable when the MIC of doripenem for the known or suspected pathogen(s) has been shown or is expected to be > 0.5 mg/l, in order to reach a target attainment of 50% T>MIC in at least 95% of the patients (see section 4.2). Monte Carlo simulations supported the use of 500 mg 4-hour infusions every 8 hours in subjects with normal renal function for target pathogens with doripenem MICs < 4 mg/l.

Mechanisms of resistance

Bacterial resistance mechanisms that effect doripenem include active substance inactivation by carbapenem-hydrolysing enzymes, mutant or acquired PBPs, decreased outer membrane permeability and active efflux. Doripenem is stable to hydrolysis by most beta-lactamases, including penicillinases and cephalosporinases produced by gram-positive and gram-negative bacteria, with the exception of relatively rare carbapenem hydrolysing beta-lactamases. Species resistant to other carbapenems do generally express co-resistance to doripenem. Methicillin-resistant staphylococci should always be considered as resistant to doripenem. As with other antimicrobial agents, including carbapenems, doripenem has been shown to select for resistant bacterial strains.

Breakpoints

Minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) breakpoints established by the European Committee on

Antimicrobial Susceptibility Testing (EUCAST) are as follows:

Anaerobes

Bacteroides fragilis

Bacteroides caccae

Bacteroides ovatus

Bacteroides uniformis *

Bacteroides thetaiotaomicron

Bacteroides vulgatus * Bilophila wadsworthia Peptostreptococcus magnus *

Peptostreptococcus micros Porphyromonas spp.

Prevotella spp.

Sutterella wadsworthensis

Species for which acquired resistance may be a problem:

Acinetobacter baumannii

Acinetobacter spp.

Burkholderia cepacia $+

Pseudomonas aeruginosa *

Inherently resistant organisms:

Gram-positive aerobes

Enterococcus faecium

Gram-negative aerobes

Stenotrophomonas maltophilia Legionella spp.

species against which activity has been demonstrated in clinical studies

species that show natural intermediate susceptibility

species with > 50% acquired resistance in one or more Member State

all methicillin-resistant staphylococci should be regarded as resistant to doripenem

Data from clinical studies

Ventilator-associated pneumonia

A study of 233 patients with late-onset VAP failed to demonstrate the non-inferiority of an investigational 7-day course of doripenem (1 g every 8 hours as a 4 hour infusion) compared to a 10-day course of imipenem/cilastatin (1 g every 8 hours as a 1 hour infusion). In addition, the patients were allowed to receive specified adjunctive therapies. The study was stopped early based on the recommendation of an independent data monitoring committee. The clinical cure rate at the end of treatment visit on day 10 was numerically lower for subjects in the doripenem arm of the primary microbiological intent-to-treat (MITT) (45.6% versus 56.8%; 95% CI: –26.3%; 3.8%) and co-primary microbiologically evaluable (ME) (49.1% [28/57] versus 66.1% [39/59]); 95% CI: –34.7%; 0.8%) analysis sets. The overall 28-day all cause mortality rate was numerically higher for doripenem treated subjects in the MITT analysis set (21.5% versus 14.8%; 95% CI: –5.0%; 18.5%).The difference in linical cure rate between doripenem versus imipenem/cilastatin was greater in patients with APACHE core > 15 (16/45 [36%] versus 23/46 [50%]) and in patients infected with Pseudomonas aeruginosa /17 [41%] versus 6/10 [60%]).

5.2 Pharmacokinetic properties

The mean Cmax and AUC0-v of doripenem in healthy subjects across studies following administration of 500 mg over 1 hour are approximately 23 pg/ml and 36 ^g.h/ml, respectively. The mean Cmax and AUC0-x of doripenem in healthy subjects across studies following administration of 500 mg and 1 g over 4 hours are approximately 8 ^g/ml and 17 ^g/ml, and 34 ^g.h/ml and 68 ^g.h/ml, respectively. There is no accumulation of doripenem following multiple intravenous infusions of either 500 mg or 1 g administered every 8 hours for 7 to 10 days in subjects with normal renal function.

Doripenem single dose pharmacokinetics after a 4-hour infusion in adults with cystic fibrosis are consistent with those in adults without cystic fibrosis. Adequate and well controlled studies to establish the safety and efficacy of doripenem in patients with cystic fibrosis have not been conducted.

Distribution

The average binding of doripenem to plasma proteins was approximately 8.1% and is independent of plasma concentrations. The volume of distribution at steady state is approximately 16.8 l, similar to extracellular fluid volume in man. Doripenem penetrates well into several body fluids and tissues, such as uterine tissue, retroperitoneal fluid, prostatic tissue, gallbladder tissue and urine.

Biotransformation

Metabolism of doripenem to a microbiologically inactive ring-opened metabolite occurs primarily vi dehydropeptidase-I. Doripenem undergoes little to no Cytochrome P450 (CYP450) mediated metabolism. In vitro studies have determined that doripenem does not inhibit or induce the activities of CYP isoforms 1A2, 2A6, 2C9, 2C19, 2D6, 2E1 or 3A4.

Elimination

Doripenem is primarily eliminated unchanged by the kidneys. Mean plasma terminal elimination half-life of doripenem in healthy young adults is approximately 1 hour and plasma clearance is approximately 15.9 l/hour. Mean renal clearance is 10.3 l/hour. The magnitude of this value, coupled with the significant decrease in the elimination of doripenem seen with concomitant probenecid administration, suggests that doripenem undergoes glomerular filtration, tubular secretion and re-absorption. In healthy young adults given a single 500 mg dose of Doribax, 71% and 15% of the dose was recovered in urine as unchanged active substance and ring-opened metabolite, respectively. Following the administration of a single 500 mg dose of radiolabeled doripenem to healthy young adults, less than 1% of the total radioactivity was recovered in faeces. The pharmacokinetics of doripenem are linear over a dose range of 500 mg to 2 g when intravenously infused over 1 hour and 500 mg to 1 g when intravenously infused over 4 hours.

Renal impairment

Following a single 500 mg dose of Doribax, doripenem AUC increased 1.6-fold, 2.8-fold, and 5.1-fold in subjects with mild (CrCl 51–79 ml/min), moderate (CrCl 31–50 ml/min), and severe renal impairment (CrCl < 30 ml/min), respectively, compared to age-matched healthy subjects with normal renal function (CrCl > 80 ml/min). AUC of the microbiologically inactive ring-opened metabolite (doripenem-M-1) is expected to be considerably increased in patients with severe renal impairment compared with healthy subjects. Dose adjustment is necessary in patients with moderate and severe renal impairment (see section 4.2).

Doribax dosage adjustment is necessary in patients receiving continuous renal replacement therapy (see section 4.2). In a study where 12 subjects with end stage renal disease received a single 500 mg dose of doripenem as a 1-hour i.v. infusion, the systemic exposure to doripenem and doripenem-M-1 were increased compared with healthy subjects. The amount of doripenem and doripenem-M-1 removed during a 12-hour CVVH session was approximately 28% and 10% of the dose, respectively; and during a 12-hour CVVHDF session was approximately 21% and 8% of the dose, respectively. Dosing recommendations for patients on continuous renal replacement therapy were developed to achieve doripenem systemic exposures similar to subjects with normal renal function who receive doripenem 500 mg as a 1-hour infusion, to maintain doripenem concentrations above a minimum inhibitory concentration of 1 mg/l for at least 35% of the dosing interval, and to maintain doripenem and doripenem-M-1 metabolite exposures below those observed with a 1-hour infusion of 1 g doripenem every 8 hours in healthy subjects. These dosing recommendations were derived by modeling data from subjects with end stage renal disease receiving continuous renal replacement therapy, and take into consideration the potential increases in non-renal clearance of carbapenems in patients with acute renal insufficiency compared to patients with chronic renal impairment.

Doripenem-M-1 had a slow elimination in the patient group and the half-life (and AUC) has not been satisfactorily determined. Therefore, it may not be excluded that the exposure obtained in patients receiving continuous renal replacement therapy will be higher than estimated and thus higher than metabolite exposures observed with a 1-hour infusion of 1 g doripenem every 8 hours in healthy subjects. The in vivo consequences of the increased exposures to the metabolite are unknown as data on pharmacological activity, except for antimicrobiological activity, are lacking (see section 4.4). If the doripenem dose is increased beyond the recommended dose for continuous renal replacement therapy, the systemic exposure of the doripenem-M-1 metabolite is even further increased. The clinical consequences of such an increase in exposure are unknown.

The systemic exposures to doripenem and doripenem-M-1 are substantially increased in patients with

end stage renal disease receiving haemodialysis compared with healthy subjects. In a study where six subjects with end stage renal disease received a single dose of 500 mg doripenem by i.v. infusion, the amount of doripenem and doripenem-M-1 removed during a 4-hour haemodialysis session was approximately 46% and 6% of the dose, respectively. There is insufficient information to make d adjustment recommendations in patients on intermittent haemodialysis or dialysis methods other continuous renal replacement therapy (see section 4.2).

Hepatic impairment

The pharmacokinetics of doripenem in patients with hepatic impairment have not been established. As

doripenem does not appear to undergo hepatic metabolism, the pharmacokinetics of doripenem are not expected to be affected by hepatic impairment.

Elderly

The impact of age on the pharmacokinetics of doripenem was evaluated in healthy elderly male and female subjects (66–84 years of age). Doripenem AUC increased 49% in elderly adults relative to young adults. These changes were mainly attributed to age-related changes in renal function. No dose adjustment is necessary in elderly patients, except in cases of moderate to severe renal insufficiency (see section 4.2).

Gender

The effect of gender on the pharmacokinetics of doripenem was evaluated in healthy male and female subjects. Doripenem AUC was 13% higher in females compared to males. No dose adjustment is recommended based on gender.

Race

The effect of race on doripenem pharmacokinetics was examined through a population pharmacokinetic analysis. No significant difference in mean doripenem clearance was observed across race groups and therefore, no dose adjustment is recommended for race.

5.3 Preclinical safety data

Non-clinical data reveal no special hazard for humans based on conventional studies of safety pharmacology and genotoxicity. However, because of the design of the repeat dose toxicity studies and differences in pharmacokinetics in animals and humans, continuous exposure of animals was not assured in these studies.

No reproductive toxicity was observed in studies performed in rats and rabbits. However, these studies are of limited relevance because studies were performed with single daily dosing resulting in less than one tenth of daily doripenem exposure duration in animals.

6. PHARMACEUTICAL PARTICULARS6.1 List of excipients

None

6.2 Incompatibilities

This medicinal product must not be mixed with other medicinal products except those mentioned in section 6.3.

6.3 Shelf life

3 years.

Storage of reconstituted solutions: Upon reconstitution with sterile water for injections or sodium chloride 9 mg/ml (0.9%) solution for injection, Doribax suspension in the vial may be held for up to 1 hour below 30°C prior to transfer and dilution in the infusion bag.

Following dilution in the infusion bag, Doribax infusions stored at room temperature or unde refrigeration should be completed according to the times in the following table:

Time by which reconstitution, dilution and infusion must be completed for Doribax infusion solutions

Infusion solution	Solution stored at room temperature	Solution stored in a refrigerator (2°C-8°C)
sodium chloride 9 mg/ml (0.9%) solution for injection	12 hours	72 hours*
+dextrose 50 mg/ml (5%) solution for injection	4 hours	24 hours

once removed from the refrigerator, infusions should be completed within the room temperature stability time,

provided the total refrigeration time, time to reach room temperature and infusion time does not exceed refrigeration stability time.

Dextrose 50 mg/ml (5%) solution for injection should not be used for infusion durations greater than 1 hour.

Chemical and physical in-use stability has been demonstrated for the times and solutions shown in the above table.

From a microbiological point of view, the product should be used immediately. If not used immediately, in-use storage times and conditions prior to use are the responsibility of the user and would normally not be longer than 24 hours at 2°C-8°C, unless reconstitution/di­lution has taken place in controlled and validated aseptic conditions.

6.4 Special precautions for storage

This medicinal product does not require any special storage conditions.

For storage conditions after reconstitution of the medicinal product, and infusion solutions, see section 6.3.

6.5 Nature and contents of container

Clear 20 ml Type I glass vial.

The medicinal product is supplied in cartons containing 10 vials.

6.6 Special precautions for disposal and other handling

Each vial is for single use only.

Doribax is reconstituted and then further diluted prior to infusion.

Preparation of 250 mg dose of solution for infusion using the 250 mg vial

• 1. Add 10 ml of sterile water for injections or sodium chloride 9 mg/ml (0.9%) solution for injection to the 250 mg vial and shake it to form a suspension.

• 2. Inspect the suspension visually for foreign matter. Note: the suspension is not for direct infusion.

• 3. Withdraw the suspension using a syringe and needle and add it to an infusion bag containing 50 ml or 100 ml of either sodium chloride 9 mg/ml (0.9%) solution for injection or dextrose 50 mg/ml (5%) solution for injection and mix to complete dissolution. Infuse all of this solution to administer a 250 mg dose of doripenem.

Doribax solutions for infusion range from clear, colourless solutions to solutions that are clear and slightly yellow. Variations in colour within this range do not affect the potency of the product.

Any unused medicinal product or waste material should be disposed of in accordance with local requirements.

7. MARKETING AUTHORISATION HOLDER

Janssen-Cilag International NV

Turnhoutseweg 30

B-2340 Beerse

Belgium

8. MARKETING AUTHORISATION NUMBER(S

EU/1/08/467/002

9. DATE OF FIRST AUTHORISATION/RENEWAL OF THE AUTHORISATION

Date of first authorisation: 25 July 2008