POLLINEX TREES EXTENSION COURSE 2000 SU/0.5ML SUSPENSION FOR INJECTION - summary of medicine characteristics

1 NAME OF THE MEDICINAL PRODUCT

POLLINEX Trees Extension Course, 2000 Standardised Units (SU)/0.5ml, suspension for injection

2 QUALITATIVE AND QUANTITATIVE COMPOSITION

POLLINEX Trees Extension Course comprises of a series of 3 pre-filled syringes or 1 pre-filled vial in the following concentrations:

POLLINEX Trees Extension Course contains equal proportions of 3 selectively purified allergen extracts of pollen from the following trees:

The allergens have been converted into allergoids by treatment with glutaraldehyde and are adsorbed onto L-tyrosine. The allergen extracts are characterised and standardised through immunological and biochemical methods to ensure batch-to-batch consistent allergen content and allergenic potency. Major allergens are measured in selected extracts. Standardisation is reflected by the assignment of Standardised Units (SU).

For the full list of excipients see section 6.1.

3 PHARMACEUTICAL FORM

Suspension for injection A white opaque suspension

4 CLINICAL PARTICULARS

4.1 Therapeutic indications

Treatment of seasonal allergic hay fever due to tree pollen in adults, adolescents and children from the age of 6 who have failed to respond adequately to anti-allergy drugs.

The diagnosis should be based on the careful consideration of the patient’s history and allergy tests, preferably skin tests.

4.2 Posology and method of administration

Posology

POLLINEX Trees Extension Course is presented in one 3 ml multi-dose vial or three unit dose syringes.

Each vial/syringe is prefilled with 1.5ml/0.5ml of vaccine in graded concentrations as follows:

The Extension Course consists of three injections of the maximum dose of 2000 SU/0.5ml. (If the maximum dose is not tolerated, treatment can take place at a lower dose). The first injection should be given about 14 days after the last injection of POLLINEX Trees. Subsequent injections should then be given at intervals of 2–4 weeks. If the season is imminent, the interval can be reduced to 1 week.

The maximum dose of 0.5ml must not be exceeded.

The course should be completed before the onset of the tree pollen season.

Do not use during the tree pollen season.

POLLINEX Trees Extension Course should be given after POLLINEX Trees (PL 17087/0007) for continued clinical improvement.

It is recommended that the allergy vaccine should be given in each of three successive years.

Paediatric population

For children from the age of 6 years and adolescents, the same posology regime as adults is recommended.

POLLINEX Trees Extension Course should not be used in children under 6 years of age.

Method of administration

For subcutaneous injection (see section 6.6 for instructions on handling).

It should be administered at a constant pressure by subcutaneous injection to the middle third of the lateral posterior aspect of the upper arm. The injection sites should be alternated between arms, e.g. 1st and 3rd injection in the right arm and 2nd injection in the left arm. Repeated injections at one injection site should be avoided. Do not inject into a blood vessel or intramuscularly. The patient should be instructed not to rub the injection site.

4.3 Contraindications

Contraindicated in patients with asthma because they are more likely to develop life threatening reactions.

Patients should not be given an allergy vaccine if they have febrile infections or inflammation of the respiratory tract; irreversible secondary changes of the reactive organs (emphysema, bronchiectasis etc); severe chronic and inflammatory diseases, immunopathological conditions, active tuberculosis of the lung and eyes, severe mental disorders or are receiving beta-blocker therapy.

Hyposensitisation injections should not be given to patients with systemic or local infection or who have suffered from a febrile condition in the 24 hours preceding the intended dose, or if they have immunodeficiency or an autoimmune disease.

If tyrosine metabolism is disturbed, especially in the case of tyrosinaemia and alkaptonuria, or there is known hypersensitivity to any of the excipients contained in POLLINEX Trees Extension Course (see section 6.1), the allergy vaccine should not be used.

If the patient is pregnant/discover they become pregnant whilst receiving treatment POLLINEX Trees Extension Course should not be started or continued during pregnancy as pregnancy may change the patient's sen­sitisation level to a degree that cannot be foreseen. Please refer to section 4.6 Fertility, pregnancy and lactation.

4.4 Special warnings and precautions for use

The individual tolerated dose should not be exceeded.

Treatment of patients should only be carried out where full facilities for cardiorespiratory resuscitation are immediately available.

Epinephrine/A­drenaline Injection should always be kept at hand when giving any allergen specific immunotherapy.

Patients should be kept under observation for the first 60 minutes after each injection. This period should be extended if even mild symptoms or signs of hypersensitivity develop and patients should be maintained under observation until these have completely resolved. A severe and prolonged adverse reaction may necessitate hospital admission.

Anaphylactic shock

As with any specific immunotherapy there is a risk of anaphylactic shock.

Warning symptoms:

Tingling, itching and burning sensations on the tongue, in the mouth, throat or particularly on the palms and soles. This may be immediately followed by shock with cyanosis, hypotension, tachycardia, bronchospasm and unconsciousness.

Further clinical signs are: anxiety, restlessness, urticaria, dizziness, laryngeal oedema with dyspnoea, nausea and vomiting, respiratory and cardiac arrest.

Severe and potentially life-threatening reactions require fast and effective emergency treatment.

The treatment of allergic reactions is based on current medical guidelines.

In the event of simultaneous vaccination against viral or bacterial pathogens, there should be an interval of at least one week between the last injection of the allergy vaccine and the day of vaccination. Hyposensitisation therapy may be continued two weeks after the vaccination, using half of the last dose administered. Afterwards, this amount can be increased according to the dosage chart at intervals of 7–14 days.

Use with caution in patients with cardiovascular deficiency.

Patients should be warned not to eat a heavy meal immediately before an injection is due to be given.

Injections should be given at a constant pressure by the subcutaneous route. Do not inject into a blood vessel or intramuscularly. Do not rub the site of injection.

The patient should not take any strenuous physical exercise for 12 hours following the injection.

All patients should be advised to contact the doctor immediately in the event of an adverse reaction.

4.5 Interaction with other medicinal products and other forms of interaction Concomitant therapy with symptomatic anti-allergic agents (e.g. antihistamines, corticosteroids, mast cell stabilisers) may affect the tolerance level of the patient. A reduction of the dose after discontinuing treatment with these symptomatic preparations may be required.

During hyposensitisation, exposure to the causal allergens and allergens crossreacting with them is to be avoided as far as possible.

POLLINEX Trees Extension Course is contraindicated in those receiving Beta-blockers, please refer to section 4.3.

4.6 Fertility, pregnancy and lactation

The use of POLLINEX Trees Extension Course is contraindicated in pregnancy.

4.7 Effects on ability to drive and use machines

Occasionally the injection may cause mild drowsiness; the patient should be instructed not to drive or operate machinery if this is the case.

4.8 Undesirable effects

If the injection intervals and dosage regimens are followed exactly and the dose is individually increased in an appropriate manner, allergic side reactions to treatment with the allergy vaccine are rare. They are usually mild but local and/or systemic reactions must be anticipated, in which case the treatment must be immediately discontinued. For these reasons an emergency kit should be immediately available. As a precautionary measure, each patient must be kept under observation for at least 60 minutes after injections, after which time a medical assessment is made.

Description of selected adverse reactions

Anaphylactic reactions/anap­hylactic shock

Severe anaphylactic reactions or anaphylactic shock have been reported in individual cases. Anaphylactic shock can develop minutes after administration of any allergy immunotherapy, often before a local reaction has appeared (see section 4.4).

Typical warning symptoms of anaphylactic shock are described in section 4.4.

In rare cases, adverse reactions may occur even a few hours after the hyposensitisation injection, in which case the patient should inform their attending doctor before the next injection. When in doubt especially after the appearance of systemic reactions the patients should seek medical advice/treatment immediately.

Reporting of suspected adverse reactions

Reporting suspected adverse reactions after authorisation of the medicinal product is important. It allows continued monitoring of the benefit/risk balance of the medicinal product. Healthcare professionals are asked to report any suspected adverse reactions via the Yellow Card Scheme website: www.mhra.gov.uk/yellowcard.

4.9 Overdose

Symptoms:

If a patient receives an overdose of an allergy vaccine, the likelihood of an adverse reaction is increased.

Reactions are characterised by symptoms ranging from slight swelling or irritation at the site of injection to anaphylaxis.

Management:

I) See 4.8 Undesirable effects.

II) The usual precautions should be followed i.e.

Patients should be kept under medical observation for at least 60 minutes after each injection.

The patient should not take any strenuous physical exercise for 12 hours following the injection.

All patients should be advised to contact the doctor immediately in the event of a reaction.

5 PHARMACOLOGICAL PROPERTIES

5.1 Pharmacodynamic properties

Pharmacotherapeutic group: allergens

ATC Classification: V01A A05

Immunotherapy with POLLINEX Trees Extension Course is recommended for patients who are sensitive to specific pollens. The effectiveness of immunotherapy in reducing symptoms has been established by controlled, blinded studies.

The specific pollen allergens incorporated in POLLINEX Trees Extension Course have been modified by glutaraldehyde treatment and adsorbed onto L-tyrosine with the result that allergenicity is reduced (thus increasing tolerance) while maintaining immunogenicity (related to efficacy).

Although the immunological events are not clearly understood, the production of antigen specific IgG antibody, suppression of specific IgE and decreased mediator (histamine) release from basophils are important factors.

Therapeutic effects of specific pollens immunotherapy are allergen-specific and dose dependent.

5.2 Pharmacokinetic properties

POLLINEX Trees Extension Course contains glutaraldehyde-modified extracts of specific pollens adsorbed onto L-tyrosine. The adsorbate L-tyrosine is a natural amino acid which is metabolised in the body and ensures a slow release of the active material (the allergoid) is released more slowly. This results in a prolonged and efficient desensitising effect and improving tolerance.

5.3 Preclinical safety data

No further information of relevance

6 PHARMACEUTICAL PARTICULARS

6.1 List of excipients

L-Tyrosine

Liquefied Phenol

Sodium chloride

Disodium phosphate dodecahydrate

Sodium dihydrogen phosphate dihydrate

Glycerol

Water for Injections

6.2 Incompatibilities

Not Applicable

6.3 Shelf life

3 years

6.4 Special precautions for storage

Store in a refrigerator (2°C –8°C).Do not freeze. Remove from the refrigerator 2–3 hours before use.

6.5 Nature and contents of container

The vial is a 3.0ml vial made from clear neutral glass (Type I, Ph. Eur.) fitted with a butyl bung, aluminium seals and coloured flip tops.

The syringes are 1.0ml syringes made from clear neutral glass (Type 1, Ph.Eur.) with a polypropylene plunger rod and butyl plunger.

A pack of POLLINEX Trees Extension Course contains:

Either

One multi-dose vial containing 1.5ml suspension as follows:

Vial No. 3 (Red) with 2000 SU/0.5ml

Or

Three unit dose pre-filled syringes containing 0.5ml as follows:

Syringe No. 3. (Red) with 2000 SU/0.5ml

A combination pack which includes the Primary Treatment Course (PL 17087/0007) is also available.

Packs containing the product in vials also contain empty syringes and needles suitable for dispensing the product.

Not all pack sizes may be marketed.

6.6 Special precautions for disposal

The pack should be removed from the refrigerator 2–3 hours before use and warmed to room temperature.

POLLINEX Trees Extension Course is a white opaque suspension. During storage a white deposit with colourless supernatant may form. Therefore, before use it is important to ensure that the syringe/vial is thoroughly shaken to ensure that all of the sediment is evenly resuspended.

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

7 MARKETING AUTHORISATION HOLDER

Allergy Therapeutics (UK) Ltd

Dominion Way

Worthing

West Sussex

BN14 8SA

8 MARKETING AUTHORISATION NUMBER

PL 17087/0008

9 DATE OF FIRST AUTHORISATION/RENEWAL OF THE AUTHORISATION

27/08/1998 / 26/04/2005