Patient leaflet - Replagal 1 mg / ml concentrate for solution for infusion
1. What Replagal is and what it is used for
The active substance in Replagal is agalsidase alfa (1mg/ml). Agalsidase alfa is a form of the human enzyme α-galactosidase. It is produced by switching on the gene for α-galactosidase A in cells. The enzyme is then removed from the cells and made into a sterile concentrate for solution for infusion.
Replagal is used to treat adult patients, as well as adolescents and children from the age of 7, with confirmed diagnosis of Fabry Disease. It is used as long-term enzyme replacement therapy when the level of enzyme in the body is absent or lower than normal as in Fabry Disease.
After 6 months of therapy Replagal significantly reduced pain in patients when compared to placebo (dummy) treated patients. Replagal reduced left ventricle mass in treated patients compared to placebo treated patients. These results suggest the symptoms of the disease are improving or the disease is becoming stable.
2. What you need to know before Replagal is given
Tell your doctor if you use any medicines containing chloroquine, amiodarone, benoquin or gentamicin. There is a theoretical risk of decreased agalsidase alfa activity.
Pregnancy and breast feeding
Very limited clinical data on pregnancies exposed to Replagal have shown no adverse effects on the mother and newborn child.
If you are pregnant or breast-feeding, think you may be pregnant or are planning to have a baby, ask your doctor or pharmacist for advice before taking this medicine.
Driving and using machines
You may drive and use machines whilst on Replagal.
Replagal contains sodium
This medicine contains 14.2 mg sodium (main component of cooking/table salt) in each vial. This is equivalent to 0.7 % of the recommended maximum daily dietary intake of sodium for an adult.
Keeping a record
You must not be given Replagal
if you are allergic to agalsidase alfa or any of the other ingredients of this
medicine (listed in section 6).
In order to improve the traceability of biological medicinal products, the name and batch number of the administered product should be clearly recorded by your healthcare professional. Speak with your healthcare professional if you are not sure.
Warnings and precautions
Talk to your doctor or pharmacist before Replagal is used.
If you notice any of these effects during or after an infusion you should tell your doctor immediately:
- high fever, chills, sweating, fast heart rate.
- vomiting.
- light-headedness.
- hives.
swelling in your hands, feet, ankles, face, lips, mouth or throat which may cause
difficulty in swallowing or breathing.
Your doctor may stop the infusion temporarily (5 –10 min) until the symptoms go away and then begin the infusion again.
Your doctor may also treat the symptoms with other medicines (antihistamines or corticosteroids).
3. How Replagal is given
This medicine should be applied and supervised by appropriately trained personnel, who will also calculate the dose that you will be given. While remaining under the physician’s supervision, Replagal can be self-administered (by you or your caregiver) after appropriate training by the treating physician and/or nurse. Self-administration should occur in the presence of a responsible adult. The recommended dose is an infusion of 0.2 mg for every kg you weigh. This would be about 14 mg or 4 vials (glass bottles) of Replagal for an average size (70 kg) individual.
Use in children and adolescents
For children and adolescents 7-18 years old a dose of 0.2 mg/kg every other week may be used.
Children and adolescents may be more likely than adults to experience an infusion related reaction. Tell your doctor if you experience any side effects whilst having the infusion.
Most of the time you can still be given Replagal even if these symptoms occur. If you experience a severe allergic (anaphylactic-type) reaction, the administration of Replagal will be immediately discontinued and an appropriate treatment will have to be initiated by your doctor.
If treatment with Replagal makes your body produce antibodies this will not stop Replagal from working and the antibodies may disappear with time. If you have advanced renal disease, you may find that your Replagal treatment has a limited effect on your kidneys. Talk to your doctor or pharmacist before using Replagal.
Children
The experience in children 0-6 years old is limited and therefore no dose can be recommended for this age group.
Other medicines and Replagal
Tell your doctor or pharmacist if you are taking, have recently taken or might take any other medicines.
Method of administration
Replagal has to be diluted in 9 mg/ml (0.9%) sodium chloride solution before use. After dilution Replagal is given in a vein. This will usually be in your arm. The infusion will be given every two weeks.
Each time you are treated it will take 40 minutes for Replagal to be given to you in a vein. Your treatment will be supervised by a doctor who specialises in the treatment of Fabry Disease.
For self-administration, the dose and rate of infusion given should not be changed without the agreement of the treating physician.
If you use more Replagal than you should
If you believe you have used more Replagal than you should, please contact your doctor. If you use less Replagal than you should
If you believe you have used less Replagal than you should, please contact your doctor. If you forget to use Replagal
If you have missed an infusion of Replagal, please contact your doctor.
If you stop using Replagal
Do not stop using Replagal without contacting your doctor.
If you have any further questions on the use of this medicine, ask your doctor or pharmacist.
4. Possible side effects
Like all medicines, this medicine can cause side effects, although not everybody gets them. If you experience a severe allergic (anaphylactic-type) reaction, the administration of Replagal will be immediately discontinued and an appropriate treatment will have to be initiated by your doctor.
Most side effects are mild to moderate. More than 1 in 10 people (frequency “very common”) may have a reaction during or following an infusion of Replagal (infusion related reaction). These effects include chills, headache, nausea, fever, tiredness, unsteadiness, difficulty breathing, shaking, cough and vomiting. However some effects may be serious and may need treatment. Infusion related reactions involving the heart including heart muscle ischemia and heart failure, may occur in patients with Fabry disease involving the heart structures (frequency “not known” (cannot be estimated from the available data)). Your doctor may stop the infusion temporarily (5 - 10 min) until the symptoms go away and then begin the infusion again. Your doctor may also treat the symptoms with other medicines (antihistamines or corticosteroids). Most of the time you can still be given Replagal even if these symptoms occur. List of other side effects:
Very common: may affect more than 1 in 10 people
- swelling in the tissue (e.g, legs, arm)
- tingling or numbness or pain in fingers or toes
- ear ringing
- palpitations
- Sore throat
- abdominal pain, diarrhoea
- rash
- back or limb pain, muscle pain, joint pain
- chest pain, cold symptoms, fever, feeling sick
Common: may affect up to 1 in 10 people:
- change in the taste of food, prolonged sleep
- eyes tearing
- increased ear ringing
- increased heart rate, heart rhythm problems
- increased blood pressure, low blood pressure, facial flushing (redness)
- hoarseness, or tight throat, runny nose
- abdominal discomfort
- acne, red or itchy or mottled skin, excessive sweating
- muscle and bone discomfort, swelling of the extremities or joints - hypersensitivity
chest tightness, increased feeling lack of energy, feeling cold or hot,
flu-like symptoms, discomfort
Uncommon: may affect up to 1 in 100 people:
- severe allergic (anaphylactic-type) reaction
- blink reflex abnormal
- increased heart rate
- low level of oxygen in your blood and sticky throat secretions - sense of smell is different)
collection of fluid under the skin may lead to swelling of body parts, lace-like
discoloration of the skin e.g., in the leg
- sensation of heaviness
- injection site rash
Children and adolescents
Side effects reported in children were, in general, similar to those reported in adults. However, infusion related reactions (fever, difficulty breathing, chest pain) and pain aggravated occurred more frequently.
Reporting of side effects
If you get any side effects, talk to your doctor or pharmacist. This includes any possible side effects not listed in this leaflet. You can also report side effects directly via the Yellow card Scheme Website: www.mhra.gov.uk/yellowcard or search for MHRA Yellow Card in the Google Play or Apple App Store. By reporting side effects you can help provide more information on the safety of this medicine.
5. How to store Replagal
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 (2°C – 8°C).
Do not use Replagal if you notice that there is discolouration or other foreign particles present.
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 to protect the environment.
6. Contents of the pack and other information
What Replagal contains
- The active substance is agalsidase alfa. Each ml of Replagal contains 1 mg of agalsidase alfa.
The other ingredients are: Sodium phosphate monobasic, monohydrate
Polysorbate 20 Sodium chloride Sodium hydroxide Water for injections Replagal contains sodium. See section 2.
What Replagal looks like and contents of the pack
Replagal is a concentrate for solution for infusion. Your medicine is available in vials containing 3.5 mg/ 3.5 ml of agalsidase alfa. Pack sizes of 1, 4 or 10 vials are available.
Not all pack sizes may be marketed.
Marketing Authorisation Holder
Shire Human Genetic Therapies AB
Box 30143,
104 25 Stockholm
Sweden
Tel: +44(0) 3333 000181
E-mail: medinfoEMEA@takeda.com
Manufacturer
Shire Pharmaceuticals Ireland Limited, Block 2 & 3 Miesian Plaza, 50 – 58 Baggot Street Lower, Dublin 2, Ireland
This leaflet was last revised in July 2022
The following information is intended for medical or healthcare professionals only: Instructions for use, handling and disposal
Replagal treatment should be supervised by a physician experienced in the management of patients with Fabry Disease or other inherited metabolic diseases. Replagal is administered at a dose of 0.2 mg/kg body weight every other week by intravenous infusion over 40 minutes.
- 1. Calculate the dose and number of Replagal vials needed.
- 2. Dilute the total volume of Replagal concentrate required in 100 ml 9 mg/ml sodium chloride solution for infusion (0.9%w/v). Care must be taken to ensure the sterility of the prepared solutions since Replagal does not contain any preservative or bacteriostatic agent; aseptic technique must be observed. Once diluted, the solution should be mixed gently but not shaken.
- 3. The solution should be inspected visually for particulate matter and discolouration prior to administration.
- 4. Administer the infusion solution over a period of 40 minutes using an intravenous line with an integral filter. Since no preservative is present, it is recommended that administration is started as soon as possible. However, the chemical and physical stability of the diluted solution has been demonstrated for 24 hours at 25°C. 5. Do not infuse Replagal concomitantly in the same intravenous line with other agents. 6. For single use only. Any unused product or waste material should be disposed of in accordance with local requirements.