ZOLADEX LA 10.8 MG IMPLANT - summary of medicine characteristics

1 NAME OF THE MEDICINAL PRODUCT

Zoladex LA 10.8 mg Implant

2 QUALITATIVE AND QUANTITATIVE COMPOSITION

Goserelin acetate (equivalent to 10.8 mg goserelin).

For the full list of excipients, see section 6.1.

3 PHARMACEUTICAL FORM

Implant, in pre-filled syringe.

4 CLINICAL PARTICULARS

4.1 Therapeutic indications

(i) Treatment of prostate cancer in the following settings (see also section 5.1):

In the treatment of metastatic prostate cancer where Zoladex has demonstrated comparable survival benefits to surgical castrations (see section 5.1)

In the treatment of locally advanced prostate cancer, as an alternative to surgical castration where Zoladex has demonstrated comparable survival benefits to an anti-androgen (see section 5.1)

As adjuvant treatment to radiotherapy in patients with high-risk localised or locally advanced prostate cancer where Zoladex has demonstrated improved disease-free survival and overall survival (see section 5.1)

As neo-adjuvant treatment prior to radiotherapy in patients with highrisk localised or locally advanced prostate cancer where Zoladex has demonstrated improved disease-free survival (see section 5.1)

As adjuvant treatment to radical prostatectomy in patients with locally advanced prostate cancer at high risk of disease progression where Zoladex has demonstrated improved disease-free survival (see section 5.1)

(ii) ZOLADEX LA 10.8 mg is indicated in the management of oestrogen-receptor (ER) positive early and advanced breast cancer in pre and peri menopausal women.

4.2 Posology and method of administration

Posology

Adult

One depot of Zoladex LA injected subcutaneously into the anterior abdominal wall every 12 weeks.

Renal impairment: no dosage adjustment is necessary for patients with renal impairment.

Hepatic impairment: no dosage adjustment for patients with hepatic impairment.

Paediatric population: Zoladex LA is not indicated for use in children.

Elderly: No dosage adjustment is necessary in the elderly

Breast cancer:

Particular attention should also be paid to the prescribing information of coadministered medicinal products, such as aromatase inhibitors, tamoxifen, CDK4/6 inhibitors, for relevant information when administered in combination with goserelin.

Treatment with LHRH agonists must be initiated at least 6–8 weeks before starting aromatase inhibitor treatment. The treatment with LHRH agonists should be administered on schedule and without interruption throughout aromatase inhibitor treatment. Prior to starting aromatase inhibitor treatment, the ovarian suppression should be confirmed by low blood concentrations of FSH and oestradiol, in accordance with current clinical practice recommendations.

In women receiving chemotherapy, Zoladex LA should be commenced after completion of chemotherapy, once pre-menopausal status has been confirmed. Women who are premenopausal at breast cancer diagnosis and who become amenorrhoeic following chemotherapy may or may not have continued oestrogen production from the ovaries. Irrespective of menstrual status, premenopausal status should be confirmed following chemotherapy and before commencement of Zoladex LA, by blood concentrations of oestradiol and FSH within the reference ranges for premenopausal women, in order to avoid unnecessary treatment with LHRH agonists in the event of a chemotherapy-induced menopause.

Method of administration

For correct administration of Zoladex LA, see instructions on the instruction card.

The instruction card has to be read prior to administration.

Caution is needed when administering Zoladex LA into anterior abdominal wall due to the proximity of underlying inferior epigastric artery and its branches.

Extra care to be given to patients with a low BMI or who are receiving anticoagulation medication (see section 4.4).

Care should be taken to ensure injection is given subcutaneously, using the technique described in the instruction card. Do not penetrate into a blood vessel, muscle or peritoneum.

In the event of the need to surgically remove a Zoladex LA implant, it may be localised by ultrasound.

For special precautions for disposal and other handling see section 6.6.

4.3 Contraindications

Hypersensitivity to the active substance or to any of the excipients listed in section 6.1.

Pregnancy and lactation (see section 4.6).

4.4 Special warnings and precautions for use

There is no data on removal or dissolution of the implant.

There is an increased risk of incident depression (which may be severe) in patients undergoing treatment with GnRH agonists, such as Goserelin.

Patients should be informed accordingly and treated as appropriate if symptoms occur. Carefully monitor patients with known depression or history of depression.

Androgen deprivation therapy may prolong the QT interval.

In patients with a history of or risk factors for QT prolongation and in patients receiving concomitant medicinal products that might prolong the QT interval (see section 4.5) physicians should assess the benefit risk ratio including the potential for Torsade de pointes prior to initiating Zoladex LA.

Injection site injury has been reported with Zoladex LA, including events of pain, haematoma, haemorrhage and vascular injury. Monitor affected patients for signs or symptoms of abdominal haemorrhage. In very rare cases, administration error resulted in vascular injury and haemorrhagic shock requiring blood transfusions and surgical intervention. Extra care should be taken when administering Zoladex LA to patients with a low BMI and/or receiving full anticoagulation medications (see section 4.2).

Treatment with Zoladex LA may lead to positive reactions in anti-doping tests.

Patients with hypertension should be monitored carefully, as should patients with risk factors for diabetes with treatment initiated, if appropriate, according to national guidelines.

The use of Zoladex in men at particular risk of developing ureteric obstruction or spinal cord compression should be considered carefully, and the patients monitored closely during the first month of therapy. If spinal cord compression or renal impairment due to ureteric obstruction are present or develop, specific standard treatment of these complications should be instituted.

Consideration should be given to the initial use of an anti-androgen (e.g. cyproterone acetate 300 mg daily for three days before, and three weeks after commencement of Zoladex) at the start of LHRH analogue therapy since this has been reported to prevent the possible sequelae of the initial rise in serum testosterone.

The use of LHRH agonists may cause reduction in bone mineral density. In men, preliminary data suggest that the use of a bisphosphonate in combination with an LHRH agonist may reduce bone mineral loss.

Particular caution is necessary in patients with additional risk factors for osteoporosis (e.g. chronic alcohol abusers, smokers, long-term therapy with anticonvulsants or corticosteroids, family history of osteoporosis).

Myocardial infarction and cardiac failure were observed in a pharmacoepide­miology study of LHRH agonists used in the treatment of prostate cancer. The risk appears to be increased when used in combination with anti-androgens.

Reduction in glucose tolerance has been observed in men receiving LHRH agonists. This may manifest as diabetes or loss of glycaemic control in patients with pre-existing diabetes mellitus. Thus, monitoring of blood glucose levels should be considered.

Breast Cancer:

Following commencement of goserelin in pre- and peri-menopausal women adequate ovarian suppression should be confirmed before initiating aromatase inhibitor therapy (see section 4.2).

Reduced bone mineral density:

The use of LHRH agonists may cause reduction in bone mineral density. Following two years treatment for early breast cancer, the average loss of bone mineral density was 6.2% and 11.5% at the femoral neck and lumbar spine respectively. This loss has been shown to be partially reversible at the one year off treatment follow-up with recovery to 3.4% and 6.4% relative to baseline at the femoral neck and lumbar spine respectively, although this recovery is based on very limited data. In the majority of women, currently available data suggest that recovery of bone loss occurs after cessation of therapy.

Preliminary data suggest that the use of Zoladex in combination with tamoxifen in patients with breast cancer may reduce bone mineral loss.

Tumour flare:

Initially, breast cancer patients may experience a temporary increase in signs and symptoms, which can be managed symptomatically.

Hypercalcemia:

Rarely, breast cancer patients with metastases have developed hypercalcaemia on initiation of therapy. In the presence of symptoms indicative of hypercalcaemia (e.g. thirst), hypercalcaemia should be excluded.

Withdrawal bleeding

During early treatment with Zoladex some women may experience vaginal bleeding of variable duration and intensity. If vaginal bleeding occurs it is usually in the first month after starting treatment. Such bleeding probably represents oestrogen withdrawal bleeding and is expected to stop spontaneously. If bleeding continues, the reason should be investigated. Fertile women should use non-hormonal contraceptive methods during treatment with Zoladex and until reset of menstruation following discontinuation of treatment with Zoladex.

Rarely, some women may enter the menopause during treatment with LHRH analogues and not resume menses on cessation of therapy. Whether this is an effect of Zoladex treatment or a reflection of their gynaecological condition is not known.

Zoladex LA is not indicated for use in children, as safety and efficacy have not been established in this patient group.

4.5 Interaction with other medicinal products and other forms of interaction

Since androgen deprivation treatment may prolong the QT interval, the concomitant use of Zoladex LA with medicinal products known to prolong the QT interval or medicinal products able to induce Torsade de pointes such as class IA (e.g. quinidine, disopyramide) or class III (e.g. amiodarone, sotalol, dofetilide, ibutilide) antiarrhythmic medicinal products, methadone, moxifloxacin, antipsychotics, etc. should be carefully evaluated (see section 4.4).

4.6 Fertility, pregnancy and lactation

Pregnancy

Zoladex should not be used during pregnancy since concurrent use of LHRH agonists is associated with a theoretical risk of abortion or foetal abnormality. Prior to treatment, potentially fertile women should be examined carefully to exclude pregnancy. Non-hormonal methods of contraception should be employed during therapy until menses resume (see also warning concerning the time to return of menses in section 4.4).

Breast-feeding

The use of Zoladex during breast-feeding is contraindicated.

4.7 Effects on ability to drive and use machines

Zoladex LA has no or negligible influence on the ability to drive and use machinery.

4.8 Undesirable effects

The following frequency categories for adverse drug reactions (ADRs) were calculated based on reports from Zoladex clinical trials and postmarketing sources. The most commonly observed adverse reactions include hot flushes, sweating and injection site reactions.

The following convention has been used for classification of frequency: Very common (>1/10), Common (>1/100 to <1/10), Uncommon (>1/1,000 to <1/100), Rare (>1/10,000 to <1/1,000), Very rare (<1/10,000) and Not known (cannot be estimated from the available data).

Table: Zoladex LA adverse drug reactions presented by MedDRA System Organ Class

a A reduction in glucose tolerance has been observed in males receiving LHRH agonists. This may manifest as diabetes or loss of glycaemic control in those with pre-existing diabetes mellitus.

b These are pharmacological effects which seldom require withdrawal of therapy. Hyperhidrosis and hot flushes may continue after stopping Zoladex.

c These may manifest as hypotension or hypertension, have been occasionally observed in patients administered Zoladex.

d These are generally mild, often regressing without discontinuation of therapy.

e Initially, prostate cancer patients may experience a temporary increase in bone pain, which can be managed symptomatically.

f Observed in a pharmaco-epidemiology study of LHRH agonists used in the treatment of prostate cancer. The risk appears to be increased when used in combination with antiandrogens.

g Loss of head hair has been reported in females. This is usually mild but occasionally can be severe.

h        Particularly loss of body hair, an expected effect of lowered androgen levels.

i In most cases acne was reported within one month after the start of Zoladex.

j        Frequency of the adverse drug reactions is based on spontaneous data.

Blood pressure abnormal: The changes are usually transient, resolving either during continued therapy or after cessation of therapy with Zoladex. Rarely, such changes have been sufficient to require medical intervention, including withdrawal of treatment from Zoladex.

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 or search for MHRA Yellow Card in the Google Play or Apple App Store.

4.9 Overdose

There is not much experience of overdose in humans. In cases where Zoladex has been given before the planned time of administration, or when a bigger dose of Zoladex than originally planned has been given, no clinically significant undesirable effects have been observed. Animal tests suggest that no effect other than the intended therapeutic effects on sex hormone concentrations and on the reproductive tract will be evident with higher doses of Zoladex. In case of overdosage, the condition should be managed symptomatically.

5 PHARMACOLOGICAL PROPERTIES

5.1 Pharmacodynamic properties

Pharmacotherapeutic group: Gonadotropin releasing hormone analogues, ATC code: L02AE03.

Zoladex (D-Ser(But)6Azgly10 LHRH) is a synthetic analogue of naturally occurring LHRH. On chronic administration Zoladex LA results in inhibition of pituitary LH secretion leading to a fall in serum testosterone concentrations in males and serum oestradiol concentrations in females. This effect is reversible on discontinuation of therapy. Initially, Zoladex LA, like other LHRH agonists, may transiently increase serum testosterone concentration in men and serum oestradiol concentration in women.

Prostate cancer:

In men by around 21 days after the first depot injection, testosterone concentrations have fallen to within the castrate range and remain suppressed with treatment every 12 weeks.

In the management of patients with metastatic prostate cancer, Zoladex has been shown in comparative clinical trials to give similar survival outcomes to those obtained with surgical castrations.

In a combined analysis of 2 randomised controlled trials comparing bicalutamide 150 mg monotherapy versus castration (predominantly in the form of Zoladex), there was no significant difference in overall survival between bicalutamide-treated patients and castration-treated patients (hazard ratio = 1.05 [CI 0.81 to 1.36]) with locally advanced prostate cancer. However, equivalence of the two treatments could not be concluded statistically.

In comparative trials, Zoladex has been shown to improve disease-free survival and overall survival when used as an adjuvant therapy to radiotherapy in patients with high-risk localised (T1-T2 and PSA of at least 10 ng/mL or a Gleason score of at least 7), or locally advanced (T3-T4) prostate cancer. The optimum duration of adjuvant therapy has not been established; a comparative trial has shown that 3 years of adjuvant Zoladex gives significant survival improvement compared with radiotherapy alone. Neo-adjuvant Zoladex prior to radiotherapy has been shown to improve disease-free survival in patients with high risk localised or locally advanced prostate cancer.

After prostatectomy, in patients found to have extra-prostatic tumour spread, adjuvant Zoladex may improve disease-free survival periods, but there is no significant survival improvement unless patients have evidence of nodal involvement at time of surgery. Patients with pathologically staged locally advanced disease should have additional risk factors such as PSA of at least 10 ng/mL or a Gleason score of at least 7 before adjuvant Zoladex should be considered. There is no evidence of improved clinical outcomes with use of neo-adjuvant Zoladex before radical prostatectomy.

Breast cancer:

In women, serum oestradiol concentrations are suppressed by around 4 weeks after the first depot injection and remain suppressed until the end of the treatment period at levels comparable with those observed in postmenopausal women. Suppression of oestradiol is associated with a response in breast cancer in pre- and peri-menopausal women and will result in amenorrhoea in the majority of patients

During treatment with LHRH analogues patients may enter the menopause. Rarely, some women do not resume menses on cessation of therapy.

5.2 Pharmacokinetic properties

Administration of Zoladex LA every 12 weeks ensures that exposure to goserelin is maintained with no clinically significant accumulation. Zoladex is poorly protein bound and has a serum elimination half-life of two to four hours in subjects with normal renal function. The half-life is increased in patients with impaired renal function. For the compound given in a 10.8 mg depot formulation every 12 weeks this change will not lead to any accumulation. Hence, no change in dosing is necessary in these patients. There is no significant change in pharmacokinetics in patients with hepatic failure.

5.3 Preclinical safety data

Following long-term repeated dosing with Zoladex, an increased incidence of benign pituitary tumours has been observed in male rats. Whilst this finding is similar to that previously noted in this species following surgical castration, any relevance to humans has not been established.

In mice, long-term repeated dosing with multiples of the human dose produced histological changes in some regions of the digestive system. This is manifested by pancreatic islet cell hyperplasia and a benign proliferative condition in the pyloric region of the stomach, also reported as a spontaneous lesion in this species. The clinical relevance of these findings is unknown.

6 PHARMACEUTICAL PARTICULARS

6.1 List of excipients

A blend of high and low molecular weight lactide/glycolide copolymers.

6.2 Incompatibilities

None known.

6.3 Shelf life

36 months.

6.4 Special precautions for storage

Do not store above 25°C.

6.5 Nature and contents of container

Zoladex LA is supplied as a single dose SafeSystem™ syringe applicator with a protective sleeve in a sealed pouch which contains a desiccant.

6.6 Special precautions for disposal and other handling

Use as directed by the prescriber. Use only if pouch is undamaged. Use immediately after opening pouch. Dispose of the syringe in an approved sharps collector.

7 MARKETING AUTHORISATION HOLDER

AstraZeneca UK Limited,

600 Capability Green,

Luton,

LU1 3LU,

UK.

8 MARKETING AUTHORISATION NUMBER(S)

PL 17901/0065

9 DATE OF FIRST AUTHORISATION/RE­NEWAL OF THE

Date of first authorisation: 1st May 2001

Date of latest renewal: 4th June 2008