BRANDED AUBAGIO HAS 18+ YEARS OF COMBINED
CLINICAL TRIAL AND REAL-WORLD SAFETY EXPERIENCE1-4
What has your experience been with the AUBAGIO safety profile?
BRANDED AUBAGIO HAS CONSISTENT SAFETY DATA FROM
4 CLINICAL TRIALS1,3,5
The safety and tolerability of once-daily, oral AUBAGIO® (teriflunomide) were studied in >2000 patients across 4 clinical trials1,3,5
TREATMENT DISCONTINUATION DUE TO COMMON AEs OCCURRING IN ≥10% OF AUBAGIO PATIENTS AND ≥2% GREATER THAN PLACEBO IN AUBAGIO CORE TRIALS
| AUBAGIO 14 MG (N=1002) |
AUBAGIO 7 MG (N=1045) |
Placebo (N=997) |
||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| AEs | Incidence1 | Discontinuation3,5 | Incidence1 | Discontinuation3,5 | Incidence1 | Discontinuation3,5 |
| Headache, % | 16 | 0 | 18 | 0 | 15 | 0.3 |
| ALT Increase, %* | 15 | 2.6 | 13 | 3.3 | 9 | 2.3 |
| Diarrhea, % | 14 | 0.4 | 13 | 0.5 | 9 | 0.1 |
| Alopecia, %† | 13 | 1.3 | 10 | 0.2 | 5 | 0.1 |
| Nausea, % | 11 | 0.3 | 8 | <0.1 | 7 | 0 |
| AUBAGIO 14 MG (N=1002) |
||
|---|---|---|
| AEs | Incidence1 | Discontinuation3,5 |
| Headache, % | 16 | 0 |
| ALT Increase, %* | 15 | 2.6 |
| Diarrhea, % | 14 | 0.4 |
| Alopecia, %† | 13 | 1.3 |
| Nausea, % | 11 | 0.3 |
| AUBAGIO 7 MG (N=1045) |
||
|---|---|---|
| AEs | Incidence1 | Discontinuation3,5 |
| Headache, % | 18 | 0 |
| ALT Increase, %* | 13 | 0.5 |
| Diarrhea, % | 13 | 0.5 |
| Alopecia, %† | 10 | 0.2 |
| Nausea, % | 8 | <0.1 |
| Placebo (N=997) |
||
|---|---|---|
| AEs | Incidence1 | Discontinuation3,5 |
| Headache, % | 15 | 0.3 |
| ALT Increase, %* | 9 | 2.3 |
| Diarrhea, % | 8 | 0.1 |
| Alopecia, %† | 5 | 0.1 |
| Nausea, % | 7 | 0 |
- Diarrhea and nausea associated with AUBAGIO 14 mg were generally mild to moderate in severity3
- Most cases of hair thinning/loss were mild to moderate, had a median time to onset of 99 days, and improved without corrective therapy while patients remained on study treatment3
*Patients were to be withdrawn from study treatment and an accelerated elimination procedure performed when ALT >3 times the upper limit of normal (ULN) was repeated within 48 hours, per protocol.1
†The term alopecia is used to describe any type of hair loss. Most cases of alopecia were reported as hair thinning, decreased hair density, or hair loss.3
SERIOUS ADVERSE EVENTS
-
Serious AEs‡ occurred in 13%, 12%, and 12% of patients in the AUBAGIO 14 mg, AUBAGIO 7 mg, and placebo groups, respectively5
- Serious AEs reported in AUBAGIO clinical trials included hepatotoxicity, infections, peripheral neuropathy, and blood pressure effects1
- Cases of bone marrow effects, hypersensitivity, skin reactions (including a fatal case of toxic epidermal necrolysis), respiratory effects, drug-induced liver injury, and a fatal case of drug reaction with eosinophilia and systemic symptoms have been reported in patients taking AUBAGIO in the postmarketing setting1
- Medications like AUBAGIO may cause patients to be more susceptible to infections, including opportunistic infections1
- Of the 4 cardiovascular deaths reported among approximately 2600 patients exposed to AUBAGIO in the premarketing database, 3 were recorded as sudden deaths and 1 as a myocardial infarction in a patient with a history of hyperlipidemia and hypertension. A relationship between AUBAGIO and cardiovascular death has not been established1
‡Serious AEs were determined by the physician to be medically important, require or prolong a hospitalization, or be life-threatening.3
EXPLORE THE DROPDOWNS TO LEARN ABOUT ADDITIONAL SAFETY CONSIDERATIONS
WHITE BLOOD CELL COUNTS REMAINED WITHIN A NORMAL RANGE ON AUBAGIO5
Mean lymphocyte and neutrophil counts remained within normal ranges in the pooled core trials for AUBAGIO5*
MEAN LYMPHOCYTE COUNTS3†
MEAN NEUTROPHIL COUNTS3†
MEAN LYMPHOCYTE COUNTS3†
MEAN NEUTROPHIL COUNTS3†
- AUBAGIO 7 mg also demonstrated similar effects on lymphocyte and neutrophil counts3
THERE WAS NO INCREASE IN SERIOUS INFECTIONS WITH AUBAGIO1
-
No overall increase in serious infections with AUBAGIO versus placebo was observed in clinical trials1
- Medications such as AUBAGIO may cause patients to be more susceptible to infections
- One fatal case of Klebsiella pneumonia sepsis occurred in a patient taking AUBAGIO 14 mg for 1.7 years1
- In clinical trials with AUBAGIO, cytomegalovirus hepatitis reactivation and cases of tuberculosis have been observed1
- A mean decrease in white blood cell count of approximately 15% (mainly neutrophils and lymphocytes) and in platelet count of approximately 10% was observed in clinical trials1
- AUBAGIO has no PML in its Prescribing Information1
-
AUBAGIO has a warning and precaution for live vaccines: no clinical data are available on the efficacy and safety of live vaccinations in patients taking AUBAGIO. Vaccination with live vaccines is not recommended. The long half-life of AUBAGIO should be considered when contemplating administration of a live vaccine after stopping AUBAGIO
- There are no data on inactivated vaccines included in the Prescribing Information for AUBAGIO
*Data were pooled from 4 randomized, placebo controlled trials (the Phase II proof-of-concept, TEMSO, TOWER, and TOPIC).3,5
†For Weeks 26 and 28, only data from the Phase II study were available.3
‡Normal range for general population: 1.0–4.0 × 109/L.3
§Normal range for general population: 2.5–7.5 × 109/L.3
LLN=lower limit of normal; PML=progressive multifocal leukoencephalopathy.
MEAN LYMPHOCYTE COUNTS WITH AUBAGIO REMAINED STABLE AND WITHIN NORMAL RANGE FOR UP TO 6 YEARS IN THE TEMSO EXTENSION TRIAL3
MEAN LYMPHOCYTE COUNTS OVER TIME3
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ADDITIONAL EXTENSION TRIAL RESULTS FOR AUBAGIO 14 MG AND 7 MG
- TOPIC extension trial: Mean lymphocyte count remained ~1.5x109/L for the 132 weeks studied (LLN=1.0x109/L)6
- TOWER extension trial: Mean white blood cell count remained ~6x109/L for the 72 weeks studied (LLN=3.8x109/L)3
Branded AUBAGIO is the only oral DMT with both human and animal pregnancy data in its Prescribing Information1,7-14
- AUBAGIO is contraindicated for use in pregnant woman and females of reproductive potential not using effective contraception because of potential for fetal harm, based on animal data1
-
There are human data, based on >150 pregnancies in patients treated with teriflunomide and >300 pregnancies in patients treated with leflunomide
- The prospectively reported data (from clinical trials and postmarketing reports) have not demonstrated an increased rate of congenital malformations or miscarriage following teriflunomide exposure in the early first trimester when followed by an accelerated elimination procedure1
- Specific patterns of major congenital malformations in humans have not been observed1
-
There are limitations to these data:
- Inadequate number of reported pregnancies from which to draw conclusions1
- The short duration of drug exposure in reported pregnancies, which precludes a full evaluation of the fetal risks, led to incomplete reporting
- The inability to control for confounders (such as underlying maternal disease and use of concomitant medications)1
- If your patient decides to start family planning, an accelerated elimination procedure is available
- Explore more about the AUBAGIO pregnancy data in the Full Prescribing Information
Your patients can start and stay with
branded AUBAGIO, a treatment with a
well-established safety profile1-3
INDICATION
AUBAGIO® (teriflunomide) is indicated for the treatment of relapsing forms of multiple sclerosis (MS), to include clinically isolated syndrome, relapsing-remitting disease, and active secondary progressive disease, in adults.
IMPORTANT SAFETY INFORMATION
WARNING: HEPATOTOXICITY AND EMBRYOFETAL TOXICITY
- Clinically significant and potentially life-threatening liver injury, including acute liver failure requiring transplant, has been reported in patients treated with AUBAGIO in the postmarketing setting. Concomitant use of AUBAGIO with other hepatotoxic drugs may increase the risk of severe liver injury.
- Obtain transaminase and bilirubin levels within 6 months before initiation of AUBAGIO therapy. Monitor ALT levels at least monthly for 6 months after starting AUBAGIO. If drug-induced liver injury is suspected, discontinue AUBAGIO and start an accelerated elimination procedure with cholestyramine or activated charcoal. AUBAGIO is contraindicated in patients with severe hepatic impairment. Patients with pre-existing liver disease may be at increased risk of developing elevated serum transaminases when taking AUBAGIO.
- AUBAGIO is contraindicated for use in pregnant women and in women of reproductive potential who are not using effective contraception because of the potential for fetal harm. Teratogenicity and embryolethality occurred in animals at plasma teriflunomide exposure lower than that in humans. Exclude pregnancy before the start of treatment with AUBAGIO in females of reproductive potential. Advise females of reproductive potential to use effective contraception during AUBAGIO treatment and during an accelerated drug elimination procedure after AUBAGIO treatment. Stop AUBAGIO and use an accelerated drug elimination procedure if the patient becomes pregnant.
CONTRAINDICATIONS
- Patients with severe hepatic impairment.
- Pregnant women and females of reproductive potential not using effective contraception.
- Patients with a history of hypersensitivity reaction to teriflunomide, leflunomide, or to any of the inactive ingredients in AUBAGIO.
- Co-administration with leflunomide.
WARNINGS AND PRECAUTIONS
- Hepatotoxicity: Clinically significant liver injury, which could be life-threatening, can occur at any time during treatment with AUBAGIO. Patients with pre-existing acute or chronic liver disease, or those with serum ALT >2 times the upper limit of normal (ULN) before initiating treatment, should not normally be treated with AUBAGIO. In clinical trials, if ALT elevation was >3 times the ULN on 2 consecutive tests, patients discontinued AUBAGIO and underwent accelerated elimination. Consider additional monitoring if co-administering AUBAGIO with other potentially hepatotoxic drugs; monitor patients who develop symptoms suggestive of hepatic dysfunction (eg, unexplained nausea, vomiting, abdominal pain, fatigue, anorexia, or jaundice and/or dark urine).
- Embryofetal Toxicity: AUBAGIO may cause fetal harm when administered in pregnant women. Teratogenicity and embryofetal lethality occurred in animal reproduction studies in multiple animal species at plasma teriflunomide exposures similar to or lower than that in humans at the maximum human recommended dose of 14 mg/day. AUBAGIO is contraindicated for use in pregnant women and females of reproductive potential not using effective contraception. Exclude pregnancy before starting AUBAGIO in females of reproductive potential. Advise females of reproductive potential to use effective contraception during AUBAGIO treatment and during an accelerated drug elimination procedure (AEP) after AUBAGIO treatment. If a woman becomes pregnant while taking AUBAGIO, stop treatment, apprise patient of the potential risk to a fetus, and perform an AEP to achieve an AUBAGIO plasma concentration of <0.02 mg /L. Upon discontinuing AUBAGIO, it is recommended all females of reproductive potential undergo an AEP. Women receiving AUBAGIO who wish to become pregnant must discontinue AUBAGIO and undergo an AEP, until plasma concentrations of AUBAGIO are <0.02 mg /L. Men wishing to father a child should also stop AUBAGIO and either undergo an AEP or wait until plasma concentration of AUBAGIO is <0.02 mg/L. Women who become pregnant while taking AUBAGIO may enroll in the AUBAGIO pregnancy registry by calling 1‑800‑745‑4447, option 2.
- Procedure for Accelerated Elimination of Teriflunomide: Teriflunomide is eliminated slowly from the plasma—it takes an average of 8 months, or up to 2 years, to reach plasma concentrations <0.02 mcg /mL. Elimination may be accelerated by administration of cholestyramine or activated charcoal, but this may cause disease activity to return in patients who were responding to AUBAGIO.
- Bone Marrow Effects/Immunosuppression Potential/Infections: Decreases in white blood cell counts, mainly of neutrophils and lymphocytes, and platelets have been reported with AUBAGIO. Thrombocytopenia, including rare cases with platelet counts less than 50,000/mm3, has been reported in the postmarketing setting. Obtain a complete blood cell count within 6 months before starting treatment, with further monitoring based on signs and symptoms of bone marrow suppression. AUBAGIO is not recommended for patients with severe immunodeficiency, bone marrow disease, or severe uncontrolled infections. Tuberculosis (TB) has been observed in clinical studies of AUBAGIO. Before starting treatment, screen patients for latent TB infection with a tuberculin test. Treatment in patients with acute or chronic infections should not be started until the infection(s) is resolved. Administration of live vaccines is not recommended. The risk of malignancy, particularly lymphoproliferative disorders, or infection may be increased with the use of some medications with immunosuppressive potential, including teriflunomide.
- Hypersensitivity Reactions: AUBAGIO can cause anaphylaxis and severe allergic reactions. Signs and symptoms have included dyspnea, urticaria, and angioedema including lips, eyes, throat, and tongue. Inform patients of the signs and symptoms of anaphylaxis and angioedema.
- Serious Skin Reactions: Cases of serious skin reactions, sometimes fatal, including Stevens-Johnson syndrome (SJS), toxic epidermal necrolysis (TEN), and drug reaction with eosinophilia and systemic symptoms (DRESS) have been reported with AUBAGIO. Fatal outcomes were reported in one case of TEN and one case of DRESS. Inform patients of the signs and symptoms of a serious skin reaction and instruct them to discontinue AUBAGIO and seek immediate medical care. Unless the reaction is clearly not drug-related, discontinue AUBAGIO and begin accelerated elimination immediately. In such cases, patients should not be re-exposed to teriflunomide.
- Drug Reaction with Eosinophilia and Systemic Symptoms (DRESS): DRESS, also known as multiorgan hypersensitivity, has occurred with AUBAGIO. One fatal case of DRESS that occurred within 34 days of initiation of AUBAGIO treatment has been reported in the postmarketing setting. DRESS typically, although not exclusively, presents with fever, rash, lymphadenopathy and/or facial swelling, in association with other organ system involvement, such as hepatitis, nephritis, hematologic abnormalities, myocarditis, or myositis, sometimes resembling an acute viral infection. Eosinophilia is often present. This disorder is variable in its expression, and other organ systems not noted here may be involved. It is important to note that early manifestations of hypersensitivity (eg, fever, lymphadenopathy) may be present even though rash is not evident. If such signs or symptoms are present, the patient should be evaluated immediately. Discontinue AUBAGIO, unless an alternative etiology for the signs or symptoms is established, and begin an accelerated elimination procedure immediately. In such cases, patients should not be re-exposed to teriflunomide.
- Peripheral Neuropathy: Peripheral neuropathy, including polyneuropathy and mononeuropathy, has been reported with AUBAGIO. Age >60 years, concomitant neurotoxic medications, and diabetes may increase the risk. If peripheral neuropathy is suspected, consider discontinuing treatment and performing accelerated elimination.
- Increased Blood Pressure: Blood pressure increases and hypertension have occurred with AUBAGIO. Measure blood pressure at treatment initiation and manage any elevations during treatment.
- Respiratory Effects: Interstitial lung disease (ILD), including acute interstitial pneumonitis, has been reported with AUBAGIO. ILD may be fatal and may occur acutely at any time during therapy with a variable clinical presentation. If discontinuation of the drug is necessary, consider initiation of an accelerated elimination procedure.
- Pancreatitis in Pediatric Patients: AUBAGIO is not approved for use in pediatric patients. In a pediatric clinical trial, cases of pancreatitis were observed in patients receiving AUBAGIO. If pancreatitis is suspected, discontinue teriflunomide and start an accelerated elimination procedure.
Adverse Reactions: The most frequent adverse reactions (≥10% and ≥2% greater than placebo) with AUBAGIO 7 mg and 14 mg and placebo, respectively, were headache (18% and 16% vs 15%), ALT increased (13% and 15% vs 9%), diarrhea (13% and 14% vs 8%), alopecia (10% and 13% vs 5%), and nausea (8% and 11% vs 7%).
Drug Interactions: Monitor patients when teriflunomide is coadministered with warfarin, or with drugs metabolized by CYP1A2, CYP2C8, substrates of OAT3 transporters, substrates of BCRP, or OATP1B1/1B3 transporters.
Use in Specific Populations: Women should not breastfeed during treatment with AUBAGIO.
Please see Full Prescribing Information, including boxed WARNING.
