Exenatide

Exenatide injection is indicated as an adjunct to diet and exercise to improve glycemic control in adults with type 2 diabetes mellitus. Exenatide injection is a glucagon-like peptide-1 (GLP-1) receptor agonist indicated as an adjunct to diet and exercise to improve glycemic control in adults with type 2 diabetes mellitus. ( 1 , 14 ) Limitations of Use Co-administration with other exenatide-containing products is not recommended. Limitations of Use Exenatide injection contains exenatide.

Co-administration with other exenatide-containing products is not recommended.

Inject subcutaneously within 60 minutes prior to morning and evening meals (or before the two main meals of the day, approximately 6 hours or more apart). Initiate at 5 mcg per dose twice daily; increase to 10 mcg twice daily after 1 month based on clinical response.

2.1Recommended Dosing Initiate

exenatide injection at 5 mcg administered subcutaneously twice daily at any time within the 60-minute period before the morning and evening meals (or before the two main meals of the day, approximately 6 hours or more apart). Do not administer after a meal. Based on clinical response, the dose of exenatide injection can be increased to 10 mcg twice daily which is recommended after 1 month of therapy, in order to reduce the risk of gastrointestinal adverse reactions . Administer as a subcutaneous injection in the thigh, abdomen, or upper arm.

Rotate injections sites with each dose. Do not use the same site for each injection. Inspect visually for particulate matter and discoloration. Only use exenatide injection if the solution appears clear, colorless and contains no particles. When using exenatide injection with insulin, administer as separate injections and never mix.

It is acceptable to inject exenatide injection and insulin in the same body region, but the injections should not be adjacent to each other. If a dose is missed, resume the treatment regimen as prescribed with the next scheduled dose.

Acute Pancreatitis : Has been observed in patients treated with GLP-1 receptor agonists, including exenatide. Discontinue if pancreatitis is suspected. Never share an exenatide injection pen between patients, even if the needle is changed. Hypoglycemia with Concomitant Use of Insulin Secretagogues or Insulin : Patients taking an insulin secretagogue or insulin may have an increased risk of hypoglycemia, including severe hypoglycemia. Reduction in the dose of insulin secretagogues or insulin may be necessary. Acute Kidney Injury Due to Volume Depletion : Monitor renal function in patients reporting adverse reactions that could lead to volume depletion. Severe Gastrointestinal Adverse Reactions : Use has been associated with gastrointestinal adverse reactions, sometimes severe. Exenatide is not recommended in patients with severe gastroparesis. Immunogenicity : Patients may develop antibodies to exenatide. If there is worsening glycemic control or failure to achieve target glycemic control, consider alternative antidiabetic therapy. Hypersensitivity : Serious hypersensitivity reactions (e.g., anaphylaxis and angioedema) have been reported. Discontinue exenatide and promptly seek medical advice. Drug-induced Immune-mediated Thrombocytopenia : Serious bleeding which may be fatal has been reported. Discontinue exenatide promptly and avoid re-exposure to exenatide. Acute Gallbladder Disease: If cholelithiasis or cholecystitis are suspected, gallbladder studies are indicated. Pulmonary Aspiration During General Anesthesia or Deep Sedation: Has been reported in patients receiving GLP-1 receptor agonists undergoing elective surgeries or procedures. Instruct patients to inform healthcare providers of any planned surgeries or procedures.

5.1Acute Pancreatitis Acute

pancreatitis, including fatal and non-fatal hemorrhagic or necrotizing pancreatitis, has been observed in patients treated with glucagon-like peptide-1 (GLP-1) receptor agonists, including exenatide . After initiation of exenatide, observe patients carefully for signs and symptoms of pancreatitis (including persistent severe abdominal pain, sometimes radiating to the back and which may or may not be accompanied by vomiting). If pancreatitis is suspected, discontinue exenatide and initiate appropriate management.

5.2Never Share an Exenatide Injection Pen

Between Patients Exenatide injection pens must never be shared between patients, even if the needle is changed. Pen-sharing poses a risk for transmission of blood-borne pathogens.

5.3Hypoglycemia with Concomitant Use of Insulin Secretagogues

or Insulin Patients receiving exenatide in combination with an insulin secretagogue (e.g., sulfonylurea) or insulin may have an increased risk of hypoglycemia including severe hypoglycemia . The risk of hypoglycemia may be lowered by a reduction in the dose of sulfonylurea (or other concomitantly administered insulin secretagogue) or insulin. Inform patients using these concomitant medications of the risk of hypoglycemia and educate them on the signs and symptoms of hypoglycemia.

5.4Acute Kidney Injury Due to Volume

Depletion There have been post-marketing reports of acute kidney injury, in some cases requiring hemodialysis, in patients treated with GLP-1 receptor agonists, exenatide . The majority of the reported events occurred in patients who experienced gastrointestinal reactions leading to dehydration such as nausea, vomiting, or diarrhea . Monitor renal function in patients reporting adverse reactions to exenatide that could lead to volume depletion, especially during dosage initiation and escalation of exenatide. Exenatide is not recommended in patients with severe renal impairment (creatinine clearance <30 mL/min) or end-stage renal disease and should be used with caution in patients with renal transplantation .

5.5Severe Gastrointestinal Adverse Reactions Use

of GLP-1 receptor agonists, including exenatide, has been associated with gastrointestinal adverse reactions, sometimes severe . Exenatide is not recommended in patients with severe gastroparesis.

5.6Immunogenicity Patients

may develop antibodies to exenatide following treatment with exenatide. Antibody levels were measured in 90% of subjects in the 30-week, 24-week, and 16-week placebo-controlled studies and the 30-week comparator-controlled study of exenatide. In 3%, 4%, 1% and 1% of these patients, respectively, antibody formation was associated with an attenuated glycemic response.

If there is worsening glycemic control or failure to achieve targeted glycemic control, alternative antidiabetic therapy should be considered .

5.7Hypersensitivity There

have been post-marketing reports of serious hypersensitivity reactions (e.g., anaphylaxis and angioedema) in patients treated with exenatide. If a hypersensitivity reaction occurs, the patient should discontinue exenatide and other suspect medications and promptly seek medical advice. Inform and closely monitor patients with a history of anaphylaxis or angioedema with another GLP-1 receptor agonist for allergic reactions, because it is unknown whether such patients will be predisposed to anaphylaxis with exenatide .

5.8Drug-Induced Thrombocytopenia Serious

bleeding, which may be fatal, from drug-induced immune-mediated thrombocytopenia has been reported in the post-marketing setting with exenatide use. Drug-induced thrombocytopenia is an immune-mediated reaction, with exenatide-dependent anti-platelet antibodies. In the presence of exenatide, these antibodies cause platelet destruction.

If drug-induced thrombocytopenia is suspected, discontinue exenatide immediately and do not re-expose the patient to exenatide .

5.9Acute Gallbladder Disease Acute

events of gallbladder disease such as cholelithiasis or cholecystitis have been reported in GLP-1 receptor agonist trials and post-marketing. In a clinical study with exenatide, 1.9% of exenatide-treated patients and 1.4% of placebo-treated patients reported an acute event of gallbladder disease, such as cholelithiasis or cholecystitis. If cholelithiasis is suspected, gallbladder studies and appropriate clinical follow-up are indicated.

5.10Pulmonary Aspiration During General Anesthesia

or Deep Sedation Exenatide delays gastric emptying . There have been rare post-marketing reports of pulmonary aspiration in patients receiving GLP-1 receptor agonists undergoing elective surgeries or procedures requiring general anesthesia or deep sedation who had residual gastric contents despite reported adherence to preoperative fasting recommendations. Available data are insufficient to inform recommendations to mitigate the risk of pulmonary aspiration during general anesthesia or deep sedation in patients taking exenatide, including whether modifying preoperative fasting recommendations or temporarily discontinuing exenatide could reduce the incidence of retained gastric contents. Instruct patients to inform healthcare providers prior to any planned surgeries or procedures if they are taking exenatide.

Exenatide injection is contraindicated in patients with: A prior severe hypersensitivity reaction to exenatide or to any of the excipients in exenatide injection. Serious hypersensitivity reactions including anaphylaxis and angioedema have been reported with exenatide injection . A history of drug-induced immune-mediated thrombocytopenia from exenatide products. Serious bleeding, which may be fatal, from drug-induced immune-mediated thrombocytopenia has been reported with exenatide use . History of severe hypersensitivity to exenatide or any of the excipients in exenatide injection.

History of drug-induced immune-mediated thrombocytopenia from exenatide products.

8.1Pregnancy Risk Summary Limited

data with exenatide in pregnant women are not sufficient to determine a drug-associated risk for major birth defects or miscarriage. There are risks to the mother and fetus associated with poorly controlled diabetes in pregnancy . Based on animal reproduction studies, there may be risks to the fetus from exposure to exenatide during pregnancy. Exenatide should be used during pregnancy only if the potential benefit justifies the potential risk to the fetus.

Animal reproduction studies identified increased adverse fetal and neonatal outcomes from exposure to exenatide during pregnancy and lactation in association with maternal effects. In mice, exenatide administered during gestation and lactation caused increased neonatal deaths at systemic exposure 3-times the human exposure resulting from the maximum recommended human dose (MRHD) of 20 mcg/day for exenatide . The estimated background risk of major birth defects is 6% to 10% in women with pre-gestational diabetes with an HbA 1c > 7 and has been reported to be as high as 20% to 25% in women with HbA 1c > 10. The estimated background risk of miscarriage for the indicated population is unknown.

In the U.S. general population, the estimated background risk of major birth defects and miscarriage in clinically recognized pregnancies is 2% to 4% and 15% to 20%, respectively. Clinical Considerations Disease-associated maternal and/or embryofetal risk Poorly controlled diabetes in pregnancy increases the maternal risk for diabetic ketoacidosis, preeclampsia, spontaneous abortions, preterm delivery, and delivery complications. Poorly controlled diabetes increases the fetal risk for major birth defects, stillbirth, and macrosomia related morbidity.

Data Animal Data In studies evaluating reproduction and development in pregnant mice and rabbits, maternal animals were administered exenatide, the active ingredient in exenatide injection, by subcutaneous injection twice a day. In pregnant mice given 6, 68, 460, or 760 mcg/kg/day exenatide during fetal organogenesis, skeletal variations associated with slowed fetal growth, including changes in number of rib pairs or vertebral ossifications sites, and wavy ribs were observed at 760 mcg/kg/day, a dose that produced maternal toxicity and yielded systemic exposure 390-times the human exposure resulting from the MRHD of exenatide based on AUC comparison. In pregnant rabbits given 0.2, 2, 22, 156, or 260 mcg/kg/day exenatide during fetal organogenesis, irregular fetal skeletal ossifications were observed at 2 mcg/kg/day, a dose yielding systemic exposure up to 12-times the human exposure from the MRHD of exenatide based on AUC comparison.

In maternal mice given 6, 68, or 760 mcg/kg/day exenatide from gestation day 6 through lactation day 20 (weaning), an increased number of neonatal deaths was observed on postpartum days 2 to 4 in dams given 6 mcg/kg/day, a dose yielding a systemic exposure 3-times the human exposure from the MRHD of exenatide based on AUC comparison.

The following serious adverse reactions are described below or elsewhere in the prescribing information: Acute Pancreatitis Never Share an Exenatide Pen Between Patients Hypoglycemia with Concomitant Use of Insulin Secretagogues or Insulin Acute Kidney Injury Due to Volume Depletion Severe Gastrointestinal Adverse Reactions Immunogenicity Hypersensitivity Drug-Induced Thrombocytopenia Acute Gallbladder Disease Pulmonary Aspiration During General Anesthesia or Deep Sedation Most common (≥ 5%) and occurring more frequently than placebo in clinical trials: nausea, hypoglycemia, vomiting, diarrhea, feeling jittery, dizziness, headache, dyspepsia, constipation, asthenia. Nausea usually decreases over time. ( 5.3 , 6 ) To report SUSPECTED ADVERSE REACTIONS, contact Amneal Pharmaceuticals LLC at 1-877-835-5472 or FDA at 1-800-FDA-1088 or www.fda.gov/medwatch.

6.1Clinical Trial Experience Because

clinical trials are conducted under widely varying conditions, adverse reaction rates observed in the clinical trials of a drug cannot be directly compared to rates in the clinical trials of another drug and may not reflect the rates observed in practice. Hypoglycemia Table 1 summarizes the incidence and rate of hypoglycemia with exenatide in six placebo-controlled clinical trials. Table 1: Incidence (%) and Rate of Hypoglycemia when Exenatide was used as Monotherapy or with Concomitant Antidiabetic Therapy in Six Placebo-Controlled Clinical Trials * Placebo BID Exenatide 5 mcg BID Exenatide 10 mcg BID Monotherapy (24 Weeks) N 77 77 78 % Overall 1.3% 5.2% 3.8% Rate (episodes/patient-year) 0.03 0.21 0.52 % Severe 0.0% 0.0% 0.0% With Metformin (30 Weeks) N 113 110 113 % Overall 5.3% 4.5% 5.3% Rate (episodes/patient-year) 0.12 0.13 0.12 % Severe 0.0% 0.0% 0.0% With a Sulfonylurea (30 Weeks) N 123 125 129 % Overall 3.3% 14.4% 35.7% Rate (episodes/patient-year) 0.07 0.64 1.61 % Severe 0.0% 0.0% 0.0% With Metformin and a Sulfonylurea (30 Weeks) N 247 245 241 % Overall 12.6% 19.2% 27.8% Rate (episodes/patient-year) 0.58 0.78 1.71 % Severe 0.0% 0.4% 0.0% With a Thiazolidinedione (16 Weeks) N 112 not evaluated 121 % Overall 7.1% not evaluated 10.7% Rate (episodes/patient-years) 0.56 not evaluated 0.98 % Severe 0.0% not evaluated 0.0% With Insulin Glargine with or without Metformin and/or Thiazolidinedione (30 Weeks) † N 122 not evaluated 137 % Overall 29.5% not evaluated 24.8% Rate (episodes/patient-years) 1.58 not evaluated 1.61 % Severe 0.8% not evaluated 0.0% * A hypoglycemic episode was recorded if a patient reported symptoms of hypoglycemia with or without a blood glucose value consistent with hypoglycemia.

Severe hypoglycemia was defined as an event with symptoms consistent with hypoglycemia requiring the assistance of another person and associated with either a documented blood glucose value < 54 mg/dL or prompt recovery after treatment for hypoglycemia. † When exenatide was initiated in combination with insulin glargine, the dose of insulin glargine was decreased by 20% in patients with an HbA 1c ≤ 8.0% to minimize the risk of hypoglycemia. See Table 10 for insulin dose titration algorithm. N = number of Intent-to-Treat subjects in each treatment group.

Immunogenicity Antibodies were assessed in 90% of subjects in the 30-week, 24-week, and 16-week studies of exenatide. In the 30-week controlled trials of exenatide add-on to metformin and/or sulfonylurea, antibodies were assessed at 2- to 6-week intervals. The mean antibody titer peaked at Week 6 and was reduced by 55% by Week 30.

Three hundred and sixty patients (38%) had low titer antibodies (< 625) to exenatide at 30 weeks. The level of glycemic control (HbA 1c ) in these patients was generally comparable to that observed in the 534 patients (56%) without antibody titers. An additional 59 patients (6%) had higher titer antibodies (≥ 625) at 30 weeks.

Of these patients, 32 (3% overall) had an attenuated glycemic response to exenatide; the remaining 27 (3% overall) had a glycemic response comparable to that of patients without antibodies. In the 16-week trial of exenatide add-on to thiazolidinediones, with or without metformin, 36 patients (31%) had low titer antibodies to exenatide at 16 weeks. The level of glycemic control in these patients was generally comparable to that observed in the 69 patients (60%) without antibody titer.

An additional 10 patients (9%) had higher titer antibodies at 16 weeks. Of these patients, 4 (4% overall) had an attenuated glycemic response to exenatide; the remaining 6 (5% overall) had a glycemic response comparable to that of patients without antibodies. In the 24-week trial of exenatide used as monotherapy, 40 patients (28%) had low titer antibodies to exenatide at 24 weeks.

The level of glycemic control in these patients was generally comparable to that observed in the 101 patients (70%) without antibody titers. An additional 3 patients (2%) had higher titer antibodies at 24 weeks. Of these patients, 1 (1% overall) had an attenuated glycemic response to exenatide; the remaining 2 (1% overall) had a glycemic response comparable to that of patients without antibodies.

Antibodies to exenatide were not assessed in the 30-week placebo-controlled trial of exenatide used in combination with insulin glargine. In the 30-week comparator-controlled trial of exenatide used in combination with insulin glargine and metformin, 60 patients (20%) had low titer antibodies to exenatide at 30 weeks. The level of glycemic control in these patients was generally comparable to that observed in the 234 patients (77%) without antibody titers.

An additional 10 patients (3%) had higher titer antibodies at 30 weeks. Of these patients, 2 (1% overall) had an attenuated glycemic response to exenatide; the remaining 8 (3% overall) had a glycemic response comparable to that of patients without antibodies. Two hundred and ten patients with antibodies to exenatide in the exenatide clinical trials were tested for the presence of cross-reactive antibodies to GLP-1 and/or glucagon.

No treatment-emergent cross-reactive antibodies were observed across the range of titers. Other Adverse Reactions Monotherapy For the 24-week placebo-controlled study of exenatide used as a monotherapy, Table 2 summarizes adverse reactions (excluding hypoglycemia) occurring with an incidence ≥ 2% and occurring more frequently in exenatide-treated patients compared with placebo-treated patients. Table 2: Treatment-Emergent Adverse Reactions ≥ 2% Incidence with Exenatide used as Monotherapy (excluding Hypoglycemia) * Monotherapy Placebo BID N=77 % All Exenatide BID N=155 % Nausea 0 8 Vomiting 0 4 Dyspepsia 0 3 * In a 24-week placebo-controlled trial.

BID = twice daily. Adverse reactions reported in ≥ 1.0% to < 2.0% of patients receiving exenatide and reported more frequently than with placebo included decreased appetite, diarrhea and dizziness. The most frequently reported adverse reaction associated with exenatide, nausea, occurred in a dose-dependent fashion.

Two of the 155 patients treated with exenatide withdrew due to adverse reactions of headache and nausea. No placebo-treated patients withdrew due to adverse reactions. Cholelithiasis and cholecystitis In a clinical study with exenatide, 1.9% of exenatide-treated patients and 1.4% of placebo-treated patients reported an acute event of gallbladder disease, such as cholelithiasis or cholecystitis.

Combination Therapy Add-On to Metformin and/or Sulfonylurea In the three 30-week controlled trials of exenatide add-on to metformin and/or sulfonylurea, adverse reactions (excluding hypoglycemia) with an incidence ≥ 2% and occurring more frequently in exenatide-treated patients compared with placebo-treated patients are summarized in Table 3. Table 3: Treatment-Emergent Adverse Reactions ≥ 2% Incidence and Greater Incidence with Exenatide Treatment used with Metformin and/or a Sulfonylurea (excluding Hypoglycemia) * Placebo BID N=483 % All Exenatide BID N=963 % Nausea 18 44 Vomiting 4 13 Diarrhea 6 13 Feeling Jittery 4 9 Dizziness 6 9 Headache 6 9 Dyspepsia 3 6 Asthenia 2 4 Gastroesophageal Reflux Disease 1 3 Hyperhidrosis 1 3 * In three 30-week placebo-controlled clinical trials. BID = twice daily.

Adverse reactions reported in ≥ 1.0% to < 2.0% of patients receiving exenatide and reported more frequently than with placebo included decreased appetite. Nausea was the most frequently reported adverse reaction and occurred in a dose-dependent fashion. With continued therapy, the frequency and severity decreased over time in most of the patients who initially experienced nausea.

Patients in the long-term uncontrolled open-label extension studies at 52 weeks reported no new types of adverse reactions than those observed in the 30-week controlled trials. The most common adverse reactions leading to withdrawal for exenatide-treated patients were nausea (3% of patients) and vomiting (1%). For placebo-treated patients, < 1% withdrew due to nausea and none due to vomiting.

Add-On to Thiazolidinedione with or without Metformin For the 16-week placebo-controlled study of exenatide add-on to a thiazolidinedione, with or without metformin, Table 4 summarizes the adverse reactions (excluding hypoglycemia) with an incidence of ≥ 2% and occurring more frequently in exenatide-treated patients compared with placebo-treated patients. Table 4: Treatment-Emergent Adverse Reactions ≥ 2% Incidence with Exenatide used with a Thiazolidinedione (TZD), with or without Metformin (MET) (excluding Hypoglycemia) * With a TZD or TZD/MET Placebo N=112 % All Exenatide BID N=121 % Nausea 15 40 Vomiting 1 13 Dyspepsia 1 7 Diarrhea 3 6 Gastroesophageal Reflux Disease 0 3 * In a 16-week placebo-controlled clinical trial. BID = twice daily.

Adverse reactions reported in ≥ 1.0% to < 2.0% of patients receiving exenatide and reported more frequently than with placebo included decreased appetite. Chills (n=4) and injection-site reactions (n=2) occurred only in exenatide-treated patients. The two patients who reported an injection-site reaction had high titers of antibodies to exenatide.

Two serious adverse events (chest pain and chronic hypersensitivity pneumonitis) were reported in the exenatide arm. No serious adverse events were reported in the placebo arm. The most common adverse reactions leading to withdrawal for exenatide-treated patients were nausea (9%) and vomiting (5%).

For placebo-treated patients, < 1% withdrew due to nausea. Add-On to Insulin Glargine with or without Metformin and/or Thiazolidinedione (Placebo-Controlled) For the 30-week placebo-controlled study of exenatide as add-on to insulin glargine with or without oral antihyperglycemic medications, Table 5 summarizes adverse reactions (excluding hypoglycemia) occurring with an incidence ≥ 2% and occurring more frequently in exenatide-treated patients compared with placebo-treated patients. Table 5: Treatment-Emergent Adverse Reactions ≥ 2% Incidence with Exenatide used with Insulin Glargine with or without Oral Antihyperglycemic Medications (excluding Hypoglycemia) * With Insulin Glargine Placebo N=122 % All Exenatide BID N=137 % Nausea 8 41 Vomiting 4 18 Diarrhea 8 18 Headache 4 14 Constipation 2 10 Dyspepsia 2 7 Asthenia 1 5 Abdominal Distension 1 4 Decreased Appetite 0 3 Flatulence 1 2 Gastroesophageal Reflux Disease 1 2 * In a 30-week placebo-controlled clinical trial.

BID = twice daily. The most frequently reported adverse reactions leading to withdrawal for exenatide-treated patients were nausea (5.1%) and vomiting (2.9%). No placebo-treated patients withdrew due to nausea or vomiting.

6.2Post-marketing Experience The

following additional adverse reactions have been reported during post-approval use of exenatide or other formulations of exenatide. Because these events are reported voluntarily from a population of uncertain size, it is generally not possible to reliably estimate their frequency or establish a causal relationship to drug exposure. Blood : Drug-induced thrombocytopenia.

Drug Interactions: International normalized ratio (INR) increased with concomitant warfarin use sometimes associated with bleeding . Gastrointestinal: Nausea, vomiting and/or diarrhea resulting in dehydration; abdominal distension, abdominal pain, eructation, constipation, flatulence, ileus, acute pancreatitis, hemorrhagic and necrotizing pancreatitis sometimes resulting in death. Hepatobiliary: Cholecystitis, cholelithiasis requiring cholecystectomy. Hypersensitivity: Injection-site reactions, generalized pruritus and/or urticaria, macular or papular rash, angioedema, anaphylactic reaction.

Neurologic: Dysgeusia; somnolence, dysesthesia. Pulmonary: Pulmonary aspiration has occurred in patients receiving GLP-1 receptor agonists undergoing elective surgeries or procedures requiring general anesthesia or deep sedation. Renal: Altered renal function, including increased serum creatinine, renal impairment, worsened chronic renal failure or acute renal failure (sometimes requiring hemodialysis), kidney transplant and kidney transplant dysfunction.

Skin and Subcutaneous Tissue: Alopecia.