The first and only orally inhaled medicine for the acute treatment of
agitation associated with schizophrenia or bipolar I disorder in adults
JERUSALEM--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Mar. 3, 2014--
Teva Pharmaceutical Industries Ltd. (NYSE:TEVA) announced today
the commercial launch of ADASUVE® (loxapine) inhalation
powder 10 mg, the first and only orally inhaled medicine for the acute
treatment of agitation associated with schizophrenia or bipolar I
disorder in adults.
ADASUVE® is administered through Alexza Pharmaceuticals'
(NASDQ:ALXA) innovative proprietary Staccato® single-use,
hand held drug delivery technology system. This new drug-device
combination product provides rapid systemic delivery by inhalation of a
thermally-generated aerosol of loxapine, a first generation
antipsychotic, to the lung. Administration of ADASUVE®
results in rapid absorption of loxapine, with a maximum plasma
concentration achieved in approximately 2 minutes.
Efficacy was demonstrated in two clinical trials in acute agitation: one
in schizophrenia and one in bipolar I disorder. Patients receiving
ADASUVE® experienced a statistically significant reduction in
agitation at two hours, with an effect seen as early as ten minutes
post-dose.
Due to the risk of bronchospasm that has the potential to lead to
respiratory distress and respiratory arrest, ADASUVE® is
contraindicated in patients with a current diagnosis or history of
asthma, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), or other pulmonary
disease associated with bronchospasm and is only available through a
restricted program called the ADASUVE® Risk Evaluation and
Mitigation Strategy (REMS). ADASUVE® must be administered
only in a REMS-enrolled healthcare facility that has immediate access
on-site to equipment and personnel trained to manage acute bronchospasm,
including advanced airway management (intubation and mechanical
ventilation).
“Existing treatment options for patients with agitation associated with
schizophrenia or bipolar I disorder are limited to oral tablets or
injectable modes of administration, sometimes requiring the use of
restraints,” said Richard Jaffe, M.D., Medical Director for Research and
Clinical Trials at the Belmont Center for Comprehensive Treatment
Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, and a clinical trial investigator. “ADASUVE®
is a drug-device combination that offers health care providers a new
option to help manage agitation.”
Patients experiencing agitation associated with schizophrenia or bipolar
I disorder often manifest behaviors that interfere with their care, such
as threatening behaviors, escalating or urgently distressing behavior or
self-exhausting behavior that lead clinicians to use rapidly absorbed
antipsychotic medications to help control the agitation quickly.
Agitation associated with schizophrenia and bipolar I disorder is
estimated to result in approximately 7 million episodes that end up in
an acute emergency treatment setting each year. Acute agitation can
increase in severity and escalate unpredictably.
“The availability of orally inhaled ADASUVE® provides a rapid
onset of action that quickly improves symptoms for patients and gives
providers in enrolled hospitals another treatment choice,” said Michael
McHugh, Vice President and General Manager, Teva Select Brands and Teva
Women’s Health. “As part of our ongoing commitment to enhancing patient
care and bringing new therapies and delivery systems to the market that
fit within our areas of expertise, Teva is pleased to launch this new
treatment choice that is aligned with Teva’s New Therapeutic Entities
(NTE) program.”
Two phase three short-term clinical efficacy trials demonstrated
significant improvement in agitation at two hours, in patients with
schizophrenia or bipolar I disorder treated with ADASUVE®.
These studies demonstrated a 49 percent reduction in agitation symptoms
from baseline in schizophrenia patients, as compared to 33 percent in
placebo, and 53 percent reduction in bipolar I patients, as compared to
27 percent in placebo. Improvement was rapidly achieved at 10 minutes
post-dose with a 19 percent reduction in agitation symptoms from
baseline in schizophrenia patients and a 23 percent reduction in bipolar
I patients, both as compared to 10 percent in placebo.
Please see additional important safety information including boxed
warnings and REMS Program information below. The most common adverse
reactions (greater than at least 2% in the treated group and greater
than in the placebo group) in short-term, placebo-controlled trials were
dysgeusia (abnormal taste), sedation and throat irritation.
Teva licensed the U.S. commercial rights to ADASUVE® in May
2013 from Alexza Pharmaceuticals, inventor and developer of the Staccato®
system and of ADASUVE®. Under the terms of the license and
supply agreement, Teva is responsible for all U.S. commercial and
clinical activities including U.S. post-approval clinical studies.
Alexza is responsible for manufacturing and supplying ADASUVE®
to Teva for commercial sales and clinical trials. ADASUVE is currently
available through a select distribution network. Please call
(800)292-4283 or visit www.ADASUVE.com
for additional information.
ADASUVE® Prescribing Information
Please click here
for Full Prescribing Information, including Boxed Warning.
For more information about ADASUVE®, visit www.ADASUVE.com.
For REMS Program information, visit www.ADASUVEREMS.com
or call (855)-755-0492.
INDICATION AND USAGE
ADASUVE® (loxapine) inhalation powder, for oral inhalation
use, is a typical antipsychotic indicated for the acute treatment of
agitation associated with schizophrenia or bipolar I disorder in adults.
Efficacy was demonstrated in two trials in acute agitation: one in
schizophrenia and one in bipolar I disorder.
Limitations of Use: As part of the ADASUVE®
REMS Program to mitigate the risk of bronchospasm, ADASUVE ®
must be administered only in an enrolled healthcare facility.
IMPORTANT SAFETY INFORMATION
WARNING: BRONCHOSPASM and INCREASED MORTALITY IN ELDERLY PATIENTS
WITH DEMENTIA-RELATED PSYCHOSIS
Bronchospasm
ADASUVE can cause bronchospasm that has the potential to lead to
respiratory distress and respiratory arrest. Administer ADASUVE only in
an enrolled healthcare facility that has immediate access on-site to
equipment and personnel trained to manage acute bronchospasm, including
advanced airway management (intubation and mechanical ventilation).
Prior to administering ADASUVE, screen patients regarding a current
diagnosis, history, or symptoms of asthma, COPD and other lung diseases,
and examine (including chest auscultation) patients for respiratory
signs. Monitor for signs and symptoms of bronchospasm following
treatment with ADASUVE.
Because of the risk of bronchospasm, ADASUVE is available only
through a restricted program under a Risk Evaluation and Mitigation
Strategy (REMS) called the ADASUVE REMS.
Increased Mortality in Elderly Patients With
Dementia-Related Psychosis
Elderly patients with dementia-related psychosis treated with
antipsychotic drugs are at an increased risk of death. ADASUVE is not
approved for the treatment of patients with dementia-related psychosis.
-
ADASUVE® is contraindicated in patients with the following:
-
Current diagnosis or history of asthma, COPD, or other lung
disease associated with bronchospasm
-
Acute respiratory signs/symptoms (e.g. wheezing)
-
Current use of medications to treat airways disease, such as
asthma or COPD
-
History of bronchospasm following ADASUVE® treatment
-
Known hypersensitivity to loxapine or amoxapine. Serious skin
reactions have occurred with oral loxapine and amoxapine
-
ADASUVE® must be administered only by a healthcare
professional
-
Prior to administration, all patients must be screened for a history
of pulmonary disease and examined (including chest auscultation) for
respiratory abnormalities (e.g. wheezing)
-
Administer only a single 10 mg dose of ADASUVE® within a
24-hour period by oral inhalation using the single-use inhaler
-
After ADASUVE® administration, patients must be monitored
for signs and symptoms of bronchospasm at least every 15 minutes for
at least 1 hour
-
ADASUVE® can cause sedation, which can mask the symptoms of
bronchospasm
-
Antipsychotic drugs can cause a potentially fatal symptom complex
called Neuroleptic Malignant Syndrome (NMS), manifested by
hyperpyrexia, muscle rigidity, altered mental state, irregular pulse
or blood pressure, tachycardia, diaphoresis, and cardiac dysrhythmia.
Associated features can include escalated serum creatine phosphokinase
(CPK) concentration, rhabdomyolysis, elevated serum and urine
myoglobin concentration, and renal failure. If NMS occurs, immediately
discontinue antipsychotic drugs and other drugs that may contribute to
the underlying disorder, monitor and treat symptoms, and treat any
concomitant serious medical problems
-
ADASUVE® can cause hypotension, orthostatic hypotension,
and syncope. Use with caution in patients with known cardiovascular
disease, cerebrovascular disease, or conditions that would predispose
patients to hypotension. In the presence of severe hypotension
requiring vasopressor therapy, epinephrine should not be used
-
Use ADASUVE® with caution in patients with a history of
seizures or with conditions that lower the seizure threshold. ADASUVE®
lowers the seizure threshold. Seizures have occurred in patients
treated with oral loxapine and can also occur in epileptic patients
-
Use caution when driving or operating machinery. ADASUVE®
can impair judgment, thinking, and motor skills
-
The potential for cognitive and motor impairment is increased when
ADASUVE® is administered concurrently with other CNS
depressants
-
Treatment with antipsychotic drugs caused an increased incidence of
stroke and transient ischemic attack in elderly patients with
dementia-related psychosis; ADASUVE® is not approved for
the treatment of patients with dementia-related psychosis
-
Use of ADASUVE® may exacerbate glaucoma or cause urinary
retention
-
The most common adverse reactions (incidence ≥2% and greater than
placebo) in clinical studies in patients with agitation treated with
ADASUVE® were dysgeusia, sedation, and throat irritation
-
Pregnancy Category C. Neonates exposed to antipsychotic drugs during
the third trimester of pregnancy are at risk of extrapyramidal and/or
withdrawal symptoms after delivery. ADASUVE® should be used
during pregnancy only if the potential benefit justifies the potential
risk to the fetus
-
Nursing mothers: Discontinue drug or nursing, taking into account the
importance of the drug to the mother
-
The safety and effectiveness of ADASUVE® in pediatric
patients have not been established
ADASUVE® and Staccato® are registered trademarks
of Alexza Pharmaceuticals, Inc.
About Teva
Teva Pharmaceutical Industries Ltd. (NYSE:TEVA) is a leading global
pharmaceutical company, committed to increasing access to high-quality
healthcare by developing, producing and marketing affordable generic
drugs as well as innovative and specialty pharmaceuticals and active
pharmaceutical ingredients. Headquartered in Israel, Teva is the world's
leading generic drug maker, with a global product portfolio of more than
1,000 molecules and a direct presence in approximately 60 countries.
Teva's Specialty Medicines businesses focus on CNS, respiratory
oncology, pain, and women's health therapeutic areas as well as
biologics. Teva currently employs approximately 45,000 people around the
world and reached $20.3 billion in net revenues in 2013.
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Source: Teva Pharmaceutical Industries Ltd.
Teva Pharmaceutical Industries Ltd.
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