Special Warning : אזהרת שימוש

4.4     Special warnings and precautions for use

Harvoni should not be administered concomitantly with other medicinal products containing sofosbuvir.

Genotype-specific activity

Concerning recommended regimens with different HCV genotypes, see section 4.2. Concerning genotype-specific virological and clinical activity, see section 5.1.

The clinical data to support the use of Harvoni in patients infected with HCV genotype 3 are limited (see section 5.1). The relative efficacy of a 12-week regimen consisting of ledipasvir/sofosbuvir + ribavirin, compared to a 24-week regimen of sofosbuvir + ribavirin has not been investigated. A conservative 24 weeks of therapy is advised in all treatment-experienced genotype 3 patients and those treatment-naïve genotype 3 patients with cirrhosis (see section 4.2).

The clinical data to support the use of Harvoni in patients infected with HCV genotype 2 and 6 are limited (see section 5.1).

Severe bradycardia and heart block

Life-threatening cases of severe bradycardia and heart block have been observed when sofosbuvir- containing regimens are used in combination with amiodarone. Bradycardia has generally occurred within hours to days, but cases with a longer time to onset have been observed mostly up to 2 weeks after initiating HCV treatment.

Amiodarone should only be used in patients on Harvoni when other alternative anti-arrhythmic treatments are not tolerated or are contraindicated.

Should concomitant use of amiodarone be considered necessary it is recommended that patients undergo cardiac monitoring in an in-patient setting for the first 48 hours of coadministration, after which outpatient or self-monitoring of the heart rate should occur on a daily basis through at least the first 2 weeks of treatment.

Due to the long half-life of amiodarone, cardiac monitoring as outlined above should also be carried out for patients who have discontinued amiodarone within the past few months and are to be initiated on Harvoni.
All patients with concurrent or recent use of amiodarone should be warned of the symptoms of bradycardia and heart block and should be advised to seek medical advice urgently should they experience them.

Use in diabetic patients

Diabetics may experience improved glucose control, potentially resulting in symptomatic hypoglycaemia, after initiating HCV direct-acting antiviral treatment. Glucose levels of diabetic patients initiating direct-acting antiviral therapy should be closely monitored, particularly within the first 3 months, and their diabetic medication modified when necessary. The physician in charge of the diabetic care of the patient should be informed when direct-acting antiviral therapy is initiated.

HCV/HBV (hepatitis B virus) co-infection

Cases of hepatitis B virus (HBV) reactivation, some of them fatal, have been reported during or after treatment with direct-acting antiviral agents. HBV screening should be performed in all patients before initiation of treatment. HBV/HCV co-infected patients are at risk of HBV reactivation, and should therefore be monitored and managed according to current clinical guidelines.

Treatment of patients with prior exposure to HCV direct-acting antivirals 
In patients who fail treatment with ledipasvir/sofosbuvir, selection of NS5A resistance mutations that substantially reduce the susceptibility to ledipasvir is seen in the majority of cases (see section 5.1).
Limited data indicate that such NS5A mutations do not revert on long-term follow-up. There are presently no data to support the effectiveness of retreatment of patients who have failed ledipasvir/sofosbuvir with a subsequent regimen that contains an NS5A inhibitor. Similarly, there are presently no data to support the effectiveness of NS3/4A protease inhibitors in patients who previously failed prior therapy that included an NS3/4A protease inhibitor. Such patients may therefore be dependent on other classes of medicinal products for clearance of HCV infection. Consequently, consideration should be given to longer treatment for patients with uncertain subsequent retreatment options.

Renal impairment
Safety data are limited in patients with severe renal impairment (estimated glomerular filtration rate [eGFR] < 30 mL/min/1.73 m2) and ESRD requiring haemodialysis. Harvoni can be used in these patients with no dose adjustment when no other relevant treatment options are available (see sections 4.8, 5.1 and 5.2). When Harvoni is used in combination with ribavirin refer also to the Physicians Leaflet for ribavirin for patients with creatinine clearance (CrCl) < 50 mL/min (see section 5.2).

Patients with decompensated cirrhosis and/or who are awaiting liver transplant or post-liver transplant 
The efficacy of ledipasvir/sofosbuvir in genotype 5 and genotype 6 HCV-infected patients with decompensated cirrhosis and/or who are awaiting liver transplant or post-liver transplant has not been investigated. Treatment with Harvoni should be guided by an assessment of the potential benefits and risks for the individual patient.

Use with moderate P-gp inducers

Medicinal products that are moderate P-gp inducers in the intestine (e.g. oxcarbazepine) may decrease ledipasvir and sofosbuvir plasma concentrations leading to reduced therapeutic effect of Harvoni. Co administration of such medicinal products is not recommended with Harvoni (see section 4.5).

Use with certain HIV antiretroviral regimens

Harvoni has been shown to increase tenofovir exposure, especially when used together with an HIV regimen containing tenofovir disoproxil fumarate and a pharmacokinetic enhancer (ritonavir or cobicistat). The safety of tenofovir disoproxil fumarate in the setting of Harvoni and a pharmacokinetic enhancer has not been established. The potential risks and benefits associated with co-administration of Harvoni with the fixed-dose combination tablet containing elvitegravir/cobicistat/emtricitabine/tenofovir disoproxil fumarate or tenofovir disoproxil fumarate given in conjunction with a boosted HIV protease inhibitor (e.g. atazanavir or darunavir) should be considered, particularly in patients at increased risk of renal dysfunction. Patients receiving Harvoni concomitantly with elvitegravir/cobicistat/emtricitabine/tenofovir disoproxil fumarate or with tenofovir disoproxil fumarate and a boosted HIV protease inhibitor should be monitored for tenofovir- associated adverse reactions. Refer to tenofovir disoproxil fumarate, emtricitabine/tenofovir disoproxil fumarate, or elvitegravir/cobicistat/emtricitabine/tenofovir disoproxil fumarate Physicians Leaflet for recommendations on renal monitoring.

Use with HMG-CoA reductase inhibitors

Co-administration of Harvoni and HMG-CoA reductase inhibitors (statins) can significantly increase the concentration of the statin, which increases the risk of myopathy and rhabdomyolysis (see section 4.5).

Paediatric population

Harvoni is not recommended for use in children and adolescents under 18 years of age because the safety and efficacy have not been established in this population.

Excipients

Harvoni contains the azo colouring agent sunset yellow FCF (E110), which may cause allergic reactions. It also contains lactose. Patients with rare hereditary problems of galactose intolerance, total lactase deficiency, or glucose-galactose malabsorption should not take this medicinal product.

This medicine contains less than 1 mmol sodium (23 mg) per tablet, that is to say essentially ‘sodium-free’.

Effects on Driving

4.7    Effects on ability to drive and use machines

Harvoni (administered alone or in combination with ribavirin) has no or negligible influence on the ability to drive and use machines. However, patients should be advised that fatigue was more common in patients treated with ledipasvir/sofosbuvir compared to placebo.