Special Warning : אזהרת שימוש

4.4   Special warnings and precautions for use

Traceability
In order to improve the traceability of biological medicinal products, the name and the batch number of the administered product should be clearly recorded.

Soliris is not expected to affect the aplastic component of anaemia in patients with PNH.

Meningococcal Infection
Due to its mechanism of action, the use of Soliris increases the patient’s susceptibility to meningococcal infection (Neisseria meningitidis). Meningococcal disease due to any serogroup may 
occur. To reduce the risk of infection, all patients must be vaccinated at least 2 weeks prior to receiving Soliris, unless the risk of delaying Soliris therapy outweighs the risks of developing a meningococcal infection. Patients who initiate Soliris treatment less than 2 weeks after receiving a tetravalent meningococcal vaccine must receive treatment with appropriate prophylactic antibiotics until 2 weeks after vaccination. Vaccines against serogroups A, C, Y, W 135 are recommended in preventing the commonly pathogenic meningococcal serogroups. Vaccine against serogroup B where available is also recommended. Patients must receive vaccination according to current national vaccination guidelines for vaccination use.

Vaccination may further activate complement. As a result, patients with complement-mediated diseases, including PNH, aHUS, refractory gMG and NMOSD, may experience increased signs and symptoms of their underlying disease, such as haemolysis (PNH), TMA (aHUS), MG exacerbation (refractory gMG) or relapse (NMOSD). Therefore, patients should be closely monitored for disease symptoms after recommended vaccination.

Vaccination may not be sufficient to prevent meningococcal infection. Consideration should be given to official guidance on the appropriate use of antibacterial agents. Cases of serious or fatal meningococcal infections have been reported in Soliris-treated patients. Sepsis is a common presentation of meningococcal infections in patients treated with Soliris (see section 4.8). All patients should be monitored for early signs of meningococcal infection, evaluated immediately if infection is suspected, and treated with appropriate antibiotics if necessary. Patients should be informed of these signs and symptoms and steps taken to seek medical care immediately. Physicians must discuss the benefits and risks of Soliris therapy with patients and provide them with a patient information brochure and a patient safety card.

Other Systemic Infections
Due to its mechanism of action, Soliris therapy should be administered with caution to patients with active systemic infections. Patients may have increased susceptibility to infections, especially with Neisseria and encapsulated bacteria. Serious infections with Neisseria species (other than Neisseria meningitidis), including disseminated gonococcal infections, have been reported.
Patients should be provided with information to increase their awareness of potential serious infections and the signs and symptoms of them. Physicians should advise patients about gonorrhoea prevention.

Infusion Reactions
Administration of Soliris may result in infusion reactions or immunogenicity that could cause allergic or hypersensitivity reactions (including anaphylaxis). In clinical trials, 1 (0.9%) refractory gMG patient experienced an infusion reaction which required discontinuation of Soliris. No PNH, aHUS, refractory gMG or NMOSD paediatric patients experienced an infusion reaction which required discontinuation of Soliris. Soliris administration should be interrupted in all patients experiencing severe infusion reactions and appropriate medical therapy administered.

Immunogenicity
Infrequent antibody responses have been detected in Soliris-treated patients across all clinical studies.
In PNH placebo controlled studies, low antibody responses have been reported with a frequency (3.4%) similar to that of placebo (4.8%).
In patients with aHUS treated with Soliris, antibodies to Soliris were detected in 3/100 (3%) by the ECL bridging format assay. 1/100 (1%) aHUS patients had low positive values for neutralizing antibodies.
In a refractory gMG placebo controlled study, none (0/62) of the Soliris treated patients showed antidrug antibody response during the 26 week active treatment, whereas in a refractory gMG extension study, a total of 3/117 (2.6%) overall were positive for ADAs at any post-baseline visit.
Positive ADA results appeared to be transient, as positive titers were not observed at subsequent visits, and there were no clinical findings in these patients suggestive of an effect of positive ADA titers.
In a NMOSD placebo controlled study, 2/95 (2.1%) of the Soliris treated patients showed antidrug antibody response post-baseline. Both patients were negative for neutralizing antibodies. Positive ADA samples were low titer and transient. There has been no observed correlation of antibody development to clinical response or adverse events.

Immunization
Prior to initiating Soliris therapy, it is recommended that PNH, aHUS, refractory gMG and NMOSD patients initiate immunizations according to current immunization guidelines. Additionally, all patients must be vaccinated against meningococcal infections at least 2 weeks prior to receiving Soliris unless the risk of delaying Soliris therapy outweighs the risks of developing a meningococcal infection.
Patients who initiate Soliris treatment less than 2 weeks after receiving a tetravalent meningococcal vaccine must receive treatment with appropriate prophylactic antibiotics until 2 weeks after vaccination. Vaccines against serogroups A, C, Y, W 135 are recommended in preventing the commonly pathogenic meningococcal serogroups. Vaccine against serogroup B where available is also recommended (see Meningococcal Infection).

Patients less than 18 years of age must be vaccinated against Haemophilus influenzae and pneumococcal infections, and strictly need to adhere to the national vaccination recommendations for each age group.

Vaccination may further activate complement. As a result, patients with complement-mediated diseases, including PNH, aHUS, refractory gMG and NMOSD may experience increased signs and symptoms of their underlying disease, such as haemolysis (PNH), TMA (aHUS), MG exacerbation (refractory gMG) or relapse (NMOSD). Therefore, patients should be closely monitored for disease symptoms after recommended vaccination.

Anticoagulant therapy
Treatment with Soliris should not alter anticoagulant management.

Immunosuppressant and anticholinesterase therapies
Refractory gMG
When immunosuppressant and anticholinesterase therapies are decreased or discontinued, patients should be monitored closely for signs of disease exacerbation.

Neuromyelitis Optica Spectrum Disorder
When immunosuppressant therapy is decreased or discontinued, patients should be monitored closely for signs and symptoms of potential NMOSD relapse.

PNH Laboratory Monitoring
PNH patients should be monitored for signs and symptoms of intravascular haemolysis, including serum lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) levels. PNH patients receiving Soliris therapy should be similarly monitored for intravascular haemolysis by measuring LDH levels, and may require dose adjustment within the recommended 14±2 day dosing schedule during the maintenance phase (up to every 12 days).
 aHUS Laboratory Monitoring aHUS patients receiving Soliris therapy should be monitored for thrombotic microangiopathy by measuring platelet counts, serum LDH and serum creatinine, and may require dose adjustment within the recommended 14±2 day dosing schedule during the maintenance phase (up to every 12 days).

Treatment Discontinuation for PNH
If PNH patients discontinue treatment with Soliris they should be closely monitored for signs and symptoms of serious intravascular haemolysis. Serious haemolysis is identified by serum LDH levels greater than the pre-treatment level, along with any of the following: greater than 25% absolute decrease in PNH clone size (in the absence of dilution due to transfusion) in one week or less; a haemoglobin level of <5 g/dL or a decrease of >4 g/dL in one week or less; angina; change in mental status; a 50% increase in serum creatinine level; or thrombosis. Monitor any patient who discontinues Soliris for at least 8 weeks to detect serious haemolysis and other reactions.
If serious haemolysis occurs after Soliris discontinuation, consider the following procedures/treatments: blood transfusion (packed RBCs), or exchange transfusion if the PNH RBCs 
are >50% of the total RBCs by flow cytometry; anticoagulation; corticosteroids; or reinstitution of Soliris. In PNH clinical studies, 16 patients discontinued the Soliris treatment regimen. Serious haemolysis was not observed.

Treatment Discontinuation for aHUS
Thrombotic microangiopathy (TMA) complications have been observed as early as 4 weeks and up to 127 weeks following discontinuation of Soliris treatment in some patients. Discontinuation of treatment should only be considered if medically justified.

In aHUS clinical studies, 61 patients (21 paediatric patients) discontinued Soliris treatment with a median follow-up period of 24 weeks. Fifteen severe thrombotic microangiopathy (TMA) complications in 12 patients were observed following treatment discontinuation, and 2 severe TMA complications occurred in an additional 2 patients that received a reduced dosing regimen of Soliris outside of the approved dosing regimen (See Section 4.2). Severe TMA complications occurred in patients regardless of whether they had an identified genetic mutation, high risk polymorphism or auto-antibody. Additional serious medical complications occurred in these patients, including severe worsening of kidney function, disease-related hospitalization and progression to end stage renal disease requiring dialysis. Despite Soliris re-initiation following discontinuation, progression to end stage renal disease occurred in one patient.

If aHUS patients discontinue treatment with Soliris, they should be monitored closely for signs and symptoms of severe thrombotic microangiopathy complications. Monitoring may be insufficient to predict or prevent severe thrombotic microangiopathy complications in patients with aHUS after discontinuation of Soliris.
Severe thrombotic microangiopathy complications post discontinuation can be identified by (i) any two, or repeated measurement of any one, of the following: a decrease in platelet count of 25% or more as compared to either baseline or to peak platelet count during Soliris treatment; an increase in serum creatinine of 25% or more as compared to baseline or to nadir during Soliris treatment; or, an increase in serum LDH of 25% or more as compared to baseline or to nadir during Soliris treatment;
or (ii) any one of the following: a change in mental status or seizures; angina or dyspnoea; or thrombosis.

If severe thrombotic microangiopathy complications occur after Soliris discontinuation, consider reinstitution of Soliris treatment, supportive care with PE/PI, or appropriate organ-specific supportive measures including renal support with dialysis, respiratory support with mechanical ventilation or anticoagulation.

Treatment discontinuation for refractory gMG:
Use of Soliris in refractory gMG treatment has been studied only in the setting of chronic administration. Patients who discontinue Soliris treatment should be carefully monitored for signs and symptoms of disease exacerbation.

Treatment discontinuation for NMOSD:
Use of Soliris in NMOSD treatment has been studied only in the setting of chronic administration and the effect of Soliris discontinuation has not been characterized. Patients who discontinue Soliris treatment should be carefully monitored for signs and symptoms of potential NMOSD relapse.

Educational materials
All physicians who intend to prescribe Soliris must ensure they are familiar with the physician’s guide to prescribing. Physicians must discuss the benefits and risks of Soliris therapy with patients and provide them with a patient information brochure and a patient safety card.
Patients should be instructed that if they develop fever, headache accompanied with fever and/or stiff neck or sensitivity to light, they should immediately seek medical care as these signs may be indicative of meningococcal infection.


Sodium content:
Once diluted with sodium chloride 9 mg/mL (0.9%) solution for injection, this medicinal product contains 0.88 g sodium per 240 mL at the maximal dose, equivalent to 44.0% of the WHO recommended maximum daily intake of 2 g sodium for an adult.
Once diluted with sodium chloride 4.5 mg/mL (0.45%) solution for injection, this medicinal product contains 0.67 g sodium per 240 mL at the maximal dose, equivalent to 33.5% of the WHO recommended maximum daily intake of 2 g sodium for an adult.

Effects on Driving

4.7   Effects on ability to drive and use machines

Soliris has no or negligible influence on the ability to drive and use machines.