ENTECAVIR
Generic: ENTECAVIR
Basic Information
Manufacturer
Yaopharma Co., Ltd.
Product Type
HUMAN PRESCRIPTION DRUG
Route of Administration
ORAL
FDA Set ID
73dea2a4-a596-477f-b66d-5a80dd019837
Indications & Usage
1 INDICATIONS AND USAGE Entecavir is indicated for the treatment of chronic hepatitis B virus infection in adults and pediatric patients 2 years of age and older with evidence of active viral replication and either evidence of persistent elevations in serum aminotransferases (ALT or AST) or histologically active disease Entecavir is a hepatitis B virus nucleoside analogue reverse transcriptase inhibitor indicated for the treatment of chronic hepatitis B virus infection in adults and children at least 2 years of age with evidence of active viral replication and either evidence of persistent elevations in serum aminotransferases (ALT or AST) or histologically active disease.
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Adverse Reactions
6 ADVERSE REACTIONS The following adverse reactions are discussed in other sections of the labeling: Exacerbations of hepatitis after discontinuation of treatment [see Boxed Warning , Warnings and Precautions (5.1) ] .
Lactic acidosis and severe hepatomegaly with steatosis [see Boxed Warning , Warnings and Precautions (5.3) ] .
In adults, the most common adverse reactions (≥ 3%, all severity grades) are headache, fatigue, dizziness, and nausea.
The adverse reactions observed in pediatric patients were consistent with those observed in adults.
(6.1) To report SUSPECTED ADVERSE REACTIONS, contact Yaopharma at 1-609-285-5783 or FDA at 1-800-FDA-1088 or www.fda.gov/medwatch 6.1 Clinical 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.
Clinical Trial Experience in Adults Compensated Liver Disease Assessment of adverse reactions is based on four studies (AI463014, AI463022, AI463026, and AI463027) in which 1720 subjects with chronic hepatitis B virus infection and compensated liver disease received double-blind treatment with entecavir 0.5 mg/day (n = 679), entecavir 1 mg/day (n = 183), or lamivudine (n=858) for up to 2 years.
Median duration of therapy was 69 weeks for entecavir-treated subjects and 63 weeks for lamivudine-treated subjects in Studies AI463022 and AI463027 and 73 weeks for entecavir-treated subjects and 51 weeks for lamivudine-treated subjects in Studies AI463026 and AI463014.
The safety profiles of entecavir and lamivudine were comparable in these studies.
The most common adverse reactions of any severity (≥ 3%) with at least a possible relation to study drug for entecavir-treated subjects were headache, fatigue, dizziness, and nausea.
The most common adverse reactions among lamivudine-treated subjects were headache, fatigue, and dizziness.
One percent of entecavir-treated subjects in these four studies compared with 4% of lamivudine-treated subjects discontinued for adverse events or abnormal laboratory test results.
Clinical adverse reactions of moderate-severe intensity and considered at least possibly related to treatment occurring during therapy in four clinical studies in which entecavir was compared with lamivudine are presented in Table 3.
Table 3: Clinical Adverse Reactions a of Moderate-Severe Intensity (Grades 2–4) Reported in Four Entecavir Clinical Trials Through 2 Years Nucleoside-Inhibitor-Naïve b Lamivudine-Refractory c Body System/ Adverse Reaction Entecavir 0.5 mg n=679 Lamivudine 100 mg n = 668 Entecavir 1 mg n = 183 Lamivudine 100 mg n = 190 a Includes events of possible, probable, certain, or unknown relationship to treatment regimen.
b Studies AI463022 and AI463027.
c Includes Study AI463026 and the entecavir 1 mg and lamivudine treatment arms of Study AI463014, a Phase 2 multinational, randomized, double-blind study of three doses of entecavir (0.1, 0.5, and 1 mg) once daily versus continued lamivudine 100 mg once daily for up to 52 weeks in subjects who experienced recurrent viremia on lamivudine therapy.
Any Grade 2–4 adverse reaction a 15% 18% 22% 23% Gastrointestinal Diarrhea <1% 0 1% 0 Dyspepsia <1% <1% 1% 0 Nausea <1% <1% <1% 2% Vomiting <1% <1% <1% 0 General Fatigue 1% 1% 3% 3% Nervous System Headache 2% 2% 4% 1% Dizziness <1% <1% 0 1% Somnolence <1% <1% 0 0 Psychiatric Insomnia <1% <1% 0 <1% Laboratory Abnormalities Frequencies of selected treatment-emergent laboratory abnormalities reported during therapy in four clinical trials of entecavir compared with lamivudine are listed in Table 4.
Table 4: Selected Treatment-Emergent a Laboratory Abnormalities Reported in Four Entecavir Clinical Trials Through 2 Years Nucleoside-Inhibitor-Naïve b Lamivudine-Refractory c Test Entecavir 0.5 mg n=679 Lamivudine 100 mg n = 668 Entecavir 1 mg n = 183 Lamivudine 100 mg n = 190 a On-treatment value worsened from baseline to Grade 3 or Grade 4 for all parameters except albumin (any on-treatment value <2.5 g/dL), confirmed creatinine increase ≥0.5 mg/dL, and ALT >10 × ULN and >2 × baseline.
b Studies AI463022 and AI463027.
c Includes Study AI463026 and the entecavir 1 mg and lamivudine treatment arms of Study AI463014, a Phase 2 multinational, randomized, double-blind study of three doses of entecavir (0.1, 0.5, and 1 mg) once daily versus continued lamivudine 100 mg once daily for up to 52 weeks in subjects who experienced recurrent viremia on lamivudine therapy.
d Includes hematology, routine chemistries, renal and liver function tests, pancreatic enzymes, and urinalysis.
e Grade 3 = 3+, large, ≥500 mg/dL; Grade 4 = 4+, marked, severe.
f Grade 3 = 3+, large; Grade 4 = ≥4+, marked, severe, many.
ULN=upper limit of normal.
Any Grade 3–4 laboratory abnormality d 35% 36% 37% 45% ALT >10 × ULN and >2 × baseline 2% 4% 2% 11% ALT >5 × ULN 11% 16% 12% 24% Albumin <2.5 g/dL <1% <1% 0 2% Total bilirubin >2.5 × ULN 2% 2% 3% 2% Lipase ≥2.1 × ULN 7% 6% 7% 7% Creatinine >3 × ULN 0 0 0 0 Confirmed creatinine increase ≥0.5 mg/dL 1% 1% 2% 1% Hyperglycemia, fasting >250 mg/dL 2% 1% 3% 1% Glycosuria e 4% 3% 4% 6% Hematuria f 9% 10% 9% 6% Platelets <50,000/mm 3 <1% <1% <1% <1% Among entecavir-treated subjects in these studies, on-treatment ALT elevations greater than 10 times the upper limit of normal (ULN) and greater than 2 times baseline generally resolved with continued treatment.
A majority of these exacerbations were associated with a ≥ 2 log 10 /mL reduction in viral load that preceded or coincided with the ALT elevation.
Periodic monitoring of hepatic function is recommended during treatment.
Exacerbations of Hepatitis after Discontinuation of Treatment An exacerbation of hepatitis or ALT flare was defined as ALT greater than 10 times ULN and greater than 2 times the subject’s reference level (minimum of the baseline or last measurement at end of dosing).
For all subjects who discontinued treatment (regardless of reason), Table 5 presents the proportion of subjects in each study who experienced post-treatment ALT flares.
In these studies, a subset of subjects was allowed to discontinue treatment at or after 52 weeks if they achieved a protocol-defined response to therapy.
If entecavir is discontinued without regard to treatment response, the rate of post-treatment flares could be higher.
[See Warnings and Precautions (5.1) .] Table 5: Exacerbations of Hepatitis During Off-Treatment Follow-up, Subjects in Studies AI463022, AI463027, and AI463026 Subjects with ALT Elevations >10 × ULN and >2 × Reference a Entecavir Lamivudine a Reference is the minimum of the baseline or last measurement at end of dosing.
Median time to off-treatment exacerbation was 23 weeks for entecavir-treated subjects and 10 weeks for lamivudine-treated subjects.
Nucleoside-inhibitor-naïve HBeAg-positive 4/174 (2%) 13/147 (9%) HBeAg-negative 24/302 (8%) 30/270 (11%) Lamivudine-refractory 6/52 (12%) 0/16 Decompensated Liver Disease Study AI463048 was a randomized, open-label study of entecavir 1 mg once daily versus adefovir dipivoxil 10 mg once daily given for up to 48 weeks in adult subjects with chronic HBV infection and evidence of hepatic decompensation, defined as a Child-Turcotte-Pugh (CTP) score of 7 or higher [see Clinical Studies (14.1) ] .
Among the 102 subjects receiving entecavir, the most common treatment-emergent adverse events of any severity, regardless of causality, occurring through Week 48 were peripheral edema (16%), ascites (15%), pyrexia (14%), hepatic encephalopathy (10%), and upper respiratory infection (10%).
Clinical adverse reactions not listed in Table 3 that were observed through Week 48 include blood bicarbonate decreased (2%) and renal failure (< 1%).
Eighteen of 102 (18%) subjects treated with entecavir and 18/89 (20%) subjects treated with adefovir dipivoxil died during the first 48 weeks of therapy.
The majority of deaths (11 in the entecavir group and 16 in the adefovir dipivoxil group) were due to liver-related causes such as hepatic failure, hepatic encephalopathy, hepatorenal syndrome, and upper gastrointestinal hemorrhage.
The rate of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) through Week 48 was 6% (6/102) for subjects treated with entecavir and 8% (7/89) for subjects treated with adefovir dipivoxil.
Five percent of subjects in either treatment arm discontinued therapy due to an adverse event through Week 48.
No subject in either treatment arm experienced an on-treatment hepatic flare (ALT >2 × baseline and >10 × ULN) through Week 48.
Eleven of 102 (11%) subjects treated with entecavir and 11/89 (13%) subjects treated with adefovir dipivoxil had a confirmed increase in serum creatinine of 0.5 mg/dL through Week 48.
HIV/HBV Co-infected The safety profile of entecavir 1 mg (n = 51) in HIV/HBV co-infected subjects enrolled in Study AI463038 was similar to that of placebo (n = 17) through 24 weeks of blinded treatment and similar to that seen in non-HIV infected subjects [see Warnings and Precautions (5.2) ] .
Liver Transplant Recipients Among 65 subjects receiving entecavir in an open-label, post-liver transplant trial [see Use in Specific Populations (8.8) ] , the frequency and nature of adverse events were consistent with those expected in patients who have received a liver transplant and the known safety profile of entecavir.
Clinical Trial Experience in Pediatric Subjects The safety of entecavir in pediatric subjects 2 to less than 18 years of age is based on two ongoing clinical trials in subjects with chronic HBV infection (one Phase 2 pharmacokinetic trial [AI463028] and one Phase 3 trial [AI463189]).
These trials provide experience in 168 HBeAg-positive subjects treated with entecavir for a median duration of 72 weeks.
The adverse reactions observed in pediatric subjects who received treatment with entecavir were consistent with those observed in clinical trials of entecavir in adults.
Adverse drug reactions reported in greater than 1% of pediatric subjects included abdominal pain, rash events, poor palatability (“product taste abnormal”), nausea, diarrhea, and vomiting.
6.2 Postmarketing Experience The following adverse reactions have been reported during postmarketing use of entecavir.
Because these reactions were reported voluntarily from a population of unknown size, it is not possible to reliably estimate their frequency or establish a causal relationship to entecavir exposure.
Immune system disorders: Anaphylactoid reaction.
Metabolism and nutrition disorders: Lactic acidosis.
Hepatobiliary disorders: Increased transaminases.
Skin and subcutaneous tissue disorders: Alopecia, rash.
6.1 Clinical 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.
Clinical Trial Experience in Adults Compensated Liver Disease Assessment of adverse reactions is based on four studies (AI463014, AI463022, AI463026, and AI463027) in which 1720 subjects with chronic hepatitis B virus infection and compensated liver disease received double-blind treatment with entecavir 0.5 mg/day (n = 679), entecavir 1 mg/day (n = 183), or lamivudine (n=858) for up to 2 years.
Median duration of therapy was 69 weeks for entecavir-treated subjects and 63 weeks for lamivudine-treated subjects in Studies AI463022 and AI463027 and 73 weeks for entecavir-treated subjects and 51 weeks for lamivudine-treated subjects in Studies AI463026 and AI463014.
The safety profiles of entecavir and lamivudine were comparable in these studies.
The most common adverse reactions of any severity (≥ 3%) with at least a possible relation to study drug for entecavir-treated subjects were headache, fatigue, dizziness, and nausea.
The most common adverse reactions among lamivudine-treated subjects were headache, fatigue, and dizziness.
One percent of entecavir-treated subjects in these four studies compared with 4% of lamivudine-treated subjects discontinued for adverse events or abnormal laboratory test results.
Clinical adverse reactions of moderate-severe intensity and considered at least possibly related to treatment occurring during therapy in four clinical studies in which entecavir was compared with lamivudine are presented in Table 3.
Table 3: Clinical Adverse Reactions a of Moderate-Severe Intensity (Grades 2–4) Reported in Four Entecavir Clinical Trials Through 2 Years Nucleoside-Inhibitor-Naïve b Lamivudine-Refractory c Body System/ Adverse Reaction Entecavir 0.5 mg n=679 Lamivudine 100 mg n = 668 Entecavir 1 mg n = 183 Lamivudine 100 mg n = 190 a Includes events of possible, probable, certain, or unknown relationship to treatment regimen.
b Studies AI463022 and AI463027.
c Includes Study AI463026 and the entecavir 1 mg and lamivudine treatment arms of Study AI463014, a Phase 2 multinational, randomized, double-blind study of three doses of entecavir (0.1, 0.5, and 1 mg) once daily versus continued lamivudine 100 mg once daily for up to 52 weeks in subjects who experienced recurrent viremia on lamivudine therapy.
Any Grade 2–4 adverse reaction a 15% 18% 22% 23% Gastrointestinal Diarrhea <1% 0 1% 0 Dyspepsia <1% <1% 1% 0 Nausea <1% <1% <1% 2% Vomiting <1% <1% <1% 0 General Fatigue 1% 1% 3% 3% Nervous System Headache 2% 2% 4% 1% Dizziness <1% <1% 0 1% Somnolence <1% <1% 0 0 Psychiatric Insomnia <1% <1% 0 <1% Laboratory Abnormalities Frequencies of selected treatment-emergent laboratory abnormalities reported during therapy in four clinical trials of entecavir compared with lamivudine are listed in Table 4.
Table 4: Selected Treatment-Emergent a Laboratory Abnormalities Reported in Four Entecavir Clinical Trials Through 2 Years Nucleoside-Inhibitor-Naïve b Lamivudine-Refractory c Test Entecavir 0.5 mg n=679 Lamivudine 100 mg n = 668 Entecavir 1 mg n = 183 Lamivudine 100 mg n = 190 a On-treatment value worsened from baseline to Grade 3 or Grade 4 for all parameters except albumin (any on-treatment value <2.5 g/dL), confirmed creatinine increase ≥0.5 mg/dL, and ALT >10 × ULN and >2 × baseline.
b Studies AI463022 and AI463027.
c Includes Study AI463026 and the entecavir 1 mg and lamivudine treatment arms of Study AI463014, a Phase 2 multinational, randomized, double-blind study of three doses of entecavir (0.1, 0.5, and 1 mg) once daily versus continued lamivudine 100 mg once daily for up to 52 weeks in subjects who experienced recurrent viremia on lamivudine therapy.
d Includes hematology, routine chemistries, renal and liver function tests, pancreatic enzymes, and urinalysis.
e Grade 3 = 3+, large, ≥500 mg/dL; Grade 4 = 4+, marked, severe.
f Grade 3 = 3+, large; Grade 4 = ≥4+, marked, severe, many.
ULN=upper limit of normal.
Any Grade 3–4 laboratory abnormality d 35% 36% 37% 45% ALT >10 × ULN and >2 × baseline 2% 4% 2% 11% ALT >5 × ULN 11% 16% 12% 24% Albumin <2.5 g/dL <1% <1% 0 2% Total bilirubin >2.5 × ULN 2% 2% 3% 2% Lipase ≥2.1 × ULN 7% 6% 7% 7% Creatinine >3 × ULN 0 0 0 0 Confirmed creatinine increase ≥0.5 mg/dL 1% 1% 2% 1% Hyperglycemia, fasting >250 mg/dL 2% 1% 3% 1% Glycosuria e 4% 3% 4% 6% Hematuria f 9% 10% 9% 6% Platelets <50,000/mm 3 <1% <1% <1% <1% Among entecavir-treated subjects in these studies, on-treatment ALT elevations greater than 10 times the upper limit of normal (ULN) and greater than 2 times baseline generally resolved with continued treatment.
A majority of these exacerbations were associated with a ≥ 2 log 10 /mL reduction in viral load that preceded or coincided with the ALT elevation.
Periodic monitoring of hepatic function is recommended during treatment.
Exacerbations of Hepatitis after Discontinuation of Treatment An exacerbation of hepatitis or ALT flare was defined as ALT greater than 10 times ULN and greater than 2 times the subject’s reference level (minimum of the baseline or last measurement at end of dosing).
For all subjects who discontinued treatment (regardless of reason), Table 5 presents the proportion of subjects in each study who experienced post-treatment ALT flares.
In these studies, a subset of subjects was allowed to discontinue treatment at or after 52 weeks if they achieved a protocol-defined response to therapy.
If entecavir is discontinued without regard to treatment response, the rate of post-treatment flares could be higher.
[See Warnings and Precautions (5.1) .] Table 5: Exacerbations of Hepatitis During Off-Treatment Follow-up, Subjects in Studies AI463022, AI463027, and AI463026 Subjects with ALT Elevations >10 × ULN and >2 × Reference a Entecavir Lamivudine a Reference is the minimum of the baseline or last measurement at end of dosing.
Median time to off-treatment exacerbation was 23 weeks for entecavir-treated subjects and 10 weeks for lamivudine-treated subjects.
Nucleoside-inhibitor-naïve HBeAg-positive 4/174 (2%) 13/147 (9%) HBeAg-negative 24/302 (8%) 30/270 (11%) Lamivudine-refractory 6/52 (12%) 0/16 Decompensated Liver Disease Study AI463048 was a randomized, open-label study of entecavir 1 mg once daily versus adefovir dipivoxil 10 mg once daily given for up to 48 weeks in adult subjects with chronic HBV infection and evidence of hepatic decompensation, defined as a Child-Turcotte-Pugh (CTP) score of 7 or higher [see Clinical Studies (14.1) ] .
Among the 102 subjects receiving entecavir, the most common treatment-emergent adverse events of any severity, regardless of causality, occurring through Week 48 were peripheral edema (16%), ascites (15%), pyrexia (14%), hepatic encephalopathy (10%), and upper respiratory infection (10%).
Clinical adverse reactions not listed in Table 3 that were observed through Week 48 include blood bicarbonate decreased (2%) and renal failure (< 1%).
Eighteen of 102 (18%) subjects treated with entecavir and 18/89 (20%) subjects treated with adefovir dipivoxil died during the first 48 weeks of therapy.
The majority of deaths (11 in the entecavir group and 16 in the adefovir dipivoxil group) were due to liver-related causes such as hepatic failure, hepatic encephalopathy, hepatorenal syndrome, and upper gastrointestinal hemorrhage.
The rate of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) through Week 48 was 6% (6/102) for subjects treated with entecavir and 8% (7/89) for subjects treated with adefovir dipivoxil.
Five percent of subjects in either treatment arm discontinued therapy due to an adverse event through Week 48.
No subject in either treatment arm experienced an on-treatment hepatic flare (ALT >2 × baseline and >10 × ULN) through Week 48.
Eleven of 102 (11%) subjects treated with entecavir and 11/89 (13%) subjects treated with adefovir dipivoxil had a confirmed increase in serum creatinine of 0.5 mg/dL through Week 48.
HIV/HBV Co-infected The safety profile of entecavir 1 mg (n = 51) in HIV/HBV co-infected subjects enrolled in Study AI463038 was similar to that of placebo (n = 17) through 24 weeks of blinded treatment and similar to that seen in non-HIV infected subjects [see Warnings and Precautions (5.2) ] .
Liver Transplant Recipients Among 65 subjects receiving entecavir in an open-label, post-liver transplant trial [see Use in Specific Populations (8.8) ] , the frequency and nature of adverse events were consistent with those expected in patients who have received a liver transplant and the known safety profile of entecavir.
Clinical Trial Experience in Pediatric Subjects The safety of entecavir in pediatric subjects 2 to less than 18 years of age is based on two ongoing clinical trials in subjects with chronic HBV infection (one Phase 2 pharmacokinetic trial [AI463028] and one Phase 3 trial [AI463189]).
These trials provide experience in 168 HBeAg-positive subjects treated with entecavir for a median duration of 72 weeks.
The adverse reactions observed in pediatric subjects who received treatment with entecavir were consistent with those observed in clinical trials of entecavir in adults.
Adverse drug reactions reported in greater than 1% of pediatric subjects included abdominal pain, rash events, poor palatability (“product taste abnormal”), nausea, diarrhea, and vomiting.
Clinical Trial Experience in Adults Compensated Liver Disease Assessment of adverse reactions is based on four studies (AI463014, AI463022, AI463026, and AI463027) in which 1720 subjects with chronic hepatitis B virus infection and compensated liver disease received double-blind treatment with entecavir 0.5 mg/day (n = 679), entecavir 1 mg/day (n = 183), or lamivudine (n=858) for up to 2 years.
Median duration of therapy was 69 weeks for entecavir-treated subjects and 63 weeks for lamivudine-treated subjects in Studies AI463022 and AI463027 and 73 weeks for entecavir-treated subjects and 51 weeks for lamivudine-treated subjects in Studies AI463026 and AI463014.
The safety profiles of entecavir and lamivudine were comparable in these studies.
The most common adverse reactions of any severity (≥ 3%) with at least a possible relation to study drug for entecavir-treated subjects were headache, fatigue, dizziness, and nausea.
The most common adverse reactions among lamivudine-treated subjects were headache, fatigue, and dizziness.
One percent of entecavir-treated subjects in these four studies compared with 4% of lamivudine-treated subjects discontinued for adverse events or abnormal laboratory test results.
Clinical adverse reactions of moderate-severe intensity and considered at least possibly related to treatment occurring during therapy in four clinical studies in which entecavir was compared with lamivudine are presented in Table 3.
Table 3: Clinical Adverse Reactions a of Moderate-Severe Intensity (Grades 2–4) Reported in Four Entecavir Clinical Trials Through 2 Years Nucleoside-Inhibitor-Naïve b Lamivudine-Refractory c Body System/ Adverse Reaction Entecavir 0.5 mg n=679 Lamivudine 100 mg n = 668 Entecavir 1 mg n = 183 Lamivudine 100 mg n = 190 a Includes events of possible, probable, certain, or unknown relationship to treatment regimen.
b Studies AI463022 and AI463027.
c Includes Study AI463026 and the entecavir 1 mg and lamivudine treatment arms of Study AI463014, a Phase 2 multinational, randomized, double-blind study of three doses of entecavir (0.1, 0.5, and 1 mg) once daily versus continued lamivudine 100 mg once daily for up to 52 weeks in subjects who experienced recurrent viremia on lamivudine therapy.
Any Grade 2–4 adverse reaction a 15% 18% 22% 23% Gastrointestinal Diarrhea <1% 0 1% 0 Dyspepsia <1% <1% 1% 0 Nausea <1% <1% <1% 2% Vomiting <1% <1% <1% 0 General Fatigue 1% 1% 3% 3% Nervous System Headache 2% 2% 4% 1% Dizziness <1% <1% 0 1% Somnolence <1% <1% 0 0 Psychiatric Insomnia <1% <1% 0 <1% Laboratory Abnormalities Frequencies of selected treatment-emergent laboratory abnormalities reported during therapy in four clinical trials of entecavir compared with lamivudine are listed in Table 4.
Table 4: Selected Treatment-Emergent a Laboratory Abnormalities Reported in Four Entecavir Clinical Trials Through 2 Years Nucleoside-Inhibitor-Naïve b Lamivudine-Refractory c Test Entecavir 0.5 mg n=679 Lamivudine 100 mg n = 668 Entecavir 1 mg n = 183 Lamivudine 100 mg n = 190 a On-treatment value worsened from baseline to Grade 3 or Grade 4 for all parameters except albumin (any on-treatment value <2.5 g/dL), confirmed creatinine increase ≥0.5 mg/dL, and ALT >10 × ULN and >2 × baseline.
b Studies AI463022 and AI463027.
c Includes Study AI463026 and the entecavir 1 mg and lamivudine treatment arms of Study AI463014, a Phase 2 multinational, randomized, double-blind study of three doses of entecavir (0.1, 0.5, and 1 mg) once daily versus continued lamivudine 100 mg once daily for up to 52 weeks in subjects who experienced recurrent viremia on lamivudine therapy.
d Includes hematology, routine chemistries, renal and liver function tests, pancreatic enzymes, and urinalysis.
e Grade 3 = 3+, large, ≥500 mg/dL; Grade 4 = 4+, marked, severe.
f Grade 3 = 3+, large; Grade 4 = ≥4+, marked, severe, many.
ULN=upper limit of normal.
Any Grade 3–4 laboratory abnormality d 35% 36% 37% 45% ALT >10 × ULN and >2 × baseline 2% 4% 2% 11% ALT >5 × ULN 11% 16% 12% 24% Albumin <2.5 g/dL <1% <1% 0 2% Total bilirubin >2.5 × ULN 2% 2% 3% 2% Lipase ≥2.1 × ULN 7% 6% 7% 7% Creatinine >3 × ULN 0 0 0 0 Confirmed creatinine increase ≥0.5 mg/dL 1% 1% 2% 1% Hyperglycemia, fasting >250 mg/dL 2% 1% 3% 1% Glycosuria e 4% 3% 4% 6% Hematuria f 9% 10% 9% 6% Platelets <50,000/mm 3 <1% <1% <1% <1% Among entecavir-treated subjects in these studies, on-treatment ALT elevations greater than 10 times the upper limit of normal (ULN) and greater than 2 times baseline generally resolved with continued treatment.
A majority of these exacerbations were associated with a ≥ 2 log 10 /mL reduction in viral load that preceded or coincided with the ALT elevation.
Periodic monitoring of hepatic function is recommended during treatment.
Exacerbations of Hepatitis after Discontinuation of Treatment An exacerbation of hepatitis or ALT flare was defined as ALT greater than 10 times ULN and greater than 2 times the subject’s reference level (minimum of the baseline or last measurement at end of dosing).
For all subjects who discontinued treatment (regardless of reason), Table 5 presents the proportion of subjects in each study who experienced post-treatment ALT flares.
In these studies, a subset of subjects was allowed to discontinue treatment at or after 52 weeks if they achieved a protocol-defined response to therapy.
If entecavir is discontinued without regard to treatment response, the rate of post-treatment flares could be higher.
[See Warnings and Precautions (5.1) .] Table 5: Exacerbations of Hepatitis During Off-Treatment Follow-up, Subjects in Studies AI463022, AI463027, and AI463026 Subjects with ALT Elevations >10 × ULN and >2 × Reference a Entecavir Lamivudine a Reference is the minimum of the baseline or last measurement at end of dosing.
Median time to off-treatment exacerbation was 23 weeks for entecavir-treated subjects and 10 weeks for lamivudine-treated subjects.
Nucleoside-inhibitor-naïve HBeAg-positive 4/174 (2%) 13/147 (9%) HBeAg-negative 24/302 (8%) 30/270 (11%) Lamivudine-refractory 6/52 (12%) 0/16
Laboratory Abnormalities Frequencies of selected treatment-emergent laboratory abnormalities reported during therapy in four clinical trials of entecavir compared with lamivudine are listed in Table 4.
Table 4: Selected Treatment-Emergent a Laboratory Abnormalities Reported in Four Entecavir Clinical Trials Through 2 Years Nucleoside-Inhibitor-Naïve b Lamivudine-Refractory c Test Entecavir 0.5 mg n=679 Lamivudine 100 mg n = 668 Entecavir 1 mg n = 183 Lamivudine 100 mg n = 190 a On-treatment value worsened from baseline to Grade 3 or Grade 4 for all parameters except albumin (any on-treatment value <2.5 g/dL), confirmed creatinine increase ≥0.5 mg/dL, and ALT >10 × ULN and >2 × baseline.
b Studies AI463022 and AI463027.
c Includes Study AI463026 and the entecavir 1 mg and lamivudine treatment arms of Study AI463014, a Phase 2 multinational, randomized, double-blind study of three doses of entecavir (0.1, 0.5, and 1 mg) once daily versus continued lamivudine 100 mg once daily for up to 52 weeks in subjects who experienced recurrent viremia on lamivudine therapy.
d Includes hematology, routine chemistries, renal and liver function tests, pancreatic enzymes, and urinalysis.
e Grade 3 = 3+, large, ≥500 mg/dL; Grade 4 = 4+, marked, severe.
f Grade 3 = 3+, large; Grade 4 = ≥4+, marked, severe, many.
ULN=upper limit of normal.
Any Grade 3–4 laboratory abnormality d 35% 36% 37% 45% ALT >10 × ULN and >2 × baseline 2% 4% 2% 11% ALT >5 × ULN 11% 16% 12% 24% Albumin <2.5 g/dL <1% <1% 0 2% Total bilirubin >2.5 × ULN 2% 2% 3% 2% Lipase ≥2.1 × ULN 7% 6% 7% 7% Creatinine >3 × ULN 0 0 0 0 Confirmed creatinine increase ≥0.5 mg/dL 1% 1% 2% 1% Hyperglycemia, fasting >250 mg/dL 2% 1% 3% 1% Glycosuria e 4% 3% 4% 6% Hematuria f 9% 10% 9% 6% Platelets <50,000/mm 3 <1% <1% <1% <1% Among entecavir-treated subjects in these studies, on-treatment ALT elevations greater than 10 times the upper limit of normal (ULN) and greater than 2 times baseline generally resolved with continued treatment.
A majority of these exacerbations were associated with a ≥ 2 log 10 /mL reduction in viral load that preceded or coincided with the ALT elevation.
Periodic monitoring of hepatic function is recommended during treatment.
Exacerbations of Hepatitis after Discontinuation of Treatment An exacerbation of hepatitis or ALT flare was defined as ALT greater than 10 times ULN and greater than 2 times the subject’s reference level (minimum of the baseline or last measurement at end of dosing).
For all subjects who discontinued treatment (regardless of reason), Table 5 presents the proportion of subjects in each study who experienced post-treatment ALT flares.
In these studies, a subset of subjects was allowed to discontinue treatment at or after 52 weeks if they achieved a protocol-defined response to therapy.
If entecavir is discontinued without regard to treatment response, the rate of post-treatment flares could be higher.
[See Warnings and Precautions (5.1) .] Table 5: Exacerbations of Hepatitis During Off-Treatment Follow-up, Subjects in Studies AI463022, AI463027, and AI463026 Subjects with ALT Elevations >10 × ULN and >2 × Reference a Entecavir Lamivudine a Reference is the minimum of the baseline or last measurement at end of dosing.
Median time to off-treatment exacerbation was 23 weeks for entecavir-treated subjects and 10 weeks for lamivudine-treated subjects.
Nucleoside-inhibitor-naïve HBeAg-positive 4/174 (2%) 13/147 (9%) HBeAg-negative 24/302 (8%) 30/270 (11%) Lamivudine-refractory 6/52 (12%) 0/16
Decompensated Liver Disease Study AI463048 was a randomized, open-label study of entecavir 1 mg once daily versus adefovir dipivoxil 10 mg once daily given for up to 48 weeks in adult subjects with chronic HBV infection and evidence of hepatic decompensation, defined as a Child-Turcotte-Pugh (CTP) score of 7 or higher [see Clinical Studies (14.1) ] .
Among the 102 subjects receiving entecavir, the most common treatment-emergent adverse events of any severity, regardless of causality, occurring through Week 48 were peripheral edema (16%), ascites (15%), pyrexia (14%), hepatic encephalopathy (10%), and upper respiratory infection (10%).
Clinical adverse reactions not listed in Table 3 that were observed through Week 48 include blood bicarbonate decreased (2%) and renal failure (< 1%).
Eighteen of 102 (18%) subjects treated with entecavir and 18/89 (20%) subjects treated with adefovir dipivoxil died during the first 48 weeks of therapy.
The majority of deaths (11 in the entecavir group and 16 in the adefovir dipivoxil group) were due to liver-related causes such as hepatic failure, hepatic encephalopathy, hepatorenal syndrome, and upper gastrointestinal hemorrhage.
The rate of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) through Week 48 was 6% (6/102) for subjects treated with entecavir and 8% (7/89) for subjects treated with adefovir dipivoxil.
Five percent of subjects in either treatment arm discontinued therapy due to an adverse event through Week 48.
No subject in either treatment arm experienced an on-treatment hepatic flare (ALT >2 × baseline and >10 × ULN) through Week 48.
Eleven of 102 (11%) subjects treated with entecavir and 11/89 (13%) subjects treated with adefovir dipivoxil had a confirmed increase in serum creatinine of 0.5 mg/dL through Week 48.
HIV/HBV Co-infected The safety profile of entecavir 1 mg (n = 51) in HIV/HBV co-infected subjects enrolled in Study AI463038 was similar to that of placebo (n = 17) through 24 weeks of blinded treatment and similar to that seen in non-HIV infected subjects [see Warnings and Precautions (5.2) ] .
Liver Transplant Recipients Among 65 subjects receiving entecavir in an open-label, post-liver transplant trial [see Use in Specific Populations (8.8) ] , the frequency and nature of adverse events were consistent with those expected in patients who have received a liver transplant and the known safety profile of entecavir.
Clinical Trial Experience in Pediatric Subjects The safety of entecavir in pediatric subjects 2 to less than 18 years of age is based on two ongoing clinical trials in subjects with chronic HBV infection (one Phase 2 pharmacokinetic trial [AI463028] and one Phase 3 trial [AI463189]).
These trials provide experience in 168 HBeAg-positive subjects treated with entecavir for a median duration of 72 weeks.
The adverse reactions observed in pediatric subjects who received treatment with entecavir were consistent with those observed in clinical trials of entecavir in adults.
Adverse drug reactions reported in greater than 1% of pediatric subjects included abdominal pain, rash events, poor palatability (“product taste abnormal”), nausea, diarrhea, and vomiting.
6.2 Postmarketing Experience The following adverse reactions have been reported during postmarketing use of entecavir.
Because these reactions were reported voluntarily from a population of unknown size, it is not possible to reliably estimate their frequency or establish a causal relationship to entecavir exposure.
Immune system disorders: Anaphylactoid reaction.
Metabolism and nutrition disorders: Lactic acidosis.
Hepatobiliary disorders: Increased transaminases.
Skin and subcutaneous tissue disorders: Alopecia, rash.
Lactic acidosis and severe hepatomegaly with steatosis [see Boxed Warning , Warnings and Precautions (5.3) ] .
In adults, the most common adverse reactions (≥ 3%, all severity grades) are headache, fatigue, dizziness, and nausea.
The adverse reactions observed in pediatric patients were consistent with those observed in adults.
(6.1) To report SUSPECTED ADVERSE REACTIONS, contact Yaopharma at 1-609-285-5783 or FDA at 1-800-FDA-1088 or www.fda.gov/medwatch 6.1 Clinical 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.
Clinical Trial Experience in Adults Compensated Liver Disease Assessment of adverse reactions is based on four studies (AI463014, AI463022, AI463026, and AI463027) in which 1720 subjects with chronic hepatitis B virus infection and compensated liver disease received double-blind treatment with entecavir 0.5 mg/day (n = 679), entecavir 1 mg/day (n = 183), or lamivudine (n=858) for up to 2 years.
Median duration of therapy was 69 weeks for entecavir-treated subjects and 63 weeks for lamivudine-treated subjects in Studies AI463022 and AI463027 and 73 weeks for entecavir-treated subjects and 51 weeks for lamivudine-treated subjects in Studies AI463026 and AI463014.
The safety profiles of entecavir and lamivudine were comparable in these studies.
The most common adverse reactions of any severity (≥ 3%) with at least a possible relation to study drug for entecavir-treated subjects were headache, fatigue, dizziness, and nausea.
The most common adverse reactions among lamivudine-treated subjects were headache, fatigue, and dizziness.
One percent of entecavir-treated subjects in these four studies compared with 4% of lamivudine-treated subjects discontinued for adverse events or abnormal laboratory test results.
Clinical adverse reactions of moderate-severe intensity and considered at least possibly related to treatment occurring during therapy in four clinical studies in which entecavir was compared with lamivudine are presented in Table 3.
Table 3: Clinical Adverse Reactions a of Moderate-Severe Intensity (Grades 2–4) Reported in Four Entecavir Clinical Trials Through 2 Years Nucleoside-Inhibitor-Naïve b Lamivudine-Refractory c Body System/ Adverse Reaction Entecavir 0.5 mg n=679 Lamivudine 100 mg n = 668 Entecavir 1 mg n = 183 Lamivudine 100 mg n = 190 a Includes events of possible, probable, certain, or unknown relationship to treatment regimen.
b Studies AI463022 and AI463027.
c Includes Study AI463026 and the entecavir 1 mg and lamivudine treatment arms of Study AI463014, a Phase 2 multinational, randomized, double-blind study of three doses of entecavir (0.1, 0.5, and 1 mg) once daily versus continued lamivudine 100 mg once daily for up to 52 weeks in subjects who experienced recurrent viremia on lamivudine therapy.
Any Grade 2–4 adverse reaction a 15% 18% 22% 23% Gastrointestinal Diarrhea <1% 0 1% 0 Dyspepsia <1% <1% 1% 0 Nausea <1% <1% <1% 2% Vomiting <1% <1% <1% 0 General Fatigue 1% 1% 3% 3% Nervous System Headache 2% 2% 4% 1% Dizziness <1% <1% 0 1% Somnolence <1% <1% 0 0 Psychiatric Insomnia <1% <1% 0 <1% Laboratory Abnormalities Frequencies of selected treatment-emergent laboratory abnormalities reported during therapy in four clinical trials of entecavir compared with lamivudine are listed in Table 4.
Table 4: Selected Treatment-Emergent a Laboratory Abnormalities Reported in Four Entecavir Clinical Trials Through 2 Years Nucleoside-Inhibitor-Naïve b Lamivudine-Refractory c Test Entecavir 0.5 mg n=679 Lamivudine 100 mg n = 668 Entecavir 1 mg n = 183 Lamivudine 100 mg n = 190 a On-treatment value worsened from baseline to Grade 3 or Grade 4 for all parameters except albumin (any on-treatment value <2.5 g/dL), confirmed creatinine increase ≥0.5 mg/dL, and ALT >10 × ULN and >2 × baseline.
b Studies AI463022 and AI463027.
c Includes Study AI463026 and the entecavir 1 mg and lamivudine treatment arms of Study AI463014, a Phase 2 multinational, randomized, double-blind study of three doses of entecavir (0.1, 0.5, and 1 mg) once daily versus continued lamivudine 100 mg once daily for up to 52 weeks in subjects who experienced recurrent viremia on lamivudine therapy.
d Includes hematology, routine chemistries, renal and liver function tests, pancreatic enzymes, and urinalysis.
e Grade 3 = 3+, large, ≥500 mg/dL; Grade 4 = 4+, marked, severe.
f Grade 3 = 3+, large; Grade 4 = ≥4+, marked, severe, many.
ULN=upper limit of normal.
Any Grade 3–4 laboratory abnormality d 35% 36% 37% 45% ALT >10 × ULN and >2 × baseline 2% 4% 2% 11% ALT >5 × ULN 11% 16% 12% 24% Albumin <2.5 g/dL <1% <1% 0 2% Total bilirubin >2.5 × ULN 2% 2% 3% 2% Lipase ≥2.1 × ULN 7% 6% 7% 7% Creatinine >3 × ULN 0 0 0 0 Confirmed creatinine increase ≥0.5 mg/dL 1% 1% 2% 1% Hyperglycemia, fasting >250 mg/dL 2% 1% 3% 1% Glycosuria e 4% 3% 4% 6% Hematuria f 9% 10% 9% 6% Platelets <50,000/mm 3 <1% <1% <1% <1% Among entecavir-treated subjects in these studies, on-treatment ALT elevations greater than 10 times the upper limit of normal (ULN) and greater than 2 times baseline generally resolved with continued treatment.
A majority of these exacerbations were associated with a ≥ 2 log 10 /mL reduction in viral load that preceded or coincided with the ALT elevation.
Periodic monitoring of hepatic function is recommended during treatment.
Exacerbations of Hepatitis after Discontinuation of Treatment An exacerbation of hepatitis or ALT flare was defined as ALT greater than 10 times ULN and greater than 2 times the subject’s reference level (minimum of the baseline or last measurement at end of dosing).
For all subjects who discontinued treatment (regardless of reason), Table 5 presents the proportion of subjects in each study who experienced post-treatment ALT flares.
In these studies, a subset of subjects was allowed to discontinue treatment at or after 52 weeks if they achieved a protocol-defined response to therapy.
If entecavir is discontinued without regard to treatment response, the rate of post-treatment flares could be higher.
[See Warnings and Precautions (5.1) .] Table 5: Exacerbations of Hepatitis During Off-Treatment Follow-up, Subjects in Studies AI463022, AI463027, and AI463026 Subjects with ALT Elevations >10 × ULN and >2 × Reference a Entecavir Lamivudine a Reference is the minimum of the baseline or last measurement at end of dosing.
Median time to off-treatment exacerbation was 23 weeks for entecavir-treated subjects and 10 weeks for lamivudine-treated subjects.
Nucleoside-inhibitor-naïve HBeAg-positive 4/174 (2%) 13/147 (9%) HBeAg-negative 24/302 (8%) 30/270 (11%) Lamivudine-refractory 6/52 (12%) 0/16 Decompensated Liver Disease Study AI463048 was a randomized, open-label study of entecavir 1 mg once daily versus adefovir dipivoxil 10 mg once daily given for up to 48 weeks in adult subjects with chronic HBV infection and evidence of hepatic decompensation, defined as a Child-Turcotte-Pugh (CTP) score of 7 or higher [see Clinical Studies (14.1) ] .
Among the 102 subjects receiving entecavir, the most common treatment-emergent adverse events of any severity, regardless of causality, occurring through Week 48 were peripheral edema (16%), ascites (15%), pyrexia (14%), hepatic encephalopathy (10%), and upper respiratory infection (10%).
Clinical adverse reactions not listed in Table 3 that were observed through Week 48 include blood bicarbonate decreased (2%) and renal failure (< 1%).
Eighteen of 102 (18%) subjects treated with entecavir and 18/89 (20%) subjects treated with adefovir dipivoxil died during the first 48 weeks of therapy.
The majority of deaths (11 in the entecavir group and 16 in the adefovir dipivoxil group) were due to liver-related causes such as hepatic failure, hepatic encephalopathy, hepatorenal syndrome, and upper gastrointestinal hemorrhage.
The rate of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) through Week 48 was 6% (6/102) for subjects treated with entecavir and 8% (7/89) for subjects treated with adefovir dipivoxil.
Five percent of subjects in either treatment arm discontinued therapy due to an adverse event through Week 48.
No subject in either treatment arm experienced an on-treatment hepatic flare (ALT >2 × baseline and >10 × ULN) through Week 48.
Eleven of 102 (11%) subjects treated with entecavir and 11/89 (13%) subjects treated with adefovir dipivoxil had a confirmed increase in serum creatinine of 0.5 mg/dL through Week 48.
HIV/HBV Co-infected The safety profile of entecavir 1 mg (n = 51) in HIV/HBV co-infected subjects enrolled in Study AI463038 was similar to that of placebo (n = 17) through 24 weeks of blinded treatment and similar to that seen in non-HIV infected subjects [see Warnings and Precautions (5.2) ] .
Liver Transplant Recipients Among 65 subjects receiving entecavir in an open-label, post-liver transplant trial [see Use in Specific Populations (8.8) ] , the frequency and nature of adverse events were consistent with those expected in patients who have received a liver transplant and the known safety profile of entecavir.
Clinical Trial Experience in Pediatric Subjects The safety of entecavir in pediatric subjects 2 to less than 18 years of age is based on two ongoing clinical trials in subjects with chronic HBV infection (one Phase 2 pharmacokinetic trial [AI463028] and one Phase 3 trial [AI463189]).
These trials provide experience in 168 HBeAg-positive subjects treated with entecavir for a median duration of 72 weeks.
The adverse reactions observed in pediatric subjects who received treatment with entecavir were consistent with those observed in clinical trials of entecavir in adults.
Adverse drug reactions reported in greater than 1% of pediatric subjects included abdominal pain, rash events, poor palatability (“product taste abnormal”), nausea, diarrhea, and vomiting.
6.2 Postmarketing Experience The following adverse reactions have been reported during postmarketing use of entecavir.
Because these reactions were reported voluntarily from a population of unknown size, it is not possible to reliably estimate their frequency or establish a causal relationship to entecavir exposure.
Immune system disorders: Anaphylactoid reaction.
Metabolism and nutrition disorders: Lactic acidosis.
Hepatobiliary disorders: Increased transaminases.
Skin and subcutaneous tissue disorders: Alopecia, rash.
6.1 Clinical 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.
Clinical Trial Experience in Adults Compensated Liver Disease Assessment of adverse reactions is based on four studies (AI463014, AI463022, AI463026, and AI463027) in which 1720 subjects with chronic hepatitis B virus infection and compensated liver disease received double-blind treatment with entecavir 0.5 mg/day (n = 679), entecavir 1 mg/day (n = 183), or lamivudine (n=858) for up to 2 years.
Median duration of therapy was 69 weeks for entecavir-treated subjects and 63 weeks for lamivudine-treated subjects in Studies AI463022 and AI463027 and 73 weeks for entecavir-treated subjects and 51 weeks for lamivudine-treated subjects in Studies AI463026 and AI463014.
The safety profiles of entecavir and lamivudine were comparable in these studies.
The most common adverse reactions of any severity (≥ 3%) with at least a possible relation to study drug for entecavir-treated subjects were headache, fatigue, dizziness, and nausea.
The most common adverse reactions among lamivudine-treated subjects were headache, fatigue, and dizziness.
One percent of entecavir-treated subjects in these four studies compared with 4% of lamivudine-treated subjects discontinued for adverse events or abnormal laboratory test results.
Clinical adverse reactions of moderate-severe intensity and considered at least possibly related to treatment occurring during therapy in four clinical studies in which entecavir was compared with lamivudine are presented in Table 3.
Table 3: Clinical Adverse Reactions a of Moderate-Severe Intensity (Grades 2–4) Reported in Four Entecavir Clinical Trials Through 2 Years Nucleoside-Inhibitor-Naïve b Lamivudine-Refractory c Body System/ Adverse Reaction Entecavir 0.5 mg n=679 Lamivudine 100 mg n = 668 Entecavir 1 mg n = 183 Lamivudine 100 mg n = 190 a Includes events of possible, probable, certain, or unknown relationship to treatment regimen.
b Studies AI463022 and AI463027.
c Includes Study AI463026 and the entecavir 1 mg and lamivudine treatment arms of Study AI463014, a Phase 2 multinational, randomized, double-blind study of three doses of entecavir (0.1, 0.5, and 1 mg) once daily versus continued lamivudine 100 mg once daily for up to 52 weeks in subjects who experienced recurrent viremia on lamivudine therapy.
Any Grade 2–4 adverse reaction a 15% 18% 22% 23% Gastrointestinal Diarrhea <1% 0 1% 0 Dyspepsia <1% <1% 1% 0 Nausea <1% <1% <1% 2% Vomiting <1% <1% <1% 0 General Fatigue 1% 1% 3% 3% Nervous System Headache 2% 2% 4% 1% Dizziness <1% <1% 0 1% Somnolence <1% <1% 0 0 Psychiatric Insomnia <1% <1% 0 <1% Laboratory Abnormalities Frequencies of selected treatment-emergent laboratory abnormalities reported during therapy in four clinical trials of entecavir compared with lamivudine are listed in Table 4.
Table 4: Selected Treatment-Emergent a Laboratory Abnormalities Reported in Four Entecavir Clinical Trials Through 2 Years Nucleoside-Inhibitor-Naïve b Lamivudine-Refractory c Test Entecavir 0.5 mg n=679 Lamivudine 100 mg n = 668 Entecavir 1 mg n = 183 Lamivudine 100 mg n = 190 a On-treatment value worsened from baseline to Grade 3 or Grade 4 for all parameters except albumin (any on-treatment value <2.5 g/dL), confirmed creatinine increase ≥0.5 mg/dL, and ALT >10 × ULN and >2 × baseline.
b Studies AI463022 and AI463027.
c Includes Study AI463026 and the entecavir 1 mg and lamivudine treatment arms of Study AI463014, a Phase 2 multinational, randomized, double-blind study of three doses of entecavir (0.1, 0.5, and 1 mg) once daily versus continued lamivudine 100 mg once daily for up to 52 weeks in subjects who experienced recurrent viremia on lamivudine therapy.
d Includes hematology, routine chemistries, renal and liver function tests, pancreatic enzymes, and urinalysis.
e Grade 3 = 3+, large, ≥500 mg/dL; Grade 4 = 4+, marked, severe.
f Grade 3 = 3+, large; Grade 4 = ≥4+, marked, severe, many.
ULN=upper limit of normal.
Any Grade 3–4 laboratory abnormality d 35% 36% 37% 45% ALT >10 × ULN and >2 × baseline 2% 4% 2% 11% ALT >5 × ULN 11% 16% 12% 24% Albumin <2.5 g/dL <1% <1% 0 2% Total bilirubin >2.5 × ULN 2% 2% 3% 2% Lipase ≥2.1 × ULN 7% 6% 7% 7% Creatinine >3 × ULN 0 0 0 0 Confirmed creatinine increase ≥0.5 mg/dL 1% 1% 2% 1% Hyperglycemia, fasting >250 mg/dL 2% 1% 3% 1% Glycosuria e 4% 3% 4% 6% Hematuria f 9% 10% 9% 6% Platelets <50,000/mm 3 <1% <1% <1% <1% Among entecavir-treated subjects in these studies, on-treatment ALT elevations greater than 10 times the upper limit of normal (ULN) and greater than 2 times baseline generally resolved with continued treatment.
A majority of these exacerbations were associated with a ≥ 2 log 10 /mL reduction in viral load that preceded or coincided with the ALT elevation.
Periodic monitoring of hepatic function is recommended during treatment.
Exacerbations of Hepatitis after Discontinuation of Treatment An exacerbation of hepatitis or ALT flare was defined as ALT greater than 10 times ULN and greater than 2 times the subject’s reference level (minimum of the baseline or last measurement at end of dosing).
For all subjects who discontinued treatment (regardless of reason), Table 5 presents the proportion of subjects in each study who experienced post-treatment ALT flares.
In these studies, a subset of subjects was allowed to discontinue treatment at or after 52 weeks if they achieved a protocol-defined response to therapy.
If entecavir is discontinued without regard to treatment response, the rate of post-treatment flares could be higher.
[See Warnings and Precautions (5.1) .] Table 5: Exacerbations of Hepatitis During Off-Treatment Follow-up, Subjects in Studies AI463022, AI463027, and AI463026 Subjects with ALT Elevations >10 × ULN and >2 × Reference a Entecavir Lamivudine a Reference is the minimum of the baseline or last measurement at end of dosing.
Median time to off-treatment exacerbation was 23 weeks for entecavir-treated subjects and 10 weeks for lamivudine-treated subjects.
Nucleoside-inhibitor-naïve HBeAg-positive 4/174 (2%) 13/147 (9%) HBeAg-negative 24/302 (8%) 30/270 (11%) Lamivudine-refractory 6/52 (12%) 0/16 Decompensated Liver Disease Study AI463048 was a randomized, open-label study of entecavir 1 mg once daily versus adefovir dipivoxil 10 mg once daily given for up to 48 weeks in adult subjects with chronic HBV infection and evidence of hepatic decompensation, defined as a Child-Turcotte-Pugh (CTP) score of 7 or higher [see Clinical Studies (14.1) ] .
Among the 102 subjects receiving entecavir, the most common treatment-emergent adverse events of any severity, regardless of causality, occurring through Week 48 were peripheral edema (16%), ascites (15%), pyrexia (14%), hepatic encephalopathy (10%), and upper respiratory infection (10%).
Clinical adverse reactions not listed in Table 3 that were observed through Week 48 include blood bicarbonate decreased (2%) and renal failure (< 1%).
Eighteen of 102 (18%) subjects treated with entecavir and 18/89 (20%) subjects treated with adefovir dipivoxil died during the first 48 weeks of therapy.
The majority of deaths (11 in the entecavir group and 16 in the adefovir dipivoxil group) were due to liver-related causes such as hepatic failure, hepatic encephalopathy, hepatorenal syndrome, and upper gastrointestinal hemorrhage.
The rate of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) through Week 48 was 6% (6/102) for subjects treated with entecavir and 8% (7/89) for subjects treated with adefovir dipivoxil.
Five percent of subjects in either treatment arm discontinued therapy due to an adverse event through Week 48.
No subject in either treatment arm experienced an on-treatment hepatic flare (ALT >2 × baseline and >10 × ULN) through Week 48.
Eleven of 102 (11%) subjects treated with entecavir and 11/89 (13%) subjects treated with adefovir dipivoxil had a confirmed increase in serum creatinine of 0.5 mg/dL through Week 48.
HIV/HBV Co-infected The safety profile of entecavir 1 mg (n = 51) in HIV/HBV co-infected subjects enrolled in Study AI463038 was similar to that of placebo (n = 17) through 24 weeks of blinded treatment and similar to that seen in non-HIV infected subjects [see Warnings and Precautions (5.2) ] .
Liver Transplant Recipients Among 65 subjects receiving entecavir in an open-label, post-liver transplant trial [see Use in Specific Populations (8.8) ] , the frequency and nature of adverse events were consistent with those expected in patients who have received a liver transplant and the known safety profile of entecavir.
Clinical Trial Experience in Pediatric Subjects The safety of entecavir in pediatric subjects 2 to less than 18 years of age is based on two ongoing clinical trials in subjects with chronic HBV infection (one Phase 2 pharmacokinetic trial [AI463028] and one Phase 3 trial [AI463189]).
These trials provide experience in 168 HBeAg-positive subjects treated with entecavir for a median duration of 72 weeks.
The adverse reactions observed in pediatric subjects who received treatment with entecavir were consistent with those observed in clinical trials of entecavir in adults.
Adverse drug reactions reported in greater than 1% of pediatric subjects included abdominal pain, rash events, poor palatability (“product taste abnormal”), nausea, diarrhea, and vomiting.
Clinical Trial Experience in Adults Compensated Liver Disease Assessment of adverse reactions is based on four studies (AI463014, AI463022, AI463026, and AI463027) in which 1720 subjects with chronic hepatitis B virus infection and compensated liver disease received double-blind treatment with entecavir 0.5 mg/day (n = 679), entecavir 1 mg/day (n = 183), or lamivudine (n=858) for up to 2 years.
Median duration of therapy was 69 weeks for entecavir-treated subjects and 63 weeks for lamivudine-treated subjects in Studies AI463022 and AI463027 and 73 weeks for entecavir-treated subjects and 51 weeks for lamivudine-treated subjects in Studies AI463026 and AI463014.
The safety profiles of entecavir and lamivudine were comparable in these studies.
The most common adverse reactions of any severity (≥ 3%) with at least a possible relation to study drug for entecavir-treated subjects were headache, fatigue, dizziness, and nausea.
The most common adverse reactions among lamivudine-treated subjects were headache, fatigue, and dizziness.
One percent of entecavir-treated subjects in these four studies compared with 4% of lamivudine-treated subjects discontinued for adverse events or abnormal laboratory test results.
Clinical adverse reactions of moderate-severe intensity and considered at least possibly related to treatment occurring during therapy in four clinical studies in which entecavir was compared with lamivudine are presented in Table 3.
Table 3: Clinical Adverse Reactions a of Moderate-Severe Intensity (Grades 2–4) Reported in Four Entecavir Clinical Trials Through 2 Years Nucleoside-Inhibitor-Naïve b Lamivudine-Refractory c Body System/ Adverse Reaction Entecavir 0.5 mg n=679 Lamivudine 100 mg n = 668 Entecavir 1 mg n = 183 Lamivudine 100 mg n = 190 a Includes events of possible, probable, certain, or unknown relationship to treatment regimen.
b Studies AI463022 and AI463027.
c Includes Study AI463026 and the entecavir 1 mg and lamivudine treatment arms of Study AI463014, a Phase 2 multinational, randomized, double-blind study of three doses of entecavir (0.1, 0.5, and 1 mg) once daily versus continued lamivudine 100 mg once daily for up to 52 weeks in subjects who experienced recurrent viremia on lamivudine therapy.
Any Grade 2–4 adverse reaction a 15% 18% 22% 23% Gastrointestinal Diarrhea <1% 0 1% 0 Dyspepsia <1% <1% 1% 0 Nausea <1% <1% <1% 2% Vomiting <1% <1% <1% 0 General Fatigue 1% 1% 3% 3% Nervous System Headache 2% 2% 4% 1% Dizziness <1% <1% 0 1% Somnolence <1% <1% 0 0 Psychiatric Insomnia <1% <1% 0 <1% Laboratory Abnormalities Frequencies of selected treatment-emergent laboratory abnormalities reported during therapy in four clinical trials of entecavir compared with lamivudine are listed in Table 4.
Table 4: Selected Treatment-Emergent a Laboratory Abnormalities Reported in Four Entecavir Clinical Trials Through 2 Years Nucleoside-Inhibitor-Naïve b Lamivudine-Refractory c Test Entecavir 0.5 mg n=679 Lamivudine 100 mg n = 668 Entecavir 1 mg n = 183 Lamivudine 100 mg n = 190 a On-treatment value worsened from baseline to Grade 3 or Grade 4 for all parameters except albumin (any on-treatment value <2.5 g/dL), confirmed creatinine increase ≥0.5 mg/dL, and ALT >10 × ULN and >2 × baseline.
b Studies AI463022 and AI463027.
c Includes Study AI463026 and the entecavir 1 mg and lamivudine treatment arms of Study AI463014, a Phase 2 multinational, randomized, double-blind study of three doses of entecavir (0.1, 0.5, and 1 mg) once daily versus continued lamivudine 100 mg once daily for up to 52 weeks in subjects who experienced recurrent viremia on lamivudine therapy.
d Includes hematology, routine chemistries, renal and liver function tests, pancreatic enzymes, and urinalysis.
e Grade 3 = 3+, large, ≥500 mg/dL; Grade 4 = 4+, marked, severe.
f Grade 3 = 3+, large; Grade 4 = ≥4+, marked, severe, many.
ULN=upper limit of normal.
Any Grade 3–4 laboratory abnormality d 35% 36% 37% 45% ALT >10 × ULN and >2 × baseline 2% 4% 2% 11% ALT >5 × ULN 11% 16% 12% 24% Albumin <2.5 g/dL <1% <1% 0 2% Total bilirubin >2.5 × ULN 2% 2% 3% 2% Lipase ≥2.1 × ULN 7% 6% 7% 7% Creatinine >3 × ULN 0 0 0 0 Confirmed creatinine increase ≥0.5 mg/dL 1% 1% 2% 1% Hyperglycemia, fasting >250 mg/dL 2% 1% 3% 1% Glycosuria e 4% 3% 4% 6% Hematuria f 9% 10% 9% 6% Platelets <50,000/mm 3 <1% <1% <1% <1% Among entecavir-treated subjects in these studies, on-treatment ALT elevations greater than 10 times the upper limit of normal (ULN) and greater than 2 times baseline generally resolved with continued treatment.
A majority of these exacerbations were associated with a ≥ 2 log 10 /mL reduction in viral load that preceded or coincided with the ALT elevation.
Periodic monitoring of hepatic function is recommended during treatment.
Exacerbations of Hepatitis after Discontinuation of Treatment An exacerbation of hepatitis or ALT flare was defined as ALT greater than 10 times ULN and greater than 2 times the subject’s reference level (minimum of the baseline or last measurement at end of dosing).
For all subjects who discontinued treatment (regardless of reason), Table 5 presents the proportion of subjects in each study who experienced post-treatment ALT flares.
In these studies, a subset of subjects was allowed to discontinue treatment at or after 52 weeks if they achieved a protocol-defined response to therapy.
If entecavir is discontinued without regard to treatment response, the rate of post-treatment flares could be higher.
[See Warnings and Precautions (5.1) .] Table 5: Exacerbations of Hepatitis During Off-Treatment Follow-up, Subjects in Studies AI463022, AI463027, and AI463026 Subjects with ALT Elevations >10 × ULN and >2 × Reference a Entecavir Lamivudine a Reference is the minimum of the baseline or last measurement at end of dosing.
Median time to off-treatment exacerbation was 23 weeks for entecavir-treated subjects and 10 weeks for lamivudine-treated subjects.
Nucleoside-inhibitor-naïve HBeAg-positive 4/174 (2%) 13/147 (9%) HBeAg-negative 24/302 (8%) 30/270 (11%) Lamivudine-refractory 6/52 (12%) 0/16
Laboratory Abnormalities Frequencies of selected treatment-emergent laboratory abnormalities reported during therapy in four clinical trials of entecavir compared with lamivudine are listed in Table 4.
Table 4: Selected Treatment-Emergent a Laboratory Abnormalities Reported in Four Entecavir Clinical Trials Through 2 Years Nucleoside-Inhibitor-Naïve b Lamivudine-Refractory c Test Entecavir 0.5 mg n=679 Lamivudine 100 mg n = 668 Entecavir 1 mg n = 183 Lamivudine 100 mg n = 190 a On-treatment value worsened from baseline to Grade 3 or Grade 4 for all parameters except albumin (any on-treatment value <2.5 g/dL), confirmed creatinine increase ≥0.5 mg/dL, and ALT >10 × ULN and >2 × baseline.
b Studies AI463022 and AI463027.
c Includes Study AI463026 and the entecavir 1 mg and lamivudine treatment arms of Study AI463014, a Phase 2 multinational, randomized, double-blind study of three doses of entecavir (0.1, 0.5, and 1 mg) once daily versus continued lamivudine 100 mg once daily for up to 52 weeks in subjects who experienced recurrent viremia on lamivudine therapy.
d Includes hematology, routine chemistries, renal and liver function tests, pancreatic enzymes, and urinalysis.
e Grade 3 = 3+, large, ≥500 mg/dL; Grade 4 = 4+, marked, severe.
f Grade 3 = 3+, large; Grade 4 = ≥4+, marked, severe, many.
ULN=upper limit of normal.
Any Grade 3–4 laboratory abnormality d 35% 36% 37% 45% ALT >10 × ULN and >2 × baseline 2% 4% 2% 11% ALT >5 × ULN 11% 16% 12% 24% Albumin <2.5 g/dL <1% <1% 0 2% Total bilirubin >2.5 × ULN 2% 2% 3% 2% Lipase ≥2.1 × ULN 7% 6% 7% 7% Creatinine >3 × ULN 0 0 0 0 Confirmed creatinine increase ≥0.5 mg/dL 1% 1% 2% 1% Hyperglycemia, fasting >250 mg/dL 2% 1% 3% 1% Glycosuria e 4% 3% 4% 6% Hematuria f 9% 10% 9% 6% Platelets <50,000/mm 3 <1% <1% <1% <1% Among entecavir-treated subjects in these studies, on-treatment ALT elevations greater than 10 times the upper limit of normal (ULN) and greater than 2 times baseline generally resolved with continued treatment.
A majority of these exacerbations were associated with a ≥ 2 log 10 /mL reduction in viral load that preceded or coincided with the ALT elevation.
Periodic monitoring of hepatic function is recommended during treatment.
Exacerbations of Hepatitis after Discontinuation of Treatment An exacerbation of hepatitis or ALT flare was defined as ALT greater than 10 times ULN and greater than 2 times the subject’s reference level (minimum of the baseline or last measurement at end of dosing).
For all subjects who discontinued treatment (regardless of reason), Table 5 presents the proportion of subjects in each study who experienced post-treatment ALT flares.
In these studies, a subset of subjects was allowed to discontinue treatment at or after 52 weeks if they achieved a protocol-defined response to therapy.
If entecavir is discontinued without regard to treatment response, the rate of post-treatment flares could be higher.
[See Warnings and Precautions (5.1) .] Table 5: Exacerbations of Hepatitis During Off-Treatment Follow-up, Subjects in Studies AI463022, AI463027, and AI463026 Subjects with ALT Elevations >10 × ULN and >2 × Reference a Entecavir Lamivudine a Reference is the minimum of the baseline or last measurement at end of dosing.
Median time to off-treatment exacerbation was 23 weeks for entecavir-treated subjects and 10 weeks for lamivudine-treated subjects.
Nucleoside-inhibitor-naïve HBeAg-positive 4/174 (2%) 13/147 (9%) HBeAg-negative 24/302 (8%) 30/270 (11%) Lamivudine-refractory 6/52 (12%) 0/16
Decompensated Liver Disease Study AI463048 was a randomized, open-label study of entecavir 1 mg once daily versus adefovir dipivoxil 10 mg once daily given for up to 48 weeks in adult subjects with chronic HBV infection and evidence of hepatic decompensation, defined as a Child-Turcotte-Pugh (CTP) score of 7 or higher [see Clinical Studies (14.1) ] .
Among the 102 subjects receiving entecavir, the most common treatment-emergent adverse events of any severity, regardless of causality, occurring through Week 48 were peripheral edema (16%), ascites (15%), pyrexia (14%), hepatic encephalopathy (10%), and upper respiratory infection (10%).
Clinical adverse reactions not listed in Table 3 that were observed through Week 48 include blood bicarbonate decreased (2%) and renal failure (< 1%).
Eighteen of 102 (18%) subjects treated with entecavir and 18/89 (20%) subjects treated with adefovir dipivoxil died during the first 48 weeks of therapy.
The majority of deaths (11 in the entecavir group and 16 in the adefovir dipivoxil group) were due to liver-related causes such as hepatic failure, hepatic encephalopathy, hepatorenal syndrome, and upper gastrointestinal hemorrhage.
The rate of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) through Week 48 was 6% (6/102) for subjects treated with entecavir and 8% (7/89) for subjects treated with adefovir dipivoxil.
Five percent of subjects in either treatment arm discontinued therapy due to an adverse event through Week 48.
No subject in either treatment arm experienced an on-treatment hepatic flare (ALT >2 × baseline and >10 × ULN) through Week 48.
Eleven of 102 (11%) subjects treated with entecavir and 11/89 (13%) subjects treated with adefovir dipivoxil had a confirmed increase in serum creatinine of 0.5 mg/dL through Week 48.
HIV/HBV Co-infected The safety profile of entecavir 1 mg (n = 51) in HIV/HBV co-infected subjects enrolled in Study AI463038 was similar to that of placebo (n = 17) through 24 weeks of blinded treatment and similar to that seen in non-HIV infected subjects [see Warnings and Precautions (5.2) ] .
Liver Transplant Recipients Among 65 subjects receiving entecavir in an open-label, post-liver transplant trial [see Use in Specific Populations (8.8) ] , the frequency and nature of adverse events were consistent with those expected in patients who have received a liver transplant and the known safety profile of entecavir.
Clinical Trial Experience in Pediatric Subjects The safety of entecavir in pediatric subjects 2 to less than 18 years of age is based on two ongoing clinical trials in subjects with chronic HBV infection (one Phase 2 pharmacokinetic trial [AI463028] and one Phase 3 trial [AI463189]).
These trials provide experience in 168 HBeAg-positive subjects treated with entecavir for a median duration of 72 weeks.
The adverse reactions observed in pediatric subjects who received treatment with entecavir were consistent with those observed in clinical trials of entecavir in adults.
Adverse drug reactions reported in greater than 1% of pediatric subjects included abdominal pain, rash events, poor palatability (“product taste abnormal”), nausea, diarrhea, and vomiting.
6.2 Postmarketing Experience The following adverse reactions have been reported during postmarketing use of entecavir.
Because these reactions were reported voluntarily from a population of unknown size, it is not possible to reliably estimate their frequency or establish a causal relationship to entecavir exposure.
Immune system disorders: Anaphylactoid reaction.
Metabolism and nutrition disorders: Lactic acidosis.
Hepatobiliary disorders: Increased transaminases.
Skin and subcutaneous tissue disorders: Alopecia, rash.