ROFLUMILAST

The active ingredient in roflumilast tablets is roflumilast. Roflumilast and its active metabolite (roflumilast N-oxide) are selective phosphodiesterase 4 (PDE4) inhibitors. The chemical name of roflumilast is 3-(Cyclopropylmethoxy)-N-(3,5-dichloro-4-pyridinyl)-4-(difluoromethoxy) benzamide. Its empirical formula is C 17 H 14 Cl 2 F 2 N 2 O 3 and the molecular weight is 403.21. The chemical structure is: The drug substance is a light brown to white color powder with a melting point of 154 to 160°C. It is soluble in acetone and slightly soluble in ethanol. Roflumilast tablets are supplied as white to off white, round, flat bevel edged tablets, debossed with 'H' on one side and 'T' (for 250 mcg), and 'I' (for 500 mcg) on the other side. Each tablet contains 250 mcg or 500 mcg of roflumilast. Each tablet of roflumilast for oral administration contains the following inactive ingredients: colloidal silicon dioxide, magnesium stearate, mannitol, and microcrystalline cellulose. Structural Formula

Roflumilast tablet is indicated as a treatment to reduce the risk of COPD exacerbations in patients with severe COPD associated with chronic bronchitis and a history of exacerbations. Limitations of Use Roflumilast tablet is not a bronchodilator and is not indicated for the relief of acute bronchospasm. Roflumilast 250 mcg is a starting dose, for the first 4 weeks of treatment only and is not the effective (therapeutic) dose. Roflumilast tablet is a selective phosphodiesterase 4 inhibitor indicated as a treatment to reduce the risk of COPD exacerbations in patients with severe COPD associated with chronic bronchitis and a history of exacerbations. (1 , 14) Limitations of Use: Roflumilast tablet is not a bronchodilator and is not indicated for the relief of acute bronchospasm. (1 , 14) Roflumilast tablet 250 mcg is a starting dose, for the first 4 weeks of treatment only and is not the effective (therapeutic) dose. (2 , 14)

The maintenance dose of roflumilast is one 500 micrograms (mcg) tablet per day, with or without food. Starting treatment with a dose of roflumilast 250 mcg once daily for 4 weeks and increasing to roflumilast 500 mcg once daily thereafter may reduce the rate of treatment discontinuation in some patients [see Clinical Studies (14.1) ]. However, 250 mcg per day is not the effective (therapeutic) dose. The maintenance dose for patients with COPD is one 500 mcg tablet per day, with or without food. Starting treatment with a dose of roflumilast tablet 250 mcg once daily for 4 weeks and increasing to roflumilast tablet 500 mcg once daily thereafter may reduce the rate of treatment discontinuation in some patients. (2)

The use of roflumilast tablet is contraindicated in the following condition: Moderate to severe liver impairment (Child-Pugh B or C) [see Clinical Pharmacology (12.3) and Use in Specific Populations (8.6) ]. Moderate to severe liver impairment (Child-Pugh B or C) (4)

The following adverse reactions are described in greater detail in other sections: Psychiatric Events Including Suicidality [see Warnings and Precautions (5.2) ] Weight Decrease [see Warnings and Precautions (5.3) ] Most common adverse reactions (≥2%) are diarrhea, weight decrease, nausea, headache, back pain, influenza, insomnia, dizziness and decreased appetite. (6.1) To report SUSPECTED ADVERSE REACTIONS, contact Hetero Labs Limited at 1-866-495-1995 or FDA at 1-800-FDA-1088 or www.fda.gov/medwatch . 6.1 Adverse Reactions in Clinical Studies 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. The safety data described below reflect exposure of 4438 patients to roflumilast 500 mcg once daily in four 1-year placebo-controlled trials, two 6-month placebo-controlled trials, and two 6-month drug add-on trials [see Clinical Studies (14.1) ]. In these trials, 3136 and 1232 COPD patients were exposed to roflumilast 500 mcg once daily for 6 months and 1 year, respectively. The population had a median age of 64 years (range 40 to 91), 73% were male, 92.9% were Caucasian, and had COPD with a mean pre-bronchodilator forced expiratory volume in one second (FEV 1 ) of 8.9 to 89.1% predicted. In these trials, 68.5% of the patients treated with roflumilast reported an adverse reaction compared with 65.3% treated with placebo. The proportion of patients who discontinued treatment due to adverse reaction was 14.8% for roflumilast-treated patients and 9.9% for placebo-treated patients. The most common adverse reactions that led to discontinuation of roflumilast were diarrhea (2.4%) and nausea (1.6%). Serious adverse reactions, whether considered drug-related or not by the investigators, which occurred more frequently in roflumilast-treated patients include diarrhea, atrial fibrillation, lung cancer, prostate cancer, acute pancreatitis, and acute renal failure. Table 1 summarizes the adverse reactions reported by ≥2% of patients in the roflumilast group in 8 controlled COPD clinical trials. Table 1: Adverse Reactions Reported by ≥2% of Patients Treated with Roflumilast 500 mcg daily and Greater Than Placebo Adverse Reactions (Preferred Term) Treatment Roflumilast Placebo ( N= 4438) (N= 4192) n (%) n (%) Diarrhea 420 (9.5) 113 (2.7) Weight decreased 331 (7.5) 89 (2.1) Nausea 209 (4.7) 60 (1.4) Headache 195 (4.4) 87 (2.1) Back pain 142 (3.2) 92 (2.2) Influenza 124 (2.8) 112 (2.7) Insomnia 105 (2.4) 41 (1.0) Dizziness 92 (2.1) 45 (1.1) Decreased appetite 91 (2.1) 15 (0.4) Adverse reactions that occurred in the roflumilast group at a frequency of 1 to 2% where rates exceeded that in the placebo group include: Gastrointestinal disorders - abdominal pain, dyspepsia, gastritis, vomiting Infections and infestations - rhinitis, sinusitis, urinary tract infection Musculoskeletal and connective tissue disorders - muscle spasms Nervous system disorders - tremor Psychiatric disorders - anxiety, depression The safety profile of roflumilast reported during Trial 9 was consistent with the key pivotal studies. 6.2 Postmarketing Experience The following adverse reactions have been identified from spontaneous reports of roflumilast received worldwide and have not been listed elsewhere. These adverse reactions have been chosen for inclusion due to a combination of seriousness, frequency of reporting or potential causal connection to roflumilast. Because these adverse reactions were reported voluntarily from a population of uncertain size, it is not possible to estimate their frequency or establish a causal relationship to roflumilast exposure: hypersensitivity reactions (including angioedema, urticaria, and rash), gynecomastia.

A major step in roflumilast metabolism is the N-oxidation of roflumilast to roflumilast N-oxide by CYP3A4 and CYP1A2 [see Clinical Pharmacology (12.3) ]. Use with inhibitors of CYP3A4 or dual inhibitors of CYP3A4 and CYP1A2 (e.g., erythromycin, ketoconazole, fluvoxamine, enoxacin, cimetidine) will increase roflumilast systemic exposure and may result in increased adverse reactions. The risk of such concurrent use should be weighed carefully against benefit. (7.2) 7.1 Drugs that Induce Cytochrome P450 (CYP) Enzymes Strong cytochrome P450 enzyme inducers decrease systemic exposure to roflumilast and may reduce the therapeutic effectiveness of roflumilast. Therefore the use of strong cytochrome P450 inducers (e.g., rifampicin, phenobarbital, carbamazepine, and phenytoin) with roflumilast is not recommended [see Warnings and Precautions (5.4) and Clinical Pharmacology (12.3) ]. 7.2 Drugs that Inhibit Cytochrome P450 (CYP) Enzymes The co-administration of roflumilast (500 mcg) with CYP3A4 inhibitors or dual inhibitors that inhibit both CYP3A4 and CYP1A2 simultaneously (e.g., erythromycin, ketoconazole, fluvoxamine, enoxacin, cimetidine) may increase roflumilast systemic exposure and may result in increased adverse reactions. The risk of such concurrent use should be weighed carefully against benefit [see Clinical Pharmacology (12.3) ]. 7.3 Oral Contraceptives Containing Gestodene and Ethinyl Estradiol The co-administration of roflumilast (500 mcg) with oral contraceptives containing gestodene and ethinyl estradiol may increase roflumilast systemic exposure and may result in increased side effects. The risk of such concurrent use should be weighed carefully against benefit [see Clinical Pharmacology (12.3) ].