AVONEX

Interferon beta-1a, an interferon beta, is a 166 amino acid glycoprotein with a molecular weight of approximately 22,500 daltons. It is produced by recombinant DNA technology using genetically engineered Chinese Hamster Ovary cells into which the human interferon beta gene has been introduced. The amino acid sequence of AVONEX is identical to that of natural human interferon beta. Using the World Health Organization (WHO) International Standard for Interferon, AVONEX has a specific activity of approximately 200 million international units of antiviral activity per mg of interferon beta-1a determined specifically by an in vitro cytopathic effect bioassay using lung carcinoma cells (A549) and Encephalomyocarditis virus (ECM). AVONEX 30 micrograms contains approximately 6 million international units of antiviral activity using this method. The activity against other standards is not known. Comparison of the activity of AVONEX with other interferon betas is not appropriate, because of differences in the reference standards and assays used to measure activity. AVONEX (interferon beta-1a) injection is a sterile liquid for intramuscular injection available in a prefilled glass syringe or a prefilled glass syringe surrounded by an autoinjector. Each single-dose prefilled glass syringe or single-dose prefilled autoinjector delivers 0.5 mL of solution containing 30 micrograms of interferon beta-1a, arginine hydrochloride, USP (15.8 mg), glacial acetic acid, USP (0.25 mg), polysorbate 20 (0.025 mg), sodium acetate trihydrate, USP (0.79 mg), and Water for Injection, USP at a pH of approximately 4.8.

AVONEX is indicated for the treatment of relapsing forms of multiple sclerosis (MS), to include clinically isolated syndrome, relapsing-remitting disease, and active secondary progressive disease, in adults. AVONEX is for the treatment of relapsing forms of multiple sclerosis (MS), to include clinically isolated syndrome, relapsing-remitting disease, and active secondary progressive disease, in adults. ( 1 )

For intramuscular use only ( 2.1 ) Recommended dose: 30 micrograms once a week ( 2.1 ) AVONEX may be titrated, starting with 7.5 micrograms for first week, to reduce flu-like symptoms ( 2.1 ) Increase dose by 7.5 micrograms each week for next 3 weeks until recommended dose of 30 micrograms ( 2.1 ) See patient instructions for use for complete administration instructions ( 2.2 ) Perform first injection under the supervision of an appropriately qualified health care professional ( 2.2 ) Analgesics and/or antipyretics on treatment days may help ameliorate flu-like symptoms ( 2.3 ) 2.1 Dosing Information AVONEX is administered intramuscularly. The recommended dose is 30 micrograms once a week. To reduce the incidence and severity of flu-like symptoms that may occur when initiating AVONEX therapy at a dose of 30 micrograms, AVONEX may be started at a dose of 7.5 micrograms and the dose may be increased by 7.5 micrograms each week for the next three weeks until the recommended dose of 30 micrograms is achieved (see Table 1 ). An AVOSTARTGRIP™ kit containing 3 titration devices can be used for titration and is to be used only with AVONEX Prefilled Syringes. Table 1: Schedule for Dose Titration 1 Dosed once a week, intramuscularly AVONEX Dose 1 Recommended Dose Week 1 7.5 micrograms 1/4 dose Week 2 15 micrograms 1/2 dose Week 3 22.5 micrograms 3/4 dose Week 4+ 30 micrograms full dose 2.2 Important Administration Instructions (All Dosage Forms) AVONEX dosage forms (prefilled syringe and prefilled autoinjector) are single-dose. See Patient's Instructions for Use for complete administration instructions. The first AVONEX injection should be performed under the supervision of an appropriately qualified healthcare professional. If patients or caregivers are to administer AVONEX, train them in the proper intramuscular injection technique and assess their ability to inject intramuscularly to ensure the proper administration of AVONEX. Advise patients and caregivers to: Rotate injection sites with each administration to minimize the likelihood of injection site reactions, including necrosis or localized infection [see Warnings and Precautions ( 5.4 )] NOT inject into an area of the body where the skin is irritated, reddened, bruised, infected or scarred in any way Check the injection site after 2 hours for redness, swelling, or tenderness Contact their healthcare provider if they have a skin reaction and it does not clear up in a few days Parenteral drug products should be inspected visually for particulate matter and discoloration prior to administration, whenever solution and container permit. A 25 gauge, 1” needle for intramuscular injection with AVONEX prefilled syringe may be substituted for the 23 gauge, 1 ¼” needle by the healthcare provider, if deemed appropriate. A 25 gauge, 5/8” needle specific to the prefilled autoinjector is supplied with the AVONEX PEN ® Administration Dose Pack. DO NOT use any other needle with the autoinjector. Use safe disposal procedures for needles and syringes. DO NOT re-use needles, prefilled syringes, or autoinjectors. Following the administration of each titrated dose, discard any remaining product. 2.3 Premedication for Flu-like Symptoms Concurrent use of analgesics and/or antipyretics on treatment days may help ameliorate flu-like symptoms associated with AVONEX use.

AVONEX is contraindicated in patients with a history of hypersensitivity to natural or recombinant interferon beta, or any other component of the formulation [see Warnings and Precautions ( 5.3 )] . The formerly available lyophilized vial formulation of AVONEX is contraindicated in patients with a history of hypersensitivity to albumin (human). History of hypersensitivity to natural or recombinant interferon beta, albumin or any other component of the formulation ( 4 )

The following serious adverse reactions are discussed in more detail in other sections of labeling: Depression, Suicide, and Psychotic Disorders [see Warnings and Precautions ( 5.1 )] Hepatic Injury [see Warnings and Precautions ( 5.2 )] Anaphylaxis and Other Allergic-Reactions [see Warnings and Precautions ( 5.3 )] Injection Site Reactions Including Necrosis [see Warnings and Precautions ( 5.4 )] Congestive Heart Failure [see Warnings and Precautions ( 5.5 )] Decreased Peripheral Blood Counts [see Warnings and Precautions ( 5.6 )] Thrombotic Microangiopathy [see Warnings and Precautions ( 5.7 )] Pulmonary Arterial Hypertension [see Warnings and Precautions ( 5.8 )] Seizures [see Warnings and Precautions ( 5.9 )] Autoimmune Disorders [see Warnings and Precautions ( 5.10 )] Laboratory Tests [see Warnings and Precautions ( 5.11 )] The most common adverse reactions (at least 5% more frequent on AVONEX than on placebo) were flu-like symptoms including chills, fever, myalgia, and asthenia. ( 6.1 ) To report SUSPECTED ADVERSE REACTIONS, contact Biogen at 1-800-456-2255 or FDA at 1-800-FDA-1088 or www.fda.gov/medwatch . 6.1 Clinical Trials Experience Because clinical trials are conducted under widely varying conditions, adverse reaction rates observed in the clinical trials of AVONEX cannot be directly compared to rates in clinical trials of other drugs and may not reflect the rates observed in practice. Among 351 patients with relapsing forms of MS treated with AVONEX 30 micrograms (including 319 patients treated for 6 months and 288 patients treated for greater than one year) the most commonly reported adverse reactions (at least 5% more frequent on AVONEX than on placebo) were flu-like symptoms. Symptoms can include chills, fever, myalgia and asthenia occurring within hours to days following an injection. Most people who take AVONEX have flu-like symptoms early during the course of therapy. Usually, these symptoms last for a day after the injection. For many people, these symptoms lessen or go away over time. The most frequently reported adverse reactions resulting in clinical intervention (for example, discontinuation of AVONEX or the need for concomitant medication to treat an adverse reaction symptom) were flu-like symptoms and depression. Table 2 enumerates adverse reactions that occurred with AVONEX-treated patients at an incidence of at least 2% more than that observed in the placebo-treated patients in the pooled placebo-controlled studies in patients with relapsing forms of MS [see Clinical Studies ( 14 )] . Table 2: Adverse Reactions in the Placebo-Controlled Studies Placebo AVONEX Adverse Reaction (N = 333) (N = 351) Body as a Whole Headache 55% 58% Flu-like symptoms (otherwise unspecified) 29% 49% Pain 21% 23% Asthenia 18% 24% Fever 9% 20% Chills 5% 19% Abdominal pain 6% 8% Injection site pain 6% 8% Infection 4% 7% Injection site inflammation 2% 6% Chest pain 2% 5% Injection site reaction 1% 3% Toothache 1% 3% Nervous System Depression 14% 18% Dizziness 12% 14% Respiratory System Upper respiratory tract infection 12% 14% Sinusitis 12% 14% Bronchitis 5% 8% Digestive System Nausea 19% 23% Musculoskeletal System Myalgia 22% 29% Arthralgia 6% 9% Urogenital Urinary tract infection 15% 17% Urine constituents abnormal 0% 3% Skin and Appendages Alopecia 2% 4% Special Senses Eye disorder 2% 4% Hemic and Lymphatic System Injection site ecchymosis 4% 6% Anemia 1% 4% Cardiovascular System Migraine 3% 5% Vasodilation 0% 2% Immunogenicity Anaphylaxis and other allergic reactions have occurred in AVONEX-treated patients [see Warnings and Precautions ( 5.3 )] . As with all therapeutic proteins, there is a potential for immunogenicity. In studies assessing immunogenicity in multiple sclerosis patients administered AVONEX for at least 1 year, 5% (21 of 390 patients) showed the presence of neutralizing antibodies at one or more times. These data reflect the percentage of patients whose test results were considered positive for antibodies to AVONEX using a two-tiered assay (ELISA binding assay followed by an antiviral cytopathic effect assay), and are highly dependent on the sensitivity and specificity of the assay. Additionally, the observed incidence of neutralizing activity in an assay may be influenced by several factors including sample handling, timing of sample collection, concomitant medications, and underlying disease. For these reasons, comparison of the incidence of antibodies to AVONEX with the incidence of antibodies to other products may be misleading. 6.2 Postmarketing Experience The following additional adverse reactions have been identified during post-approval use of AVONEX. Because these reactions are reported voluntarily from a population of uncertain size, it is not always possible to reliably estimate their frequency or establish a causal relationship to drug exposure. Hemolytic anemia Menorrhagia and metrorrhagia Pulmonary Arterial Hypertension Rash (including vesicular rash) Rare cases of injection site abscess or cellulitis requiring surgical intervention

16.2 Storage and Handling Refrigerate AVONEX prefilled syringes and autoinjectors at 2°C to 8°C (36°F to 46°F) in the original carton to protect from light. DO NOT FREEZE. Once removed from the refrigerator, allow prefilled syringes and autoinjectors to warm to room temperature (about 30 minutes). Do not use external heat sources such as hot water to warm AVONEX. Should refrigeration be unavailable, a prefilled syringe or autoinjector may be stored at room temperature up to 25°C (77°F) for a period up to 7 days. DO NOT EXPOSE TO HIGH TEMPERATURES. Once the product is removed from the refrigerator, it must not be stored above 25°C (77°F). If the product has been exposed to conditions other than those recommended, DISCARD THE PRODUCT and DO NOT USE . Do not use beyond the expiration date. AVONEX Prefilled Syringe and AVONEX PEN contain natural rubber latex which may cause allergic reactions.