XOPENEX HFA

The active component of XOPENEX HFA inhalation aerosol is levalbuterol tartrate, the (R)-enantiomer of albuterol. Levalbuterol tartrate is a relatively selective beta 2 -adrenergic receptor agonist [see Clinical Pharmacology (12) ]. Levalbuterol tartrate has the chemical name (R)-α 1 -[[(1,1-dimethylethyl)amino]methyl]-4-hydroxy-1,3-benzenedimethanol L-tartrate (2:1 salt), and it has the following chemical structure: The molecular weight of levalbuterol tartrate is 628.71, and its empirical formula is (C 13 H 21 NO 3 ) 2 · C 4 H 6 O 6 . It is a white to light-yellow solid, freely soluble in water and very slightly soluble in ethanol. Levalbuterol tartrate is the generic name for (R)-albuterol tartrate in the United States. XOPENEX HFA inhalation aerosol is a pressurized metered-dose aerosol inhaler (MDI) fitted with a dose indicator, which produces an aerosol for oral inhalation. It contains a suspension of micronized levalbuterol tartrate, propellant HFA-134a (1,1,1,2-tetrafluoroethane), Dehydrated Alcohol USP, and Oleic Acid NF. After priming with 4 actuations, each actuation of the inhaler delivers 67.8 mcg of levalbuterol tartrate (equivalent to 51.6 mcg of levalbuterol free base) from the valve and 59 mcg of levalbuterol tartrate (equivalent to 45 mcg of levalbuterol free base) from the actuator mouthpiece. Each 15 g canister provides 200 actuations (or inhalations). Chemical Structure

XOPENEX HFA is a beta 2 -adrenergic agonist indicated for the treatment or prevention of bronchospasm in patients 4 years of age and older with reversible obstructive airway disease. ( 1.1 ) 1.1 Bronchospasm XOPENEX HFA is indicated for the treatment or prevention of bronchospasm in adults, adolescents, and children 4 years of age and older with reversible obstructive airway disease.

For Oral Inhalation Only ( 2.2 ) Adults and children 4 years of age and older: 2 inhalations repeated every 4 to 6 hours; in some patients, 1 inhalation every 4 hours may be sufficient. ( 2.1 ) Prime XOPENEX HFA before using for the first time and when the inhaler has not been used for more than 3 days. To prime XOPENEX HFA, release 4 sprays into the air away from the face. ( 2.2 ) At least once a week, wash the actuator with warm water and let it air-dry completely. ( 2.2 ) 2.1 Recommended Dosages The recommended dosage of XOPENEX HFA for adults and children 4 years of age and older is 2 inhalations (90 mcg of levalbuterol free base) repeated every 4 to 6 hours; in some patients, 1 inhalation (45 mcg of levalbuterol free base) every 4 hours may be sufficient. More frequent administration or a larger number of inhalations is not routinely recommended. If a previously effective dosage regimen fails to provide the usual response, this may be a marker of destabilization of asthma and requires reevaluation of the patient and the treatment regimen, giving special consideration to the possible need for anti-inflammatory treatment, e.g., corticosteroids. 2.2 Administration Information For oral inhalation only Shake well before use. Avoid spraying in the eyes. Prime the inhaler before using for the first time and when the inhaler has not been used for more than 3 days by releasing 4 test sprays into the air, away from the face. To maintain proper use of XOPENEX HFA, it is critical to wash the actuator with warm water and air-dry thoroughly at least once a week. The inhaler may cease to deliver levalbuterol tartrate if not properly cleaned and dried thoroughly. Keep the plastic actuator clean to prevent medication build-up and blockage. If the actuator becomes blocked with levalbuterol tartrate, wash the actuator to remove the blockage. The canister is fitted with a dose indicator, which indicates how many inhalations remain. The dose indicator display will move after every tenth actuation. When nearing the end of the usable inhalations, the color behind the number in the dose indicator window changes to red. Discard the inhaler when the dose indicator display window shows zero, corresponding to the use of 200 actuations.

XOPENEX HFA is contraindicated in patients with a history of hypersensitivity to levalbuterol, racemic albuterol, or any other component of XOPENEX HFA. Reactions have included urticaria, angioedema, rash, bronchospasm, anaphylaxis, and oropharyngeal edema. Hypersensitivity to levalbuterol, racemic albuterol or any other component of XOPENEX HFA Inhalation Aerosol. ( 4 )

Use of XOPENEX HFA may be associated with the following: Paradoxical bronchospasm [see Warnings and Precautions (5.1 )] Cardiovascular effects [see Warnings and Precautions (5.4 )] Immediate hypersensitivity reactions [see Warnings and Precautions (5.6 )] Hypokalemia [see Warnings and Precautions (5.8) ] Most common adverse reactions (≥ 2% and > placebo) are accidental injury, bronchitis, dizziness, pain, pharyngitis, rhinitis, and vomiting. ( 6 ) To report SUSPECTED ADVERSE REACTIONS, contact Lupin Pharmaceuticals, Inc. at 1-800-399-2561 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 a drug cannot be directly compared with rates in the clinical trials of another drug and may not reflect the rates observed in practice. Adults and Adolescents 12 Years of Age and Older Adverse reaction information concerning XOPENEX HFA in adults and adolescents is derived from two 8-week, multicenter, randomized, double-blind, active- and placebo-controlled trials in 748 adult and adolescent patients with asthma that compared XOPENEX HFA, a marketed albuterol HFA inhaler, and an HFA-134a placebo inhaler. Table 1 lists the incidence of all adverse reactions (whether considered by the investigator to be related or unrelated to drug) from these trials that occurred at a rate of 2% or greater in the group treated with XOPENEX HFA and more frequently than in the HFA-134a placebo inhaler group. Table 1: Adverse Reaction Incidence (% of Patients) in Two 8-Week Clinical Trials in Adults and Adolescents ≥ 12 Years of Age* * This table includes all adverse reactions (whether considered by the investigator to be related or unrelated to drug) from these trials that occurred at a rate of 2% or greater in the group treated with XOPENEX HFA and more frequently than in the HFA-134a placebo inhaler group. Body System Preferred Term XOPENEX HFA 90 mcg (n=403) Racemic Albuterol HFA 180 mcg (n=179) Placebo (n=166) Respiratory System Asthma 9% 7% 6% Pharyngitis 8% 2% 2% Rhinitis 7% 2% 3% Body as a Whole Pain 4% 3% 4% Central Nervous System Dizziness 3% 1% 2% Adverse reactions reported by less than 2% and at least 2 or more of the adolescent and adult patients receiving XOPENEX HFA and by a greater proportion than receiving HFA-134a placebo inhaler include cyst, flu syndrome, viral infection, constipation, gastroenteritis, myalgia, hypertension, epistaxis, lung disorder, acne, herpes simplex, conjunctivitis, ear pain, dysmenorrhea, hematuria, and vaginal moniliasis. There were no significant laboratory abnormalities observed in these studies. Pediatric Patients 4 to 11 Years of Age Adverse reaction information concerning XOPENEX HFA in children is derived from a 4-week, randomized, double-blind trial of XOPENEX HFA, a marketed albuterol HFA inhaler, and an HFA-134a placebo inhaler in 150 children aged 4 to 11 years with asthma. Table 2 lists the adverse reactions reported for XOPENEX HFA in children at a rate of 2% or greater and more frequently than for placebo. Table 2: Adverse Reaction Incidence (% of Patients) in a 4-Week Clinical Trial in Children 4-11 Years of Age* * This table includes all adverse reactions (whether considered by the investigator to be related or unrelated to drug) from the trial that occurred at a rate of 2% or greater in the group treated with XOPENEX HFA and more frequently than in the HFA-134a placebo inhaler group. Body System Preferred Term XOPENEX HFA 90 mcg (n=76) Racemic Albuterol HFA 180 mcg (n=39) Placebo (n=35) Digestive System Vomiting 11% 8% 6% Body as a Whole Accidental injury 9% 10% 6% Respiratory System Pharyngitis 7% 13% 6% Bronchitis 3% 0% 0% The incidence of systemic beta-adrenergic adverse reactions (e.g., tremor, nervousness) was low and comparable across all treatment groups, including placebo. 6.2 Post-marketing Experience In addition to the adverse reactions reported in clinical trials, the following adverse reactions have been observed in post-approval use of levalbuterol inhalation solution. 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. These events have been chosen for inclusion due to their seriousness, their frequency of reporting, or their likely beta-mediated mechanism: angioedema, anaphylaxis, arrhythmias (including atrial fibrillation, supraventricular tachycardia, extrasystoles), asthma, chest pain, cough increased, dysphonia, dyspnea, gastrooesophageal reflux disease (GERD), metabolic acidosis, nausea, nervousness, rash, tachycardia, tremor, urticaria. In addition, XOPENEX HFA, like other sympathomimetic agents, can cause adverse reactions such as hypertension, angina, vertigo, central nervous system stimulation, sleeplessness, headache, and drying or irritation of the oropharynx.

Other short-acting sympathomimetic aerosol bronchodilators or epinephrine should not be used concomitantly with XOPENEX HFA. If additional adrenergic drugs are to be administered by any route, they should be used with caution to avoid deleterious cardiovascular effects. Other short-acting sympathomimetic aerosol bronchodilators and adrenergic drugs : May potentiate effect. ( 7 ) Beta-blockers : May block bronchodilatory effects of beta-agonists and produce severe bronchospasm. Patients with asthma should not normally be treated with beta-blockers. ( 7.1 ) Diuretics : May worsen electrocardiographic changes or hypokalemia associated with diuretics may worsen. Consider monitoring potassium levels. ( 7.2 ) Digoxin : May decrease serum digoxin levels. Consider monitoring digoxin levels. ( 7.3 ) Monoamine oxidase inhibitors (MAOs) or tricyclic antidepressants : May potentiate effect of albuterol on the cardiovascular system. Consider alternative therapy in patients taking MAO inhibitors or tricyclic antidepressants. ( 7.4 ) 7.1 Beta-blockers Beta-blockers: Beta-adrenergic receptor blocking agents not only block the pulmonary effect of beta-adrenergic agonists, such as XOPENEX HFA, but may produce severe bronchospasm in asthmatic patients. Therefore, patients with asthma should not normally be treated with beta-blockers. However, under certain circumstances, e.g., as prophylaxis after myocardial infarction, there may be no acceptable alternatives to the use of beta-adrenergic blocking agents in patients with asthma. In this setting, cardioselective beta-blockers should be considered, although they should be administered with caution. 7.2 Diuretics The ECG changes or hypokalemia that may result from the administration of non-potassium-sparing diuretics (such as loop and thiazide diuretics) can be acutely worsened by beta-agonists, especially when the recommended dose of the beta-agonist is exceeded. Although the clinical significance of these effects is not known, caution is advised in the coadministration of beta-agonists with non-potassium-sparing diuretics. Consider monitoring potassium levels. 7.3 Digoxin Mean decreases of 16% to 22% in serum digoxin levels were demonstrated after single-dose intravenous and oral administration of racemic albuterol, respectively, to normal volunteers who had received digoxin for 10 days. The clinical significance of these findings for patients with obstructive airway disease who are receiving XOPENEX HFA and digoxin on a chronic basis is unclear. Nevertheless, it would be prudent to carefully evaluate the serum digoxin levels in patients who are currently receiving digoxin and XOPENEX HFA. 7.4 Monoamine Oxidase Inhibitors or Tricyclic Antidepressants XOPENEX HFA should be administered with extreme caution to patients being treated with monoamine oxidase inhibitors or tricyclic antidepressants, or within 2 weeks of discontinuation of such agents, because the action of albuterol on the vascular system may be potentiated. Consider alternative therapy in patients taking MAO inhibitors or tricyclic antidepressants.