ARANESP 100 micrograms READY-TO-USE INJECTION SOLUTION IN PRE-FILLED SYRINGE

Introduction

Package Leaflet: Information for the User

Aranesp 10 micrograms solution for injection in pre-filled syringe

Aranesp 15 micrograms solution for injection in pre-filled syringe

Aranesp 20 micrograms solution for injection in pre-filled syringe

Aranesp 30 micrograms solution for injection in pre-filled syringe

Aranesp 40 micrograms solution for injection in pre-filled syringe

Aranesp 50 micrograms solution for injection in pre-filled syringe

Aranesp 60 micrograms solution for injection in pre-filled syringe

Aranesp 80 micrograms solution for injection in pre-filled syringe

Aranesp 100 micrograms solution for injection in pre-filled syringe

Aranesp 130 micrograms solution for injection in pre-filled syringe

Aranesp 150 micrograms solution for injection in pre-filled syringe

Aranesp 300 micrograms solution for injection in pre-filled syringe

Aranesp 500 micrograms solution for injection in pre-filled syringe

darbepoetin alfa (darbepoetin alfa)

Read all of this leaflet carefully before you start using this medicine because it contains important information for you.

• Keep this leaflet, you may need to read it again.
• If you have any further questions, ask your doctor, pharmacist or nurse.
• This medicine has been prescribed for you only. Do not pass it on to others. It may harm them, even if their signs of illness are the same as yours.
• If you get any side effects, talk to your doctor, pharmacist or nurse. This includes any possible side effects not listed in this leaflet. See section 4.

Contents of the pack

1. What is Aranesp and what is it used for
2. What you need to know before you use Aranesp
3. How to use Aranesp
4. Possible side effects
5. Storing Aranesp
6. Contents of the pack and other information

1. What is Aranesp and what is it used for

Your doctor has prescribed Aranesp (an anti-anaemic) for the treatment of your anaemia. Anaemia occurs when the blood does not contain enough red blood cells and the symptoms can be fatigue, weakness and shortness of breath.

Aranesp works in exactly the same way as the natural hormone erythropoietin. Erythropoietin is produced in the kidneys and helps the bone marrow to produce more red blood cells. The active substance of Aranesp is darbepoetin alfa, produced by genetic engineering in Chinese Hamster Ovary (CHO-K1) cells.

If you have chronic kidney disease

Aranesp is used to treat symptomatic anaemia associated with chronic kidney disease (kidney failure) in adults and children. In kidney failure, the kidney does not produce enough of the natural hormone erythropoietin, which can often cause anaemia.

As your body will need some time to produce more red blood cells, it will take about four weeks before you notice any effect. Your normal dialysis routine will not affect Aranesp's ability to treat your anaemia.

If you are receiving chemotherapy

Aranesp is used to treat symptomatic anaemia in adult patients with non-myeloid malignancies receiving chemotherapy.

One of the main side effects of chemotherapy is that it stops the bone marrow from producing enough red blood cells. Towards the end of chemotherapy treatment, especially if you have received a lot of chemotherapy, your red blood cell count may decrease, causing anaemia.

2. What you need to know before you use Aranesp

Do not use Aranesp:

• if you are allergic to darbepoetin alfa or any of the other ingredients of this medicine (listed in section 6).
• if you have high blood pressure that is not being treated with other medicines prescribed by your doctor.

Warnings and precautions

Talk to your doctor, pharmacist or nurse before you start using Aranesp.

Tell your doctor if you have or have had:

• high blood pressure that is being treated with medicines prescribed by your doctor;
• sickle cell anaemia;
• seizures (fits);
• convulsions (fits and seizures);
• liver disease;
• if you do not respond to medicines used to treat anaemia;
• allergy to latex (the needle cap of the pre-filled syringe contains a latex derivative); or
• hepatitis C.

Special precautions:

• If you have symptoms such as more tiredness than usual and lack of energy, it may be due to a disorder called pure red cell aplasia (PRCA) that has been observed in some patients. PRCA means that your body has reduced or stopped producing red blood cells, which can cause severe anaemia. If you experience these symptoms, contact your doctor, who will determine the best way to treat your anaemia.

• Be cautious with other medicines that stimulate the production of red blood cells: Aranesp belongs to a group of medicines that stimulate the production of red blood cells, such as human erythropoietic proteins. Your doctor should always keep a record of the exact medicine you are using.

• If you are a patient with chronic kidney disease and especially if you do not respond correctly to Aranesp, your doctor will review the dose of Aranesp, as if you do not respond to treatment, repeated increases in the dose of Aranesp may increase the risk of having a heart or blood vessel problem and may increase the risk of heart attack, stroke and death.

• Your doctor will try to keep your haemoglobin levels between 10 and 12 g/dl. Your doctor will check that your haemoglobin does not exceed a certain level, as high haemoglobin concentrations may put you at risk of having a heart or blood vessel problem and may increase the risk of heart attack, stroke and death.

• If you experience symptoms that include severe headache, numbness, confusion, vision problems, nausea, vomiting or seizures (convulsions), it may mean that you have very high blood pressure. If you experience these symptoms, you should contact your doctor.

• If you are a cancer patient, you should know that Aranesp may act as a growth factor for blood cells and that in some circumstances it may have a negative effect on your cancer. Depending on your individual situation, it may be preferable to have a blood transfusion. Please discuss this with your doctor.

• The use of this medicine in healthy subjects may cause heart or blood vessel problems that can be fatal.

• There have been reports of serious skin reactions associated with treatment with epoetins, including Stevens-Johnson syndrome (SJS) and toxic epidermal necrolysis (TEN). SJS/TEN can appear initially as red spots similar to a target or circular spots often with central blisters on the torso. In addition, there may be ulcers in the mouth, throat, nose, genitals and eyes (red and swollen eyes). These severe rashes are often preceded by fever or flu-like symptoms. The rashes can progress to widespread skin peeling and potentially fatal complications. If you experience a severe rash or any of these skin symptoms, stop taking Aranesp and inform your doctor or seek immediate medical attention.

Using Aranesp with other medicines

Tell your doctor or pharmacist if you are using, have recently used or might use any other medicines.

Ciclosporin and tacrolimus (medicines that suppress the immune system) may be affected by the number of red blood cells in the blood. It is important that you tell your doctor if you are using any of these medicines.

Using Aranesp with food and drink

Food and drink do not affect Aranesp.

Pregnancy and breast-feeding

If you are pregnant or breast-feeding, think you may be pregnant or are planning to have a baby, ask your doctor or pharmacist for advice before using this medicine.

Aranesp has not been used in pregnant women. It is important that you tell your doctor if you:

• are pregnant;
• think you may be pregnant; or
• are planning to have a baby.

It is not known whether darbepoetin alfa is excreted in breast milk. If you are treated with Aranesp, you should stop breast-feeding.

Driving and using machines

Aranesp should not affect your ability to drive or use machines.

Aranesp contains sodium

This medicine contains less than 1 mmol of sodium (23 mg) per dose, which is essentially "sodium-free".

3. How to use Aranesp

Follow exactly the instructions for administration of this medicine given by your doctor or pharmacist. If you are unsure, ask your doctor or pharmacist again.

After some blood tests, your doctor has decided that you need Aranesp because your haemoglobin level is 10 g/dl or less. Your doctor will tell you how much Aranesp you need and how often you should use it to keep your haemoglobin level between 10 and 12 g/dl. This may vary depending on whether you are an adult or a child.

How to inject Aranesp yourself

Your doctor may decide that it is better for you or the people taking care of you to inject Aranesp. Your doctor, nurse or pharmacist will teach you how to inject the pre-filled syringe. Do not try to inject yourself if you have not been taught how to do it. Never inject Aranesp yourself into a vein.

If you have chronic kidney disease

For all adult and paediatric patients ≥ 1 year of age with chronic kidney disease, Aranesp is given as a single injection, under the skin (subcutaneously) or into a vein (intravenously).

To correct anaemia, the initial dose of Aranesp per kilogram of body weight will be:

• 0.75 micrograms once every two weeks, or
• 0.45 micrograms once a week.

For adult patients not on dialysis, 1.5 micrograms/kg once a month may also be used as the initial dose.

For all adult and paediatric patients ≥ 1 year of age with chronic kidney disease, once your anaemia is corrected, you will continue to receive Aranesp as a single injection, either once a week or once every 2 weeks. For all adult and paediatric patients ≥ 11 years of age who are not on dialysis, Aranesp may also be given as a monthly injection.

Your doctor will regularly take blood samples to see how your anaemia is responding to treatment and, if necessary, may need to adjust the dose every four weeks to maintain long-term control of your anaemia.

Your doctor will use the lowest effective dose to control the symptoms of your anaemia.

If you do not respond adequately to Aranesp, your doctor will review your dose and inform you if you need to change the doses of Aranesp.

Your doctor will regularly check your blood pressure, especially at the start of treatment.

In some cases, your doctor may recommend that you take iron supplements.

Your doctor may decide to change the way you are given the injection (under the skin or into a vein). If this happens, you will start with the same dose you were receiving before and you will have blood tests to check that your anaemia is still being treated correctly.

If your doctor has decided to change your treatment from r-HuEPO (genetically engineered erythropoietin) to Aranesp, they will choose to give you Aranesp once a week or once every two weeks. The route of administration will be the same as with r-HuEPO, but your doctor will decide how much and when you should be given it, and may adjust the dose you receive if necessary.

If you are receiving chemotherapy

Aranesp is given under the skin as a single injection, once a week or once every three weeks.

To correct your anaemia, the initial dose of Aranesp will be:

• 500 micrograms once every three weeks (6.75 micrograms of Aranesp per kilogram of body weight), or
• 2.25 micrograms of Aranesp per kilogram of body weight (once a week).

Your doctor will regularly take blood samples to measure how your anaemia is responding, and may adjust the dose as necessary. Treatment will continue until about 4 weeks after the end of chemotherapy. Your doctor will tell you exactly when to stop taking Aranesp.

In some cases, your doctor may recommend that you take iron supplements.

If you use more Aranesp than you should

You may have serious problems if you inject more Aranesp than you should, such as very high blood pressure. Contact your doctor or pharmacist if this happens. If you do not feel well, contact your doctor or pharmacist immediately.

If you forget to use Aranesp

Do not take a double dose to make up for forgotten doses.

If you forget to inject a dose of Aranesp, contact your doctor to see when you should inject the next dose.

If you stop using Aranesp

If you want to stop using Aranesp, you should first discuss this with your doctor.

4. Possible side effects

Like all medicines, this medicine can cause side effects, although not everybody gets them.

Some patients have experienced the following side effects using Aranesp:

Patients with chronic kidney disease

Very common:may affect more than 1 in 10 people

• High blood pressure (hypertension)
• Allergic reactions

Common:may affect up to 1 in 10 people

• Stroke
• Pain at the injection site
• Rash and/or redness of the skin

Uncommon:may affect up to 1 in 100 people

• Blood clots (thrombosis)
• Seizures (fits and seizures)

Frequency not known:frequency cannot be estimated from the available data

• Pure red cell aplasia (PRCA) – (anaemia, more tiredness than usual, lack of energy)

Patients with cancer

Very common:may affect more than 1 in 10 people

• Allergic reactions
• Fluid retention (oedema)

Common:may affect up to 1 in 10 people

• High blood pressure (hypertension)
• Blood clots (thrombosis)
• Pain at the injection site
• Rash and/or redness of the skin

Uncommon:may affect up to 1 in 100 people

• Seizures (fits and seizures)

All patients

Frequency not known:frequency cannot be estimated from the available data

• Severe allergic reactions that can include:
• Unexpected allergic reactions that can be life-threatening (anaphylaxis)
• Swelling of the face, lips, mouth, tongue or throat that can cause difficulty swallowing or breathing (angioedema)

• Difficulty breathing (allergic bronchospasm)
• Skin rashes
• Hives (urticaria)
• Severe skin reactions including Stevens-Johnson syndrome (SJS) and toxic epidermal necrolysis (TEN) have been reported in association with treatment with epoetins. These can appear as red spots similar to a target or circular spots often with central blisters on the torso, skin peeling, ulcers in the mouth, throat, nose, genitals and eyes, and can be preceded by fever or flu-like symptoms.

Stop taking Aranesp if you experience these symptoms and inform your doctor or seek immediate medical attention. See also section 2.

• Bruising and bleeding at the injection site

Reporting of side effects

If you experience any side effects, talk to your doctor, pharmacist or nurse. This includes any possible side effects not listed in this leaflet. You can also report side effects directly via the national reporting system listed in Appendix V. By reporting side effects, you can help provide more information on the safety of this medicine.

5. Storing Aranesp

Keep this medicine out of the sight and reach of children.

Do not use this medicine after the expiry date which is stated on the carton and on the label after “EXP”. The expiry date refers to the last day of that month.

Store in a refrigerator (2°C - 8°C). Do not freeze. Do not use Aranesp if you think it has been frozen.

Keep the pre-filled syringe in the outer carton in order to protect it from light.

Once you have removed your syringe from the refrigerator and left it at room temperature for about 30 minutes before injecting, you must use it within 7 days or discard it.

Do not use this medicine if you notice that the contents of the syringe are cloudy or contain particles.

Medicines should not be disposed of via wastewater or household waste. Ask your pharmacist how to dispose of medicines no longer required. This will help to protect the environment.

6. Package Contents and Additional Information

Aranesp Composition

• The active ingredient is darbepoetina alfa, r-HuEPO (erythropoietin produced by genetic technology). The pre-filled syringes contain 10, 15, 20, 30, 40, 50, 60, 80, 100, 130, 150, 300 or 500 micrograms of darbepoetina alfa.
• The other components are sodium phosphate monobasic, sodium phosphate dibasic, sodium chloride, polysorbate 80, and water for injectables.

Product Appearance and Package Contents

Aranesp is a clear, colorless or slightly opalescent injectable solution in a pre-filled syringe.

Aranesp is available in packs of 1 or 4 pre-filled syringes with an automatic needle protector, packaged in a blister pack. Not all pack sizes may be marketed.

Marketing Authorization Holder and Manufacturer

Amgen Europe B.V.

Minervum 7061

NL-4817 ZK Breda

Netherlands

Marketing Authorization Holder

Amgen Europe B.V.

Minervum 7061

NL-4817 ZK Breda

Netherlands

Manufacturer

Amgen Technology (Ireland) Unlimited Company

Pottery Road

Dun Laoghaire

Co Dublin

Ireland

Manufacturer

Amgen NV

Telecomlaan 5-7

1831 Diegem

Belgium

For further information about this medicinal product, please contact the local representative of the marketing authorization holder.

Date of Last Revision of this Leaflet:

Other Sources of Information

Detailed information on this medicinal product is available on the European Medicines Agency website http://www.ema.europa.eu.

This leaflet is available in all EU/EEA languages on the European Medicines Agency website.