Summary of Product Characteristics: Information for the Patient
Briumvi 150 mg Concentrate for Solution for Infusion
ublituximab
This medicine is subject to additional monitoring, which will expedite the detection of new information about its safety. You can contribute by reporting any adverse effects you may experience. The final part of section 4 includes information on how to report these adverse effects.
Read this summary of product characteristics carefully before starting to take this medicine, as it contains important information for you.
What is Briumvi
Briumvi contains the active ingredient ublituximab. It is a type of protein known as a monoclonal antibody. Antibodies act by binding to specific targets in the body.
What is Briumvi used for
Briumvi is used to treat adults with recurrent forms of multiple sclerosis (EMR), in which the patient has relapses (recurrences) followed by periods with milder or no symptoms.
What is multiple sclerosis
Multiple sclerosis (MS) affects the central nervous system, particularly the nerves of the brain and spinal cord. In MS, some white blood cells called B lymphocytes, which are part of the immune system (the body's defense system), act incorrectly and attack a protective layer (called the myelin sheath) that surrounds nerve cells, causing inflammation and damage. The degradation of the myelin sheath prevents nerves from functioning correctly and causes MS symptoms. MS symptoms depend on the part of the central nervous system affected and may include walking and balance problems, muscle weakness, numbness, double vision and blurred vision, coordination problems, and bladder problems.
In recurrent forms of MS, the patient has repeated episodes of symptoms (recurrences) that may appear suddenly over a few hours or gradually over several days. Symptoms disappear or improve between recurrences, but damage can accumulate and lead to permanent disability.
How does Briumvi work
Briumvi works by binding to a target called CD20 on the surface of B lymphocytes. B lymphocytes are a type of white blood cell that is part of the immune system. In multiple sclerosis, the immune system attacks the protective layer that surrounds nerve cells. In this process, B lymphocytes are involved. Briumvi acts on B lymphocytes and eliminates them, thereby reducing the likelihood of recurrence, alleviating symptoms, and slowing disease progression.
You should not receive Briumvi:
If you are unsure, consult your doctor before starting Briumvi treatment.
Warnings and precautions
Inform your doctor before starting Briumvi treatmentif you meet any of the following criteria. Your doctor may decide to postpone your Briumvi treatment or that you cannot receive Briumvi if:
Infusion-related reactions
Infections
Vaccines
Children and adolescents
Briumvi is not indicated for children and adolescents under 18 years old. This is because it has not yet been studied in this age group.
Other medications and Briumvi
Inform your doctor or pharmacist if you are taking, have taken recently, or may need to take any other medication. In particular, inform your doctor:
If you meet any of these criteria (or are unsure), consult your doctor before starting Briumvi treatment.
Pregnancy and breastfeeding
Female contraception
If you can become pregnant (conceive), you should use contraceptive methods:
Driving and operating machinery
It is unlikely that Briumvi will affect your ability to drive or operate machinery.
Briumvi contains sodium
This medication contains less than 1 mmol of sodium (23 mg) per dose; it is essentially “sodium-free”.
A healthcare professional with experience in administering this treatment will give you Briumvi. They will closely monitor you while you are receiving this medication. This is in case you experience any side effects. You will always receive Briumvi through an IV (intravenous infusion).
Medications you will receive before receiving Briumvi
Before receiving Briumvi, you will be given other medications to prevent or reduce possible side effects such as infusion-related reactions (see sections 2 and 4 for information on infusion-related reactions).
You will receive a corticosteroid and an antihistamine before each infusion, and you may also receive other medications to reduce fever.
How much Briumvi you will receive and how often you will receive it
How Briumvi is administered
If you miss a Briumvi infusion
If you stop treatment with Briumvi
If you have any other questions about using this medication, ask your doctor.
Like all medicines, this medicine may cause side effects, although not everyone will experience them.
The following side effects have been reported with Briumvi:
Severe side effects
Perfusion-related reactions
Infections
Your doctor will wait for the infection to resolve before administering Briumvi.
Other side effects
Common(may affect up to 1 in 10 people)
Reporting side effects
If you experience any type of side effect, consult your doctor or nurse, even if it is a possible side effect not listed in this prospectus. You can also report them directly through thenational notification system included in theAppendix V. By reporting side effects, you can contribute to providing more information about the safety of this medicine.
Store in refrigerator (between 2 °C and 8 °C).
Healthcare professionals will store Briumvi in the hospital or clinic under the following conditions:
It is recommended to use the product immediately after dilution. If not used immediately, the storage times during use and the conditions before use are the responsibility of the healthcare professional and normally should not exceed 24 hours between 2 °C and 8 °C and subsequently 8 hours at room temperature.
Medicines should not be disposed of through drains. This will help protect the environment.
Composition of Briumvi
Appearance of the product and contents of the pack
Marketing authorization holder
Neuraxpharm Pharmaceuticals, S.L.
Avda. Barcelona 69
08970 Sant Joan Despí - Barcelona
Spain
Responsible person
Millmount Healthcare
Block 7, City North Business Campus
Stamullen
Co. Meath
Ireland
K32 YD60
For further information about this medicinal product, please contact the local representative of the marketing authorization holder:
Belgium/Belgique/Belgien Neuraxpharm Belgium Tel: +32 (0)2 732 56 95 | Lithuania Neuraxpharm Pharmaceuticals, S.L. Tel: +34 93 475 96 00 |
Neuraxpharm Pharmaceuticals, S.L. Teπ.: +34 93 475 96 00 | Luxembourg/Luxemburg Neuraxpharm France Tel: +32 474 62 2424 |
Czech Republic Neuraxpharm Bohemia s.r.o. Tel: +420 739 232 258 | Hungary Neuraxpharm Hungary Kft. Tel.: +3630 464 6834 |
Denmark Neuraxpharm Sweden AB Tlf: +46 (0)8 30 91 41 (Sweden) | Malta Neuraxpharm Pharmaceuticals, S.L. Tel: +34 93 475 96 00 |
Germany neuraxpharm Arzneimittel GmbH Tel: +49 2173 1060 0 | Netherlands Neuraxpharm Netherlands B.V. Tel.: +31 70 208 5211 |
Estonia Neuraxpharm Pharmaceuticals, S.L. Tel: +34 93 475 96 00 | Norway Neuraxpharm Sweden AB Tlf: +46 (0)8 30 91 41 (Sweden) |
Greece Brain Therapeutics PC Tel: +302109931458 | Austria Neuraxpharm Austria GmbH Tel.: +43 (0) 2236 320038 |
Spain Neuraxpharm Spain, S.L.U. Tel: +34 93 475 96 00 | Poland Neuraxpharm Polska Sp. z.o.o. Tel.: +48 783 423 453 |
France Neuraxpharm France Tel: +33 1.53.62.42.90 | Portugal Neuraxpharm Portugal, Unipessoal Lda Tel: +351 910 259 536 |
Croatia Neuraxpharm Pharmaceuticals, S.L. Tel: +34 93 475 96 00 | Romania Neuraxpharm Pharmaceuticals, S.L. Tel: +34 93 475 96 00 |
Ireland Neuraxpharm Ireland Ltd Tel: +353 (0)1 428 7777 | Slovenia Neuraxpharm Pharmaceuticals, S.L. Tel: +34 93 475 96 00 |
Iceland Neuraxpharm Sweden AB Tel: +46 (0)8 30 91 41 (Sweden) | Slovakia Neuraxpharm Slovakia a.s. Tel: +421 255 425 562 |
Italy Neuraxpharm Italy S.p.A. Tel: +39 0736 980619 | Finland Neuraxpharm Sweden AB Tel: +46 (0)8 30 91 41 (Sweden) |
Cyprus Brain Therapeutics PC Tel: +302109931458 | Sweden Neuraxpharm Sweden AB Tel: +46 (0)8 30 91 41 |
Latvia Neuraxpharm Pharmaceuticals, S.L. Tel: +34 93 475 96 00 | United Kingdom (Northern Ireland) Neuraxpharm Ireland Ltd Tel: +353 (0)1 428 7777 |
Last update of this leaflet:
Other sources of information
Further information about this medicinal product is available on the website of the European Medicines Agency:http://www.ema.europa.eu.
This information is intended for healthcare professionals only:
Read the summary of product characteristics or the package leaflet for more information.
Dosage
The first dose is administered as an intravenous infusion of 150 mg (first infusion), followed by an intravenous infusion of 450 mg, 2 weeks later (second infusion).
Subsequent doses of Briumvi are administered as a single intravenous infusion of 450 mg every 24 weeks (Table 1). The first subsequent dose of 450 mg should be administered 24 weeks after the first infusion. A minimum interval of 5 months should be maintained between each dose of Briumvi.
Figure 1: Dosage and calendar of Briumvi
First infusion | Second infusion | Previous infusions |
Day 1 | Day 15 | Every 6 months |
Treatment of RRPs before infusion
Two medications should be administered as premedication before each infusion of Briumvi to reduce the frequency and severity of RRPs:
Additionally, premedication with an antipyretic (e.g., paracetamol) may also be considered.
Instructions for dilution
Administration form
Table 1: Dosage and calendar of Briumvi
Amount and volume | Infusion rate | Duration 1 | |
First infusion | 150 mg in 250 ml |
4 hours | |
Second infusion (2 weeks later) | 450 mg in 250 ml |
1 hour | |
Subsequent infusions (every 24 weeks) | 450 mg in 250 ml |
1 hour |
1The duration of the infusion may be longer if the infusion is interrupted or slowed.
2The first subsequent dose should be administered 24 weeks after the first infusion.
Treatment of RRPs during and after infusion
Patients should be monitored during the infusion and for at least 1 hour after the completion of the first two infusions.
During infusion
In case of RRP during an infusion, the following adjustments should be taken into account.
Life-threatening RRP
If there are signs of a potentially life-threatening or incapacitating RRP during an infusion, the infusion should be stopped immediately and the patient should be given appropriate treatment. In these patients, treatment with Briumvi should be discontinued permanently (see section 4.3).
Severe RRP
If a patient experiences a severe RRP, the infusion should be stopped immediately and the patient should be given symptomatic treatment. The infusion should only be restarted once all symptoms have resolved. When restarting the infusion, start at half the infusion rate applied at the time of the RRP. If the infusion rate is tolerated, increase the infusion rate as described in Table 1.
Mild to moderate RRP
If a patient experiences a mild to moderate RRP, the infusion rate should be reduced to half the infusion rate applied at the time of the event. This reduced infusion rate should be maintained for at least 30 minutes. If the reduced infusion rate is tolerated, the infusion rate may be increased as described in Table 1.
After infusion
Shelf life
Unopened vial
3 years
Diluted solution for intravenous infusion
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