CASPOFUNGINA TILLOMED 50 mg POWDER FOR CONCENTRATE FOR INFUSION SOLUTION

Introduction

Package Leaflet: Information for the User

Caspofungin Tillomed 50 mg powder for concentrate for solution for infusion EFG

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.
• 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 Caspofungin Tillomed and what is it used for
2. What you need to know before you use Caspofungin Tillomed
3. How to use Caspofungin Tillomed
4. Possible side effects

5 Storage of Caspofungin Tillomed

1. Contents of the pack and further information

1. What is Caspofungin Tillomed and what is it used for

What is caspofungin

Caspofungin belongs to a group of medicines called antifungals.

What is caspofungin used for

Caspofungin is used to treat the following infections in children, adolescents, and adults:

• severe fungal infections in their tissues or organs (called “invasive candidiasis”). This infection is caused by fungus cells (yeast) called Candida. People who may get this type of infection include those who have just had an operation or those whose immune system is weakened. Fever and chills that do not respond to antibiotic treatment are the most common symptoms of this type of infection.

infections in the nose, sinuses, or lungs (called “invasive aspergillosis”) if other antifungal treatments have not worked or have caused side effects. This infection is caused by molds called Aspergillus.

• People who may get this type of infection include those receiving chemotherapy, those who have had a transplant, and those whose immune system is weakened.

suspected fungal infections if you have a fever and a low white blood cell count that has not improved with antibiotic treatment. People at risk of getting a fungal infection include those who have just had an operation or those whose immune system is weakened.

How caspofungin works

Caspofungin makes the fungus cells fragile and prevents the fungus from growing properly. This prevents the infection from spreading and gives the body's natural defenses a chance to get rid of the infection completely.

2. What you need to know before you use Caspofungin Tillomed

Do not use caspofungin

• if you are allergic to caspofungin or any of the other ingredients of this medicine (listed in section 6).

If you are not sure, talk to your doctor, pharmacist, or nurse before using your medicine.

Warnings and precautions

Talk to your doctor, pharmacist, or nurse before using caspofungin if:

• you are allergic to any other medicine.
• you have ever had liver problems; you may need a different dose of this medicine.
• you are already taking cyclosporin (which is used to prevent organ transplant rejection or to cause suppression of your immune system), as your doctor will probably need to do extra blood tests during your treatment.
• you have ever had any other medical problem.

If any of the above applies to you (or if you are not sure), talk to your doctor, pharmacist, or nurse before using caspofungin.

Cancidas can also cause severe skin reactions, such as Stevens-Johnson syndrome (SSJ) and toxic epidermal necrolysis (TEN).

Other medicines and caspofungin

Tell your doctor, pharmacist, or nurse if you are using, have recently used, or might use any other medicines. This includes medicines that you buy without a prescription, including herbal medicines.

This is because caspofungin may affect the way that other medicines work. Other medicines may also affect the way that caspofungin works.

Tell your doctor, pharmacist, or nurse if you are taking any of the following medicines:

• cyclosporin or tacrolimus (which are used to prevent organ transplant rejection or to cause suppression of your immune system), as your doctor will probably need to do extra blood tests during your treatment.
• certain anti-HIV medicines such as efavirenz or nevirapine.
• phenytoin or carbamazepine (which are used to treat seizures).
• dexamethasone (a steroid).
• rifampicin (an antibiotic).

If any of the above applies to you (or if you are not sure), talk to your doctor, pharmacist, or nurse before using caspofungin.

Pregnancy and breastfeeding

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

• Caspofungin has not been studied in pregnant women. It should only be used during pregnancy if the potential benefit justifies the potential risk to the unborn baby.
• Women who use caspofungin must not breastfeed.

Driving and using machines

There is no information to suggest that caspofungin affects your ability to drive or use machines.

Caspofungin Tillomed contains sodium

This medicine contains less than 1 mmol of sodium (23 mg) per vial; this is essentially “sodium-free”.

3. How to use Caspofungin Tillomed

Caspofungin will always be prepared and given to you by a healthcare professional. You will be given caspofungin:

• once a day.
• by slow injection into a vein (intravenous infusion).
• over about 1 hour.

Your doctor will decide how long you should receive caspofungin and how much you should receive each day. Your doctor will monitor whether the effect of the medicine is adequate. If you weigh more than 80 kg, you may need a different dose.

Use in children and adolescents

The dose for children and adolescents may be different from the dose for adults.

If you use more caspofungin than you should

Your doctor will decide how much caspofungin you need and for how long each day. If you are worried that you may have been given too much caspofungin, tell your doctor or nurse straight away.

In case of overdose or accidental ingestion, consult your doctor or pharmacist immediately or call the Toxicology Information Service, phone: 91 562 04 20, indicating the medicine and the amount ingested.

If you have any further questions on the use of this product, ask your doctor, pharmacist, or nurse.

4. Possible side effects

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

Tell your doctor or nurse straight away if you notice any of the following side effects – you may need urgent medical treatment:

• rash, itching, feeling of warmth, swelling of your face, lips, or throat, or difficulty breathing: you may be having a histamine reaction to the medicine.
• difficulty breathing with wheezing or worsening of a rash that you already have: you may be having an allergic reaction to the medicine.
• cough, severe breathing difficulties: if you are an adult and have invasive aspergillosis, you may experience a severe breathing problem that could lead to respiratory failure.
• rash, skin peeling, blisters on the mucous membranes, hives, large areas of skin peeling.

As with any prescription medicine, some side effects may be serious. Ask your doctor for more information.

Other side effects in adults include:

Common: may affect up to 1 in 10 people:

• decrease in hemoglobin (decrease in the substance that carries oxygen in the blood), decrease in white blood cells.
• decrease in albumin (a type of protein) in your blood, decrease in potassium or low potassium levels in the blood.
• headache.
• vein inflammation.
• shortness of breath.
• diarrhea, nausea, or vomiting.
• changes in some laboratory blood tests (such as increased values of some liver tests).
• itching, rash, redness of the skin, or more sweating than usual.
• joint pain.
• chills, fever.
• itching at the injection site.

Uncommon: may affect up to 1 in 100 people:

• changes in some laboratory blood tests (including blood clotting disorders, platelets, red blood cells, and white blood cells).
• loss of appetite, increase in body fluid, imbalance of body salts, high blood sugar, low calcium levels in the blood, low magnesium levels in the blood, increase in acid levels in the blood.
• disorientation, feeling nervous, inability to sleep.
• feeling dizzy, decreased sensation or sensitivity (especially in the skin), agitation, feeling sleepy, change in the way things taste, tingling or numbness.
• blurred vision, increased tearing, swollen eyelid, yellowing of the white part of the eyes.
• feeling of rapid or irregular heartbeats, rapid heartbeat, irregular heartbeat, abnormal heart rhythm, heart failure.
• flushing, hot flashes, high blood pressure, low blood pressure, redness along a vein that is very sensitive to touch.
• tightness in the muscle bands around the airways leading to wheezing or cough, rapid breathing rate, shortness of breath that wakes you up, lack of oxygen in the blood, abnormal breathing sounds, crackling sounds in the lungs, wheezing, nasal congestion, cough, sore throat.
• abdominal pain, pain in the upper abdomen, swelling, constipation, difficulty swallowing, dry mouth, indigestion, gas, stomach upset, swelling due to fluid accumulation around the abdomen.
• decrease in bile flow, increase in liver size, yellowing of the skin and/or the white part of the eyes, liver damage caused by a drug or chemical, liver disorder.
• abnormal skin tissue, generalized itching, hives, rash of varying appearance, abnormal skin, red spots, often with itching, on arms and legs and sometimes on the face and the rest of the body.
• back pain, pain in an arm or leg, bone pain, muscle pain, muscle weakness.
• loss of kidney function, sudden loss of kidney function.
• pain at the catheter site, symptoms at the injection site (redness, hard lump, pain, swelling, irritation, rash, hives, leakage of fluid from the catheter into the tissue), vein inflammation at the injection site.
• increase in blood pressure and changes in some laboratory blood tests (such as kidney electrolyte tests and coagulation tests), increase in levels of medicines that you are taking that weaken the immune system.
• chest discomfort, chest pain, feeling of change in body temperature, feeling unwell, general pain, swelling of the face, swelling of the ankles, hands, or feet, swelling, pain when touched.

Other side effects in children and adolescents

Very common: may affect more than 1 in 10 people:

• fever.

Common: may affect up to 1 in 10 people:

• headache.
• rapid heartbeat.
• flushing, low blood pressure.
• changes in some laboratory blood tests (increased values of some liver tests).
• itching, rash.
• pain at the catheter site.
• chills.
• changes in some laboratory blood tests.

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 Spanish Medicines Surveillance System for Human Use: https://www.notificaram.es. By reporting side effects, you can help provide more information on the safety of this medicine.

5. Storage of Caspofungin Tillomed

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 vial (the first two numbers are the month; the next four numbers are the year). The expiry date is the last day of the month stated.

Store in a refrigerator (between 2°C and 8°C).

Once caspofungin has been prepared, it should be used immediately. This is because it does not contain any preservative to prevent bacterial growth. Only a trained healthcare professional who has read the complete instructions should prepare the medicine (see “Instructions for reconstituting and diluting caspofungin” below).

Medicines should not be disposed of via wastewater or household waste. Return the containers and any unused medicines to the pharmacy. Ask your pharmacist how to dispose of containers and any unused medicines. This will help protect the environment.

6. Contents of the pack and further information

Composition of Caspofungin Tillomed

• The active substance is caspofungin. Each vial of Caspofungin Tillomed contains 50 mg of caspofungin.
• The other ingredients are: sucrose, mannitol (E421), sodium hydroxide (E524), and glacial acetic acid (E260) (see section 2. What you need to know before you use Caspofungin Tillomed).

Appearance and packaging

Caspofungin is a compact, sterile, white to off-white powder.

Each pack contains one vial of powder.

Marketing authorisation holder and manufacturer

Marketing authorisation holder

Laboratorios Tillomed Spain, S.L.

C/ Cardenal Marcelo Spínola, 8

28016 Madrid (Spain)

Manufacturer1

MIAS Pharma Limited

Suite 2,

Stafford House,

Strand Road,

Portmarnock,

Co. Dublin,

Ireland

Tillomed Malta Limited

Malta Life Sciences Park

LS2.01.06 Industrial Estate

San Gwann, SGN 3000, Malta

1 only the current manufacturer of the product is indicated in the leaflet.

This medicine is authorised in the Member States of the European Economic Area under the following names:

Netherlands: Caspofungine Tillomed 50 mg Powder for concentrate for solution for infusion

Austria: Caspofungin Tillomed 50 mg Pulver für ein Konzentrat zur Herstellung einer Infusionslösung

Denmark: Caspofungin Tillomed

Finland: Caspofungin Tillomed 50 mg kuiva-aine välikonsentraatiksi infuusionestettä varten, liuos

Norway: Caspofungin Tillomed

Sweden: Caspofungin Tillomed 50 mg pulver till koncentrat till infusionsvätska, lösning

Italy: Caspofungin Tillomed

Spain: Caspofungina Tillomed 50 mg polvo para concentrado para solución para perfusión EFG

Date of last revision of this leaflet: Jul 2022

Other sources of information

Detailed information on this medicine is available on the website of the Spanish Agency for Medicines and Health Products (AEMPS) http://www.aemps.gob.es/

________________________________________________________________________

This information is intended only for healthcare professionals:

Instructions for reconstituting and diluting caspofungin:

Reconstitution of caspofungin

DO NOT USE DILUENTS CONTAINING GLUCOSE, as caspofungin is not stable in diluents containing glucose. DO NOT MIX OR INFUSE caspofungin WITH ANY OTHER MEDICINE, as there are no data on the compatibility of caspofungin with other substances, additives, or pharmaceutical specialties for intravenous use. The infusion solution should be inspected visually for particulate matter or a change in color.

INSTRUCTIONS FOR USE IN ADULT PATIENTS

Step 1 Reconstitution of the vials

To reconstitute the powder, bring the vial to room temperature and add 10.5 ml of water for injection aseptically. The concentration of the reconstituted vial will be 5.2 mg/ml.

The compact, sterile, white to off-white powder will dissolve completely. Mix gently until a clear solution is obtained. Reconstituted solutions should be inspected visually for particulate matter or a change in color. The reconstituted solution may be stored for a maximum of 24 hours at a temperature of 25°C or below.

Step 2 - Addition of reconstituted caspofungin to the infusion solution for the patient

The diluents for the final infusion solution are: sodium chloride injection solution or lactated Ringer's solution. The infusion solution is prepared by adding the appropriate amount of reconstituted concentrate (as shown in the table below) aseptically to a 250 ml infusion bag or bottle. Infusions of reduced volume in 100 ml may be used if medically necessary for daily doses of 50 mg or 35 mg. Do not use if the solution is cloudy or has precipitated.

PREPARATION OF THE SOLUTION FOR INFUSION IN ADULTS

*10.5 ml should be used for the reconstitution of all vials

INSTRUCTIONS FOR USE IN PEDIATRIC PATIENTS

CALCULATION OF BODY SURFACE AREA (BSA) FOR PEDIATRIC DOSING

Before preparing the infusion, calculate the body surface area (BSA) of the patient using the following formula: (Mosteller's formula)

PREPARATION OF 70 MG/M² INFUSION

1. Determine the actual loading dose to be used in the pediatric patient using the patient's BSA (as calculated above) and the following equation:

BSA (m²) x 70 mg/m² = loading dose

The maximum loading dose on day 1 should not exceed 70 mg, regardless of the calculated dose for the patient.

1. Wait for the refrigerated caspofungin vial to reach room temperature.
2. Aseptically, add 10.5 ml of water for injectable preparations. This reconstituted solution can be stored for up to 24 hours at a temperature of 25 °C or below.
3. Extract from the vial a volume of the medication equal to the calculated loading dose (Step 1). Transfer aseptically this volume (ml) of reconstituted caspofungin to an intravenous bag (or bottle) containing 250 ml of sodium chloride injection solution at 0.9%, 0.45%, or 0.225%, or lactated Ringer's solution. Alternatively, the volume (ml) of reconstituted caspofungin can be added to a reduced volume of sodium chloride injection solution at 0.9%, 0.45%, or 0.225%, or lactated Ringer's solution, without exceeding a final concentration of 0.5 mg/ml. This infusion solution should be used within 24 hours if stored at a temperature of 25 °C or below, or within 48 hours if stored refrigerated between 2 and 8 °C.

PREPARATION OF 50 MG/M² INFUSION

1. Determine the actual daily maintenance dose to be used in the pediatric patient using the patient's BSA (as calculated above) and the following equation:

BSA (m²) x 50 mg/m² = daily maintenance dose

The daily maintenance dose should not exceed 70 mg, regardless of the calculated dose for the patient.

1. Wait for the refrigerated caspofungin vial to reach room temperature.
2. Aseptically, add 10.5 ml of water for injectable preparations. This reconstituted solution can be stored for up to 24 hours at a temperature of 25 °C or below.
3. Extract from the vial a volume of the medication equal to the calculated daily maintenance dose (Step 1). Transfer aseptically this volume (ml) of reconstituted caspofungin to an intravenous bag (or bottle) containing 250 ml of sodium chloride injection solution at 0.9%, 0.45%, or 0.225%, or lactated Ringer's solution. Alternatively, the volume (ml) of reconstituted caspofungin can be added to a reduced volume of sodium chloride injection solution at 0.9%, 0.45%, or 0.225%, or lactated Ringer's solution, without exceeding a final concentration of 0.5 mg/ml. This infusion solution should be used within 24 hours if stored at a temperature of 25 °C or below, or within 48 hours if stored refrigerated between 2 and 8 °C.

Mosteller RD: Simplified Calculation of Body Surface Area. N Engl J Med 1987 Oct 22;317(17):1098(letter)