Package Leaflet: Information for the User
CEVENFACTA 1 mg (45 kIU), powder and solvent for solution for injection
CEVENFACTA 2 mg (90 kIU), powder and solvent for solution for injection
CEVENFACTA 5 mg (225 kIU), powder and solvent for solution for injection
eptacog beta (activated)
This medicine is subject to additional monitoring, which will allow for the rapid identification of new safety information. You can help by reporting any side effects you may have. The last section of section 4 will tell you how to report side effects.
Read all of this leaflet carefully before you start using this medicine, because it contains important information for you.
Contents of the pack
CEVENFACTA contains the active substance eptacog beta (activated), a recombinant human coagulation factor VIIa (FVIIarh).
CEVENFACTA is used in adults and adolescents (12 years of age or older) who are born with haemophilia A or B and have developed inhibitors (antibodies). It is used for:
How CEVENFACTA works
This medicine works by forming a blood clot at the site of bleeding when the body's own clotting factors are not working.
Do not use CEVENFACTA
Warnings and precautions
Before starting treatment with CEVENFACTA, tell your doctor:
Patients with known casein allergy may have a higher risk of hypersensitivity reactions. If signs or symptoms of hypersensitivity occur, treatment should be discontinued and medical attention should be sought immediately. Symptoms may include urticaria (hives), itching, rash, difficulty breathing, swelling around the mouth and throat, chest tightness, wheezing, dizziness, or fainting, and decreased blood pressure.
Although not observed, the following reactions may occur with CEVENFACTA treatment:
If you experience any of these reactions, consult your doctor before continuing to use CEVENFACTA.
It is important to record the batch number of your CEVENFACTA. Each time you use a new pack of CEVENFACTA, note the date and batch number (which appears on the pack, after 'Lot') and keep this information in a safe place.
Adolescents
The warnings and precautions mentioned apply to both adults and adolescents (12 years of age or older).
Other medicines and CEVENFACTA
Tell your doctor if you have recently taken or might take any other medicines.
You should consult your doctor before using CEVENFACTA if
as the combination of these medicines with CEVENFACTA may increase the risk of thromboembolic events (formation of blood clots in the veins).
You should consult your doctor before starting treatment with CEVENFACTA with these medicines.
Pregnancy, breast-feeding, and fertility
If you are pregnant or breast-feeding, think you may be pregnant, or are planning to have a baby, ask your doctor for advice before taking this medicine.
Driving and using machines
Dizziness may occur after administration of CEVENFACTA. You should avoid driving or using machines while experiencing this symptom.
CEVENFACTA contains sodium
This medicine contains less than 1 mmol of sodium (23 mg) per injection, which is essentially 'sodium-free'.
Use of this medicine should be initiated and supervised by a doctor experienced in the treatment of haemophilia and/or bleeding disorders.
CEVENFACTA comes as a powder and must be reconstituted with solvent and injected into a vein (intravenous injection). Refer to the instructions for use guide at the end of this leaflet (section 7).
Self-administration
Injection of medicines requires special training. Do not attempt to self-administer unless your doctor or haemophilia treatment centre has taught you how to do it.
Many people with inhibitors learn to self-inject themselves or with the help of a family member. Once informed, you will need additional injection equipment, apart from your CEVENFACTA kit, to properly treat your bleeding episodes at home. Make sure you have all the necessary injection equipment before preparing the medicine for injection. This additional injection equipment will be provided by your healthcare professional (e.g., your pharmacist or haemophilia treatment centre).
CEVENFACTA can be injected at a haemophilia treatment centre, in your doctor's office, or at home. It is essential to treat bleeding as soon as possible to control it.
Start treatment of a bleeding episode as soon as possible, ideally within 2 hours.
? In case of mild or moderate bleeding (e.g., joint, superficial muscle, soft tissue, and mucous membranes), you should treat yourself as soon as possible, ideally at home.
? In case of severe bleeding (e.g., limb [arm or leg] bleeding or life-threatening bleeding, intracranial [in the skull] or gastrointestinal [in the stomach or intestine] bleeding), you should contact your doctor.
Severe bleeding is usually treated in the hospital, but the first dose of CEVENFACTA can be administered on the way to the medical facility.
Do not treat yourself for more than 24 hours without consulting your doctor.
? Each time you use this medicine, inform your healthcare professional as soon as possible.
? If bleeding is not controlled within 24 hours, contact your healthcare professional or emergency service immediately. You will usually need hospital assistance.
For reconstitution of the medicine before administration, follow the guide of the Instructions for useat the end of this leaflet (section 7).
Inject the solution into the vein over 2 minutes or less.
Follow your doctor's instructions for administration of this medicine exactly. If in doubt, consult your doctor again.
Dose
Your healthcare professional will tell you how much CEVENFACTA to use and when to administer the medicine based on your weight, condition, and type of bleeding.
Treatment of bleeding episodes
Treatment with this medicine should be started as soon as a bleeding episode occurs.
Mild and moderate bleeding:
Home treatment should not last more than 24 hours in case of mild to moderate bleeding episodes. Continuation of home treatment after 24 hours should only be considered after consultation at a haemophilia treatment centre.
Severe bleeding:
Seek immediate medical attention if signs or symptoms of severe bleeding occur at home.
To avoid any delay in treatment, the first dose can be administered on the way to the haemophilia treatment centre or doctor's office.
Follow the instructions for administration of the medicine contained in this leaflet or as indicated by your doctor. If in doubt, consult your doctor again.
Method of administration
For reconstitution of the medicine before administration and administration instructions, follow the guide of the Instructions for useat the end of this leaflet (section 7).
If you use more CEVENFACTA than you should
If you use too much CEVENFACTA, go to your doctor immediately.
If you forget to use CEVENFACTA:
If you forget to use CEVENFACTA, consult your doctor.
If you have any further questions on the use of this medicine, ask your doctor.
Like all medicines, this medicine can cause side effects, although not everybody gets them.
Common side effects
(may affect up to 1 in 10 people)
Reporting of side effects
If you experience any side effects, talk to your doctor or pharmacist. This includes any possible side effects not listed in this leaflet. You can also report side effects directly through the national reporting system listed in Appendix V. By reporting side effects, you can help provide more information on the safety of this medicine.
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 label and carton after EXP. The expiry date is the last day of the month shown.
Store below 30°C.
Do not freeze.
Keep the vial in the outer packaging to protect it from light.
For reconstitution of CEVENFACTA, use only the material provided in the kit.
After reconstitution, the product should be stored in the vial and administered within 4 hours. Any remaining solution should be discarded 4 hours after reconstitution.
Do not use this medicine if you notice that the liquid contains particles or is cloudy after mixing.
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 protect the environment.
Composition of CEVENFACTA
Powder: arginine hydrochloride, isoleucine, sodium citrate dihydrate, glycine, lysine hydrochloride, polysorbate 80, hydrochloric acid (for pH adjustment).
Solvent: water for injectable preparations.
See section 2 "CEVENFACTA contains sodium"
The powder for injectable solution contains: 1 mg/vial (which corresponds to 45 kIU/vial), 2 mg/vial (which corresponds to 90 kIU/vial), 5 mg/vial (which corresponds to 225 kIU/vial).
After reconstitution, the concentration of the solution is approximately 1 mg/ml (45 kIU/ml) of eptacog alfa (activated). 1 kIU is equal to 1,000 IU (International Units).
Appearance of CEVENFACTA and Container Contents
The vial of powder contains lyophilized powder that is white to off-white and the pre-filled syringe of solvent contains a clear and colorless solution. The reconstituted solution should be clear to slightly opaque.
Each package of CEVENFACTA contains:
Presentation: 1 mg (45 kIU), 2 mg (90 kIU), and 5 mg (225 kIU).
Marketing Authorization Holder
Laboratoire français du Fractionnement et des Biotechnologies
Tour W
102 Terrasse Boieldieu, 19th Floor
92800 Puteaux
France
Manufacturer
LFB Biotechnologies
Zone d’activité de Courtaboeuf
3 Avenue des Tropiques
91940 Les Ulis
France
+33 1 69 82 70 10
You can request more information about this medication by contacting the local representative of the marketing authorization holder:
Date of Last Revision of this Leaflet:
Other Sources of Information
Detailed information about this medication is available on the European Medicines Agency website: http://www.ema.europa.eu.
On the European Medicines Agency website, you can find this leaflet in all languages of the European Union/European Economic Area.
INSTRUCTIONS FOR USE
READ THESE INSTRUCTIONS CAREFULLY BEFORE STARTING TO USE CEVENFACTA
CEVENFACTA comes in the form of powder. Before injection, it must be prepared (reconstituted) with the solvent supplied in the syringe. The solvent is water for injectable preparations. The reconstituted CEVENFACTA must be injected into a vein (for intravenous use only).
This kit provides the necessary equipment to reconstitute the medication. Additional materials are needed to inject the medication after reconstitution. These materials will be provided by your healthcare professional (e.g., your pharmacist or your hemophilia treatment center).
Your doctor or nurse will show you and/or your caregiver how to prepare and inject CEVENFACTA. Do not use this kit without proper training by your healthcare professional or your hemophilia treatment center.
Use a clean and germ-free (aseptic) technique when preparing and injecting the medication.
A CEVENFACTA kit contains:
You will also need a sterile injection set (butterfly needle and syringe), a sterile plastic syringe, alcohol-impregnated swabs, and a puncture-proof container for disposing of sharp objects that comply with local regulations and guidelines. These materials are not included in the CEVENFACTA packaging.These materials will be provided by your healthcare professional (e.g., your pharmacist or your hemophilia treatment center).
Do not use the kit if the security seal is broken or if there are signs that the kit is contaminated. Use a new one instead.
Do not use it after the expiration date.
Do not use the contents if they have been dropped or are damaged. Use a new kit instead.
Do not heat the vial and pre-filled syringe in any other way.
If the plastic cap is loose or the vial comes without a cap, do not use it.
If the paper protector is not completely sealed or is broken, do not use the adapter.
Do not remove the vial adapter from its protective packaging with your fingers.If you touch the spike of the adapter with your fingers, you may transmit germs.
Once you have removed the plastic cover, do not touch the top of the adapter to avoid transmitting germs.
NOTE:The 5 mg vial adapter may not lie flat against the vial, but it is still fully functional. As mentioned earlier, your CEVENFACTA kit contains a single vial adapter (the one suitable for the vial included in the kit).
Avoid touching the tip of the syringe to avoid transmitting germs from your fingers.
If the syringe cap is loose or the syringe comes without one, do not use it.
Be careful not to overtighten, as you will need to remove the syringe later.
Do not push too quickly, as this may cause excessive foam and air to form in the vial.
Do not shake the vial, as this may cause foam and air to form.
Do not use the product if the solution contains any particles or is cloudy after mixing.Repeat the process with a new kit.
Do not remove the vial adapter.
Do not touch the top of the adapter with the Luer-Lock closure. If you touch it, you may transmit germs from your fingers.
Do not use if more than 4 hours have passed since reconstitution.
Do not throw away in household trash.
Do not separate the vial from the vial adapter before disposing of them.
Do not reuse any of the items contained in the kit.
Follow local regulations and guidelines for the proper disposal of the puncture-proof container.
Storage
CEVENFACTA comes in a kit that should be stored below 30°C.
Do not open the items in the kit until you are ready to use them.
Do not freeze or store in syringes that contain the reconstituted CEVENFACTA solution.
Avoid exposing the reconstituted CEVENFACTA solution to direct light.
Important Information
CEVENFACTA is only injected into a vein (intravenous administration). Do not inject it by any other route, such as under the skin (subcutaneous) or into a muscle (intramuscular). Contact your doctor, nurse, or pharmacist if you have any problems.