REFIXIA 500 IU POWDER AND SOLVENT FOR INJECTABLE SOLUTION

Introduction

Package Leaflet: Information for the User

Refixia500UI powder and solvent for solution for injection

Refixia 1000UI powder and solvent for solution for injection

Refixia 2000UI powder and solvent for solution for injection

Refixia 3000UI powder and solvent for solution for injection

nonacog beta pegol

This medicinal product is subject to additional monitoring, which will allow for quick identification of new safety information. You can help by reporting any side effects you may get. See the end of section 4 for how to report side effects.

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.
• 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. This includes any possible side effects not listed in this leaflet. See section 4.

Contents of the pack

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

1. What is Refixia and what is it used for

What is Refixia

Refixia contains the active substance nonacog beta pegol. It is a long-acting factor IX. Factor IX is a protein that is naturally found in the blood and helps to stop bleeding.

What Refixia is used for

Refixia is used to treat and prevent bleeding episodes in patients of all ages with haemophilia B (congenital factor IX deficiency).

In patients with haemophilia B, factor IX is missing or does not work properly. Refixia replaces the missing or non-functioning factor IX and helps the blood to form clots at the site of bleeding.

2. What you need to know before you use Refixia

Do not use Refixia

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

If you are in any of these situations or are not sure, consult your doctor before using this medicine.

Warnings and precautions

Traceability

In order to improve the tracing of any adverse reactions, it is important to keep a record of the batch number of Refixia. Therefore, each time you get a new pack of Refixia, note the batch number (which is printed on the carton after the word ‘Batch’) and the date you got it, and keep this information in a safe place.

Allergic reactions and development of inhibitors

There is a small risk that you may develop an allergic reaction to Refixia. Stop the injection and contact your doctor or emergency services immediately if you get any signs of an allergic reaction, such as rash, hives, itching over large areas of the body, redness and/or swelling of the lips, tongue, face or hands, difficulty swallowing or breathing, shortness of breath, wheezing, chest tightness, pale and cold skin, palpitations and/or dizziness.

Your doctor may need to treat you promptly for these reactions. Your doctor may also do a blood test to check if you have developed inhibitors (neutralising antibodies) to your medicine, as inhibitors can develop together with allergic reactions. If you develop such inhibitors, you may have a higher risk of getting severe allergic reactions (e.g. anaphylactic reactions) during future treatment with factor IX.

Because of the risk of allergic reactions with factor IX, your initial treatment with Refixia should be carried out in a hospital or in the presence of a healthcare professional who can provide you with appropriate medical care in case of an allergic reaction.

Tell your doctor immediately if bleeding does not stop as expected or if you need to increase significantly the amount of Refixia you need to stop a bleed. Your doctor will do a blood test to check if you have developed inhibitors (neutralising antibodies) to Refixia. The risk of developing inhibitors is higher in people who have not been treated before with factor IX medicines, usually in young children.

Blood clots

Tell your doctor if you have any of the following, as the risk of blood clots increases during treatment with Refixia:

• you have recently had surgery
• you have other serious illnesses, such as liver disease, heart disease or cancer
• you have risk factors for developing heart disease, such as high blood pressure, obesity or smoking.

Kidney disease (nephrotic syndrome)

There is a small risk of developing a specific kidney disease called “nephrotic syndrome” after administration of high doses of factor IX in patients with haemophilia B and factor IX inhibitors, as well as a history of allergic reactions.

Catheter-related complications

If you have a central venous access device (CVAD), you may develop infections or blood clots at the site of the catheter insertion.

Other medicines and Refixia

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

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 for advice before using Refixia.

Driving and using machines

Refixia has no influence on the ability to drive and use machines.

Refixia contains sodium

This medicine contains less than 1 mmol sodium (23 mg) per vial, i.e. it is essentially ‘sodium-free’. In case of treatment with multiple vials, the total sodium content should be taken into account.

3. How to use Refixia

Treatment with Refixia should be started by a doctor who has experience in the treatment of patients with haemophilia B. Follow exactly the instructions for administration of this medicine given by your doctor. If you are not sure, ask your doctor again how to use Refixia.

Your doctor will calculate the dose you need based on your weight and what the medicine is being used for.

Bleeding prevention

The usual dose of Refixia is 40 international units (IU) per kg body weight. It is given by injection once a week. Your doctor may choose a different dose or change how often you get injections, based on your needs.

Bleeding treatment

The usual dose of Refixia is 40 international units (IU) per kg body weight. Depending on the location and severity of the bleed, you may need a higher dose (80 IU per kg) or additional injections. Ask your doctor about the dose and number of injections you need.

Use in children and adolescents

Refixia can be used in children and adolescents of all ages. The dose in children and adolescents is also calculated based on body weight and is the same dose as for adults.

How Refixia is given

Refixia is available as powder and solvent for solution for injection (reconstitution) and should be injected into a vein. See “Instructions for using Refixia” for further information.

If you use more Refixia than you should

If you use more Refixia than you should, contact your doctor.

If you need to increase significantly the amount of Refixia you need to stop a bleed, tell your doctor immediately. For more information, see section 2 “Allergic reactions and development of inhibitors”.

If you forget to use Refixia

If you forget a dose, inject the missed dose as soon as you remember. Do not inject a double dose to make up for a forgotten dose. If you are not sure, ask your doctor.

If you stop using Refixia

If you stop using Refixia, you will no longer be protected against bleeding or a bleed that is already happening may not stop. Do not stop using Refixia without talking to your doctor first.

If you have any further questions on the use of this medicine, ask your doctor.

4. Possible side effects

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

Allergic reactions can occur with this medicine.

If severe allergic reactions (e.g. anaphylactic reactions) occur, the injection must be stopped immediately. If you get any of the following early signs of a severe allergic reaction (anaphylactic reaction), contact your doctor or emergency services immediately:

• difficulty swallowing or breathing
• shortness of breath or wheezing
• chest tightness
• redness and/or swelling of the lips, tongue, face or hands
• rash, hives, itching or prickling sensation
• pale and cold skin, palpitations and/or dizziness (low blood pressure).

For previously untreated children with factor IX medicines, the development of inhibitors (see section 2) is common (up to 1 in 10 patients). If this happens, the medicine may stop working properly and your child may experience persistent bleeding. If this happens, you should contact your doctor immediately.

The following side effects have been observed with Refixia:

Common side effects(may affect up to 1 in 10 people)

• allergic reactions (hypersensitivity). This can be severe and may be life-threatening (anaphylactic reactions)
• itching (pruritus)
• skin reactions at the injection site
• nausea
• feeling very tired
• rash
• previously untreated children with factor IX medicines: neutralising antibodies (inhibitors), anaphylactic reactions.

Uncommon side effects(may affect up to 1 in 100 people)

• palpitations
• flushing.

Reporting of side effects

If you get 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. Storage of Refixia

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

Do not use Refixia after the expiry date which is stated on the carton and on the labels of the vial and the pre-filled syringe after ‘EXP’. The expiry date refers to the last day of that month.

Store in a refrigerator (2°C - 8°C). Do not freeze. Keep the vial in the outer carton in order to protect from light.

Refixia can be stored at room temperature (up to 30°C) for a maximum of 1 year. Note the date you removed Refixia from the refrigerator and the new expiry date on the carton. The new expiry date should never be later than the one printed on the carton. Discard this medicine if you have not used it after the new expiry date. After storage at room temperature, do not put it back in the refrigerator.

Use the injection immediately after reconstitution. If you cannot use it immediately, it can be used within 24 hours if stored in a refrigerator (2°C - 8°C) or within 4 hours if stored at room temperature (up to 30°C).

The powder in the vial is a white to off-white powder. Do not use it if the colour of the powder has changed.

The reconstituted solution is clear and colourless to slightly yellow. Do not use the reconstituted solution if you notice it contains particles or discolouration.

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

6. Container Contents and Additional Information

Composition of Refixia

• The active substance is nonacog beta pegol (human coagulation factor IX [rDNA] pegylated). Each vial of Refixia contains 500 IU, 1,000 IU, 2,000 IU, or 3,000 IU of nonacog beta pegol, which corresponds to approximately 125 IU/ml, 250 IU/ml, 500 IU/ml, or 750 IU/ml, respectively, after reconstitution with the histidine solvent.
• The other components of the powder are sodium chloride, histidine, sucrose, polysorbate 80, mannitol, sodium hydroxide, and hydrochloric acid. See section 2 "Refixia contains sodium".
• The components of the sterilized solvent are histidine, water for injectable preparations, sodium hydroxide, and hydrochloric acid.

Appearance of Refixia and Container Contents

• Refixia is supplied as a powder and solvent for solution for injection (500 IU, 1,000 IU, 2,000 IU, or 3,000 IU of powder in a vial and 4 ml of solvent in a pre-filled syringe, a plunger rod with a vial adapter; package size of 1).
• The powder is white to off-white and the solvent is transparent and colorless.

Marketing Authorization Holder and Manufacturer

Novo Nordisk A/S

Novo Allé

DK-2880 Bagsværd, Denmark

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.