Package Insert: Information for the Patient
Tysabri 300mg Concentrate for Infusion Solution
Natalizumab
Read this package insert carefully before starting to use this medication, because it contains important information for you.
In addition to this package insert, you will be given a patient information leaflet. This contains important safety information that you should know before receiving and during treatment with Tysabri.
Tysabri is used to treat multiple sclerosis (MS). It contains the active ingredient natalizumab. It is known as a monoclonal antibody.
MS causes inflammation in the brain that damages nerve cells. This inflammation occurs when white blood cells reach the brain and spinal cord. This medication prevents white blood cells from reaching the brain. This reduces the nerve damage caused by MS.
Multiple sclerosis symptoms
The symptoms of MS can vary from one patient to another; you may experience some or none.
They may include:problems walking, tingling in the face, arms, or legs; vision problems; fatigue; feeling unsteady or dizzy; urinary and intestinal problems; difficulty thinking and concentrating; depression; acute or chronic pain; sexual problems; muscle stiffness and spasms.
When symptoms worsen, it is called a relapse (also exacerbation or flare-up). When a relapse occurs, you may notice symptoms suddenly, within a few hours, or with a gradual progression over several days. Symptoms generally improve gradually (this is called remission).
How Tysabri can help
In studies, this medication reduced approximately half of the increase in disability caused by MS and reduced the number of MS relapses by approximately two-thirds. While you are taking this medication, you may not notice any improvement but you can continue to act to prevent the worsening of MS.
Before starting treatment with this medicine, it is essential that you and your doctor have discussed the beneficial effects you can expect from this treatment and the associated risks.
Do not administer Tysabri
Warnings and precautions
Consult your doctorif Tysabri is the most suitable treatment for you. Do this before starting to use Tysabri and when you have been receiving it for more than two years.
Possible cerebral infection (PML)
Some people who receive this medication (less than 1 in 100) have had a rare cerebral infection called PML (progressive multifocal leukoencephalopathy). PML can cause severe disability or death.
Inform your doctor as soon as possibleif you notice that your MS is worsening or if you experience any new symptoms while on Tysabri treatment or up to 6months after.
Three things can increase the risk of PMLwith Tysabri. If you have two or more of these risk factors, the risk increases even more:
The JC virus also causes another conditioncalled NCG by JC virus, which has occurred in some patients receiving Tysabri treatment. The symptoms of NCG by JC virus are similar to those of PML.
In the case of patients with lower PML risk, your doctor may repeat the tests periodically to check:
If someone develops PML
PML can be treated, and Tysabri treatment will be discontinued. However, some people experience a reaction when Tysabri is eliminated from the body. This reaction (known as SIRI or immune reconstitution inflammatory syndrome) can make your condition worse, including a decline in brain function.
Be aware of other infections
Other infections, different from PML, can also be severe and may be caused by viruses, bacteria, and other causes.
Inform your doctor or nurse immediatelyif you think you have an infection (also see section4,Adverse reactions).
Changes in blood platelet count
Natalizumab can reduce the number of platelets in the blood, which are responsible for clotting. This can lead to a condition called thrombocytopenia (see section 4) by which your blood may not clot quickly enough to stop bleeding. This can cause the appearance of bruises, as well as more serious problems such as excessive bleeding.Inform your doctor immediately if you experienceunexplained bruises, red or purple spots on the skin (called petechiae), bleeding from cuts on the skin that does not stop or oozes, prolonged bleeding from the gums or nose, blood in the urine or stool, or bleeding in the white part of the eyes.
Children and adolescents
Do not administer this medication to children or adolescents under 18years of age.
Other medications and Tysabri
Inform your doctor if you are using, have used recently, or may need to use any other medication.
Pregnancy and breastfeeding
If you are pregnant or breastfeeding, think you may be pregnant, or intend to become pregnant, consult your doctor before using this medication. Your doctor will consider the risk to the baby and the benefit to the mother.
Driving and operating machinery
Dizziness is a very common adverse reaction. If you experience this symptom, do not drive or operate machinery.
Tysabri contains sodium
Each vial of this medication contains 2.3mmol (52mg) of sodium. After dilution before use, the medication contains 17.7mmol (406mg) of sodium per dose. You should be aware of this if you are following a low-sodium diet.
Tysabri intravenous infusion should be administered to the patient by a doctor experienced in treating MS. Your doctor may switch you directly to Tysabri for treating your MS if no problems associated with the previous treatment are observed.
If you interrupt Tysabri treatment
Continuous administration of Tysabri is essential, especially during the first months of treatment. It is essential that you continue treatment while you and your doctor decide that it is helping you. Patients who received one or two doses of Tysabri and then took a three-month or longer pause in treatment had a higher probability of experiencing an allergic reaction upon resuming treatment.
Allergic reaction check
Some patients have presented an allergic reaction to this medication. Your doctor may check for allergic reactions during infusion and within 1hour afterwards. See also section4,possible side effects.
If you forgot to use Tysabri
If you did not receive your usual dose of Tysabri, talk to your doctor to have it administered as soon as possible. Afterwards, you can continue receiving Tysabri every four weeks.
Will Tysabri always work?
In some patients receiving Tysabri, the body's natural defenses may prevent the medication from working correctly over time as the body produces antibodies against the medication. Your doctor may decide that this medication is not working correctly for you based on your blood test and will stop treatment if necessary.
If you have any other questions about using Tysabri, ask your doctor.Follow exactly the medication administration instructions contained in this prospectus or those indicated by your doctor. In case of doubt, ask your doctor.
Like all medicines, this medicine can cause side effects, although not everyone will experience them.
Inform your doctor or nurse immediatelyif you notice any of the following symptoms.
Signs of brain infection
These symptoms may be due to a brain infection (encephalitis or LMP) or the covering that surrounds it (meningitis).
Signs of other serious infections
Signs of allergic reaction
It is more likely to occur during or shortly after infusion.
Signs of possible liver problem
If you experience any of the side effects described above or if you think you have an infectionconsult your doctor or nurse immediately.Show your patient information card and this leaflet to any doctor or nurse who treats you, not just your neurologist.
Other side effects
Very common(may affect more than 1 in 10 people)
Common(may affect 1 in 10 people)
Rare(may affect up to 1 in 1000 people)
Frequency not known(cannot be estimated from available data)
Inform your doctor as soon as possibleif you think you have an infection.
You will also find this information on the patient information card that your doctor has given you.
Reporting side effects
If you experienceany type of side effect, consult your doctor, even if it is apossibleside effect that does not appear in this leaflet.You can also report them directly through thenational reporting system included in theAppendix V.By reporting side effects, you can contribute to providing more information about the safety of this medicine.
Keep this medication out of the sight and reach of children.
Do not use this medication after the expiration date that appears on the label and the box. The expiration date is the last day of the month indicated.
Unopened vial:
Store in the refrigerator.
Do not freeze.
Store the vial in the outer packaging to protect it from light.
Diluted solution:
It is recommended to use the product immediately after dilution. If not, the diluted solution should be stored between 2°C and 8°C and infused within a maximum of 24 hours after dilution.
Do not use this medication if you observe particles or color changes in the liquid.
Composition of Tysabri
The active ingredient is natalizumab. Each vial of 15ml of concentrate contains 300mg of natalizumab (20mg/ml). When diluted, the infusion solution contains approximately 2.6mg per ml of natalizumab.
The other components are:
Sodium monobasic phosphate monohydrate
Dibasic sodium phosphate heptahydrate
Sodium chloride (see section2 “Tysabri contains sodium”)
Polysorbate 80(E433)
Water for injection
Appearance of the product and contents of the pack
Tysabri is a clear, colorless or slightly turbid liquid.
Each carton contains a glass vial.
Marketing authorization holder and manufacturer
Biogen Netherlands B.V.
Prins Mauritslaan 13
1171 LP Badhoevedorp
Netherlands
For more information about this medicine, please contact the local representative of the marketing authorization holder:
Belgium Biogen Belgium N.V./S.A. Tel: +32 2 219 12 18 | Lithuania Biogen Lithuania UAB Tel: +370 5 259 6176 |
Luxembourg Biogen Belgium N.V./S.A. Tel: +352 2 219 12 18 | |
Czech Republic Biogen (Czech Republic) s.r.o. Tel: +420 255 706 200 | Hungary Biogen Hungary Kft. Tel.: +36 (1) 899 9883 |
Denmark Biogen (Denmark) A/S Tel.: +45 77 41 57 57 | Malta Pharma MT limited Tel: +356 213 37008/9 |
Germany Biogen GmbH Tel: +49 (0) 89 99 6170 | Netherlands Biogen Netherlands B.V. Tel: +31 20 542 2000 |
Estonia Biogen Estonia OÜ Tel: +372 618 9551 | Norway Biogen Norway AS Tel: +47 23 40 01 00 |
Greece Genesis Pharma SA Tel: +30 210 8771500 | Austria Biogen Austria GmbH Tel: +43 1 484 46 13 |
Spain Biogen Spain SL Tel: +34 91 310 7110 | Poland Biogen Poland Sp. z o.o. Tel.: +48 22 351 51 00 |
France Biogen France SAS Tel: +33 (0)1 41 37 95 95 | Portugal Biogen Portugal Sociedade Farmacêutica Unipessoal, Lda Tel: +351 21 318 8450 |
Croatia Biogen Pharma d.o.o. Tel: +358 (0) 1 775 73 22 | Romania Johnson & Johnson Romania S.R.L. Tel: +40 21 207 18 00 |
Ireland Biogen Idec (Ireland) Ltd. Tel: +353 (0)1 463 7799 | Slovenia Biogen Pharma d.o.o. Tel: +386 1 511 02 90 |
Iceland Icepharma hf Tel: +354 540 8000 | Slovakia Biogen Slovakia s.r.o. Tel: +421 2 323 340 08 |
Italy Biogen Italia s.r.l. Tel: +39 02 584 9901 | Finland Biogen Finland Oy Tel: +358 207 401 200 |
Cyprus Genesis Pharma (Cyprus) Ltd Tel: +357 22 76 57 15 | Sweden Biogen Sweden AB Tel: +46 8 594 113 60 |
Lithuania Biogen Latvia SIA Tel: +371 68 688 158 |
Last update of this leaflet:09/2024
Other sources of information
Further information on this medicine is available on the website of the European Medicines Agency:https://www.ema.europa.eu.
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