Pegaptanib Sodium

Macugen (pegaptanib sodium injection) is a sterile, aqueous solution containing pegaptanib sodium for intravitreous injection. Macugen is supplied in a single-dose, pre-filled syringe and is formulated as a 3.47 mg/mL solution, measured as the free acid form of the oligonucleotide. The active ingredient is 0.3 mg of the free acid form of the oligonucleotide without polyethylene glycol, in a nominal volume of 90 μL. This dose is equivalent to 1.6 mg of pegaptanib sodium (pegylated oligonucleotide) or 0.32 mg when expressed as the sodium salt form of the oligonucleotide moiety. The product is a sterile, clear, preservative-free solution containing sodium chloride, monobasic sodium phosphate monohydrate, dibasic sodium phosphate heptahydrate, hydrochloric acid, and/or sodium hydroxide to adjust the pH and water for injection.

Pegaptanib sodium is a covalent conjugate of an oligonucleotide of twenty-eight nucleotides in length that terminates in a pentylamino linker, to which two 20-kilodalton monomethoxy polyethylene glycol (PEG) units are covalently attached via the two amino groups on a lysine residue.

Pegaptanib sodium is represented by the following structural formula:

Where R is

and n is approximately 450.

The chemical name for pegaptanib sodium is as follows: RNA, ((2'-deoxy-2'-fluoro)C-Gm-Gm-A-A-(2'-deoxy-2'-fluoro)U-(2'-deoxy-2'-fluoro)C-Am-Gm-(2'-deoxy-2'-fluoro)U-Gm-Am-Am-(2'-deoxy-2'-fluoro)U-Gm-(2'-deoxy-2'-fluoro)C-(2'-deoxy-2'-fluoro)U-(2'-deoxy-2'fluoro)U-Am-(2'-deoxy-2'-fluoro)U-Am-(2'-deoxy-2'-fluoro)C-Am-(2'-deoxy-2'-fluoro)U-(2'deoxy-2'-fluoro)C-(2'-deoxy-2'-fluoro)C-Gm-(3'→3')-dT), 5'-ester with α,α'-[4,12-dioxo-6[[[5-(phosphoonoxy)pentyl]amino] carbonyl]-3,13-dioxa-5,11-diaza-1,15pentadecanediyl]bis[ω-methoxypoly(oxy-1,2-ethanediyl)], sodium salt.

The molecular formula for pegaptanib sodium is C294H342F13N107Na28O188P28[C2H4O]n (where n is approximately 900) and the molecular weight is approximately 50 kilodaltons.

Macugen is formulated to have an osmolality of 280-360 mOsm/Kg, and a pH of 6–7.

Injection Procedure

Serious adverse events related to the injection procedure occurring in < 1% of intravitreous injections included endophthalmitis [see WARNINGS AND PRECAUTIONS], retinal detachment, and iatrogenic traumatic cataract.

Clinical Studies Experience

The most frequently reported adverse events in patients treated with Macugen 0.3 mg for up to two years were anterior chamber inflammation, blurred vision, cataract, conjunctival hemorrhage, corneal edema, eye discharge, eye irritation, eye pain, hypertension, increased intraocular pressure (IOP), ocular discomfort, punctate keratitis, reduced visual acuity, visual disturbance, vitreous floaters, and vitreous opacities. These events occurred in approximately 10-40% of patients.

The following events were reported in 6-10% of patients receiving Macugen 0.3 mg therapy:

Ocular: blepharitis, conjunctivitis, photopsia, vitreous disorder.

Non-Ocular: bronchitis, diarrhea, dizziness, headache, nausea, urinary tract infection.

The following events were reported in 1-5% of patients receiving Macugen 0.3 mg therapy:

Ocular: allergic conjunctivitis, conjunctival edema, corneal abrasion, corneal deposits, corneal epithelium disorder, endophthalmitis, eye inflammation, eye swelling, eyelid irritation, meibomianitis, mydriasis, periorbital hematoma, retinal edema, vitreous hemorrhage.

Non-Ocular: arthritis, bone spur, carotid artery occlusion, cerebrovascular accident, chest pain, contact dermatitis, contusion, diabetes mellitus, dyspepsia, hearing loss, pleural effusion, transient ischemic attack, urinary retention, vertigo, vomiting.

Postmarketing Experience

Anaphylaxis/anaphylactoid reactions, including angioedema, have been identified during postapproval use of Macugen. Because these reactions are reported voluntarily from a population of uncertain size, it is not always possible to reliably estimate their frequency or establish a causal relationship to drug exposure [see WARNINGS AND PRECAUTIONS and DOSAGE AND ADMINISTRATION].

In the days following Macugen administration, patients are at risk for the development of endophthalmitis. If the eye becomes red, sensitive to light, painful or develops a change in vision, the patient should seek the immediate care with their ophthalmologist [see WARNINGS AND PRECAUTIONS].

You should not receive pegaptanib if you are allergic to it, or if you have any type of bacterial, fungal, or viral infection in or around your eyes.

FDA pregnancy category B. Pegaptanib is not expected to harm an unborn baby. Tell your doctor if you are pregnant or plan to become pregnant during treatment.

It is not known whether pegaptanib passes into breast milk or if it could harm a nursing baby. Do not use this medication without telling your doctor if you are breast-feeding a baby.

Your pharmacist can provide more information about pegaptanib ophthalmic.

Remember, keep this and all other medicines out of the reach of children, never share your medicines with others, and use this medication only for the indication prescribed.

Every effort has been made to ensure that the information provided by Cerner Multum, Inc. ('Multum') is accurate, up-to-date, and complete, but no guarantee is made to that effect. Drug information contained herein may be time sensitive. Multum information has been compiled for use by healthcare practitioners and consumers in the United States and therefore Multum does not warrant that uses outside of the United States are appropriate, unless specifically indicated otherwise. Multum's drug information does not endorse drugs, diagnose patients or recommend therapy. Multum's drug information is an informational resource designed to assist licensed healthcare practitioners in caring for their patients and/or to serve consumers viewing this service as a supplement to, and not a substitute for, the expertise, skill, knowledge and judgment of healthcare practitioners. The absence of a warning for a given drug or drug combination in no way should be construed to indicate that the drug or drug combination is safe, effective or appropriate for any given patient. Multum does not assume any responsibility for any aspect of healthcare administered with the aid of information Multum provides. The information contained herein is not intended to cover all possible uses, directions, precautions, warnings, drug interactions, allergic reactions, or adverse effects. If you have questions about the drugs you are taking, check with your doctor, nurse or pharmacist.

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Storage

Ophthalmic

2–8°C; do not freeze or shake vigorously.1

May be kept at room temperature for up to 8 hours.14

• Binds to extracellular VEGF165, the major VEGF isoform involved in the pathogenesis of the neovascular (wet) form of age-related macular degeneration and inhibits VEGF165 from binding to VEGF receptors.1 2 3 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16

• VEGF induces angiogenesis and increases vascular permeability and inflammation, all of which appear to play a role in the pathogenesis of neovascular age-related macular degeneration, a leading cause of blindness in adults >55 years of age in developed countries.1 2 3 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 15 The neovascular form of the disease represents about 10% of overall disease prevalence, but it is responsible for 90% of severe vision loss.2

• Necessity of advising patients about the risk of developing endophthalmitis.1 Importance of informing their ophthalmologist immediately if changes in vision occur or the treated eye becomes red, sensitive to light, or painful.1

• Patients should be instructed to immediately report any symptoms suggestive of endophthalmitis.1 2 18 (See Endophthalmitis and Other Serious Ocular Effects under Cautions.)

• Importance of women informing their clinician if they are or plan to become pregnant or plan to breast-feed.1

• Importance of informing clinicians of existing or contemplated concomitant therapy, including prescription and OTC drugs, as well as any concomitant illnesses.1

• Importance of informing patients of other important precautionary information. (See Cautions.)