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Ulipristal acetate is indicated for pre-operative treatment of moderate to severe symptoms of uterine fibroids in adult women of reproductive age.

Ulipristal acetate is indicated for intermittent treatment of moderate to severe symptoms of uterine fibroids in adult women of reproductive age.

Posology

The treatment consists of one tablet of 5 mg to be taken once daily for treatment courses of up to 3 months each. Tablets may be taken with or without food.

Treatments should only be initiated when menstruation has occurred:

- The first treatment course should start during the first week of menstruation.

- Re-treatment courses should start at the earliest during the first week of the second menstruation following the previous treatment course completion.

The treating physician should explain to the patient the requirement for treatment free intervals.

Repeated intermittent treatment has been studied up to 4 intermittent courses.

If a patient misses a dose, the patient should take ulipristal acetate as soon as possible. If the dose was missed by more than 12 hours, the patient should not take the missed dose and simply resume the usual dosing schedule.

Special population

Renal impairment

No dose adjustment is recommended in patients with mild or moderate renal impairment. In the absence of specific studies, ulipristal acetate is not recommended in patients with severe renal impairment unless the patient is closely monitored.

Paediatric population

There is no relevant use of ulipristal acetate in the paediatric population. The safety and efficacy of ulipristal acetate was only established in women of 18 years and older.

Method of administration

Oral use. Tablets should be swallowed with water.

Pregnancy and breastfeeding.

Genital bleeding of unknown aetiology or for reasons other than uterine fibroids.

Uterine, cervical, ovarian or breast cancer.

Ulipristal acetate should only be prescribed after careful diagnosis. Pregnancy should be precluded prior to treatment. If pregnancy is suspected prior to initiation of a new treatment course, a pregnancy test should be performed.

Contraception

Concomitant use of progestagen-only pills, a progestagen-releasing intrauterine device or combined oral contraceptive pills is not recommended. Although a majority of women taking a therapeutic dose of ulipristal acetate have anovulation, a non hormonal contraceptive method is recommended during treatment.

Endometrial changes

Ulipristal acetate has a specific pharmacodynamic action on the endometrium:

Changes in the histology of the endometrium may be observed in patients treated with ulipristal acetate. These changes are reversible after treatment cessation.

These histological changes are denoted as “Progesterone Receptor Modulator Associated Endometrial Changes” (PAEC) and should not be mistaken for endometrial hyperplasia.

In addition, reversible increase of the endometrium thickness may occur under treatment.

In case of repeated intermittent treatment, periodic monitoring of the endometrium is recommended. This includes annual ultrasound to be performed after resumption of menstruation during off-treatment period.

If endometrial thickening is noted, which persists after return of menstruations during off-treatment periods or beyond 3 months following the end of treatment courses, and/or an altered bleeding pattern is noted , investigation including endometrial biopsy should be performed in order to exclude other underlying conditions, including endometrial malignancy.

In case of hyperplasia (without atypia), monitoring as per usual clinical practice (e.g. a follow-up control 3 months later) would be recommended. In case of atypical hyperplasia, investigation and management as per usual clinical practice should be performed.

The treatment courses should each not exceed 3 months as the risk of adverse impact on the endometrium is unknown if treatment is continued without interruption.

Bleeding pattern

Patients should be informed that treatment with ulipristal acetate usually leads to a significant reduction in menstrual blood loss or amenorrhea within the first 10 days of treatment. Should the excessive bleeding persist, patients should notify their physician. Menstrual periods generally return within 4 weeks after the end of each treatment course.

If, during repeated intermittent treatment, after the initial reduction in bleeding or amenorrhea, an altered persistent or unexpected bleeding pattern occurs, such as inter-menstrual bleeding, investigation of the endometrium including endometrial biopsy should be performed in order to exclude other underlying conditions, including endometrial malignancy.

Repeated intermittent treatment has been studied up to 4 intermittent treatment courses.

Renal impairment

Renal impairment is not expected to significantly alter the elimination of ulipristal acetate. In the absence of specific studies, ulipristal acetate is not recommended for patients with severe renal impairment unless the patient is closely monitored.

Hepatic impairment

Hepatic impairment is expected to alter the elimination of ulipristal acetate, resulting in increased exposure. During the post-marketing experience, cases of liver injury and hepatic failure were reported. During treatment, liver function tests should be performed at least monthly. In addition liver testing 2- 4 weeks after treatment has stopped is recommended. If a patient shows signs or symptoms compatible with liver injury (nausea, vomiting, right hypochondrial pain, anorexia, asthenia, jaundice, etc.), the patient should be investigated immediately, and liver function tests performed. Patients who develop transaminase levels > 2 times the upper limit of normal during treatment should stop treatment and be closely monitored.

Concomitant treatments

Co-administration of moderate (e.g. erythromycin, grapefruit juice, verapamil) or potent (e.g. ketoconazole, ritonavir, nefazodone, itraconazole, telithromycin, clarithromycin) CYP3A4 inhibitors and ulipristal acetate is not recommended.

Concomitant use of ulipristal acetate and potent CYP3A4 inducers (e.g. rifampicin, rifabutin, carbamazepine, oxcarbazepine, phenytoin, fosphenytoin, phenobarbital, primidone, St John´s wort, efavirenz, nevirapine, long term use of ritonavir) is not recommended.

Asthma patients

Use in women with severe asthma insufficiently controlled by oral glucocorticoids is not recommended.

Ulipristal acetate may have minor influence on the ability to drive or use machines as mild dizziness has been observed after ulipristal acetate intake.

Summary of the safety profile

The safety of ulipristal acetate has been evaluated in 1,053 women with uterine fibroids treated with 5 mg or 10 mg ulipristal acetate during Phase III studies. The most common finding in clinical trials was amenorrhea (79.2%), which is considered as a desirable outcome for the patients.

The most frequent adverse reaction was hot flush. The vast majority of adverse reactions were mild and moderate (95.0%), did not lead to discontinuation of the medicinal product (98.0%) and resolved spontaneously.

Among these 1,053 women, the safety of repeated intermittent treatment courses (each limited to 3 months) has been evaluated in 551 women with uterine fibroids treated with 5 or 10 mg ulipristal acetate in two phase III studies (including 446 women exposed to four intermittent treatment courses of whom 53 were exposed to eight intermittent treatment courses) and demonstrated a similar safety profile to that observed for one treatment course.

Tabulated list of adverse reactions

Based on pooled data from four phase III studies in patients with uterine fibroids treated for 3 months, the following adverse reactions have been reported. Adverse reactions listed below are classified according to frequency and system organ class. Within each frequency grouping, adverse reactions are presented in order of decreasing seriousness. Frequencies are defined as very common (>1/10), common (>1/100 to <1/10), uncommon (>1/1,000 to <1/100), rare (>1/10,000 to <1/1,000), very rare (<1/10,000) and not known (cannot be estimated from available data).

* see section "Description of selected adverse reactions"

** The verbatim term “mild hair loss” was coded to the term “alopecia”

When comparing repeated treatment courses, overall adverse reactions rate was less frequent in subsequent treatment courses than during the first one and each adverse reaction was less frequent or remained in the same frequency category (except for dyspepsia which was classified as uncommon in treatment course 3 based on one patient occurence).

Description of selected adverse reactions

Endometrial thickening

In 10-15% of patients, thickening of the endometrium (> 16 mm by ultrasound or MRI at end of treatment) was observed with ulipristal acetate by the end of the first 3-month treatment course. In subsequent treatment courses, endometrial thickening was less frequently observed (4.9% and 3.5% of patients by the end of second and fourth treatment course, respectively). The endometrial thickening reverses when treatment is stopped and menstrual periods resume.

In addition, reversible changes to the endometrium are denoted PAEC and are different from endometrial hyperplasia. If hysterectomy or endometrial biopsy specimens are sent for histology, then the pathologist should be informed that the patient has taken ulipristal acetate.

Hot flush

Hot flushes were reported by 8.1% of patients but the rates varied across trials. In the active comparator controlled study the rates were 24% (10.5% moderate or severe) for ulipristal acetate and 60.4% (39.6% moderate or severe) for leuprorelin-treated patients. In the placebo-controlled study, the rate of hot flushes was 1.0% for ulipristal acetate and 0% for placebo. In the first 3-month treament course of the two long term Phase III trials, the frequency was 5.3% and 5.8% for ulipristal acetate, respectively.

Drug hypersensitivity

Drug hypersensitivity symptoms such as generalised oedema, pruritus, rash, swelling face or urticaria were reported by 0.4% of patients in Phase III trials.

Headache

Mild or moderate severity headache was reported in 5.8% of patients.

Ovarian cyst

Functional ovarian cysts were observed during and after treatment in 1.0% of patients and in most of the cases spontaneously disappeared within a few weeks.

Uterine haemorrhage

Patients with heavy menstrual bleeding due to uterine fibroids are at risk of excessive bleeding, which may require surgical intervention. A few cases have been reported during ulipristal acetate treatment or within 2-3 months after ulipristal acetate treatment was stopped.

Reporting of suspected adverse reactions

Reporting suspected adverse reactions after authorisation of the medicinal product is important. It allows continued monitoring of the benefit/risk balance of the medicinal product. Healthcare professionals are asked to report any suspected adverse reactions via the MHRA Yellow Card Scheme (www.mhra.gov.uk/yellowcard).

Experience with ulipristal acetate overdose is limited.

Single doses up to 200 mg and daily doses of 50 mg for 10 consecutive days were administered to a limited number of subjects, and no severe or serious adverse reactions were reported.

Pharmacotherapeutic group: Sex hormones and modulators of the genital system, progesterone receptor modulators. ATC code: G03XB02.

Ulipristal acetate is an orally-active synthetic selective progesterone receptor modulator characterised by a tissue-specific partial progesterone antagonist effect.

Mechanism of action

Ulipristal acetate exerts a direct effect on the endometrium.

Ulipristal acetate exerts a direct action on fibroids reducing their size through inhibition of cell proliferation and induction of apoptosis.

Pharmacodynamic effects

Endometrium

When daily administration of a 5 mg dose is commenced during a menstrual cycle most subjects (including patients with myoma) will complete their first menstruation but will not menstruate again until after treatment is stopped. When ulipristal acetate treatment is stopped, menstrual cycles generally resume within 4 weeks.

The direct action on the endometrium results in class-specific changes in histology termed PAEC. Typically, the histological appearance is an inactive and weakly proliferating epithelium associated with asymmetry of stromal and epithelial growth resulting in prominent cystically dilated glands with admixed oestrogen (mitotic) and progestin (secretory) epithelial effects. Such a pattern has been observed in approximately 60% of patients treated with ulipristal acetate for 3 months. These changes are reversible after treatment cessation. These changes should not be confused with endometrial hyperplasia.

About 5% of patients of reproductive age experiencing heavy menstrual bleeding have an endometrial thickness of greater than 16 mm. In about 10-15% of patients treated with ulipristal acetate the endometrium may thicken (> 16 mm) during the first 3-month treatment course. In case of repeated treatment courses, endometrial thickening was less frequently observed (4.9% of patients after second treatment course and 3.5% after fourth treatment course). This thickening disappears after treatment is withdrawn and menstruation occurs. If endometrial thickness persists after return of menstruations during off-treatment periods or beyond 3 months following the end of treatment courses, it may need to be investigated as per usual clinical practice to exclude other underlying conditions.

Pituitary

A daily dose of ulipristal acetate 5 mg inhibits ovulation in the majority of patients as indicated by progesterone levels maintained at around 0.3 ng/ml.

A daily dose of ulipristal acetate 5 mg partially suppresses FSH levels but serum oestradiol levels are maintained in the mid-follicular range in the majority of patients and are similar to levels in patients who received placebo.

Ulipristal acetate does not affect serum levels of TSH, ACTH or prolactin.

Clinical efficacy and safety

Pre-operative use:

The efficacy of fixed doses of ulipristal acetate 5 mg and 10 mg once daily was evaluated in two Phase 3 randomised, double-blind, 13 week studies recruiting patients with very heavy menstrual bleeding associated with uterine fibroids. Study 1 was double-blind placebo controlled. Patients in this study were required to be anaemic at Study entry (Hb < 10.2 g/dl) and all patients were to receive oral iron 80 mg Fe++ in addition to study medicinal product. Study 2 contained the active comparator, leuprorelin 3.75 mg given once per month by intramuscular injection. In Study 2, a double-dummy method was used to maintain the blind. In both studies menstrual blood loss was assessed using the Pictorial Bleeding Assessment Chart (PBAC). A PBAC >100 within the first 8 days of menses is considered to represent excessive menstrual blood loss.

In study 1, a statistically significant difference was observed in reduction in menstrual blood loss in favour of the patients treated with ulipristal acetate compared to placebo (see Table 1 below), resulting in faster and more efficient correction of anaemia than iron alone. Likewise, patients treated with ulipristal acetate had a greater reduction in myoma size, as assessed by MRI.

In study 2, the reduction in menstrual blood loss was comparable for the patients treated with ulipristal acetate and the gonadotrophin releasing hormone-agonist (leuprorelin). Most patients treated with ulipristal acetate stopped bleeding within the first week of treatment (amenorrhea).

The size of the three largest myomas was assessed by ultrasound at the end of treatment (Week 13) and for another 25 weeks without treatment in patients who did not have hysterectomy or myomectomy performed. Myoma size reduction was generally maintained during this follow-up period in patients originally treated with ulipristal acetate but some re-growth occurred in patients treated with leuprorelin.

Table 1: Results of primary and selected secondary efficacy assessments in Phase III studies

^a In Study 1, change from baseline in total myoma volume was measured by MRI. In Study 2, change in the volume of the three largest myomas was measured by ultrasound. Bold values in shaded squares indicate that there was a significant difference in the comparisons between ulipristal acetate and the control. These were always in favour of ulipristal acetate.

P values: ¹ = <0.001, ² = 0.037, ³= <0.002, ⁴ = <0.006.

Repeated intermittent use:

The efficacy of repeated treatment courses fixed doses of ulipristal acetate 5 mg or 10 mg once daily was evaluated in two Phase 3 studies assessing up to 4 intermittent 3-month treatment courses in patients with heavy menstrual bleeding associated with uterine fibroids. Study 3 was on open-label study assessing ulipristal acetate 10 mg, where each of the 3-month treatment was followed by 10 days of double-blind treatment with progestin or placebo. Study 4 was a randomized, double-blind clinical study assessing ulipristal acetate 5 or 10 mg.

Studies 3 and 4 showed efficacy in controlling uterine fibroid symptoms (e.g. uterine bleeding) and reducing fibroid size after 2 and 4 courses.

In study 3, treatment efficacy has been shown over > 18 months of repeated intermittent treatment (4 courses of 10 mg once daily), 89.7% of patients were in amenorrhea at the end of the treatment course 4.

In study 4, 61.9% and 72.7% of patients were in amenorrhea at the end of both treatment course 1 and 2 combined (5 mg dose and 10 mg dose, respectively, p=0.032); 48.7 % and 60.5 % were in amenorrhea at the end of all four treatment courses combined (5 mg dose and 10 mg dose, respectively, p=0.027). At the end of treatment course 4, 158 (69.6%) subjects and 164 (74.5%) subjects were assessed as being in amenorrhea, in the 5 mg dose and 10 mg dose respectively (p=0.290).

Table 2: Results of primary and selected secondary efficacy assessments in long term Phase III studies

^a Treatment course 2 assessment corresponds to Treatment course 2 plus one menstrual bleeding.

^b Patients with missing values were exluded from the analysis.

^c N and % include withdrawn patients

^d Controlled bleeding was defined as no episodes of heavy bleeding and a maximum of 8 days of bleeding (not including days of spotting) during the last 2 months of a treatment course.

In all Phase III studies including repeated intermittent treatment studies, a total of 7 cases of hyperplasia were observed out of 789 patients with adequate biopsies (0.89%). The vast majority spontaneously reversed to normal endometrium after resumption of menstruation during the off-treatment period. The incidence of hyperplasia did not increase with repeated treatment courses, including data on 340 women who received up to 4 courses of ulipristal acetate 5 or 10 mg and limited data of 43 women who received up to 8 courses of ulipristal acetate 10 mg. The observed frequency is in line with control groups and prevalence reported in literature for symptomatic pre-menopausal women of this age group (mean of 40 years).

Paediatric population

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Absorption

Following oral administration of a single dose of 5 or 10 mg, ulipristal acetate is rapidly absorbed, with a C_max of 23.5 ± 14.2 ng/ml and 50.0 ± 34.4 ng/ml occurring approximately 1 h after ingestion, and with an AUC_0-∞ of 61.3 ± 31.7 ng.h/ml and 134.0 ± 83.8 ng.h/ml, respectively. Ulipristal acetate is rapidly transformed into a pharmacologically active metabolite with a C_max of 9.0 ± 4.4 ng/ml and 20.6 ± 10.9 ng/ml also occurring approximately 1 h after ingestion, and with an AUC_0-∞ of 26.0 ± 12.0 ng.h/ml and 63.6 ± 30.1 ng.h/ml respectively.

Administration of ulipristal acetate (30 mg tablet) together with a high-fat breakfast resulted in approximately 45% lower mean C_max, a delayed t_max (from a median of 0.75 hours to 3 hours) and 25% higher mean AUC_0-∞ compared with administration in the fasted state. Similar results were obtained for the active mono-N-demethylated metabolite. This kinetic effect of food is not expected to be of clinical relevance for daily administration of ulipristal acetate tablets.

Distribution

Ulipristal acetate is highly bound (>98%) to plasma proteins, including albumin, alpha-l-acid glycoprotein, high density lipoprotein and low density lipoprotein.

Ulipristal acetate and its active mono-N-demethylated metabolite are excreted in breast milk with a mean AUCt milk/plasma ratio of 0.74 ± 0.32 for ulipristal acetate.

Biotransformation/Elimination

Ulipristal acetate is readily converted to its mono-N-demethylated and subsequently to its di-N-demethylated metabolites. In vitro data indicate that this is predominantly mediated by the cytochrome P450 3A4 isoform (CYP3A4). The main route of elimination is through faeces and less than 10% is excreted in the urine. The terminal half-life of ulipristal acetate in plasma following a single dose of 5 or 10 mg is estimated to be about 38 hours, with a mean oral clearance (CL/F) of about 100 l/h.

In vitro data indicate that ulipristal acetate and its active metabolite do not inhibit CYP1A2, 2A6, 2C9, 2C19, 2D6, 2E1, and 3A4, or induce CYP1A2 at clinically relevant concentrations. Thus administration of ulipristal acetate is unlikely to alter the clearance of medicinal products that are metabolised by these enzymes.

In vitro data indicate that ulipristal acetate and its active metabolite are not P-gp (ABCB1) substrates.

Special populations

No pharmacokinetic studies with ulipristal acetate have been performed in women with impaired renal or hepatic function. Due to the CYP-mediated metabolism, hepatic impairment is expected to alter the elimination of ulipristal acetate, resulting in increased exposure.

Non-clinical data reveal no special hazard for humans based on conventional studies of safety pharmacology, repeated dose toxicity, and genotoxicity.

Most findings in general toxicity studies were related to its action on progesterone receptors (and at higher concentrations on glucocorticoid receptors), with antiprogesterone activity observed at exposures similar to therapeutic levels. In a 39-week study in cynomolgus monkeys, histological changes resembling PAEC were noted at low doses.

Due to its mechanism of action, ulipristal acetate has an embryolethal effect in rats, rabbits (at repeated doses above 1 mg/kg), guinea pigs and in monkeys. The safety for a human embryo is unknown. At doses which were low enough to maintain gestation in the animal species, no teratogenic potential was observed.

Reproduction studies performed in rats at doses giving exposure in the same range as the human dose have revealed no evidence of impaired fertility due to ulipristal acetate in treated animals or the offspring of treated females.

Carcinogenicity studies (in rats and mice) showed that ulipristal acetate is not carcinogenic.

Not applicable.

No special requirements.