Eptifab

Eptifab is intended for use with acetylsalicylic acid and unfractionated heparin.

Eptifab is indicated for the prevention of early myocardial infarction in adults presenting with unstable angina or non-Q-wave myocardial infarction, with the last episode of chest pain occurring within 24 hours and with electrocardiogram (ECG) changes and/or elevated cardiac enzymes.

Patients most likely to benefit from Eptifab treatment are those at high risk of developing myocardial infarction within the first 3-4 days after onset of acute angina symptoms including for instance those that are likely to undergo an early PTCA (Percutaneous Transluminal Coronary Angioplasty).

This product is for hospital use only.). Eptifab is also intended for concurrent use with acetylsalicylic acid, as it is part of standard management of patients with acute coronary syndromes, unless its use is contraindicated.

Posology

Adults (> 18 years of age) presenting with unstable angina (UA) or non-Q-wave myocardial infarction (NQMI)

The recommended dosage is an intravenous bolus of 180 microgram/kg administered as soon as possible following diagnosis, followed by a continuous infusion of 2 microgram/kg/min for up to 72 hours, until initiation of coronary artery bypass graft (CABG) surgery, or until discharge from the hospital (whichever occurs first). If Percutaneous Coronary Intervention (PCI) is performed during eptifibatide therapy, continue the infusion for 20-24 hours post-PCI for an overall maximum duration of therapy of 96 hours.

Emergency or semi-elective surgery

If the patient requires emergency or urgent cardiac surgery during the course of eptifibatide therapy, terminate the infusion immediately. If the patient requires semi-elective surgery, stop the eptifibatide infusion at an appropriate time to allow time for platelet function to return towards normal.

Hepatic impairment

Experience in patients with hepatic impairment is very limited. Administer with caution to patients with hepatic impairment in whom coagulation could be affected. It is contraindicated in patients with clinically significant hepatic impairment.

Renal impairment

In patients with moderate renal impairment (creatinine clearance > 30 - < 50 ml/min), an intravenous bolus of 180 microgram/kg should be administered followed by a continuous infusion dose of 1.0 microgram/kg/min for the duration of therapy. This recommendation is based on pharmacodynamic and pharmacokinetic data. The available clinical evidence cannot however confirm that this dose modification results in a preserved benefit. Use in patients with more severe renal impairment is contraindicated.

Paediatric population

It is not recommended for use in children and adolescents below 18 years of age, due to a lack of data on safety and efficacy.

− evidence of gastrointestinal bleeding, gross genitourinary bleeding or other active abnormal bleeding within the previous 30 days of treatment

− history of stroke within 30 days or any history of haemorrhagic stroke

− known history of intracranial disease (neoplasm, arteriovenous malformation, aneurysm)

− major surgery or severe trauma within past 6 weeks

− a history of bleeding diathesis

− thrombocytopenia (< 100,000 cells/mm³)

− prothrombin time > 1.2 times control, or International Normalized Ratio (INR) > 2.0

− severe hypertension (systolic blood pressure > 200 mm Hg or diastolic blood pressure > 110 mm Hg on antihypertensive therapy)

− severe renal impairment (creatinine clearance < 30 ml/min) or dependency on renal dialysis

− clinically significant hepatic impairment

− concomitant or planned administration of another parenteral glycoprotein (GP) IIb/IIIa inhibitor

Bleeding

Eptifab is an antithrombotic agent that acts by inhibition of platelet aggregation; therefore the patient must be observed carefully for indications of bleeding during treatment. Women, the elderly, patients with low body weight or with moderate renal impairment (creatinine clearance > 30 - < 50 ml/min) may have an increased risk of bleeding. Monitor these patients closely with regard to bleeding.

An increased risk of bleeding may also be observed in patients who receive early administration of Eptifab (e.g. upon diagnosis) compared to receiving it immediately prior to PCI, as seen in the Early ACS trial. Unlike the approved posology in the EU, all patients in this trial were administered a double bolus before the infusion.

Bleeding is most common at the arterial access site in patients undergoing percutaneous arterial procedures. All potential bleeding sites, (e.g., catheter insertion sites; arterial, venous, or needle puncture sites; cutdown sites; gastrointestinal and genitourinary tracts) must be observed carefully. Other potential bleeding sites such as central and peripheral nervous system and retroperitoneal sites, must be carefully considered too.

Because Eptifab inhibits platelet aggregation, caution must be employed when it is used with other medicinal products that affect haemostasis, including ticlopidine, clopidogrel, thrombolytics, oral anticoagulants, dextran solutions, adenosine, sulfinpyrazone, prostacyclin, non-steroidal anti-inflammatory agents, or dypyridamole.

There is no experience with Eptifab and low molecular weight heparins.

There is limited therapeutic experience with Eptifab in patients for whom thrombolytic therapy is generally indicated (e.g. acute transmural myocardial infarction with new pathological Q-waves or elevated ST-segments or left bundle branch block in the ECG). Consequently the use of Eptifab is not recommended in these circumstances.

Eptifab infusion should be stopped immediately if circumstances arise that necessitate thrombolytic therapy or if the patient must undergo an emergency CABG surgery or requires an intraortic balloon pump.

If serious bleeding occurs that is not controllable with pressure, the Eptifab infusion should be stopped immediately and any unfractionated heparin that is given concomitantly.

Arterial procedures

During treatment with eptifibatide there is a significant increase in bleeding rates, especially in the femoral artery area, where the catheter sheath is introduced. Take care to ensure that only the anterior wall of the femoral artery is punctured. Arterial sheaths may be removed when coagulation has returned to normal (e.g. when activated clotting time (ACT) is less than 180 seconds (usually 2-6 hours after discontinuation of heparin). After removal of the introducer sheath, careful haemostasis must be ensured under close observation.

Thrombocytopenia and Immunogencity related to GP IIb/IIIa inhibitors

Eptifab inhibits platelet aggregation, but does not appear to affect the viability of platelets. As demonstrated in clinical trials, the incidence of thrombocytopenia was low, and similar in patients treated with eptifibatide or placebo. Thrombocytopaenia, including acute profound thrombocytopaenia, has been observed with eptifibatide administration post-marketing

The mechanism, whether immune- and/or non-immune-mediated, by which eptifibatide may induce thrombocytopaenia is not fully understood. However, treatment with eptifibatide was associated with antibodies that recognise GPIIb/IIIa occupied by eptifibatide, suggesting an immune-mediated mechanism. Thrombocytopaenia occurring after first exposure to a GPIIb/IIIa inhibitor may be explained by the fact that antibodies are naturally present in some normal individuals.

Since either repeat exposure with any GP IIb/IIIa ligand-mimetic agent (like abciximab or eptifibatide) or first-time exposure to a GP IIb/IIIa inhibitor may be associated with immune-mediated thrombocytopenic responses, monitoring is required, i.e. platelet counts should be monitored prior to treatment, within 6 hours of administration, and at least once daily thereafter while on therapy and immediately at clinical signs of unexpected bleeding tendency.

If either a confirmed platelet decrease to < 100,000/mm³ or acute profound thrombocytopaenia is observed, discontinuation of each treatment medication having known or suspected thrombocytopenic effects, including eptifibatide, heparin and clopidogrel, should be considered immediately. The decision to use platelet transfusions should be based upon clinical judgment on an individual basis.

In patients with previous immune-mediated thrombocytopaenia from other parenteral GP IIb/IIIa inhibitors, there are no data with the use of Eptifab. Therefore, it is not recommended to administer eptifibatide in patients who have previously experienced immune mediated thrombocytopenia with GP IIb/IIIa inhibitors, including eptifibatide.

Heparin administration

Heparin administration is recommended unless a contraindication (such as a history of thrombocytopenia associated with use of heparin) is present.

UA/NQMI: For a patient who weighs > 70 kg, it is recommended that a bolus dose of 5,000 units is given, followed by a constant intravenous infusion of 1,000 units/hr. If the patient weighs < 70 kg, a bolus dose of 60 units/kg is recommended, followed by an infusion of 12 units/kg/hr. The activated partial thromboplastin time (aPTT) must be monitored in order to maintain a value between 50 and 70 seconds, above 70 seconds there may be an increased risk of bleeding.

If PCI is to be performed in the setting of UA/NQMI, monitor the activated clotting time (ACT) to maintain a value between 300-350 seconds. Stop heparin administration if the ACT exceeds 300 seconds; do not administer until the ACT falls below 300 seconds.

Monitoring of laboratory values

Before infusion of Eptifab, the following laboratory tests are recommended to identify pre-existing haemostatic abnormalities: prothrombin time (PT) and aPTT, serum creatinine, platelet count, haemoglobin and haematocrit levels. Haemoglobin, haematocrit, and platelet count are to be monitored as well within 6 hours after start of therapy and at least once daily thereafter while on therapy (or more often if there is evidence of a marked decrease). If the platelet count falls below 100,000/mm³, further platelet counts are required to rule out pseudothrombocytopenia. Discontinue unfractionated heparin. In patients undergoing PCI, measure the ACT also.

Not relevant, as Eptifab is intended for use only in hospitalised patients.

The majority of adverse reactions experienced by patients treated with eptifibatide were generally related to bleeding or to cardiovascular events that occur frequently in this patient population.

Clinical Trials

The data sources used to determine adverse reaction frequency descriptors included two phase III clinical studies (PURSUIT and ESPRIT). These trials are briefly described below.

PURSUIT: This was a randomised, double-blind evaluation of the efficacy and safety of Eptifab versus placebo for reducing mortality and myocardial (re)infarction in patients with unstable angina or non-Q-wave myocardial infarction.

ESPRIT: This was a double-blind, multicentre, randomised, parallel-group, placebo-controlled trial evaluating the safety and efficacy of eptifibatide therapy in patients scheduled to undergo non-emergent percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) with stent implantation.

In PURSUIT, bleeding and non-bleeding events were collected from hospital discharge to the 30 day visit. In ESPRIT, bleeding events were reported at 48 hours, and non-bleeding events were reported at 30 days. While Thrombolysis in Myocardial Infarction TIMI bleeding criteria were used to categorize the incidence of major and minor bleeding in both the PURSUIT and the ESPRIT trials, PURSUIT data was collected within 30 days while ESPRIT data was limited to events within 48 hours or discharge, whichever came first.

The undesirable effects are listed by body system and frequency. 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). These are absolute reporting frequencies without taking into account placebo rates. For a particular adverse reaction, if data was available from both PURSUIT and ESPRIT, then the highest reported incidence was used to assign adverse reaction frequency.

Note that causality has not been determined for all adverse reactions.

Cardiac arrest, congestive heart failure, atrial fibrillation, hypotension, and shock, which are commonly reported events from the PURSUIT trial, were events related to the underlying disease.

Administration of eptifibatide is associated with an increase in major and minor bleeding as classified by the criteria of the TIMI study group. At the recommended therapeutic dose, as administered in the PURSUIT trial involving nearly 11,000 patients, bleeding was the most common complication encountered during eptifibatide therapy. The most common bleeding complications were associated with cardiac invasive procedures (coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG)-related or at femoral artery access site).

Minor bleeding was defined in the PURSUIT trial as spontaneous gross haematuria, spontaneous haematemesis, observed blood loss with a haemoglobin decrease of more than 3 g/dl, or a haemoglobin decrease of more than 4 g/dl in the absence of an observed bleeding site. During treatment with Eptifab in this study, minor bleeding was a very common complication (>1/10, or 13.1% for Eptifab versus 7.6% for placebo). Bleeding events were more frequent in patients receiving concurrent heparin while undergoing PCI, when ACT exceeded 350 seconds.

Major bleeding was defined in the PURSUIT trial as either an intracranial haemorrhage or a decrease in haemoglobin concentrations of more than 5 g/dl. Major bleeding was also very common and reported more frequently with Eptifab than with placebo in the PURSUIT study (>1/10 or 10.8% versus 9.3%), but it was infrequent in the vast majority of patients who did not undergo CABG within 30 days of inclusion in the study. In patients undergoing CABG, the incidence of bleeding was not increased by Eptifab compared to the patients treated with placebo. In the subgroup of patients undergoing PCI, major bleeding was observed commonly, in 9.7 % of Eptifab-treated patients vs. 4.6 % of placebo-treated patients.

The incidence of severe or life threatening bleeding events with Eptifab was 1.9% compared to 1.1% with placebo. The need for blood transfusions was increased modestly by Eptifab treatment (11.8% versus 9.3% for placebo).

Changes during eptifibatide treatment result from its known pharmacological action, i.e., inhibition of platelet aggregation. Thus, changes in laboratory parameters associated with bleeding (e.g. bleeding time) are common and expected. No apparent differences were observed between patients treated with eptifibatide or with placebo in values for liver function (SGOT/AST, SGPT/ALT, bilirubin, alkaline phosphatase) or renal function (serum creatinine, blood urea nitrogen).

Post-marketing experience

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:

United Kingdom

the Yellow Card Scheme at: www.mhra.gov.uk/yellowcard

Ireland

HPRA Pharmacovigilance, Earlsfort Terrace, IRL - Dublin 2; Tel: +353 1 6764971; Fax: +353 1 6762517. Website: www.hpra.ie; E-mail: [email protected]

The experience in humans with overdose of eptifibatide is extremely limited. There was no indication of severe adverse reactions associated with administration of accidental large bolus doses, rapid infusion reported as overdose or large cumulative doses. In the PURSUIT trial, there were 9 patients who received bolus and/or infusion doses more than double the recommended dose, or who were identified by the investigator as having received an overdose. There was no excessive bleeding in any of these patients, although one patient undergoing CABG surgery was reported as having had a moderate bleed. Specifically, no patients experienced an intracranial bleed.

Potentially, an overdose of eptifibatide could result in bleeding. Because of its short half-life and rapid clearance, the activity of eptifibatide may be halted readily by discontinuing the infusion. Thus, although eptifibatide can be dialysed, the need for dialysis is unlikely.

Pharmacotherapeutic group: Antithrombotic agent (platelet aggregation inhibitors excl. heparin), ATC code: B01AC16

Mechanism of action

Eptifibatide, a synthetic cyclic heptapeptide containing six amino acids, including one cysteine amide and one mercaptopropionyl (desamino cysteinyl) residue, is an inhibitor of platelet aggregation and belongs to the class of RGD (arginine-glycine-aspartate)-mimetics.

Eptifibatide reversibly inhibits platelet aggregation by preventing the binding of fibrinogen, von Willebrand factor and other adhesive ligands to the glycoprotein (GP) IIb/IIIa receptors.

Pharmacodynamic effects

Eptifibatide inhibits platelet aggregation in a dose- and concentration-dependent manner as demonstrated by ex vivo platelet aggregation using adenosine diphosphate (ADP) and other agonists to induce platelet aggregation. The effect of eptifibatide is observed immediately after administration of a 180 microgram/kg intravenous bolus. When followed by a 2.0 microgram/kg/min continuous infusion, this regimen produces a > 80 % inhibition of ADP-induced ex vivo platelet aggregation, at physiologic calcium concentrations, in more than 80 % of patients.

Platelet inhibition was readily reversed, with a return of platelet function towards baseline (> 50 % platelet aggregation) 4 hours after stopping a continuous infusion of 2.0 microgram/kg/min. Measurements of ADP-induced ex vivo platelet aggregation at physiologic calcium concentrations (D-phenylalanyl-L-prolyl-L-arginine chloromethyl ketone anticoagulant) in patients presenting with unstable angina and Non Q-Wave Myocardial Infarction showed a concentration-dependent inhibition with an IC₅₀ (50 % inhibitory concentration) of approximately 550 ng/ml and an IC₈₀ (80 % inhibitory concentration) of approximately 1,100 ng/ml.

There is limited data with regards to platelet inhibition in patients with renal impairment. In patients with moderate renal impairment, (creatinine clearance 30 - 50mL/min) 100% inhibition was achieved at 24 hours following administration of 2 microgram/kg/min. In patients with severe renal impairment (creatinine clearance <30mL/min) administered 1microgram/kg/min , 80% inhibition was achieved in more than 80% of patients at 24 hours.

Clinical efficacy and safety

PURSUIT trial

The pivotal clinical trial for Unstable Angina (UA)/Non-Q Wave Myocardial Infarction (NQMI) was PURSUIT. This study was a 726-center, 27-country, double-blind, randomised, placebo-controlled study in 10,948 patients presenting with UA or NQMI. Patients could be enrolled only if they had experienced cardiac ischemia at rest (> 10 minutes) within the previous 24 hours and had:

- either ST-segment changes: ST depression > 0.5 mm of less than 30 minutes or persistent ST elevation > 0.5 mm not requiring reperfusion therapy or thrombolytic agents, T-wave inversion (> 1 mm),

- or increased CK-MB.

Patients were randomised to either placebo, eptifibatide 180 microgram/kg bolus followed by a 2.0 microgram/kg/min infusion (180/2.0), or eptifibatide 180 microgram/kg bolus followed by a 1.3 microgram/kg/min infusion (180/1.3).

The infusion was continued until hospital discharge, until the time of coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG) or for up to 72 hours, whichever occurred first. If PCI was performed, the eptifibatide infusion was continued for 24 hours after the procedure, allowing for a duration of infusion up to 96 hours.

The 180/1.3 arm was stopped after an interim analysis, as prespecified in the protocol, when the two active-treatment arms appeared to have a similar incidence of bleeding.

Patients were managed according to the usual standards of the investigational site; frequencies of angiography, PCI and CABG therefore differed widely from site to site and from country to country. Of the patients in PURSUIT, 13 % were managed with PCI during eptifibatide infusion, of whom approximately 50 % received intracoronary stents; 87 % were managed medically (without PCI during eptifibatide infusion).

The vast majority of patients received acetylsalicylic acid (75-325 mg once daily).

Unfractionated heparin was administered intravenously or subcutaneously at the physician's discretion, most commonly as an intravenous bolus of 5,000 U followed by a continuous infusion of 1,000 U/h. A target aPTT of 50-70 seconds was recommended. A total of 1,250 patients underwent PCI within 72 hours after randomisation, in which case they received intravenous unfractionated heparin to maintain an activated clotting time (ACT) of 300-350 seconds.

The primary endpoint of the study was the occurrence of death from any cause or new myocardial infarction (MI) (evaluated by a blinded Clinical Events Committee) within 30 days of randomisation. The component MI could be defined as asymptomatic with enzymatic elevation of CK-MB or new Q wave.

Compared to placebo, eptifibatide administered as 180/2.0 significantly reduced the incidence of the primary endpoint events (table 1): this represents around 15 events avoided for 1,000 patients treated:

Results on the primary endpoint were principally attributed to the occurrence of myocardial infarction.

The reduction in the incidence of endpoint events in patients receiving eptifibatide appeared early during treatment (within the first 72-96 hours) and this reduction was maintained through 6 months, without any significant effect on mortality.

Patients most likely to benefit from eptifibatide treatment are those at high risk of developing myocardial infarction within the first 3-4 days after onset of acute angina.

According to epidemiological findings, a higher incidence of cardiovascular events has been associated with certain indicators, for instance:

− age

− elevated heart rate or blood pressure

− persistent or recurrent ischemic cardiac pain

− marked ECG changes (in particular ST-segment abnormalities)

− raised cardiac enzymes or markers (e.g. CK-MB, troponins) and

− heart failure

PURSUIT was conducted at a time when the standard of care of managing acute coronary syndromes was different from that of present times in terms of thienopyridine use and the routine use of intracoronary stents.

ESPRIT trial

ESPRIT (Enhanced Suppression of the Platelet IIb/IIIa Receptor with eptifibatide Therapy) was a double-blind, randomised, placebo-controlled trial (n= 2,064) for nonurgent PCI with intracoronary stenting.

All patients received routine standard of care and were randomised to either placebo or eptifibatide (2 bolus doses of 180 microgram/kg and a continuous infusion until discharge from hospital or a maximum of 18-24 hours).

The first bolus and the infusion were started simultaneously, immediately before the PCI procedure and were followed by a second bolus 10 minutes after the first. The rate of infusion was 2.0 microgram/kg/min for patients with serum creatinine ≤ 175 micromols/l or 1.0 microgram/kg/min for serum creatinine > 175 up to 350 micromols/l.

In the eptifibatide arm of the trial, virtually all patients received aspirin (99.7 %), and 98.1 % received a thienopyridine, (clopidogrel in 95.4 % and ticlopidine in 2.7 %). On the day of PCI, prior to catheterization, 53.2 % received a thienopyridine (clopidogrel 52.7 %; ticlopidine 0.5 %) - mostly as a loading dose (300 mg or more). The placebo arm was comparable (aspirin 99.7 %, clopidogrel 95.9 %, ticlopidin 2.6 %).

The ESPRIT trial used a simplified regimen of heparin during PCI that consisted of an initial bolus of 60 units/kg, with a target ACT of 200 - 300 seconds. The primary endpoint of the trial was death (D), MI, urgent target vessel revascularisation (UTVR), and acute antithrombotic rescue with GP IIb/IIIa inhibitor therapy (RT) within 48 hours of randomisation.

MI was identified per the CK-MB core laboratory criteria. For this diagnosis, within 24 hours after the index PCI procedure, there had to be at least two CK-MB values > 3 x the upper limit of normal; thus, validation by the CEC was not required. MI could also be reported following CEC adjudication of an investigator report.

The primary endpoint analysis [quadruple composite of death, MI, urgent target vessel revascularisation (UTVR) and thrombolytic bail-out (TBO) at 48 hours] showed a 37 % relative and 3.9 % absolute reduction in the eptifibatide group (6.6 % events versus 10.5 %, p = 0.0015). Results on the primary endpoint were mainly attributed to the reduction of enzymatic MI occurrence, identified as the occurrence of early elevation of cardiac enzymes after PCI (80 out of 92 MIs in the placebo group vs. 47 out of 56 MIs in the eptifibatide group). The clinical relevance of such enzymatic MIs is still controversial.

Similar results were also obtained for the 2 secondary endpoints assessed at 30 days: a triple composite of death, MI and UTVR, and the more robust combination of death and MI.

The reduction in the incidence of endpoint events in patients receiving eptifibatide appeared early during treatment. There was no increased benefit thereafter, up to 1 year.

Prolongation of bleeding time

Administration of eptifibatide by intravenous bolus and infusion causes up to a 5-fold increase in bleeding time. This increase is readily reversible upon discontinuation of the infusion with bleeding times returning towards baseline in approximately 6 (2-8) hours. When administered alone, eptifibatide has no measurable effect on prothrombin time (PT) or activated partial thromboplastin time (aPTT).

EARLY-ACS trial

EARLY ACS (Early Glycoprotein IIb/IIIa Inhibition in Non-ST-segment Elevation Acute Coronary Syndrome) was a study of early routine eptifibatide versus placebo (with delayed provisional use of eptifibatide in the catheterization laboratory) used in combination with antithrombotic therapies (ASA, UFH, bivalirudin, fondaparinux or low molecular weight heparin), in subjects with high-risk NSTE ACS. Patients were to undergo an invasive strategy for further management after receiving study drug for 12 to 96 hours. Patients could be medically managed, proceed to coronary artery bypass graft (CABG), or undergo percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI). Unlike the approved posology in the EU, the study used a double bolus of study drug (separated by 10 minutes) before the infusion.

Early routine eptifibatide in this high-risk NSTE-ACS optimally-treated population who were managed with an invasive strategy did not result in a statistically significant reduction in the composite primary endpoint of rate of death, MI, RI-UR, and TBO within 96 hours compared with a regimen of delayed provisional eptifibatide (9.3% in early eptifibatide patients vs. 10.0% in patients assigned to delayed provisional eptifibatide; odds ratio=0.920; 95% CI=0.802-1.055; p=0.234). GUSTO severe/life threatening bleeding was uncommon and comparable in both treatment groups (0.8%). GUSTO moderate or severe/life threatening bleeding occurred significantly more often with early routine eptifibatide (7.4% vs. 5.0% in delayed provisional eptifibatide group; p <0.001). Similar differences were noted for TIMI major haemorrhage (118 [2.5%] in early routine use vs. 83 [1.8%] in delayed provisional use; p=0.016).

No statistically significant benefit of early routine eptifibatide strategy was demonstrated in the subgroup of patients who were managed medically or during the medical management periods prior to PCI or CABG.

In a post hoc analysis of the EARLY ACS trial the risk benefit of dose reduction in patients with moderate renal impairment is inconclusive. The primary endpoint event rate was 11.9 % in patients who received a reduced dose (1microgram/kg/min) vs 11.2% in patients who received the standard dose (2microgram/kg/min) when eptifibatide was administered in the early routine fashion (p=0.81). With delayed provisional eptifibatide administration, the event rates were 10% vs 11.5% in patients who received reduced dose and standard dose respectively (p=0.61). TIMI major bleeding occurred in 2.7 % of patients who received a reduced dose (1microgram/kg/min) vs 4.2% of patients who received the standard dose (2microgram/kg/min) when eptifibatide was administered in the early routine fashion (p=0.36). With delayed provisional eptifibatide administration, the TIMI major events were 1.4% vs 2.0% in patients who received reduced dose and standard dose respectively (p=0.54). There were no notable differences observed with GUSTO severe bleeding rates.

The pharmacokinetics of eptifibatide are linear and dose proportional for bolus doses ranging from 90 to 250 microgram/kg and infusion rates from 0.5 to 3.0 microgram/kg/min. For a 2.0 microgram/kg/min infusion, mean steady-state plasma eptifibatide concentrations range from 1.5 to 2.2 microgram/ml in patients with coronary artery disease. These plasma concentrations are achieved rapidly when the infusion is preceded by a 180 microgram/kg bolus. The extent of eptifibatide binding to human plasma protein is about 25 %. In the same population, plasma elimination half-life is approximately 2.5 hours, plasma clearance 55 to 80 ml/kg/hr and volume of distribution of approximately 185 to 260 ml/kg.

In healthy subjects, renal excretion accounted for approximately 50 % of total body clearance; approximately 50 % of the amount cleared is excreted unchanged. In patients with moderate to severe renal insufficiency (creatinine clearance < 50 ml/min), the clearance of eptifibatide is reduced by approximately 50% and steady-state plasma levels are approximately doubled.

No formal pharmacokinetic interaction studies have been conducted. However, in a population pharmacokinetic study there was no evidence of a pharmacokinetic interaction between eptifibatide and the following concomitant medicinal products: amlodipine, atenolol, atropine, captopril, cefazolin, diazepam, digoxin, diltiazem, diphenhydramine, enalapril, fentanyl, furosemide, heparin, lidocaine, lisinopril, metoprolol, midazolam, morphine, nitrates, nifedipine, and warfarin.

Toxicology studies conducted with eptifibatide include single and repeated dose studies in the rat, rabbit and monkey, reproduction studies in the rat and rabbit, in vitro and in vivo genetic toxicity studies, and irritation, hypersensitivity and antigenicity studies. No unexpected toxic effects for an agent with this pharmacologic profile were observed and findings were predictive of clinical experience, with bleeding effects being the principal adverse event. No genotoxic effects were observed with eptifibatide.

Teratology studies have been performed by continuous intravenous infusion of eptifibatide in pregnant rats at total daily doses of up to 72 mg/kg/day (about 4 times the recommended maximum daily human dose on a body surface area basis) and in pregnant rabbits at total daily doses of up to 36 mg/kg/day (about 4 times the recommended maximum daily human dose on a body surface area basis). These studies revealed no evidence of impaired fertility or harm to the foetus due to eptifibatide. Reproduction studies in animal species where eptifibatide shows a similar pharmacologic activity as in humans are not available. Consequently these studies are not suitable to evaluate the toxicity of eptifibatide on reproductive function.

The carcinogenic potential of eptifibatide has not been evaluated in long-term studies.

Eptifab is not compatible with furosemide.

In the absence of compatibility studies, Eptifab must not be mixed with other medicinal products except those mentioned in 6.6.

Physical and chemical compatibility testing indicate that Eptifab may be administered through an intravenous line with atropine sulfate, dobutamine, heparin, lidocaine, meperidine, metoprolol, midazolam, morphine, nitroglycerin, tissue plasminogen activator, or verapamil. Eptifab is compatible with 0.9 % sodium chloride solution for infusion and with dextrose 5 % in Normosol R with or without potassium chloride. Please refer to the Normosol R Summary of Product Characteristics for details on its composition.

Before using, inspect the vial contents. Do not use if particulate matter or discolouration is present. Protection of Eptifab solution from light is not necessary during administration.

Discard any unused medicinal product after opening.