Pergoveris

Pergoveris is indicated for the stimulation of follicular development in adult women with severe LH and FSH deficiency.

In clinical trials, these patients were defined by an endogenous serum LH level < 1.2 IU/L.

Treatment with Pergoveris should be initiated under the supervision of a physician experienced in the treatment of fertility problems.

Posology

In LH and FSH deficient women (hypogonadotrophic hypogonadism), the objective of Pergoveris therapy is to develop a single mature Graafian follicle from which the oocyte will be liberated after the administration of human chorionic gonadotrophin (hCG). Pergoveris should be given as a course of daily injections. Since these patients are amenorrhoeic and have low endogenous oestrogen secretion, treatment can commence at any time.

Treatment should be tailored to the individual patient's response as assessed by measuring follicle size by ultrasound and oestrogen response.

A recommended regimen commences with one vial of Pergoveris daily. If less than one vial daily is used, the follicular response may be unsatisfactory because the amount of lutropin alfa may be insufficient.

If an FSH dose increase is deemed appropriate, dose adaptation should preferably be after 7-14 day intervals and preferably by 37.5-75 IU increments using a licensed follitropin alfa preparation. It may be acceptable to extend the duration of stimulation in any one cycle to up to 5 weeks.

When an optimal response is obtained, a single injection of 250 micrograms of r-hCG or 5,000 IU to 10,000 IU hCG should be administered 24-48 hours after the last Pergoveris injection. The patient is recommended to have coitus on the day of, and on the day following, hCG administration. Alternatively, intrauterine insemination (IUI) may be performed.

Luteal phase support may be considered since lack of substances with luteotrophic activity (LH/hCG) after ovulation may lead to premature failure of the corpus luteum.

If an excessive response is obtained, treatment should be stopped and hCG withheld. Treatment should recommence in the next cycle at a dose of FSH lower than that of the previous cycle.

Special populations

Elderly

There is no relevant indication for the use of Pergoveris in the elderly population. Safety and effectiveness of this medicinal product in elderly patients have not been established.

Renal and hepatic impairment

Safety, efficacy, and pharmacokinetics of this medicinal product in patients with renal or hepatic impairment have not been established.

Paediatric population

There is no relevant use of this medicinal product in the paediatric population.

Method of administration

Pergoveris is intended for subcutaneous administration. The first injection should be performed under direct medical supervision. The powder should be reconstituted immediately prior to use with the solvent provided. Self-administration should only be performed by patients who are well motivated, adequately trained and with access to expert advice.

Pergoveris is contraindicated in patients with:

- hypersensitivity to the active substances or to any of the excipients listed in section 6.1

- tumours of the hypothalamus and pituitary gland

- ovarian enlargement or ovarian cyst unrelated to polycystic ovarian disease and of unknown origin

- gynaecological haemorrhages of unknown origin

- ovarian, uterine or mammary carcinoma

Pergoveris must not be used when an effective response cannot be obtained, such as:

- primary ovarian failure

- malformations of sexual organs incompatible with pregnancy

- fibroid tumours of the uterus incompatible with pregnancy

Pergoveris contains potent gonadotrophic substances capable of causing mild to severe adverse reactions, and should only be used by physicians who are thoroughly familiar with infertility problems and their management.

Gonadotrophin therapy requires a certain time commitment by physicians and supportive health care professionals, as well as the availability of appropriate monitoring facilities. In women, safe and effective use of Pergoveris calls for monitoring of ovarian response with ultrasound, alone or preferably in combination with measurement of serum oestradiol levels, on a regular basis. There may be a degree of interpatient variability in response to FSH/LH administration, with a poor response to FSH/LH in some patients. The lowest effective dose in relation to the treatment objective should be used in women.

Porphyria

Patients with porphyria or a family history of porphyria should be closely monitored during treatment with Pergoveris. In these patients, Pergoveris may increase the risk of an acute attack. Deterioration or a first appearance of this condition may require cessation of treatment.

Treatment in women

Before starting treatment, the couple's infertility should be assessed as appropriate and putative contraindications for pregnancy evaluated. In particular, patients should be evaluated for hypothyroidism, adrenocortical deficiency, hyperprolactinemia and appropriate specific treatment should be given.

Patients undergoing stimulation of follicular growth are at an increased risk of developing hyperstimulation in view of possible excessive oestrogen response and multiple follicular development.

Ovarian hyperstimulation syndrome (OHSS)

A certain degree of ovarian enlargement is an expected effect of controlled ovarian stimulation. It is more commonly seen in women with polycystic ovarian syndrome and usually regresses without treatment.

In distinction to uncomplicated ovarian enlargement, OHSS is a condition that can manifest itself with increasing degrees of severity. It comprises marked ovarian enlargement, high serum sex steroids, and an increase in vascular permeability which can result in an accumulation of fluid in the peritoneal, pleural and, rarely, in the pericardial cavities.

The following symptomatology may be observed in severe cases of OHSS: abdominal pain, abdominal distension, severe ovarian enlargement, weight gain, dyspnoea, oliguria and gastrointestinal symptoms including nausea, vomiting and diarrhoea.

Clinical evaluation may reveal hypovolaemia, haemoconcentration, electrolyte imbalances, ascites, haemoperitoneum, pleural effusions, hydrothorax, or acute pulmonary distress, and thromboembolic events.

Very rarely, severe OHSS may be complicated by ovarian torsion or thromboembolic events such as pulmonary embolism, ischaemic stroke or myocardial infarction.

Independent risk factors for developing OHSS include young age, lean body mass, polycystic ovarian syndrome, higher doses of exogenous gonadotrophins, high absolute or rapidly rising serum oestradiol level (> 900 pg/mL or > 3,300 pmol/L in anovulation), previous episodes of OHSS and large number of developing ovarian follicles (3 follicles of > 14 mm in diameter in anovulation).

Adherence to recommended Pergoveris and FSH dosage and regimen of administration can minimise the risk of ovarian hyperstimulation. Monitoring of stimulation cycles by ultrasound scans as well as oestradiol measurements are recommended to early identify risk factors.

There is evidence to suggest that hCG plays a key role in triggering OHSS and that the syndrome may be more severe and more protracted if pregnancy occurs. Therefore, if signs of OHSS occur such as serum oestradiol level > 5,500 pg/mL or > 20,200 pmol/L and/or > 40 follicles in total, it is recommended that hCG be withheld and the patient be advised to refrain from coitus or to use barrier contraceptive methods for at least 4 days. OHSS may progress rapidly (within 24 hours) or over several days to become a serious medical event. It most often occurs after hormonal treatment has been discontinued and reaches its maximum at about seven to ten days following treatment. Usually, OHSS resolves spontaneously with the onset of menses. Therefore patients should be followed for at least two weeks after hCG administration.

If severe OHSS occurs, gonadotropin treatment should be stopped if still ongoing. The patient should be hospitalised and specific therapy for OHSS started. This syndrome occurs with higher incidence in patients with polycystic ovarian disease.

When a risk of OHSS is assumed, treatment discontinuation should be considered.

Ovarian torsion

Ovarian torsion has been reported after treatment with other gonadotropins. This may be associated with other risk factors such as OHSS, pregnancy, previous abdominal surgery, past history of ovarian torsion, previous or current ovarian cyst and polycystic ovarian syndrome. Damage to the ovary due to reduced blood supply can be limited by early diagnosis and immediate detorsion.

Multiple pregnancy

In patients undergoing induction of ovulation, the incidence of multiple pregnancies and births is increased compared with natural conception. The majority of multiple conceptions are twins. Multiple pregnancy, especially high order, carry an increased risk of adverse maternal and perinatal outcomes. To minimise the risk of multiple pregnancy, careful monitoring of ovarian response is recommended.

The patients should be advised of the potential risk of multiple births before starting treatment. When risk of multiple pregnancies is assumed, treatment discontinuation should be considered.

Pregnancy loss

The incidence of pregnancy loss by miscarriage or abortion is higher in patients undergoing stimulation of follicular growth for ovulation induction than in the normal population.

Ectopic pregnancy

Women with a history of tubal disease are at risk of ectopic pregnancy, whether the pregnancy is obtained by spontaneous conception or with fertility treatments. The prevalence of ectopic pregnancy after assisted reproductive technologies (ART) was reported to be higher than in the general population.

Reproductive system neoplasms

There have been reports of ovarian and other reproductive system neoplasms, both benign and malignant, in women who have undergone multiple regimens for infertility treatment. It is not yet established whether or not treatment with gonadotropins increases the risk of these tumours in infertile women.

Congenital malformation

The prevalence of congenital malformations after ART may be slightly higher than after spontaneous conceptions. This is thought to be due to differences in parental characteristics (e.g. maternal age, sperm characteristics) and multiple pregnancies.

Thromboembolic events

In women with recent or ongoing thromboembolic disease or women with generally recognised risk factors for thromboembolic events, such as personal or family history, thrombophilia or severe obesity (body mass index > 30 kg/m²), treatment with gonadotrophins may further increase the risk. In these women, the benefits of gonadotrophin administration need to be weighed against the risks. It should be noted however, that pregnancy itself as well as OHSS also carries an increased risk of thromboembolic events.

Sodium

Pergoveris contains less than 1 mmol sodium (23 mg) per dose, i.e. essentially “sodium-free”.

Pergoveris has no or negligible influence on the ability to drive and use machines.

Summary of the safety profile

The most commonly reported adverse reactions are headache, ovarian cysts and local injection site reactions (e.g. pain, erythema, haematoma, swelling and/or irritation at the site of injection).

Mild or moderate OHSS has been commonly reported and should be considered as an intrinsic risk of the stimulation procedure. Severe OHSS is uncommon.

Thromboembolism may occur very rarely, usually associated with severe OHSS.

Tabulated list of adverse reactions

Adverse reactions are listed below by MedDRA system organ class and by frequency. The frequency categories used are: 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), not known (cannot be estimated from the available data).

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

Yellow Card Scheme

Website: 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: medsafety@hpra.ie

Symptoms

The effects of an overdose of Pergoveris are unknown.

Management

Treatment is directed to symptoms.

Pharmacotherapeutic group: Sex hormones and modulators of the genital system, gonadotropins. ATC code: G03GA30.

Pergoveris is a preparation of recombinant human follicle stimulating hormone (follitropin alfa, r-hFSH) and recombinant human luteinising hormone (lutropin alfa, r-hLH) produced in Chinese hamster ovary (CHO) cells by recombinant DNA technology.

Mechanism of action

In clinical trials the efficacy of the combination of follitropin alfa and lutropin alfa has been demonstrated in women with hypogonadotropic hypogonadism.

In the stimulation of follicular development in anovulatory women deficient in LH and FSH, the primary effect resulting from administration of lutropin alfa is an increase in oestradiol secretion by the follicles, the growth of which is stimulated by FSH.

Pharmacodynamic effects

In clinical trials, patients with severe FSH and LH deficiency were defined by an endogenous serum LH level < 1.2 IU/L as measured in a central laboratory. However, it should be taken into account that there are variations between LH measurements performed in different laboratories. In these trials the ovulation rate per cycle was 70-75%.

Clinical efficacy

In one clinical study of women with hypogonadotrophic hypogonadism and an endogenous serum LH concentration below 1.2 IU/L the appropriate dose of r-hLH was investigated. A dose of 75 IU r-hLH daily (in combination with 150 IU r-hFSH) resulted in adequate follicular development and oestrogen production. A dose of 25 IU r-hLH daily (in combination with 150 IU r-hFSH) resulted in insufficient follicular development.

Therefore, administration of less than one vial of Pergoveris daily may provide too little LH-activity to ensure adequate follicular development.

Follitropin alfa and lutropin alfa have shown the same pharmacokinetic profile as follitropin alfa and lutropin alfa separately.

Follitropin alfa

Distribution

Following intravenous administration, follitropin alfa is distributed to the extracellular fluid space with an initial half-life of around 2 hours and eliminated from the body with a terminal half-life of about one day. The steady state volume of distribution is 10 L.

Following subcutaneous administration, the absolute bioavailability is about 70%. Following repeated administration, follitropin alfa accumulates 3-fold achieving a steady-state within 3-4 days. In women whose endogenous gonadotrophin secretion is suppressed, follitropin alfa has nevertheless been shown to effectively stimulate follicular development and steroidogenesis, despite unmeasurable LH levels.

Elimination

Total clearance is 0.6 L/h and one-eighth of the follitropin alfa dose is excreted in the urine.

Lutropin alfa

Distribution

Following intravenous administration, lutropin alfa is rapidly distributed with an initial half-life of approximately one hour and eliminated from the body with a terminal half-life of about 10-12 hours. The steady state volume of distribution is around 10-14 L. Lutropin alfa shows linear pharmacokinetics, as assessed by AUC which is directly proportional to the dose administered.

Following subcutaneous administration, the absolute bioavailability is approximately 60%; the terminal half-life is slightly prolonged. The lutropin alfa pharmacokinetics following single and repeated administration of lutropin alfa are comparable and the accumulation ratio of lutropin alfa is minimal. The mean residence time is approximately 5 hours.

Elimination

Total clearance is around 2 L/h, and less than 5% of the dose is excreted in the urine.

Pharmacokinetic/pharmacodynamic relationships

There is no pharmacokinetic interaction with follitropin alfa when administered simultaneously.

Clinical studies with Pergoveris were conducted with a freeze-dried formulation. A comparative clinical study between the freeze-dried and the liquid formulation showed bioequivalence between the two formulations.

For immediate and single use following first opening and reconstitution.

Reconstitution

The pH of the reconstituted solution is 6.5-7.5.

Pergoveris must be reconstituted with the solvent before use by gentle swirling.

The reconstituted solution should not be administered if it contains particles or is not clear.

Pergoveris may be mixed with follitropin alfa and co-administered as a single injection.

Any unused medicinal product or waste material should be disposed of in accordance with local requirements.