Золадекс

- In the treatment of metastatic prostate cancer where Золадекс has demonstrated comparable survival benefits to surgical castrations

- In the treatment of locally advanced prostate cancer, as an alternative to surgical castration where Золадекс has demonstrated comparable survival benefits to an anti-androgen

- As adjuvant treatment to radiotherapy in patients with high-risk localised or locally advanced prostate cancer where Золадекс has demonstrated improved disease-free survival and overall survival

- As neo-adjuvant treatment prior to radiotherapy in patients with high-risk localised or locally advanced prostate cancer where Золадекс has demonstrated improved disease-free survival

- As adjuvant treatment to radical prostatectomy in patients with locally advanced prostate cancer at high risk of disease progression where Золадекс has demonstrated improved disease-free survival

Posology

Adult males (including the elderly): one depot of Золадекс LA injected subcutaneously into the anterior abdominal wall every 12 weeks.

Renal impairment: no dosage adjustment is necessary for patients with renal impairment.

Hepatic impairment: no dosage adjustment for patients with hepatic impairment.

Paediatric population: Золадекс LA is not indicated for use in children.

Method of administration

For correct administration of Золадекс LA, see instructions on the instruction card.

The instruction card has to be read prior to administration.

Caution is needed when administering Золадекс LA into anterior abdominal wall due to the proximity of underlying inferior epigastric artery and its branches.

Extra care to be given to patients with a low BMI or who are receiving anticoagulation medication.

Care should be taken to ensure injection is given subcutaneously, using the technique described in the instruction card. Do not penetrate into a blood vessel, muscle or peritoneum.

In the event of the need to surgically remove a Золадекс LA implant, it may be localised by ultrasound.

Золадекс LA is not indicated for use in females, since there is insufficient evidence of reliable suppression of serum estradiol. For female patients requiring treatment with goserelin, refer to the prescribing information for Золадекс 3.6 mg.

There is no data on removal or dissolution of the implant.

There is an increased risk of incident depression (which may be severe) in patients undergoing treatment with GnRH agonists, such as Goserelin. Patients should be informed accordingly and treated as appropriate if symptoms occur.

The use of Золадекс LA in patients at particular risk of developing ureteric obstruction or spinal cord compression should be considered carefully and the patients monitored closely during the first month of therapy. If spinal cord compression or renal impairment due to ureteric obstruction are present or develop, specific standard treatment of these complications should be instituted.

Androgen deprivation therapy may prolong the QT interval.

In patients with a history of or risk factors for QT prolongation and in patients receiving concomitant medicinal products that might prolong the QT interval physicians should assess the benefit risk ratio including the potential for Torsade de pointes prior to initiating Золадекс LA.

Injection site injury has been reported with Золадекс LA, including events of pain, haematoma, haemorrhage and vascular injury. Monitor affected patients for signs or symptoms of abdominal haemorrhage. In very rare cases, administration error resulted in vascular injury and haemorrhagic shock requiring blood transfusions and surgical intervention. Extra care should be taken when administering Золадекс LA to patients with a low BMI and/or receiving full anticoagulation medications.

Consideration should be given to the initial use of an anti-androgen (e.g. cyproterone acetate 300 mg daily for three days before, and three weeks after commencement of Золадекс) at the start of LHRH analogue therapy since this has been reported to prevent the possible sequelae of the initial rise in serum testosterone.

The use of LHRH agonists may cause reduction in bone mineral density. In men, preliminary data suggest that the use of a bisphosphonate in combination with an LHRH agonist may reduce bone mineral loss. Particular caution is necessary in patients with additional risk factors for osteoporosis (e.g. chronic alcohol abusers, smokers, long-term therapy with anticonvulsants or corticosteroids, family history of osteoporosis).

Patients with known depression and patients with hypertension should be monitored carefully.

Myocardial infarction and cardiac failure were observed in a pharmaco-epidemiology study of LHRH agonists used in the treatment of prostate cancer. The risk appears to be increased when used in combination with anti-androgens.

Reduction in glucose tolerance has been observed in men receiving LHRH agonists. This may manifest as diabetes or loss of glycaemic control in patients with pre-existing diabetes mellitus. Thus, monitoring of blood glucose levels should be considered.

Treatment with Золадекс may lead to positive reactions in anti-doping tests.

Paediatric population

Золадекс LA is not indicated for use in children, as safety and efficacy have not been established in this patient group.

Золадекс LA has no or negligible influence on the ability to drive and use machinery.

The following frequency categories for adverse drug reactions (ADRs) were calculated based on reports from Золадекс clinical trials and post-marketing sources. The most commonly observed adverse reactions include hot flushes, sweating and injection site reactions.

The following convention has been used for classification of frequency: 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 the available data).

Table: Золадекс LA adverse drug reactions presented by MedDRA System Organ Class

a A reduction in glucose tolerance has been observed in males receiving LHRH agonists. This may manifest as diabetes or loss of glycaemic control in those with pre-existing diabetes mellitus.

b These are pharmacological effects which seldom require withdrawal of therapy. Hyperhidrosis and hot flushes may continue after stopping Золадекс.

c These may manifest as hypotension or hypertension, have been occasionally observed in patients administered Золадекс. The changes are usually transient, resolving either during continued therapy or after cessation of therapy with Золадекс. Rarely, such changes have been sufficient to require medical intervention, including withdrawal of treatment from Золадекс.

d These are generally mild, often regressing without discontinuation of therapy.

e Initially, prostate cancer patients may experience a temporary increase in bone pain, which can be managed symptomatically.

f Observed in a pharmaco-epidemiology study of LHRH agonists used in the treatment of prostate cancer. The risk appears to be increased when used in combination with anti-androgens.

g Particularly loss of body hair, an expected effect of lowered androgen levels.

Post-marketing experience

A small number of cases of changes in blood count, hepatic dysfunction, pulmonary embolism and interstitial pneumonia have been reported in connection with Золадекс.

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 Yellow Card Scheme.

Website: www.mhra.gov.uk/yellowcard

There is not much experience of overdose in humans. In cases where Золадекс has been given before the planned time of administration, or when a bigger dose of Золадекс than originally planned has been given, no clinically significant undesirable effects have been observed. Animal tests suggest that no effect other than the intended therapeutic effects on sex hormone concentrations and on the reproductive tract will be evident with higher doses of Золадекс. In case of overdosage, the condition should be managed symptomatically.

Pharmacotherapuetic group: Gonadotropin releasing hormone analogues,

ATC code: L02AE03.

Золадекс (D-Ser(Bu^t)⁶Azgly¹⁰ LHRH) is a synthetic analogue of naturally occurring luteinising-hormone releasing hormone (LHRH). On chronic administration Золадекс LA results in inhibition of pituitary luteinising hormone secretion leading to a fall in serum testosterone concentrations in males. Initially, Золадекс LA like other LHRH agonists transiently increases serum testosterone concentrations.

In men by around 21 days after the first depot injection, testosterone concentrations have fallen to within the castrate range and remain suppressed with treatment every 12 weeks.

In the management of patients with metastatic prostate cancer, Золадекс has been shown in comparative clinical trials to give similar survival outcomes to those obtained with surgical castrations.

In a combined analysis of 2 randomised controlled trials comparing bicalutamide 150 mg monotherapy versus castration (predominantly in the form of Золадекс), there was no significant difference in overall survival between bicalutamide-treated patients and castration-treated patients (hazard ratio = 1.05 [CI 0.81 to 1.36]) with locally advanced prostate cancer. However, equivalence of the two treatments could not be concluded statistically.

In comparative trials, Золадекс has been shown to improve disease-free survival and overall survival when used as an adjuvant therapy to radiotherapy in patients with high-risk localised (T₁-T₂ and PSA of at least 10 ng/mL or a Gleason score of at least 7), or locally advanced (T₃-T₄) prostate cancer. The optimum duration of adjuvant therapy has not been established; a comparative trial has shown that 3 years of adjuvant Золадекс gives significant survival improvement compared with radiotherapy alone. Neo-adjuvant Золадекс prior to radiotherapy has been shown to improve disease-free survival in patients with high risk localised or locally advanced prostate cancer.

After prostatectomy, in patients found to have extra-prostatic tumour spread, adjuvant Золадекс may improve disease-free survival periods, but there is no significant survival improvement unless patients have evidence of nodal involvement at time of surgery. Patients with pathologically staged locally advanced disease should have additional risk factors such as PSA of at least 10 ng/mL or a Gleason score of at least 7 before adjuvant Золадекс should be considered. There is no evidence of improved clinical outcomes with use of neo-adjuvant Золадекс before radical prostatectomy.

Administration of Золадекс LA every 12 weeks ensures that exposure to goserelin is maintained with no clinically significant accumulation. Золадекс is poorly protein bound and has a serum elimination half-life of two to four hours in subjects with normal renal function. The half-life is increased in patients with impaired renal function. For the compound given in a 10.8 mg depot formulation every 12 weeks this change will not lead to any accumulation. Hence, no change in dosing is necessary in these patients. There is no significant change in pharmacokinetics in patients with hepatic failure.

Following long-term repeated dosing with Золадекс, an increased incidence of benign pituitary tumours has been observed in male rats. Whilst this finding is similar to that previously noted in this species following surgical castration, any relevance to humans has not been established.

In mice, long-term repeated dosing with multiples of the human dose produced histological changes in some regions of the digestive system. This is manifested by pancreatic islet cell hyperplasia and a benign proliferative condition in the pyloric region of the stomach, also reported as a spontaneous lesion in this species. The clinical relevance of these findings is unknown.

None known.

Use as directed by the prescriber. Use only if pouch is undamaged. Use immediately after opening pouch. Dispose of the syringe in an approved sharps collector.