1.1 Pulmonary Arterial Hypertension

Treprostinil injection is indicated for the treatment of pulmonary arterial hypertension (PAH; WHO Group 1) to diminish symptoms associated with exercise. Studies establishing effectiveness included patients with NYHA Functional Class II-IV symptoms and etiologies of idiopathic or heritable PAH (58%), PAH associated with congenital systemic-to-pulmonary shunts (23%), or PAH associated with connective tissue diseases (19%) [see Clinical Studies (14.1)].

1.2 Pulmonary Arterial Hypertension in Patients Requiring Transition from Epoprostenol

In patients with PAH requiring transition from epoprostenol, treprostinil injection is indicated to diminish the rate of clinical deterioration. Consider the risks and benefits of each drug prior to transition.

2.1 General

Treprostinil injection can be administered with or without further dilution with Sterile Diluent for treprostinil or similar approved high-pH glycine diluent (e.g., Sterile Diluent for Flolan or Sterile Diluent for Epoprostenol), Sterile Water for Injection, or 0.9% Sodium Chloride Injection prior to administration. See Table 1 below for storage and administration time limits for the different diluents.

Diluted treprostinil injection has been shown to be stable at ambient temperature when stored for up to 14 days using high-pH glycine diluent at concentrations as low as 0.004 mg/mL (4,000 ng/mL).

2.2 Initial Dose for Patients New to Prostacyclin Infusion Therapy

Treprostinil injection is indicated for subcutaneous (SC) or intravenous (IV) use only as a continuous infusion. Treprostinil injection is preferably infused subcutaneously, but can be administered by a central intravenous line if the subcutaneous route is not tolerated because of severe site pain or reaction. The infusion rate is initiated at 1.25 ng/kg/min. If this initial dose cannot be tolerated because of systemic effects, reduce the infusion rate to 0.625 ng/kg/min.

2.4 Dosage Adjustments

The goal of chronic dosage adjustments is to establish a dose at which PAH symptoms are improved, while minimizing excessive pharmacologic effects of treprostinil injection (headache, nausea, emesis, restlessness, anxiety, and infusion site pain or reaction).

The infusion rate should be increased in increments of 1.25 ng/kg/min per week for the first four weeks of treatment and then 2.5 ng/kg/min per week for the remaining duration of infusion, depending on clinical response. Dosage adjustments may be undertaken more often if tolerated. Avoid abrupt cessation of infusion [see Warnings and Precautions (5.2)]. Restarting a treprostinil injection infusion within a few hours after an interruption can be done using the same dose rate. Interruptions for longer periods may require the dose of treprostinil injection to be re-titrated.

2.5 Patients with Hepatic Insufficiency

In patients with mild or moderate hepatic insufficiency, decrease the initial dose of treprostinil injection to 0.625 ng/kg/min ideal body weight. Treprostinil injection has not been studied in patients with severe hepatic insufficiency [see Warnings and Precautions (5.3), Use in Specific Populations (8.6), and Clinical Pharmacology(12.3)].

2.6 Administration

Inspect parenteral drug products for particulate matter and discoloration prior to administration whenever solution and container permit. If either particulate matter or discoloration is noted, do not use.

Preparation

Treprostinil injection is administered by subcutaneous or intravenous infusion at a calculated rate based on a patient’s dose (ng/kg/min), weight (kg), and the treprostinil concentration (mg/mL).

For administration of Undiluted Treprostinil Injection the rate is calculated using the following formula:

For administration of Diluted Treprostinil Injection, the concentration is calculated using the following formula:

Step 1

The volume of treprostinil injection needed to make the required diluted treprostinil concentration for the given reservoir size can then be calculated using the following formula:

Step 2

The calculated volume of treprostinil injection is then added to the reservoir along with the sufficient volume of diluent to achieve the desired total volume in the reservoir.

Subcutaneous Infusion

Treprostinil injection is administered subcutaneously by continuous infusion, via a subcutaneous catheter, using an infusion pump designed for subcutaneous drug delivery. The infusion pump should: (1) be adjustable to approximately 0.002 mL/hour, (2) have occlusion/no delivery, low battery, programming error and motor malfunction alarms, (3) have delivery accuracy of ±6% or better, (4) be positive pressure-driven, and (5) have a reservoir made of polyvinyl chloride, polypropylene or glass. Alternatively, use an infusion pump cleared for use with treprostinil injection. To avoid potential interruptions in drug delivery, the patient must have immediate access to a backup infusion pump and subcutaneous infusion sets.

Intravenous Infusion

External Intravenous Infusion Pump

Treprostinil injection is administered intravenously by continuous infusion via a surgically placed indwelling central venous catheter using an external infusion pump designed for intravenous drug delivery. If clinically necessary, a temporary peripheral intravenous cannula, preferably placed in a large vein, may be used for short term administration of treprostinil injection. Use of a peripheral intravenous infusion for more than a few hours increases the risk of thrombophlebitis. The infusion pump used to administer treprostinil injection should: (1) have occlusion/no delivery, low battery, programming error and motor malfunction alarms, (2) have delivery accuracy of ±6% or better, (3) be positive pressure driven, and (4) have a reservoir made of polyvinyl chloride, polypropylene or glass. Alternatively, use an infusion pump cleared for use with treprostinil injection. To avoid potential interruptions in drug delivery, the patient must have immediate access to a backup infusion pump and infusion sets.

Infusion sets with an in-line 0.22- or 0.2-micron pore size filter should be used.

2.7 Patients Requiring Transition from Epoprostenol

Transition from epoprostenol to treprostinil injection is accomplished by initiating the infusion of treprostinil injection and increasing it, while simultaneously reducing the dose of intravenous epoprostenol. The transition to treprostinil injection should take place in a hospital with constant observation of response (e.g., walk distance and signs and symptoms of disease progression).

Initiate treprostinil injection at a recommended dose of 10% of the current epoprostenol dose, and then escalate as the epoprostenol dose is decreased (see Table 2 for recommended dose titrations).

Patients are individually titrated to a dose that allows transition from epoprostenol therapy to treprostinil injection while balancing prostacyclin-limiting adverse events. Treat increases in the patient’s symptoms of PAH first with increases in the dose of treprostinil injection. Treat side effects normally associated with prostacyclin and prostacyclin analogs first by decreasing the dose of epoprostenol.

5.1 Risk of Catheter-Related Bloodstream Infection

Chronic intravenous infusions of treprostinil injection are delivered using an external infusion pump with an indwelling central venous catheter are associated with the risk of blood stream infections (BSIs) and sepsis, which may be fatal. Therefore, continuous subcutaneous infusion is the preferred mode of administration.

In an open-label study of IV treprostinil (n=47) using an external infusion pump, there were seven catheter-related line infections during approximately 35 patient years, or about 1 BSI event per 5 years of use. A CDC survey of seven sites that used IV treprostinil for the treatment of PAH found approximately 1 BSI (defined as any positive blood culture) event per 3 years of use.

Administration of IV treprostinil injection with a high pH glycine diluent has been associated with a lower incidence of BSIs when compared to neutral diluents (sterile water, 0.9% sodium chloride) when used along with catheter care guidelines.

5.2 Worsening PAH upon Abrupt Withdrawal or Sudden Large Dose Reduction

Avoid abrupt withdrawal or sudden large reductions in dosage of treprostinil injection, which may result in worsening of PAH symptoms.

5.3 Patients with Hepatic Insufficiency

Titrate treprostinil injection slowly in patients with hepatic insufficiency, because such patients will likely be exposed to greater systemic concentrations relative to patients with normal hepatic function [see Dosage and Administration (2.5), Use in Specific Populations (8.6), and Clinical Pharmacology (12.3)].

5.4 Risk of Symptomatic Hypotension

Treprostinil is a pulmonary and systemic vasodilator. In patients with low systemic arterial pressure, treatment with treprostinil injection may produce symptomatic hypotension.

5.5 Risk of Bleeding

Treprostinil injection inhibits platelet aggregation and increases the risk of bleeding.

6.1 Clinical Trials Experience

Because clinical trials are conducted under widely varying conditions, adverse reaction rates observed in the clinical trials of a drug cannot be directly compared to rates in the clinical trials of another drug and may not reflect the rates observed in practice.

6.2 Post-Marketing Experience

In addition to adverse reactions reported from clinical trials, the following events have been identified during post-approval use of treprostinil injection. Because they are reported voluntarily from a population of unknown size, estimates of frequency cannot be made. The following events have been chosen for inclusion because of a combination of their seriousness, frequency of reporting, and potential connection to treprostinil injection. These events are thrombophlebitis associated with peripheral intravenous infusion, thrombocytopenia, bone pain, pruritus, dizziness, arthralgia, myalgia/muscle spasm, and pain in extremity. In addition, generalized rashes, sometimes macular or papular in nature, and cellulitis have been infrequently reported.

7.1 Effect of CYP2C8 Inhibitors and Inducers on Treprostinil

Dose adjustment of treprostinil may be necessary when co-administered with CYP2C8 inducers or inhibitors. Human pharmacokinetic studies with an oral formulation of treprostinil (treprostinil diolamine) indicated that co-administration of the cytochrome P450 (CYP) 2C8 enzyme inhibitor gemfibrozil increases exposure (both Cmax and AUC) to treprostinil. Co-administration of the CYP2C8 enzyme inducer rifampin decreases exposure to treprostinil. It has not been determined if the changes in exposure of treprostinil with inhibitors or inducers of CYP2C8 observed for the oral administration of treprostinil would be similar for treprostinil administered via the parenteral route [see Clinical Pharmacology (12.3)].

8.1 Pregnancy

Risk Summary

Limited case reports of treprostinil use in pregnant women are insufficient to inform a drug- associated risk of adverse developmental outcomes. However, there are risks to the mother and the fetus associated with pulmonary arterial hypertension (see Clinical Considerations). In animal studies, no adverse reproductive and developmental effects were seen in rats at about 123 and 48 times the human exposure based on Cmax and AUC, respectively. In rabbits, external fetal and soft tissue malformations and skeletal malformations were observed at about 7 and 5 times the human exposure based on Cmax and AUC, respectively (see Data).

The estimated background risk of major birth defects and miscarriage for the indicated populations is unknown. All pregnancies have a background risk of birth defect, loss, or other adverse outcomes. In the U.S. general population, the estimated background risk of major birth defects and miscarriage in clinically recognized pregnancies is 2 to 4% and 15 to 20%, respectively.

Clinical Considerations

Disease-associated maternal and embryo-fetal risk

Pulmonary arterial hypertension is associated with an increased risk of maternal and fetal mortality.

Data

Animal reproduction studies have been conducted with treprostinil via continuous subcutaneous administration and with treprostinil diolamine administered orally. In pregnant rats, continuous subcutaneous infusions of treprostinil during organogenesis and late gestational development, at doses as high as 900 ng treprostinil/kg/min (about 117 times the starting human subcutaneous infusion rate, on a ng/m2 basis and about 16 times the average rate achieved in clinical trials), resulted in no evidence of harm to the fetus. In pregnant rabbits, effects of continuous subcutaneous infusions of treprostinil during organogenesis were limited to an increased incidence of fetal skeletal variations (bilateral full rib or right rudimentary rib on lumbar 1) associated with maternal toxicity (reduction in body weight and food consumption) at a dose of 150 ng treprostinil/kg/min (about 41 times the starting human subcutaneous infusion rate, on a ng/m2 basis, and 5 times the average rate used in clinical trials). In rats, continuous subcutaneous infusion of treprostinil from implantation to the end of lactation, at doses of up to 450 ng treprostinil/kg/min, did not affect the growth and development of offspring. In studies with orally administered treprostinil diolamine, no adverse effect doses for fetal viability/growth, fetal development (teratogenicity), and postnatal development were determined in rats. In pregnant rats, no evidence of harm to the fetus was observed following oral administration of treprostinil diolamine at the highest dose tested (20 mg/kg/day), which represents about 123 and 48 times the human exposure, when based on Cmax and AUC of the average subcutaneous infusion rate achieved in clinical trials, respectively. In pregnant rabbits, external fetal and soft tissue malformations and fetal skeletal malformation occurred. The dose at which no adverse effects were seen (0.5 mg/kg/day) represents about 7 and 5 times the human exposure, when based on Cmax and AUC of the average subcutaneous infusion rate achieved in clinical trials, respectively. No treprostinil treatment-related effects on labor and delivery were seen in animal studies. Animal reproduction studies are not always predictive of human response.

8.2 Lactation

Risk Summary

There are no data on the presence of treprostinil in human milk, the effects on the breastfed infant, or the effects on milk production.

8.4 Pediatric Use

Safety and effectiveness in pediatric patients have not been established. Clinical studies of treprostinil injection did not include sufficient numbers of patients aged ≤16 years to determine whether they respond differently from older patients.

8.5 Geriatric Use

Clinical studies of treprostinil injection did not include sufficient numbers of patients aged 65 and over to determine whether they respond differently from younger patients. In general, dose selection for an elderly patient should be cautious, reflecting the greater frequency of decreased hepatic, renal, or cardiac function, and of concomitant disease or other drug therapy.

8.6 Patients with Hepatic Insufficiency

Treprostinil injection clearance is reduced in patients with hepatic insufficiency. In patients with mild or moderate hepatic insufficiency, decrease the initial dose of treprostinil injection to 0.625 ng/kg/min ideal body weight, and monitor closely. Treprostinil injection has not been studied in patients with severe hepatic insufficiency [see Dosage and Administration (2.5), Warnings and Precautions (5.3), and Clinical Pharmacology (12.3)].

8.7 Patients with Renal Impairment

No dose adjustments are required in patients with renal impairment. Treprostinil is not cleared by dialysis [see Clinical Pharmacology (12.3)].

12.1 Mechanism of Action

The major pharmacologic actions of treprostinil are direct vasodilation of pulmonary and systemic arterial vascular beds, and inhibition of platelet aggregation.

12.2 Pharmacodynamics

In animals, the vasodilatory effects reduce right and left ventricular afterload and increase cardiac output and stroke volume. Other studies have shown that treprostinil causes a dose-related negative inotropic and lusitropic effect. No major effects on cardiac conduction have been observed.

Treprostinil produces vasodilation and tachycardia. Single doses of treprostinil up to 84 mcg by inhalation produce modest and short-lasting effects on QTc, but this is apt to be an artifact of the rapidly changing heart rate. Treprostinil administered by the subcutaneous or intravenous routes has the potential to generate concentrations many-fold greater than those generated via the inhaled route; the effect on the QTc interval when treprostinil is administered parenterally has not been established.

12.3 Pharmacokinetics

The pharmacokinetics of continuous subcutaneous treprostinil injection are linear over the dose range of 2.5 to 125 ng/kg/min (corresponding to plasma concentrations of about 260 pg/mL to 18,250 pg/mL) and can be described by a two-compartment model. Dose proportionality at infusion rates greater than 125 ng/kg/min has not been studied.

Subcutaneous and intravenous administration of treprostinil injection demonstrated bioequivalence at steady state at a dose of 10 ng/kg/min.

13.1 Carcinogenesis, Mutagenesis, Impairment of Fertility

A two-year rat carcinogenicity study was performed with treprostinil inhalation at target doses of 5.26, 10.6, and 34.1 mcg/kg/day. There was no evidence for carcinogenic potential associated with treprostinil inhalation in rats at systemic exposure levels up to about 34 and 1 times the human exposure, when based on Cmax and AUC of the average subcutaneous infusion rate achieved in clinical trials, respectively. In vitro and in vivo genetic toxicology studies did not demonstrate any mutagenic or clastogenic effects of treprostinil. Treprostinil sodium did not affect fertility or mating performance of male or female rats given continuous subcutaneous (sc) infusions at rates of up to 450 ng treprostinil/kg/min [about 59 times the recommended starting human sc infusion rate (1.25 ng/kg/min) and 8 times the average rate (9.3 ng/kg/min) achieved in clinical trials, on a ng/m2 basis]. In this study, males were dosed from 10 weeks prior to mating and through the 2-week mating period. Females were dosed from 2 weeks prior to mating until gestational day 6.

Treprostinil diolamine did not demonstrate any carcinogenic effects in mouse or rat carcinogenicity studies. Oral administration of treprostinil diolamine to Tg.rasH2 mice at 0, 5, 10, and 20 mg/kg/day in males and 0, 3, 7.5, and 15 mg/kg/day in females daily for 26 weeks did not significantly increase the incidence of tumors. The exposures, when based on AUC, obtained at the highest dose levels used in males and females are about 7- and 15-fold, respectively, the human exposure of the average subcutaneous infusion rate achieved in clinical trials. Oral administration of treprostinil diolamine to Sprague Dawley rats at 0, 1, 3, and 10 mg/kg/day daily for 104 weeks did not significantly increase the incidence of tumors. The exposures obtained at the highest dose levels used in males and females are about 18- and 26-fold, respectively, the human exposure of the average subcutaneous infusion rate achieved in clinical trials.

Treprostinil diolamine was tested in vivo in a rat micronucleus assay and did not induce an increased incidence of micronucleated polychromatic erythrocytes.

14.1 Clinical Trials in Pulmonary Arterial Hypertension (PAH)

Two 12-week, multicenter, randomized, double-blind studies compared continuous subcutaneous infusion of treprostinil injection to placebo in a total of 470 patients with NYHA Class II (11%), III (81%), or IV (7%) PAH. PAH was idiopathic/heritable in 58% of patients, associated with connective tissue diseases in 19%, and the result of congenital systemic-to-pulmonary shunts in 23%. The mean age was 45 (range 9 to 75 years). About 81% were female and 84% were Caucasian. Pulmonary hypertension had been diagnosed for a mean of 3.8 years. The primary endpoint of the studies was change in 6-minute walking distance, a standard measure of exercise capacity. There were many assessments of symptoms related to heart failure, but local discomfort and pain associated with treprostinil injection may have substantially unblinded those assessments. The 6-minute walking distance and an associated subjective measurement of shortness of breath during the walk (Borg dyspnea score) were administered by a person not participating in other aspects of the study. Treprostinil injection was administered as a subcutaneous infusion, described in Section 2, DOSAGE AND ADMINISTRATION, and the dose averaged 9.3 ng/kg/min at Week 12. Few subjects received doses greater than 40 ng/kg/min. Background therapy, determined by the investigators, could include anticoagulants, oral vasodilators, diuretics, digoxin, and oxygen, but not an endothelin receptor antagonist or epoprostenol. The two studies were identical in design and conducted simultaneously, and the results were analyzed both pooled and individually.

14.2 Flolan-To-Treprostinil Injection Transition Study

In an 8-week, multicenter, randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled study, patients on stable doses of Flolan were randomly withdrawn from Flolan to placebo or treprostinil injection. Fourteen treprostinil injection and 8 placebo patients completed the study. The primary endpoint of the study was the time to clinical deterioration, defined as either an increase in Flolan dose, hospitalization due to PAH, or death. No patients died during the study.

During the study period, treprostinil injection effectively prevented clinical deterioration in patients transitioning from Flolan therapy compared to placebo (Figure 1). Thirteen of 14 patients in the treprostinil injection arm were able to transition from Flolan successfully, compared to only 1 of 8 patients in the placebo arm (p=0.0002).

Figure 1: Time to Clinical Deterioration for PAH Patients Transitioned from Flolan to Treprostinil Injection or Placebo in an 8-Week Study