BEMPEDOIC ACID Drug Interactions: What You Need to Know

INTERACTIONS No specific pharmacokinetic drug interaction studies with NEXLIZET have been conducted.

Table

4 lists drug interactions with NEXLIZET that have been identified in studies with bempedoic acid or ezetimibe.

Table

4.

Clinically Important Drug

Interactions with NEXLIZET Simvastatin Clinical Impact: Concomitant use of NEXLIZET with simvastatin causes an increase in simvastatin concentration and may increase the risk of simvastatin-related myopathy [see Clinical Pharmacology (12.3) ] . Intervention: Avoid concomitant use of NEXLIZET with simvastatin greater than 20 mg.

Pravastatin Clinical

Impact: Concomitant use of NEXLIZET with pravastatin causes an increase in pravastatin concentration and may increase the risk of pravastatin-related myopathy [see Clinical Pharmacology (12.3) ] . Intervention: Avoid concomitant use of NEXLIZET with pravastatin greater than 40 mg.

Cyclosporine Clinical

Impact: Concomitant use of NEXLIZET and cyclosporine increases ezetimibe and cyclosporine concentrations. The degree of increase in ezetimibe exposure may be greater in patients with severe renal insufficiency [see Clinical Pharmacology (12.3) ] . Intervention: Monitor cyclosporine concentrations in patients receiving NEXLIZET and cyclosporine. In patients treated with cyclosporine, weigh the potential effects of the increased exposure to ezetimibe from concomitant use against the benefits of alterations in lipid levels provided by NEXLIZET.

Fibrates Clinical

Impact: Both fenofibrate and ezetimibe (a component of NEXLIZET) may increase cholesterol excretion into the bile, leading to cholelithiasis. Coadministration of NEXLIZET with fibrates other than fenofibrate is not recommended [see Adverse Reactions (6.1) ] . Intervention: If cholelithiasis is suspected in a patient receiving NEXLIZET and fenofibrate, gallbladder studies are indicated and alternative lipid-lowering therapy should be considered.

Clinical

Impact: Concomitant administration of fibrates with bempedoic acid (a component of NEXLIZET) resulted in increased triglycerides and decreased high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C) in some patients in clinical studies and post-marketing reports. Reversibility of both increased triglycerides and decreased HDL-C levels was observed when either bempedoic acid or fibrate therapy was discontinued. Intervention: Monitor triglycerides and HDL-C four weeks after initial concomitant use of NEXLIZET and a fibrate and periodically thereafter. If increased triglycerides or decreased HDL-C levels are detected, discontinue NEXLIZET or fibrate therapy based on clinical judgment. Monitor triglycerides and HDL-C levels until levels return to baseline.

Cholestyramine Clinical

Impact: Concomitant use of NEXLIZET and cholestyramine decreases ezetimibe concentration. This may result in a reduction of efficacy [see Clinical Pharmacology (12.3) ]. Intervention: Administer NEXLIZET either at least 2 hours before or at least 4 hours after bile acid sequestrants [see Dosage and Administration (2.2) ] . Simvastatin: Avoid concomitant use of NEXLIZET with simvastatin greater than 20 mg. ( 7 ) Pravastatin: Avoid concomitant use of NEXLIZET with pravastatin greater than 40 mg. ( 7 ) Cyclosporine: Monitor cyclosporine concentrations. ( 7 ) Fibrates: If cholelithiasis is suspected in a patient receiving NEXLIZET and fenofibrate, consider alternative lipid-lowering therapy. ( 6.2 , 7 ) Concomitant use of NEXLIZET with fibrates may increase triglycerides and decrease high-density lipoprotein cholesterol. ( 7 )

NEXLIZET is contraindicated in patients with a prior hypersensitivity to ezetimibe or bempedoic acid or any of the excipients in NEXLIZET [see Adverse Reactions (6.2) ] . Serious hypersensitivity reactions, such as anaphylaxis, angioedema, rash and urticaria have been reported with ezetimibe or bempedoic acid. Known hypersensitivity to ezetimibe or bempedoic acid or any of the excipients in NEXLIZET. ( 4 , 6.2 )

AND PRECAUTIONS Hyperuricemia: Elevations in serum uric acid have occurred. Assess uric acid levels periodically as clinically indicated. Monitor for signs and symptoms of hyperuricemia, and initiate treatment with urate-lowering drugs as appropriate. ( 5.1 )

Tendon

Rupture: Tendon rupture has occurred. Discontinue NEXLIZET at the first sign of tendon rupture. Avoid NEXLIZET in patients who have a history of tendon disorders or tendon rupture. ( 5.2 )

5.1 Hyperuricemia Bempedoic acid, a component of NEXLIZET, inhibits renal tubular OAT2 and may increase blood uric acid levels <span class="opacity-50 text-xs">[see Clinical Pharmacology (12.3) ]</span> . In the primary hypercholesterolemia trials <span class="opacity-50 text-xs">[see Clinical Studies (14.1) ]</span> , 26% of bempedoic acid-treated patients with normal baseline uric acid values (versus 9.5% placebo) experienced hyperuricemia one or more times, and 3.5% of patients experienced clinically significant hyperuricemia reported as an adverse reaction (versus 1.1% placebo). Increases in uric acid levels usually occurred within the first 4 weeks of treatment initiation, persisted throughout treatment, and returned to baseline following discontinuation of treatment.

After

12 weeks of treatment, the mean placebo-adjusted increase in uric acid compared to baseline was 0.8 mg/dL for patients treated with bempedoic acid. In the cardiovascular outcomes trial [see Clinical Studies (14.2) ] , 16.4% of bempedoic acid-treated patients experienced clinically significant hyperuricemia reported as an adverse reaction (versus 8.2% placebo). Elevated blood uric acid may lead to the development of gout. In the primary hypercholesterolemia trials, gout was reported in 1.5% of patients treated with bempedoic acid versus 0.4% of patients treated with placebo. In the cardiovascular outcomes trial, gout was reported in 3.2% of patients treated with bempedoic acid and 2.2% treated with placebo. Advise patients to contact their healthcare provider if symptoms of hyperuricemia occur. Assess serum uric acid when clinically indicated. Monitor patients for signs and symptoms of hyperuricemia, and initiate treatment with urate-lowering drugs as appropriate.

5.2 Tendon Rupture Bempedoic acid, a component of NEXLIZET, is associated with an increased risk of tendon rupture or injury. In the primary hypercholesterolemia trials <span class="opacity-50 text-xs">[see Clinical Studies (14.1) ]</span> , tendon rupture occurred in 0.5% of patients treated with bempedoic acid versus 0% of placebo-treated patients and involved the rotator cuff (the shoulder), biceps tendon, or Achilles tendon. Tendon rupture occurred within weeks to months of starting bempedoic acid. In the cardiovascular outcomes trial <span class="opacity-50 text-xs">[see Clinical Studies (14.2) ]</span> , tendon rupture events occurred in 1.2% of bempedoic acid-treated patients versus 0.9% of placebo-treated patients. Tendon rupture may occur more frequently in patients over 60 years of age, in those taking corticosteroid or fluoroquinolone drugs, in patients with renal failure, and in patients with previous tendon disorders. Discontinue NEXLIZET immediately if the patient experiences rupture of a tendon. Consider discontinuing NEXLIZET if the patient experiences joint pain, swelling, or inflammation. Advise patients to rest at the first sign of tendinitis or tendon rupture and to contact their healthcare provider if tendinitis or tendon rupture symptoms occur. Consider alternative therapy in patients with a history of tendon disorders or tendon rupture.