FEZOLINETANT: 1,407 Adverse Event Reports & Safety Profile

VEOZAH (fezolinetant) is a small-molecule NK3 receptor antagonist. The chemical name of fezolinetant is (4-Fluorophenyl)[(8 R )-8-methyl-3-(3-methyl-1,2,4-thiadiazol-5-yl)-5,6-dihydro[1,2,4]triazolo[4,3- a ]pyrazin-7(8 H )-yl]methanone having a molecular formula of C 16 H 15 FN 6 OS and a molecular weight of 358.39. The structural formula of fezolinetant is: Fezolinetant is a white powder. It is very slightly soluble in water (0.29 mg/mL). Each VEOZAH (fezolinetant) tablet for oral use contains 45 mg of fezolinetant and the following inactive ingredients: ferric oxide, hydroxypropyl cellulose, hypromellose, low-substituted hydroxypropyl cellulose, magnesium stearate, mannitol, microcrystalline cellulose, polyethylene glycol, talc, and titanium dioxide. structural formula of fezolinetant

AND USAGE VEOZAH ® is indicated for the treatment of moderate to severe vasomotor symptoms due to menopause. VEOZAH is a neurokinin 3 (NK3) receptor antagonist indicated for the treatment of moderate to severe vasomotor symptoms due to menopause. ( 1 )

AND ADMINISTRATION One 45 mg tablet orally once daily with or without food. Perform baseline hepatic laboratory tests to evaluate for hepatic function and injury before beginning VEOZAH. While using VEOZAH, perform follow-up hepatic laboratory tests monthly for the first 3 months, at 6 months, and 9 months after initiation of therapy or when signs or symptoms suggest liver injury. ( 2.1 )

2.1 Recommended Dosage Take a single 45 mg VEOZAH tablet orally once daily with or without food. Take VEOZAH with liquids and swallow whole. Do not cut, crush, or chew tablets. Administer VEOZAH orally at about the same time each day. If a dose of VEOZAH is missed or not taken at the usual time, administer the missed dose as soon as possible, unless there is less than 12 hours before the next scheduled dose. Return to the regular schedule the following day. Perform baseline hepatic laboratory tests to evaluate for hepatic function and injury [including serum alanine aminotransferase (ALT), serum aspartate aminotransferase (AST), serum alkaline phosphatase (ALP), and serum bilirubin (total and direct)] before initiating treatment with VEOZAH. Do not start VEOZAH if ALT or AST is ≥ 2 x ULN or if the total bilirubin is ≥ 2 x ULN for the evaluating laboratory. While using VEOZAH, perform follow-up hepatic laboratory tests monthly for the first 3 months, at 6 months, and 9 months after initiation of therapy. Advise patients to discontinue VEOZAH immediately and seek medical attention including hepatic laboratory tests if they experience signs or symptoms that may suggest liver injury <span class="opacity-50 text-xs">[see Warnings and Precautions ( 5.1 )]</span>.

VEOZAH is contraindicated in women with any of the following conditions:

• Known cirrhosis [see Warnings and Precautions ( 5.1 ), Use in Specific Populations ( 8.7 ), and Clinical Pharmacology ( 12.3 )] .
• Severe renal impairment or end-stage renal disease [see Use in Specific Populations ( 8.6 ) and Clinical Pharmacology ( 12.3 )] .
• Concomitant use with CYP1A2 inhibitors [see Drug Interactions ( 7.1 ) and Clinical Pharmacology ( 12.3 )] .
• Known cirrhosis ( 4 , 5.1 )
• Severe renal impairment or end-stage renal disease ( 4 , 8.6 )
• Concomitant use with CYP1A2 inhibitors ( 4 , 7.1 )

REACTIONS The following serious adverse reactions are discussed elsewhere in the labeling:

• Hepatic Transaminase Elevation and Hepatotoxicity [see Warnings and Precautions ( 5.1 )] . The most common adverse reactions with VEOZAH [at least 2% in VEOZAH 45 mg and greater than placebo] are: abdominal pain, diarrhea, insomnia, back pain, hot flush, and hepatic transaminase elevation. ( 6.1 ) To report SUSPECTED ADVERSE REACTIONS, contact Astellas Pharma US, Inc. at 1-800-727-7003 or FDA at 1-800-FDA-1088 or www.fda.gov/medwatch .

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 clinical practice. The safety of VEOZAH was evaluated in three 52-week clinical trials <span class="opacity-50 text-xs">[see Clinical Studies ( 14 )]</span> . Across the three clinical trials, a total of 1100 women received VEOZAH.

Trials

1 and 2 were placebo-controlled for the first 12 weeks, followed by re-randomization of women previously receiving placebo to VEOZAH (women on VEOZAH remained on VEOZAH) for an additional 40 weeks of uncontrolled treatment.

Trial

3 was a randomized, placebo-controlled, double-blind safety study evaluating the safety of VEOZAH for 52 weeks. The adverse reactions reported in at least 2% in VEOZAH 45 mg and greater than placebo in Trial 3 are presented in Table 1 .

Table

1: Adverse Reactions Reported in at Least 2% in VEOZAH 45 mg and Greater Than Placebo in a Placebo-Controlled, Double-Blind 52-Week Trial (Trial 3)

Adverse

Reaction VEOZAH 45 mg (n=609)

Total

Person-Years=504.2 n (%, EAIR EAIR = Number of individuals experiencing an adverse event divided by exposure time (total person-years) x 100. ) Placebo (n=610)

Total

Person-Years=475.0 n (%, EAIR ) Abdominal pain Abdominal pain (including Abdominal pain, Abdominal pain lower, Abdominal pain upper). 26 (4.3%, 5.2) 13 (2.1%, 2.7)

Diarrhea

24 (3.9%, 4.8) 16 (2.6%, 3.4)

Insomnia

24 (3.9%, 4.8) 11 (1.8%, 2.3) Back pain 18 (3.0%, 3.6) 13 (2.1%, 2.7) Hot flush 15 (2.5%, 3.0) 10 (1.6%, 2.1) Hepatic transaminase elevation Hepatic transaminase elevations (including Alanine aminotransferase abnormal, Alanine aminotransferase increased, Aspartate aminotransferase abnormal, Aspartate aminotransferase increased). 14 (2.3%, 2.8) 5 (0.8%, 1.1) In the pooled laboratory data of Trials 1, 2, and 3, elevated hepatic transaminases (> 3 x ULN) occurred in 25 women (2.3%,

2.7 EAIR) exposed to VEOZAH 45 mg (n=1100, 912.1 total person-years) as compared to 8 women (0.9%,

1.5 EAIR) exposed to placebo (n=952, 549.1 total person-years).

6.2 Postmarketing Experience The following adverse reactions have been identified during postapproval use of VEOZAH. Because these reactions are reported voluntarily from a population of uncertain size, it is not always possible to reliably estimate their frequency or establish a causal relationship to drug exposure. Hepatic : Cases of serious drug-induced hepatotoxicity occurred within 40 days of starting VEOZAH. Patients experienced elevated transaminases (up to 50 x ULN at peak elevation), elevated alkaline phosphatase (up to 4 x ULN at peak elevation), and bilirubin (up to 5 x ULN at peak elevation) coupled with symptoms of fatigue, nausea, pruritus, jaundice, pale feces, and dark urine. After discontinuation of VEOZAH, these abnormalities gradually resolved.

AND PRECAUTIONS Hepatotoxicity: Cases of hepatotoxicity and jaundice have been reported in the postmarketing setting. Perform hepatic laboratory tests prior to initiation of VEOZAH to evaluate for hepatic function and injury. Perform follow-up hepatic laboratory tests monthly for the first 3 months, at 6 months, and 9 months after initiation of therapy. Advise patients to discontinue VEOZAH immediately and seek medical attention including hepatic laboratory tests if they experience signs or symptoms that may suggest liver injury (new onset fatigue, decreased appetite, nausea, vomiting, pruritus, jaundice, pale feces, dark urine, or abdominal pain). ( 5.1 )

5.1 Hepatotoxicity In three clinical trials, elevations in serum transaminase [alanine aminotransferase (ALT) and/or aspartate aminotransferase (AST)] levels &gt; 3 x the upper limit of normal (ULN) occurred in 2.3% [exposure adjusted incidence rate (EAIR) of 2.7 per 100 person-years] of women receiving VEOZAH and 0.9% (EAIR of 1.5 per 100 person-years) of women receiving placebo. No elevations in serum total bilirubin (&gt; 2 x ULN) occurred. Women with ALT or AST elevations were generally asymptomatic. Transaminase levels returned to pretreatment levels (or close to these) without sequelae with dose continuation, and upon dose interruption, or discontinuation. Women with cirrhosis were not studied <span class="opacity-50 text-xs">[see Adverse Reactions ( 6.1 )]</span> . In the postmarketing setting, cases of drug-induced liver injury with elevations of ALT, AST, alkaline phosphatase (ALP), and total bilirubin occurred within 40 days of starting VEOZAH. Patients reported a general sense of feeling unwell and symptoms of fatigue, nausea, pruritus, jaundice, pale feces, and dark urine. The patients’ signs and symptoms gradually resolved after discontinuation of VEOZAH <span class="opacity-50 text-xs">[see Adverse Reactions ( 6.2 )]</span>. Perform baseline hepatic laboratory tests to evaluate for hepatic function and injury [including serum ALT, serum AST, serum ALP, and serum bilirubin (total and direct)] prior to VEOZAH initiation. Do not start VEOZAH if ALT or AST is ≥ 2 x ULN or if the total bilirubin is ≥ 2 x ULN for the evaluating laboratory. Perform follow-up hepatic laboratory tests monthly for the first 3 months, at 6 months, and 9 months after initiation of therapy. Advise patients to discontinue VEOZAH immediately and seek medical attention including hepatic laboratory tests if they experience signs or symptoms that may suggest liver injury:

• new onset fatigue, decreased appetite, nausea, vomiting, pruritus, jaundice, pale feces, dark urine, or abdominal pain. Discontinue VEOZAH if:
• transaminase elevations are > 5 x ULN.
• transaminase elevations are > 3 x ULN and total bilirubin is > 2 x ULN. If transaminase elevations > 3 x ULN occur, perform more frequent follow-up hepatic laboratory tests until resolution. Exclude alternative causes of hepatic laboratory test elevations.

INTERACTIONS

7.1 Effect of Other Drugs on VEOZAH CYP1A2 Inhibitors VEOZAH is a substrate of CYP1A2. Concomitant use of VEOZAH with drugs that are weak, moderate, or strong CYP1A2 inhibitors, increase the plasma C max and AUC of VEOZAH <span class="opacity-50 text-xs">[see Clinical Pharmacology ( 12.3 )]</span> . VEOZAH is contraindicated in individuals using CYP1A2 inhibitors.