VERICIGUAT: 967 Adverse Event Reports & Safety Profile

VERQUVO tablets contains vericiguat, a soluble guanylate cyclase stimulator. The chemical name of vericiguat is methyl {4,6-diamino-2-[5-fluoro-1-(2-fluorobenzyl)-1H-pyrazolo[3,4-b] pyridin-3-yl] pyrimidin-5-yl} carbamate. The molecular formula is C 19 H 16 F 2 N 8 O 2 and the molecular weight is 426.39 g/mol. The chemical structure is: Vericiguat is a white to yellowish powder that is freely soluble in dimethyl sulfoxide; slightly soluble in acetone; very slightly soluble in ethanol, acetonitrile, methanol, and ethyl acetate; and practically insoluble in 2-propanol. VERQUVO ® is available as film-coated tablets for oral administration, containing 2.5 mg of vericiguat, 5 mg of vericiguat or 10 mg of vericiguat. The tablet inactive ingredients are croscarmellose sodium, hypromellose, lactose monohydrate, magnesium stearate, microcrystalline cellulose, and sodium lauryl sulfate. The film coating contains hypromellose, talc and titanium dioxide. The film coating for the 5 mg of VERQUVO tablet also contains ferric oxide red. The film coating for the 10 mg of VERQUVO tablet also contains ferric oxide yellow. image description

AND USAGE VERQUVO ® is indicated to reduce the risk of cardiovascular death and heart failure (HF) hospitalization following a hospitalization for heart failure or need for outpatient IV diuretics, in adults with symptomatic chronic HF and ejection fraction less than 45% [see Clinical Studies (14) ] . VERQUVO is a soluble guanylate cyclase (sGC) stimulator, indicated to reduce the risk of cardiovascular death and heart failure (HF) hospitalization following a hospitalization for heart failure or need for outpatient IV diuretics, in adults with symptomatic chronic HF and ejection fraction less than 45%. ( 1 )

AND ADMINISTRATION The recommended starting dose of VERQUVO is 5 mg orally once daily with food. ( 2.1 ) For patients at risk of symptomatic hypotension, the recommended starting dose is 2.5 mg orally once daily with food. ( 2.1 ) Double the dose after approximately every 2 weeks to reach the target maintenance dose of 10 mg once daily, as tolerated by the patient. ( 2.1 ) Tablets may be crushed and mixed with water for patients unable to swallow whole tablets. ( 2.1 )

2.1 Recommended Dosage The recommended starting dose of VERQUVO is 5 mg orally once daily with food. For patients at risk of symptomatic hypotension, the recommended starting dose is 2.5 mg orally once daily with food <span class="opacity-50 text-xs">[see Clinical Trials Experience (6.1) ]</span>. Double the dose approximately every 2 weeks to reach the target maintenance dose of 10 mg once daily, as tolerated by the patient. For patients who are unable to swallow whole tablets, VERQUVO may be crushed and mixed with water immediately before administration <span class="opacity-50 text-xs">[see Clinical Pharmacology (12.3) ]</span> .

2.2 Pregnancy Testing in Females of Reproductive Potential Obtain a pregnancy test in females of reproductive potential prior to initiating treatment with VERQUVO <span class="opacity-50 text-xs">[see Warnings and Precautions (5.1) and Use in Specific Populations (8.3) ]</span>.

VERQUVO is contraindicated in patients with concomitant use of other soluble guanylate cyclase (sGC) stimulators [see Drug Interactions (7.1) ] . VERQUVO is contraindicated in pregnancy [see Warnings and Precautions (5.1) and Use in Specific Populations (8.1) ]. Patients with concomitant use of other soluble guanylate cyclase (sGC) stimulators. ( 4 , 7.1 ) Pregnancy ( 4 )

REACTIONS Most common adverse reactions reported in ≥5% are hypotension and anemia. ( 6.1 ) To report SUSPECTED ADVERSE REACTIONS, contact Merck Sharp & Dohme LLC at 1-877-888-4231 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 practice. VERQUVO was evaluated in VICTORIA, which included 2,519 patients treated with VERQUVO (up to 10 mg once daily). The mean duration of VERQUVO exposure was 1 year, and the maximum duration was 2.6 years <span class="opacity-50 text-xs">[see Clinical Studies (14) ]</span> .

Table

1 lists adverse drug reactions occurring more commonly with VERQUVO than placebo and in ≥5% of patients treated with VERQUVO in VICTORIA.

Table

1: Adverse Drug Reactions Occurring with VERQUVO in VICTORIA Adverse Drug Reaction VERQUVO % N = 2,519 Placebo % N = 2,515 Hypotension 16 15 Anemia 10 7 VELOCITY The safety and tolerability of VERQUVO 5 mg once daily as a starting dose was evaluated in VELOCITY, a single-arm, open-label, 2-week study in 106 patients with symptomatic chronic heart failure (NYHA class II–IV) and left ventricular ejection fraction < 45%. Patients were excluded from the study if they experienced symptomatic hypotension within 4 weeks before screening. Treatment initiation with VERQUVO 5 mg once daily in VELOCITY was similarly tolerated as treatment initiation of 2.5 mg once daily in the VICTORIA study.

AND PRECAUTIONS

5.1 Embryo-Fetal Toxicity Based on data from animal reproduction studies, VERQUVO may cause fetal harm when administered to a pregnant woman. Advise females of reproductive potential of the potential risk to a fetus. Obtain a pregnancy test before the start of treatment. Advise females of reproductive potential to use effective contraception during treatment with VERQUVO and for at least one month after the final dose <span class="opacity-50 text-xs">[see Dosage and Administration (2.2) and Use in Specific Populations (8.1 , 8.3) ]</span>.

INTERACTIONS PDE-5 Inhibitors: Concomitant use is not recommended. ( 7.2 )

7.1 Other Soluble Guanylate Cyclase Stimulators VERQUVO is contraindicated in patients with concomitant use of other soluble guanylate cyclase (sGC) stimulators <span class="opacity-50 text-xs">[see Contraindications (4) ]</span> .

7.2 PDE-5 Inhibitors Concomitant use of VERQUVO with PDE-5 inhibitors is not recommended because of the potential for hypotension <span class="opacity-50 text-xs">[see Clinical Pharmacology (12.2) ]</span> .