Berinert
(C1 esterase inhibitor (human))Dosage & Administration
For intravenous use only.
Berinert Prescribing Information
BERINERT is a plasma-derived concentrate of C1 Esterase Inhibitor (Human) indicated for the treatment of acute abdominal, facial, or laryngeal hereditary angioedema (HAE) attacks in adult and pediatric patients.
The safety and efficacy of BERINERT for prophylactic therapy have not been established.
For intravenous use only.
Administer BERINERT at a dose of 20 International Units (IU) per kg body weight by intravenous injection. Doses lower than 20 IU/kg body weight should not be administered.
BERINERT is provided as a freeze-dried powder for reconstitution with the Sterile Water for Injection, USP provided. Store the vial in the original carton in order to protect from light. Do not freeze.
Preparation and Handling
- Check the expiration date on the product vial label and on the administration kit. Do not use any component that is beyond the expiration date. Do not use if any components are damaged or opened.
- Prepare and administer using aseptic techniques [see Dosage and Administration (2.2)].
- Use the silicone-free syringe, provided, for administration of BERINERT [see How Supplied/Storage and Handling (16)].
- After reconstitution and prior to administration, inspect BERINERT visually for particulate matter and discoloration. The reconstituted solution should be colorless, clear, and free from visible particles. Do not use if the solution is cloudy, discolored, or contains particulates.
- The BERINERT vial is for single use only. BERINERT contains no preservative. Any product that has been reconstituted should be used promptly. The reconstituted solution must be used within 8 hours. Discard partially used vials.
- Do not freeze the reconstituted solution.
Reconstitution and Administration
Each BERINERT vial containing 500 IU of C1 esterase inhibitor as a lyophilized concentrate for reconstitution with 10 mL of Sterile Water for Injection, USP provided.
Use either the Mix2Vial® transfer set provided with BERINERT [see How Supplied/Storage and Handling (16.1)] or a commercially available double-ended needle and vented filter spike.
Reconstitution
The procedures below are provided as general guidelines for the reconstitution and administration of BERINERT.
- Ensure that the BERINERT vial and diluent vial are at room temperature.
- Place the BERINERT vial, diluent vial and Mix2Vial transfer set on a flat surface.
- Remove the flip caps from the BERINERT and diluent vials. Wipe the vial stoppers with the alcohol swab provided. Allow to dry prior to opening the Mix2Vial transfer set package.
- Open the Mix2Vial transfer set package by peeling away the lid (Figure 1). Leave the Mix2Vial transfer set in the clear package.
Figure 1
- Place the diluent vial on a flat surface and hold the vial tightly. Grip the Mix2Vial transfer set together with the clear package and push the plastic spike at the blue end of the Mix2Vial transfer set firmly through the center of the stopper of the diluent vial (Figure 2).
Figure 2
- Carefully remove the clear package from the Mix2Vial transfer set. Make sure that you pull up only the clear package, and not the Mix2Vial transfer set (Figure 3).
Figure 3
- With the BERINERT vial placed firmly on a flat surface, invert the diluent vial with the Mix2Vial transfer set attached and push the plastic spike of the transparent adapter firmly through the center of the stopper of the BERINERT vial (Figure 4). The diluent will automatically transfer into the BERINERT vial.
Figure 4
- With the diluent and BERINERT vial still attached to the Mix2Vial transfer set, gently swirl the BERINERT vial to ensure that the BERINERT is fully dissolved (Figure 5). Do not shake the vial.
Figure 5
- With one hand, grasp the BERINERT-side of the Mix2Vial transfer set and with the other hand grasp the blue diluent-side of the Mix2Vial transfer set and unscrew (counter clockwise) the set into two pieces (Figure 6).
Figure 6
- Carefully look at reconstituted solution in each vial of BERINERT. It should be colorless, clear, and free from visible particles. Do not use the vial if the liquid looks cloudy, contains particles, or has changed color. Do not use if the expiration date on the label has expired.
- Draw air into the empty, sterile, silicone-free syringe provided. While the BERINERT vial is upright, screw the syringe to the Mix2Vial transfer set. Inject air into the BERINERT vial. While keeping the syringe plunger pressed, invert the system upside down and draw the concentrate into the syringe by pulling the plunger back slowly (Figure 7). If BERINERT is not immediately used, please store reconstituted solution in the vial.
Figure 7
- Now that the concentrate has been transferred into the syringe, firmly grasp the barrel of the syringe (keeping the plunger facing down) and unscrew (counter clockwise) the syringe from the Mix2Vial transfer set (Figure 8). Attach the syringe to a suitable intravenous administration set.
Figure 8
- If patient requires more than one vial, a new unused Mix2Vial transfer set and a new silicone-free syringe should be used for each BERINERT vial.
- Do not refrigerate after reconstitution. When reconstitution is carried out using aseptic technique, administration may begin within 8 hours, provided the solution has been stored at up to 30°C (86°F). Do not refrigerate or freeze the reconstituted solution. Only store the reconstituted solution in the vial.
- Do not mix BERINERT with other medicinal products. Administer BERINERT by a separate infusion line.
- Use aseptic technique when administering BERINERT.
- Use the silicone-free syringe provided in the administration kit [see How Supplied/Storage and Handling (16)].
- Follow recommended venipuncture guidelines for initiating intravenous therapy.
- Administer BERINERT by slow intravenous injection at a rate of approximately 4 mL per minute. Please refer to the illustration in step 6 of the self-administration section in the Patient Product Information (PPI) section.
- For self-administration, provide the patient with instructions and training for intravenous injection outside of a clinic setting so patients may self-administer BERINERT upon recognition of symptoms of an HAE attack [see Patient Counseling Information (17)].
- After administration, immediately discard any unused product and all used disposable supplies in accordance with local requirements.
- BERINERT is available in a single-dose vial that contains 500 IU of C1 esterase inhibitor as a lyophilized concentrate.
- Each vial must be reconstituted with 10 mL of Sterile Water for Injection, USP provided.
Pregnancy
Risk Summary
Background risk (general population)
A review of available data suggests that major birth defects occur in 2-4% of the U.S. general population and that miscarriage occurs in 15-20% of clinically recognized pregnancies, regardless of drug exposure.
Data
Risk in BERINERT patients
In a retrospective case collection study, 20 pregnant women ranging in age from 20 to 35 years received BERINERT with repeated doses up to 3,500 IU per HAE attack; these women reported no complications during delivery and no harmful effects on their 34 neonates.3 BERINERT should be given to a pregnant woman only if clearly needed.
Lactation
Risk Summary
It is not known whether BERINERT is excreted in human milk. Because many drugs are excreted in human milk, caution should be exercised when BERINERT is administered to a nursing woman.
Pediatric Use
Safety and efficacy of BERINERT have been evaluated in 12 pediatric patients with HAE (age range 10 to 16 years) in the placebo controlled and open-label extension studies. BERINERT was also evaluated in 18 pediatric patients with HAE (age range 5 to 11 years) in a Registry Study conducted in the US and Europe. The safety profile observed in the pediatric population was similar to that observed in adults. The pharmacokinetics of BERINERT were evaluated in 5 pediatric subjects (ages 6 through 13) [see Clinical Pharmacology (12.3)].
Geriatric Use
The safety and efficacy of BERINERT in the geriatric population have not been evaluated in controlled clinical studies. BERINERT was evaluated in 27 geriatric subjects (age range 65 to 83 years) with HAE in a Registry Study conducted in the US and Europe. The safety profile observed in the geriatric population was similar to that observed in the younger populations studied.
BERINERT is contraindicated in individuals who have experienced life-threatening hypersensitivity reactions, including anaphylaxis, to C1 esterase inhibitor preparations.
Hypersensitivity
Severe hypersensitivity reactions may occur. Epinephrine should be immediately available for treatment of acute severe hypersensitivity reaction [see Patient Counseling Information (17)]. The signs and symptoms of hypersensitivity reactions may include hives, generalized urticaria, tightness of the chest, wheezing, hypotension, and/or anaphylaxis during or after injection of BERINERT.
Because hypersensitivity reactions may have symptoms similar to HAE attacks, treatment methods should be carefully considered. In case of suspected hypersensitivity, immediately discontinue administration of BERINERT and institute appropriate treatment.
Thromboembolic Events
Serious arterial and venous thromboembolic (TE) events have been reported at the recommended dose of C1 Esterase Inhibitor (Human) products, including BERINERT, following administration in patients with HAE. Risk factors may include the presence of an indwelling venous catheter/access device, prior history of thrombosis, underlying atherosclerosis, use of oral contraceptives or certain androgens, morbid obesity, and immobility. Benefits of treatment of HAE attacks should be weighed against the risks of TE events in patients with underlying risk factors. Monitor patients with known risk factors for TE events during and after BERINERT administration.
TE events have also been reported following administration of a C1 Esterase Inhibitor (Human) product when used for unapproved indications at higher than recommended doses1,2 [see Overdosage (10) and Nonclinical Toxicology (13.2)].
Transmissible Infectious Agents
Because BERINERT is made from human blood, it may carry a risk of transmitting infectious agents, e.g., viruses, the variant Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease (vCJD) agent and, theoretically, the Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease (CJD) agent. The risk that such products will transmit an infectious agent has been minimized by screening plasma donors for prior exposure to certain viruses, by testing for the presence of certain current virus infections, and by processes demonstrated to inactivate and/or remove a wide range of viruses [see Description (11)].
Despite these measures, such products may still potentially transmit disease and there is also the possibility that unknown infectious agents may be present in such products. However, since implementation of these measures, no case reports on suspected transmission of viruses have demonstrated a causal relationship to the administration of BERINERT.
All infections thought by a physician possibly to have been transmitted by BERINERT should be reported by lot number, by the physician, or other healthcare provider to the CSL Behring Pharmacovigilance Department at 1-866-915-6958.
Laryngeal HAE Attacks
Given the potential for airway obstruction during acute laryngeal HAE attacks, patients self-administering BERINERT should be advised to immediately seek medical attention in an appropriate healthcare facility after treatment with BERINERT.
The most serious adverse reaction reported in subjects enrolled in clinical studies who received BERINERT was an increase in the severity of pain associated with HAE.
The most common adverse reaction reported in greater than 4% of the subjects and greater than placebo among subjects who received BERINERT in the placebo-controlled clinical trial was dysgeusia.
Clinical Trials Experience
Because clinical studies 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.
Placebo-controlled Clinical Study
In the placebo-controlled clinical study, referred to as the randomized clinical trial (RCT) [see Clinical Studies (14)], 124 subjects experiencing an acute moderate to severe abdominal or facial HAE attack were treated with BERINERT (either a 10 IU per kg body weight or a 20 IU per kg body weight dose), or placebo (physiological saline solution).
The treatment-emergent serious adverse reactions/events that occurred in 5 subjects in the RCT were laryngeal edema, facial HAE attacks with laryngeal edema, swelling (shoulder and chest), exacerbation of hereditary angioedema, and laryngospasm.
After initial infusion or rescue Medication treatment with BERINERT versus placebo, in the intent-to-treat population only one adverse reaction was reported in greater than one subject in either treatment group, at a frequency higher than placebo: dysgeusia was reported within 4 hours of infusion of BERINERT versus placebo (2/43, 4.7% vs. 0/42, 0%) and up to 72 hours (2/43, 4.7% vs. 1/42, 2.4%). Because more subjects in the placebo group than in the BERINERT group received rescue treatment, the median observation period in this analysis for subjects randomized to placebo was slightly longer than for subjects randomized to receive BERINERT.
Subjects were tested at baseline and after 3 months for possible exposure to Parvovirus B19, hepatitis B, hepatitis C, and HIV-1 and HIV-2. No subject who underwent testing evidenced seroconversion or treatment-emergent positive polymerase chain reaction testing for these pathogens.
Open-Label Extension Study
In the safety analysis of the open-label extension study, 57 subjects with 1085 acute moderate to severe abdominal, facial, peripheral, and laryngeal HAE attacks received a 20 IU/kg body weight dose of BERINERT [see Clinical Studies (14)]. This study provides additional safety data in subjects who received multiple infusions of the product for sequential HAE attacks (one infusion per attack).
Table 1 lists the adverse reactions that occurred in the safety analysis of the open-label extension study in ≥2 subjects or associated with ≥5 HAE attacks during infusion or within 24 hours or 72 hours after the end of a BERINERT infusion.
| Number (%) of subjects (n=57) | Number (%) of Attacks (n=1085) | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Preferred term | ARs within 24 hours | ARs within 72 hours | ARs within 24 hours | ARs within 72 hours |
| N = total number of subjects/HAE attacks | ||||
| Data are sorted by decreasing frequency by number of subjects. | ||||
| ||||
| Any preferred term | 13 (22.8%) | 20 (35.1%) | 27 (2.5%) | 41 (3.8%) |
| Headache | 2 (3.5%) | 4 (7.0%) | 3 (0.3%) | 6 (0.6%) |
| Nasopharyngitis | 1 (1.8%) | 2 (3.5%) | 1 (<0.1%) | 2 (0.2%) |
| Abdominal pain or discomfort | 1 (1.8%) | 3 (5.3%) | 2 (0.2%) | 6 (0.6%) |
| Upper respiratory tract infection | 0 (0) | 1 (1.8%) | 0 (0) | 1 (<0.1%) |
| Hereditary angioedema attack † | 1 (1.8%) | 1 (1.8%) | 1 (<0.1%) | 1 (<0.1%) |
| Influenza like illness | 1 (1.8%) | 2 (3.5%) | 1 (<0.1%) | 2 (0.2%) |
| Rash | 2 (3.5%) | 2 (3.5%) | 2 (0.2%) | 2 (0.2%) |
| Vulvovaginal mycotic infection | 0 (0) | 2 (3.5%) | 0 (0) | 2 (0.2%) |
| Nausea | 1 (1.8%) | 1 (1.8%) | 4 (0.4%) | 5 (0.5%) |
The incidence and type of adverse reactions with BERINERT when administered for treatment of multiple consecutive acute HAE attacks of any type was similar to those previously observed. As in the placebo-controlled study, no proven cases of infections due to HIV-1/2, HAV, HBV, HCV or Parvovirus B19 were observed during the study.
Immunogenicity
In a post-marketing study forty-six subjects with Type I or Type II HAE were monitored for inhibitory or non-inhibitory antibodies to C1-INH. Blood samples for antibody assessment were taken at Day 1 (First HAE attack requiring administration of a dose of 20 IU/kg IV, baseline value), and at 3, 6 and 9 months. No subjects developed inhibitory antibodies to C1-INH at any of the time points following infusion of BERINERT. Thirteen subjects (28.2%), however, had detectable levels of non-inhibitory Abs at some point during the study, including 9 subjects (19.6%) who had detectable non-inhibitory Abs at baseline. The presence of non-inhibitory anti-C1-INH Abs did not induce apparent immunologically-associated clinical events.
The detection of antibody formation is highly dependent on the sensitivity and specificity of the assay. Additionally, the observed incidence of antibody (including neutralizing antibody) positivity in an assay may be influenced by several factors including assay methodology, sample handling, timing of sample collection, concomitant medications, and underlying disease. For these reasons, it may be misleading to compare the incidence of antibodies to BERINERT in the studies described above with the incidence of antibodies in other studies or to other products.
Postmarketing Experience
Because postmarketing reporting of adverse reactions is voluntary and from a population of uncertain size, it is not always possible to reliably estimate the frequency of these reactions or establish a causal relationship to product exposure.
Adverse reactions reported in Europe since 1979 in patients receiving BERINERT for treatment of HAE include hypersensitivity/anaphylactic reactions, injection-site pain, injection-site redness, chills, and fever.
TE Events Associated with HAE Treatment
TE events including basilar artery thrombosis, multiple pulmonary microemboli, and thrombosis have been reported with the use of BERINERT at the recommended dose following treatment of HAE.
TE Events Associated with Use in Unapproved Indications
TE events have also been reported with the use of BERINERT in patients receiving higher than recommended doses during cardiac surgery (unapproved indication) include carotid artery thrombosis, cerebral thrombosis, myocardial infarction, pulmonary embolism, renal vein thrombosis, sagittal sinus thrombosis, inferior vena cava thrombosis, superior vena cava thrombosis, internal jugular vein thrombosis, and peripheral venous thrombosis.1
The following adverse reactions, identified by system organ class, have been attributed to BERINERT during post-approval use outside the US.
- Immune System Disorder: Hypersensitivity/anaphylactic reactions, and shock
- General/Body as a Whole: Pain on injection, redness at injection site, chills, and fever
BERINERT is a human plasma-derived, purified, pasteurized, lyophilized concentrate of C1 esterase inhibitor to be reconstituted for intravenous administration. BERINERT is prepared from large pools of human plasma from US donors. The potency of C1 esterase inhibitor is expressed in International Units (IU), which is related to the current WHO Standard for C1 esterase inhibitor products.
C1 esterase inhibitor is a soluble, single-chain glycoprotein containing 478 amino acid residues organized into three beta-sheets and eight or nine alpha-helices.4 The heavily glycosylated molecule has an apparent molecular weight of 105 kD, of which the carbohydrate chains comprise 26% to 35%.5
Each 500 IU vial of reconstituted BERINERT contains 400-625 IU C1 esterase inhibitor, 50 to 80 mg total protein, 85 to 115 mg glycine, 70 to 100 mg sodium chloride, and 25 to 35 mg sodium citrate.
All plasma used in the manufacture of BERINERT is obtained from US donors and is tested using serological assays for hepatitis B surface antigen and antibodies to HIV-1/2 and HCV. Additionally, the plasma is tested with Nucleic Acid Testing (NAT) for HBV, HCV, HIV-1 and HAV and found to be non-reactive (negative). In addition, the plasma is also tested by NAT for Human Parvovirus B19. Only plasma that has passed virus screening is used for production, and the limit for Parvovirus B19 in the fractionation pool is set not to exceed 104 IU of Parvovirus B19 DNA per mL.
The manufacturing process for BERINERT includes multiple steps that reduce the risk of virus transmission. The virus inactivation/reduction capacity consists of three steps:
- Pasteurization in aqueous solution at 60°C for 10 hours
- Hydrophobic interaction chromatography
- Virus filtration (also called nanofiltration) by two filters, 20 nm and 15 nm, in series
This was evaluated in a series of in vitro spiking experiments. The total mean cumulative virus inactivation/reduction is shown in Table 2.
| Virus Studied | Pasteurization [log10] | Hydrophobic Interaction Chromatography [log10] | Virus Filtration [log10] | Total Cumulative [log10] |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| HIV-1, Human immunodeficiency virus type 1, a model for HIV-1 and HIV-2 | ||||
| BVDV, Bovine viral diarrhea virus, a model for HCV | ||||
| PRV, Pseudorabies virus, a model for large enveloped DNA viruses | ||||
| WNV, West Nile virus | ||||
| HAV, Hepatitis A virus | ||||
| CPV, Canine parvovirus | ||||
| B19V, Human Parvovirus B19 | ||||
| ND, Not determined | ||||
| NA, Not applicable | ||||
| Enveloped Viruses | ||||
| HIV-1 | ≥6.6 | ≥4.5 | ≥5.1 | ≥16.2 |
| BVDV | ≥9.2 | ≥4.7 | ≥5.3 | ≥19.2 |
| PRV | 6.3 | ≥6.5 | ≥7.1 | ≥19.9 |
| WNV | ≥7.0 | ND | ≥8.0 | ≥15.0 |
| Non-Enveloped Viruses | ||||
| HAV | ≥6.4 | 2.8 | ≥5.3 | ≥14.5 |
| CPV | 1.4 | 3.9 | 7.1 | 12.4 |
| B19V | 3.9 | ND | ND | NA |
Mechanism of Action
C1 esterase inhibitor is a normal constituent of human plasma and belongs to the group of serine protease inhibitors (serpins) that includes antithrombin III, alpha1-protease inhibitor, alpha2-antiplasmin, and heparin cofactor II. As with the other inhibitors in this group, C1 esterase inhibitor has an important inhibiting potential on several of the major cascade systems of the human body, including the complement system, the intrinsic coagulation (contact) system, the fibrinolytic system, and the coagulation cascade. Regulation of these systems is performed through the formation of complexes between the proteinase and the inhibitor, resulting in inactivation of both and consumption of the C1 esterase inhibitor.
C1 esterase inhibitor, which is usually activated during the inflammatory process, inactivates its substrate by covalently binding to the reactive site. C1 esterase inhibitor is the only known inhibitor for the subcomponent of the complement component 1 (C1r), C1s, coagulation factor XIIa, and kallikrein. Additionally, C1 esterase inhibitor is the main inhibitor for coagulation factor XIa of the intrinsic coagulation cascade.
HAE patients have low levels of endogenous or functional C1 esterase inhibitor. Although the events that induce HAE attacks of angioedema in HAE patients are not well defined, it has been postulated that increased vascular permeability and the clinical manifestation of HAE attacks may be primarily mediated through contact system activation. Suppression of contact system activation by C1 esterase inhibitor through the inactivation of plasma kallikrein and factor XIIa is thought to modulate this vascular permeability by preventing the generation of bradykinin.6
Administration of BERINERT to patients with C1 esterase inhibitor deficiency replaces the missing or malfunctioning protein in patients. The plasma concentration of C1 esterase inhibitor in healthy volunteers is approximately 270 mg/L.7
Pharmacokinetics
The pharmacokinetics of BERINERT were evaluated in an open-label, uncontrolled, single-center study in 40 subjects (35 adults and 5 children under 16 years of age) with either mild or severe HAE. All subjects received a single intravenous injection of BERINERT ranging from 500 IU to 1500 IU. Blood samples were taken during an HAE attack-free period at baseline and for up to 72 hours after drug administration. Pharmacokinetic parameters were estimated using non-compartmental analysis (with or without baseline adjustment). Table 3 summarizes the pharmacokinetic parameters in 35 adult subjects with HAE.
| Parameters | Unadjusted for baseline | Adjusted for baseline |
|---|---|---|
| AUC: Area under the curve | ||
| CL: Clearance | ||
| Vss: Volume steady state | ||
| MRT: Mean residence time | ||
| ||
| AUC(0-t) (hr × IU/mL) * | 27.5 ± 8.5 (15.7-44.7) | 12.8 ± 6.7 (3.9-34.7) |
| CL (mL/hr/kg) | 0.60 ± 0.17 (0.34-0.96) | 1.44 ± 0.67 (0.43-3.85) |
| Vss (mL/kg) | 18.6 ± 4.9 (11.1-27.6) | 35.4 ± 10.5 (14.1-56.1) |
| Half-life (hrs) | 21.9 ± 1.7 (16.5-24.4) | 18.4 ± 3.5 (7.4-22.8) |
| MRT (hrs) | 31.5 ± 2.4 (23.7-35.2) | 26.4 ± 5.0 (10.7-33.0) |
Table 4 summarizes the pharmacokinetic parameters in 5 pediatric subjects (ages 6 through 13) with HAE. When adjusted for baseline, compared to adults, the half-life of BERINERT was shorter and clearance (on per kg basis) was faster in this limited cohort of children. However, the clinical implication of this difference is not known.
| Parameters | Unadjusted for baseline | Adjusted for baseline |
|---|---|---|
| AUC: Area under the curve | ||
| CL: Clearance | ||
| Vss: Volume steady state | ||
| MRT: Mean residence time | ||
| ||
| AUC(0-t) (hr × IU/mL) † | 25.45 ± 5.8 (16.8-31.7) | 9.78 ± 4.37 (4.1-15.2) |
| CL (mL/hr/kg) | 0.62 ± 0.17 (0.47-0.89) | 1.9 ± 1.1 (0.98-3.69) |
| Vss (mL/kg) | 19.8 ± 4.0 (16.7-26.1) | 38.8 ± 8.9 (31.9-54.0) |
| Half-life (hrs) | 22.4 ± 1.6 (20.3-24.4) | 16.7 ± 5.8 (7.4-22.5) |
| MRT (hrs) | 32.3 ± 2.3 (29.3-35.2) | 24.0 ± 8.3 (10.7-32.4) |
Studies have not been conducted to evaluate the pharmacokinetics of BERINERT in special patient populations identified by gender, race, geriatric age, or the presence of renal or hepatic impairment.
Carcinogenesis, Mutagenesis, Impairment of Fertility
No animal studies have been completed to evaluate the effects of BERINERT on carcinogenesis, mutagenesis, and impairment of fertility.
Animal Toxicology and/or Pharmacology
Acute intravenous toxicity of BERINERT was performed in mice at 1500, 3000, and 6000 IU/kg and in rats at 1000, 2000, and 3000 IU/kg. BERINERT was well tolerated and no signs of toxicity were observed up to the highest dose administered.
Repeat intravenous dose toxicity was studied in a 14-day repeat dose study in rats at doses of 20, 60, and 200 IU/kg/day. BERINERT was well tolerated and no toxicity was observed up to the highest dose administered. No antibody response against C1 esterase inhibitor could be demonstrated in this study after multiple dosing with BERINERT.
In a safety pharmacology study, BERINERT was administered to beagle dogs intravenously at a cumulative dose of 3500 IU/kg. No adverse effects were seen on the cardiovascular and respiratory system. There was a drop in body temperature, reduced coagulation time, and a decrease in thrombocyte aggregation.
Local intravenous tolerance of BERINERT was evaluated in rabbits at 1500 IU. No pathological changes were noted at the time of injection or during the following 24 hours. No pathological signs were noted during necropsy.
A study in pigs investigating cardioprotective effects of C1 esterase inhibitor suggests a risk of thrombosis from intravenous administration of C1 esterase inhibitor products at doses of 200 IU/kg; however, in this model, cardioprotective effects were observed at a dose of 40 IU/kg.2
The safety and efficacy of BERINERT in the treatment of acute abdominal or facial HAE attacks in subjects with hereditary angioedema were demonstrated in a placebo-controlled, double-blind, prospective, multinational, randomized, parallel-group, dose-finding, three-arm, clinical study, referred to as the randomized clinical trial (RCT). The RCT assessed the efficacy and safety of BERINERT in 124 adult and pediatric subjects with C1 esterase inhibitor deficiency who were experiencing an acute moderate to severe attack of abdominal or facial HAE. Subjects ranged in age from six to 72 years of age; 67.7% were female and 32.3% were male; and approximately 90% were Caucasian.
The study objectives were to evaluate whether BERINERT shortens the time to onset of relief of symptoms of an abdominal or facial HAE attack compared to placebo and to compare the efficacy of two different doses of BERINERT. The time to onset of relief of symptoms was determined by the subject's response to a standard question posed at appropriate time intervals for as long as 24 hours after start of treatment, taking into account all single HAE symptoms. In addition, the severity of individual HAE symptoms was assessed over time.
Subjects were randomized to receive a single 10 IU/kg body weight dose of BERINERT (39 subjects), a single 20 IU/kg dose of BERINERT (43 subjects), or a single dose of placebo (42 subjects) by slow intravenous infusion (recommended to be given at a rate of approximately 4 mL per minute) within 5 hours of an HAE attack. At least 70% of the subjects in each treatment group were required to be experiencing an abdominal HAE attack.
If a subject experienced no relief or insufficient relief of symptoms by 4 hours after infusion, investigators had the option to administer a second infusion of BERINERT (20 IU/kg for the placebo group, 10 IU/kg for the 10 IU/kg group), or placebo (for the 20 IU/kg group). This masked (blinded) "rescue study medication" was administered to subjects and they were then followed until complete resolution of symptoms was achieved. Adverse events were collected for up to 7 to 9 days following the initial administration of BERINERT or placebo.
In the rare case that a subject developed life-threatening laryngeal edema after inclusion into the study, immediate start of open-label treatment with a 20 IU/kg body weight dose of BERINERT was allowed.
All subjects who received confounding medication (rescue medication) before symptom relief were regarded as "non-responders". Therefore, time to onset of symptom relief was set at 24 hours if a subject received any rescue medication (ie, rescue study medication, narcotic analgesics, non-narcotic analgesics, anti-emetics, open-label C1 inhibitor, androgens at increased dose, or fresh frozen plasma) between 5 hours before administration of blinded study medication until time to onset of relief.
For the trial to be considered successful, the study protocol specified the following criteria for the differences between the BERINERT 20 IU/kg and the placebo group:
- The time to onset of relief of symptoms of the HAE attack had to achieve a one-sided p-value of less than 0.0249 for the final analysis, and at least one of the following criteria had to demonstrate a trend in favor of BERINERT with a one-sided p-value of less than 0.1:
- The proportion of subjects with increased intensity of clinical HAE symptoms between 2 and 4 hours after start of treatment with study medication compared to baseline, or
- The number of vomiting episodes within 4 hours after start of study treatment.
Subjects treated with 20 IU/kg body weight of BERINERT experienced a significant reduction (p=0.0016; "Wilcoxon Rank Sum test") in time to onset of relief from symptoms of an HAE attack as compared to placebo (median of 48 minutes for BERINERT 20 IU/kg body weight, as compared to a median of >4 hours for placebo). The time to onset of relief from symptoms of an HAE attack for subjects in the 10 IU/kg dose of BERINERT was not statistically significantly different from that of subjects in the placebo group.
Figure 9 is a Kaplan-Meier curve showing the percentage of subjects reporting onset of relief of HAE attack symptoms as a function of time. Individual time points beyond 4 hours are not presented on the graph because the protocol permitted blinded rescue medication, analgesics, and/or anti-emetics to be administered starting 4 hours after randomized blinded study medication had been administered.
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| Figure 9. Time to Onset of Symptom Relief with Imputation to >4 hours for subjects Who Received any Rescue Medication * or Non-narcotic Analgesics Before Start of Relief |
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In addition, the efficacy of BERINERT 20 IU/kg body weight could be confirmed by observing a reduction in the intensity of single HAE symptoms at an earlier time compared to placebo. For abdominal attacks Figure 10 shows the time to start of relief of the last symptom to improve that was already present at baseline. Pre-defined abdominal HAE symptoms included pain, nausea, vomiting, cramps and diarrhea. Figure 11 shows the respective time to start of relief of the first symptom to improve that was already present at baseline.
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| Figure 10. Time to Start of Relief of the Last Symptom to Improve (Abdominal HAE Attacks) with Imputation to >4 hours for subjects Who Received any Rescue Medication * Before Start of Relief |
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| Figure 11. Time to Start of Relief of the First Symptom to Improve (Abdominal HAE Attacks) with Imputation to >4 hours for subjects Who Received Any Rescue Medication * Before Start of Relief |
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For facial attacks, single HAE symptoms were recorded. In addition, photos were taken at pre-determined time points and assessed by the members of an independent Data Safety Monitoring Board (DSMB), who were blinded as to treatment, center and other outcome measures. The change in the severity of the edema when compared to baseline was assessed on a scale with outcomes "no change", "better", "worse" and "resolved". Figure 12 shows the time to start of relief from serial facial photographs by DSMB assessment.
|
| Figure 12. Time to Start of Relief from Serial Facial Photographs * |
|
Table 5 compares additional endpoints, including changes in HAE symptoms and use of rescue medication in subjects receiving BERINERT at 20 IU/kg body weight and placebo.
| Additional Endpoints | Number (%) of subjects BERINERT 20 IU/kg Body Weight Group (n=43) | Number (%) of subjects Placebo Group (n=42) |
|---|---|---|
| ||
| Onset of symptom relief within 60 minutes after administration of study medication (post-hoc) | 27 (62.8%) | 11 (26.2%) |
| Onset of symptom relief within 4 hours after administration of study medication | 30 (69.8%) | 18 (42.9%) |
| Number of vomiting episodes within 4 hours after start of study treatment * | 6 episodes | 35 episodes |
| Worsened intensity of clinical HAE symptoms between 2 and 4 hours after administration of study medication compared to baseline † | 0 (0%) | 12 (28.6%) |
| Number (percent) of combined abdominal and facial HAE attack subjects receiving rescue study medication, analgesics, or anti-emetics at any time prior to initial relief of symptoms | 13 (30.2%) | 23 (54.8%) |
| At least one new HAE symptom not present at baseline and starting within 4 hours after administration of study medication | 2 (4.6%) | 6 (14.3%) |
Both the proportion of subjects with increased intensity of clinical HAE symptoms between 2 and 4 hours after start of treatment compared to baseline, and the number of vomiting episodes within 4 hours after start of study treatment demonstrated trends in favor of BERINERT in comparison to placebo (p-values <0.1). Tables 6 through 9 present additional information regarding responses to treatment.
| HAE Attack Type | BERINERT 20 IU/kg Body Weight (Abdominal subjects = 34) (Facial subjects = 9) (Other subjects = 0) | Placebo Group (Abdominal subjects = 33) (Facial subjects = 8) (Other subjects = 1) * |
|---|---|---|
| ||
| Abdominal | 24 (70.6%) | 15 (45.5%) |
| Facial | 6 (66.7%) | 3 (37.5%) |
| HAE Attack Type | BERINERT 20 IU/kg Body Weight (Abdominal subjects = 34) (Facial subjects = 9) | Placebo Group (Abdominal subjects = 33) (Facial subjects = 8) |
|---|---|---|
| Abdominal | 33 (97.1%) | 29 (87.9%) |
| Facial | 6 (66.7%) | 4 (50%) |
| Attack Type | BERINERT 20 IU/kg Body Weight (Subjects = 9) | Placebo Group (Subjects = 8) |
|---|---|---|
| ||
| Facial | 7 (77.8%) | 2 (25%) |
| HAE Attack Type | BERINERT 20 IU/kg Body Weight | Placebo Group |
|---|---|---|
| (Abdominal subjects = 34) (Facial subjects = 9) | (Abdominal subjects = 33) (Facial subjects = 8) | |
| Abdominal | 7 (20.6%) | 17 (51.5%) |
| Facial | 1 (11.1%) | 6 (75%) |
No subjects treated with BERINERT at 20 IU/kg body weight reported worsening of symptoms at 4 hours after administration of study medication compared to baseline.
The study demonstrated that the BERINERT 20 IU/kg body weight dose was significantly more efficacious than the BERINERT 10 IU/kg body weight dose or placebo.
Open-Label Extension Study
BERINERT was evaluated in a prospective, open-label, uncontrolled, multicenter extension study conducted at 15 centers in the US and Canada in subjects who had participated in the RCT study for the treatment of acute abdominal or facial HAE attacks in subjects with hereditary angioedema.
The purpose of this extension study was to provide BERINERT to subjects who had participated in the RCT study and who experienced any type of subsequent HAE attack (ie, abdominal, facial, peripheral, or laryngeal).
The safety analysis of the open-label extension study included a total of 57 subjects (19 males and 38 females, age range: 10 to 53 years) with 1085 HAE attacks treated with 20 IU/kg body weight dose of BERINERT per attack, who were observed at the study site until onset of relief of HAE symptoms, and were followed up for adverse reactions for 7 to 9 days following treatment of each HAE attack [see Adverse Reactions (6.1)]. During the extension study, 51 subjects experienced 747 abdominal attacks, 21 subjects experienced 51 facial HAE attacks, 30 subjects experienced 235 peripheral HAE attacks, and 16 subjects experienced 48 laryngeal HAE attacks. Some study subjects may have experienced HAE attacks in more than one location.
An analysis of laryngeal HAE attacks showed that the median time to initial onset of symptom relief and median time to complete resolution in the per-attack analysis were 0.25 hours and 8.4 hours, respectively (Table 10), which were the shortest times among the various HAE attack locations.
| Statistic | Laryngeal (n=48) |
|---|---|
| CI = confidence interval | |
| HAE = hereditary angioedema | |
| N = number of attacks | |
| |
| Time to initial onset of symptom relief [hours] | |
| Median (range) | 0.25 (0.10 - 1.25) |
| 95% CI for median | [0.23; 0.42] |
| Time to complete resolution of HAE symptoms [hours] | |
| Median (range) | 8.4 (0.6 - 61.8 *) |
| 95% CI for median | [6.2; 21.5] |
There were no clinically relevant or consistent data suggesting that gender, age group, race/ethnic group, type of HAE, routine use of androgens, or presence of detectable anti-C1 Esterase Inhibitor antibodies had an effect on the time to initial or complete relief of symptoms following BERINERT.
The prospective open-label extension study demonstrated that, in comparison to untreated historical control data retrospectively collected at a study center in Germany over a 20 year period8, the BERINERT 20 IU/kg body weight dose appeared to be effective in ameliorating laryngeal HAE attacks by achieving complete resolution of HAE symptoms within 24 hours from attack onset in the majority of subjects. The treatment effects observed with BERINERT in the extension study are consistent with the findings from the placebo-controlled efficacy trial.
- BERINERT is supplied in a single-dose vial together with an administration kit.
- 500 IU vial of BERINERT for reconstitution with 10 mL of Sterile Water for Injection, USP.
- The components used in the packaging for BERINERT are not made with natural rubber latex.
Each product presentation includes a package insert and the following components:
| Carton NDC Number | Components | |
|---|---|---|
| 500 IU | 63833-825-02 |
|
Storage and Handling
- When stored at temperatures of 2-30°C (36-86°F), BERINERT is stable for the period indicated by the expiration date on the carton and vial label.
- Keep BERINERT in its original carton until ready to use.
- Do not freeze.
- Protect from light.
- Discard any unused product and all used disposable supplies.
Mechanism of Action
C1 esterase inhibitor is a normal constituent of human plasma and belongs to the group of serine protease inhibitors (serpins) that includes antithrombin III, alpha1-protease inhibitor, alpha2-antiplasmin, and heparin cofactor II. As with the other inhibitors in this group, C1 esterase inhibitor has an important inhibiting potential on several of the major cascade systems of the human body, including the complement system, the intrinsic coagulation (contact) system, the fibrinolytic system, and the coagulation cascade. Regulation of these systems is performed through the formation of complexes between the proteinase and the inhibitor, resulting in inactivation of both and consumption of the C1 esterase inhibitor.
C1 esterase inhibitor, which is usually activated during the inflammatory process, inactivates its substrate by covalently binding to the reactive site. C1 esterase inhibitor is the only known inhibitor for the subcomponent of the complement component 1 (C1r), C1s, coagulation factor XIIa, and kallikrein. Additionally, C1 esterase inhibitor is the main inhibitor for coagulation factor XIa of the intrinsic coagulation cascade.
HAE patients have low levels of endogenous or functional C1 esterase inhibitor. Although the events that induce HAE attacks of angioedema in HAE patients are not well defined, it has been postulated that increased vascular permeability and the clinical manifestation of HAE attacks may be primarily mediated through contact system activation. Suppression of contact system activation by C1 esterase inhibitor through the inactivation of plasma kallikrein and factor XIIa is thought to modulate this vascular permeability by preventing the generation of bradykinin.6
Administration of BERINERT to patients with C1 esterase inhibitor deficiency replaces the missing or malfunctioning protein in patients. The plasma concentration of C1 esterase inhibitor in healthy volunteers is approximately 270 mg/L.7