Rhesonativ
Summary of Product Characteristics
Name of the Medicinal Product
Rhesonativ 625 IU/ml, solution for injection
Qualitative and Quantitative Composition
Human anti-D immunoglobulin.
1 ml contains:
Human anti-D immunoglobulin 625 IU (125 g)
Human protein content 165 mg
thereof immunoglobulin G, at least 95%
The content of IgA does not exceed 0.05% of the total protein content.
One ampoule of 1 ml contains 625 IU (125 g) of human anti-D immunoglobulin.
One ampoule of 2 ml contains 1250 IU (250 g) of human anti-D immunoglobulin.
For the full list of excipients, see section 6.1.
Pharmaceutical Form
Solution for injection.
The colour of the solution can vary from colourless to pale-yellow up to light-brown.
Clinical Particulars
Therapeutic indications
Prevention of Rh(D) immunisation in Rh(D) negative women
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Antenatal prophylaxis
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Planned antenatal prophylaxis
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Antenatal prophylaxis following complications of pregnancy including Abortion/threatened abortion, ectopic pregnancy or hydatidiform mole, intrauterine fetal death (IUFD), transplacental haemorrhage (TPH) resulting from ante-partum haemorrhage (APH), amniocentesis, chorionic biopsy, obstetric manipulative procedures e.g. external version, invasive interventions, cordocentesis, blunt abdominal trauma or fetal therapeutic intervention.
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Postnatal prophylaxis
Pregnancy/delivery of a Rh(D) positive (D, Dweak, Dpartial) baby
Treatment of Rh(D) negative persons after incompatible transfusions of Rh(D) positive blood or other products containing red blood cells e.g. platelet concentrate.
Posology and method of administration
Posology
The dose of anti-D immunoglobulin should be determined according to the level of exposure to Rh(D) positive red blood cells and based on the knowledge that 0.5 ml of packed Rh(D) positive red blood cells or 1 ml of Rh (D) positive blood is neutralised by approximately 10 micrograms (50 IU) of anti-D immunoglobulin.
The following doses are recommended based on the clinical studies performed with Rhesonativ.
Prevention of Rh (D) immunisation in Rh(D) negative women
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Antenatal prophylaxis According to general recommendations, currently administered doses range from 50 – 330 micrograms or 250 - 1650 IU. For specific study details see Section 5.1.
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Planned antenatal prophylaxis:
A single dose (e.g. 250 g or 1250 IU) at 28 - 30 weeks of gestation or two doses at 28 and 34 weeks.
Antenatal prophylaxis following complications of pregnancy:
A single dose (e.g. 125 g or 625 IU before the 12thweek of pregnancy) (e.g. 250 g or 1250 IU after the 12thweek of pregnancy) should be administered as soon as possible and within 72 hours and if necessary repeated at 6 – 12 week intervals throughout the pregnancy.
After amniocentesis and chorionic biopsy a single dose (e.g. 250g or 1250 IU) should be administered.
• Postpartum prophylaxis According to general recommendations, currently administered doses range from 100 – 300 micrograms or 500 – 1500 IU. For specific study details see Section 5.1. If the lower dose (100 micrograms or 500 IU) is administered then testing of the amount of fetal maternal haemorrhage should be performed.
Standard dose: 1250 IU (250 g).
For postnatal use, the product should be administered to the mother as soon as possible within 72 hours of delivery of an Rh positive (D, Dweak, Dpartial) infant. If more than 72 hours have elapsed, the product should not be withheld but administered as soon as possible.
The post partum dose must still be given even when antepartum prophylaxis has been administered and even if residual activity from antenatal prophylaxis can be demonstrated in maternal serum.
If a large feto-maternal haemorrhage (> 4 ml (0.7%-0. 8% of women)) is suspected, e.g. in the event of fetal/neonatal anaemia or intrauterine fetal death, its extent should be determined by a suitable method e.g. Kleihauer-Betke acid elution test to detect fetal HbF or flow cytometry which specifically identifies Rh (D) positive cells. Additional doses of anti-D immunoglobulin should be administered accordingly (10 micrograms or 50 IU) per 0.5 ml fetal red blood cells).
Incompatible transfusions of red blood cells (RBCs)
The recommended dose is 20 micrograms (100 IU) anti-D immunoglobulin per 2ml of transfused Rh (D) positive blood or per 1 ml of RBC concentrate. The appropriate dose should be determined in consultation with a specialist in blood transfusion. Follow-up tests for Rh (D) positive RBCs should be done every 48 hours and further anti-D administered until all Rh (D) positive RBCs have cleared from the circulation. A maximum dose of 3000 micrograms (15000 IU) is sufficient in the case of larger incompatible transfusions independent of whether the transfusion volume is greater than 300 ml of Rh (D) positive red blood cells.
The use of an alternative intravenous product is recommended as it will achieve adequate plasma levels immediately. If no intravenous product is available, the large dose should be administered intramuscularly over a period of several days.
Paediatric population
The safety and efficacy in children has not yet been established.
Method of administration
For intramuscular use.
If a large volume (>2 ml for children or >5 ml for adults) is required, it is recommended to administer this in divided doses at different sites.
If intramuscular administration is contra-indicated (bleeding disorders), the injection can be administered subcutaneously if no intravenous product is available. Careful manual pressure with a compress should be applied to the site after injection.
Contraindications
Hypersensitivity to the active substance(s) or to any of the excipients listed in section 6.1.
Special warnings and precautions for use
Ensure that Rhesonativ is not administered into a blood vessel, because of the risk of shock.Injections have to be given intramuscularly, and care should be taken to draw back on the plunger of the syringe before injection in order to be certain that the needle is not in a blood vessel.
In the case of postpartum use, the product is intended for maternal administration. It should not be given to the new-born infant.
The product is neitherintended for use in Rh(D) positive individuals nor for individuals already immunised to Rh(D) antigen.
Patients should be observed for at least 20 minutes after administration and for at least 1 hour after an accidental intravenous injection.
Rarely, human anti-D immunoglobulin can induce a fall in blood pressure with anaphylactic reaction, even in patients who have tolerated previous treatment with human immunoglobulin.
Suspicion of allergic or anaphylactic type reactions requires immediate discontinuation of the injection. In case of shock, standard medical treatment for shock should be implemented.
Arterial and venous thromboembolic events including myocardial infarction, stroke, deep venous thrombosis and pulmonary embolism have been associated with the use of immunoglobulins. Thromboembolic events have not been observed for Rhesonativ which may be due to the low doses commonly used. Caution should be exercised in patients with preexisting risk factors for thrombotic events (such as advanced age, hypertension, diabetes mellitus and a history of vascular disease or thrombotic episodes, patients with acquired or inherited thrombophilic disorders, patients with prolonged periods of immobilization, severely hypovolemic patients, patients with diseases which increase blood viscosity) especially when higher doses of Rhesonativ are prescribed.
True hypersensitivity reactions are rare but allergic type responses to anti-D immunoglobulin may occur. Patients should be informed of the early signs of hypersensitivity reactions including hives, generalised urticaria, tightness of the chest, wheezing, hypotension and anaphylaxis. The treatment required depends on the nature and severity of the side effect.
Rhesonativ contains a small quantity of IgA. Although anti-D immunoglobulin has been used successfully to treat selected IgA deficient individuals, individuals who are deficient in IgA have the potential for developing IgA antibodies and may have anaphylactic reactions after administration of blood components containing IgA. The physician must therefore weigh the benefit of treatment with Rhesonativ against the potential risks of hypersensitivity reactions.
Patients in receipt of incompatible transfusion, who receive very large doses of anti-D immunoglobulin, should be monitored clinically and by biological parameters, because of the risk of haemolytic reaction.
Standard measures to prevent infections resulting from the use of medicinal products prepared from human blood or plasma include selection of donors, screening of individual donations and plasma pools for specific markers of infection and the inclusion of effective manufacturing steps for the inactivation/removal of viruses. Despite this, when medicinal products prepared from human blood or plasma are administered, the possibility of transmitting infective agents cannot be totally excluded. This also applies to unknown or emerging viruses and other pathogens.
The measures taken are considered effective for enveloped viruses such as HIV, HBV and HCV, and for the non-enveloped virus HAV.
The measures taken may be of limited value against non-enveloped viruses such as parvovirus B19.
There is reassuring clinical experience regarding the lack of hepatitis A or parvovirus B19 transmission with immunoglobulins and it is also assumed that the antibody content makes an important contribution to the viral safety.
It is strongly recommended that every time that Rhesonativ is administered to a patient, the name and batch number of the product are recorded in order to maintain a link between the patient and the batch of the product.
Interference with serological testing
After injection of immunoglobulin the transitory rise of the various passively transferred antibodies in the patient’s blood may result in misleading positive results in serological testing.
Passive transmission of antibodies to erythrocyte antigens, e.g. A, B, D may interfere with some serological tests for red cell antibodies, for example the antiglobulin test (Coombs’ test) particularly in Rh(D) positive neonates whose mothers have received antepartum prophylaxis.
Interaction with other medicinal products and other forms of interaction
Live attenuated virus vaccines
Active immunisation with live virus vaccines (e.g. measles, mumps or rubella) should be postponed for 3 months after the last administration of anti-D immunoglobulin, as the efficacy of the live virus vaccine may be impaired.
If anti-D immunoglobulin needs to be administered within 2-4 weeks of a live virus vaccination, then the efficacy of such a vaccination may be impaired.
Fertility, pregnancy and lactation
Pregnancy
This medicinal product is intended for usein pregnancy.
Fertility
No animal fertility studies have been conducted with Rhesonativ. Nevertheless, clinical experience with human anti-D immunoglobulin suggests that no harmful effects on fertility are to be expected.
Breastfeeding
This medicinal product can be used during breastfeeding.
Immunoglobulins are excreted in human milk. No study drug-related adverse events were reported in children delivered by more than 450 women who received standard doses of Rhesonativ in the postpartum period.
Effects on ability to drive and use machines
No effects on ability to drive and use machines have been observed.
Undesirable effects
Local pain and tenderness can be observed at the injection site; this can be prevented by dividing larger doses over several injection sites.
For safety with respect to transmissible agents, see 4.4.
There are no robust data on the frequency of undesirable effects from clinical trials. The following undesirable effects have been reported:
MedDRA Standard System Organ Class |
Undesirable effects |
Blood and lymphatic system disorders |
Haemolytic reaction |
Immune system disorders |
Anaphylactic shock, anaphylactic/anaphylactoid reaction, hypersensitivity |
Nervous system disorders |
Headache |
Cardiac disorders |
Tachycardia |
Vascular disorders |
Hypotension |
Respiratory, thoracic and mediastinal disorders |
Wheezing |
Gastrointestinal disorders |
Vomiting, nausea |
Skin and subcutaneous tissue disorders |
Skin reaction, erythema, itching, pruritus, urticaria |
Musculoskeletal and connective tissue disorders |
Arthralgia |
General disorders and administration site conditions |
Pyrexia, malaise, injection site reaction (i.e. swelling, pain, erythema, induration, warmth, pruritus, rash) |
Reporting of suspected adverse reactions
Reporting suspected adverse reactions after authorisation of the medicinal product is important. It allows continued monitoring of the benefit/risk balance of the medicinal product. Healthcare professionals are asked to report any suspected adverse reactions via the national reporting system (see details below).
[To be completed nationally]
Overdose
Consequences of an overdose are not known. Patients in receipt of incompatible transfusion, who receive very large doses of anti-D immunoglobulin, should be monitored clinically and by biological parameters, because of the risk of haemolytic reaction.
In other Rh(D) negative individuals, overdosage should not lead to more frequent or more severe undesirable effects than the normal dose.
Pharmacological Properties
Pharmacodynamic properties
Pharmacotherapeutic group: immune sera and immunoglobulins:
- anti-D (Rh) immunoglobulin.
ATC code: J06BB01.
Anti-D immunoglobulin contains specific antibodies (IgG) against the D (Rh) antigen of human erythrocytes.
During pregnancy, and especially at the time of childbirth, fetal red blood cells may enter the maternal circulation. When the woman is Rh(D)-negative and the fetus Rh(D)-positive, the woman may become immunised to the Rh(D) antigen and produce anti-Rh(D) antibodies which cross the placenta and may cause haemolytic disease of the newborn. Passive immunisation with anti-D immunoglobulin prevents Rh(D) immunisation in more than 99% of cases provided that a sufficient dose of anti-D immunoglobulin is administered soon enough after exposure to Rh(D)-positive fetal red blood cells.
The mechanism by which anti-D immunoglobulin suppresses immunisation to Rh(D)-positive red cells is not known. Suppression may be related to the clearance of the red cells from the circulation before they reach immunocompetent sites or, it may be due to more complex mechanisms involving recognition of foreign antigen and antigen presentation by the appropriate cells at the appropriate sites in the presence or absence of antibody.
Studies in Patients with Postpartum Prophylaxis (Study 1-6) and in Patients with Antenatal Prophylaxis (Study 7)
Clinical trials with Rhesonativ were initiated with the aim to evaluate the efficacy and safety of the product. The following table provides an overview on the most important findings in terms of efficacy:
Study ID |
Indication, |
Rh Status |
Incidence of |
Time of |
1 |
PPP, n=1,937 |
negative/positive |
0.4% |
6 months |
2 |
PPP, n=2,117 PPP, n=723 |
negative/positive subsequent positive child |
0.1% 0.7% |
4-6 months; at next pregnancy or delivery |
3 |
PPP, n=917 |
negative/positive |
0.3% |
6 months |
4 |
PPP, n=665 |
negative/positive |
0.2% |
6 months |
5 |
PPP, n=608 ANP*, n=103 |
negative/positive |
0.3% 0% |
6-8 months 8 months |
6 |
PPP, n=475 |
negative/positive |
0% |
n.r. |
7 |
ANP* & PPP, n=529 |
negative/positive |
0.4% |
8 months |
PPP: postpartum prophylaxis; ANP:
antenatal prophylaxis; n.r.: not reported
* 6-8 weeks before expected date of delivery.
From these studies it can be reasonably concluded that treatment with Rhesonativ provides effective anti–D prophylaxis.
Study in Transfusion of Rh–incompatible blood components
Study 8 assessed the efficacy of Rhesonativ in 21 Rh–negative volunteers who were injected with Rh–positive, ABO-compatible fetal red cells in amounts corresponding to 10 mL cord blood (1 case), 25 mL (10 cases) and 50 mL (10 cases). Two to 3 days later 260 g of Rhesonativ were given intramuscularly. Six months (in 1 case 9 months) after the start of the experiment no serologic evidence for Rh–immunization was found in any individual. Six months to 2.5 years later, 8 subjects of the 25 mL group and all 10 subjects of the 50 mL group received 5 mL Rh–positive, ABO-compatible cord blood. After 2 to 3 days, 260 respectively 333 g Rhesonativ were injected. After another 6 months (in 1 case after 8 months) no Rh–antibodies were detected in any subject.
From these experimental findings it was concluded that Rh–prophylaxis is achieved with 10 g of anti–D immunoglobulin per mL of fetal blood. It was concluded that, as far as Rh–immunization due to fetomaternal haemorrhage at the end of the pregnancy is concerned, a dose of 260 g Rhesonativ prevents serologically detectable Rh–immunisation in at least 998 Rh–negative mothers out of a thousand.
Pharmacokinetic Study with Rhesonativ
The basic pharmacokinetics and turnover of Rhesonativ were investigated in fifteen Rh– negative pregnant women who were given Rhesonativ intramuscularly at 28 weeks' gestation. The doses were 125 g in 8 and 250 g in 7 of the women. In addition three non-pregnant Rh– negative women were given the smaller dose.
The biological half life of anti-D IgG after an intramuscular injection of 125 g in these women was in line with what could be expected from the literature (see section 5.2).
Pharmacokinetic properties
Measurable levels of antibodies are obtained approximately 20 minutes after intramuscular injection. Peak serum levels are usually achieved 2 to 3 days later.
Human anti-D immunoglobulin has a half-life of about 3-4 weeks.This half-life may vary from patient to patient.
IgG and IgG complexes are broken down in cells of the reticuloendothelial system.
Preclinical safety data
There are no nonclinical safety data for human anti-D immunoglobulin.
Pharmaceutical Particulars
List of excipients
Glycine
Sodium chloride
Sodium acetate
Polysorbate 80
Water for injections
Incompatibilities
In the absence of compatibility studies, this medicinal product must not be mixed with other medicinal products.
Shelf life
30 months.
The content of an opened ampoule should be used immediately.
Special precautions for storage
Store in a refrigerator (2°C-8°C). Keep the ampoule in the outer carton in order to protect from light.
For storage conditions after first opening of the medicinal product, see section 6.3.
Nature and contents of container
1 ml and 2 ml of solution in an ampoule (type I glass).
Pack sizes: 1x1 ml, 1x2 ml and 10x2 ml
Not all pack sizes may be marketed.
Special precautions for disposal and other handling
The product should be brought to room or body temperature before use.
The colour can vary from colourless to pale-yellow up to light-brown. Do not use solutions that are cloudy or have deposits.
Any unused medicinal product or waste material should be disposed of in accordance with local requirements.
Marketing Authorisation Holder
To be completed nationally
Marketing Authorisation Number(s)
To be completed nationally
Date of First Authorisation/Renewal of the Authorisation
Date of first authorisation: 6 September 1976
Date of latest renewal: 1 January 2012
Date of Revision of the Text
2015-02-16
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