Runarorn
Package leaflet: Information for the user
Runarorn 100 mg powder for concentrate for solution for infusion
Runarorn 500 mg powder for concentrate for solution for infusion
Runarorn 1000 mg powder for concentrate for solution for infusion
pemetrexed
Read allofthisleafletcarefully beforeyou startreceiving thismedicinebecauseitcontains importantinformationforyou.
- Keep thisleaflet. You may needto readitagain.
- Ifyou haveany furtherquestions, ask yourdoctororpharmacist.
- Ifyou getany sideeffects, talkto yourdoctoror nurse or pharmacist.Thisincludesany possibleside effectsnotlistedinthisleaflet.See section 4.
What isinthisleaflet:
1. What Runarorn isand whatitisusedfor
2. What you need to knowbeforeyou use Runarorn
3. Howto useRunarorn
4. Possiblesideeffects
5. Howto storeRunarorn
6. Contentsofthepackand otherinformation
1. WhatRunarorn is andwhatit isusedfor
Runarorn isa medicine used inthetreatmentofcancer. It contains the active substance pemetrexed. Pemetrexed belongs to a group of medicines known as folic acid analogues and disrupts processes that are essential for cell replication.
Runarorn isgiven in combination with cisplatin, anotheranti-cancermedicine, astreatmentfor malignantpleuralmesothelioma, a formof cancerthataffectstheliningof thelung,to patientswho havenot received priorchemotherapy.
Runarorn isalso given in combination with cisplatinfor theinitialtreatmentofpatientswith advanced stageof lungcancer.
Runarorncan beprescribedtoyou ifyou havelung cancerat an advanced stageifyourdiseasehas respondedtotreatmentoritremainslargelyunchanged afterinitialchemotherapy.
Runarorn isalso atreatmentforpatientswith advancedstageof lungcancerwhosediseasehas progressed afterotherinitialchemotherapyhas beenused.
2. Whatyouneed toknow beforeyouuse Runarorn
Do notuseRunarorn
- ifyou areallergicto pemetrexed or anyof theotheringredientsof this medicine (listed in section 6).
- ifyou arebreast-feeding;you mustdiscontinuebreast-feedingduringtreatmentwith Runarorn.
- ifyou haverecentlyreceived or areabouttoreceivea vaccineagainstyellowfever.
Warningsandprecautions
Talk toyourdoctoror hospital pharmacist beforereceivingRunarorn.
Ifyou currentlyhaveor havepreviouslyhad problemswith yourkidneys, talktoyour doctoror hospitalpharmacistas youmaynot beableto receiveRunarorn.
Beforeeach infusion you willhavesamplesof yourblood taken to evaluateifyou havesufficientkidneyand liverfunction and to checkthatyou haveenough blood cellsto receiveRunarorn. Your doctormaydecideto changethe doseor delaytreatingyou dependingon yourgeneralconditionand if yourbloodcellcountsaretoo low. Ifyou arealsoreceivingcisplatin, yourdoctorwillmakesurethat you areproperlyhydrated and receiveappropriatetreatmentbeforeand afterreceivingcisplatinto preventvomiting.
Ifyou havehad or aregoingto haveradiationtherapy, pleasetellyourdoctor, astheremaybe an early or lateradiation reaction with Runarorn.
Ifyou havebeen recentlyvaccinated, pleasetellyourdoctor, as thiscan possiblycause bad effects with Runarorn.
Ifyou haveheartdiseaseor ahistoryof heartdisease,pleasetellyourdoctor.
Ifyou havean accumulation of fluid around yourlungs, yourdoctormaydecideto removethe fluid beforegivingyou Runarorn.
Children and adolescents
Thereisno relevantuse ofRunarorn inthepaediatricpopulation.
Othermedicinesand Runarorn
Please tell your doctor if you are taking any medicines forpain orinflammation (swelling), such asmedicinescalled “nonsteroidalanti-inflammatorydrugs”(NSAIDs), includingmedicinespurchased withouta doctor’sprescription (suchas ibuprofen).Therearemanysortsof NSAIDswith different durationsofactivity. Basedon theplanneddateof yourinfusion ofRunarorn and/oron thestatusof yourkidneyfunction, yourdoctorneedsto adviseyou on which medicinesyou can takeand when you can takethem. Ifyou areunsure, ask yourdoctoror pharmacistifany ofyourmedicinesareNSAIDs.
Like other chemotherapy medicines Runarorn is not recommended with live attenuated vaccines. Inactive vaccines should be used where possible.
Tell your doctor or hospital pharmacist if you are taking, have recently taken or might take any other medicines, including medicines obtained without a prescription.
Pregnancy, breast-feedingandfertility
Pregnancy
Ifyou arepregnant, think you may be pregnant or are planning to have a baby,tellyourdoctor and ask for advice before taking this medicine.The useof Runarorn should beavoided duringpregnancy. Yourdoctorwilldiscusswith you thepotentialriskof taking Runarorn duringpregnancy. Women mustuse effectivecontraception duringtreatmentwith Runarorn.
Breast-feeding
Ifyou arebreast-feeding, tellyourdoctor.
Breast-feedingmustbe discontinued duringRunarorn treatment.
Fertility
Men areadvised notto fathera child duringand up to6 monthsfollowingtreatmentwith Runarorn and shouldthereforeuse effectivecontraceptionduringtreatmentwith Runarorn and forup to 6 monthsafterwards. Ifyou would liketo fathera childduringthetreatmentor inthe6 months followingreceiptoftreatment, seekadvicefromyourdoctoror pharmacist.Youmaywantto seek counsellingon spermstoragebeforestartingyour therapy.
Driving and usingmachines
Runarorn may makeyou feeltired. Becarefulwhendrivinga carorusingmachines.
Runarorn containssodium
One vial of 100 mgcontainsapproximately11.29 mgsodiumper vial.
One vial of 500 mg contains approximately 53.77 mg sodium per vial. To be taken into consideration by patients on a controlled sodium diet.
One vial of 1000 mg contains approximately 107.54 mg sodium per vial. To be taken into consideration by patients on a controlled sodium diet.
3. How touseRunarorn
Runarorn powder for concentrate for solution for infusion will always be given to you by a healthcare professional.The doseof Runarorn is 500 milligramsfor everysquaremetreofyourbody’ssurfacearea. Your heightand weightaremeasuredto workout thesurfaceareaofyourbody. Yourdoctorwillusethis body surfaceareato workout therightdoseforyou.Thisdosemaybe adjusted, ortreatmentmaybe delayed dependingon yourbloodcellcountsand on yourgeneralcondition. A hospitalpharmacist, nurseor doctorwillhavemixedtheRunarorn powderwith 9 mg/ml(0.9 %)sodiumchloridesolution forinjectionbeforeitis given to you.
You willalwaysreceiveRunarorn byinfusion into oneof yourveins.Theinfusion willlast approximately10 minutes.
When usingRunarorn in combination withcisplatin:
Thedoctoror hospitalpharmacistwillworkout thedoseyou need based on yourheightand weight. Cisplatinisalso given by infusion intoone ofyourveins, and isgiven approximately30 minutesafter theinfusion of Runarorn hasfinished.Theinfusionof cisplatin willlastapproximately2 hours.
You should usually receive your infusion once every 3 weeks.
Additional medicines:
Corticosteriods: your doctor will prescribe you steroid tablets (equivalent to 4 milligram of dexamethasone twice a day) that you will need to take on the day before, on the day of, and the day after Runarorn treatment. This medicine is given to you to reduce the frequency and severity of skin reactions that you may experience during your anticancer treatment.
Vitamin
supplementation:yourdoctorwillprescribeyou oralfolicacid(vitamin)or amultivitamin
containingfolicacid (350 to 1000 micrograms)thatyou must takeonce aday whileyou aretaking
Runarorn. You
musttakeat least5 dosesduringtheseven daysbeforethefirstdoseof Runarorn. You mustcontinuetakingthefolicacid for21 daysafterthelastdoseofRunarorn. You willalsoreceive an injection ofvitamin
B12(1000 micrograms)in theweekbeforeadministration
ofRunarorn and
then approximatelyevery9 weeks(correspondingto3 coursesofRunarorn treatment).Vitamin B12and
folicacidaregiven
to you
to reducethepossibletoxiceffectsof theanticancertreatment.
Your condition will be closely monitored during treatment. This routinely involves blood tests, including checks on your liver and kidney function. Your dose may be changed or treatment delayed depending on results from these tests.
Ifyou haveany furtherquestionson theuse ofthismedicine, askyour doctororpharmacist.
4. Possiblesideeffects
Likeallmedicines,thismedicine can causesideeffects, although noteverybodygetsthem.
You mustcontactyourdoctorimmediatelyifyou noticeany ofthefollowing:
-
Fever or infection (common): if you have a temperature of 38ºC or greater, sweating or other signs of infection(since you might have less white blood cells than normal which is very common). Infection (sepsis) may be severe and could lead to death.
-
If you start feeling chest pain (common) or having a fast heart rate (uncommon).
-
If you have pain, redness, swelling or sores in your mouth (very common).
-
Allergic reaction: if you develop skin rash (very common) / burning or prickling sensation (common), or fever (common). Rarely, skin reactions may be severe and could lead to death. Contact your doctor if you get a severe rash, or itching, or blistering (Stevens-Johnson Syndrome or Toxic epidermal necrolysis).
-
If you experience tiredness, feeling faint, becoming easily breathless or if you look pale (since you might have less haemoglobin than normal which is very common).
-
If you experience bleeding from the gums, nose or mouth or any bleeding that would not stop, reddish or pinkish urine, unexpected bruising (since you might have less platelets than normal which is very common).
-
If you experience sudden breathlessness, intense chest pain or cough with bloody sputum (uncommon)(may indicate a blood clot in the blood vessels of the lungs)
Other sideeffectswith Runarornmayinclude:
Verycommon(may affect more than 1 in 10 people)
Lowwhiteblood cells
Lowhaemoglobin level(anaemia)
Lowplateletcount
Diarrhoea
Vomiting
Pain,redness,swellingorsoresin yourmouth
Nausea
Lossofappetite
Fatigue(tiredness)
Skin rash, peeling of the skin
Hairloss
Constipation
Lossofsensation
Kidney:abnormalblood tests
Common(may affect up to 1 in 10 people)
Allergicreaction:skinrash/burningorpricklingsensation
Infectionincludingsepsis
Fever
Dehydration
Kidneyfailure
Irritation oftheskinanditching
Hives
Chestpain
Muscleweakness
Conjunctivitis(inflamed eye)
Upsetstomach
Painin theabdomen
Tastechange
Liver:abnormalbloodtests
Wateryeyes
Dizziness
Uncommon (may affect up to 1 in 100 people)
Acuterenalfailure
Fastor irregular heartrate
Inflammation oftheliningoftheoesophagus(gullet)hasbeen experienced with Runarorn/radiation therapy
Colitis(inflammation oftheliningofthelargebowel,which maybeaccompaniedbyintestinalor rectalbleeding)
Interstitialpneumonitis(scarringoftheairsacsofthelung)
Oedema(excess fluid in bodytissue, causingswelling)
Somepatientshaveexperienced aheart attack, strokeor“mini-stroke”whilereceivingRunarorn usuallyin combinationwith another anticancertherapy
Pancytopenia-combined lowcountsofwhitecells, redcellsand platelets
Radiation pneumonitis(scarringoftheairsacsofthelungassociated withradiation therapy)may occurin patientswhoarealso treated withradiation eitherbefore, duringoraftertheirRunarorn therapy.
Extremitypain, lowtemperatureand discolouration havebeen reported.
Blood clotsin thelungblood vessels(pulmonaryembolism)
Rare (may affect up to 1 in 1,000 people)
Radiation recall(askinrash likeseveresunburn)which can occuron skinthathaspreviouslybeen exposed toradiotherapy, fromdaysto yearsaftertheradiation.
Bullousconditions(blisteringskin diseases)-includingStevens-Johnson syndromeandToxic epidermalnecrolysis
Immune mediated haemolyticanaemia(antibody-mediated destruction ofred bloodcells)
Hepatitis(inflammation oftheliver)
Anaphylacticshock(severeallergicreaction)
Reporting of side effects
Ifyou getanysideeffects, talkto yourdoctororpharmacist.Thisincludesanypossiblesideeffects notlistedintheleaflet. You can also report side effects directly via <[To be completed nationally]>. By reporting side effects you can help provide more information on the safety of this medicine.
5. How tostoreRunarorn
Keep this medicine outofthesight and reach ofchildren.
Do notusethis medicine aftertheexpirydatewhich is stated on the label and carton after ‘EXP’. The expiry date refers to the last day of that month.
Keep the vial in the outer carton in order to protect from light.
This medicinal product does not require any special temperature storage conditions.
Reconstituted and infusionsolutions
When prepared as directed,reconstituted and infusionsolutionsofRunarorn contain no antimicrobial preservatives. Chemical and physical in-use stability of reconstituted and infusion solutions of pemetrexed were demonstrated for 3 days at room temperature at normal lighting conditions and 14 days at refrigerated temperature (2-8°C). Froma microbiologicalpoint of view, theproductshouldbe used immediately. Ifnot used immediately, in-usestoragetimesand conditionspriorto usearetheresponsibilityof theuserand would notbe longerthan 24 hoursat 2°C to 8°C, unless reconstitution / dilution has taken place in controlled and validated aseptic conditions.
Runarorn should not been used if there are any signs of particles.
Thismedicineisforsingleuseonly;anyunused solution mustbedisposed ofinaccordancewith local requirement.
6. Contents of thepackandotherinformation
What Runarorncontains
Theactivesubstanceispemetrexed.
Runarorn 100 mg: Each vialcontains100 milligramsofpemetrexed(aspemetrexed disodium hemipentahydrate).
Runarorn 500 mg: Each vialcontains500 milligramsofpemetrexed(aspemetrexed disodium hemipentahydrate).
Runarorn 1000 mg: Each vialcontains1000 milligramofpemetrexed(aspemetrexed disodium hemipentahydrate).
After reconstitution, the solution contains 25 mg/ml of pemetrexed. Furtherdilution byahealthcare providerisrequired priortoadministration.
Theotheringredientsaremannitol,hydrochloricacid and sodiumhydroxide.
WhatRunarorn lookslikeand contentsofthepack
Runarorn isapowderforconcentrateforsolutionforinfusionin avial. Itisawhiteto eitheryellow or greenish-yellow lyophilisate powder.
Runarorn is in colourless glass vials (type I) with type I rubber (bromobutyl) lyo-stopper and an aluminium cap with polypropylene disk. Vials are sheathed in protective sleeve.
Each packofRunarorn consistsofoneRunarorn vial.
Not all pack sizes may be marketed.
MarketingAuthorisationHolder
[To be completed nationally]
{Name and address}
<{tel}>
<{fax}>
<{e-mail}>
Manufacturer
S.C. SINDAN-PHARMA S.R.L.
11thIon Mihalache Boulevard
011171, Bucharest 1
Romania
This medicinal product is authorised in the Member States of the EEA under the following names:
[To be completed nationally]
This leaflet was last revised in
15 March 2016
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Thefollowing information isintendedfor medicalor healthcare professionals only:
Instructionsforuse,handlingand disposal.
1. Useaseptictechniquesduringthereconstitutionandfurtherdilution ofpemetrexed for intravenousinfusion administration.
2. Calculate the dose and the number of Runarorn vials needed. Each vial contains an excess of pemetrexed to facilitate delivery of the label amount.
3. Reconstitute 100 mg vials with 4.2 ml of 9 mg/ml (0.9 %) sodium chloride solution for injection, without preservative, resulting in a solution containing 25 mg/ml pemetrexed.
Reconstitute 500 mg vials with 20 ml of 9 mg/ml (0.9 %) sodium chloride solution for injection, without preservative, resulting in a solution containing 25 mg/ml pemetrexed.
Reconstitute 1000 mg vials with 40 ml of 9 mg/ml (0.9 %) sodium chloride solution for injection, without preservative, resulting in a solution containing 25 mg/ml pemetrexed.
Gentlyswirleach vialuntilthepowderiscompletelydissolved.Theresultingsolution isclear and rangesincolourfromcolourlessto yelloworgreen-yellowwithoutadverselyaffecting productquality.ThepHofthereconstituted solutionisbetween 6.6and 7.8.Furtherdilutionis required.
4. The appropriate volume of reconstituted pemetrexed solution must be further diluted to 100 ml with 9 mg/ml (0.9 %) sodium chloride solution for injection, without preservative, and administered as an intravenous infusion over 10 minutes.
5. Pemetrexed infusion solutions prepared as directed above are compatible with polyvinyl chloride and polyolefin lined administration sets and infusion bags. Pemetrexed is incompatible with diluents containing calcium, including lactated Ringer’s Injection and Ringer’s Injection.
6. Parenteral medicinal products should be inspected visually for particulate matter and discolouration prior to administration. If particulate matter is observed, do not administer.
7. Pemetrexed solutions are for single use only. Any unused product or waste material should be disposed of in accordance with local requirements.
Preparationand administration precautions: Aswith otherpotentiallytoxicanticanceragents, careshould beexercised inthehandlingand preparation ofpemetrexedinfusion solutions.Theuseof glovesisrecommended. Ifapemetrexed solutioncontactstheskin, wash theskinimmediatelyand thoroughlywith soap andwater. Ifpemetrexed solutionscontactthemucousmembranes, flush thoroughlywith water. Pemetrexedisnotavesicant.Thereisnotaspecificantidoteforextravasation ofpemetrexed.Therehavebeen afewreported casesofpemetrexed extravasation,which werenot assessedasseriousbytheinvestigator. Extravasation should bemanaged bylocalstandardpracticeas with othernon-vesicants.
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