Equfina

Each film-coated tablet contains Safinamide mesilate (Safinamide mesylate, Safinamide methanesulfonate) equivalent to 50 mg safinamide.
Excipients/Inactive Ingredients: Lactose hydrate, Corn starch, Sodium starch glycolate, Hydroxypropylcellulose, Light anhydrous silicic acid, Magnesium stearate, Hypromellose, D-Mannitol, Macrogol 6000 (JP), Talc, Carnauba wax.

Pharmacotherapeutic group: Anti-Parkinson-Drugs, monoamine oxidase-B inhibitors. ATC code: N04BD03.
Pharmacology: Pharmacodynamics: Mechanism of action: Safinamide acts through both dopaminergic and non-dopaminergic mechanisms of action. Safinamide is a highly selective and reversible MAO-B inhibitor causing an increase in extracellular levels of dopamine in the striatum. Safinamide is associated with state-dependent inhibition of voltage-gated sodium (Na⁺) channels, and modulation of stimulated release of glutamate. To what extent the non-dopaminergic effects contribute to the overall effect has not been established.
Pharmacodynamic effects: Population PK models developed from studies in patients with Parkinson's disease indicate that the pharmacokinetic and pharmacodynamics effects of safinamide were not dependent on age, gender, weight, renal function and exposure to levodopa, indicating that dose adjustments will not be required based on these variables.
Pooled analyses of adverse event data from placebo controlled studies in Parkinson's disease patients indicate that the concomitant administration of safinamide together with a broad category of commonly used medicinal products in this patient population (antihypertensive, beta-blockers cholesterol lowering, non-steroidal anti-inflammatory medicinal products, proton pump inhibitors, antidepressants, etc.) was not associated with an increased risk for adverse events. Studies were not stratified for co-medication, and no randomized interaction studies were performed for these medicinal products.
Clinical efficacy: Studies in mid- to late-stage PD patients: The efficacy of safinamide as add-on treatment in mid-to late-stage PD (LSPD) patients with motor fluctuations, currently receiving L-dopa alone or in combination with other PD medicinal products, was evaluated in two double-blind, placebo-controlled studies: Study SETTLE (Study 27919; 50-100 mg/day; 24 weeks), and Study 016/018 (50 and 100 mg/day; 2-year, double-blind, placebo-controlled study).
The primary efficacy parameter was the change from baseline to endpoint in 'ON Time without troublesome dyskinesia'.
Secondary efficacy parameters included OFF Time, UPDRS II and III (Unified Parkinson's Disease Rating Scale - sections II and III), and CGI-C (Clinical Global Impression of Change).
Both the SETTLE and 016/018 studies indicated significant superiority of safinamide, compared to placebo, at the target doses of 50 and 100 mg/day for the primary, and selected secondary, efficacy variables, as summarized in the following table. The effect on ON Time was maintained at the end of the 24-month double-blind treatment period for both safinamide doses as compared to placebo. (See Table 1.)

Click on icon to see table/diagram/image

Paediatric population: The pharmacodynamic effects of safinamide have not been assessed in children and adolescents.
Pharmacokinetics: Absorption: Safinamide absorption is rapid after single and multiple oral dosing, reaching T_max in the time range 1.8-2.8 h after dosing under fasting conditions. Absolute bioavailability is high (95%), showing that safinamide is almost completely absorbed after oral administration and first pass metabolism is negligible. The high absorption classifies safinamide as a highly permeable substance.
Distribution: The volume of distribution (V_ss) is approximately 165 L which is 2.5-fold of body volume indicating extensive extravascular distribution of safinamide. Total clearance was determined to be 4.6 L/h classifying safinamide as a low clearance substance.
Plasma protein binding of safinamide is 88-90%.
Biotransformation: In humans, safinamide is almost exclusively eliminated via metabolism (urinary excretion of unchanged safinamide was <10%) mediated principally through high capacity amidases, that have not yet been characterized. In vitro experiments indicated that inhibition of amidases in human hepatocytes led to complete suppression of the NW-1153 formation. Amidase present in blood, plasma, serum, simulated gastric fluid and simulated intestinal fluid as well as human carboxylesterases hCE-1 and hCE-2 are not responsible for the biotransformation of safinamide to NW-1153. The amidase FAAH was able to catalyse the formation of NW-1153 at low rates only. Therefore, other amidases are likely to be involved in the conversion to NW-1153. Safinamide's metabolism is not dependent on Cytochrome P450 (CYP) based enzymes.
Metabolite structure elucidation revealed three metabolic pathways of safinamide. The principal pathway involves hydrolytic oxidation of the amide moiety leading to the primary metabolite 'safinamide acid' (NW-1153). Another pathway involves oxidative cleavage of the ether bond forming 'O-debenzylated safinamide' (NW-1199). Finally the 'N-dealkylated acid' (NW-1689) is formed by oxidative cleavage of the amine bond of either safinamide (minor) or the primary safinamide acid metabolite (NW-1153) (major). The 'N-dealkylated acid' (NW-1689) undergoes conjugation with glucuronic acid yielding its acyl glucuronide. None of these metabolites are pharmacologically active.
Safinamide does not appear to significantly induce or inhibit enzymes at clinically relevant systemic concentrations. In vitro metabolism studies have indicated that there is no meaningful induction or inhibition of cytochrome P450, CYP2A6, 2B6, 2C8, 2C9, 2C19, 2D6, 2E1 and 3A3/5 at concentrations which are relevant (C_max of free safinamide 0.4 μM at 100 mg/day) in man. Dedicated drug-drug interaction studies performed with ketoconazole, L-dopa and CYP1A2 and CYP3A4 substrates (caffeine and midazolam), did not detect any clinically significant effects on the pharmacokinetics of safinamide, or L-dopa, caffeine and midazolam.
A mass balance study showed that the plasma AUC_0-24h of the unchanged ¹⁴C-safinamide accounted for approximately 30% of the total radioactivity AUC_0-24h, indicative of an extensive metabolism.
Transporters: Preliminary in vitro studies have shown that safinamide is not a substrate for the transporters P-gp, BCRP, OAT1B1, OAT1B3, OATP1A2 or OAT2P1. Metabolite NW-1153 is not a substrate for OCT2, or OAT1, but it is substrate for OAT3. This interaction has the potential to reduce the clearance of NW-1153 and increase its exposure; however the systemic exposure of NW-1153 is low (1/10 of parent safinamide), and as it is metabolised to secondary and tertiary metabolites, it is unlikely to be of any clinical relevance.
Safinamide transiently inhibits BCRP in the small intestine (see Interactions). At concentrations of 50μM, safinamide inhibited OATP1A2 and OATP2P1. The relevant plasma concentrations of safinamide are substantially lower, therefore a clinically relevant interaction with co-administered substrates of these transporters is unlikely. NW-1153 is not an inhibitor of OCT2, MATE1, or MATE2-K up to concentrations of 5μM.
Linearity/non-linearity: The pharmacokinetics of safinamide are linear after single and repeated doses. No time-dependency was observed.
Elimination: Safinamide undergoes almost complete metabolic transformation (<10% of the administered dose was found unchanged in urine). Substance-related radioactivity was largely excreted in urine (76%) and only to a low extent in faeces (1.5%) after 192 hours. The terminal elimination half-life of total radioactivity was approximately 80 hours.
The elimination half-life of safinamide is 20-30 hours. Steady-state is reached within one week.
Patients with hepatic impairment: Safinamide exposure in patients with mild hepatic disease increased marginally (30% in AUC), while in patients with moderate hepatic impairment exposure increased by approximately 80% (see Dosage & Administration).
Patients with renal impairment: Moderate or severe renal impairment did not alter the exposure to safinamide, compared to healthy subjects (see Dosage & Administration).
Toxicology: Preclinical safety data: Retinal degeneration was observed in rodents after repeated safinamide dosing resulting in systemic exposure below the anticipated systemic exposure in patients given the maximal therapeutic dose. No retinal degeneration was noted in monkeys despite higher systemic exposure than in rodents or in patients at the maximum human dose.
Long-term studies in animals have shown convulsions (1.6 to 12.8 times human clinical exposure, based on plasma AUC). Liver hypertrophy and fatty changes were seen only in rodent livers at exposures similar to humans. Phospholipidosis was seen mainly in the lungs in rodents (at exposures similar to humans) and monkeys (at exposures greater than 12 fold higher than human).
Safinamide did not present genotoxic potential in in vivo and in several in vitro systems using bacteria or mammalian cells.
The results obtained from carcinogenicity studies in mice and rats showed no evidence of tumorigenic potential related to safinamide at systemic exposures up to 2.3 to 4.0 times respectively, the anticipated systemic exposure in patients given the maximal therapeutic dose.
Fertility studies in female rats showed reduced number of implantations and corpora lutea at exposures in excess of 3 times the anticipated human exposure. Male rats showed minor abnormal morphology and reduced speed of sperm cells at exposures in excess of 1.4 times the anticipated human exposure. Male rat fertility was not affected.
In embryo-foetal developmental studies in rats and rabbits malformations were induced at safinamide exposures 2 and 3-fold above human clinical exposure, respectively. The combination of safinamide with levodopa/carbidopa resulted in additive effects in the embryo-foetal development studies with a higher incidence of foetal skeletal abnormalities than seen with either treatment alone.
In a pre- and postnatal developmental rat study, pup mortality, absence of milk in the stomach and neonatal hepatotoxicity were observed at dose levels similar to the anticipated clinical exposure. Toxic effects on the liver and accompanying symptoms as yellow/orange skin and skull, in pups exposed to safinamide during lactation are mediated mainly via in utero exposure, whereas exposure via the mother's milk had only a minor influence.

Equfina is indicated for the treatment of adult patients with idiopathic Parkinson's disease (PD) as add-on therapy to a stable dose of levodopa (L-dopa) alone or in combination with other PD medicinal products in mid- to late-stage fluctuating patients.

Posology: Treatment with safinamide should be started at 50 mg per day. This daily dose may be increased to 100 mg/day on the basis of individual clinical need.
If a dose is missed the next dose should be taken at the usual time the next day.
Elderly: No change in dose is required for elderly patients.
Experience of use of safinamide in patients over 75 years of age is limited.
Hepatic impairment: Safinamide use in patients with severe hepatic impairment is contraindicated (see Contraindications). No dose adjustment is required in patients with mild hepatic impairment. The lower dose of 50 mg/day is recommended for patients with moderate hepatic impairment. If patients progress from moderate to severe hepatic impairment safinamide should be stopped (see Precautions).
Renal impairment: No change in dose is required for patients with renal impairment.
Paediatric population: The safety and efficacy of safinamide in children and adolescents under 18 years of age have not been established. No data are available.
Method of administration: For oral use.
Safinamide should be taken with water.
Safinamide may be taken with or without food.

In one patient suspected of consuming more than the daily prescribed dose of 100 mg for one month, symptoms of confusion, sleepiness, forgetfulness and dilated pupils were reported. These symptoms resolved on discontinuing the medicinal product, without sequelae.
The expected pattern of events or symptoms following intentional or accidental overdose with Safinamide would be those related to its pharmacodynamic profile: MAO-B inhibition with activity-dependent inhibition of Na⁺ channels. The symptoms of an excessive MAO-B inhibition (increase in dopamine level) could include hypertension, postural hypotension, hallucinations, agitation, nausea, vomiting, and dyskinesia.
There is no known antidote to safinamide or any specific treatment for safinamide overdose. If an important overdose occurs, safinamide treatment should be discontinued and supportive treatment should be administered as clinically indicated.

Hypersensitivity to the active substance or to any of the excipients (see Description).
Concomitant treatment with other monoamine oxidase (MAO) inhibitors (see Precautions and Interactions).
Concomitant treatment with pethidine (see Precautions and Interactions).
Use in patients with severe hepatic impairment (see Dosage & Administration).
Use in patients with albinism, retinal degeneration, uveitis, inherited retinopathy or severe progressive diabetic retinopathy (see Precautions and Pharmacology: Toxicology: Preclinical safety data under Actions).

General warning: In general, safinamide may be used with selective serotonin re-uptake inhibitors (SSRIs) at the lowest effective dose, with caution for serotoninergic symptoms. In particular, the concomitant use of safinamide and fluoxetine or fluvoxamine should be avoided, or if concomitant treatment is necessary these medicinal products should be used at low doses (see Interactions). A washout period corresponding to 5 half-lives of the SSRI used previously should be considered prior to initiating treatment with safinamide.
At least 7 days must elapse between discontinuation of safinamide and initiation of treatment with MAO inhibitors or pethidine (see Contraindications and Interactions).
When safinamide is co-administered with products that are BCRP substrates, please refer to the SmPC for that particular medicinal product.

Hepatic impairment: Caution should be exercised when initiating treatment with safinamide in patients with moderate hepatic impairment. In case patients progress from moderate to severe hepatic impairment, treatment with safinamide should be stopped (see Dosage & Administration, Contraindications and Pharmacology: Pharmacokinetics under Actions).
Potential for retinal degeneration in patients with prior history of retinal disease: Safinamide should not be administered to patients with ophthalmological history that would put them at increased risk for potential retinal effects (e.g., family history of hereditary retinal disease, or history of uveitis) see Contraindications and Pharmacology: Toxicology: Preclinical safety data under Actions.
Impulse control disorders (ICDs): Impulse control disorders can occur in patients treated with dopamine agonists and/or dopaminergic treatments. Some reports of ICDs have also been observed with other MAO-inhibitors. Safinamide treatment has not been associated with any increase in the appearance of ICDs.
Patients and carers should be made aware of the behavioural symptoms of ICDs that were observed in patients treated with MAO-inhibitors, including cases of compulsions, obsessive thoughts, pathological gambling, increased libido, hypersexuality, impulsive behaviour and compulsive spending or buying.
Dopaminergic side effects: Safinamide used as an adjunct to levodopa may potentiate the side effects of levodopa, and pre-existing dyskinesia may be exacerbated, requiring a decrease of levodopa. This effect was not seen when safinamide was used as an adjunct to dopamine agonists in early stage PD patients.
Effects on ability to drive and use machines: Somnolence and dizziness may occur during safinamide treatment, therefore patients should be cautioned about using hazardous machines, including motor vehicles, until they are reasonably certain that safinamide does not affect them adversely.

Women of childbearing potential: Safinamide should not be given to women of childbearing potential unless adequate contraception is practiced.
Pregnancy: There are no or limited amount of data from the use of safinamide in pregnant women. Studies in animals have shown reproductive toxicity (see Pharmacology: Toxicology: Preclinical safety data under Actions). Equfina is not recommended during pregnancy and in women of childbearing potential not using contraception.
Breast-feeding: Available pharmacodynamic/toxicological data in animals have shown excretion of safinamide in milk (for details see Pharmacology: Toxicology: Preclinical safety data under Actions).
A risk for the breast-fed child cannot be excluded. Equfina should not be used during breast-feeding.
Fertility: Animal studies indicate that safinamide treatment is associated with adverse reactions on female rat reproductive performance and sperm quality. Male rat fertility is not affected (see Pharmacology: Toxicology: Preclinical safety data under Actions).

Summary of the safety profile: Dyskinesia was the most common adverse reaction reported in safinamide patients when used in combination with L-dopa alone or in combination with other PD treatments.
Serious adverse reactions are known to occur with the concomitant use of SSRIs, SNRIs, tricyclic/tetracyclic antidepressants and MAO inhibitors, such as hypertensive crisis (high blood pressure, collapse), neuroleptic malignant syndrome (confusion, sweating, muscle rigidity, hyperthermia, CPK increase), serotonin syndrome (confusion, hypertension, muscle stiffness, hallucinations), and hypotension. With MAO-inhibitors there have been reports of drug interactions with concomitant use of sympathomimetic medicinal products.
Impulse control disorders; pathological gambling, increased libido, hypersexuality, compulsive spending or buying, binge eating and compulsive eating can occur in patients treated with dopamine agonists and/or other dopaminergic treatments.
Tabulated list of adverse reactions: The tabulation as follows includes all adverse reactions in clinical trials where adverse reactions were considered related.
Adverse reactions are ranked under headings of frequency using the following conventions: very common (≥1/10), common (≥1/100 to <1/10), uncommon (≥1/1000 to <1/100), rare (≥1/10,000 to <1/1000), very rare (<1/10,000) and not known (cannot be estimated from the available data). (See Table 2.)

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Description of selected adverse reactions: Dyskinesia occurred early in treatment, was rated "severe", led to discontinuation in very few patients (approx. 1.5%), and did not require reduction of dose in any patient.
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 to the Department of Health.

In vivo and in vitro pharmacodynamic drug interactions: MAO inhibitors and pethidine: Safinamide must not be administered along with other MAO inhibitors (including moclobemide) as there may be a risk of non-selective MAO inhibition that may lead to a hypertensive crisis (see Contraindications).
Serious adverse reactions have been reported with the concomitant use of pethidine and MAO inhibitors. As this may be a class-effect, the concomitant administration of safinamide and pethidine is contraindicated (see Contraindications).
There have been reports of medicinal product interactions with the concomitant use of MAO inhibitors and sympathomimetic medicinal products. In view of the MAO inhibitory activity of safinamide, concomitant administration of safinamide and sympathomimetics, such as those present in nasal and oral decongestants or cold medicinal products containing ephedrine or pseudoephedrine, requires caution (see Precautions).
Dextromethorphan: There have been reports of medicinal product interactions with the concomitant use of dextromethorphan and non-selective MAO inhibitors. In view of the MAO inhibitory activity of safinamide, the concomitant administration of safinamide and dextromethorphan is not recommended, or if concomitant treatment is necessary, it should be used with caution (see Precautions).
Antidepressants: The concomitant use of safinamide and fluoxetine or fluvoxamine should be avoided (see Precautions), this precaution is based on the occurrence of serious adverse reactions (e.g. serotonin syndrome), although rare, that have occurred when SSRIs and dextromethorphan have been used with MAO inhibitors. If necessary, the concomitant use of these medicinal products should be at the lowest effective dose. A washout period corresponding to 5 half-lives of the SSRI used previously should be considered prior to initiating treatment with safinamide.
Serious adverse reactions have been reported with the concomitant use of selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs), serotonin norepinephrine reuptake inhibitors (SNRIs), tricyclic/tetracyclic antidepressants and MAO inhibitors (see Precautions). In view of the selective and reversible MAO-B inhibitory activity of safinamide, antidepressants may be administered but used at the lowest doses necessary.
In vivo and in vitro pharmacokinetic drug interactions: Safinamide may transiently inhibit BCRP in vitro. In drug-drug-interaction studies in human, a weak interaction was observed with rosuvastatin (AUC increase between 1.25 and 2.00 fold) but no significant interaction was found with diclofenac.
It is recommended to monitor patients when safinamide is taken with medicinal products that are BCRP substrates (e.g., rosuvastatin, pitavastatin, pravastatin, ciprofloxacin, methotrexate, topotecan, diclofenac or glyburide) and to refer to their SmPCs to determine if a dose adjustment is needed.
Safinamide is almost exclusively eliminated via metabolism, largely by high capacity amidases that have not yet been characterized. Safinamide is eliminated mainly in the urine. In human liver microsomes (HLM), the N-dealkylation step appears to be catalysed by CYP3A4, as safinamide clearance in HLM was inhibited by ketoconazole by 90%.
Safinamide inhibits OCT1 in vitro at clinically relevant portal vein concentrations. Therefore, caution is necessary when safinamide is taken concomitantly with medicinal products that are OCT1 substrates and have a t_max similar to safinamide (2 hours) (e.g. metformin, aciclovir, ganciclovir) as exposure to these substrates might be increased as a consequence.
The metabolite NW-1153 is a substrate for OAT3 at clinically relevant concentrations. Medicinal products that are inhibitors of OAT3 given concomitantly with safinamide may reduce clearance of NW-1153, i.e., and thus may increase its systemic exposure. The systemic exposure of NW-1153 is low (1/10 of parent safinamide). This potential increase is most likely of no clinical relevance as NW-1153, the first product in the metabolic pathway, is further transformed to secondary and tertiary metabolites.
Paediatric population: Interaction studies have only been performed in adults.

Incompatibilities: Not applicable.

Equfina should be stored away from moisture after opening of the aluminum pillow.
To be stored under 30°C.

Antiparkinsonian Drugs

N04BD03 - safinamide ; Belongs to the class of dopaminergic agents, monoamine oxidase B inhibitors. Used in the management of Parkinson's disease.

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