FDA prescribing information: WEGOVY (SEMAGLUTIDE) - label effective 2024-04-23

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Abstract

[BOXED_WARNING] WARNING: RISK OF THYROID C-CELL TUMORS • In rodents, semaglutide causes dose-dependent and treatment-duration-dependent thyroid C-cell tumors at clinically relevant exposures. It is unknown whether WEGOVY causes thyroid C-cell tumors, including medullary thyroid carcinoma (MTC), in humans as human relevance of semaglutide-induced rodent thyroid C-cell tumors has not been determined [see Warnings and Precautions ( 5.1 ) and Nonclinical Toxicology ( 13.1 )] . • WEGOVY is contraindicated in patients with a personal or family history of MTC or in patients with Multiple Endocrine Neoplasia syndrome type 2 (MEN 2) [see Contraindications ( 4 )] . Counsel patients regarding the potential risk for MTC with the use of WEGOVY and inform them of symptoms of thyroid tumors (e.g. a mass in the neck, dysphagia, dyspnea, persistent hoarseness). Routine monitoring of serum calcitonin or using thyroid ultrasound is of uncertain value for early detection of MTC in patients treated with WEGOVY [see Contraindications ( 4 ) and Warnings and Precautions ( 5.1 )] . WARNING: RISK OF THYROID C-CELL TUMORS See full prescribing information for complete boxed warning. • In rodents, semaglutide causes thyroid C-cell tumors at clinically relevant exposures. It is unknown whether WEGOVY causes thyroid C-cell tumors, including medullary thyroid carcinoma (MTC), in humans as the human relevance of semaglutide-induced rodent thyroid C-cell tumors has not been determined ( 5.1 , 13.1 ). • WEGOVY is contraindicated in patients with a personal or family history of MTC or in patients with Multiple Endocrine Neoplasia syndrome type 2 (MEN 2). Counsel patients regarding the potential risk of MTC and symptoms of thyroid tumors ( 4 , 5.1 ). [WARNINGS_AND_CAUTIONS] 5 WARNINGS AND PRECAUTIONS • Acute Pancreatitis : Has occurred in clinical trials. Discontinue promptly if pancreatitis is suspected. Do not restart if pancreatitis is confirmed ( 5.2 ). • Acute Gallbladder Disease : Has occurred in clinical trials. If cholelithiasis is suspected, gallbladder studies and clinical follow-up are indicated ( 5.3 ). • Hypoglycemia: Concomitant use with insulin or an insulin secretagogue may increase the risk of hypoglycemia, including severe hypoglycemia. Reducing the dose of insulin or insulin secretagogue may be necessary. Inform all patients of the risk of hypoglycemia and educate them on the signs and symptoms of hypoglycemia ( 5.4 ). • Acute Kidney Injury: Has occurred. Monitor renal function when initiating or escalating doses of WEGOVY in patients reporting severe adverse gastrointestinal reactions or in those with renal impairment reporting severe adverse gastrointestinal reactions ( 5.5 ). • Hypersensitivity Reactions: Anaphylactic reactions and angioedema have been reported postmarketing. Discontinue WEGOVY if suspected and promptly seek medical advice ( 5.6 ). • Diabetic Retinopathy Complications in Patients with Type 2 Diabetes : Has been reported in trials with semaglutide. Patients with a history of diabetic retinopathy should be monitored ( 5.7 ). • Heart Rate Increase : Monitor heart rate at regular intervals ( 5.8 ). • Suicidal Behavior and Ideation : Monitor for depression or suicidal thoughts. Discontinue WEGOVY if symptoms develop ( 5.9 ). 5.1 Risk of Thyroid C-Cell Tumors In mice and rats, semaglutide caused a dose-dependent and treatment-duration-dependent increase in the incidence of thyroid C-cell tumors (adenomas and carcinomas) after lifetime exposure at clinically relevant plasma exposures [see Nonclinical Toxicology ( 13.1 )] . It is unknown whether WEGOVY causes thyroid C-cell tumors, including MTC, in humans, as human relevance of semaglutide-induced rodent thyroid C-cell tumors has not been determined. Cases of MTC in patients treated with liraglutide, another GLP-1 receptor agonist, have been reported in the postmarketing period; the data in these reports are insufficient to establish or exclude a causal relationship between MTC and GLP-1 receptor agonist use in humans. WEGOVY is contraindicated in patients with a personal or family history of MTC or in patients with MEN 2. Counsel patients regarding the potential risk for MTC with the use of WEGOVY and inform them of symptoms of thyroid tumors (e.g. a mass in the neck, dysphagia, dyspnea, persistent hoarseness). Routine monitoring of serum calcitonin or using thyroid ultrasound is of uncertain value for early detection of MTC in patients treated with WEGOVY. Such monitoring may increase the risk of unnecessary procedures, due to the low-test specificity for serum calcitonin and a high background incidence of thyroid disease. Significantly elevated serum calcitonin value may indicate MTC and patients with MTC usually have calcitonin values greater than 50 ng/L. If serum calcitonin is measured and found to be elevated, the patient should be further evaluated. Patients with thyroid nodules noted on physical examination or neck imaging should also be further evaluated. 5.2 Acute Pancreatitis Acute pancreatitis, including fatal and non-fatal hemorrhagic or necrotizing pancreatitis, has been observed in patients treated with GLP-1 receptor agonists, including semaglutide. Acute pancreatitis was observed in patients treated with WEGOVY in clinical trials [see Adverse Reactions ( 6 )] . After initiation of WEGOVY, observe patients carefully for signs and symptoms of acute pancreatitis (including persistent severe abdominal pain, sometimes radiating to the back, and which may or may not be accompanied by vomiting). If acute pancreatitis is suspected, WEGOVY should promptly be discontinued, and appropriate management should be initiated. If acute pancreatitis is confirmed, WEGOVY should not be restarted. There is limited exp [ADVERSE_REACTIONS] 6 ADVERSE REACTIONS The following serious adverse reactions are described below or elsewhere in the prescribing information: • Risk of Thyroid C-Cell Tumors [see Warnings and Precautions ( 5.1 )] • Acute Pancreatitis [see Warnings and Precautions ( 5.2 )] • Acute Gallbladder Disease [see Warnings and Precautions ( 5.3 )] • Hypoglycemia [see Warnings and Precautions ( 5.4 )] • Acute Kidney Injury [see Warnings and Precautions ( 5.5 )] • Hypersensitivity Reactions [see Warnings and Precautions ( 5.6 )] • Diabetic Retinopathy Complications in Patients with Type 2 Diabetes [see Warnings and Precautions ( 5.7 )] • Heart Rate Increase [see Warnings and Precautions ( 5.8 )] • Suicidal Behavior and Ideation [see Warnings and Precautions ( 5.9 )] Most common adverse reactions (incidence ≥ 5%) in adults or pediatric patients aged 12 years and older are: nausea, diarrhea, vomiting, constipation, abdominal pain, headache, fatigue, dyspepsia, dizziness, abdominal distension, eructation, hypoglycemia in patients with type 2 diabetes, flatulence, gastroenteritis, gastroesophageal reflux disease, and nasopharyngitis ( 6.1 ). To report SUSPECTED ADVERSE REACTIONS, contact Novo Nordisk Inc., at 1-833-934-6891 or FDA at 1-800-FDA-1088 or www.fda.gov/medwatch. 6.1 Clinical Trials Experience Because clinical trials are conducted under widely varying conditions, adverse reaction rates observed in the clinical trials of a drug cannot be directly compared to rates in the clinical studies of another drug and may not reflect the rates observed in practice. Adverse Reactions in Clinical Trials in Adults with Obesity or Overweight WEGOVY 2.4 mg Subcutaneous Weekly Dosage WEGOVY was evaluated for safety in 3 randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trials that included 2,116 adult patients with obesity or overweight treated with 2.4 mg WEGOVY for up to 68 weeks and a 7 week off-drug follow-up period [see Clinical Studies (14.2) ] . Baseline characteristics included a mean age of 48 years, 71% female, 72% White, 14% Asian, 9% Black or African American, and 5% reported as other or unknown; and 85% were not Hispanic or Latino ethnicity, 13% were Hispanic or Latino ethnicity, and 2% reported as unknown. The baseline characteristics were 42% with hypertension, 19% with type 2 diabetes, 43% with dyslipidemia, 28% with a BMI greater than 40 kg/m 2 , and 4% with cardiovascular disease. In these clinical trials, 6.8% of patients treated with 2.4 mg WEGOVY and 3.2% of patients treated with placebo permanently discontinued treatment as a result of adverse reactions. The most common adverse reactions leading to discontinuation were nausea (1.8% versus 0.2%), vomiting (1.2% versus 0%), and diarrhea (0.7% versus 0.1%) for WEGOVY and placebo, respectively. Adverse reactions reported in clinical trials in adults and greater than or equal to 2% of WEGOVY-treated patients and more frequently than in placebo-treated patients are shown in Table 3. Table 3. Adverse Reactions (≥2% and Greater Than Placebo) in WEGOVY-treated Adults with Obesity or Overweight Placebo N = 1,261 % WEGOVY 2.4 mg N = 2,116 % Nausea 16 44 Diarrhea 16 30 Vomiting 6 24 Constipation 11 24 Abdominal Pain a 10 20 Headache 10 14 Fatigue b 5 11 Dyspepsia 3 9 Dizziness 4 8 Abdominal Distension 5 7 Eructation <1 7 Hypoglycemia in T2DM c 2 6 Flatulence 4 6 Gastroenteritis 4 6 Gastroesophageal Reflux Disease 3 5 Gastritis d 1 4 Gastroenteritis Viral 3 4 Hair Loss 1 3 Dysesthesia e 1 2 a Includes abdominal pain, abdominal pain upper, abdominal pain lower, gastrointestinal pain, abdominal tenderness, abdominal discomfort and epigastric discomfort b Includes fatigue and asthenia c Defined as blood glucose <54 mg/dL with or without symptoms of hypoglycemia or severe hypoglycemia (requiring the assistance of another person) in patients with type 2 diabetes not on concomitant insulin (Study 3, WEGOVY N=403, Placebo N=402). See text below for further information regarding hypoglycemia in patients with and without [DRUG_INTERACTIONS] 7 DRUG INTERACTIONS WEGOVY delays gastric emptying. May impact absorption of concomitantly administered oral medications. Use with caution ( 7.2 ). 7.1 Concomitant Use with Insulin or an Insulin Secretagogue (e.g., Sulfonylurea) WEGOVY lowers blood glucose and can cause hypoglycemia. The risk of hypoglycemia is increased when WEGOVY is used in combination with insulin or insulin secretagogues (e.g., sulfonylureas). The addition of WEGOVY in patients treated with insulin has not been evaluated. When initiating WEGOVY, consider reducing the dose of concomitantly administered insulin secretagogue (such as sulfonylureas) or insulin to reduce the risk of hypoglycemia [see Warnings and Precautions ( 5.4 ) and Adverse Reactions ( 6.1 )] . 7.2 Oral Medications WEGOVY causes a delay of gastric emptying and thereby has the potential to impact the absorption of concomitantly administered oral medications. In clinical pharmacology trials with semaglutide 1 mg, semaglutide did not affect the absorption of orally administered medications [see Clinical Pharmacology ( 12.3 )] . Nonetheless, monitor the effects of oral medications concomitantly administered with WEGOVY. [CONTRAINDICATIONS] 4 CONTRAINDICATIONS WEGOVY is contraindicated in the following conditions: • A personal or family history of MTC or in patients with MEN 2 [see Warnings and Precautions ( 5.1 )] . • A prior serious hypersensitivity reaction to semaglutide or to any of the excipients in WEGOVY. Serious hypersensitivity reactions, including anaphylaxis and angioedema, have been reported with WEGOVY [see Warnings and Precautions ( 5.6 )]. • Personal or family history of MTC or in patients with MEN 2 ( 4 ). • Known hypersensitivity to semaglutide or any of the excipients in WEGOVY ( 4 ).

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