FDA prescribing information: Liraglutide (LIRAGLUTIDE) - label effective 2025-10-16

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Abstract

[BOXED_WARNING] WARNING: RISK OF THYROID C-CELL TUMORS Liraglutide causes dose-dependent and treatment-duration-dependent thyroid C-cell tumors at clinically relevant exposures in both genders of rats and mice. It is unknown whether liraglutide injection causes thyroid C-cell tumors, including medullary thyroid carcinoma (MTC), in humans, as the human relevance of liraglutide-induced rodent thyroid C-cell tumors has not been determined [see Warnings and Precautions ( 5.1 ) and Nonclinical Toxicology ( 13.1 )] . Liraglutide injection is contraindicated in patients with a personal or family history of MTC and in patients with Multiple Endocrine Neoplasia syndrome type 2 (MEN 2). Counsel patients regarding the potential risk of MTC with use of liraglutide injection 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 liraglutide injection [see Contraindications ( 4 ) , Warnings and Precautions ( 5.1 )]. WARNING: RISK OF THYROID C-CELL TUMORS See full prescribing information for complete boxed warning. • Liraglutide causes thyroid C-cell tumors at clinically relevant exposures in both genders of rats and mice. It is unknown whether liraglutide injection causes thyroid C-cell tumors, including medullary thyroid carcinoma (MTC), in humans, as the human relevance of liraglutide-induced rodent thyroid C-cell tumors has not been determined (5.1). • Liraglutide injection 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 the symptoms of thyroid tumors (4, 5.1, 13.1). [WARNINGS_AND_CAUTIONS] 5 WARNINGS AND PRECAUTIONS Acute Pancreatitis: Has been observed in patients treated with GLP-1 receptor agonists, including liraglutide injection. Discontinue if pancreatitis is suspected. ( 5.2 ) Acute Gallbladder Disease: If cholelithiasis or cholecystitis are suspected, gallbladder studies are indicated. ( 5.3 ) Hypoglycemia: Can occur in adults when liraglutide injection is used with an insulin secretagogue (e.g. a sulfonylurea) or insulin. The risk may be lowered by a reduction in the dose of concomitantly administered insulin secretagogues or insulin. In the pediatric clinical trial, patients did not have type 2 diabetes. Hypoglycemia occurred in liraglutide injection-treated pediatric patients. Inform all patients of the risk of hypoglycemia and educate them on the signs and symptoms of hypoglycemia. ( 5.4 ) Heart Rate Increase: Monitor heart rate at regular intervals. ( 5.5 ) Acute Kidney Injury Due to Volume Depletion: Monitor renal function in patients reporting adverse reactions that could lead to volume depletion. ( 5.6 ) Severe Gastrointestinal Adverse Reactions: Use has been associated with gastrointestinal adverse reactions, sometimes severe. Liraglutide injection is not recommended in patients with severe gastroparesis. ( 5.7 ) Hypersensitivity Reactions: Postmarketing reports of serious hypersensitivity reactions (e.g., anaphylactic reactions and angioedema). Discontinue liraglutide injection and other suspect medications and promptly seek medical advice. ( 5.8 ) Suicidal Behavior and Ideation: Monitor for depression or suicidal thoughts. Discontinue liraglutide injection if symptoms develop. ( 5.9 ) Pulmonary Aspiration During General Anesthesia or Deep Sedation: Has been reported in patients receiving GLP-1 receptor agonists undergoing elective surgeries or procedures. Instruct patients to inform healthcare providers of any planned surgeries or procedures. ( 5.10 ) 5.1 Risk of Thyroid C-cell Tumors Liraglutide causes dose-dependent and treatment-duration-dependent thyroid C-cell tumors (adenomas and/or carcinomas) at clinically relevant exposures in both genders of rats and mice [see Nonclinical Toxicology (13.1) ] . Malignant thyroid C-cell carcinomas were detected in rats and mice. It is unknown whether liraglutide injection will cause thyroid C-cell tumors, including medullary thyroid carcinoma (MTC), in humans, as the human relevance of liraglutide-induced rodent thyroid C-cell tumors has not been determined. Cases of MTC in patients treated with liraglutide have been reported in the postmarketing period; the data in these reports are insufficient to establish or exclude a causal relationship between MTC and liraglutide use in humans. Liraglutide injection 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 liraglutide injection 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 liraglutide injection. Such monitoring may increase the risk of unnecessary procedures, due to low test specificity for serum calcitonin and a high background incidence of thyroid disease. Significantly elevated serum calcitonin 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 liraglutide [see Adverse Reactions (6) ] . After initiation of liraglutide, observe patients carefu [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) ] Risk for Hypoglycemia with Concomitant Use of Anti-Diabetic Therapy [see Warnings and Precautions (5.4) ] Heart Rate Increase [see Warnings and Precautions (5.5) ] Acute Kidney Injury Due to Volume Depletion [see Warnings and Precautions (5.6) ] Severe Gastrointestinal Adverse Reactions [see Warnings and Precautions (5.7) ] Hypersensitivity Reactions [see Warnings and Precautions (5.8) ] Suicidal Behavior and Ideation [see Warnings and Precautions (5.9) ] Pulmonary Aspiration During General Anesthesia or Deep Sedation [see Warnings and Precautions (5.10) ] Most common adverse reactions, reported in greater than or equal to 5% are: nausea, diarrhea, constipation, vomiting, injection site reactions, headache, hypoglycemia, dyspepsia, fatigue, dizziness, abdominal pain, increased lipase, upper abdominal pain, pyrexia, and gastroenteritis. ( 6.1 ) To report SUSPECTED ADVERSE REACTIONS, contact Biocon Pharma Inc. at 1-866-924-626 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. Liraglutide was evaluated for safety in 5 double-blind, placebo controlled trials that included 3384 overweight or obese adult patients treated with liraglutide for a treatment period up to 56 weeks (3 trials), 52 weeks (1 trial), and 32 weeks (1 trial) and one trial of 56 weeks in 125 pediatric patients with obesity aged 12 years and older [see Clinical Studies ( 14.1 , 14.2 )]. All patients received study drug in addition to a reduced-calorie diet and increased physical activity counseling. In the adult trials, patients received liraglutide for a mean treatment duration of 46 weeks (median, 56 weeks). Baseline characteristics included a mean age of 47 years, 71% female, 85% white, 39% with hypertension, 15% with type 2 diabetes, 34% with dyslipidemia, 29% with a BMI greater than 40 kg/m 2 , and 9% with cardiovascular disease. In one of the 56-week trials, a subset of patients (with abnormal glucose measurements at randomization) [see Clinical Studies ( 14.1 )] were enrolled for a placebo-controlled 160-week period instead, followed by a 12-week off-treatment follow-up. For those participating in this 160-week period, patients received liraglutide for a mean treatment duration of 110 weeks (median, 159 weeks). For all trials, dosing was initiated and increased weekly to reach the 3 mg dose. In adult clinical trials, 9.8% of patients treated with liraglutide and 4.3% of patients treated with placebo prematurely discontinued treatment as a result of adverse reactions. The most common adverse reactions leading to discontinuation were nausea (2.9% versus 0.2% for liraglutide and placebo, respectively), vomiting (1.7% versus less than 0.1%), and diarrhea (1.4% versus 0%). Adverse reactions reported in greater than or equal to 2% of liraglutide-treated adult patients and more frequently than in placebo-treated patients are shown in Table 2 . Adverse reactions reported in greater than or equal to 3% of liraglutide-treated pediatric patients and more frequently than in placebo-treated patients are shown in Table 3 . Table 2. Adverse Reactions Occurring in > 2% of Liraglutide-treated Adult Patients and More Frequently than Placebo Placebo N=1941 % Liraglutide N=3384 % Nausea 13.8 39.3 Diarrhea 9.9 20.9 Constipation 8.5 19.4 Vomiting 3.9 15.7 Injection Site Reaction 1 10.5 13.9 Headache 12.6 13.6 Hypoglycemia in T2DM 2 6.6 12.6 Dyspepsia 2.7 9.6 Fatigue 4.6 7.5 Dizzin [DRUG_INTERACTIONS] 7 DRUG INTERACTIONS Liraglutide injection delays gastric emptying. May impact absorption of concomitantly administered oral medications. Use with caution. ( 7 ) 7.1 Oral Medications Liraglutide causes a delay of gastric emptying, and thereby has the potential to impact the absorption of concomitantly administered oral medications. In clinical pharmacology trials, liraglutide did not affect the absorption of the tested orally administered medications to any clinically relevant degree. Nonetheless, monitor for potential consequences of delayed absorption of oral medications concomitantly administered with liraglutide. [CONTRAINDICATIONS] 4 CONTRAINDICATIONS Liraglutide injection is contraindicated in: Patients with a personal or family history of medullary thyroid carcinoma (MTC) or patients with Multiple Endocrine Neoplasia syndrome type 2 (MEN 2) [see Warnings and Precautions (5.1) ]. Patients with a serious hypersensitivity reaction to liraglutide or to any of the excipients in liraglutide injection. Serious hypersensitivity reactions including anaphylactic reactions and angioedema have been reported with liraglutide injection [see Warnings and Precautions (5.7) ] . Personal or family history of medullary thyroid carcinoma or Multiple Endocrine Neoplasia syndrome type 2. ( 4 ) Hypersensitivity to liraglutide or any excipients in liraglutide injection. ( 4 )

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