Raleigh, N.C. - September 21, 2015 - Sprout Pharmaceuticals, Inc. (Sprout) announced today that healthcare prescribers and pharmacies can now complete training to become certified to prescribe or dispense the medication through the Addyi Risk Evaluation and Mitigation Strategy (REMS) Program. Addyi, the first-ever, FDA-approved treatment for women's most common form of sexual dysfunction, is a once-daily, non-hormonal pill for the treatment of acquired, generalized hypoactive sexual desire disorder (HSDD) in premenopausal women. It is available only through certified healthcare prescribers and pharmacies enrolled in this program.
"We are committed to patient safety first and foremost, and as such, our priority is to educate prescribers and pharmacies about Addyi leading up to its availability," said Cindy Whitehead, Chief Executive Officer of Sprout. "The millions of women who suffer from HSDD have been awaiting a treatment option for years, and we look forward to working with healthcare providers and pharmacies to provide them with education on Addyi."
The Addyi REMS certification and enrollment materials can be accessed through http://www.Addyi.com. To become certified, prescribers and designated pharmacy representatives must review the Addyi Prescribing Information and the Prescriber and Pharmacy Training documentation, successfully complete a short knowledge assessment, and enroll in the Addyi REMS program. In order to complete the certification process, prescribers and pharmacists should fax the completed knowledge assessment and enrollment forms to 1-844-694-3373 or email scanned copies to AddyiREMSEnroll@AddyiREMS.com. For more information contact the Addyi REMS Support Center at 1-844-Addyi15 (1-844-233-9415).
The goal of the Addyi REMS Program is to mitigate the increased risk of hypotension and syncope associated with Addyi due to an interaction with alcohol. Please see Indication and Important Safety Information below.
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About Sprout Pharmaceuticals
Sprout Pharmaceuticals is passionate about women's sexual health. With a breakthrough concept for women, the company "sprouted" out of Slate Pharmaceuticals in 2011. Based in Raleigh, N.C., the company is focused solely on the delivery of a treatment option for women with Hypoactive Sexual Desire Disorder (HSDD). For more information or the latest news about Sprout Pharmaceuticals, visit http://www.sproutpharma.com or call 1-844-PINK-PILL (1-844-746-5745).
Indication and Important Safety Information
Indication
Addyi is indicated for the treatment of premenopausal women with acquired, generalized hypoactive sexual desire disorder (HSDD) as characterized by low sexual desire that causes marked distress or interpersonal difficulty and is NOT due to:
- A co-existing medical or psychiatric condition,
- Problems within the relationship, or
- The effects of a medication or other drug substance.
Acquired HSDD refers to HSDD that develops in a patient who previously had no problems with sexual desire. Generalized HSDD refers to HSDD that occurs regardless of the type of stimulation, situation or partner.
Limitations of Use
- Addyi is not indicated for the treatment of HSDD in postmenopausal women or in men.
- Addyi is not indicated to enhance sexual performance.
Important Safety Information
WARNING: HYPOTENSION AND SYNCOPE IN CERTAIN SETTINGS
See full prescribing information for complete boxed warning.
- Use of Addyi and alcohol increases the risk of severe hypotension and syncope; therefore alcohol use is contraindicated. Before prescribing Addyi, assess the likelihood of the patient abstaining from alcohol. Counsel patients prescribed Addyi about the importance of abstaining from alcohol.
- Addyi is available only through a restricted program called the Addyi REMS Program.
- Severe hypotension and syncope can occur when Addyi is used with moderate or strong CYP3A4 inhibitors or in patients with hepatic impairment; therefore, Addyi use in these settings is contraindicated.
Contraindications
Addyi is contraindicated:
- With use of alcohol.
- With concomitant use with moderate or strong CYP3A4 inhibitors.
- In patients with hepatic impairment.
Summary of Warnings and Precautions
- Hypotension and Syncope due to an Interaction with Alcohol. An interaction between Addyi and alcohol increases the risk of severe hypotension and syncope. Alcohol use is contraindicated. Before prescribing Addyi, the healthcare provider should assess the likelihood of the patient abstaining from alcohol use.
- Addyi Risk Evaluation and Mitigation Strategy (REMS) Program. Addyi is available only through a restricted program called the Addyi REMS Program, because of the increased risk of severe hypotension and syncope due to an interaction between Addyi and alcohol. The Addyi REMS requires that prescribers are certified by enrolling and completing training; and, pharmacies are certified and will not dispense Addyi unless it is prescribed by a certified prescriber. More information is available at http://www.AddyiREMS.com.
- Hypotension and Syncope with CYP3A4 Inhibitors.
- Moderate and strong CYP3A4 inhibitors significantly increase Addyi concentrations, which can lead to hypotension and syncope. Concomitant use of Addyi with a moderate or strong CYP3A4 inhibitor is contraindicated.
- Concomitant use of multiple weak CYP3A4 inhibitors that may include herbal supplements (e.g., ginkgo, resveratrol) or non-prescription drugs (e.g., cimetidine) could also lead to clinically relevant increases in flibanserin concentrations that may increase the risk of hypotension and syncope.
- Central Nervous System Depression. Addyi can cause CNS depression (e.g., somnolence, sedation). In five 24-week, randomized, placebo-controlled, double blind trials of premenopausal women with HSDD the incidence of somnolence, sedation or fatigue was 21% and 8% in patients treated with 100 mg of Addyi at bedtime and placebo, respectively. The risk of CNS depression is increased if Addyi is taken during waking hours, or if Addyi is taken with alcohol or other CNS depressants, or with medications that increase flibanserin concentrations. Patients should not drive or engage in other activities requiring full alertness until at least 6 hours after taking Addyi and until they know how Addyi affects them.
- Hypotension and Syncope with Addyi Alone. The use of Addyi - without other concomitant medications known to cause hypotension or syncope - can cause hypotension and syncope. In five 24-week, randomized, placebo-controlled, double-blind trials of premenopausal women with HSDD, hypotension was reported in 0.2% and <0.1% of Addyi-treated patients and placebo-treated patients, respectively; syncope was reported in 0.4% and 0.2% of Addyi-treated patients and placebo-treated patients, respectively. The risk of hypotension and syncope is increased if Addyi is taken during waking hours. Consider the benefits of Addyi and the risks of hypotension and syncope in patients with pre-existing conditions that predispose to hypotension. Patients who experience pre-syncope should immediately lie supine and promptly seek medical help if the symptoms do not resolve. Prompt medical attention should also be obtained for patients who experience syncope.
- Syncope and Hypotension in Patients with Hepatic Impairment. Any degree of hepatic impairment significantly increases flibanserin concentrations, which can lead to hypotension, syncope, and CNS depression. Therefore, Addyi is contraindicated in patients with hepatic impairment.
Most Common Adverse Reactions
- The most common adverse reactions among patients treated with Addyi were dizziness (Addyi 11.4%; Placebo 2.2%), somnolence (Addyi 11.2%; Placebo 2.9%), nausea (Addyi 10.4%; Placebo 3.9%), fatigue (Addyi 9.2%; Placebo 5.5%), insomnia (Addyi 4.9%; Placebo 2.8%) and dry mouth (Addyi 2.4%; Placebo 1.0%).
Summary of Drug Interactions
- Addyi is primarily metabolized by CYP3A4 and, to a lesser extent, by CYP2C19.
- Addyi is contraindicated in women taking a moderate (e.g., fluconazole) or strong (e.g., ketoconazole) CYP3A4 inhibitor.
- Patients using Addyi with combined oral contraceptives or with weak CYP3A4 inhibitors may experience a higher incidence of adverse reactions.
- CYP2C19 inhibitors (e.g. proton pump inhibitors, selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors, benzodiazepines, antifungals) may increase Addyi exposure, which may increase the risk of hypotension, syncope, and CNS depression.
- Do not use Addyi with strong CYP3A4 inducers (e.g., rifampin, St. John's Wort) as this will substantially reduce the concentration of Addyi.
- Addyi inhibits P-glycoprotein (P-gp). Monitoring of drug concentrations of any narrow therapeutic index drugs that are substrates for P-gp (e.g., digoxin) should be increased if co-administered with Addyi. The concomitant use of Addyi with digoxin, a drug that is transported by P-gp, increases the digoxin concentration. This may lead to digoxin toxicity.
For More Information:
Amy Rose
Edelman
312-297-6912
media@sproutpharma.com