SUMMARY OF PRODUCTS CHARACTERISTICS

1.

NAME OF THE VETERINARY MEDICINAL PRODUCT

Cephorum 250 mg film-coated tablets for dogs

2.

QUALITATIVE AND QUANTITATIVE COMPOSITION

Each tablet contains:

Active ingredient:

Cefalexin 250 mg

as cefalexin monohydrate 263 mg

Excipients:

Titanium dioxide (E171) 0.55 mg

Excipient qsp 1 tablet of 355 mg

For a full list of excipients, see section 6.1

3.

PHARMACEUTICAL FORM

Film-coated tablet

Round, white to yellowish, biconvex tablet, scored on one side. ‘CX’ is imprinted above the scoreline, ‘250’ is imprinted below the scoreline.

The tablets are not divisible.

4.

CLINICAL PARTICULARS

4.1

Target species

Dogs

4.2

Indications for use, specifying the target species

The product is indicated for the treatment of urinary tract infections in dogs caused by Klebsiella pneumoniae and for the treatment of bacterial skin infections in dogs, when susceptible organisms are present.

4.3

Contra-indications

Do not use in cases of known hypersensitivity to the active substance, to other cephalosporins, to other substances of the β-lactam group or to any of the excipients.

Do not use in rabbits, gerbils, guinea pigs and hamsters.

4.4

Special warnings for each target species

None

4.5

Special precautions for use

i.

Special precautions for use in animals

Use of the product should be based on susceptibility testing and take in to account official and local antimicrobial policies.

Use of the product deviating from the instructions given in the SPC may increase the prevalence of bacteria resistant to cefalexin and may decrease the effectiveness of treatment with penicillins, due to potential cross-resistance.

In case of an allergic reaction, treatment should be withdrawn.

As with other antibiotics which are excreted mainly by the kidneys, unnecessary accumulation may occur in the body when renal function is impaired. In cases of known renal insufficiency the dose should be reduced, antimicrobials known to be nephrotoxic should not be administered concurrently and the product should be used only according to a risk/benefit assessment by the responsible veterinarian.

ii.

Special precautions for the person administering the veterinary medicinal product to animals

Penicillins and cephalosporins may cause hypersensitivity (allergy) following injection, inhalation, ingestion or skin contact. Hypersensitivity to penicillins may lead to cross-reactions to cephalosporins and vice versa. Allergic reaction to these substances may occasionally be serious.

Wash hands after use.

4.6

Adverse reactions (frequency and seriousness)

Vomiting and/or diarrhoea have been observed in dogs. In rare cases hypersensitivity can occur. In cases of hypersensitivity reactions the treatment should be stopped.

4.7

Use during pregnancy, lactation or lay

The safety of the veterinary medicinal product has not been established in bitches during pregnancy and lactation. Use only accordingly to the benefit/risk assessment by the responsible veterinarian.

4.8

Interaction with other medicinal products and other forms of interaction

The bactericidal activity of cephalosporins is reduced by concomitant administration of bacteriostatic acting compounds (macrolides, sulphonamides and tetracyclines).

Nephrotoxicity can be increased when 1^st generation cephalosporins are combined with polypeptide antibiotics, aminoglycosides and some diuretics (furosemide).

Concomitant use with such active substances should be avoided.

4.9

Amount(s) to be administered and administration route

For oral use.

The recommended dose rate is 15 mg cefalexin / kg bodyweight twice daily. In severe or acute conditions the above dose may be safely doubled to 30 mg/kg or given at more frequent intervals.

The table below is intended as a guide for the recommended dose of 15 mg cefalexin per kg bodyweight. Any increase in the dose should be calculated case-by-case for the individual animal concerned.

Bodyweight in kg	Number of tablets per dose*
12 to 18	1 tablet
19 to 32	2 tablets
33 to 50	3 tablets

* Two doses per day should be given

To ensure a correct dosage body weight should be determined as accurately as possible to avoid underdosing.

Treatment for five days is recommended but this may be extended or shortened at the discretion of the veterinary surgeon.

Any increase in dose or duration of use, and any use in dogs less than 12 kg bodyweight, should be in accordance with a risk/benefit assessment by the responsible veterinarian.

4.10

Overdose (symptoms, emergency procedures, antidotes), if necessary

Symptoms of overdose include nausea, vomiting, epigastric distress, diarrhoea and haematuria. Treatment should be symptomatic.

4.11

Withdrawal period(s)

Not applicable.

5.

PHARMACOLOGICAL PROPERTIES

Pharmacotherapeutic group:

Antibacterials for systemic use, Other beta-lactam antibacterials, First-generation cephalosporins

ATC Vet Code: QJ01DB01

5.1

Pharmacodynamic properties

Cefalexin, first generation cephalosporin, inhibits bacterial cell wall synthesis in a manner similar to the penicillins, and is widely considered to be bactericidal in action. It is thought that cefalexin acts by binding to and inactivating a number of different penicillin-binding proteins (PBPs) located on the inner aspects of the bacterial cell membrane. Cephalosporins are essentially time-dependent antibiotics.

Cefalexin is active against a large spectrum of gram-positive and gram-negative bacteria. The breakpoints for cefalexin are usually defined as S≤8 μg/ml, R> 32 μg/ml.

The in vitro activity of cefalexin against bacterial isolates from skin infections in dogs is as follows:

The MIC₉₀ value of cefalexin against Klebsiella pneumoniae isolated from urinary tract infections in dogs is 4 µg/ml.

The most prevalent resistance mechanism among gram-negative bacteria to cefalexin is due to the production of various beta-lactamases (cephalosporinase) that cause inactivation. Resistance in gram-positive bacteria often involves a decreased affinity of the PBPs (penicillin-binding proteins) for beta-lactam drugs. Efflux pumps, extruding the antibiotic from the bacterial cell, and structural changes in porins (reducing passive diffusion of the drug through the cell wall), may contribute to bacterial resistance.

Cross-resistance (involving the same resistance mechanism) exists between antibiotics belonging to the beta-lactam group due to their similar structures. This occurs with beta-lactamase enzymes, structural changes in porins or variations in efflux pumps. Co-resistance (involving different resistance mechanisms) has been reported in E. coli due to a plasmid with resistance genes.

5.2

Pharmacokinetic properties

After oral administration, 60 to 80% of cefalexin is absorbed from the small intestine. The delay reported between administration and beginning of absorption is approximately 20 minutes and differences in mean AUC, Cmax, and Tmax are not significantly affected by food administration concomitant to treatment with cefalexin.

Protein binding is low at 18%. Cefalexin is widely distributed into a variety of tissue fluids, including bile, synovial and pericardial fluid. The passage into interstitial tissue, as demonstrated in wound fluid concentration, peritoneal fluid and skin blisters is generally good.

Cefalexin is minimally metabolized and primarily excreted via the renal route, around 70% of an oral dose is excreted into the urine in 24 hours in the dog. It is important to note that cefalexin concentrations obtained in urine are well above plasma concentrations, and similarly concentrations in bile may be up to four times higher.

6.

PHARMACEUTICAL PARTICULARS

6.1

List of excipients

Titanium dioxide (E 171)

Povidone K25

Sodium starch glycolate (Type A)

Magnesium stearate

Macrogol 6000

Lactose monohydrate

Hypromellose

Talc

Peppermint oil

Saccharin sodium dihydrate

6.2

Incompatibilities

None known.

6.3

Shelf life

Shelf life of the veterinary medicinal product as packaged for sale in polypropylene securitainers: 4 years

Shelf life of the veterinary medicinal product as packaged for sale in blister packs: 4 years