Nebbaro 1000mg Soft Capsules
SUMMARY OF PRODUCT CHARACTERISTICS
1 NAME OF THE MEDICINAL PRODUCT
Nebbaro 1000mg soft Capsules
2 QUALITATIVE AND QUANTITATIVE COMPOSITION
Each soft capsule contains 1000 mg omega-3-acid ethyl esters 90, comprising principally 840 mg ethyl esters of eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA) (460 mg) and docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) ethyl esters (380 mg).
Excipient with known effect: This medicinal product contains soya oil.
For the full list of excipients see section 6.1.
3 PHARMACEUTICAL FORM
Capsule, soft
Soft, transparent gelatine capsules containing pale yellow oil
4 CLINICAL PARTICULARS
4.1 Therapeutic indications
Post Myocardial Infarction
Adjuvant treatment in secondary prevention after myocardial infarction, in addition to other standard therapy (e.g. statins, anti-platelet medicinal products, beta-blockers, ACE inhibitors).
Hypertriglyceridaemia
Endogenous hypertriglyceridaemia as a supplement to diet when dietary measures alone are insufficient to produce an adequate response: type IV hypertriglyceridaemia in monotherapy
type IIb/III hypertriglyceridaemia in combination with statins, when control of triglycerides through statins alone is not sufficient
4.2 Posology and method of administration Posology
Post Myocardial Infarction
The recommended dose is one capsule daily.
Hypertriglyceridaemia
Initial treatment two capsules daily. If adequate response is not obtained, the dose may be increased to four capsules daily.
Elderly people
There is no information regarding the use of Nebbaro in elderly patients over 70 years of age.
Patients with renal impairment
There is only limited information regarding the use in patients with renal impairment.
Patients with hepatic impairment
There is no information regarding the use of Nebbaro in patients with hepatic impairment (see section 4.4).
Paediatric population
There is no information regarding the use of Nebbaro in children and adolescents.
Method of administration
The soft capsules should be taken with food to avoid gastrointestinal disturbances.
4.3 Contraindications
Hypersensitivity to the active substance, to soya, peanut or to any of the other excipients listed in section 6.1.
4.4 Special warnings and precautions for use
Because of the moderate increase in bleeding time (with the high dosage, i.e. 4 capsules per day), patients receiving anticoagulant therapy must be monitored and the dosage of anticoagulant adjusted if necessary (see section 4.5). Use of Nebbaro does not eliminate the need for the surveillance usually required for patients of this type.
Make allowance for the increased bleeding time in patients at high risk of haemorrhage (because of severe trauma, surgery, etc).
During treatment with Nebbaro, there is a fall in thromboxane A2 production. No significant effect has been observed on the other coagulation factors. Some studies with omega-3-acids demonstrated a prolongation of bleeding time, but the bleeding time reported in these studies has not exceeded normal limits and did not produce clinically significant bleeding episodes.
In some patients a small but significant increase (within normal values) in ASAT and ALAT was reported, but there are no data indicating an increased risk for patients with hepatic impairment. ALAT and ASAT levels should be monitored in patients with any signs of liver damage (in particular with the high dosage, i.e. 4 capsules).
Nebbaro is not indicated in exogenous hypertriglyceridaemia (type 1 hyperchylomicronaemia).
There is only limited experience in secondary endogenous hypertriglyceridaemia (especially uncontrolled diabetes).
There is no experience regarding the treatment of hypertriglyceridaemia in combination with fibrates.
Paediatric population
In the absence of efficacy and safety data, Nebbaro should not be used in children and adolescents.
Soya oil
This medicinal product contains soya oil. If the patient is allergic to peanut or soya, do not take this medicinal product (see section 4.3).
4.5 Interaction with other medicinal products and other forms of interaction
Oral anticoagulants: See also section 4.4.
Nebbaro has been given in conjunction with warfarin without haemorrhagic complications. However, the prothrombin time must be checked when Nebbaro is combined with warfarin or when treatment with Nebbaro is stopped.
4.6 Fertility, Pregnancy and lactation
Pregnancy
There are no adequate data from the use of Nebbaro in pregnant women. Studies in animals have not shown reproductive toxicity. The potential risk for humans is unknown and therefore Nebbaro should not be used during pregnancy unless clearly necessary.
Lactation
There are no data on the excretion of Nebbaro in animal and human milk. Therefore, Nebbaro should not be used during lactation.
4.7 Effects on ability to drive and use machines
Effects on ability to drive and use machines have not been studied. Nevertheless, Nebbaro is expected to have no or negligible influence on the ability to drive and use machines
4.8 Undesirable effects
Adverse events are categorized by frequency as follows: very common (>1/10), common (>1/100 to <1/10), uncommon (>1,000 to <1/100), rare (>10,000 to <1/1,000), very rare (<1/10,000), not known (cannot be estimated from the available data).
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Immune system disorders: | |
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Rare |
hypersensitivity |
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Metabolism and nutrition disorders: | |
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Uncommon |
hyperglycaemia, gout |
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Nervous system disorders: | |
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Uncommon |
dizziness, dysgeusia, headache |
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Vascular disorders: | |
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Uncommon |
hypotension |
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Respiratory thoracic and mediastinal disorders: | |
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Uncommon |
epistaxis |
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Gastrointestinal disorders: | |
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Common |
gastrointestinal disorders (including abdominal distension, abdominal pain, constipation, diarrhoea, dyspepsia, flatulence, eructation, gastro-oesophageal reflux disease, nausea or vomiting) |
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Uncommon |
gastrointestinal haemorrhage |
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Hepatobiliary disorders: | |
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Rare |
liver disorders (including transaminases increased, alanine aminotransferase increased and aspartate aminotransferase increased) |
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Skin and subcutaneous tissue disorders: | |
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Uncommon |
rash |
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Rare |
urticaria |
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 via the Yellow card Scheme at www.mhra.gov.uk/yellowcard.
Overdose
4.9
There are no special recommendations for overdose. Treatment should be symptomatic.
5 PHARMACOLOGICAL PROPERTIES
5.1 Pharmacodynamic properties
Pharmacotherapeutic group: omega-3-triglycerides, incl. other esters and acids ATC code: C10AX06
The omega-3 series polyunsaturated fatty acids, eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA) and docosahexaenoic acid (DHA), are essential fatty acids.
Nebbaro is active on the plasma lipids by lowering triglyceride levels as a result of a fall in VLDL (very low density lipoprotein). Nebbaro is also active on haemostasis and blood pressure.
Nebbaro reduces the synthesis of triglycerides in the liver because EPA and DHA are poor substrates for the enzymes responsible for triglyceride synthesis and they inhibit esterification of other fatty acids.
The increase in peroxisomes of P-oxidation of fatty acids in the liver also contributes to the fall in triglycerides, by reducing the quantity of free fatty acids available for their synthesis. The inhibition of this synthesis lowers VLDL.
Nebbaro increases LDL-cholesterol in some patients with hypertriglyceridaemia. A rise in HDL-cholesterol is only small, significantly smaller than seen after administration of fibrates, and not consistent.
The long-term lipid-lowering effect (after more than one year) is not known. Otherwise there is no strong evidence that lowering triglycerides reduces the risk of ischaemic heart disease.
During treatment with Nebbaro, there is a fall in thromboxane A2 production and a slight increase in bleeding time. No significant effect has been observed on the other coagulation factors.
11324 patients, with recent myocardial infarction MI (<3 months) and receiving a recommended preventative treatment associated with a Mediterranean diet, were randomised in the GISSI-Prevenzione study in order to receive omega-3-acid ethyl esters 90 (n=2836), vitamin E (n=2830), omega-3-acid ethyl esters 90 + vitamin E (n=2830) or no treatment (n=2828). GISSI-P was a multicentre, randomised, open-label study performed in Italy.
The results observed over 3.5 years, with omega-3-acid ethyl esters 90 1g/day, have shown a significant reduction of a combined endpoint including all-cause death, nonfatal MI and non-fatal stroke (decrease in relative risk of 15% [2-26] p=0.0226 in patients taking omega-3-acid ethyl esters 90 alone compared to control, and of 10% [1-18] p=0.0482 in patients taking omega-3-acid ethyl esters 90 with or without vitamin E). A reduction of the second pre-specified endpoint criteria including cardiovascular deaths, non-fatal MI and non-fatal stroke has been shown (decrease in relative risk of 20% [5-32] p=0.0082 in patients taking omega-3-acid ethyl esters 90 alone compared to control, decrease in relative risk of 11% [1-20] p= 0.0526 in patients taking omega-3-acid ethyl esters 90 with or without vitamin E). The secondary analysis for each component of the primary endpoints has shown a significant reduction of all cause deaths and cardiovascular deaths, but no reduction of non-fatal cardiovascular events or fatal and non fatal strokes.
5.2 Pharmacokinetic properties
During and after absorption, there are three main pathways for the metabolism of the omega-3 fatty acids:
- The fatty acids are first transported to the liver where they are incorporated into various categories of lipoproteins and then channelled to the peripheral lipid stores;
- The cell membrane phospholipids are replaced by lipoprotein phospholipids and the fatty acids can then act as precursors for various eicosanoids;
- The majority is oxidised to meet energy requirements.
The concentration of the omega-3 fatty acids eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA) and docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) in the plasma phospholipids corresponds to the EPA and DHA incorporated into the cell membranes.
Animal pharmacokinetic studies have shown that there is a complete hydrolysis of the ethyl ester accompanied by satisfactory absorption and incorporation of EPA and DHA into the plasma phospholipids and cholesterol esters.
5.3 Preclinical safety data
Non-clinical data reveal no special hazard for humans based on conventional studies of repeated dose toxicity, genotoxicity, carcinogenic potential, toxicity to reproduction. In addition non-clinical literature data on safety pharmacology are indicating that there is no hazard for humans
6 PHARMACEUTICAL PARTICULARS
6.1
List of excipients
Capsule core: alpha-tocopherol (Ph. Eur.)
Capsule shell: gelatine, glycerol, purified water, medium-chain triglycerides, sunflower lecithin
6.2 Incompatibilities
Not applicable
6.3 Shelf life
3 years
6.4 Special precautions for storage
Do not store above 25°C.
Do not freeze.
After first opening:
20caps-75ml: 20 days
28caps-75ml: 28 days
30caps-75ml: 30 days
60caps-150ml: 105 days
98caps-250ml: 98 days
100caps-250ml: 100 days
20 caps x 10 bottles-75ml: each bottle 20 days
6.5 Nature and contents of container
Bottles:
White (HDPE) bottles of 75 ml or 150 ml with a LDPE push-fit tamper-evident cap or white (HDPE) bottles of 250 ml with a PE white flip-top cap.
Containing :
HDPE-bottles 75 ml 20 capsules 28 capsules 30 capsules
200 capsules (10 bottles x 20 capsules)
HDPE-bottles 150 ml 60 capsules
HDPE-bottles 250 ml 98 capsules 100 capsules
Not all pack sizes may be marketed.
6.6 Special precautions for disposal
Any unused medicinal product or waste material should be disposed of in accordance with local requirements.
7 MARKETING AUTHORISATION HOLDER
Winthrop Pharmaceuticals UK Limited
One Onslow Street
Guildford
Surrey
GU1 4YS, UK
Trading as: Zentiva, One Onslow Street, Guildford, Surrey, GU1 4YS, UK
8 MARKETING AUTHORISATION NUMBER(S)
PL 17780/0658
9 DATE OF FIRST AUTHORISATION/RENEWAL OF THE AUTHORISATION
21/01/2013
10 DATE OF REVISION OF THE TEXT
30/09/2014