SUMMARY OF PRODUCT CHARACTERISTICS

1 NAME OF THE MEDICINAL PRODUCT

Politrate Depot 3.75 mg powder and solvent for prolonged-release suspension for injection.

2.    QUALITATIVE AND QUANTITATIVE COMPOSITION

Each vial contains 3.75 mg of leuprorelin acetate (equivalent to 3.57 mg leuprorelin free base).

1 ml of reconstituted suspension contains 1.875 mg of leuprorelin acetate. Excipients with known effect:

Each vial contains from 1.3 to 2.2 mg (<1 mmol) of sodium (as carmellose sodium).

For the full list of excipients, see section 6.1.

3.    PHARMACEUTICAL FORM

Powder and solvent for prolonged-release suspension for injection.

Powder: white to off-white powder.

Solvent: clear, colourless, free from visible particles solution (pH 5.0 - 7.0).

4    CLINICAL PARTICULARS

4.1    Therapeutic indications

Politrate Depot is indicated for palliative treatment of locally advanced or metastatic prostate cancer.

4.2    Posology and method of administration

Posology

The usual recommended dose of Politrate Depot is 3.75 mg presented as a one month depot injection and administered as a single intramuscular injection every month.

Politrate Depot must be administered under the supervision of a physician or a qualified health practitioner.

The dose of Politrate Depot allowing the continuous release of leuprorelin acetate during one month is incorporated in a depot formulation. The lyophilized powder should be reconstituted and administered as a single intramuscular injection at monthly intervals. Intraarterial or intravenous administration must be avoided. The vial of Politrate Depot microsphere powder should be reconstituted immediately prior to administration by intramuscular injection. As with other drugs administered regularly by injection, the injection site should be varied periodically.

Politrate Depot therapy should not be discontinued when remission or improvement occurs.

Response to Politrate Depot therapy should be monitored measuring serum levels of testosterone as well as prostate-specific antigen (PSA) periodically. Clinical studies have shown that testosterone levels increased during the first 4 days of treatment in the majority of non-orchiectomized patients. They then decreased and reached castrate levels by 3-4 weeks. Once attained, castrate levels (defined as testosterone less than 0.5 ng/mL) were maintained as long as drug therapy continued.

If a patient's response appears to be sub-optimal, then it would be advisable to confirm that serum testosterone levels have reached or are remaining at castrate levels. Transient increases in acid phosphatase levels sometimes occur early in the treatment period but usually return to normal or near normal values by the 4th week of treatment.

Duration of treatment

Politrate Depot has been administered as monthly intramuscular injections.

Special populations

Pediatric population

The safety and efficacy of Politrate Depot in the paediatric patients has not been established. Therefore, Politrate Depot is not recommended in children or adolescents until safety and efficacy data become available.

Renal/hepatic insufficiency

The pharmacokinetics of Politrate Depot in hepatically and renally impaired patients has not been determined.

Elderly

In the clinical trial for Politrate Depot, the mean age of the subjects studied was 71.6±9.2 years. Therefore, the labelling reflects the pharmacokinetics, efficacy and safety of Politrate Depot in this population.

Method of Administration

Politrate Depot must be administered via the intramuscular route only. Do not administer by any other route. If it is administered subcutaneously by mistake, the patient should be closely monitored since no data about other administration routes a part from intramuscular is available for Politrate Depot. For instructions on reconstitution of the medicinal product before administration, see section 6.6.

4.3 Contraindications

Hypersensitivity to the active substance, luteinizing hormone releasing hormone (LHRH) analogs or any of the excipients listed in section 6.1. Reports of anaphylactic reactions to synthetic LHRH or LHRH agonist analogs have been reported in the medical literature.

Previous orchiectomy.

Politrate Depot must not be used as the only treatment in patients with prostate cancer and with evidence of spinal cord compression or spinal metastases.

Politrate Depot is not indicated for use in women.

Politrate Depot is not indicated for use in paediatric patients.

4.4 Special warnings and precautions for use

In the initial stages of Politrate Depot treatment, as occurs during treatment with other LHRH agonists, a transient rise in levels of testosterone may occur. In some cases, this may be associated with a "flare" or exacerbation of the tumor growth resulting in temporary worsening of prostate cancer symptoms. These symptoms usually subside on continuation of therapy. "Flare" may manifest itself as systemic or neurological symptoms in some cases (i.e. bone pain...). Also, cases of orchiatrophy and gynecomastia have been described with other LHRH agonists.

Treatment should be discontinued immediately if the patient develops any signs or symptoms suggestive of anaphylaxis/anaphylactic reaction (dyspnea, asthma, rhinitis, angioneurotic edema or glottis, hypotension, urticaria, rash, pruritus or interstitial pneumonitis). Patients should be informed before starting treatment, warning them to discontinue it and consult their doctor if any of the above mentioned symptoms occur. Patients who have experienced a hypersensitivity reaction to leuprolide should be closely monitored and should not be rechallenged with Politrate Depot.

In patients treated with leuprorelin acetate, isolated cases of urethral obstruction (with or without haematuria) and spinal cord compression or metastatic vertebral lesions have been observed, which may contribute to paralysis with or without fatal complications. Patients at risk of urethral obstruction, spinal cord compression or metastatic vertebral lesions should be considered carefully and closely supervised in the first few weeks of treatment. These patients should be considered for prophylactic treatment with anti-androgens.

Should urological/neurological complications occur, these should be treated by appropriate specific measures.

There is an increased risk of incident depression (which may be severe) in patients undergoing treatment with GnRH agonists, such as leuprolide acetate. Patients should be informed accordingly and treated as appropriate if symptoms occur.

Decreased bone density has been reported in the medical literature in men who have had orchiectomy or who have been treated with an LHRH agonist. Adding antiandrogenic therapy to the treatment regimen reduces bone loss, but increases the risk of other adverse effects such as clotting problems and edema. If an antiandrogen is used over a prolonged period, due attention should be paid to the contraindications and precautions associated with its extended use. Patients at risk or with a medical history of osteoporosis should be considered carefully and closely supervised during treatment with leuprorelin acetate.

Hepatic dysfunction and jaundice with elevated liver enzyme levels have been reported with the use of leuprorelin acetate. Therefore, close observation should be made and appropriate measures taken if necessary.

Response to Politrate Depot therapy should be monitored by clinical parameters and by measuring testosterone and PSA serum levels periodically.

Patients may experience metabolic changes (e.g. glucose intolerance or worsening of existing diabetes), hypertension, weight changes, and cardiovascular disorders. As would be expected with this class of drug, development or aggravation of diabetes may occur, therefore diabetic patients may require more frequent monitoring of blood glucose during treatment with Politrate Depot. Patients at high risk for metabolic or cardiovascular diseases should be carefully assessed before commencing treatment and adequately monitored during androgen deprivation therapy. Therapy with leuprorelin acetate results in suppression of the pituitary-gonadal system. Results of diagnostic tests of pituitary gonadotropic and gonadal functions conducted during and after leuprorelin acetate therapy may be affected.

Increased prothrombin time has been reported in patients under treatment with leuprorelin acetate.

Seizures have been reported with the administration of leuprorelin acetate. These cases were observed in patients with a history of seizures, epilepsy, cerebrovascular disorders, anomalies or central nervous system tumors and in patients with concomitant medications that have been associated with seizures for example bupropion and selective inhibitors of serotonin reuptake (SSRIs). Seizures in patients in the absence of the any medical conditions mentioned above have also been reported.

Leuprolide acetate should be used with precautions in the presence of, cardiovascular disease (including congestive heart failure condition), thromboembolism, edema, depression, and pituitary apoplexy.

Leuprolide acetate should be used with caution in patients with known bleeding disorders, thrombocytopenia or on treatment with anticoagulants. Sportsmen should take precaution as Politrate Depot contains an ingredient which may give a positive test result in doping controls.

This medicinal product contains less than 1 mmol sodium (23 mg) per vial. It is essentially ‘sodium- free’.

Androgen deprivation therapy may prolong the QT interval.

In patients with a history of or risk factors for QT prolongation and in patients receiving concomitant medicinal products that might prolong the QT interval (see section 4.5) physicians should assess the benefit risk ratio including the potential for Torsade de pointes prior to initiating Politrate Depot..

4.5 Interaction with other medicinal products and other forms of interaction

No pharmacokinetic-based drug-drug interaction studies have been conducted with leuprorelin acetate. However, because leuprorelin acetate is a peptide that is primarily degraded by peptidase and not by Cytochrome P-450 enzymes as noted in specific studies, and the drug is only about 46% bound to plasma proteins, pharmacokinetic drug interactions would not be expected to occur.

Since androgen deprivation treatment may prolong the QT interval, the concomitant use of Politrate Depot with medicinal products known to prolong the QT interval or medicinal products able to induce Torsade de pointes such as class IA (e.g. quinidine, disopyramide) or class III (e.g. amiodarone, sotalol, dofetilide, ibutilide) antiarrhythmic medicinal products, methadone, moxifloxacin, antipsychotics, etc. should be carefully evaluated (see section 4.4).

4.6    Fertility, pregnancy and lactation

POLITRATE DEPOT is not indicated for use in women.

Leuprolide acetate injection may cause fetal harm when administered to a pregnant woman.

Therefore, the possibility exists that spontaneous abortion may occur if the drug is administered during pregnancy.

4.7    Effects on ability to drive and use machines

The ability to drive and use machines may be impaired due to visual disturbances and dizziness.

4.8 Undesirable effects

Unless otherwise specified, the following safety profile of Politrate Depot is based on the results of a phase III clinical trial in which prostate cancer patients were treated with six intramuscular monthly doses of Politrate Depot and followed up for total a period of 26 weeks. Most of the treatment-related AEs reported were the usual ones associated with testosterone suppressing therapy.

The most commonly reported adverse reactions with Politrate Depot are hot flushes, injection site pain, injection site irritation, night sweats and headache.

The following adverse reactions from clinical investigations were listed below by system organ class and in order of decreasing incidence (very common: >1/10; common: >1/100 to <1/10; uncommon: > 1/1,000 to < 1/100; rare: >1/10,000 to <1/1,000; very rare: < 1/10,000).

Table 1. Number and frequency of ADRs during Politrate Depot 3.75 mg therapy.

Hepatobiliary disorders

Uncommon: Hyperbilirubinaemia

Skin and subcutaneous tissue disorders

Common: Hyperhidrosis, night sweats, cold sweats

Uncommon: Periorbital edema, urticaria, pruritus,_

Muskuloeskeletal and connective tissue disorders

Common: Back pain

Uncommon: Arthralgia, muscle spasms, pain in extremity_

Renal and urinary disorders

Uncommon: Urinary retention, urinary incontinence, pollakiuria

Reproductive system and breast disorders

Common: Erectile dysfunction

Uncommon: Breast swelling, breast tenderness, ejaculation failure_

Cardiovascular disorders

Unknown: QT prolongation (see sections 4.4 and 4.5).

General disorders and administration site conditions

Common: Fatigue, asthenia, pyrexia, local adverse reactions (see table 2)

In terms of severity, 98% of all treatment-related AEs were mild or moderate. Eighty-nine percent (89%) of the hot flushes were reported as mild and nine percent (9%) as moderate. Two cases of hot flushes (0.2%) were reported as severe.

A total of 35 local adverse reactions (LAR) at the injection site were reported by 29 patients (18.1%) during the study.

Local adverse reactions after Politrate 3.75mg are those typically reported with other similar products administered via intramuscular injection. Injection site pain, injection site irritation, injection site discomfort, injection site bruising and erythema were the most commonly reported. Uncommonly reported reactions were injection site reaction, swelling, injury and hemorrhage (Table 2)

Table 2. Frequency of patients with local adverse reactions during

Politrate Depot therapy.

Primary SOC*		Patients with related LAR
PT: General disorders and administration site conditions		%
Common
Injection site pain		8.1
Injection irritation	site	4.4
Injection	site	1.9
discomfort
Injection	site	1.3
erythema
Injection	site	1.3
bruising
Uncommon
Injection reaction	site	0.6 0.6
Injection swelling	site

Injection site injury    0.6

Injection site

0.6

hemorrhage

*Subjects may fall into more than one category; LAR: local adverse reaction; SOC: System Organ Class.

In the presence of repeated administrations of Politrate Depot, swelling (0.6%) , pain (0.6%), bruising (0.6%) and irritation (0.6%) were reported as recurrent local adverse reactions. These events were all reported as not serious and mild. No patient discontinued therapy due to local adverse events.

In a phase I clinical trial (CRO-02-43) carried out in healthy subjects with Leuprolide Depot GP-Pharm 7.5 mg administered at single dose, one case of injection site induration was reported.

Other adverse events which have been reported to occur with leuprorelin acetate treatment include impotence, decrease in libido (both pharmacological consequences of testosterone deprivation), peripheral oedema, pulmonary embolism, palpitations, myalgia, muscle weakness, chills, dyspnoea, peripheral vertigo, rash, amnesia, visual disturbances and skin sensation. Infarction of pre-existing pituitary adenomas has been reported rarely after administration of both short and long acting LHRH agonists. There have been rare reports of thrombocytopenia and leucopenia. Changes in glucose tolerance have been reported.

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:

Yellow Card Scheme

Website: www.mhra.gov.uk/yellowcard

4.9 Overdose

There is no clinical experience with the effects of an acute overdose of Politrate Depot or leuprorelin acetate. In clinical trials using daily subcutaneous leuprorelin acetate in patients with prostate cancer, doses as high as 20 mg/day for up to two years caused no AEs differing from those observed with the 1 mg/day dose.

In animal studies, doses of up to 500 times the recommended human dose resulted in dyspnea, decreased activity and local irritation at the injection site. In cases of overdosage, the patient should be monitored closely and management should be symptomatic and supportive.

5    PHARMACOLOGICAL PROPERTIES

5.1    Pharmacodynamic properties

Pharmacotherapeutic group: Endocrine therapy. Hormones and related agents. Gonadotropinreleasing hormones analogues; ATC code: L02AE02.

The chemical name of Leuprorelin acetate is 5-oxo-L-prolyl-L-histidyl-L-tryptophyl-L-seryl-L-tyrosyl-D-leucyl-L-leucyl-L-arginyl-L-prolyl-ethylamide.

Leuprorelin acetate is inactive when given orally due to poor membrane permeability and an almost complete inactivation by intestinal proteolytic enzymes.

Leuprorelin acetate has potent LHRH agonist properties when given during short-term and intermittent therapy, however, when administered in a continuous, nonpulsatile manner, LHRH analogs induce inhibition of gonadotropin secretion and suppression of testicular steroidogenesis.

Upon binding to pituitary LHRH receptors, leuprorelin acetate produces an initial increase in circulating levels of luteinizing hormone (LH) and follicle stimulating hormone (FSH), leading to an acute rise in levels of testosterone and dihydrotestosterone. However, within five to eight days after drug administration, LHRH analogs produce desensitization of the LHRH receptor complex and/or downregulation of the anterior pituitary gland. Due to the fact that there are fewer receptors on the cell surface, cellular stimulation is decreased, and less gonadotropin is synthesized and secreted. Eventually, after several weeks of LHRH agonist therapy, LH and FSH secretion is suppressed. As a result, Leydig cells in the testes cease to produce testosterone, and the serum testosterone concentration declines to a castration level (less than 0.5 ng/mL) in about two to four weeks after initiation of treatment.

In an open-label, multicenter, multiple dose clinical study of Politrate Depot, 160 patients with prostate cancer and no previous systemic cancer therapy, hormonal therapy for the treatment of prostate cancer, previous prostatic surgery neither previous orchiectomy, were enrolled. The objectives were to determine the efficacy and safety of Politrate Depot when given to prostate cancer patients who could benefit from androgen deprivation therapy. Politrate Depot was administered intramuscularly in 6 monthly doses.

Testosterone levels were monitored at different days during 168 days. As expected, after the first injection the mean testosterone levels rapidly increased from baseline levels (4.119± 1.341 ng/mL), reaching peak levels (Cmax) of 6.598±2.249 ng/mL at the third day. After peaking, testosterone levels fell, and by day 21, 78.7% of the evaluable patients had achieved medical castration (defined as testosterone less than 0.5 ng/mL). By Day 28, 96.8% of the patients had achieved castrate levels, and 73.1% had reached levels of <0.2 ng/mL (Figure 1).

Secondary efficacy endpoints included determination of serum LH, FSH and PSA concentrations. By day 14 and day 4 after the first Politrate Depot injection, mean LH and FSH serum levels had decreased below the baseline concentrations. Concentrations remained well below baseline values from day 28 until the end of the study. During the treatment, mean PSA serum levels gradually decreased (first month) and then remained constantly below baseline level until the end of the study. However, a wide inter-individual variation in PSA concentrations was observed throughout the study.

The frequency of the acute on chronic response was 10.5 % and the frequency of testosterone breakthrough response was 11.8 %. No drug-related adverse events suggestive of a clinical testosterone flare (urinary retention, spinal cord compression, or exacerbation of bone pain) were reported in any of the patients showing a testosterone breakthrough effect.

5.2 Pharmacokinetic properties

Absorption

Following three once-monthly injections of Politrate Depot in a sample of prostate cancer patients (N=12), maximal leuprorelin acetate plasma concentration was similar among the three cycles. After first administration (Days 0-28), C_max was 13,145.6±3,070.6 pg/ml. Median time to achieve C_max (T_max) was 0.04 days, corresponding to 0.96 h (range 0.96 - 4.08 h).

Distribution

No drug distribution study was conducted with Politrate Depot. However, in healthy male volunteers, the mean steady-state volume of distribution of leuprorelin acetate following bolus intravenous (IV) 1.0 mg dose was 27 L. In vitro binding to human plasma proteins ranged from 43% to 49%.

Metabolism

No drug metabolism study was conducted with Politrate Depot. However, in healthy male volunteers, a 1.0 mg bolus of leuprorelin acetate administered IV revealed that the mean systemic clearance was 7.6 L/h, with a terminal elimination half-life of approximately 3 hours based on a two compartment model.

Leuprorelin is expected to be metabolised to smaller inactive peptides that may be excreted or further catabolised.

Excretion

No drug excretion study was conducted with Politrate Depot. However, following administration of leuprorelin acetate to 3 patients, less than 5% of the dose was recovered as parent and M-I metabolite in the urine.

Special Populations

Renal/hepatic insufficiency

The pharmacokinetics of the drug in hepatically and renally impaired patients have not been determined.

5.3 Preclinical safety data

Non-clinical data reveal no special hazard for humans based on conventional studies of safety pharmacology, repeated dose toxicity and genotoxicity conducted with leuprorelin acetate.

As expected from its known pharmacological properties, non-clinical studies showed effects on the reproductive systems, which were reversible. In the reproductive toxicity studies, leuprorelin acetate did not show teratogenicity. However, embryotoxicity/lethality was observed in rabbits.

Carcinogenicity studies performed in rats with leuprorelin acetate administered subcutaneously (0.6 to 4 mg/kg/day), showed a dose-related increase in pituitary adenomas Furthermore a significant but not dose-related increase of pancreatic islet-cell adenomas in females and of testicular interstitial cell adenomas in males was observed the highest incidence was in the low dose group. Administration of leuprorelin acetate resulted in inhibition of the growth of certain hormone dependent tumors (prostatic tumors in Noble and Dunning male rats and DMBA-induced mammary tumors in female rats). No such effects were observed in carcinogenicity studies performed in mice. No carcinogenicity studies have been conducted with Politrate Depot.

Studies with leuprorelin acetate showed that the product was not mutagenic in a set of in vitro and in vivo assays. No mutagenicity studies have been conducted with Politrate Depot.

6    PHARMACEUTICAL PARTICULARS

6.1    List of excipients

Excipients of the lyophilizate (vial):

Polysorbate 80 Mannitol (E-421)

Carmellose sodium (E-466)

Triethyl citrate

Poly(DL-lactide-co-glycolide) (PLGA)

Excipients of the solvent (prefilled syringe):

Mannitol (E-421)

Sodium hydroxide (for pH adjustment)

Hydrochloric acid (for pH adjustment)

Water for injection

6.2    Incompatibilities

In the absence of compatibility studies, this medicinal product must not be mixed with other medicinal products.

No other solvent other than the sterile solvent provided for Politrate Depot can be used for the reconstitution of Politrate Depot powder.

6.3    Shelf life

3 years unopened.

Once reconstituted with the solvent the suspension should be administered immediately.

6.4    Special precautions for storage

Do not store above 25^oC. Do not freeze.

Store in the original package in order to protect from light.

6.5    Nature and contents of container

The commercial kit includes:

1.    One (1) type I glass vial containing 3.75 mg of leuprorelin acetate as a freeze-dried powder, sealed with a bromobutyl stopper and an aluminum cap with a blue plastic flip-off.

2.    One (1) type I glass prefilled syringe containing 2 ml of solvent sealed with an elastomer cap.

3.    One (1) polycarbonate / HDPE adaptor system.

4.    One (1) sterile 20 gauge needle.

6.6 Special precautions for disposal and other handling

Method of administration

The vial of Politrate Depot microsphere powder should be reconstituted immediately prior to administration by intramuscular injection. Make sure an aseptic technique is followed.

The reconstituted solution is a suspension of milky, white colour appearance.

No other solvent can be used for reconstitution of Politrate Depot.

The product must be brought to room temperature before administration. Reconstitute

Politrate Depot according to the following instructions:

r<;

Some product may cake or clump at the vial wall. This is considered normal. During the development of the product the vial is filled with excess product in order to make sure that a final dose of 3.75 mg of leuprorelin acetate is administered.

The product is meant for a single injection. Any remaining solution must be discarded.

Any unused medicinal product or waste material should be disposed of in accordance with local requirements.

7    MARKETING AUTHORISATION HOLDER

GP-PHARM, S.A.

Pol ind Els Vinyets -els Fogars. Sector 2 Carretera comarcal 244, km22 08777 Sant Quinti de Mediona.

Spain

MARKETING AUTHORISATION NUMBER(S)

PL 25859/0004

9    DATE OF FIRST AUTHORISATION/RENEWAL OF THE AUTHORISATION

09/06/2016

10    DATE OF REVISION OF THE TEXT

09/06/2016

1

Uncommon: Weakness, feeling hot and cold, feeling jittery_

Investigations

Uncommon:    Increased AST, increased ALT, bilirubin increased, gamma-

glutamyltransferase increased_

2

in a post-marketing study the frequency of mood changes and depression in

long term users was common.