Zovirax Duo Cream
SUMMARY OF PRODUCT CHARACTERISTICS
1 NAME OF THE MEDICINAL PRODUCT
Zovirax Duo Cream
(Aciclovir 5% w/w and Hydrocortisone 1% w/w)
2. QUALITATIVE AND QUANTITATIVE COMPOSITION
1 gram cream contains 50 mg aciclovir and 10 mg hydrocortisone.
Excipients with known effect: 67.5 mg cetostearyl alcohol and 200 mg propylene glycol / gram cream.
For the full list of excipients, see section 6.1.
3. PHARMACEUTICAL FORM
Cream
White cream
4 CLINICAL PARTICULARS
4.1 Therapeutic indications
Treatment of early signs and symptoms of recurrent herpes labialis (cold sores) to reduce the progression of cold sore episodes to ulcerative lesions in immunocompetent adults and adolescents (12 years of age and older).
4.2 Posology and method of administration
Posology
Adults and adolescents (12 years of age and older).
Zovirax Duo should be applied five times per day for 5 days, (i.e. approximately every 3-4 hours omitting the night time application). Treatment should be initiated as early as possible, preferably immediately after the first signs or symptoms. A sufficient quantity of the cream should be applied each time to cover the affected area including the outer margin of the lesions, if present.
Treat for 5 days. If lesions are still present after 10 days, users should be advised to consult a doctor.
Paediatric population
The safety and efficacy of Zovirax Duo in children below 12 years have not been established.
Method of administration Cutaneous use only.
Users should wash their hands before and after applying the cream and avoid unnecessary rubbing of the lesions or touching them with a towel, to avoid aggravating or transferring the infection.
4.3 Contraindications
Hypersensitivity to the active substances, valaciclovir or to any of the excipients listed in section 6.1.
Use for skin lesions caused by any virus other than herpes simplex, or for fungal, bacterial or parasitic skin infections.
4.4 Special warnings and precautions for use
For cutaneous use only: to be applied to lesions on the lips and face. It is not recommended for application to mucous membranes (e.g.in the eye or inside the mouth or nose or on the genitals).
Zovirax duo should not be used to treat genital herpes.
Particular care should be taken to avoid contact with the eye.
In patients with severe recurrent herpes labialis, other underlying disease should be excluded.
Do not use with occlusive dressings, such as plasters or specialised cold sore patches/plasters.
Zovirax duo is not recommended for use by immunocompromised patients due to the possibility of pseudo-opportunistic infections or drug resistant strains which require systemic antiviral therapy.
Cold sore sufferers should be advised to avoid transmitting the virus, particularly when active lesions are present (e.g. wash hands before and after application).
Long-term continuous use should be avoided. Do not use for longer than 5 days.
Treatment of patients with concomitant dermatitis of other origin has not been studied.
Contains cetostearyl alcohol which may cause local skin reactions (e.g. contact dermatitis), and propylene glycol which may cause skin irritation.
4.5
Interaction with other medicinal products and other forms of interaction
No interaction studies have been performed with Zovirax Duo.
4.6 Fertility, pregnancy and lactation
Pregnancy
The use of Zovirax Duo should be considered only when the potential benefits outweigh the possibility of unknown risks. However, the systemic exposure to aciclovir and hydrocortisone from topical application of the cream is very low.
A post-marketing aciclovir pregnancy registry has documented pregnancy outcomes in women exposed to any formulation of aciclovir. The registry findings have not shown an increase in the number of birth defects amongst subjects exposed to aciclovir compared with the general population.
Extensive clinical data available with hydrocortisone do not indicate an increased risk of teratogenicity with the clinical use of topical corticosteroids. Adverse findings with regards to developmental toxicity have been observed in animal studies at low exposures.
Breast-feeding
Aciclovir and hydrocortisone pass into milk after systemic administration. However, the dosage received by a nursing infant following maternal use of Zovirax Duo would be insignificant. Zovirax Duo should however not be used during lactation unless clearly necessary
Fertility
There are no data in humans to evaluate the effect of topical Zoviduo on fertility.
4.7 Effects on ability to drive and use machines
Zovirax Duo has no or negligible influence on the ability to drive and use machines.
4.8 Undesirable effects
Adverse events are listed below by system organ class and frequency. Frequencies are defined as: 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) and not known (cannot be estimated from the available data).
|
System Organ Class |
Adverse Reaction/Event |
Frequency |
|
Skin and subcutaneous tissue disorders |
Drying or flaking of the skin |
Common |
|
Transient burning, tingling or stinging (following application of the product) Itching |
Uncommon | |
|
Erythema Pigmentation changes Contact dermatitis following application has been observed when applied under occlusion in dermal safety studies. Where sensitivity tests have been conducted, the reactive substance was hydrocortisone or a component of the cream base. Application site reactions including signs and symptoms of inflammation. |
Rare | |
|
Immune system disorders |
Immediate hypersensitivity reactions including angioedema |
Very rare |
Based on post-marketing experience with single active aciclovir, immediate hypersensitivity reactions including angioedema have been identified as a very rare adverse reaction.
Paediatric population
The safety profile in adolescents (12-17 years) was similar to that in adults.
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.
4.9 Overdose
No untoward effects would be expected if the entire contents of a 2 g tube of Zovirax Duo cream were ingested orally, or applied topically due to minimal systemic exposure. In the event of a suspected overdose treatment should be symptomatic.
5 PHARMACOLOGICAL PROPERTIES
5.1 Pharmacodynamic properties
Pharmacotherapeutic group: Antivirals, ATC code: D06BB53.
Zovirax Duo is a combination of aciclovir 5% w/w and hydrocortisone 1% w/w.
Mechanism of action
Aciclovir is an antiviral agent which is highly active in vitro against herpes simplex virus (HSV) types 1 and 2. Aciclovir is phosphorylated after entry into herpes infected cells to the active compound aciclovir triphosphate. The first step in this process is dependent on the presence of the HSV-coded enzyme thymidine kinase. Aciclovir triphosphate acts as an inhibitor of, and substrate for the herpes-specified DNA polymerase, preventing further viral DNA synthesis without affecting normal cellular processes.
Hydrocortisone is a mild corticosteroid that exerts a range of immunomodulatory effects. When applied topically, its primary role is to control various inflammatory skin disorders.
Zovirax Duo, which combines the antiviral activity of aciclovir and the antiinflammatory action of hydrocortisone, reduces the progression of cold sore episodes into ulcerative lesions. The exact mechanism for this is not fully characterised but is thought to be mediated through clearance of the virus and mitigating the local inflammatory response in the lip leading to lessening of the signs and symptoms.
Clinical efficacy and safety
Adults
In a double-blind, randomised clinical study 1443 subjects with recurrent labial herpes were treated either with Zovirax Duo, aciclovir 5% in vehicle cream or vehicle cream alone. The primary endpoint was prevention of progression of cold sores episodes to ulcerative lesions. Among subjects treated with Zovirax Duo 58% developed ulcerative lesions compared with 65% in subjects treated with 5% aciclovir in Zovirax Duo vehicle (p=0.014) and 74% in subjects treated with vehicle cream alone (p<0.0001). In those subjects that developed ulcerative lesions, the mean episode duration was 5.7, 5.9 and 6.5 days, for Zovirax Duo cream, aciclovir 5% in vehicle cream or vehicle alone, respectively (p=0.008 for the comparison between Zovirax Duo with vehicle cream alone).
Paediatric population
An open label safety study in adolescents with recurrent herpes labialis was conducted in 254 subjects between 12-17 years. Therapy was applied using the same dosing regimen as in adults and subjects were followed for adverse events. The safety and efficacy profile was similar to that observed in adults.
Immunocompromised patients
Safety was studied in a randomised, double-blind clinical study in 107 adult subjects with mild to moderate immunosuppression treated with either Zovirax Duo cream or aciclovir 5% in vehicle cream. Safety and frequency of recurrences during a followup period of 1 year after treatment of a herpes simplex virus recurrence were similar between the two treatment groups.
5.2 Pharmacokinetic properties
No clinical pharmacokinetic studies have been performed with Zovirax Duo.
Absorption
Due to limited absorption, the systemic exposure of aciclovir is expected to be low following topical administration of aciclovir and hydrocortisone cream.
Glucocorticoids have the ability to penetrate stratum corneum of the epidermis and affect the deeper cell layers. Usually only a small proportion of the dose is absorbed, and it is thus not expected to affect the hormonal balance. The systemic effect of glucocorticoids can occur in the event of increased absorption, (e.g. when applied on large inflamed areas of skin, or on skin of which the stratum corneum of the epidermis is damaged). Occlusive bandages increase absorption.
5.3 Preclinical safety data
Non-clinical data reveal no special hazard for humans based on conventional studies of safety pharmacology, repeated dose toxicity, toxicity to reproduction, genotoxicity and carcinogenicity.
6. PHARMACEUTICAL PARTICULARS
6.1. List of excipients
Cetostearyl alcohol,
Liquid paraffin,
Poloxamer 188,
Propylene glycol,
Isopropyl myristate,
Sodium laurilsulfate,
White soft paraffin,
Citric acid monohydrate,
Sodium hydroxide (for pH adjustments)
Hydrochloric acid (for pH adjustments)
Purified water.
6.2 Incompatibilities
Not applicable.
6.3 Shelf life
2 years
Shelf life after first opening: 3 months
6.4 Special precautions for storage
Store below 25 °C. Do not refrigerate or freeze.
6.5 Nature and contents of container
2 g aluminium laminated HDPE tube with a HDPE cap or a 2 g aluminium tube with an internal epoxy phenolic lacquer and a HDPE screw-cap.
6.6. Special precautions for disposal and handling
Any unused medicinal product or waste material should be disposed of in accordance with local requirements.
7 MARKETING AUTHORISATION HOLDER
BEECHAM GROUP PLC 980 GREAT WEST ROAD BRENTFORD MIDDLESEX TW8 9GS
UNITED KINGDOM
8 MARKETING AUTHORISATION NUMBER(S)
PL 00079/0675
9 DATE OF FIRST AUTHORISATION/RENEWAL OF THE AUTHORISATION
14/10/2014
10 DATE OF REVISION OF THE TEXT
14/10/2014