GOCOVRI (AMANTADINE) capsule, coated pellets

The initial daily dosage of GOCOVRI is 137 mg, administered orally once daily at bedtime. After one week, increase to the recommended dosage of 274 mg (two 137 mg capsules) once daily at bedtime. GOCOVRI is not substitutable with other amantadine immediate- or extended-release products.

GOCOVRI should be swallowed whole. Do not crush, chew or divide capsules. If needed, GOCOVRI may be administered by carefully opening and sprinkling the entire contents on a small amount (teaspoonful) of soft food, such as applesauce. The drug/food mixture should be swallowed immediately without chewing. Do not store mixture for future use.

GOCOVRI can be taken with or without food [see Clinical Pharmacology ( 12.3)].

Concomitant use of GOCOVRI with alcohol is not recommended [see Drug Interactions ( 7.4)].

It is recommended to avoid sudden discontinuation of GOCOVRI [see Dosage and Administration ( 2.4)].

The initial and maximum recommended daily dosage of GOCOVRI for patients with renal impairment (creatinine clearance estimated by Modification of Diet in Renal Disease (MDRD) method) is provided below.

Rapid dose reduction or withdrawal of GOCOVRI may cause adverse reactions [see Warnings and Precautions ( 5.5)]. Therefore, to discontinue GOCOVRI in patients who have been on the drug for more than 4 weeks, GOCOVRI dosage should, if possible, be reduced by half for the final week of dosing.

If a dose of GOCOVRI is missed, the next dose should be taken as scheduled.

Patients treated for Parkinson's disease have reported falling asleep while engaged in activities of daily living, including the operation of motor vehicles, which sometimes has resulted in accidents. Patients may not perceive warning signs, such as excessive drowsiness, or they may report feeling alert immediately prior to the event. In controlled clinical trials, somnolence and fatigue were reported as adverse reactions in 4% of patients treated with GOCOVRI 274 mg and 1% for placebo.

Before initiating treatment with GOCOVRI, advise patients of the potential to develop drowsiness and specifically ask about factors that may increase the risk for somnolence with GOCOVRI, such as concomitant sedating medications or the presence of a sleep disorder. If a patient develops daytime sleepiness or episodes of falling asleep during activities that require full attention (e.g., driving a motor vehicle, conversations, eating), GOCOVRI should ordinarily be discontinued.

If a decision is made to continue GOCOVRI, patients should be advised not to drive and to avoid other potentially dangerous activities. There is insufficient information to establish that dose reduction will eliminate episodes of falling asleep while engaged in activities of daily living or daytime somnolence.

In controlled clinical trials, suicidal ideation or suicide attempt was reported in 2% of GOCOVRI-treated patients and 0% of placebo-treated patients. Depression or depressed mood was reported in 6% of GOCOVRI-treated patients and 1% of placebo-treated patients. Confusional state was reported in 3% of GOCOVRI-treated patients and 2% of placebo-treated patients. Apathy was reported in 2% of GOCOVRI-treated patients and 0% of placebo-treated patients.

Monitor patients for depression, including suicidal ideation or behavior. Prescribers should consider whether the benefits outweigh the risks of treatment with GOCOVRI in patients with a history of suicidality or depression.

Patients with a major psychotic disorder should ordinarily not be treated with GOCOVRI because of the risk of exacerbating psychosis. In controlled trials, the incidence of patients who experienced visual hallucinations, auditory hallucinations, delusions, illusions, or paranoia was 25% in patients treated with GOCOVRI 274 mg, and 3% in placebo-treated patients. Hallucinations caused discontinuation of treatment in 8% of GOCOVRI-treated patients, and in 0% of placebo-treated patients.

Observe patients for the occurrence of hallucinations throughout treatment, especially at initiation, and after dose increases.

In controlled clinical trials, 29% of GOCOVRI-treated patients and 2% of placebo-treated patients experienced dizziness, syncope, orthostatic hypotension, presyncope, postural dizziness or hypotension. In GOCOVRI-treated patients, 3% discontinued study treatment because of dizziness, postural dizziness, or syncope, compared to 0% of placebo-treated patients.

Monitor patients for dizziness and orthostatic hypotension, especially after starting GOCOVRI or increasing the dose. Concomitant use of alcohol when using GOCOVRI is not recommended [see Drug Interactions ( 7.4)].

A symptom complex resembling neuroleptic malignant syndrome (characterized by elevated temperature, muscular rigidity, altered consciousness, and autonomic instability), with no other obvious etiology, has been reported in association with rapid dose reduction, withdrawal of, or changes in drugs that increase central dopaminergic tone.

Abrupt discontinuation of GOCOVRI may cause an increase in the symptoms of Parkinson's disease or cause delirium, agitation, delusions, hallucinations, paranoid reaction, stupor, anxiety, depression, or slurred speech. It is recommended to avoid sudden discontinuation of GOCOVRI [see Dosing Information ( 2.4)].

Corneal edema has been reported in patients taking amantadine. Symptoms include sudden onset of blurry vision, or progressive vision loss, with or without eye pain. Corneal involvement is usually bilateral. Onset can occur from a few weeks to several years after starting amantadine. Resolution of symptoms typically begins within weeks of amantadine cessation. However, corneal grafts have been required in some patients when the condition is not recognized. Permanent damage can occur if amantadine is continued. Ask patients if their vision has changed and obtain ophthalmologic examinations to rule out corneal edema should vision changes occur after initiation of therapy with GOCOVRI. If corneal edema occurs, taper and discontinue GOCOVRI [see Dosage and Administration (2.4)] .

Patients can experience intense urges to gamble, increased sexual urges, intense urges to spend money, binge eating, and/or other intense urges, and the inability to control these urges while taking one or more of the medications, including GOCOVRI, that increase central dopaminergic tone. In some cases, these urges were reported to have stopped when the dose was reduced or the medication was discontinued. Because patients may not recognize these behaviors as abnormal, it is important for prescribers to specifically ask patients or their caregivers about the development of new or increased gambling urges, sexual urges, uncontrolled spending, or other urges while being treated with GOCOVRI. Consider dose reduction or stopping the medication if a patient develops such urges while taking GOCOVRI.

Because clinical trials are conducted under widely varying conditions, adverse reaction rates observed in the clinical trials of a drug cannot be directly compared to rates in the clinical trials of another drug and may not reflect the rates observed in practice.

Placebo-Controlled Trials

GOCOVRI was evaluated in two double-blind, placebo-controlled efficacy trials of similar design and population: Study 1 (123 patients) and Study 2 (75 patients) [see Clinical Studies ( 14)] . The study population was approximately 56% male and 94% white, with a mean age of 65 years (age range from 34 years to 82 years). The mean duration of levodopa-induced dyskinesia was 4 years (range 0.1 to 14 years). Active treatment started at 137 mg once daily for one week, followed by a dose increase to 274 mg once daily. The treatment duration was 25 weeks for Study 1 and 13 weeks for Study 2. Of the 100 patients in the safety population described below, 39 patients were treated with GOCOVRI for 24 weeks. The safety data for these trials were pooled.

The most common adverse reactions reported in >10% of GOCOVRI-treated patients and more frequently than on placebo were: hallucinations, dizziness, dry mouth, peripheral edema, constipation, falls, and orthostatic hypotension.

The overall rate of discontinuation because of adverse reactions for GOCOVRI-treated patients was 20%, compared to 8% for placebo-treated patients. Adverse reactions that led to treatment discontinuation in at least 2% of patients were hallucinations (8% GOCOVRI vs. 0% placebo), dry mouth (3% GOCOVRI vs. 0% placebo), peripheral edema (3% GOCOVRI vs. 0% placebo), blurred vision (GOCOVRI 3% vs. 0% placebo), postural dizziness and syncope (GOCOVRI 2% vs. 0% placebo), abnormal dreams (GOCOVRI 2% vs. 1% placebo), dysphagia (GOCOVRI 2% vs. 0% placebo), and gait disturbance (GOCOVRI 2% vs. 0% placebo).

Other clinically relevant adverse reactions observed at <3% included somnolence, fatigue, suicide ideation or attempt, apathy, delusions, illusions, and paranoia [see Warnings and Precautions ( 5.1, 5.2, 5.3)].

Difference in the Frequency of Adverse Reactions by Gender

Adverse reactions reported more frequently in women treated with 274 mg of GOCOVRI (n=46), compared to men (n=54), were: dry mouth (22% women, 11% men), nausea (13% women, 4% men), livedo reticularis (13% women, 0% men), abnormal dreams (9% women, 0% men) and cataracts (7% women, 0% men).

Men treated with 274 mg of GOCOVRI reported the following adverse reactions more frequently than women: dizziness (20% men, 11% women), peripheral edema (19% men, 11% women), anxiety (11% men, 2% women), orthostatic hypotension (7% men, 2% women) and gait disturbance (6% men, 0% women).

Difference in the Frequency of Adverse Reactions by Age

Hallucinations (visual or auditory) were reported in 31% of GOCOVRI-treated patients age 65 years and over (n=52), compared to 10% in patients below the age of 65 years (n=48). Falls were reported in 17% of GOCOVRI-treated patients age 65 and over, compared to 8% of patients below age 65. Orthostatic hypotension was reported in 8% of patients age 65 and over, compared to 2% of patients below age 65.

The following adverse reactions have been identified during postapproval use of GOCOVRI. Because these reactions are reported voluntarily from a population of uncertain size, it is not always possible to reliably estimate their frequency or establish a causal relationship to drug exposure.

Nervous System Disorders: Seizure

Vision: Corneal edema

Products with anticholinergic properties may potentiate the anticholinergic-like side effects of amantadine. The dose of anticholinergic drugs or of GOCOVRI should be reduced if atropine-like effects appear when these drugs are used concurrently.

The pH of the urine has been reported to influence the excretion rate of amantadine. Urine pH is altered by diet, drugs (e.g., carbonic anhydrase inhibitors, sodium bicarbonate), and clinical state of the patient (e.g., renal tubular acidosis or severe infections of the urinary tract).

Since the excretion rate of amantadine increases rapidly when the urine is acidic, the administration of urine acidifying drugs may increase the elimination of the drug from the body. Alterations of urine pH towards the alkaline condition may lead to an accumulation of the drug with a possible increase in adverse reactions. Monitor for efficacy or adverse reactions under conditions that alter the urine pH to more acidic or alkaline, respectively.

Because of its antiviral properties, amantadine may interfere with the efficacy of live attenuated influenza vaccines. Therefore, live vaccines are not recommended during treatment with GOCOVRI. Inactivated influenza vaccines may be used, as appropriate.

Concomitant use with alcohol is not recommended, as it may increase the potential for CNS effects such as dizziness, confusion, lightheadedness, and orthostatic hypotension [see Warnings and Precautions ( 5.4)] , and may result in dose-dumping [see Clinical Pharmacology ( 12.3)] .

Risk Summary

There are no adequate data on the developmental risk associated with use of amantadine in pregnant women. Animal studies suggest a potential risk for fetal harm with amantadine. In mice and rats, adverse developmental effects (embryolethality, increased incidence of malformations, and reduced fetal body weight) were observed when amantadine was administered to pregnant animals at clinically relevant doses [ see Data].

In the U.S. general population, the estimated background risk of major birth defects and miscarriage in clinically recognized pregnancies is 2-4% and 15-20%, respectively. The background risk for major birth defects and miscarriage in patients with Parkinson's disease is unknown.

Data

Animal Data

The effects of amantadine on development have not been tested in studies conducted in animals using currently recommended methodology; however, developmental toxicity studies of amantadine have been reported in the published literature.

In mice, oral administration of amantadine (0, 10, or 40 mg/kg/day) to pregnant animals during organogenesis (gestation days 7-12) resulted in embryolethality and reduced fetal body weight at the highest dose tested, which was associated with maternal toxicity. The no-effect dose for developmental toxicity in mice (10 mg/kg/day) is less than the recommended human dose (RHD) of 274 mg/day, based on body surface area (mg/m ²).

In rats, oral administration of amantadine (0, 40 or 120 mg/kg/day) to pregnant animals during organogenesis (gestation days 7-12) resulted in embryolethality and reduced fetal body weight at the highest dose. The no-effect dose for developmental toxicity in this study (40 mg/kg/day) is approximately equal to the RHD on a mg/m ²basis.

In another study in pregnant rats, oral administration of amantadine during organogenesis (gestation days 7-14) resulted in an increase in visceral and skeletal malformations at oral doses of 50 and 100 mg/kg/day. The no-effect dose for teratogenicity in this study (37 mg/kg/day) is approximately equal to the RHD on a mg/m ²basis.

Evaluation of parturition, lactation, and post-natal development in a limited number of litters from the mouse and rat studies described above revealed reductions in live litter size and pup weights at birth at 40 mg/kg/day in mice and 120 mg/kg/day in rats.

Risk Summary

Amantadine is excreted into human milk, but amounts have not been quantified. There is no information on the risk to a breastfed infant.

Amantadine may alter breast milk production or excretion [see Data].

The developmental and health benefits of breastfeeding should be considered along with the mother's clinical need for GOCOVRI and any potential adverse effects on the breastfed infant from GOCOVRI or from the underlying maternal condition.

Data

In published studies, amantadine reduced serum prolactin levels and the symptoms of galactorrhea in patients taking neuroleptic drugs. The effect of amantadine on milk supply has not been evaluated in nursing mothers.

The safety and effectiveness of GOCOVRI in pediatric patients have not been established.

The majority of people with Parkinson's disease are 65 years and older. In Phase 3 clinical trials, the mean age of patients at study entry was 65 years. Of the total number of patients in clinical studies of GOCOVRI, 46% were less than 65 years of age, 39% were 65-74 years of age, and 15% were 75 years of age or older.

Hallucinations and falls occurred more frequently in patients 65 years of age or older, compared to those less than 65 years of age [see Adverse Reactions ( 6.1)].

No dose adjustment is recommended on the basis of age. GOCOVRI is known to be substantially excreted by the kidney, and the risk of adverse reactions may be greater in patients with impaired renal function. Because elderly patients are more likely to have decreased renal function, care should be taken in dose selection, and it may be useful to monitor renal function [see Dosage and Administration ( 2.3)].

GOCOVRI is contraindicated for use in patients with end-stage renal disease (creatinine clearance values lower than 15 mL/min/1.73 m ²).

For patients with moderate renal impairment (creatinine clearance between 30 and 59 mL/min/1.73 m ²), a 50% dose reduction of GOCOVRI dosage to a starting daily dose of 68.5 mg daily at bedtime for a week, to a maximum dosage of 137 mg daily at bedtime is recommended.

For patients with severe renal impairment (creatinine clearance between 15 and 29 mL/min/1.73 m ²), a daily dose of 68.5 mg at bedtime is the recommended initial and maximum dosage [see Dosage and Administration ( 2.3)] .

Creatinine clearance values are estimated by the Modification of Diet in Renal Disease (MDRD) method.

The mechanism by which amantadine exerts efficacy in the treatment of dyskinesia in patients with Parkinson's disease or as adjunctive treatment to levodopa/carbidopa in patients with Parkinson's disease experiencing "off" episodes is unknown. Amantadine is a weak uncompetitive antagonist of the NMDA receptor. Amantadine has not been shown to possess direct anticholinergic activity in animal studies; however, it exhibits anticholinergic-like side effects such as dry mouth, urinary retention, and constipation in humans. Amantadine may have direct and indirect effects on dopamine neurons; it exerts dopaminergic-like side effects such as hallucinations and dizziness in humans.

The effect of amantadine on QT prolongation was not studied in a dedicated thorough QT study.

Alcohol consumption may increase the potential for CNS effects such as dizziness, confusion, lightheadedness, and orthostatic hypotension [see Drug Interactions ( 7.4)] .

GOCOVRI is an extended-release formulation. The pharmacokinetics of amantadine from 68.5 mg, 137 mg, and 274 mg of GOCOVRI are dose proportional in healthy subjects.

Absorption

After a single dose bedtime administration of GOCOVRI, the median T _maxfor plasma amantadine was around 12 hours (range 6-20 hours). The steady-state concentrations of GOCOVRI were achieved 4 days after the dose initiation. The steady-state total exposures (AUC _0-tau) were 20-30% higher than after single dose, suggesting an accumulation ratio of 1.2-1.3.

Effect of Food

A single dose crossover study of GOCOVRI established the lack of effect of high-fat, high-calorie meal on plasma amantadine pharmacokinetics; additionally, administration of entire capsule contents sprinkled on applesauce also did not affect plasma amantadine pharmacokinetics.

Distribution

The volume of distribution determined after the intravenous administration of amantadine to 15 healthy subjects was 3 to 8 L/kg, suggesting potential extravascular distribution. Amantadine is approximately 67% bound to plasma proteins over a concentration range of 0.1 to 2.0 µg/mL.

Elimination

In a study with healthy volunteers after oral administration, the apparent plasma clearance of amantadine was estimated to be 0.27 ± 0.094 L/hr/kg (range 0.13 to 0.57 L/hr/kg). Amantadine is primarily excreted unchanged in the urine, and in a study of six healthy volunteers, the ratio of amantadine renal clearance to apparent plasma clearance was 0.79 ± 0.17 (mean ± SD). The mean plasma amantadine half-life at steady-state was approximately 16 hours.

Metabolism

Eight metabolites of amantadine have been identified in human urine. One metabolite, an N-acetylated compound, was quantified in human urine and accounted for 0-15% of the administered dose in multiple studies. The contribution of this metabolite to efficacy or toxicity is not known.

Excretion

Amantadine is primarily excreted unchanged in the urine by both glomerular filtration and tubular secretion.

Specific Population

Male/Female Patients

In an integrated analysis of five studies in healthy volunteers (n=147), the mean total amantadine clearance following administration of GOCOVRI, adjusted for body weight in kilograms, was 1.2 fold higher in males compared to females (95% CI: 1.1, 1.3, P=0.007). No dose adjustment by gender is warranted.

Renal Impairment

The renal clearance of amantadine is significantly lower in adult patients with moderate or severe renal impairment, compared to healthy adults. Since the renal pathway is a major elimination pathway, impairment in renal function can result in significant accumulation in the plasma, warranting dose adjustment. The impact of renal impairment on dose adjustment was not investigated in a dedicated study.

Based on PK simulations, the range of the total exposures (AUC _0-tau) in subjects with normal renal function (creatinine clearance >90 mL/min/1.73 m ²) or mild renal impairment (creatinine clearance between 60 and 89 mL/min/1.73 m ²) were comparable for the same dosing regimen. However, patients with moderate renal impairment (creatinine clearance between 30 and 59 mL/min/1.73 m ²) had higher exposures relative to patients with normal renal function or mild renal impairment. Severe renal impairment (creatinine clearance between 15 and 29 mL/min/1.73 m ²) resulted in even higher total exposures. Dosage adjustment is recommended in patients with moderate and severe renal impairment [see Use in Special Populations ( 8.6) and Dosage and Administration ( 2.3)]. GOCOVRI is contraindicated in patients with end stage renal disease (creatinine clearance less than 15 mL/min/1.73 m ²).

Amantadine is inefficiently removed by hemodialysis.

Drug Interaction Studies

The in-vitro dissolution-release profiles showed 52% drug release after 45 minutes, and up to 95% after 2 hours, at concentrations of 40% alcohol/0.1N HCl.

In vitro studies indicate that amantadine has negligible or no inhibitory activity against cellular transporters (P-gp, BCRP, MATE2-K, OAT1, OAT3, OATP1B1, and OATP1B3) at plasma concentrations observed in patients with Parkinson's disease on a GOCOVRI 274 mg dose.

In vitro studies in MDCK-II cells demonstrated that amantadine is not a substrate of the anionic transporters OAT1 or OAT3, or the cationic transporter MATE2-K. Amantadine was a poor substrate of the cationic transporters OCT2 and MATE1. Renal elimination of amantadine may be mediated in part by one or more organic cation transporters independent of OCT2. An in vivo study demonstrated that quinidine, a known organic cation transporter inhibitor, reduced amantadine clearance by approximately 33% in humans. The clinical significance is unknown. In vitro studies show that amantadine does not significantly inhibit the enzyme activity of drug metabolizing cytochrome P450 isoforms (CYP1A2, 2B6, 2C19, 2C8, 2C9, 2D6, 2E1, 3A4, and 3A5).

Carcinogenesis

Animal studies designed to evaluate the carcinogenic potential of amantadine have not been conducted.

Mutagenesis

Amantadine was negative for genotoxicity in in vitro (Ames and mammalian cell [Chinese Hamster ovary and human peripheral blood lymphocytes]) assays in the presence or absence of metabolic activation and in an in vivo mouse bone marrow micronucleus assay.

Impairment of Fertility

The effects of amantadine on fertility have not been adequately tested in a study in animals conducted according to current standards. In a reproduction study reported in the literature, oral administration of amantadine to male and female rats at a dose of 32 mg/kg/day resulted in impaired fertility. The no-effect dose for adverse effects on fertility (10 mg/kg/day) is less than the recommended human dose of 274 mg/day on a mg/m ²basis.

GOCOVRI is supplied as extended release capsules in the following configurations:

The 68.5 mg capsule is a white opaque size #2 capsule, with black printing of 'ADAMAS' on front and '85' on back of the cap and three black bands printed on body of capsule.

• 60 count bottles      NDC# 70482-085-60

The 137 mg capsule is a light blue opaque size #0 capsule, with black printing of 'ADAMAS' on front and '170' on back of the cap and three black bands printed on body of capsule.

• 60 count bottles      NDC# 70482-170-60

Store at 20°C to 25°C (68°F to 77°F); excursions permitted to 15°C to 30°C (59°F to 86°F) [see USP Controlled Room Temperature].