Idefirix 11 mg powder for concentrate for solution for infusion

Patient Leaflet Updated 12-Mar-2024 | Hansa Biopharma AB

Idefirix

Package leaflet: Information for the user

Idefirix 11 mg powder for concentrate for solution for infusion

imlifidase

▼This medicine is subject to additional monitoring. This will allow quick identification of new safety information. You can help by reporting any side effects you may get. See the end of section 4 for how to report side effects.

Read all of this leaflet carefully before you start using this medicine because it contains important information for you.
  • Keep this leaflet. You may need to read it again.
  • If you have any further questions, ask your doctor.
  • If you get any side effects, talk to your doctor. This includes any possible side effects not listed in this leaflet. See section 4.

What is in this leaflet

1. What Idefirix is and what it is used for
2. What you need to know before you are given Idefirix
3. How to use Idefirix
4. Possible side effects
5. How to store Idefirix
6. Contents of the pack and other information

1. What Idefirix is and what it is used for

Idefirix contains the active substance imlifidase, which belongs to a group of medicines called immunosuppressants. It is given before your kidney transplantation to prevent the immune system (your body's defences) from rejecting the donated kidney.

Idefirix works by breaking down a type of antibody in the body called immunoglobulin G (IgG), which is involved in destroying 'foreign' or harmful substances.

Imlifidase is a protein from a bacterium called Streptococcus pyogenes.

2. What you need to know before you are given Idefirix
You must not be given Idefirix
  • If you are allergic to imlifidase or any of the other ingredients of this medicine (listed in section 6).
  • If you have a severe infection.
  • If you have a blood disorder called thrombotic thrombocytopenic purpura (TTP), that results in blood clots forming in small blood vessels throughout the body.

Warnings and precautions

Infusion reactions

Idefirix contains a protein and it can cause allergic reactions in some people. You will receive medicines to reduce the risk of an allergic reaction. If you get any symptoms of an allergic reaction, such as severe rash, shortness of breath, feeling hot, flushing, during the infusion (‘drip’), the infusion may need to be slowed down or stopped. When these symptoms go away, or improve, the infusion can be continued.

Infections

IgG is important for protecting you against infections and since Idefirix breaks down IgG, you will receive antibiotics to reduce the risk of infections.

Antibody-mediated rejection (AMR)

Your body will produce new IgG antibodies, which may attack the transplanted kidney. Your doctor will monitor you closely and you will receive medicines to reduce the risk of rejection.

Children and adolescents

Do not give this medicine to children and adolescents under 18 years of age because it has not been studied in this age group.

Other medicines and Idefirix

Tell your doctor if you are using, have recently used or might use any other medicines. Idefirix can affect the way some medicines work, and the dose of these may have to be adjusted.

As Idefirix breaks down IgG, IgG-based medicines may not work if given at the same time as Idefirix. This includes the following medicines:

  • basiliximab (used to prevent rejection of kidney transplants)
  • rituximab (used to treat cancers such as non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma and chronic lymphocytic leukaemia and inflammatory diseases such as rheumatoid arthritis)
  • alemtuzumab (used to treat a form of multiple sclerosis)
  • adalimumab (used to treat inflammatory diseases such as rheumatoid arthritis, ankylosing spondylitis, psoriasis, Crohn’s disease and ulcerative colitis)
  • denosumab (used to treat osteoporosis)
  • belatacept (used to prevent rejection of kidney transplants)
  • etanercept (used to treat inflammatory diseases such as rheumatoid arthritis, psoriatic arthritis, ankylosing spondylitis and psoriasis)
  • rabbit anti-thymocyte globulin (rATG) (used to prevent rejection of kidney transplants)
  • intravenous immunoglobulin (IVIg) (used to increase abnormally low immunoglobulin levels in the blood or to treat inflammatory diseases such as Guillain-Barré syndrome, Kawasaki disease and chronic inflammatory demyelinating polyneuropathy).

Pregnancy and breast-feeding

Idefirix is not recommended during pregnancy.

Talk to your doctor if you think you may be pregnant.

It is not known whether Idefirix passes into breast milk. You should not breast-feed if you are being treated with Idefirix.

Idefirix contains sodium

This medicine contains less than 1 mmol sodium (23 mg) per dose, that is to say essentially ′sodium-free′.

3. How to use Idefirix

Idefirix will be prescribed by a doctor with experience in kidney transplantation and it is for use in a hospital. The medicine will be given by infusion into your vein over about 15 minutes.

A healthcare professional will calculate the right dose for you based on your weight. Idefirix is usually given as a single dose, but your doctor may decide to give a second dose before the transplantation.

Information for healthcare professionals on dose calculation, preparation and infusion of Idefirix is given at the end of this leaflet.

If you receive more Idefirix than you should

During and after the infusion you will be closely monitored. Healthcare professionals will check for any side effects.

4. Possible side effects

Like all medicines, this medicine can cause side effects, although not everybody gets them.

Tell your doctor immediately if you notice any of the following:
  • Signs of infection, such as fever, chills, cough, feeling weak or generally unwell (very common - may affect more than 1 in 10 people).
  • Signs of an infusion reaction, such as severe rash, shortness of breath, feeling hot, flushing (common - may affect up to 1 in 10 people).
  • Muscle pain or fatigue (symptoms of myalgia) (common - may affect up to 1 in 10 people).

Other side effects include:

Common (may affect up to 1 in 10 people):

  • Infections: lung infection (pneumonia), infections of the blood (sepsis), abdominal infection, upper respiratory tract infection, adenovirus infection, parvovirus infection, urinary tract infection, influenza, wound infection, post-operative wound infection, catheter site infection
  • Transplant rejection (IgG antibodies will try to reject your donor kidney and you can feel general discomfort)
  • High or low blood pressure (symptoms of low blood pressure can be dizziness and symptoms of high blood pressure can be headache)
  • Low number of red blood cells (anaemia)
  • Dizziness at change of body position, e.g. when standing up
  • Headache
  • Burst blood vessel in the eye
  • Decreased vision
  • Increased heart rate
  • Infusion site pain
  • Increased liver enzymes (seen in blood tests)

Reporting of side effects

If you get any side effects, talk to your doctor. This includes any possible side effects not listed in this leaflet. You can also report side effects directly via the Yellow Card Scheme. Website: www.mhra.gov.uk/yellowcard or search for MHRA Yellow Card in the Google Play or Apple App Store. By reporting side effects, you can help provide more information on the safety of this medicine.

5. How to store Idefirix

Keep this medicine out of the sight and reach of children. Idefirix is stored in the hospital pharmacy.

Do not use this medicine after the expiry date which is stated on the vial label and carton after EXP. The expiry date refers to the last day of that month.

Store in a refrigerator (2-8°C). Do not freeze. Store in the original package in order to protect from light.

Chemical and physical in-use stability after reconstitution and dilution has been demonstrated for 24 hours at 2-8°C and for 4 hours at 25°C during this period.

Do not use this medicine if you notice particulate matter or discolouration after reconstitution.

Do not throw away any medicines via wastewater. Ask your pharmacist how to throw away medicines you no longer use. These measures will help protect the environment.

6. Contents of the pack and other information
What Idefirix contains
  • The active substance is imlifidase. Each vial contains 11 mg imlifidase. After reconstitution, each mL of concentrate contains 10 mg imlifidase.
  • The other ingredients are mannitol, polysorbate 80, trometamol, disodium edetate dihydrate and hydrochloric acid (for pH adjustment). See section 2 “Idefirix contains sodium”.

What Idefirix looks like and contents of the pack
  • Idefirix is supplied as a glass vial containing a powder for concentrate for solution for infusion (powder for concentrate). The powder is a white freeze-dried cake.
  • Packs contain 1 or 2 vials.

Marketing Authorisation Holder
Hansa Biopharma AB
P.O. Box 785
220 07 Lund
Sweden

Manufacturer
Biotechnologines farmacijos centras Biotechpharma UAB
Mokslininku street 4
LT-08412 Vilnius
Lithuania

Propharma Group The Netherlands B.V.
Schipholweg 59
2316 ZL
Leiden
Netherlands

This leaflet was last revised in February 2024.

This medicine has been given ‘conditional approval’. This means that there is more evidence to come about this medicine.

New information on this medicinal product will be reviewed at least every year and this leaflet will be updated as necessary.

Other sources of information

Detailed information on this medicine is available on the European Medicines Agency web site: http://www.ema.europa.eu.

Company Contact Details
Hansa Biopharma AB
Address

Scheelevägen 22, Lund, Sweden

Medical Information Direct Line

0808 2349968

Customer Care direct line

+46 (0) 46 16 56 70

Telephone

+46 (0) 46 16 56 70

Medical Information e-mail
WWW

www.hansabiopharma.com/