Tigecycline

Tigecycline is indicated in adults and in children from the age of eight years for the treatment of the following infections (see sections 4.4 and 5.1):

Complicated skin and soft tissue infections (cSSTI), excluding diabetic foot infections (see section 4.4);

Complicated intra-abdominal infections (cIAI).

Tigecycline should be used only in situations where other alternative antibiotics are not suitable (see sections 4.4, 4.8 and 5.1).

Consideration should be given to official guidance on the appropriate use of antibacterial agents.

Posology

Adults

The recommended dose for adults is an initial dose of 100 mg followed by 50 mg every 12 hours for 5 to 14 days.

The duration of therapy should be guided by the severity, site of the infection, and the patient's clinical response.

Children and adolescents (8 to 17 years of age)

Tigecycline is only to be used to treat patients aged 8 years and older after consultation with a physician with appropriate experience in the management of infectious diseases.

Children aged 8 to <12 years: 1.2 mg/kg of tigecycline every 12 hours intravenously to a maximum dose of 50 mg every 12 hours for 5 to 14 days.

Adolescents aged 12 to <18 years: 50 mg of tigecycline every 12 hours for 5 to 14 days.

Elderly

No dosage adjustment is necessary in elderly patients (see section 5.2).

Hepatic impairment

No dosage adjustment is warranted in patients with mild to moderate hepatic impairment (Child Pugh A and Child Pugh B).

In patients (including paediatrics) with severe hepatic impairment (Child Pugh C), the dose of tigecycline should be reduced by 50%. Adult dose should be reduced to 25 mg every 12 hours following the 100 mg loading dose. Patients with severe hepatic impairment (Child Pugh C) should be treated with caution and monitored for treatment response (see sections 4.4 and 5.2).

Renal impairment

No dosage adjustment is necessary in patients with renal impairment or in patients undergoing haemodialysis (see section 5.2).

Paediatric population

The safety and efficacy of Tigecycline in children under 8 years of age have not been established. No data are available. Tigecycline should not be used in children aged under 8 years because of teeth discolouration (see sections 4.4 and 5.1).

Method of administration

Tigecycline is administered only by intravenous infusion over 30 to 60 minutes (see sections 4.4 and 6.6). Tigecycline should be preferably administered over a 60-minute length of infusion in paediatric patients (see section 4.4).

For instructions on reconstitution & dilution of the medicinal product before administration, see section 6.6.

Hypersensitivity to the active substance or to any of the excipients listed in section 6.1.

Patients hypersensitive to tetracycline class antibiotics may be hypersensitive to tigecycline.

In clinical studies in complicated skin and soft tissue infections (cSSTI), complicated intra- abdominal infections (cIAI), diabetic foot infections, nosocomial pneumonia and studies in resistant pathogens, a numerically higher mortality rate among tigecycline treated patients has been observed as compared to the comparator treatment. The causes of these findings remain unknown, but poorer efficacy and safety than the study comparators cannot be ruled out.

Superinfection

In clinical trials in cIAI patients, impaired healing of the surgical wound has been associated with superinfection. A patient developing impaired healing should be monitored for the detection of superinfection (see section 4.8).

Patients who develop superinfections, in particular nosocomial pneumonia, appear to be associated with poorer outcomes. Patients should be closely monitored for the development of superinfection. If a focus of infection other than cSSTI or cIAI is identified after initiation of tigecycline therapy consideration should be given to instituting alternative antibacterial therapy that has been demonstrated to be efficacious in the treatment of the specific type of infection(s) present.

Anaphylaxis

Anaphylaxis/anaphylactoid reactions, potentially life-threatening, have been reported with tigecycline (see sections 4.3 and 4.8).

Hepatic failure

Cases of liver injury with a predominantly cholestatic pattern have been reported in patients receiving tigecycline treatment, including some cases of hepatic failure with a fatal outcome. Although hepatic failure may occur in patients treated with tigecycline due to the underlying conditions or concomitant medicinal products, a possible contribution of tigecycline should be considered (see section 4.8).

Tetracycline class antibiotics

Glycylcycline class antibiotics are structurally similar to tetracycline class antibiotics. Tigecycline may have adverse reactions similar to tetracycline class antibiotics. Such reactions may include photosensitivity, pseudotumor cerebri, pancreatitis, and anti-anabolic action which has led to increased BUN, azotaemia, acidosis, and hyperphosphataemia (see section 4.8).

Coagulopathy

Tigecycline may prolong both prothrombin time (PT) and activated partial thromboplastin time (aPTT). Additionally, hypofibrinogenaemia has been reported with the use of tigecycline.

Therefore, blood coagulation parameters such as PT or other suitable anticoagulation test, including blood fibrinogen, should be monitored prior to treatment initiation with tigecycline and regularly while on treatment. Special care is recommended in seriously ill patients and in patients also using anticoagulants (see section 4.5).

Pancreatitis

Acute pancreatitis, which can be serious, has occurred (frequency: uncommon) in association with tigecycline treatment (see section 4.8). The diagnosis of acute pancreatitis should be considered in patients taking tigecycline who develop clinical symptoms, signs, or laboratory abnormalities suggestive of acute pancreatitis. Most of the reported cases developed after at least one week of treatment. Cases have been reported in patients without known risk factors for pancreatitis. Patients usually improve after tigecycline discontinuation. Consideration should be given to the cessation of the treatment with tigecycline in cases suspected of having developed pancreatitis.

Underlying diseases

Experience in the use of tigecycline for treatment of infections in patients with severe underlying diseases is limited.

In clinical trials in cSSTI, the most common type of infection in tigecycline treated-patients was cellulitis (58.6 %), followed by major abscesses (24.9 %). Patients with severe underlying disease, such as those that were immunocompromised, patients with decubitus ulcer infections, or patients that had infections requiring longer than 14 days of treatment (for example, necrotizing fasciitis), were not enrolled. A limited number of patients were enrolled with co- morbid factors such as diabetes (25.8 %), peripheral vascular disease (10.4 %), intravenous substance abuse (4.0 %), and HIV- positive infection (1.2 %). Limited experience is also available in treating patients with concurrent bacteraemia (3.4 %). Therefore, caution is advised when treating such patients. The results in a large study in patients with diabetic foot infection, showed that tigecycline was less effective than comparator, therefore, tigecycline is not recommended for use in these patients (see section 4.1).

In clinical trials in cIAI, the most common type of infection in tigecycline-treated patients was complicated appendicitis (50.3 %), followed by other diagnoses less commonly reported such as complicated cholecystitis (9.6 %), perforation of intestine (9.6 %), intra-abdominal abscess (8.7 %), gastric or duodenal ulcer perforation (8.3 %), peritonitis (6.2 %) and complicated diverticulitis (6.0 %). Of these patients, 77.8 % had surgically-apparent peritonitis. There were a limited number of patients with severe underlying disease such as immunocompromised patients, patients with APACHE II scores > 15 (3.3 %), or with surgically apparent multiple intra-abdominal abscesses (11.4 %). Limited experience is also available in treating patients with concurrent bacteraemia (5.6 %). Therefore, caution is advised when treating such patients.

Consideration should be given to the use of combination antibacterial therapy whenever tigecycline is to be administered to severely ill patients with cIAI secondary to clinically apparent intestinal perforation or patients with incipient sepsis or septic shock (see section 4.8).

The effect of cholestasis in the pharmacokinetics of tigecycline has not been properly established. Biliary excretion accounts for approximately 50 % of the total tigecycline excretion. Therefore, patients presenting with cholestasis should be closely monitored.

Prothrombin time or other suitable anticoagulation test should be used to monitor patients if tigecycline is administered with anticoagulants (see section 4.5).

Pseudomembranous colitis has been reported with nearly all antibacterial agents and may range in severity from mild to life threatening. Therefore, it is important to consider this diagnosis in patients who present with diarrhoea during or subsequent to the administration of any antibacterial agent (see section 4.8).

The use of tigecycline may result in overgrowth of non-susceptible organisms, including fungi. Patients should be carefully monitored during therapy (see section 4.8).

Results of studies in rats with tigecycline have shown bone discolouration. Tigecycline may be associated with permanent tooth discolouration in humans if used during tooth development (see section 4.8).

Paediatric population

Clinical experience in the use of tigecycline for the treatment of infections in paediatric patients aged 8 years and older is very limited (see sections 4.8 and 5.1). Consequently, use in children should be restricted to those clinical situations where no alternative antibacterial therapy is available.

Nausea and vomiting are very common adverse reactions in children and adolescents (see section 4.8). Attention should be paid to possible dehydration. Tigecycline should be preferably administered over a 60-minute length of infusion in paediatric patients.

Abdominal pain is commonly reported in children as it is in adults. Abdominal pain may be indicative of pancreatitis. If pancreatitis develops, treatment with tigecycline should be discontinued.

Liver function tests, coagulation parameters, haematology parameters, amylase and lipase should be monitored prior to treatment initiation with tigecycline and regularly while on treatment.

Tigecycline should not be used in children under 8 years of age due to the lack of safety and efficacy data in this age group and because tigecycline may be associated with permanent teeth discolouration (see sections 4.2 and 4.8).

Excipient information

Tigecycline contains less than 1 mmol sodium (23 mg) per 5 ml of of solution. Patients on low sodium diets can be informed that this medicinal product is essentially 'sodium free'.

Interaction studies have only been performed in adults.

Concomitant administration of tigecycline and warfarin (25 mg single-dose) to healthy subjects resulted in a decrease in clearance of R-warfarin and S-warfarin by 40 % and 23 %, and an increase in AUC by 68 % and 29 %, respectively. The mechanism of this interaction is still not elucidated.

Available data does not suggest that this interaction may result in significant INR changes. However, since tigecycline may prolong both prothrombin time (PT) and activated partial thromboplastin time (aPTT), the relevant coagulation tests should be closely monitored when tigecycline is co-administered with anticoagulants (see section 4.4). Warfarin did not affect the pharmacokinetic profile of tigecycline.

Tigecycline is not extensively metabolised. Therefore, clearance of tigecycline is not expected to be affected by active substances that inhibit or induce the activity of the CYP450 isoforms. In vitro, tigecycline is neither a competitive inhibitor nor an irreversible inhibitor of CYP450 enzymes (see section 5.2).

Tigecycline in recommended dosage did not affect the rate or extent of absorption, or clearance of digoxin (0.5 mg followed by 0.25 mg daily) when administered in healthy adults. Digoxin did not affect the pharmacokinetic profile of tigecycline. Therefore, no dosage adjustment is necessary when tigecycline is administered with digoxin.

In in vitro studies, no antagonism has been observed between tigecycline and other commonly used antibiotic classes.

Concurrent use of antibiotics with oral contraceptives may render oral contraceptives less effective.

Concomitant use of tigecycline and calcineurin inhibitors such as tacrolimus or cyclosporine may lead to an increase in serum trough concentrations of the calcineurin inhibitors. Therefore, serum concentrations of the calcineurin inhibitor should be monitored during treatment with tigecycline to avoid drug toxicity.

Based on an in vitro study tigecycline is a P-gp substrate. Co-administration of P-gp inhibitors (e.g., ketoconazole or cyclosporine) or P-gp inducers (e.g., rifampicin) could affect the pharmacokinetics of tigecycline (see section 5.2).

Pregnancy

There are no or limited amount of data from the use of tigecycline in pregnant women. Studies in animals have shown reproductive toxicity (see section 5.3). The potential risk for humans is unknown. As it is known for tetracycline class antibiotics, tigecycline may also induce permanent dental defects (discolouration and enamel defects) and a delay in ossification processes in foetuses, exposed in utero during the last half of gestation, and in children under eight years of age due to the enrichment in tissues with a high calcium turnover and formation of calcium chelate complexes (see section 4.4).

Tigecycline should not be used during pregnancy unless the clinical condition of the woman requires treatment with tigecycline.

Breast-feeding

It is unknown whether tigecycline/metabolites are excreted in human milk. Available pharmacodynamic/toxicological data in animals have shown excretion of tigecycline/metabolites in milk (see section 5.3). A risk to the newborns/infants cannot be excluded. A decision must be made whether to discontinue breast-feeding or to discontinue/abstain from tigecycline therapy taking into account the benefit of breast-feeding for the child and the benefit of therapy for the woman.

Fertility

The effects of tigecycline on fertility in humans have not been studied. Nonclinical studies conducted with tigecycline in rats do not indicate harmful effects with respect to fertility or reproductive performance. In female rats, there were no compound-related effects on ovaries or oestrus cycles at exposures up to 4.7 times the human daily dose based on AUC.

Dizziness may occur and this may have an effect on driving and use of machines (see section 4.8).

Summary of safety profile

The total number of cSSTI and cIAI patients treated with tigecycline in Phase 3 and 4 clinical studies was 2,393.

In clinical trials, the most common medicinal product-related treatment emergent adverse reactions were reversible nausea (21 %) and vomiting (13 %), which usually occurred early (on treatment days 1-2) and were generally mild or moderate in severity.

Adverse reactions reported with tigecycline, including clinical trials and post-marketing experience, are tabulated below.

Tabulated list of adverse reactions

Description of selected adverse reactions

Antibiotic class effects

Pseudomembranous colitis which may range in severity from mild to life threatening (see section 4.4). Overgrowth of non-susceptible organisms, including fungi (see section 4.4).

Tetracycline class effects

Glycylcycline class antibiotics are structurally similar to tetracycline class antibiotics. Tetracycline class adverse reactions may include photosensitivity, pseudotumour cerebri, pancreatitis, and anti- anabolic action which has led to increased BUN, azotaemia, acidosis, and hyperphosphataemia (see section 4.4).

Tigecycline may be associated with permanent tooth discolouration if used during tooth development (see section 4.4).

In Phase 3 and 4 cSSTI and cIAI clinical studies, infection-related serious adverse reactions were more frequently reported for subjects treated with tigecycline (7.1 %) vs comparators (5.3 %).

Significant differences in sepsis/septic shock with tigecycline (2.2 %) vs comparators (1.1 %) were observed.

AST and ALT abnormalities in tigecycline-treated patients were reported more frequently in the post therapy period than in those in comparator-treated patients, which occurred more often on therapy.

In all Phase 3 and 4 (cSSTI and cIAI) studies, death occurred in 2.4 % (54/2216) of patients receiving tigecycline and 1.7% (37/2206) of patients receiving active comparators.

Paediatric population

Very limited safety data were available from two PK studies (see section 5.2). No new or unexpected safety concerns were observed with tigecycline in these studies.

In an open-label, single ascending dose PK study, the safety of tigecycline was investigated in 25 children aged 8 to 16 years who recently recovered from infections. The adverse reaction profile of tigecycline in these 25 subjects was generally consistent with that in adults.

The safety of tigecycline was also investigated in an open-label, ascending multi-dose PK study in 58 children aged 8 to 11 years with cSSTI (n=15), cIAI (n=24) or community-acquired pneumonia (n=19). The adverse reaction profile of tigecycline in these 58 subjects was generally consistent with that in adults, with the exception of nausea (48.3 %), vomiting (46.6 %) and elevated lipase in serum (6.9 %) which were seen at greater frequencies in children than 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 Yellow Card Scheme

Website: www.mhra.gov.uk/yellowcard or search for MHRA Yellow Card in the Google Play or Apple App Store.

No specific information is available on the treatment of overdosage. Intravenous administration of tigecycline at a single dose of 300 mg over 60 minutes in healthy volunteers resulted in an increased incidence of nausea and vomiting. Tigecycline is not removed in significant quantities by haemodialysis.

Pharmacotherapeutic group: Antibacterials for systemic use, tetracyclines, ATC code: J01AA12.

Mechanism of action

Tigecycline, a glycylcycline antibiotic, inhibits protein translation in bacteria by binding to the 30S ribosomal subunit and blocking entry of amino-acyl tRNA molecules into the A site of the ribosome. This prevents incorporation of amino acid residues into elongating peptide chains.

In general, tigecycline is considered bacteriostatic. At 4 times the minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC), a 2-log reduction in colony counts was observed with tigecycline against Enterococcus spp., Staphylococcus aureus, and Escherichia coli.

Mechanism of resistance

Tigecycline is able to overcome the two major tetracycline resistance mechanisms, ribosomal protection and efflux. Cross-resistance between tigecycline and minocycline-resistant isolates among the Enterobacteriaceae due to multi-drug resistance (MDR) efflux pumps has been shown. There is no target-based cross-resistance between tigecycline and most classes of antibiotics.

Tigecycline is vulnerable to chromosomally-encoded multi-drug efflux pumps of Proteeae and Pseudomonas aeruginosa. Pathogens of the family Proteeae (Proteus spp., Providencia spp., and Morganella spp.) are generally less susceptible to tigecycline than other members of the Enterobacteriaceae. Decreased susceptibility in both groups has been attributed to the overexpression of the non-specific AcrAB multi-drug efflux pump. Decreased susceptibility in Acinetobacter baumannii has been attributed to the overexpression of the AdeABC efflux pump.

Breakpoints

Minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) breakpoints established by the European Committee on Antimicrobial Susceptibility Testing (EUCAST) are as follows:

Staphylococcus spp. S £ 0.5 mg/L and R > 0.5 mg/L

Streptococcus spp. other than S. pneumoniae S £ 0.25 mg/L and R > 0.5 mg/L

Enterococcus spp. S £ 0.25 mg/L and R > 0.5 mg/L

Enterobacteriaceae S £ 1(^) mg/L and R > 2 mg/L

(^)Tigecycline has decreased in vitro activity against Proteus, Providencia, and Morganella spp.

For anaerobic bacteria there is clinical evidence of efficacy in polymicrobial intra-abdominal infections, but no correlation between MIC values, PK/PD data and clinical outcome. Therefore, no breakpoint for susceptibility is given. It should be noted that the MIC distributions for organisms of the genera Bacteroides and Clostridium are wide and may include values in excess of 2 mg/L tigecycline.

There is limited evidence of the clinical efficacy of tigecycline against enterococci. However, polymicrobial intra-abdominal infections have shown to respond to treatment with tigecycline in clinical trials.

Susceptibility

The prevalence of acquired resistance may vary geographically and with time for selected species, and local information on resistance is desirable, particularly when treating severe infections. As necessary, expert advice should be sought when the local prevalence of resistance is such that the utility of the agent in at least some types of infections is questionable.

*denotes species against which it is considered that activity has been satisfactorily demonstrated in clinical studies.

† see section 5.1, Breakpoints above.

Cardiac Electrophysiology

No significant effect of a single intravenous dose of tigecycline 50 mg or 200 mg on QTc interval was detected in a randomized, placebo- and active-controlled four-arm crossover thorough QTc study of 46 healthy subjects.

Paediatric population

In an open-label, ascending multiple-dose study, 39 children aged 8 to 11 years with cIAI or cSSTI were administered tigecycline (0.75, 1, or 1.25 mg/kg). All patients received IV tigecycline for a minimum of 3 consecutive days to a maximum of 14 consecutive days, with the option to be switched to an oral antibiotic on or after day 4.

Clinical cure was assessed between 10 and 21 days after the administration of the last dose of treatment. The summary of clinical response in the modified intent-to-treat (mITT) population results is shown in the following table.

Efficacy data above shown should be viewed with caution as concomitant antibiotics were allowed in this study. In addition, the small number of patients should also be taken into consideration.

Absorption

Tigecycline is administered intravenously and therefore has 100 % bioavailability.

Distribution

The in vitro plasma protein binding of tigecycline ranges from approximately 71 % to 89 % at concentrations observed in clinical studies (0.1 to 1.0 mcg/ml). Animal and human pharmacokinetic studies have demonstrated that tigecycline readily distributes to tissues.

In rats receiving single or multiple doses of 14C-tigecycline, radioactivity was well distributed to most tissues, with the highest overall exposure observed in bone marrow, salivary glands, thyroid gland, spleen, and kidney. In humans, the steady-state volume of distribution of tigecycline averaged 500 to 700 L (7 to 9 L/kg), indicating that tigecycline is extensively distributed beyond the plasma volume and concentrates into tissues.

No data are available on whether tigecycline can cross the blood-brain barrier in humans.

In clinical pharmacology studies using the therapeutic dosage regimen of 100 mg followed by 50 mg q12h, serum tigecycline steady-state Cmax was 866± 233 ng/ml for 30-minute infusions and 634± 97 ng/ml for 60-minute infusions. The steady-state AUC0-12h was 2349± 850 ng• h/ml.

Biotransformation

On average, it is estimated that less than 20 % of tigecycline is metabolised before excretion. In healthy male volunteers, following the administration of 14C-tigecycline, unchanged tigecycline was the primary 14C-labelled material recovered in urine and faeces, but a glucuronide, an N- acetyl metabolite and a tigecycline epimer were also present.

In vitro studies in human liver microsomes indicate that tigecycline does not inhibit metabolism mediated by any of the following 6 cytochrome P450 (CYP) isoforms: 1A2, 2C8, 2C9, 2C19, 2D6, and 3A4 by competitive inhibition. In addition, tigecycline did not show NADPH- dependency in the inhibition of CYP2C9, CYP2C19, CYP2D6 and CYP3A, suggesting the absence of mechanism-based inhibition of these CYP enzymes.

Elimination

The recovery of the total radioactivity in faeces and urine following administration of 14C- tigecycline indicates that 59 % of the dose is eliminated by biliary/faecal excretion, and 33 % is excreted in urine. Overall, the primary route of elimination for tigecycline is biliary excretion of unchanged tigecycline. Glucuronidation and renal excretion of unchanged tigecycline are secondary routes.

The total clearance of tigecycline is 24 L/h after intravenous infusion. Renal clearance is approximately 13 % of total clearance. Tigecycline shows a polyexponential elimination from serum with a mean terminal elimination half-life after multiple doses of 42 hours although high interindividual variability exists.

In vitro studies using Caco-2 cells indicate that tigecycline does not inhibit digoxin flux, suggesting that tigecycline is not a P-glycoprotein (P-gp) inhibitor. This in vitro information is consistent with the lack of effect of tigecycline on digoxin clearance noted in the in vivo drug interaction study described above (see section 4.5).

Tigecycline is a substrate of P-gp based on an in vitro study using a cell line overexpressing P- gp. The potential contribution of P-gp-mediated transport to the in vivo disposition of tigecycline is not known. Co-administration of P-gp inhibitors (e.g., ketoconazole or cyclosporine) or P-gp inducers (e.g., rifampicin) could affect the pharmacokinetics of tigecycline.

Special populations

Hepatic impairment

The single-dose pharmacokinetic disposition of tigecycline was not altered in patients with mild hepatic impairment. However, systemic clearance of tigecycline was reduced by 25 % and 55 % and the half-life of tigecycline was prolonged by 23 % and 43 % in patients with moderate or severe hepatic impairment (Child Pugh B and C), respectively (see section 4.2).

Renal impairment

The single dose pharmacokinetic disposition of tigecycline was not altered in patients with renal insufficiency (creatinine clearance <30 ml/min, n=6). In severe renal impairment, AUC was 30 % higher than in subjects with normal renal function (see section 4.2).

Elderly

No overall differences in pharmacokinetics were observed between healthy elderly subjects and younger subjects (see section 4.2).

Paediatric population

Tigecycline pharmacokinetics was investigated in two studies. The first study enrolled children aged 8-16 years (n=24) who received single doses of tigecycline (0.5, 1, or 2 mg/kg, up to a maximum dose of 50 mg, 100 mg, and 150 mg, respectively) administered intravenously over 30 minutes. The second study was performed in children aged 8 to 11 years who received multiple doses of tigecycline (0.75, 1, or 1.25 mg/kg up to a maximum dose of 50 mg) every 12 hours administered intravenously over 30 minutes. No loading dose was administered in these studies. Pharmacokinetic parameters are summarised in the table below.

The target AUC0-12h in adults after the recommended dose of 100 mg loading and 50 mg every 12 hours, was approximately 2500 ng• h/mL.

Population PK analysis of both studies identified body weight as a covariate of tigecycline clearance in children aged 8 years and older. A dosing regimen of 1.2 mg/kg of tigecycline every 12 hours (to a maximum dose of 50 mg every 12 hours) for children aged 8 to <12 years and of 50 mg every 12 hours for adolescents aged 12 to <18 years would likely result in exposures comparable to those observed in adults treated with the approved dosing regimen.

Higher Cmax values than in adult patients were observed in several children in these studies. As a consequence, care should be paid to the rate of infusion of tigecycline in children and adolescents.

Gender

There were no clinically relevant differences in the clearance of tigecycline between men and women. AUC was estimated to be 20 % higher in females than in males.

Race

There were no differences in the clearance of tigecycline based on race.

Weight

Clearance, weight-normalised clearance, and AUC were not appreciably different among patients with different body weights, including those weighing ≥ 125 kg. AUC was 24 % lower in patients weighing≥ 125 kg. No data is available for patients weighing 140 kg and more.

In repeated dose toxicity studies in rats and dogs, lymphoid depletion/atrophy of lymph nodes, spleen and thymus, decreased erythrocytes, reticulocytes, leukocytes, and platelets, in association with bone marrow hypocellularity, and adverse renal and gastrointestinal effects have been seen with tigecycline at exposures of 8 and 10 times the human daily dose based on AUC in rats and dogs, respectively.

These alterations were shown to be reversible after two weeks of dosing.

Bone discolouring was observed in rats which was not reversible after two weeks of dosing.

Results of animal studies indicate that tigecycline crosses the placenta and is found in foetal tissues. In reproduction toxicity studies, decreased foetal weights in rats and rabbits (with associated delays in ossification) have been observed with tigecycline. Tigecycline was not teratogenic in the rat or rabbit. Tigecycline did not affect mating or fertility in rats at exposures up to 4.7 times the human daily dose based on AUC. In female rats, there were no compound-related effects on ovaries or oestrus cycles at exposures up to 4.7 times the human daily dose based on AUC.

Results from animal studies using 14C-labelled tigecycline indicate that tigecycline is excreted readily via the milk of lactating rats. Consistent with the limited oral bioavailability of tigecycline, there is little or no systemic exposure to tigecycline in the nursing pups as a result of exposure via maternal milk.

Lifetime studies in animals to evaluate the carcinogenic potential of tigecycline have not been performed, but short-term genotoxicity studies of tigecycline were negative.

Bolus intravenous administration of tigecycline has been associated with a histamine response in animal studies. These effects were observed at exposures of 14 and 3 times the human daily dose based on the AUC in rats and dogs respectively.

No evidence of photosensitivity was observed in rats following administration of tigecycline.

L - Arginine

Hydrochloric acid (pH adjuster)

The following active substances should not be administered simultaneously through the same Y- site as tigecycline: Amphotericin B, amphotericin B lipid complex, diazepam, esomeprazole, omeprazole and intravenous solutions that could result in an increase of pH above 7.

This medicinal product must not be mixed with other medicinal products except those mentioned in section 6.6.

2 years.

Once reconstituted and diluted in the bag or other suitable infusion container (e.g. glass bottle), tigecycline should be used immediately.

The unopened vial does not require any special storage conditions.

For storage conditions after reconstitution of the medicinal product, see section 6.3.

10 ml Type 1 clear colourless glass vials fitted with grey chlorobutyl rubber stoppers and aluminium, flip-off seals.Tigecycline is distributed in a ten vial tray pack.

The powder should be reconstituted with 5.3 ml of sodium chloride 9 mg/ml (0.9 %) solution for injection, dextrose 50 mg/ml (5 %) solution for injection, or Lactated Ringer's solution for injection to achieve a concentration of 10 mg/ml of tigecycline. The vial should be gently swirled until the medicinal product is dissolved. Thereafter, 5 ml of the reconstituted solution should be immediately withdrawn from the vial and added to a 100 ml intravenous bag for infusion or other suitable infusion container (e.g., glass bottle).

For a 100 mg dose, reconstitute using two vials into a 100 ml intravenous bag or other suitable infusion container (e.g., glass bottle). Note: The vial contains a 6 % overage. Thus, 5 ml of reconstituted solution is equivalent to 50 mg of the active substance.

The reconstituted solution should be yellow to orange in colour; if not, the solution should be discarded. Parenteral products should be inspected visually for particulate matter and discolouration (e.g., green or black) prior to administration.

Tigecycline should be administered intravenously through a dedicated line or through a Y-site. If the same intravenous line is used for sequential infusion of several active substances, the line should be flushed before and after infusion of tigecycline with either sodium chloride 9 mg/ml (0.9 %) solution for injection or dextrose 50 mg/ml (5 %) solution for injection. Injection should be made with an infusion solution compatible with tigecycline and any other medicinal product(s) via this common line (see section 6.2)

This medicinal product is for single use only; any unused medicinal product or waste material should be disposed of in accordance with local requirements.

Compatible intravenous solutions include: sodium chloride 9 mg/ml (0.9 %) solution for injection, dextrose 50 mg/ml (5 %) solution for injection, and Lactated Ringer's solution for injection.

When administered through a Y-site, compatibility of tigecycline diluted in sodium chloride 0.9 % for injection is demonstrated with the following medicinal products or diluents: amikacin, dobutamine, dopamine HCl, gentamicin, haloperidol, Lactated Ringer's, lidocaine HCl, metoclopramide, morphine, norepinephrine, piperacillin/tazobactam (EDTA formulation), potassium chloride, propofol, ranitidine HCl, theophylline, and tobramycin.