Malarone paediatric tablets contain a fixed dose combination of atovaquone and proguanil hydrochloride, which acts as a blood schizontocide and also has activity against hepatic schizonts of Plasmodium falciparum. They are indicated for:

Prophylaxis of P. falciparum malaria in individuals weighing 11-40 kg.

Treatment of acute, uncomplicated P. falciparum malaria in children weighing ≥ 5 kg and <11 kg.

For treatment of acute, uncomplicated P. falciparum malaria in individuals weighing 11-40 kg please refer to the Summary of Product Characteristics for Malarone tablets.

Malarone may be active against P. falciparum that are resistant to one or more other antimalarial agents. Therefore, Malarone may be particularly suitable for prophylaxis and treatment against P. falciparum infections in areas where this species is known to be commonly resistant to one or more other antimalarial agents and also for treatment of patients infected with P. falciparum malaria whilst in these areas.

Official guidelines and local information on the prevalence of resistance to antimalarial drugs should be taken into consideration. Official guidelines will normally include WHO and public health authorities' guidelines.

Method of administration

The daily dose should be taken once daily with food or a milky drink (to ensure maximum absorption) at the same time each day.

If patients are unable to tolerate food Malarone paediatric tablets should be administered, but systemic exposure of atovaquone will be reduced. In the event of vomiting within 1-hour of dosing a repeat dose should be taken.

Malarone paediatric tablets should preferably be swallowed whole. If difficulties are encountered when dosing young children, the tablets may be crushed and mixed with food or a milky drink just prior to administration.

Posology

The dosage for the prophylaxis and treatment of acute, uncomplicated P. falciparum malaria in children is based on body weight.

Prophylaxis

Dosage in individuals weighing 11-40 kg

The safety and effectiveness of Malarone paediatric tablets for prophylaxis of malaria in children who weigh less than 11 kg has not been established.

Prophylaxis should

• commence 24 or 48 hours prior to entering a malaria-endemic area,

• continue during the period of the stay,

• continue for 7 days after leaving the area.

The safety and effectiveness of Malarone paediatric tablets have been established in studies of up to 12 weeks in residents (semi-immune) of endemic areas. (see section 5.1).

In non-immune subjects, the average duration of exposure in clinical studies was 27 days.

Treatment

Dosage in individuals weighing 5-<11 kg

The safety and effectiveness of Malarone paediatric tablets for the treatment of malaria in children who weigh less than 5 kg has not been established.

For individuals who weigh 11 kg or more, the first choice for the treatment of acute, uncomplicated P. falciparum malaria is Malarone tablets (250/100 mg). Please consult the Malarone tablets SmPC for the recommended dosage for this weight range. Malarone tablets are four-times the strength of Malarone paediatric tablets.

In circumstances when sufficient Malarone tablets are not available, then Malarone paediatric tablets may be used.

Dosage in Hepatic Impairment

There are no studies in children with hepatic impairment. However, a pharmacokinetic study in adults indicates that no dosage adjustments are needed in patients with mild to moderate hepatic impairment. Although no studies have been conducted in patients with severe hepatic impairment, no special precautions or dosage adjustment are anticipated (see section 5.2).

Dosage in Renal Impairment

There are no studies in children with renal impairment. However, pharmacokinetic studies in adults indicate that no dosage adjustments are needed in those with mild to moderate renal impairment. Due to the lack of information regarding appropriate dosing, Malarone is contraindicated for the prophylaxis of malaria in adults and children with severe renal impairment (creatinine clearance <30 mL/min; see sections 4.3 and 5.2).

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

Malarone paediatric tablets are contraindicated for prophylaxis of P. falciparum malaria in patients with severe renal impairment (creatinine clearance <30 mL.min).

Persons taking Malarone paediatric tablets for prophylaxis or treatment of malaria should take a repeat dose if they vomit within 1hour of dosing. In the event of diarrhoea, normal dosing should be continued. Absorption of atovaquone may be reduced in individuals with diarrhoea or vomiting, but diarrhoea or vomiting was not associated with reduced efficacy in clinical trials of Malarone for malaria prophylaxis. However, as with other antimalarial agents, subjects with diarrhoea or vomiting should be advised to continue with malaria prevention measures by complying with personal protection measures (repellants, bednets).

In patients with acute malaria who present with diarrhoea or vomiting, alternative therapy should be considered. If Malarone is used to treat malaria in these patients, parasitaemia and the patient's clinical condition should be closely monitored.

Malarone has not been evaluated for the treatment of cerebral malaria or other severe manifestations of complicated malaria including hyperparasitaemia, pulmonary oedema or renal failure.

Occasionally, severe allergic reactions (including anaphylaxis) have been reported in patients taking Malarone. If patients experience an allergic reaction (see section 4.8) Malarone should be discontinued promptly and appropriate treatment initiated.

Malarone has been shown to have no efficacy against hypnozoites of Plasmodium vivax as parasite relapse occurred commonly when P. vivax malaria was treated with Malarone alone. Travellers with intense exposure to P. vivax or P. ovale, and those who develop malaria caused by either of these parasites, will require additional treatment with a drug that is active against hypnozoites.

In the event of recrudescent infections due to P. falciparum after treatment with Malarone, or failure of chemoprophylaxis with Malarone paediatric tablets, patients should be treated with a different blood schizonticide as such events can reflect a resistance of the parasite.

Parasitaemia should be closely monitored in patients receiving concurrent tetracycline (see section 4.5).

The concomitant administration of Malarone and efavirenz or boosted protease-inhibitors should be avoided whenever possible (see section 4.5).

The concomitant administration of Malarone and rifampicin or rifabutin is not recommended (see section 4.5).

Concurrent use of metoclopramide is not recommended. Another antiemetic treatment should be given (see section 4.5).

Caution is advised when initiating or withdrawing malaria prophylaxis or treatment with Malarone in patients on continuous treatment with warfarin and other coumarin based anticoagulants (see section 4.5).

Atovaquone can increase the levels of etoposide and its metabolite (see section 4.5).

In patients with severe renal impairment (creatinine clearance <30 mL/min) alternatives to Malarone for treatment of acute P. falciparum malaria should be recommended whenever possible (see sections 4.2, 4.3 and 5.2).

The safety and effectiveness of Malarone paediatric tablets for the prophylaxis of malaria in children who weigh less than 11 kg and the treatment of malaria in children who weigh less than 5 kg have not been established.

Malarone paediatric tablets are not indicated for the treatment of acute uncomplicated P. falciparum malaria in individuals weighing 11-40 kg. Malarone tablets (atovaquone 250mg/proguanil hydrochloride 100mg tablets) should be used in these individuals (see section 4.2).

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

Concomitant administration of rifampicin or rifabutin is not recommended as it is known to reduce plasma concentrations of atovaquone levels by approximately 50% and 34%, respectively (see section 4.4).

Concomitant treatment with metoclopramide has been associated with a significant decrease (about 50 %) in plasma concentrations of atovaquone (see section 4.4). Another antiemetic treatment should be given.

Although some children have received concomitant Malarone and metoclopramide in clinical trials without any evidence of decreased protection against malaria, the possibility of a clinically significant drug interaction cannot be ruled out.

When given with efavirenz or boosted protease-inhibitors, atovaquone concentrations have been observed to decrease as much as 75%. This combination should be avoided whenever possible (see section 4.4).

Proguanil may potentiate the anticoagulant effect of warfarin and other coumarin based anticoagulants which may lead to an increase in the risk of haemorrhage. The mechanism of this potential drug interaction has not been established. Caution is advised when initiating or withdrawing malaria prophylaxis or treatment with atovaquone-proguanil in patients on continuous treatment with oral anticoagulants. The dose of the oral anticoagulant may need to be adjusted during atovaquone-proguanil treatment or after its withdrawal, based on INR results.

Concomitant treatment with tetracycline has been associated with decreases in plasma concentrations of atovaquone.

The co-administration of atovaquone at doses of 45mg/kg/day in children (n=9) with acute lymphoblastic leukaemia for prophylaxis of PCP was found to increase the plasma concentrations (AUC) of etoposide and its metabolite etoposide catechol by a median of 8.6% (P=0.055) and 28.4% (P=0.031) (respectively compared to the co-administration of etoposide and sulfamethoxazole-trimethoprim). Caution should be advised in patients receiving concomitant therapy with etoposide (see section 4.4).

Proguanil is primarily metabolised by CYP2C19. However, potential pharmacokinetic interactions with other substrates, inhibitors (e.g. moclobemide, fluvoxamine) or inducers (e.g. artemisinin, carbamazepine) of CYP2C19 are unknown (see section 5.2).

Pregnancy

The safety of atovaquone and proguanil hydrochloride when administered concurrently for use in human pregnancy has not been established and the potential risk is unknown.

Animal studies showed no evidence for teratogenicity of the combination.

The individual components have shown no effects on parturition or pre- and post-natal development. Maternal toxicity was seen in pregnant rabbits during a teratogenicity study (see section 5.3).

The use of Malarone paediatric tablets in pregnancy should only be considered if the expected benefit to the mother outweighs any potential risk to the foetus.

Proguanil acts by inhibiting parasitic dihydrofolate reductase. There are no clinical data indicating that folate supplementation diminishes drug efficacy. For women of childbearing age receiving folate supplements to prevent neural tube birth defects, such supplements should be continued while taking Malarone paediatric tablets.

Breast-feeding

The atovaquone concentrations in milk, in a rat study, were 30% of the concurrent atovaquone concentrations in maternal plasma. It is not known whether atovaquone is excreted in human milk.

Proguanil is excreted in human milk in small quantities.

Malarone paediatric tablets should not be taken by breast-feeding women.

Dizziness has been reported. Patients should be warned that if affected they should not drive, operate machinery or take part in activities where this may put themselves or others at risk.

In clinical trials of Malarone paediatric tablets for prophylaxis of malaria, 357 children or adolescents 11 to ≤ 40 kg body weight received Malarone paediatric tablets. Most of these were residents of endemic areas and took Malarone paediatric tablets for about 12 weeks. The rest were travelling to endemic areas, and most took Malarone paediatric tablets for 2-4 weeks.

Open label clinical studies investigating the treatment of children weighing between ≥ 5 kg and <11 kg have indicated that the safety profile is similar to that in children weighing between 11 kg and 40 kg, and adults.

There are limited long term safety data in children. In particular, the long-term effects of Malarone on growth, puberty and general development have not been studied.

In clinical trials of Malarone for treatment of malaria, the most commonly reported adverse reactions were abdominal pain, headache, anorexia, nausea, vomiting, diarrhoea and coughing.

In clinical trials of Malarone for prophylaxis of malaria, the most commonly reported adverse reactions were headache, abdominal pain and diarrhoea.

The following table provides a summary of adverse reactions that have been reported to have a suspected (at least possible) causal relationship to treatment with atovaquone-proguanil in clinical trials and spontaneous post-marketing reports. The following convention is used for the classification of frequency: 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); not known (cannot be estimated from the available data).

1. Frequency taken from atovaquone label. Patients participating in clinical trials with atovaquone have received higher doses and have often had complications of advance Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV) disease. These events may have been seen at a lower frequency or not at all in clinical trials with atovaquone-proguanil.

2. Observed from post-marketing spontaneous reports and the frequency is therefore unknown

3. Observed with proguanil.

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 at: www.mhra.gov.uk/yellowcard.

There is insufficient experience to predict the consequences or suggest specific management of Malarone overdose. However, in the reported cases of atovaquone overdose, the observed effects were consistent with known undesirable effects of the drug. If overdose occurs, the patient should be monitored and standard supportive treatment applied.

Pharmacotherapeutic group: Antimalarials, ATC code: P01B B51

Mode of Action

The constituents of Malarone paediatric tablets, atovaquone and proguanil hydrochloride, interfere with two different pathways involved in the biosynthesis of pyrimidines required for nucleic acid replication. The mechanism of action of atovaquone against P. falciparum is via inhibition of mitochondrial electron transport, at the level of the cytochrome bc₁ complex, and collapse of mitochondrial membrane potential. One mechanism of action of proguanil, via its metabolite cycloguanil, is inhibition of dihydrofolate reductase, which disrupts deoxythymidylate synthesis. Proguanil also has antimalarial activity independent of its metabolism to cycloguanil. Proguanil, but not cycloguanil, is able to potentiate the ability of atovaquone to collapse mitochondrial membrane potential in malaria parasites. This latter mechanism may contribute to the antimalarial synergy seen when atovaquone and proguanil are used in combination.

Microbiology

Atovaquone has activity against Plasmodium spp (in vitro IC₅₀ against P. falciparum 0.23-1.43 ng/mL).

Cross-resistance between atovaquone and antimalarial agents of other drug classes was not detected among more than 30 P. falciparum isolates that demonstrated resistance in vitro to one or more of chloroquine (41% of isolates), quinine (32% of isolates), mefloquine (29% of isolates), and halofantrine (48% of isolates).

The IC₅₀ of the primary metabolite of proguanil-cycloguanil against various P. falciparum strains was 4-20 ng/mL; some activity of proguanil and another metabolite, 4-chlorophenylbiguanide, is seen in vitro at 600-3000 ng/mL).

The combination of atovaquone and proguanil was shown to be synergistic against P. falciparum in vitro. The combination was more effective than either drug alone in clinical studies of the treatment of malaria in both immune and non-immune patients.

Clinical Efficacy

Prophylaxis

The efficacy in non-immune paediatric travellers has not been directly established, but may be assumed through extrapolation by the results on safety and efficacy in studies of up to 12 weeks in paediatric residents (semi-immune) of endemic areas, and from results of safety and efficacy in both semi-immune and non-immune adults.

Data in the paediatric population are available from two trials that primarily evaluated the safety of Malarone paediatric tablets in (non-immune) travellers to endemic areas. In these trials, a total of 93 travellers weighing <40 kg were given Malarone and 93 received another prophylactic antimalarial regimen (81 chloroquine/proguanil and 12 mefloquine). The majority of travellers went to Africa and the mean duration of stay was between 2-3 weeks. There were no cases of malaria recorded in any subjects who took part in these studies.

Treatment

An open-label, randomised, parallel-group trial was undertaken in Gabon in 200 children weighing ≥ 5 kg and <11 kg with confirmed, uncomplicated P. falciparum malaria. Treatment was with Malarone paediatric tablets or amodiaquine suspension. In the intent-to-treat population, the 28-day cure rate was 87% in the Malarone group (87/100 subjects). In the per-protocol population, the 28-day cure rate was 95% in the Malarone group (87/92 subjects). The parasitological cure rates for the Malarone group were 88% and 95% for the ITT and PP populations, respectively.

There are no pharmacokinetic interactions between atovaquone and proguanil at the recommended doses.

In prophylaxis clinical trials where children have received Malarone dosed by bodyweight, trough levels of atovaquone, proguanil and cycloguanil in children are generally within the range observed in adults (see following table).

Trough Plasma Concentrations [Mean ± SD, (range)] of Atovaquone, Proguanil and Cycloguanil during Prophylaxis with Malarone in Children* and Adults

* Pooled data from two studies

Absorption

Atovaquone is a highly lipophilic compound with low aqueous solubility. Although there are no atovaquone bioavailability data in healthy subjects, in HIV-infected patients the absolute bioavailability of a 750 mg single dose of atovaquone tablets taken with food is 21% (90% CI: 17% - 27%).

Dietary fat taken with atovaquone increases the rate and extent of absorption, increasing AUC 2-3 times and C_max 5 times over fasting. Patients are recommended to take Malarone paediatric tablets with food or a milky drink (see section 4.2).

Proguanil hydrochloride is rapidly and extensively absorbed regardless of food intake.

Distribution

Apparent volume of distribution of atovaquone and proguanil is a function of bodyweight.

Atovaquone is highly protein bound (>99%) but does not displace other highly protein bound drugs in vitro, indicating significant drug interactions arising from displacement are unlikely.

Following oral administration, the volume of distribution of atovaquone and proguanil is approximately 8.8 L/kg.

Proguanil is 75% protein bound. Following oral administration, the volume of distribution of proguanil in adults and children (>5 kg) ranged from 20 to 79 L/kg.

In human plasma the binding of atovaquone and proguanil was unaffected by the presence of the other.

Biotransformation

There is no evidence that atovaquone is metabolised, and there is negligible excretion of atovaquone in urine with the parent drug being predominantly (->-90%) eliminated unchanged in faeces.

Proguanil hydrochloride is partially metabolised, primarily by the polymorphic cytochrome P450 isoenzyme 2C19, with less than 40% being excreted unchanged in the urine. Its metabolites, cycloguanil and 4-chlorophenylbiguanide, are also excreted in the urine.

During administration of Malarone at recommended doses proguanil metabolism status appears to have no implications for treatment or prophylaxis of malaria.

Elimination

The elimination half life of atovaquone is 1-2 days in children.

The elimination half lives of proguanil and cycloguanil are each about 12-15 hours in children.

Oral clearance for atovaquone and proguanil increases with increased body weight and is about 70% higher in a 40 kg subject relative to a 20 kg subject. The mean oral clearance in paediatric and adult patients weighing 5 to 40 kg ranged from 0.5 to 6.3 L/h for atovaquone and from 8.7 to 64 L/h for proguanil.

Pharmacokinetics in renal impairment

There are no studies in children with renal impairment.

In adult patients with mild to moderate renal impairment, oral clearance and/or AUC data for atovaquone, proguanil and cycloguanil are within the range of values observed in patients with normal renal function.

Atovaquone C_max and AUC are reduced by 64% and 54%, respectively, in adult patients with severe renal impairment (<30 mL/min/1.73 m²).

In adult patients with severe renal impairment, the elimination half lives for proguanil (t_½ 39 hours) and cycloguanil (t_½ 37 hours) are prolonged, resulting in the potential for drug accumulation with repeated dosing (see sections 4.2 and 4.4).

Pharmacokinetics in hepatic impairment

There are no studies in children with hepatic impairment.

In adult patients with mild to moderate hepatic impairment, there is no clinically significant change in exposure to atovaquone when compared to healthy patients.

In adult patients with mild to moderate hepatic impairment there is an 85% increase in proguanil AUC, with no change in elimination half life, and there is a 65-68% decrease in C_max and AUC for cycloguanil.

No data are available in adult patients with severe hepatic impairment (see section 4.2).

Repeat dose toxicity:

Findings in repeat dose toxicity studies with atovaquone-proguanil hydrochloride combination were entirely proguanil-related and were observed at doses providing no significant margin of exposure in comparison with the expected clinical exposure. However, as proguanil has been used extensively and safely in the treatment and prophylaxis of malaria at doses similar to those used in the combination, these findings are considered of little relevance to the clinical situation.

Reproductive toxicity studies:

In rats and rabbits there was no evidence of teratogenicity for the combination. No data are available regarding the effects of the combination on fertility or pre- and post-natal development, but studies on the individual components of Malarone paediatric tablets have shown no effects on these parameters. In a rabbit teratogenicity study using the combination, unexplained maternal toxicity was found at a systemic exposure similar to that observed in humans following clinical use.

Mutagenicity:

A wide range of mutagenicity tests have shown no evidence that atovaquone or proguanil have mutagenic activity as single agents.

Mutagenicity studies have not been performed with atovaquone in combination with proguanil.

Cycloguanil, the active metabolite of proguanil, was also negative in the Ames test, but was positive in the Mouse Lymphoma assay and the Mouse Micronucleus assay. These positive effects with cycloguanil (a dihydrofolate antagonist) were significantly reduced or abolished with folinic acid supplementation.

Carcinogencity:

Oncogenicity studies of atovaquone alone in mice showed an increased incidence of hepatocellular adenomas and carcinomas. No such findings were observed in rats and mutagenicity tests were negative. These findings appear to be due to the inherent susceptibility of mice to atovaquone and are considered of no relevance in the clinical situation.

Oncogenicity studies on proguanil alone showed no evidence of carcinogenicity in rats and mice.

Oncogenicity studies on proguanil in combination with atovaquone have not been performed.

Core

Poloxamer 188

Microcrystalline Cellulose

Low-substituted Hydroxypropyl Cellulose

Povidone K30

Sodium Starch Glycollate (Type A)

Magnesium Stearate

Coating

Hypromellose

Titanium Dioxide E171

Iron Oxide Red E172

Macrogol 400

Polyethylene Glycol 8000

Not applicable.

5 years.

This medicinal product does not require any special storage conditions.

PVC-aluminium/paper child-resistant foil blister pack containing 12 tablets.

No special requirements.

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