Jext 150 micrograms Solution for Injection in pre-filled pen

Jext is indicated in the emergency treatment of severe acute allergic reactions (anaphylaxis) to insect stings or bites, foods, drugs and other allergens as well as idiopathic or exercise induced anaphylaxis.

Posology

Paediatric population

Patients between 15 kg and 30 kg in weight:

The usual dose is 150 micrograms.

A dosage below 150 micrograms cannot be administered in sufficient accuracy in children weighing less than 15 kg and use is therefore not recommended unless life-threatening situation and under medical advice. Children and adolescents over 30 kg in weight should be prescribed a Jext 300 micrograms.

An initial dose should be administered as soon as symptoms of anaphylaxis are recognised.

The effective dose is typically in the range of 0.005-0.01 mg/kg but higher doses may be necessary in some cases.

In the absence of clinical improvement or if deterioration occurs, a second injection with an additional Jext may be administered 5– 15 minutes after the first injection. It is recommended that patients are prescribed two Jext pens which they should carry at all times.

Method of administration

For intramuscular use.

For single use.

Jext is for intramuscular administration into the anterolateral thigh.

It is designed to inject through clothing or directly through the skin.

Massage around the injection area is advised to accelerate absorption.

Please refer to section 6.6 for detailed instructions for use.

The patient/carer should be informed that following each use of Jext:

• They should call for immediate medical assistance, ask for an ambulance and state 'anaphylaxis' even if symptoms appear to be improving (see section 4.4).

• Conscious patients should preferably lie flat with feet elevated but sit up if they have breathing difficulties. Unconscious patients should be placed on their side in the recovery position.

• The patient should if possible remain with another person until medical assistance arrives.

There are no absolute contraindications to the use of Jext during an allergic emergency.

Do not remove yellow cap until ready for use.

Jext should be administered into the anterolateral thigh. The injection is delivered immediately after the black needle shield of the auto-injector is pressed firmly against the skin or other surface. Patients should be advised not to inject Jext into the gluteus maximus due to the risk of accidental injection into a vein.

The patient should be instructed to dial 999, ask for ambulance, state anaphylaxis to seek emergency medical assistance immediately after administering the first dose in order to have close monitoring of the anaphylactic episode and further treatment as required.

The patient/carer should be informed about the possibility of biphasic anaphylaxis which is characterised by initial resolution followed by recurrence of symptoms some hours later.

Patients with concomitant asthma may be at increased risk of a severe anaphylactic reaction.

Excipients

This medicinal product contains sodium metabisulphite which may rarely cause severe hypersensitivity reactions including anaphylactic symptoms and bronchospasm in susceptible people, especially those with a history of asthma. Patients with these conditions must be carefully instructed in regard to the circumstances under which Jext should be used.

This medicinal product contains less than 1 mmol sodium (23 mg) per dose, i.e. essentially sodium free.

Due to an increased risk of adverse reactions following administration of adrenaline special caution should be taken in patients with cardiovascular diseases including angina pectoris, obstructive cardiomyopathy, cardiac arrhythmia, cor pulmonale, atherosclerosis and hypertension.

Special caution should also be taken in patients with hyperthyroidism, phaeochromocytoma, narrow angle glaucoma, severe renal impairment, prostatic adenoma leading to residual urine, hypercalcaemia, hypokalaemia and diabetes.

Caution should also be taken in elderly and pregnant patients.

In case of injection performed by a caregiver, the patient should be instructed not to move and immobilisation of the patient's leg should be ensured during injection to reduce the risk of laceration. The product is for single use only and cannot be reused.

In patients with thick sub-cutaneous fat layer, there is a risk of adrenaline being administered in the sub-cutaneous tissue which may result in a slower adrenaline absorption (see section 5.2) and a suboptimal effect. This may increase the need for a second Jext injection (see section 4.2).

Peripheral ischaemia following accidental injection into hands or feet may cause decreased blood flow to adjacent areas due to vasoconstriction.

All patients who are prescribed Jext should be thoroughly instructed to understand the indications for the use and the correct method of administration (see section 6.6). It is strongly advised also to educate the patient's immediate associates (e.g. parents, caregivers, teachers) for the correct usage of the Jext in case support is needed in the emergency situation.

There is often a prolonged period between supply of Jext and an allergic reaction requiring adrenaline. Patients should be advised to regularly check Jext and ensure it is replaced within the expiry period.

Patients should be warned regarding related allergens and should be investigated whenever possible so that their specific allergens can be characterised.

Caution is indicated in patients receiving drugs that may sensitise the heart to arrhythmias, including digitalis and quinidine. The effects of adrenaline may be potentiated by tricyclic antidepressants, monoamine oxidase inhibitors (MAO-inhibitors) and catechol-O-methyl transferase inhibitors (COMT inhibitors), thyroid hormones, theophylline, oxytocin, parasympatholytics, certain antihistamines (diphenhydramine, chlorpheniramine), levodopa and alcohol.

Adrenaline inhibits the secretion of insulin, thus increasing the blood glucose level. It may be necessary for diabetic patients receiving adrenaline to increase their dosage of insulin or oral hypoglycaemic drugs.

The alpha- and beta-stimulating effect of adrenaline can be inhibited by concomitant use of alpha- and beta-blocking drugs as well as parasympathomimetic drugs.

Pregnancy

Clinical experience in the treatment of anaphylaxis during pregnancy is limited. Adrenaline should only be used during pregnancy if the potential benefit justifies the potential risk for the foetus.

Breastfeeding

Adrenaline is not orally bioavailable; any adrenaline excreted in breast milk would not be expected to have any effect on the nursing infant.

Fertility

There is no clinical data with respect to fertility for the use of Jext.

Jext has no or negligible influence on the ability to drive and use machines, however, patients are not recommended to drive or use machines following administration of adrenaline, since they will be affected by the anaphylactic reaction.

Summary of the safety profile

Side effects associated with adrenaline's alpha and beta receptor activity may include cardiovascular effects as well as undesirable effects on the central nervous system.

Tabulated list of adverse reactions

The following table is based upon three clinical trials as well as post-marketing experience with the use of adrenaline. The frequency cannot be estimated from the available data.

*Accidental injection into digits and hands may result in localised symptoms of peripheral ischaemia, including injection site coldness, pallor, paraesthesia and hypoaesthesia as well as local reactions such as injection site bruising, pain, bleeding and swelling.

**Isolated cases of hypertension and hypertensive crisis have been reported.

Adrenaline has been shown to elicit several effects upon the body through adrenergic receptor activation, including hyperglycaemia, hypokalaemia, and metabolic acidosis. These effects have not been reported from the use of adrenaline auto-injectors.

Description of selected adverse reactions

Jext contains sodium metabisulphite which may rarely cause severe hypersensitivity reactions including anaphylactic symptoms and bronchospasm (see section 4.4. Special warning and precautions for use).

Reporting of suspected adverse reactions

Reporting suspected adverse reactions after authorisation of the medicinal product is important. It allows continued monitoring of the benefit/risk balance of the medicinal product. Healthcare professionals are asked to report any suspected adverse reactions via the MHRA Yellow Card Scheme. Website: www.mhra.gov.uk/yellowcard

Overdose or inadvertent intravascular injection of adrenaline may cause cerebral haemorrhage and ventricular arrhythmias resulting from a sharp rise in blood pressure. Myocardial ischaemias and necroses as well as renal impairment may occur. Fatalities may also result from pulmonary oedema because of peripheral vascular constriction together with cardiac stimulation.

Pulmonary oedema may be treated with alpha-blocking agents such as phentolamine. In case of arrhythmias these may be treated with beta-blocking agents.

Pharmacotherapeutic group: Cardiac stimulants excl. cardiac glycosides, adrenergic and dopaminergic agents.

ATC code: C01CA24.

Adrenaline is a catecholamine which stimulates the sympathetic nervous system (both alpha and beta receptors) by which cardiac rate, cardiac output and coronary circulation is raised. Adrenaline through its action on beta receptors on bronchial smooth muscles causes bronchial smooth muscle relaxation which alleviates wheezing and dyspnoea.

Adrenaline is a naturally occurring substance produced by the adrenal medulla and secreted in response to exertion or stress. It is rapidly inactivated in the body mostly by the enzymes COMT and MAO. The liver is rich in these enzymes and is an important, although not essential, tissue in the degradation process. Much of the dose of adrenaline is accounted for by excretion of metabolites in the urine.

The plasma half-life of adrenaline is about 2.5 min. However local vasoconstriction may retard absorption, so that the effects can last longer than the half-life would predict. Massage around the injection area is advised to accelerate absorption.

In an exploratory PK/PD study the mean plasma concentration-time curves were biphasic with a first peak within approx. 8-10 min followed by a slower increase until a second peak (plateau) was reached after approx. 30-40 min following injection of Jext. There was however a large variability in shape of the individual plasma concentration-time profiles. The results suggest that the adrenaline absorption in patients with a thick sub-cutaneous fat layer (i.e. STMD, skin to muscle depth >20mm) is slower than in subjects with a thinner sub-cutaneous fat layer.

Whereas plasma exposure was apparently comparable between Jext and IM injection in the first 16 minutes for the overall population, when data were evaluated by STMD cohort, the plasma exposure up to 30 minutes was generally lower in Jext compared to manual IM injection in the STMD > 20 mm cohort. The point estimates of the Jext to manual IM injection ratio were 0.39 (90% CI 0.20-0.75) for AUC_{0-8 mins,} 0.56 (90% CI 0.31-0.99) for AUC_{0-16 mins} and 0.66 (90% CI 0.39-1.12) for AUC_{0-30 mins} suggesting consistently lower exposure in the first 30 minutes following administration with Jext compared to manual IM injection in the STMD > 20 mm cohort.

Adrenaline has been utilised in the treatment of allergic emergencies for many years. There is no preclinical data of relevance available.

Sodium Chloride

Sodium Metabisulphite (E223)

Hydrochloric Acid (for pH adjustment)

Water for Injections

In the absence of compatibility studies, this medicinal product must not be mixed with other medicinal products.

22 months

Store below 25° C.

Do not freeze.

Jext is provided in a plastic carry case in order to protect Jext while being carried by the patient/carer or during storage. Jext should be removed from the carry case before use and should be removed during inspection of the product. It is recommended to return Jext to the carry case after inspection.

Pre-filled pen (single dose pen) comprising an auto-injector with a cartridge. The cartridge is made of glass (type 1), sealed with a latex free grey rubber plunger and a latex free bromobutyl rubber seal within an anodised aluminium cap. The auto-injector and carry case is made of plastic.

Exposed needle length:

Jext 150 micrograms: 13 mm

Jext 300 micrograms: 15 mm

Pack-size: Single pack with 1 pre-filled pen. Multipack with 2 pre-filled pens.

Not all pack sizes may be marketed.

Jext is a single-use pre-filled pen designed for easy use.

The pre-filled pen is operated by simply pressing the black injector tip against the outer thigh. This will activate a plunger, which pushes a concealed needle through the membrane on the black injector tip into the muscle and injects a dose of adrenaline. This can be done through clothing.

Jext 150 micrograms contains 1.4 ml of adrenaline injection 1 mg/ml which is designed to deliver a single dose (0.15 ml) of 150 micrograms adrenaline when activated. After activation of the auto-injector 1.25 ml remains in the pre-filled pen. Discard any unused solution.

A small air bubble may occur in Jext. It has no influence on either the use or the efficacy of the product.

Educational materials regarding the correct use, storage and care of Jext are available to prescribers, patients and caregivers including a Jext Trainer pen without needle or adrenaline for practising or instructing others in the correct use of Jext.

Note: the yellow cap prevents the device from activating, and should not be removed before injection is required. The black injector tip should be kept away from the hand.

See Section 4.2 for instructions to be conveyed to the patient/carer regarding actions to be taken following each use of Jext.

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

Check the solution periodically through the viewing window of the unit to make sure the solution is clear and colourless, free from visible particles.

Replace and discard the pre-filled pen if the solution is discoloured or contains a precipitate, or at the latest before the expiry date.

The expiry date is indicated on the label and Jext should not be used after this date.