Alirocumab
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From MedlinePlus, U.S. National Library of Medicine
PCSK9 Inhibitor
Dosing in kidney impairment
Renal Impairment No dose adjustment is needed for patients with mild or moderately impaired renal function. No data are available in patients with severe renal impairment [see Clinical Pharmacology ] .
Dosing in liver impairment
Hepatic Impairment No dose adjustment is needed for patients with mild or moderate hepatic impairment. No data are available in patients with severe hepatic impairment [see Clinical Pharmacology ] .
Preparation and administration
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Important Administration Instructions Train patients and/or caregivers on how to prepare and administer PRALUENT, according to the Instructions for Use and instruct them to read and follow the Instructions for Use each time they use PRALUENT. In children aged 12 to 17 years, it is recommended that PRALUENT be given by or under the supervision of an adult.
In children aged 8 to 11 years, PRALUENT should be given by a caregiver. Prior to use, allow PRALUENT to warm to room temperature for 30 to 40 minutes if PRALUENT has been refrigerated [see How Supplied/Storage and Handling ]. Visually inspect PRALUENT prior to administration. PRALUENT is a clear, colorless to pale yellow solution.
Do not use if the solution is cloudy, discolored, or contains particles. Administer PRALUENT subcutaneously into areas of the thigh, abdomen, or upper arm that are not tender, bruised, red, or indurated. Rotate injection sites for each administration. It may take up to 20 seconds to inject PRALUENT. To administer the 300 mg dose, give two 150 mg PRALUENT injections consecutively at two different injection sites.
Contraindications
4 CONTRAINDICATIONS PRALUENT is contraindicated in patients with a history of a serious hypersensitivity reaction to alirocumab or any of the excipients in PRALUENT. Hypersensitivity vasculitis, angioedema, and hypersensitivity reactions requiring hospitalization have occurred [see Warnings and Precautions (5.1) ]. History of a serious hypersensitivity reaction to alirocumab or any of the excipients in PRALUENT. ( 4 )
Safety data
Reported adverse events (FAERS)
Liver injury (LiverTox)
ELikelihood score E: Unlikely cause of clinically apparent liver injury.
Alirocumab is a human monoclonal antibody to PCSK9 (proprotein convertase subtilisin/kexin type 9), a circulating protein that modulates the activity of the LDL cholesterol receptor in the liver. The monoclonal antibody lowers serum LDL cholesterol and is used to treat severe hypercholesterolemia. Alirocumab therapy has been associated with a low rate of serum aminotransferase elevations and has yet to be linked to instances of clinically apparent acute liver injury.
ABCDEA: well known cause; E: unlikely cause. [HD]: high doses only.
Pregnancy and lactation
Pregnancy
8.1 Pregnancy Risk Summary Available data from clinical trials and postmarketing reports on PRALUENT use in pregnant women are insufficient to evaluate for a drug-associated risk of major birth defects, miscarriage or other adverse maternal or fetal outcomes. In animal reproduction studies, there were no effects on embryo-fetal development when rats were subcutaneously administered alirocumab during organogenesis at dose exposures up to 12-fold the exposure at the maximum recommended human dose of 150 mg every two weeks.
In monkeys, suppression of the humoral immune response was observed in infant monkeys when alirocumab was dosed during organogenesis to parturition at dose exposures 13-fold the exposure at the maximum recommended human dose of 150 mg every two weeks. No additional effects on pregnancy or neonatal/infant development were observed at dose exposures up to 81-fold the maximum recommended human dose of 150 mg every two weeks. Measurable alirocumab serum concentrations were observed in the infant monkeys at birth at comparable levels to maternal serum, indicating that alirocumab, like other IgG antibodies, crosses the placental barrier.
Monoclonal antibodies are transported across the placenta in increasing amounts especially near term; therefore, alirocumab has the potential to be transmitted from the mother to the developing fetus. The estimated background risk of major birth defects and miscarriage for the indicated population(s) is unknown. 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. There is a pregnancy safety study for PRALUENT. If PRALUENT is administered during pregnancy, healthcare providers should report PRALUENT exposure by contacting Regeneron at 1-844-734-6643.
Data Animal data In Sprague Dawley rats, no effects on embryo-fetal development were observed when alirocumab was dosed at up to 75 mg/kg/dose by the subcutaneous route on gestation days 6 and 12 at exposures 12-fold the maximum recommended human dose of 150 mg every two weeks, based on serum AUC.
In cynomolgus monkeys, suppression of the humoral immune response to keyhole limpet hemocyanin (KLH) antigen was observed in infant monkeys at 4 to 6 months of age when alirocumab was dosed during organogenesis to parturition at 15 mg/kg/week and 75 mg/kg/week by the subcutaneous route, corresponding to 13-fold and 81-fold the human exposure at the maximum recommended human dose of 150 mg every two weeks, based on serum AUC. The lowest dose tested in…
Breastfeeding (LactMed)
No information is available on the clinical use of alirocumab during breastfeeding. Because alirocumab is a large protein molecule with a molecular weight of 146,000 Da, the amount in milk is likely to be very low. It is also likely to be partially destroyed in the infant's gastrointestinal tract and absorption by the infant is probably minimal. Until more data become available, alirocumab should be used with caution during breastfeeding, especially while nursing a newborn or preterm infant. Waiting for at least 2 weeks postpartum to resume therapy may minimize transfer to the infant.
Supply and cost
Drug shortage status
Recalls (last 24 months)
Therapeutic equivalence (Orange Book)
Price ladder
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