Bempedoic acid and ezetimibe

No specific pharmacokinetic drug interaction studies with NEXLIZET have been conducted. Table 4 lists drug interactions with NEXLIZET that have been identified in studies with bempedoic acid or ezetimibe. Table 4. Clinically Important Drug Interactions with NEXLIZET Simvastatin Clinical Impact: Concomitant use of NEXLIZET with simvastatin causes an increase in simvastatin concentration and may increase the risk of simvastatin-related myopathy [see Clinical Pharmacology (12.3) ] . Intervention: Avoid concomitant use of NEXLIZET with simvastatin greater than 20 mg.

Pravastatin Clinical Impact: Concomitant use of NEXLIZET with pravastatin causes an increase in pravastatin concentration and may increase the risk of pravastatin-related myopathy [see Clinical Pharmacology (12.3) ] . Intervention: Avoid concomitant use of NEXLIZET with pravastatin greater than 40 mg. Cyclosporine Clinical Impact: Concomitant use of NEXLIZET and cyclosporine increases ezetimibe and cyclosporine concentrations. The degree of increase in ezetimibe exposure may be greater in patients with severe renal insufficiency [see Clinical Pharmacology (12.3) ] . Intervention: Monitor cyclosporine concentrations in patients receiving NEXLIZET and cyclosporine.

In patients treated with cyclosporine, weigh the potential effects of the increased exposure to ezetimibe from concomitant use against the benefits of alterations in lipid levels provided by NEXLIZET. Fibrates Clinical Impact: Both fenofibrate and ezetimibe (a component of NEXLIZET) may increase cholesterol excretion into the bile, leading to cholelithiasis. Coadministration of NEXLIZET with fibrates other than fenofibrate is not recommended [see Adverse Reactions (6.1) ] . Intervention: If cholelithiasis is suspected in a patient receiving NEXLIZET and fenofibrate, gallbladder studies are indicated and alternative lipid-lowering therapy should be considered.

Clinical Impact: Concomitant administration of fibrates with bempedoic acid (a component of NEXLIZET) resulted in increased triglycerides and decreased high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C) in some patients in clinical studies and post-marketing reports. Reversibility of both increased triglycerides and decreased HDL-C levels was observed when either bempedoic acid or fibrate therapy was discontinued. Intervention: Monitor triglycerides and HDL-C four weeks after initial concomitant use of NEXLIZET and a fibrate and periodically thereafter. If increased triglycerides or decreased HDL-C levels are detected, discontinue NEXLIZET or fibrate therapy based on clinical judgment.

Monitor triglycerides and HDL-C levels until levels return to baseline. Cholestyramine Clinical Impact: Concomitant use of NEXLIZET and cholestyramine decreases ezetimibe concentration. This may result in a reduction of efficacy [see Clinical Pharmacology (12.3) ]. Intervention: Administer NEXLIZET either at least 2 hours before or at least 4 hours after bile acid sequestrants [see Dosage and Administration (2.2) ] . Simvastatin: Avoid concomitant use of NEXLIZET with simvastatin greater than 20 mg. ( 7 ) Pravastatin: Avoid concomitant use of NEXLIZET with pravastatin greater than 40 mg. ( 7 ) Cyclosporine: Monitor cyclosporine concentrations.

( 7 ) Fibrates: If cholelithiasis is suspected in a patient receiving NEXLIZET and fenofibrate, consider alternative lipid-lowering therapy. ( 6.2 , 7 ) Concomitant use of NEXLIZET with fibrates may increase triglycerides and decrease high-density lipoprotein cholesterol. ( 7 )

8.1 Pregnancy Risk Summary Discontinue NEXLIZET when pregnancy is recognized unless the benefits of therapy outweigh the potential risks to the fetus. There are insufficient data on bempedoic acid use in pregnant women to evaluate for a drug-associated risk of major birth defects, miscarriage, or adverse maternal or fetal outcomes. There are insufficient data on ezetimibe use in pregnant women to evaluate for a drug-associated risk of major birth defects, miscarriage, or adverse maternal or fetal outcomes.

In animal reproduction studies, bempedoic acid was not teratogenic in rats and rabbits when administered at doses resulting in exposures up to 11 and 12 times, respectively, the human exposures at the maximum clinical dose, based on AUC. In oral (gavage) embryo-fetal development studies of ezetimibe conducted in rats and rabbits during organogenesis, there was no evidence of maternal toxicity or embryo-fetal teratogenic or toxicologic effects at exposures up to 10 and 150 times the human exposure, respectively, based on AUC (see Data ) .

NEXLIZET decreases cholesterol synthesis and possibly the synthesis of other biologically active substances derived from cholesterol; therefore, NEXLIZET may cause fetal harm when administered to pregnant women based on the mechanism of action [see Clinical Pharmacology (12.1) ] . In addition, treatment of hypercholesterolemia is not generally necessary during pregnancy. Atherosclerosis is a chronic process and the discontinuation of lipid-lowering drugs during pregnancy should have little impact on the outcome of long-term therapy of primary hypercholesterolemia for most patients. The estimated background risk of major birth defects and miscarriage for the indicated population 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. Report pregnancies to the Esperion Therapeutics, Inc. Adverse Event reporting line at 1-833-377-7633. Data Animal Data Bempedoic acid Bempedoic acid was not teratogenic when given orally at doses of 60 and 80 mg/kg/day, resulting in 11 and 12 times the systemic exposure in humans at the maximum recommended human dose (MRHD) of 180 mg to pregnant rats and rabbits, respectively.

In an embryofetal development study in rats, bempedoic acid was given orally to pregnant rats at 10, 30, and 60 mg/kg/day during the period of organogenesis from gestation day 6 to 17. There were increases in the incidence of non-adverse fetal skeletal variations (bent long bones and bent…