Bempedoic Acid And Ezetimibe
FDA Drug Information • Also known as: Nexlizet
- Brand Names
- Nexlizet
- Drug Class
- Adenosine Triphosphate-Citrate Lyase Inhibitor [EPC], Dietary Cholesterol Absorption Inhibitor [EPC]
- Route
- ORAL
- Dosage Form
- TABLET, FILM COATED
- Product Type
- HUMAN PRESCRIPTION DRUG
Description
11 DESCRIPTION NEXLIZET tablets, for oral use, contain bempedoic acid, an adenosine triphosphate-citrate lyase (ACL) inhibitor, and ezetimibe, a dietary cholesterol absorption inhibitor. The chemical name for bempedoic acid is 8-hydroxy-2,2,14,14-tetramethyl-pentadecanedioic acid. The molecular formula is C 19 H 36 O 5 , and the molecular weight is 344.5 grams per mole. Bempedoic acid is a white to off-white crystalline powder that is highly soluble in ethanol, isopropanol and pH 8.0 phosphate buffer, and insoluble in water and aqueous solutions below pH 5. Structural formula: The chemical name for ezetimibe is 1-(4-fluorophenyl)-3(R)-[3-(4-fluorophenyl)-3(S)- hydroxypropyl]-4(S)-(4-hydroxyphenyl)-2-azetidinone. The molecular formula is C 24 H 21 F 2 NO 3 and the molecular weight is 409.4 grams per mole. Ezetimibe is a white, crystalline powder that is freely to very soluble in ethanol, methanol, and acetone and practically insoluble in water. Structural formula: Each film-coated tablet of NEXLIZET contains 180 mg of bempedoic acid and 10 mg of ezetimibe, and the following inactive ingredients: colloidal silicon dioxide, hydroxy propyl cellulose, lactose monohydrate, magnesium stearate, microcrystalline cellulose, povidone K30, sodium lauryl sulfate, sodium starch glycolate. The film coating comprises of FD&C Blue #1/Brilliant Blue FCF Aluminum Lake, FD&C Blue #2/Indigo Carmine Aluminum Lake, glyceryl monocaprylocaprate, partially hydrolyzed polyvinyl alcohol, sodium lauryl sulfate, talc, and titanium dioxide. Chemical Structure Chemical Structure
What Is Bempedoic Acid And Ezetimibe Used For?
1 INDICATIONS AND USAGE NEXLIZET, a combination of bempedoic acid and ezetimibe, is indicated: as an adjunct to diet and exercise to reduce LDL-C in adults with hypercholesterolemia, including heterozygous familial hypercholesterolemia (HeFH). Bempedoic acid, a component of NEXLIZET, is indicated: to reduce the risk of major adverse cardiovascular events (cardiovascular death, myocardial infarction, stroke, or coronary revascularization) in adults at increased risk for these events who are unable to take recommended statin therapy (including those not taking a statin). NEXLIZET, a combination of bempedoic acid, an adenosine triphosphate citrate lyase (ACL) inhibitor, and ezetimibe, a dietary cholesterol absorption inhibitor, is indicated: As an adjunct to diet and exercise to reduce low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C) in adults with hypercholesterolemia, including heterozygous familial hypercholesterolemia (HeFH). ( 1 ) Bempedoic acid, a component of NEXLIZET, is indicated: To reduce the risk of major adverse cardiovascular events (cardiovascular death, myocardial infarction, stroke, or coronary revascularization) in adults at increased risk for these events who are unable to take recommended statin therapy (including those not taking a statin). ( 1 )
Dosage and Administration
2 DOSAGE AND ADMINISTRATION Administer one tablet (180 mg bempedoic acid and 10 mg ezetimibe) orally once daily with or without food. ( 2.1 ) Swallow the tablet whole. ( 2.1 ) Coadministration with Bile Acid Sequestrants: Administer at least 2 hours before or at least 4 hours after bile acid sequestrants. ( 2.2 ) 2.1 Recommended Dosage and Administration The recommended dosage of NEXLIZET is one tablet orally once daily. One tablet of NEXLIZET contains 180 mg of bempedoic acid and 10 mg of ezetimibe. Swallow the tablet whole. NEXLIZET can be taken with or without food. If a dose is missed, take the missed dose as soon as possible. Do not double the next dose. After initiation of NEXLIZET, analyze lipid levels within 8 to 12 weeks. 2.2 Coadministration with Bile Acid Sequestrants Administer NEXLIZET either at least 2 hours before or at least 4 hours after administration of a bile acid sequestrant [see Drug Interactions (7) ].
Side Effects (Adverse Reactions)
6 ADVERSE REACTIONS The following clinically significant adverse reactions are described elsewhere in the labeling: Hyperuricemia [see Warnings and Precautions (5.1) ] Tendon Rupture [see Warnings and Precautions (5.2) ] Common adverse reactions with NEXLIZET in the primary hypercholesterolemia trials (incidence ≥ 2% and more frequently than placebo) were upper respiratory tract infection, muscle spasms, hyperuricemia, back pain, abdominal pain or discomfort, bronchitis, pain in extremity, anemia, elevated liver enzymes, diarrhea, arthralgia, sinusitis, fatigue, and influenza. ( 6.1 ) The common adverse reaction associated with bempedoic acid in the cardiovascular outcomes trial (incidence ≥ 2% and more frequently than placebo) were hyperuricemia, renal impairment, anemia, elevated liver enzymes, muscle spasms, gout, and cholelithiasis. ( 6.1 ) To report SUSPECTED ADVERSE REACTIONS, contact Esperion at 833-377-7633 (833 ESPRMED) or FDA at 1-800-FDA-1088 or www.fda.gov/medwatch. 6.1 Clinical Trials Experience Because clinical trials are conducted under widely varying conditions, adverse reaction rates observed in the clinical trials of a drug cannot be directly compared to rates in the clinical trials of another drug and may not reflect the rates observed in clinical practice. Bempedoic acid The data in Table 1 reflect exposure to bempedoic acid in two placebo-controlled primary hypercholesterolemia trials that included 2,009 patients treated with bempedoic acid for 52 weeks (median treatment duration of 52 weeks) [see Clinical Studies (14.1) ] . The mean age for bempedoic acid-treated patients was 65 years, 29% were female, 95% were White, 3% were Black or African American, 1% were Asian, and 1% were other races; 3% identified as Hispanic or Latino ethnicity. All patients received bempedoic acid 180 mg orally once daily plus maximally tolerated statin therapy alone or in combination with other lipid-lowering therapies. At baseline, 97% of patients had CVD and about 4% had a diagnosis of HeFH. Patients on simvastatin 40 mg/day or higher were excluded from the trials. In the primary hypercholesterolemia trials, adverse reactions led to discontinuation of treatment in 11% of bempedoic acid-treated patients and 8% of placebo-treated patients. The most common reasons for bempedoic acid treatment discontinuation were muscle spasms (0.5% versus 0.3% placebo), diarrhea (0.4% versus 0.1% placebo), and pain in extremity (0.3% versus 0.0% placebo). Adverse reactions reported in at least 2% of bempedoic acid-treated patients and more frequently than in placebo-treated patients are shown in Table 1. Table 1. Adverse Reactions (≥ 2% and greater than placebo) in Bempedoic Acid-Treated Patients with Primary Hypercholesterolemia and CVD or HeFH (Trials 2 and 3) Adverse Reaction Placebo Background therapy included statin ± other lipid-lowering therapies (N = 999) % Bempedoic acid (N = 2,009) % Upper respiratory tract infection 4.0 4.5 Muscle spasms 2.3 3.6 Hyperuricemia Grouped term that includes other related terms 1.1 3.5 Back pain 2.2 3.3 Abdominal pain or discomfort 2.2 3.1 Bronchitis 2.5 3.0 Pain in extremity 1.7 3.0 Anemia 1.9 2.8 Elevated liver enzymes 0.8 2.1 In the cardiovascular outcomes trial in which 7,001 patients were exposed to bempedoic acid and 6,964 patients were exposed to placebo for a median of 3.1 years [see Clinical Studies (14.2) ] , adverse reactions led to discontinuation of treatment in 11% of bempedoic acid-treated patients and 10% of placebo-treated patients. Adverse reactions reported in at least 2% of bempedoic acid-treated patients and more frequently than placebo are shown in Table 2. Table 2. Adverse Reactions (≥ 2% and 0.5% greater than placebo) in Bempedoic Acid-Treated Patients with CVD or at High Risk for CVD (Trial 4) Adverse Reaction Placebo (N=6,964) % Bempedoic Acid (N=7,001) % Hyperuricemia Grouped term that includes other related terms 8 16 Renal impairment Renal impairment includes laboratory...
Drug Interactions
7 DRUG INTERACTIONS 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...
Contraindications
4 CONTRAINDICATIONS NEXLIZET is contraindicated in patients with a prior hypersensitivity to ezetimibe or bempedoic acid or any of the excipients in NEXLIZET [see Adverse Reactions (6.2) ] . Serious hypersensitivity reactions, such as anaphylaxis, angioedema, rash and urticaria have been reported with ezetimibe or bempedoic acid. Known hypersensitivity to ezetimibe or bempedoic acid or any of the excipients in NEXLIZET. ( 4 , 6.2 )
Pregnancy and Breastfeeding
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...
Overdosage
10 OVERDOSAGE There is no clinical experience with NEXLIZET overdosage. In the event of an overdosage, consider contacting the Poison Help line (1-800-222-1222) or a medical toxicologist for additional overdosage management recommendations.
How Supplied
16 HOW SUPPLIED/STORAGE AND HANDLING How Supplied NEXLIZET tablets are supplied as follows: Tablet Strength Description Package Configuration NDC No. 180 mg of bempedoic acid and 10 mg of ezetimibe blue, oval shaped, debossed with "818" on one side and "ESP" on the other side Bottle of 30 tablets with child-resistant cap 72426-818-03 Storage and Handling Store at 68°F to 77°F (20°C to 25°C); excursions permitted to 59°F to 86°F (15°C to 30°C) [see USP Controlled Room Temperature] . Store and dispense in the original package protected from extreme heat and humidity. Do not discard desiccant. How Supplied NEXLIZET tablets are supplied as follows: Tablet Strength Description Package Configuration NDC No. 180 mg of bempedoic acid and 10 mg of ezetimibe blue, oval shaped, debossed with "818" on one side and "ESP" on the other side Bottle of 30 tablets with child-resistant cap 72426-818-03
About This Information
This drug information is sourced from FDA-approved labeling via the openFDA database. It is intended for educational and reference purposes only. This is not medical advice. Always consult your healthcare provider before making decisions about medication. Drug information may be updated by the FDA; check with your pharmacist for the most current information.
What are side effects?
Side effects are unwanted reactions that can occur when taking a medication. They range from mild (headache, nausea) to severe (allergic reactions, organ damage). Not everyone experiences side effects, and severity varies. Report any concerning side effects to your doctor.
What are drug interactions?
Drug interactions occur when a medication is affected by another drug, food, or supplement. Interactions can make medications less effective or cause dangerous side effects. Always tell your doctor about all medications and supplements you take.