Pitavastatin Sodium 2 Mg Oral Tablet

Risk Factors for Myopathy

Risk factors for myopathy include age 65 years or greater, uncontrolled hypothyroidism, renal impairment, concomitant use of certain drugs (including other lipid-lowering therapies), and higher NIKITA dosage [see Dosage and Administration (2.2), Drug Interactions (7), and Use in Specific Populations (8.5, 8.6)]. Dosages of pitavastatin greater than 4 mg once daily were associated with an increased risk for severe myopathy in premarketing clinical studies. The maximum recommended dose of NIKITA is 4 mg once daily.

Steps to Prevent or Reduce the Risk of Myopathy and Rhabdomyolysis

NIKITA is contraindicated in patients taking cyclosporine and not recommended in patients taking gemfibrozil [see Contraindications (4) and Drug Interactions (7)]. There are NIKITA dosage restrictions for patients taking erythromycin or rifampin [see Dosage and Administration (2.4)]. The following drugs when used concomitantly with NIKITA may also increase the risk of myopathy and rhabdomyolysis: lipid-modifying dosages of niacin (>1grams/day), fibrates, and colchicine [see Drug Interactions (7)].

Discontinue NIKITA if markedly elevated CK levels occur or if myopathy is either diagnosed or suspected. Muscle symptoms and CK elevations may resolve if NIKITA is discontinued. Temporarily discontinue NIKITA in patients experiencing an acute or serious condition at high risk of developing renal failure secondary to rhabdomyolysis (e.g., sepsis; shock; severe hypovolemia; major surgery; trauma; severe metabolic, endocrine, or electrolyte disorders; or uncontrolled epilepsy).

Inform patients of the risk of myopathy and rhabdomyolysis when starting or increasing the NIKITA dosage. Instruct patients to promptly report any unexplained muscle pain, tenderness or weakness, particularly if accompanied by malaise or fever.

Patients who consume substantial quantities of alcohol and/or have a history of liver disease may be at increased risk for hepatic injury.

Consider liver enzyme testing before the initiation of NIKITA and when clinically indicated thereafter. NIKITA is contraindicated in patients with acute liver failure or decompensated cirrhosis [see Contraindications (4)]. If serious hepatic injury with clinical symptoms and/or hyperbilirubinemia or jaundice occurs, promptly discontinue NIKITA. 

Discontinue NIKITA when pregnancy is recognized. Alternatively, consider the ongoing therapeutic needs of the individual patient.

NIKITA decreases synthesis of cholesterol and possibly other biologically active substances derived from cholesterol; therefore, NIKITA may cause fetal harm when administered to pregnant patients based on the mechanism of action [see Clinical Pharmacology (12.1)]. In addition, treatment of hyperlipidemia 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 hyperlipidemia for most patients.

Available data from case series and prospective and retrospective observational cohort studies over decades of use with statins in pregnant women have not identified a drug-associated risk of major congenital malformations. Published data from prospective and retrospective observational cohort studies with statin use in pregnant women are insufficient to determine if there is a drug associated risk of miscarriage (see Data).

In animal reproduction studies, no embryo-fetal toxicity or congenital malformations were observed in pregnant rats and rabbits orally administered pitavastatin during the period of organogenesis at doses which were 22 and 4 times, respectively, the human exposure at the maximum recommended human dosage (MRHD) of 4 mg, based on AUC [see Data].

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 to 4% and 15 to 20%, respectively.

Data

Human Data:

A Medicaid cohort linkage study of 1152 statin-exposed pregnant women compared to 886,996 controls did not find a significant teratogenic effect from maternal use of statins in the first trimester of pregnancy, after adjusting for potential confounders – including maternal age, diabetes mellitus, hypertension, obesity, and alcohol and tobacco use – using propensity score-based methods. The relative risk of congenital malformations between the group with statin use and the group with no statin use in the first trimester was 1.07 (95% confidence interval 0.85 to 1.37) after controlling for confounders, particularly pre-existing diabetes mellitus. There were also no statistically significant increases in any of the organ-specific malformations assessed after accounting for confounders. In the majority of pregnancies, statin treatment was initiated prior to pregnancy and was discontinued at some point in the first trimester when pregnancy was identified. Study limitations include reliance on physician coding to define the presence of a malformation, lack of control for certain confounders such as body mass index, use of prescription dispensing as verification for the use of a statin, and lack of information on non-live births.

Animal Data:

Embryo-fetal developmental studies were conducted in pregnant rats administered 3, 10, 30 mg/kg/day pitavastatin by oral gavage during organogenesis (gestation days 7-17).  No adverse effects were observed at 3 mg/kg/day, systemic exposures 22 times human systemic exposure at 4 mg/day based on AUC.  

Embryo-fetal developmental studies were conducted in pregnant rabbits administered 0.1, 0.3, 1 mg/kg/day pitavastatin by oral gavage during the period of fetal organogenesis (gestation days 6-18).  Maternal toxicity consisting of reduced body weight and abortion was observed at all doses tested (4 times human systemic exposure at 4 mg/day based on AUC).

In perinatal/postnatal studies in pregnant rats given oral gavage doses of pitavastatin at 0.1, 0.3, 1, 3, 10, 30 mg/kg/day from organogenesis through weaning (gestation day 17 to lactation day 21), maternal toxicity consisting of mortality at ≥0.3 mg/kg/day and impaired lactation at all doses contributed to the decreased survival of neonates in all dose groups (0.1 mg/kg/day represents approximately 1 time human systemic exposure at 4 mg/day dose based on AUC).

Reproductive toxicity studies have shown that pitavastatin crosses the placenta in rats and is found in fetal tissues at ≤36% of maternal plasma concentrations following a single dose of 1 mg/kg/day during gestation (at the end of organogenesis).

There is no available information about the prescence of pitavastatin in human or animal milk, the effects of the drug on the breastfed infant, or the effects of the drug on milk production. However, it has been shown that another drug in this class passes into human milk. Statins, including NIKITA, decrease cholesterol synthesis and possibly the synthesis of other biologically active substances derived from cholesterol and may cause harm to the breastfed infant.

Because of the potential for serious adverse reactions in a breastfed infant, based upon the mechanism of action, advise patients that breastfeeding is not recommended during treatment with NIKITA. [see Use in Specific Populations (8.1), Clinical Pharmacology (12.1)]

Pediatric use information is approved for Kowa Co Ltd's LIVALO (pitavastatin) tablets. However, due to Kowa Co Ltd's marketing exclusivity rights, this drug product is not labeled with that information.

Advanced age (≥65 years) is a risk factor for NIKITA-associated myopathy and rhabdomyolysis. Dose selection for a geriatric patient should be cautious, reognizing the greater frequency of decreased hepatic, renal, or cardiac function, and of concomitant disease or other drug therapy and the higher risk of myopathy. Monitor geriatric patients receiving NIKITA for the increased risk of myopathy [see Warnings and Precautions (5.1)].

In a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled, 4-way parallel, active-comparator study with moxifloxacin in 174 healthy participants, pitavastatin was not associated with clinically meaningful prolongation of the QTc interval or heart rate at daily doses up to 16 mg (4 times the recommended maximum dose of 4 mg daily).

Pitavastatin peak plasma concentrations are achieved about 1 hour after oral administration. Both C_max and AUC_{0 to inf} increased in an approximately dose-proportional manner for single pitavastatin doses from 1 mg to 24 mg once daily. The absolute bioavailability of pitavastatin oral solution is 51%. The C_max and AUC of pitavastatin did not differ following evening or morning drug administration. In healthy volunteers receiving 4 mg pitavastatin, the percent change from baseline for LDL-C following evening dosing was slightly greater than that following morning dosing. Pitavastatin was absorbed in the small intestine but very little in the colon. 

Effect of Food: 

Administration of pitavastatin with a high fat meal (50% fat content) decreases pitavastatin C_max by 43% but does not significantly reduce pitavastatin AUC.

Distribution 

Pitavastatin is more than 99% protein bound in human plasma, mainly to albumin and alpha 1-acid glycoprotein, and the mean volume of distribution is approximately 148 L.

Elimination 

Metabolism 

The principal route of pitavastatin metabolism is glucuronidation via liver uridine 5'-diphosphate glucuronosyltransferase (UGT) with subsequent formation of pitavastatin lactone. There is only minimal metabolism by the cytochrome P450 system. Pitavastatin is marginally metabolized by CYP2C9 and to a lesser extent by CYP2C8. The major metabolite in human plasma is the lactone, which is formed via an ester-type pitavastatin glucuronide conjugate by UGTs (UGT1A3 and UGT2B7).  

Excretion 

A mean of 15% of radioactivity of orally administered, single 32 mg ¹⁴C-labeled pitavastatin dose was excreted in urine, whereas a mean of 79% of the dose was excreted in feces within 7 days. The mean plasma elimination half-life is approximately 12 hours. 

Specific Populations

Geriatric Patients 

In a pharmacokinetic study which compared healthy young and geriatric (≥65 years) volunteers, pitavastatin C_max and AUC were 10 and 30% higher, respectively, in the geriatric patients [see Use in Specific Populations (8.4)]  

Pediatric use information is approved for Kowa Co Ltd's LIVALO (pitavastatin) tablets. However, due to Kowa Co Ltd's marketing exclusivity rights, this drug product is not labeled with that information. 

Male and Female Patients

In a pharmacokinetic study, which compared healthy male and female volunteers, pitavastatin Cmax and AUC were 60 and 54% higher, respectively in females.

Racial or Ethnic Groups

In pharmacokinetic studies pitavastatin Cmax and AUC were 21 and 5% lower, respectively in Black or African American healthy volunteers compared with those of White healthy volunteers. In pharmacokinetic comparison between White volunteers and Japanese volunteers, there were no significant differences in Cmax and AUC.

Patients with Renal Impairment

In adult patients with moderate renal impairment (estimated glomerular filtration rate of 30 to 59 mL/min/1.73 m²) and end stage renal disease receiving hemodialysis, pitavastatin AUC_{0 to inf}  is 102% and 86% higher than those of healthy volunteers, respectively, while pitavastatin C_max  is 60% and 40% higher than those of healthy volunteers, respectively. Patients received hemodialysis immediately before pitavastatin dosing and did not undergo hemodialysis during the pharmacokinetic study. Hemodialysis patients have 33% and 36% increases in the mean unbound fraction of pitavastatin as compared to healthy volunteers and patients with moderate renal impairment, respectively [see Use in Specific Populations (8.5)]. 

In another pharmacokinetic study, adult patients with severe renal impairment (estimated glomerular filtration rate 15 to 29 mL/min/1.73 m²) not receiving hemodialysis were administered a single dose of pitavastatin 4 mg. The AUC_{0 to inf} and the C_max were 36% and 18% higher, respectively, compared with those of healthy volunteers. For both patients with severe renal impairment and healthy volunteers, the mean percentage of protein-unbound pitavastatin was approximately 0.6% [see Use in Specific Populations (8.5)].

The effect of mild renal impairment on pitavastatin exposure has not been studied.   

Patients with Hepatic Impairment  

The disposition of pitavastatin was compared in healthy volunteers and patients with various degrees of hepatic impairment. Pitavastatin C_max and AUC_inf in patients with moderate hepatic impairment (Child-Pugh B disease) was 2.7-fold and 3.8-fold higher, respectively as compared to healthy volunteers. In patients with mild hepatic impairment (Child-Pugh A disease), pitavastatin C_max and AUC_inf were 30% and 60% higher as compared to healthy volunteers. Mean pitavastatin half-life for moderate hepatic impairment, mild hepatic impairment, and healthy volunteers were 15, 10, and 8 hours, respectively [see Contraindications (4), Warnings and Precautions (5.3)].  

Drug Interaction Studies

Warfarin

The steady-state pharmacodynamics (international normalized ratio [INR] and prothrombin time [PT]) and pharmacokinetics of warfarin in healthy volunteers were unaffected by the coadministration of pitavastatin 4 mg daily. 

Table 3 presents the effect of coadministered drugs on pitavastatin systemic exposure:

In a 92-week carcinogenicity study in rats given pitavastatin at 1, 5, 25 mg/kg/day by oral gavage there was a significant increase in the incidence of thyroid follicular cell tumors at 25 mg/kg/day, which represents 295 times human systemic exposures based on AUC at the 4 mg daily maximum human dose.

In a 26-week transgenic mouse (Tg rasH2) carcinogenicity study where animals were given pitavastatin at 30, 75, and 150 mg/kg/day by oral gavage, no clinically significant tumors were observed.

Pitavastatin was not mutagenic in the Ames test with Salmonella typhimurium and Escherichia coli with and without metabolic activation, the micronucleus test following a single administration in mice and multiple administrations in rats, the unscheduled DNA synthesis test in rats, and a Comet assay in mice. In the chromosomal aberration test, clastogenicity was observed at the highest doses tested, which also elicited high levels of cytotoxicity.

Pitavastatin had no adverse effects on male and female rat fertility at oral doses of 10 and 30 mg/kg/day, respectively, at systemic exposures 56- and 354-times clinical exposure at 4 mg daily based on AUC.

Pitavastatin treatment in rabbits resulted in mortality in males and females given 1 mg/kg/day (30-times clinical systemic exposure at 4 mg daily based on AUC) and higher during a fertility study. Although the cause of death was not determined, rabbits had gross signs of renal toxicity (kidneys whitened) indicative of possible ischemia. Lower doses (15-times human systemic exposure) did not show significant toxicity in adult males and females. However, decreased implantations, increased resorptions, and decreased viability of fetuses were observed.