Find a Drug
Advanced Search

Professional

Fuzeon

Side Effects & Drug Interactions
font size

SIDE EFFECTS

The overall safety profile of FUZEON is based on 2131 subjects who received at least 1 dose of FUZEON during various clinical trials. This includes 2051 adults, 658 of whom received the recommended dose for greater than 48 weeks, and 63 pediatric subjects.

Assessment of treatment-emergent adverse events is based on the pooled data from the two Phase 3 studies T20-301 and T20-302.

Local Injection Site Reactions

Local injection site reactions were the most frequent adverse events associated with the use of FUZEON. In Phase 3 clinical studies (T20-301 and T20-302), 98% of subjects had at least one local injection site reaction (ISR). A total of 7% of subjects discontinued treatment with FUZEON because of ISRs (4%) or difficulties with injecting FUZEON (3%) such as injection fatigue and inconvenience. Eighty-five percent of subjects experienced their first ISR during the initial week of treatment; ISRs continued to occur throughout treatment with FUZEON. For most subjects the severity of signs and symptoms associated with ISRs did not change during the 48 weeks of treatment. The majority of ISRs were associated with erythema, induration, the presence of nodules or cysts, and mild to moderate pain at the injection site (Table 4). In addition, the average duration of individual ISRs was between three and seven days in 41% of subjects and more than seven days in 24% of subjects. Also, the numbers of ISRs per subject at any one time was between six to 14 ISRs in 26% of subjects and more than 14 ISRs in 1.3% of subjects. Infection at the injection site (including abscess and cellulitis) was reported in 1.7% of adult subjects.

Table 4: Summary of Individual Signs/Symptoms Characterizing Local Injection Site Reactions to Enfuvirtide in Studies T20-301 and T20-302 Combined (% of Subjects) Through 48 Weeks

  N=663
Event Category Any Severity Grade % of Patients with Grade 3 Reactions % of Patients with Grade 4 Reactions
Pain/Discomfort a 96% 11% 0%
Induration 90% 39% 18%
> 25 but < 50 mm ≥ 50 mm
Erythema 91% 22% 10%
> 50 but < 85 mm ≥ 85 mm
Nodules and Cysts 80% 23% 0.2%
> 3 cm average draining
diameter  
Pruritus b 65% 3% NA
Ecchymosis 52% 5% 2%
> 3 but ≤ 5 cm > 5 cm
aGrade 3 = severe pain requiring prescription non-topical analgesics or limiting usual activities.
Grade 4 = severe pain requiring hospitalization or prolongation of hospitalization, resulting in death, or persistent or significant disability/incapacity, or life-threatening, or medically significant.
bGrade 3 = refractory to topical treatment or requiring oral or parenteral treatment; Grade 4 = not applicable.

Biojector 2000 Needle-Free Device

Adverse events associated with the use of the Biojector 2000 needle-free device for administration of FUZEON have included: nerve pain (neuralgia and/or paresthesia) lasting up to 6 months associated with administration at anatomical sites where large nerves course close to the skin, bruising and hematomas (see PRECAUTIONS).

Other Adverse Events

Systemic hypersensitivity reactions have been attributed to FUZEON ( ≤ 1%) and in some cases have recurred upon re-challenge (see WARNINGS).

In the T20-301 and T20-302 studies, after study week 8, patients on background alone who met protocol defined criteria for virological failure were permitted to revise their background regimens and add FUZEON. Exposure on FUZEON+background was 557 patient-years, and to background alone 162 patient-years. Due to this difference in exposure, safety results are expressed as the number of patients with an adverse event per 100 patient-years of exposure. For FUZEON+background, adverse events are also displayed by percent of subjects.

The events most frequently reported in subjects receiving FUZEON+background regimen, excluding injection site reactions, were diarrhea (38 per 100 patient-years or 31.7%), nausea (27 per 100 patient-years or 22.8%), and fatigue (24 per 100 patient-years or 20.2%). These events were also commonly observed in subjects that received background regimen alone: diarrhea (73 per 100 patient-years), nausea (50 per 100 patient-years), and fatigue (38 per 100 patient-years).

Treatment-emergent adverse events, regardless of causality and excluding ISRs, from Phase 3 studies are summarized for adult subjects, in Table 5. Any Grade 2 or above events occurring at ≥ 2 percent of subjects and at a higher rate in subjects treated with FUZEON are summarized in Table 5; events that occurred at a higher rate in the control arms are not displayed. Rates of adverse events for patients who switched to FUZEON after virological failure were similar.

Table 5: Rates of Treatment-Emergent Adverse Events* ( Grade 2) Reported in ≥ 2 % of Patients Treated with FUZEON** (Pooled Studies T20-301/T20-302 at 48 Weeks)

Adverse Event (by System Organ Class) FUZEON+Back- ground Regimen
(N=663)
FUZEON+Back- ground Regimen
(N=663)
Background Regimen
(N=334)
  663 patients total 557 total patient-years 162 total patient-years
  % frequency rate/100 patient-years rate/100 patient-years
Weight Decreased 6.6% 7.9 6.2
  663 patients total 557 total patient-years 162 total patient-years
  % frequency rate/100 patient-years rate/100 patient-years
Sinusitis 6.0% 7.2 4.9
Abdominal Pain 3.9% 4.7 3.7
Cough 3.9% 4.7 2.5
Herpes Simplex 3.5% 4.1 3.7
Appetite Decreased 3.2% 3.8 2.5
Pancreatitis 3.0% 3.6 2.5
Pain in Limb 2.9% 3.4 3.1
Pneumonia (see text below) 2.7% 3.2 0.6
Myalgia 2.7% 3.2 1.2
Influenza-Like Illness 2.4% 2.9 1.9
Folliculitis 2.4% 2.9 2.5
Anorexia 2.3% 2.7 1.9
Dry Mouth 2.1% 2.5 1.9
Conjunctivitis 2.0% 2.3 1.9
*Excludes Injection Site Reactions
**Events listed occurred more frequently in patients treated with FUZEON (based on rates/100 patient-years).

The incidence of pneumonia was 2.7% or 3.2 events/100 patient-years in subjects receiving FUZEON+background regimen. On analysis of all diagnoses of pneumonia (pneumonia, bacterial pneumonia, bronchopneumonia, and related terms) in the Phase 3 clinical trials, an increased rate of bacterial pneumonia was observed in subjects treated with FUZEON compared to the control arm (6.9%, 6.7 pneumonia events per 100 patient-years versus 0.6 events per 100 patient-years, respectively). Approximately half of the study subjects with pneumonia required hospitalization. Three subject deaths in the FUZEON arm were attributed to pneumonia; all three had serious concomitant AIDS-related illnesses that contributed to their deaths. Risk factors for pneumonia included low initial CD4+ lymphocyte count, high initial viral load, intravenous drug use, smoking, and a prior history of lung disease. It is unclear if the increased incidence of pneumonia was related to FUZEON use. However, because of this, finding patients with HIV infection should be carefully monitored for signs and symptoms of pneumonia, especially if they have underlying conditions which may predispose them to pneumonia (see WARNINGS).

Less Common Events

The following adverse events have been reported in 1 or more subjects; however, a causal relationship to FUZEON has not been established.

Immune System Disorders: worsening abacavir hypersensitivity reaction

Renal and Urinary Disorders: glomerulonephritis; tubular necrosis; renal insufficiency; renal failure (including fatal cases)

Blood and Lymphatic Disorders: thrombocytopenia; neutropenia; fever; lymphadenopathy

Endocrine and Metabolic: hyperglycemia

Infections: sepsis; herpes simplex

Nervous System Disorders: taste disturbance; Guillain-Barre syndrome (fatal); sixth nerve palsy; peripheral neuropathy

Cardiac Disorders: unstable angina pectoris

Gastrointestinal Disorders: constipation; abdominal pain upper

General: asthenia

Hepatobiliary Disorders: toxic hepatitis; hepatic steatosis

Investigations: increased amylase; increased lipase; increased AST; increased GGT; increased triglycerides

Psychiatric Disorders: insomnia; depression; anxiety; suicide attempt

Respiratory, Thoracic, and Mediastinal Disorders: pneumopathy; respiratory distress; cough

Skin and Subcutaneous Tissue Disorders: pruritus

Laboratory Abnormalities

Table 6 shows the treatment-emergent laboratory abnormalities that occurred in at least 2 subjects per 100 patient-years and more frequently in those receiving FUZEON+background regimen than background regimen alone from studies T20-301 and T20-302.

Table 6: Treatment-Emergent Laboratory Abnormalities in ≥ 2 % of Patients Receiving FUZEON* (Pooled Studies T20-301 and T20-302 at 48 Weeks)

Laboratory Parameters Grading FUZEON+Back- ground Regimen
(N=663)
FUZEON+Back- ground Regimen
(N=663)
Background Regimen
(N=334)
    663 patients total 557 total patient-years 162 total patient-years
    % frequency rate/100 patient-years rate/100 patient-years
Eosinophilia
  1-2 X ULN (0.7 x 109/L) 0.7-1.4 x 109/L 9.1% 10.8 3.7
   > 2 X ULN (0.7 x 109/L) < 1.4 x 109/L 1.8% 2.2 1.8
ALT
  Grade 3 < 5-10 x ULN 4.1% 4.8 4.3
  Grade 4 < 10 x ULN 1.2% 1.4 1.2
Creatine Phosphokinase (U/L)
  Grade 3 < 5-10 x ULN 6.9% 8.3 8.0
  Grade 4 < 10 x ULN 2.6% 3.1 8.6
*Events listed occurred more frequently in patients treated with FUZEON (based on rates/100 patient-years).

Adverse Events in Pediatric Patients

FUZEON has been studied in 63 pediatric subjects 5 through 16 years of age with duration of FUZEON exposure ranging from 1 dose to 134 weeks. Adverse experiences seen during clinical trials were similar to those observed in adult subjects, although infections at site of injection (cellulitis or abscess) were more frequent in adolescents than in adults, with 4 events occurring in 3 of 28 (11%) subjects.

DRUG INTERACTIONS

CYP450 Metabolized Drugs

Results from in vitro and in vivo studies suggest that enfuvirtide is unlikely to have significant drug interactions with concomitantly administered drugs metabolized by CYP450 enzymes (see CLINICAL PHARMACOLOGY).

Antiretroviral Agents

No drug interactions with other antiretroviral medications have been identified that would warrant alteration of either the enfuvirtide dose or the dose of the other antiretroviral medication.

Brand Name: Fuzeon
Generic Name: Enfuvirtide

Report Problems to the Food and Drug Administration

 

You are encouraged to report negative side effects of prescription drugs to the FDA. Visit the FDA MedWatch website or call 1-800-FDA-1088.


Bookmark this page:


WebMD Daily

Get breaking medical news.

WebMD Symptom Checker - Start Here Ringworm Slideshow: Watch and Learn

HIV Test for Early DetectionHIV Test for Early Detection
There is a test that may help detect the virus sooner, so patients can start treatment much faster. See more WebMD Videos »