Insulin detemir

12.1 Mechanism of Action The primary activity of insulin, including LEVEMIR, is regulation of glucose metabolism. Insulins and its analogs lower blood glucose by stimulating peripheral glucose uptake, especially by skeletal muscle and fat, and by inhibiting hepatic glucose production. Insulin also inhibits lipolysis and proteolysis, and enhances protein synthesis.

1 INDICATIONS AND USAGE LEVEMIR is indicated to improve glycemic control in adult and pediatric patients with diabetes mellitus. Limitations of Use LEVEMIR is not recommended for the treatment of diabetic ketoacidosis. LEVEMIR is a long-acting human insulin analog indicated to improve glycemic control in adult and pediatric patients with diabetes mellitus ( 1 ). Limitations of Use: Not recommended for the treatment of diabetic ketoacidosis.

2 DOSAGE AND ADMINISTRATION • See Full Prescribing Information for important administration instructions ( 2.1 ). • Inject subcutaneously into the thigh, upper arm, or abdomen ( 2.1 ). • Rotate injection sites to reduce risk of lipodystrophy and localized cutaneous amyloidosis ( 2.1 ). • Individualize and titrate the dose of LEVEMIR based on the patient’s metabolic needs, blood glucose monitoring results, and glycemic control goal ( 2.2 ). • Administer subcutaneously once daily or in divided doses twice daily ( 2.2 ). • See Full Prescribing Information for recommended starting dose in insulin naïve patients and patients already on insulin therapy ( 2.3 , 2.4 ). 2.1 Important Administration Instructions • Always check insulin labels before administration [see Warnings and Precautions ( 5.4 )]. • Visually inspect for particulate matter and discoloration. Only use LEVEMIR if the solution appears clear and colorless. • Inject LEVEMIR subcutaneously into the thigh, upper arm, or abdomen. • Rotate injection sites within the same region from one injection to the next to reduce the risk of lipodystrophy and localized cutaneous amyloidosis. Do not inject into areas of lipodystrophy or localized cutaneous amyloidosis [see Warnings and Precautions ( 5.2 ), Adverse Reactions ( 6 )] . • During changes to a patient’s insulin regimen, increase the frequency of blood glucose monitoring [see Warnings and Precautions ( 5.2 )]. • Do not dilute or mix LEVEMIR with any other insulin or solution. • Do not administer LEVEMIR intravenously or in an insulin infusion pump. • LEVEMIR FlexPen dials in 1-unit increments. • Use the LEVEMIR FlexPen with caution in patients with visual impairment who may rely on audible clicks to dial their dose. 2.2 General Dosing Instructions • LEVEMIR can be administered by subcutaneous injection once or twice daily. Administer once daily doses with the evening meal or at bedtime. For twice daily dosing, administer the evening dose with the evening meal, at bedtime, or 12 hours after the morning dose. • Individualize and titrate the dose of LEVEMIR based on the patient’s metabolic needs, blood glucose monitoring results, and glycemic control goal. • Dose adjustments may be needed with changes in physical activity, changes in meal patterns (i.e., macronutrient content or timing of food intake), changes in renal or hepatic function or during acute illness to minimize the risk of hypoglycemia or hyperglycemia [see Warnings and Precautions ( 5.3 )]. • In patients with type 1 diabetes, LEVEMIR must be used in a regimen with rapid-acting or short-acting insulin. 2.3 Starting Dose in Insulin Naïve Patients Recommended Starting Dosage in Patients with Type 1 Diabetes The recommended starting dose of LEVEMIR in patients with type 1 diabetes mellitus is approximately one-third to one-half of the total daily insulin dose. The remainder of the total daily insulin dose should be administered as short-acting pre-meal insulin. As a general rule, 0.2 to 0.4 units of insulin per kilogram of body weight can be used to calculate the initial total daily insulin dose in insulin naïve patients with type 1 diabetes. Recommended Starting Dosage in Patients with Type 2 Diabetes The recommended starting dose of LEVEMIR in patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus inadequately controlled on oral antidiabetic medications or a GLP-1 receptor agonist is 10 units (or 0.1 units/kg to 0.2 units/kg) given once daily in the evening or divided into a twice daily regimen. 2.4 Switching to LEVEMIR from Other Insulin Therapies Dosage adjustments are recommended to lower the risk of hypoglycemia when switching patients to LEVEMIR from another insulin therapy [see Warnings and Precautions ( 5.3 )]. • If converting from insulin glargine to LEVEMIR, the change can be done on a unit-to-unit basis. • If converting from NPH insulin, the change can be done on a unit-to-unit basis. However, some patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus may require more LEVEMIR than NPH insulin, as observed in one trial [see Clinical Studies ( 14 )] .

6 ADVERSE REACTIONS The following adverse reactions are discussed elsewhere: • Hypoglycemia [see Warnings and Precautions ( 5.3 )] • Hypoglycemia Due to Medication errors [see Warnings and Precautions ( 5.4 )] • Hypersensitivity Reactions [see Warnings and Precautions ( 5.5 )] • Hypokalemia [see Warnings and Precautions ( 5.6 )] Adverse reactions associated with LEVEMIR include hypoglycemia, allergic reactions, injection site reactions, lipodystrophy, rash and pruritus ( 6 ). To report SUSPECTED ADVERSE REACTIONS, contact Novo Nordisk Inc. at 1-800-727-6500 or FDA at 1-800-FDA-1088 or www.fda.gov/medwatch 6.1 Clinical Trial Experience Because clinical trials are conducted under widely varying designs, the adverse reaction rates reported in one clinical trial may not be easily compared to those rates reported in another clinical trial, and may not reflect the rates actually observed in clinical practice. The frequencies of adverse reactions (excluding hypoglycemia) reported during LEVEMIR clinical trials in patients with type 1 diabetes mellitus and type 2 diabetes mellitus are listed in Tables 1-4 below. See Tables 5 and 6 for the hypoglycemia findings. In two pooled trials, adults with type 1 diabetes were exposed to individualized doses of LEVEMIR (n=767) or NPH (n=388). The mean duration of exposure to LEVEMIR was 153 days, and the total exposure to LEVEMIR was 321 patient-years. The most common adverse reactions are summarized in Table 1. Table 1: Adverse Reactions Occurring in ≥ 5% of LEVEMIR-Treated Adult Patients with Type 1 Diabetes Mellitus in Two Trials of 16 Weeks and 24 Weeks Duration LEVEMIR, % (n = 767) Upper respiratory tract infection 26.1 Headache 22.6 Pharyngitis 9.5 Influenza-like illness 7.8 Abdominal Pain 6.0 Adults with type 1 diabetes were exposed to LEVEMIR (n=161) or insulin glargine (n=159). The mean duration of exposure to LEVEMIR was 176 days, and the total exposure to LEVEMIR was 78 patient-years. The most common adverse reactions are summarized in Table 2. Table 2: Adverse Reactions Occurring in ≥ 5% of LEVEMIR-Treated Adult Patients with Type 1 Diabetes Mellitus in a 26-week Trial LEVEMIR, % (n = 161) Upper respiratory tract infection 26.7 Headache 14.3 Back pain 8.1 Influenza-like illness 6.2 Gastroenteritis 5.6 Bronchitis 5.0 In two pooled trials, adults with type 2 diabetes were exposed to LEVEMIR (n=432) or NPH (n=437). The mean duration of exposure to LEVEMIR was 157 days, and the total exposure to LEVEMIR was 186 patient-years. The most common adverse reactions were comparable to that observed in adult patients with type 1 diabetes mellitus; see Table 1. Pediatric patients with type 1 diabetes were exposed to individualized doses of LEVEMIR (n=232) or NPH (n=115). The mean duration of exposure to LEVEMIR was 180 days, and the total exposure to LEVEMIR was 114 patient-years. The most common adverse reactions are summarized in Table 3. Table 3: Adverse Reactions Occurring in ≥ 5% of LEVEMIR-Treated Pediatric Patients with Type 1 Diabetes Mellitus in a 26-week Trial LEVEMIR, % (n = 232) Upper respiratory tract infection 35.8 Headache 31.0 Pharyngitis 17.2 Gastroenteritis 16.8 Influenza-like illness 13.8 Abdominal pain 13.4 Pyrexia 10.3 Cough 8.2 Viral infection 7.3 Nausea 6.5 Rhinitis 6.5 Vomiting 6.5 Hypoglycemia Hypoglycemia was the most commonly observed adverse reaction in patients treated with LEVEMIR. The rates of reported hypoglycemia depend on the definition of hypoglycemia used, diabetes type, insulin dose, intensity of glucose control, background therapies, and other intrinsic and extrinsic patient factors. For these reasons, comparing rates of hypoglycemia in clinical trials for LEVEMIR with the incidence of hypoglycemia for other products may be misleading and also, may not be representative of hypoglycemia rates that will occur in clinical practice. Table 4 (type 1 diabetes) and Table 5 (type 2 diabetes) summarize the incidence of severe and non-severe hypoglycemia in the LEVEMIR clinical trials. For the adult trials and one of the pediatric trials (Study D), severe hypoglycemia was defined as an event with symptoms consistent with hypoglycemia requiring assistance of another person and associated with either a plasma glucose value below 56 mg/dL (blood glucose below 50 mg/dL) or prompt recovery after oral carbohydrate, intravenous glucose or glucagon administration. For the other pediatric trial (Study I), severe hypoglycemia was defined as an event with semi-consciousness, unconsciousness, coma and/or convulsions in a patient who could not assist in the treatment and who may have required glucagon or intravenous glucose. For the adult trials and pediatric trial (Study D), non-severe hypoglycemia was defined as an asymptomatic or symptomatic plasma glucose <56 mg/dL (or equivalently blood glucose <50 mg/dL as used in Study A and C) that was self-treated by the patient. For pediatric Study I, non-severe hypoglycemia included asymptomatic events with plasma gluc

7 DRUG INTERACTIONS Table 6 includes clinically significant drug interactions with LEVEMIR. Table 6: Clinically Significant Drug Interactions with LEVEMIR Drugs That May Increase the Risk of Hypoglycemia Drugs: Antidiabetic agents, ACE inhibitors, angiotensin II receptor blocking agents, disopyramide, fibrates, fluoxetine, monoamine oxidase inhibitors, pentoxifylline, pramlintide, salicylates, somatostatin analogs (e.g., octreotide), and sulfonamide antibiotics, GLP-1 receptor agonists, DPP-4 inhibitors, SGLT-2 inhibitors. Intervention: Dosage reductions and increased frequency of glucose monitoring may be required when LEVEMIR is co-administered with these drugs. Drugs That May Decrease the Blood Glucose Lowering Effect of LEVEMIR Drugs: Atypical antipsychotics (e.g., olanzapine and clozapine), corticosteroids, danazol, diuretics, estrogens, glucagon, isoniazid, niacin, oral contraceptives, phenothiazines, progestogens (e.g., in oral contraceptives), protease inhibitors, somatropin, sympathomimetic agents (e.g., albuterol, epinephrine, terbutaline), and thyroid hormones. Intervention: Dosage increases and increased frequency of glucose monitoring may be required when LEVEMIR is co-administered with these drugs. Drugs That May Increase or Decrease the Blood Glucose Lowering Effect of LEVEMIR Drugs: Alcohol, beta-blockers, clonidine, and lithium salts. Pentamidine may cause hypoglycemia, which may sometimes be followed by hyperglycemia. Intervention: Dosage adjustment and increased frequency of glucose monitoring may be required when LEVEMIR is co-administered with these drugs. Drugs That May Blunt Signs and Symptoms of Hypoglycemia Drugs: Beta-blockers, clonidine, guanethidine, and reserpine Intervention: Increased frequency of glucose monitoring may be required when LEVEMIR is co-administered with these drugs. • Drugs that Affect Glucose Metabolism: Adjustment of insulin dosage may be needed. ( 7 ) • Antiadrenergic Drugs (e.g., beta-blockers, clonidine, guanethidine, and reserpine): Signs and symptoms of hypoglycemia may be reduced or absent. ( 5.3 , 7 )