• Hepatotoxicity has been reported in patients receiving a dolutegravir-containing regimen. Monitoring for hepatotoxicity is recommended. • Lactic acidosis and severe hepatomegaly with steatosis, including fatal cases, have been reported with the use of nucleoside analogues. • Immune reconstitution syndrome has been reported in patients treated with combination antiretroviral therapy. • TRIUMEQ tablets and TRIUMEQ PD tablets for oral suspension are not substitutable. 5.1 Hypersensitivity Reactions Hypersensitivity reactions have been reported with the use of abacavir or dolutegravir, components of TRIUMEQ and TRIUMEQ PD. Abacavir Serious and sometimes fatal hypersensitivity reactions have occurred with abacavir-containing regimens. See full prescribing information for ZIAGEN (abacavir). Abacavir hypersensitivity reactions have included multi-organ failure and anaphylaxis and typically occurred within the first 6 weeks of treatment with abacavir (median time to onset was 9 days); although abacavir hypersensitivity reactions have occurred any time during treatment . Patients who carry the HLA‑B*5701 allele are at a higher risk of abacavir hypersensitivity reactions; although, patients who do not carry the HLA‑B*5701 allele have developed hypersensitivity reactions. Hypersensitivity to abacavir was reported in approximately 206 (8%) of 2,670 patients in 9 clinical trials with abacavir-containing products where HLA‑B*5701 screening was not performed. The incidence of suspected abacavir hypersensitivity reactions in clinical trials was 1% when subjects carrying the HLA-B*5701 allele were excluded. In any patient treated with abacavir, the clinical diagnosis of hypersensitivity reaction must remain the basis of clinical decision making. Due to the potential for severe, serious, and possibly fatal hypersensitivity reactions with abacavir: • All patients should be screened for the HLA‑B*5701 allele prior to initiating therapy with TRIUMEQ or TRIUMEQ PD or reinitiation of therapy with TRIUMEQ or TRIUMEQ PD, unless patients have a previously documented HLA‑B*5701 allele assessment. • TRIUMEQ and TRIUMEQ PD are contraindicated in patients with a prior hypersensitivity reaction to abacavir and in HLA‑B*5701‑positive patients. • Before starting TRIUMEQ or TRIUMEQ PD, review medical history for prior exposure to any abacavir-containing product. NEVER restart TRIUMEQ or TRIUMEQ PD or any other abacavir-containing product following a hypersensitivity reaction to abacavir, regardless of HLA‑B*5701 status. • To reduce the risk of a life‑threatening hypersensitivity reaction, regardless of HLA‑B*5701 status, discontinue TRIUMEQ or TRIUMEQ PD immediately if a hypersensitivity reaction is suspected, even when other diagnoses are possible (e.g., acute onset respiratory diseases such as pneumonia, bronchitis, pharyngitis, or influenza; gastroenteritis; or reactions to other medications). Clinical status, including liver chemistries, should be monitored and appropriate therapy initiated. • If a hypersensitivity reaction cannot be ruled out, do not restart TRIUMEQ or TRIUMEQ PD or any other abacavir-containing products because more severe symptoms, which may include life-threatening hypotension and death, can occur within hours. • Clinically, it is not possible to determine whether a hypersensitivity reaction with TRIUMEQ or TRIUMEQ PD would be caused by abacavir or dolutegravir. Therefore, never restart TRIUMEQ or TRIUMEQ PD or any other abacavir- or dolutegravir-containing product in patients who have stopped therapy with TRIUMEQ or TRIUMEQ PD due to a hypersensitivity reaction. • If a hypersensitivity reaction is ruled out, patients may restart TRIUMEQ or TRIUMEQ PD. Rarely, patients who have stopped abacavir for reasons other than symptoms of hypersensitivity have also experienced life-threatening reactions within hours of reinitiating abacavir therapy. Therefore, reintroduction of TRIUMEQ or TRIUMEQ PD, or any other abacavir-containing product, is recommended only if medical care can be readily accessed. • A Medication Guide and Warning Card that provide information about recognition of abacavir hypersensitivity reactions should be dispensed with each new prescription and refill. Dolutegravir Hypersensitivity reactions have been reported and were characterized by rash, constitutional findings, and sometimes organ dysfunction, including liver injury. The events were reported in <1% of subjects receiving TIVICAY in Phase 3 clinical trials. Discontinue TRIUMEQ or TRIUMEQ PD and other suspect agents immediately if signs or symptoms of hypersensitivity reactions develop (including, but not limited to, severe rash or rash accompanied by fever, general malaise, fatigue, muscle or joint aches, blisters or peeling of the skin, oral blisters or lesions, conjunctivitis, facial edema, hepatitis, eosinophilia, angioedema, difficulty breathing). Clinical status, including liver aminotransferases, should be monitored and appropriate therapy initiated. Delay in stopping treatment with TRIUMEQ or TRIUMEQ PD or other suspect agents after the onset of hypersensitivity may result in a life-threatening reaction. Clinically, it is not possible to determine whether a hypersensitivity reaction with TRIUMEQ or TRIUMEQ PD would be caused by abacavir or dolutegravir. Therefore, never restart TRIUMEQ or TRIUMEQ PD or any other abacavir- or dolutegravir-containing product in patients who have stopped therapy with TRIUMEQ or TRIUMEQ PD due to a hypersensitivity reaction
Patients Co-infected with HIV-1 and HBV: Emergence of Lamivudine-Resistant HBV and the Risk of Posttreatment Exacerbations of HBV All patients with HIV-1 should be tested for the presence of HBV prior to or when initiating TRIUMEQ or TRIUMEQ PD. Emergence of Lamivudine Resistant HBV Safety and efficacy of lamivudine have not been established for treatment of chronic HBV in subjects dually infected with HIV-1 and HBV. Emergence of HBV variants associated with resistance to lamivudine has been reported in HIV‑1−infected subjects who have received lamivudine‑containing antiretroviral regimens in the presence of concurrent infection with HBV. If a decision is made to administer TRIUMEQ or TRIUMEQ PD to patients co-infected with HIV-1 and HBV, additional treatment should be considered for appropriate treatment of chronic HBV; otherwise, consider an alternative regimen. Severe Acute Exacerbations of HBV in Patients Co-infected with HIV-1 and HBV Severe acute exacerbations of HBV have been reported in patients who are co-infected with HIV-1 and HBV and have discontinued products containing lamivudine, and may occur with discontinuation of TRIUMEQ or TRIUMEQ PD. Patients who are co-infected with HIV-1 and HBV who discontinue TRIUMEQ or TRIUMEQ PD should be closely monitored with both clinical and laboratory follow-up for at least several months after stopping treatment with TRIUMEQ or TRIUMEQ PD. If appropriate, initiation of anti-HBV therapy may be warranted, especially in patients with advanced liver disease or cirrhosis since posttreatment exacerbation of hepatitis may lead to hepatic decompensation and liver failure
Hepatotoxicity Hepatic adverse events have been reported in patients receiving a dolutegravir-containing regimen . Patients with underlying hepatitis B or C may be at increased risk for worsening or development of transaminase elevations with use of TRIUMEQ or TRIUMEQ PD . In some cases, the elevations in transaminases were consistent with immune reconstitution syndrome or hepatitis B reactivation particularly in the setting where anti-hepatitis therapy was withdrawn. Cases of hepatic toxicity, including elevated serum liver biochemistries, hepatitis, and acute liver failure, have also been reported in patients, including pediatric patients receiving a dolutegravir-containing regimen who had no pre-existing hepatic disease or other identifiable risk factors. Drug-induced liver injury leading to liver transplant has been reported with TRIUMEQ. Monitoring for hepatotoxicity is recommended
Lactic Acidosis and Severe Hepatomegaly with Steatosis Lactic acidosis and severe hepatomegaly with steatosis, including fatal cases, have been reported with the use of nucleoside analogues, including abacavir and lamivudine (components of TRIUMEQ and TRIUMEQ PD). A majority of these cases have been in women. Female sex and obesity may be risk factors for the development of lactic acidosis and severe hepatomegaly with steatosis in patients treated with antiretroviral nucleoside analogues. See full prescribing information for ZIAGEN (abacavir) and EPIVIR (lamivudine). Treatment with TRIUMEQ or TRIUMEQ PD should be suspended in any patient who develops clinical or laboratory findings suggestive of lactic acidosis or pronounced hepatotoxicity, which may include hepatomegaly and steatosis even in the absence of marked transaminase elevations
Risk of Adverse Reactions or Loss of Virologic Response Due to Drug Interactions The concomitant use of TRIUMEQ or TRIUMEQ PD and other drugs may result in known or potentially significant drug interactions, some of which may lead to : • Loss of therapeutic effect of TRIUMEQ or TRIUMEQ PD and possible development of resistance. • Possible clinically significant adverse reactions from greater exposures of concomitant drugs. See Table 6 for steps to prevent or manage these possible and known significant drug interactions, including dosing recommendations. Consider the potential for drug interactions prior to and during therapy with TRIUMEQ or TRIUMEQ PD, review concomitant medications during therapy with TRIUMEQ or TRIUMEQ PD, and monitor for the adverse reactions associated with the concomitant drugs
Immune Reconstitution Syndrome Immune reconstitution syndrome has been reported in patients treated with combination antiretroviral therapy, including TRIUMEQ or TRIUMEQ PD. During the initial phase of combination antiretroviral treatment, patients whose immune systems respond may develop an inflammatory response to indolent or residual opportunistic infections (such as Mycobacterium avium infection, cytomegalovirus, Pneumocystis jirovecii pneumonia [PCP], or tuberculosis), which may necessitate further evaluation and treatment. Autoimmune disorders (such as Graves’ disease, polymyositis, Guillain-Barré syndrome, autoimmune hepatitis) have also been reported to occur in the setting of immune reconstitution; however, the time to onset is more variable, and can occur many months after initiation of treatment
Different Formulations Are Not Substitutable TRIUMEQ and TRIUMEQ PD are not bioequivalent and are not substitutable on a milligram-per-milligram basis . If a pediatric patient switches from the tablets for oral suspension to the tablets, the dosage must be adjusted . Incorrect dosing of a given formulation may result in underdosing and loss of therapeutic effect and possible development of resistance or possible clinically significant adverse reactions from greater exposure to the individual components
Myocardial Infarction Several prospective, observational, epidemiological studies have reported an association with the use of abacavir and the risk of myocardial infarction (MI). Meta-analyses of randomized, controlled clinical trials have observed no excess risk of MI in abacavir‑treated subjects as compared with control subjects. To date, there is no established biological mechanism to explain a potential increase in risk. In totality, the available data from the observational studies and from controlled clinical trials show inconsistency; therefore, evidence for a causal relationship between abacavir and the risk of MI is inconclusive. As a precaution, the underlying risk of coronary heart disease should be considered when prescribing antiretroviral therapies, including abacavir, and action taken to minimize all modifiable risk factors (e.g., hypertension, hyperlipidemia, diabetes mellitus, smoking).