Zinforo is indicated for the treatment of the following infections in neonates, infants, children, adolescents and adults (see sections 4.4 and 5.1):

• Complicated skin and soft tissue infections (cSSTI)

• Community-acquired pneumonia (CAP)

Consideration should be given to official guidance on the appropriate use of antibacterial agents.

Posology

The recommended durations of treatment are 5-14 days for cSSTI and 5-7 days for CAP.

Table 1 Dosage in adults with normal renal function, creatinine clearance (CrCL) > 50 mL/min

Table 2 Dosage in paediatric patients with normal renal function, creatinine clearance (CrCL) > 50 mL/min*

Special populations

Elderly

No dosage adjustment is required for the elderly with creatinine clearance values > 50 mL/min (see section 5.2).

Renal impairment

The dose should be adjusted when creatinine clearance (CrCL) is ≤ 50 mL/min, as shown in Tables 3 and 4 (see sections 4.9 and 5.2). The recommended durations of treatment are 5-14 days for cSSTI and 5-7 days for CAP.

Table 3 Dosage in adults with impaired renal function, creatinine clearance (CrCL) ≤ 50 mL/min

Dose recommendations for neonates, infants and children and adolescents are based on pharmacokinetic (PK) modelling.

There is insufficient information to recommend dosage adjustments in adolescents aged from 12 to < 18 years with bodyweight < 33 kg and in children aged from 2 to 12 years with End-stage renal disease (ESRD).

There is insufficient information to recommend dosage adjustments in paediatric patients < 2 years with moderate or severe renal impairment or ESRD.

Table 4 Dosage in paediatric patients with impaired renal function, creatinine clearance (CrCL) ≤ 50 mL/min

Hepatic impairment

No dosage adjustment is considered necessary in patients with hepatic impairment (see section 5.2).

Method of administration

Intravenous use. Zinforo is administered by intravenous infusion over 5 to 60 minutes for standard dose or 120 minutes for high dose (for cSSTI caused by S. aureus with MIC of 2 or 4 mg/L to ceftaroline) in infusion volumes of 50 mL, 100 mL or 250 mL (see section 6.6). Infusion related reactions (such as phlebitis) can be managed by prolonging the infusion duration.

Infusion volumes for paediatric patients will vary according to the weight of the child. The infusion solution concentration during preparation and administration should not exceed 12 mg/mL ceftaroline fosamil.

For instructions on reconstitution and dilution of the medicinal product before administration, see section 6.6.

Hypersensitivity to the active substance or to any of the excipients listed in section 6.1.

Hypersensitivity to the cephalosporin class of antibacterials.

Immediate and severe hypersensitivity (e.g. anaphylactic reaction) to any other type of beta-lactam antibacterial agent (e.g. penicillins or carbapenems).

Hypersensitivity reactions

Serious and occasionally fatal hypersensitivity reactions are possible (see sections 4.3 and 4.8).

Severe cutaneous adverse reactions (SCARs), including Stevens-Johnson syndrome (SJS), toxic epidermal necrolysis (TEN), drug reaction with eosinophilia and systemic symptoms (DRESS), and acute generalised exanthematous pustulosis (AGEP) have been reported in association with beta-lactam antibiotics (including cephalosporins) treatment.

Patients who have a history of hypersensitivity to cephalosporins, penicillins or other beta-lactam antibacterials may also be hypersensitive to ceftaroline fosamil. Ceftaroline should be used with caution in patients with a history of non-severe hypersensitivity reactions to any other beta-lactam antibiotics (e.g. penicillins or carbapenems). If a severe allergic reaction or SCAR occurs during treatment with Zinforo, the medicinal product should be discontinued and appropriate measures taken.

Clostridium difficile-associated diarrhoea

Antibacterial-associated colitis and pseudomembranous colitis have been reported with ceftaroline fosamil and may range in severity from mild to life threatening. Therefore, it is important to consider this diagnosis in patients who present with diarrhoea during or subsequent to the administration of ceftaroline fosamil (see section 4.8). In such circumstance, the discontinuation of therapy with ceftaroline fosamil and the use of supportive measures together with the administration of specific treatment for Clostridium difficile should be considered.

Non-susceptible organisms

Superinfections may occur during or following treatment with Zinforo.

Patients with pre-existing seizure disorder

Seizures have occurred in toxicology studies at 7-25 times human ceftaroline C_max levels (see section 5.3). Clinical study experience with ceftaroline fosamil in patients with pre-existing seizure disorders is very limited. Therefore, Zinforo should be used with caution in this patient population.

Direct antiglobulin test (Coombs test) seroconversion and potential risk of haemolytic anaemia

The development of a positive direct antiglobulin test (DAGT) may occur during treatment with cephalosporins. The incidence of DAGT seroconversion in patients receiving ceftaroline fosamil was 11.2% in the five pooled pivotal studies with administration every 12 hours (600 mg administered over 60 minutes every 12 hours) and 32.3% in a study in patients receiving ceftaroline fosamil every 8 hours (600 mg administered over 120 minutes every 8 hours), (see section 4.8). In clinical studies there was no evidence of haemolysis in patients who developed a positive DAGT on treatment. However, the possibility that haemolytic anaemia may occur in association with cephalosporins including Zinforo treatment cannot be ruled out. Patients experiencing anaemia during or after treatment with Zinforo should be investigated for this possibility.

Limitations of the clinical data

There is no experience with ceftaroline in the treatment of CAP in the following patient groups: the immunocompromised, patients with severe sepsis/septic shock, severe underlying lung disease (e.g. cystic fibrosis, see section 5.2), those with PORT Risk Class V, and/or CAP requiring ventilation at presentation, CAP due to methicillin-resistant S. aureus or patients requiring intensive care. Caution is advised when treating such patients.

There is no experience with ceftaroline in the treatment of cSSTI in the following patient groups: the immunocompromised, patients with severe sepsis/septic shock, necrotizing fasciitis, perirectal abscess and patients with third degree and extensive burns. There is limited experience in treating patients with diabetic foot infections. Caution is advised when treating such patients.

There are limited clinical trial data on the use of ceftaroline to treat cSSTI caused by S. aureus with an MIC of > 1 mg/L. The recommended dosages of Zinforo shown in Tables 1 to 4 for the treatment of cSSTI caused by S. aureus with ceftaroline MIC of 2 or 4 mg/L are based on pharmacokinetic-pharmacodynamic modelling and simulation (see sections 4.2 and 5.1). Zinforo should not be used to treat cSSTI due to S. aureus for which the ceftaroline MIC is > 4 mg/L.

The recommended dosage of Zinforo shown in Table 2 for paediatric patients < 2 months of age are based on pharmacokinetic-pharmacodynamic modelling and simulation.

Infusion times of less than 60 minutes are based on pharmacokinetic and pharmacodynamic analyses only.

No clinical drug-drug interaction studies have been conducted with ceftaroline fosamil.

The interaction potential of ceftaroline or ceftaroline fosamil on medicinal products metabolised by CYP450 enzymes is expected to be low since they are not inhibitors nor inducers of CYP450 enzymes in vitro. Ceftaroline or ceftaroline fosamil are not metabolised by CYP450 enzymes in vitro, therefore co-administered CYP450 inducers or inhibitors are unlikely to influence the pharmacokinetics of ceftaroline.

Ceftaroline is neither a substrate, nor an inhibitor of renal uptake transporters (OCT2, OAT1, and OAT3) in vitro. Therefore, interactions of ceftaroline with medicinal products that are substrates or inhibitors (e.g. probenecid) of these transporters would not be expected.

Paediatric population

As with adults, the interaction potential is expected to be low in paediatrics.

Pregnancy

There are no or limited amount of data from the use of ceftaroline fosamil in pregnant women. Animal studies conducted in rat and rabbit do not indicate harmful effects with respect to reproductive toxicity at exposures similar to therapeutic concentrations. Following administration throughout pregnancy and lactation in the rat, there was no effect on pup birth weight or growth, although minor changes in foetal weight and delayed ossification of the interparietal bone were observed when ceftaroline fosamil was administered during organogenesis (see section 5.3).

As a precautionary measure, it is preferable to avoid the use of Zinforo during pregnancy unless the clinical condition of the woman requires treatment with an antibiotic with Zinforo's antibacterial profile.

Breast-feeding

It is unknown whether ceftaroline fosamil or ceftaroline is excreted in human milk. A risk to the newborns/infants cannot be excluded. A decision must be made whether to discontinue breast-feeding or to discontinue/abstain from Zinforo therapy taking into account the benefit of breast-feeding for the child and the benefit of therapy for the woman.

Fertility

The effects of ceftaroline fosamil on fertility on humans have not been studied. Animal studies with ceftaroline fosamil do not indicate harmful effects with respect to fertility (see section 5.3).

Undesirable effects e.g. dizziness may occur and this may have an effect on the ability to drive and use of machines (see section 4.8).

Summary of the safety profile

The most common adverse reactions occurring in ≥ 3% of approximately 3242 patients treated with Zinforo in clinical studies were diarrhoea, headache, nausea, and pruritus, and were generally mild or moderate in severity. Clostridium difficile-associated disease (CDAD) and severe hypersensitivity reactions may also occur.

A greater incidence of rash in Asian patients (see below) and a greater incidence of DAGT seroconversion (see section 4.4) were observed in a study of adult patients with cSSTI conducted with Zinforo 600 mg administered over 120 minutes every 8 hours.

Tabulated list of adverse reactions

The following adverse reactions have been identified during clinical trials and post-marketing experience with Zinforo. Adverse reactions are classified according to System Organ Class and frequency. Frequency categories are derived according to the following conventions: very common (≥ 1/10), common (≥ 1/100 to < 1/10), uncommon (≥ 1/1,000 to < 1/100), rare (≥ 1/10,000 to < 1/1,000), not known (cannot be estimated from the available data).

Table 5 Frequency of adverse reactions by system organ class from clinical trials and post-marketing experience

* Adverse Drug Reaction (ADR) identified post-marketing.

⁺ Risk of encephalopathy is higher in patients with renal impairment in whom the dose of ceftaroline has not been appropriately reduced (see sections 4.2 and 4.9).

Description of selected adverse reactions

Severe Cutaneous Adverse Reactions

SCARs (Stevens-Johnson syndrome, toxic epidermal necrolysis, drug reaction with eosinophilia and systemic symptoms, acute generalised exanthematous pustulosis) have been reported with beta-lactam antibiotics, including cephalosporins (see section 4.4).

Rash

Rash was observed at a common frequency in both the pooled Phase III studies in cSSTI with administration of Zinforo every 12 hours (600 mg administered over 60 minutes every 12 hours) and the study in cSSTI with administration every 8 hours (600 mg administered over 120 minutes every 8 hours). However, the frequency of rash in the subgroup of Asian patients receiving Zinforo every 8 hours was very common (18.5%).

Paediatric population

The safety assessment in paediatric patients is based on the safety data from 2 trials in which 227 patients aged from 2 months to 17 years with cSSTI or CAP received Zinforo. Overall, the safety profile in these 227 patients was similar to that observed in the adult population.

In addition, the safety assessment in neonates is based on the safety data from 2 trials in which 34 patients (age range from birth to less than 60 days) received Zinforo; 23 of these patients received only a single dose of Zinforo. Overall, the adverse events reported in these studies were consistent with the known safety profile for Zinforo.

Reporting of suspected adverse reactions

Reporting suspected adverse reactions after authorisation of the medicinal product is important. It allows continued monitoring of the benefit/risk balance of the medicinal product. Healthcare professionals are asked to report any suspected adverse reactions via the Yellow Card Scheme at: www.mhra.gov.uk/yellowcard or search for MHRA Yellow Card in the Google Play or Apple App Store.

Limited data in patients receiving higher than recommended Zinforo dosages show similar adverse reactions as observed in the patients receiving recommended dosages. Treatment of overdose should follow standard medical practice.

Patients with renal impairment

Relative overdosing could occur in patients with moderate renal impairment. Neurological sequelae, including encephalopathy, have been noted in cases where beta-lactam antibiotics (including cephalosporins) have been given to patients with impaired renal function without reducing the dose (see section 4.2).

Ceftaroline can be removed by haemodialysis; over a 4 hour dialysis period, approximately 74% of a given dose was recovered in the dialysate.

Pharmacotherapeutic group: Antibacterials for systemic use, other cephalosporins and penems, ATC code: J01DI02

The active moiety after Zinforo administration is ceftaroline.

Mechanism of action

Ceftaroline is a cephalosporin antibacterial with in vitro activity against Gram-positive and -negative bacteria. The bactericidal action of ceftaroline is mediated through binding to essential penicillin-binding proteins (PBPs). Biochemical studies have shown that ceftaroline has high affinity for PBP2a of methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) PBP2x of penicillin non-susceptible Streptococcus pneumoniae (PNSP). As a result, minimum inhibitory concentrations (MICs) of ceftaroline against a proportion of these organisms tested fall into the susceptible range (see Resistance section below).

Resistance

Ceftaroline is not active against strains of Enterobacterales producing extended-spectrum beta-lactamases (ESBLs) from the TEM, SHV or CTX-M families, serine carbapenemases (such as KPC), class B metallo-beta-lactamases or class C (AmpC) cephalosporinases. Organisms that express these enzymes and which are therefore resistant to ceftaroline occur at very variable rates between countries and between healthcare facilities within countries. If ceftaroline is commenced before susceptibility test results are available then local information on the risk of encountering organisms that express these enzymes should be taken into consideration. Resistance may also be mediated by bacterial impermeability or drug efflux pump mechanisms. One or more of these mechanisms may co-exist in a single bacterial isolate.

Interaction with other antibacterial agents

In vitro studies have not demonstrated any antagonism between ceftaroline in combination with other commonly used antibacterial agents (e.g. amikacin, azithromycin, aztreonam, daptomycin, levofloxacin, linezolid, meropenem, tigecycline, and vancomycin).

Susceptibility testing breakpoints

The European Committee on Antimicrobial Susceptibility Testing (EUCAST) breakpoints for susceptibility testing are presented below.

1. Refers to dosing of adults or adolescents (from 12 years and 33 kg) with ceftaroline every 12 hours using 1-hour infusions (see section 4.2). Note that: There are no clinical trial data regarding the use of ceftaroline to treat CAP due to S. aureus with ceftaroline MICs > 1 mg/L

2. Refers to dosing of adults or adolescents (from 12 years and 33 kg) with ceftaroline every 8 hours using 2-hour infusions to treat cSSTI (see section 4.2). S. aureus with ceftaroline MICs ≥ 4 mg/L are rare. PK-PD analyses suggest that dosing of adults or adolescents (from 12 years and 33 kg) with ceftaroline every 8 hours using 2-hour infusions may treat cSSTI due to S. aureus for which the ceftaroline MIC is 4 mg/L.

3. Infer susceptibility from susceptibility to benzylpenicillin.

Pharmacokinetic/pharmacodynamic relationship

As with other beta-lactam antimicrobial agents, the percent time above the minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) of the infecting organism over the dosing interval (%T > MIC) has been shown to be the parameter that best correlates with the efficacy of ceftaroline.

Clinical efficacy against specific pathogens

Efficacy has been demonstrated in clinical studies against the pathogens listed under each indication that were susceptible to ceftaroline in vitro.

Complicated skin and soft tissue infections

Gram-positive micro-organisms

• Staphylococcus aureus (including methicillin-resistant strains)

• Streptococcus pyogenes

• Streptococcus agalactiae

• Streptococcus anginosus group (includes S. anginosus, S. intermedius, and S. constellatus)

• Streptococcus dysgalactiae

Gram-negative micro-organisms

• Escherichia coli

• Klebsiella pneumoniae

• Klebsiella oxytoca

• Morganella morganii

Community-acquired pneumonia

No cases of CAP due to MRSA were enrolled into the studies. The available clinical data cannot substantiate efficacy against penicillin non-susceptible strains of S. pneumoniae.

Gram-positive micro-organisms

• Streptococcus pneumoniae

• Staphylococcus aureus (methicillin-susceptible strains only)

Gram-negative micro-organisms

• Escherichia coli

• Haemophilus influenzae

• Haemophilus parainfluenzae

• Klebsiella pneumoniae

Antibacterial activity against other relevant pathogens

Clinical efficacy has not been established against the following pathogens although in vitro studies suggest that they would be susceptible to ceftaroline in the absence of acquired mechanisms of resistance:

Anaerobic micro-organisms

Gram-positive micro-organisms

• Peptostreptococcus spp.

Gram-negative micro-organisms

• Fusobacterium spp.

In vitro data indicate that the following species are not susceptible to ceftaroline:

• Chlamydophila spp.

• Legionella spp.

• Mycoplasma spp.

• Proteus spp.

• Pseudomonas aeruginosa

The C_max and AUC of ceftaroline increase approximately in proportion to dose within the single dose range of 50 to 1000 mg. No appreciable accumulation of ceftaroline is observed following multiple intravenous infusions of 600 mg every 8 or 12 hours in healthy adults with CrCL > 50 mL/min.

Distribution

The plasma protein binding of ceftaroline is low (approximately 20%) and ceftaroline is not distributed into erythrocytes. The median steady-state volume of distribution of ceftaroline in healthy adult males following a single 600 mg intravenous dose of radiolabelled ceftaroline fosamil was 20.3 l, similar to the volume of extracellular fluid.

Biotransformation

Ceftaroline fosamil (prodrug) is converted into the active ceftaroline in plasma by phosphatase enzymes and concentrations of the prodrug are measurable in plasma primarily during intravenous infusion. Hydrolysis of the beta-lactam ring of ceftaroline occurs to form the microbiologically inactive, open-ring metabolite, ceftaroline M-1. The mean plasma ceftaroline M-1 to ceftaroline AUC ratio following a single 600 mg intravenous infusion of ceftaroline fosamil in healthy subjects is approximately 20-30%.

In pooled human liver microsomes, metabolic turnover was low for ceftaroline, indicating that ceftaroline is not metabolised by hepatic CYP450 enzymes.

Elimination

Ceftaroline is primarily eliminated by the kidneys. Renal clearance of ceftaroline is approximately equal, or slightly lower than the glomerular filtration rate in the kidney, and in vitro transporter studies indicate that active secretion does not contribute to the renal elimination of ceftaroline.

The mean terminal elimination half-life of ceftaroline in healthy adults is approximately 2.5 hours.

Following the administration of a single 600 mg intravenous dose of radiolabelled ceftaroline fosamil to healthy male adults, approximately 88% of radioactivity was recovered in urine and 6% in faeces.

Special populations

Renal impairment

Dosage adjustments are required in adults, adolescents and children with CrCL ≤ 50 mL/min (see section 4.2).

There is insufficient information to recommend dosage adjustments in adolescents with ESRD aged from 12 to < 18 years and with bodyweight < 33 kg and in children with ESRD aged from 2 to < 12 years. There is insufficient information to recommend dosage adjustments in paediatric patients aged < 2 years with moderate or severe renal impairment or ESRD.

Hepatic impairment

The pharmacokinetics of ceftaroline in patients with hepatic impairment has not been established. As ceftaroline does not appear to undergo significant hepatic metabolism, the systemic clearance of ceftaroline is not expected to be significantly affected by hepatic impairment. Therefore, no dosage adjustment is recommended for patients with hepatic impairment.

Elderly

Following administration of a single 600 mg intravenous dose of ceftaroline fosamil, the pharmacokinetics of ceftaroline were similar between healthy elderly subjects (≥ 65 years of age), and healthy young adult subjects (18-45 years of age). There was a 33% increase in AUC_0-∞ in the elderly that was mainly attributable to age-related changes in renal function. Zinforo dose adjustment is not required in elderly patients with creatinine clearance above 50 mL/min.

Paediatric population

Dose adjustments are required for neonates, infants, children and adolescents with bodyweight < 33 kg (see section 4.2).

Patients with cystic fibrosis

Cystic fibrosis patients were excluded from CAP clinical trials.

Some case reports and published studies suggest the need for a higher dose of ceftaroline fosamil in cystic fibrosis patients due to possibility of altered ceftaroline pharmacokinetics leading to sub-therapeutic levels. Results from a population pharmacokinetic study, based on data pooled from various studies, overall showed no significant, clinically relevant differences in ceftaroline pharmacokinetic parameters in cystic fibrosis patients (age 6 years and above). Ceftaroline clearance was similar between cystic fibrosis patients and patients with CAP or cSSTI while ceftaroline central volume was similar to healthy subjects.

The kidney was the primary target organ of toxicity in both the monkey and rat. Histopathologic findings included pigment deposition and inflammation of the tubular epithelium. Renal changes were not reversible but were reduced in severity following a 4 week recovery period.

Convulsions have been observed at relatively high exposures during single and multi-dose studies in both the rat and monkey (≥ 7 times to the estimated ceftaroline C_max level of a 600 mg twice a day).

Other important toxicologic findings noted in the rat and monkey included histopathologic changes in the bladder and spleen.

Genetic toxicology

Ceftaroline fosamil and ceftaroline were clastogenic in an in vitro chromosomal aberration assay, however there was no evidence of mutagenic activity in an Ames test, mouse lymphoma and unscheduled DNA synthesis assay. Furthermore, in vivo micronucleus assays in rat and mouse were negative. Carcinogenicity studies have not been conducted.

Reproductive toxicology

Overall, no adverse effects on fertility or post-natal development were observed in the rat at up to 5 times the observed clinical exposure. When ceftaroline was administered during organogenesis, minor changes in foetal weight and delayed ossification of the interparietal bone were observed in the rat at exposures below that observed clinically. However, when ceftaroline was administered throughout pregnancy and lactation, there was no effect on pup weight or growth. Ceftaroline administration to pregnant rabbits resulted in an increased foetal incidence of angulated hyoid alae, a common skeletal variation in rabbit fetuses, at exposures similar to those observed clinically.

Juvenile toxicity

Intravenous bolus dosing of ceftaroline fosamil to suckling rats from post-natal day 7 to 20 was well tolerated at plasma exposures approximately 2-fold higher than those for paediatric patients. Renal cortical cysts were observed in all groups, including controls, on PND50. The cysts involved a small portion of the kidney and occurred in the absence of significant changes in either renal function or urinary parameters. Therefore, these findings were not considered to be adverse.

Arginine

This medicinal product must not be mixed with other medicinal products except those mentioned in section 6.6.

Dry powder: 3 years

After reconstitution:

The reconstituted vial should be diluted immediately.

After dilution:

The chemical and physical in-use stability has been demonstrated for up to 12 hours at 2-8 ° C and 6 hours at 25 ° C.

From a microbiological point of view, unless the method of opening/reconstitution/dilution precludes the risk of microbial contamination the medicinal product should be used immediately. If not used immediately, in-use storage times and conditions prior to use are the responsibility of the user.

Store below 30 ° C.

Store in the original package in order to protect from light.

For storage conditions after reconstitution of the medicinal product, see section 6.3.

20 mL glass vial (Type 1) closed with a rubber (halobutyl) stopper and aluminium seal with flip-off cap.

The medicinal product is supplied in packs of 10 vials.

The powder must be reconstituted with water for injections and the resulting concentrate must then be immediately diluted prior to use. The reconstituted solution is a pale yellow solution that is free of any particles.

Standard aseptic techniques should be used for solution preparation and administration.

Zinforo powder should be reconstituted with 20 mL of sterile water for injections. The resulting solution should be shaken prior to being transferred to an infusion bag or bottle containing either sodium chloride 9 mg/mL (0.9%) solution for injection, dextrose 50 mg/mL (5%) solution for injection, sodium chloride 4.5 mg/mL and dextrose 25 mg/mL solution for injection (0.45% sodium chloride and 2.5% dextrose) or Lactated Ringer's solution. A 250 mL, 100 mL or 50 mL infusion bag can be used to prepare the infusion, based on the patient's volume requirements. The total time interval between starting reconstitution and completing preparation of the intravenous infusion should not exceed 30 minutes.

Infusion volumes for paediatric patients will vary according to the weight of the child. The infusion solution concentration during preparation and administration should not exceed 12 mg/mL ceftaroline fosamil.

Each vial is for single use only.

Any unused medicinal product or waste material should be disposed of in accordance with local requirements.