Neoplasms
Patients receiving immunosuppressive regimens involving combinations of medicinal products, including mycophenolate mofetil, are at increased risk of developing lymphomas and other malignancies, particularly of the skin (see section 4.8). The risk appears to be related to the intensity and duration of immunosuppression rather than to the use of any specific agent. As general advice to minimise the risk for skin cancer, exposure to sunlight and UV light should be limited by wearing protective clothing and using a sunscreen with a high protection factor.
Infections
Patients treated with immunosuppressants, including mycophenolate mofetil, are at increased risk for opportunistic infections (bacterial, fungal, viral and protozoal), fatal infections and sepsis (see section 4.8). Such infections include latent viral reactivation, such as hepatitis B or hepatitis C reactivation and infections caused by polyomaviruses (BK virus-associated nephropathy, JC virus associated progressive multifocal leukoencephalopathy PML). Cases of hepatitis due to reactivation of hepatitis B or hepatitis C have been reported in carrier patients treated with immunosuppressants. These infections are often related to a high total immunosuppressive burden and may lead to serious or fatal conditions that physicians should consider in the differential diagnosis in immunosuppressed patients with deteriorating renal function or neurological symptoms. Mycophenolic acid has a cytostatic effect on B- and T-lymphocytes, therefore an increased severity of COVID-19 may occur, and appropriate clinical action should be considered.
There have been reports of hypogammaglobulinaemia in association with recurrent infections in patients receiving mycophenolate mofetil in combination with other immunosuppressants. In some of these cases switching mycophenolate mofetil to an alternative immunosuppressant resulted in serum IgG levels returning to normal. Patients on mycophenolate mofetil who develop recurrent infections should have their serum immunoglobulins measured. In cases of sustained, clinically relevant hypogammaglobulinaemia, appropriate clinical action should be considered taking into account the potent cytostatic effects that mycophenolic acid has on T- and B-lymphocytes.
There have been published reports of bronchiectasis in adults and children who received mycophenolate mofetil in combination with other immunosuppressants. In some of these cases switching mycophenolate mofetil to another immunosuppressant resulted in improvement in respiratory symptoms. The risk of bronchiectasis may be linked to hypogammaglobulinaemia or to a direct effect on the lung. There have also been isolated reports of interstitial lung disease and pulmonary fibrosis, some of which were fatal (see section 4.8). It is recommended that patients who develop persistent pulmonary symptoms, such as cough and dyspnoea, are investigated.
Blood and immune system
Patients receiving mycophenolate mofetil should be monitored for neutropenia, which may be related to mycophenolate mofetil itself, concomitant medications, viral infections, or some combination of these causes. Patients taking mycophenolate mofetil should have complete blood counts weekly during the first month, twice monthly for the second and third months of treatment, then monthly through the first year. If neutropenia develops (absolute neutrophil count < 1.3 x 103/μl), it may be appropriate to interrupt or discontinue mycophenolate mofetil.
Cases of pure red cell aplasia (PRCA) have been reported in patients treated with mycophenolate mofetil in combination with other immunosuppressants. The mechanism for mycophenolate mofetil induced PRCA is unknown. PRCA may resolve with dose reduction or cessation of mycophenolate mofetil therapy. Changes to mycophenolate mofetil therapy should only be undertaken under appropriate supervision in transplant recipients in order to minimise the risk of graft rejection (see section 4.8).
Patients receiving mycophenolate mofetil should be instructed to report immediately any evidence of infection, unexpected bruising, bleeding or any other manifestation of bone marrow failure.
Patients should be advised, that during treatment with mycophenolate mofetil, vaccinations may be less effective, and the use of live attenuated vaccines should be avoided (see section 4.5). Influenza vaccination may be of value. Prescribers should refer to national guidelines for influenza vaccination.
Gastro-intestinal
Mycophenolate mofetil has been associated with an increased incidence of digestive system adverse events, including infrequent cases of gastrointestinal tract ulceration, haemorrhage and perforation. Mycophenolate mofetil should be administered with caution in patients with active serious digestive system disease.
Mycophenolate mofetil is an IMPDH (inosine monophosphate dehydrogenase) inhibitor. Therefore, it should be avoided in patients with rare hereditary deficiency of hypoxanthine-guanine phosphoribosyl-transferase (HGPRT) such as Lesch-Nyhan and Kelley-Seegmiller syndrome.
Interactions
Caution should be exercised when switching combination therapy from regimens containing immunosuppressants, which interfere with MPA enterohepatic recirculation, e.g. ciclosporin, to others devoid of this effect, e.g. tacrolimus, sirolimus, belatacept, or vice versa, as this might result in changes of MPA exposure. Drugs which interfere with MPA's enterohepatic cycle (e.g. cholestyramine, antibiotics) should be used with caution due to their potential to reduce plasma levels and efficacy of mycophenolate mofetil (see also section 4.5).
It is recommended that mycophenolate mofetil should not be administered concomitantly with azathioprine because such concomitant administration has not been studied.
The risk/benefit ratio of mycophenolate mofetil in combination with sirolimus has not been established (see also section 4.5).
Therapeutic drug monitoring
Therapeutic drug monitoring of MPA may be appropriate when switching combination therapy (e.g. from ciclosporin to tacrolimus or vice versa) or to ensure adequate immunosuppression in patients with high immunological risk (e.g. risk of rejection, treatment with antibiotics, addition or removal of an interacting medication).
Special populations
Paediatric population
Very limited post-marketing information indicates a higher frequency of the following adverse events in patients under 6 years of age compared to older patients:
• lymphomas and other malignancies, particularly of post-transplant lymphoproliferative disorder in cardiac transplant patients.
• blood and lymphatic system disorders including anaemia and neutropenia in cardiac transplant patients. This applies for children under 6 years of age compared to older patients, and compared to paediatric hepatic/renal transplant recipients.
Patients taking mycophenolate mofetil should have complete blood counts weekly during the first month, twice monthly for the second and third months of treatment, then monthly through the first year. If neutropenia develops, it may be appropriate to interrupt or discontinue mycophenolate mofetil.
• gastrointestinal disorders including diarrhoea and vomiting.
Treatment should be administered with caution in patients with active serious digestive system disease.
Elderly population
Elderly patients may be at an increased risk of adverse events such as certain infections (including cytomegalovirus tissue invasive disease) and possibly gastrointestinal haemorrhage and pulmonary oedema, compared with younger individuals (see section 4.8).
Teratogenic effects
Mycophenolate is a powerful human teratogen. Spontaneous abortion (rate of 45% to 49%) and congenital malformations (estimated rate of 23% to 27%) have been reported following MMF exposure during pregnancy. Therefore, mycophenolate mofetil is contraindicated in pregnancy unless there are no suitable alternative treatments to prevent transplant rejection. Female patients of childbearing potential should be made aware of the risks and follow the recommendations provided in section 4.6 (e.g. contraceptive methods, pregnancy testing) prior to, during, and after therapy with mycophenolate mofetil. Physicians should ensure that women taking mycophenolate understand the risk of harm to the baby, the need for effective contraception, and the need to immediately consult their physician if there is a possibility of pregnancy.
Contraception (see section 4.6)
Because of robust clinical evidence showing a high risk of abortion and congenital malformations when mycophenolate mofetil is used in pregnancy, every effort to avoid pregnancy during treatment should be taken. Therefore, women with childbearing potential must use at least one form of reliable contraception (see section 4.3) before starting mycophenolate mofetil therapy, during therapy, and for six weeks after stopping the therapy, unless abstinence is the chosen method of contraception. Two complementary forms of contraception simultaneously are preferred to minimise the potential for contraceptive failure and unintended pregnancy.
For contraception advice for men see section 4.6.
Educational materials
In order to assist patients in avoiding foetal exposure to mycophenolate and to provide additional important safety information, the Marketing Authorisation Holder will provide educational materials to healthcare professionals. The educational materials will reinforce the warnings about the teratogenicity of mycophenolate, provide advice on contraception before therapy is started and guidance on the need for pregnancy testing. Full patient information about the teratogenic risk and the pregnancy prevention measures should be given by the physician to women of childbearing potential and, as appropriate, to male patients.
Additional precautions
Patients should not donate blood during therapy or for at least 6 weeks following discontinuation of mycophenolate. Men should not donate semen during therapy or for 90 days following discontinuation of mycophenolate.
Excipients warnings
Mycophenolate mofetil contains sorbitol:
• This medicine contains 350 mg sorbitol (E420) in each 5 ml dose. The additive effect of concomitantly administered products containing sorbitol (or fructose) and dietary intake of sorbitol (or fructose) should be taken into account. The content of sorbitol in medicinal products for oral use may affect the bioavailability of other medicinal products for oral use administered concomitantly. Patients with hereditary fructose intolerance (HFI) should not take/be given this medicinal product.
Mycophenolate mofetil contain methyl parahydroxybenzoate (E218) and propyl parahydroxybenzoate (E216):
• This medicine contains 12.6 mg methyl parahydroxybenzoate (E218) and 2.8 mg propyl parahydroxybenzoate (E216) in each 5ml dose. May cause allergic reactions (possibly delayed).
Mycophenolate mofetil contains benzyl alcohol:
• This medicine contains 30.05 µg benzyl alcohol (E1519) in each 5 ml dose. Benzyl alcohol may cause allergic reactions. Increased risk due to accumulation in young children. High volumes should be used with caution and only if necessary, especially in subjects with liver or kidney impairment because of the risk of accumulation and toxicity (metabolic acidosis).
Mycophenolate mofetil contains alcohol:
• This medicine contains 50.00 µg of alcohol (ethanol) in each 5 ml dose. The amount in 5ml of the medicine is equivalent to less than 1 ml beer or 1 ml wine. The small amount of alcohol in this medicine will not have any noticeable effects.
Mycophenolate mofetil contains benzoic acid:
• This medicine contains 0.10 mg benzoic acid (E210) in each 5 ml dose. Benzoic acid may increase jaundice (yellowing of the skin and eyes) in newborn babies (up to 4 weeks old). Increase in bilirubinaemia following its displacement from
albumin may increase neonatal jaundice which may develop into kernicterus (non-conjugated bilirubin deposits in the brain tissue).
Mycophenolate mofetil contains sodium:
• This medicine contains less than 1 mmol (23 mg) sodium per 5 ml dose, that is to say essentially 'sodium free'.