PROLIA® (denosumab) Abbreviated Prescribing Information
1. NAME OF THE MEDICINAL PRODUCT: Prolia 60 mg solution for injection in pre‑filled syringe. 2. QUALITATIVE AND QUANTITATIVE COMPOSITION: Each pre‑filled syringe contains 60 mg of denosumab in 1 mL of solution (60 mg/mL). Denosumab is a human monoclonal IgG2 antibody produced in a mammalian cell line (Chinese hamster ovary cells) by recombinant DNA technology. Excipient with known effect: This medicine contains 47 mg sorbitol in each mL of solution. For the full list of excipients, see section 6.1. 3. PHARMACEUTICAL FORM: Solution for injection (injection). Clear, colourless to slightly yellow solution. 4. CLINICAL PARTICULARS: 4.1 Therapeutic indications: Treatment of osteoporosis in postmenopausal women and in men at increased risk of fractures. In postmenopausal women, Prolia significantly reduces the risk of vertebral, non‑vertebral and hip fractures. Treatment of bone loss associated with hormone ablation in men with prostate cancer at increased risk of fractures. In men with prostate cancer receiving hormone ablation, Prolia significantly reduces the risk of vertebral fractures. Treatment of bone loss associated with long-term systemic glucocorticoid therapy in adult patients at increased risk of fracture. 4.2 Posology and method of administration: Posology: The recommended dose is 60 mg denosumab administered as a single subcutaneous injection once every 6 months into the thigh, abdomen or upper arm. Patients must be adequately supplemented with calcium and vitamin D (see section 4.4). Patients treated with Prolia should be given the package leaflet and the patient reminder card. The optimal total duration of anti-resorptive treatment for osteoporosis (including both denosumab and bisphosphonates) has not been established. The need for continued treatment should be re-evaluated periodically based on the benefits and potential risks of denosumab on an individual patient basis, particularly after 5 or more years of use (see section 4.4). Elderly (age ≥ 65): No dose adjustment is required in elderly patients. Renal impairment: No dose adjustment is required in patients with renal impairment (see section 4.4 for recommendations relating to monitoring of calcium). No data are available in patients with long-term systemic glucocorticoid therapy and severe renal impairment (GFR < 30 ml/min). Hepatic impairment: The safety and efficacy of denosumab have not been studied in patients with hepatic impairment (see section 5.2 of the Summary of Product Characteristics). Paediatric population: Prolia is not recommended in paediatric patients (age < 18) as the safety and efficacy of Prolia in these patients have not been established. Inhibition of RANK/RANK ligand (RANKL) in animal studies has been coupled to inhibition of bone growth and lack of tooth eruption (see section 5.3 of the Summary of Product Characteristics). Method of administration: For subcutaneous use. Administration should be performed by an individual who has been adequately trained in injection techniques. The instructions for use, handling and disposal are given in section 6.6. 4.3 Contraindications: Hypersensitivity to the active substance or to any of the excipients listed in section 6.1. Hypocalcaemia (see section 4.4). 4.4 Special warnings and precautions for use: Calcium and vitamin D supplementation: Adequate intake of calcium and vitamin D is important in all patients. Precautions for use: Hypocalcaemia: It is important to identify patients at risk for hypocalcaemia. Hypocalcaemia must be corrected by adequate intake of calcium and vitamin D before initiating therapy. Clinical monitoring of calcium levels is recommended before each dose and, in patients predisposed to hypocalcaemia, within two weeks after the initial dose. If any patient presents with suspected symptoms of hypocalcaemia during treatment (see section 4.8 for symptoms) calcium levels should be measured. Patients should be encouraged to report symptoms indicative of hypocalcaemia. In the post-marketing setting, severe symptomatic hypocalcaemia (including fatal cases) has been reported (see section 4.8), with most cases occurring in the first weeks of initiating therapy, but it can occur later. Concomitant glucocorticoid treatment is an additional risk factor for hypocalcaemia. Renal impairment: Patients with severe renal impairment (creatinine clearance < 30 mL/min) or receiving dialysis are at greater risk of developing hypocalcaemia. The risks of developing hypocalcaemia and accompanying parathyroid hormone elevations increase with increasing degree of renal impairment. Adequate intake of calcium, vitamin D and regular monitoring of calcium are especially important in these patients, see above. Skin infections: Patients receiving denosumab may develop skin infections (predominantly cellulitis) leading to hospitalisation (see section 4.8). Patients should be advised to seek prompt medical attention if they develop signs or symptoms of cellulitis. Osteonecrosis of the Jaw (ONJ): ONJ has been reported rarely in patients receiving Prolia for osteoporosis (see section 4.8). The start of treatment/new treatment course should be delayed in patients with unhealed open soft tissue lesions in the mouth. A dental examination with preventive dentistry and an individual benefit-risk assessment is recommended prior to treatment with denosumab in patients with concomitant risk factors. The following risk factors should be considered when evaluating a patient’s risk of developing ONJ: • potency of the medicinal product that inhibits bone resorption (higher risk for highly potent compounds), route of administration (higher risk for parenteral administration) and cumulative dose of bone resorption therapy. • cancer, co‑morbid conditions (e.g. anaemia, coagulopathies, infection), smoking. • concomitant therapies: corticosteroids, chemotherapy, angiogenesis inhibitors, radiotherapy to head and neck. • poor oral hygiene, periodontal disease, poorly fitting dentures, history of dental disease, invasive dental procedures e.g. tooth extractions. All patients should be encouraged to maintain good oral hygiene, receive routine dental check-ups, and immediately report any oral symptoms such as dental mobility, pain or swelling or non‑healing of sores or discharge during treatment with denosumab. While on treatment, invasive dental procedures should be performed only after careful consideration and be avoided in close proximity to denosumab administration. The management plan of the patients who develop ONJ should be set up in close collaboration between the treating physician and a dentist or oral surgeon with expertise in ONJ. Temporary interruption of treatment should be considered until the condition resolves and contributing risk factors are mitigated where possible. Osteonecrosis of the external auditory canal: Osteonecrosis of the external auditory canal has been reported with denosumab. Possible risk factors for osteonecrosis of the external auditory canal include steroid use and chemotherapy and/or local risk factors such as infection or trauma. The possibility of osteonecrosis of the external auditory canal should be considered in patients receiving denosumab who present with ear symptoms including chronic ear infections. Atypical fractures of the femur: Atypical femoral fractures have been reported in patients receiving denosumab (see section 4.8). Atypical femoral fractures may occur with little or no trauma in the subtrochanteric and diaphyseal regions of the femur. Specific radiographic findings characterise these events. Atypical femoral fractures have also been reported in patients with certain co‑morbid conditions (e.g. vitamin D deficiency, rheumatoid arthritis, hypophosphatasia) and with use of certain medicinal products (e.g. bisphosphonates, glucocorticoids, proton pump inhibitors). These events have also occurred without anti-resorptive therapy. Similar fractures reported in association with bisphosphonates are often bilateral; therefore, the contralateral femur should be examined in denosumab‑treated patients who have sustained a femoral shaft fracture. Discontinuation of denosumab therapy in patients suspected to have an atypical femur fracture should be considered pending evaluation of the patient based on an individual benefit‑risk assessment. During denosumab treatment, patients should be advised to report new or unusual thigh, hip, or groin pain. Patients presenting with such symptoms should be evaluated for an incomplete femoral fracture. Long‑term anti-resorptive treatment:
Long-term anti-resorptive treatment (including both denosumab and bisphosphonates) may contribute to an increased risk for adverse outcomes such as osteonecrosis of the jaw and atypical femur fractures due to significant suppression of bone remodelling (see section 4.2). Concomitant treatment with other denosumab‑containing medicinal products: Patients being treated with denosumab should not be treated concomitantly with other denosumab-containing medicinal products (for prevention of skeletal related events in adults with bone metastases from solid tumours). Dry natural rubber: The needle cover of the pre‑filled syringe contains dry natural rubber (a derivative of latex), which may cause allergic reactions. Warnings for excipients: This medicine contains 47 mg sorbitol in each mL of solution. The additive effect of concomitantly administered products containing sorbitol (or fructose) and dietary intake of sorbitol (or fructose) should be taken into account. This medicinal product contains less than 1 mmol sodium (23 mg) per 60 mg that is to say essentially ‘sodium-free’. 4.5 Interaction with other medicinal products and other forms of interaction: In an interaction study, denosumab did not affect the pharmacokinetics of midazolam, which is metabolised by cytochrome P450 3A4 (CYP3A4). This indicates that denosumab should not alter the pharmacokinetics of medicinal products metabolised by CYP3A4. There are no clinical data on the co‑administration of denosumab and hormone replacement therapy (oestrogen), however, the potential for a pharmacodynamic interaction is considered to be low. In postmenopausal women with osteoporosis, the pharmacokinetics and pharmacodynamics of denosumab were not altered by previous alendronate therapy, based on data from a transition study (alendronate to denosumab). 4.6 Fertility, pregnancy and lactation: Pregnancy: There are no or limited data from the use of denosumab in pregnant women. Studies in animals have shown reproductive toxicity. Prolia is not recommended for use in pregnant women and women of child-bearing potential not using contraception. Women should be advised not to become pregnant during and for at least 5 months after treatment with Prolia. Any effects of Prolia are likely to be greater during the second and third trimesters of pregnancy since monoclonal antibodies are transported across the placenta in a linear fashion as pregnancy progresses, with the largest amount transferred during the third trimester. Breastfeeding: It is unknown whether denosumab is excreted in human milk. In genetically engineered mice in which RANKL has been turned off by gene removal (a “knockout mouse”), studies suggest absence of RANKL (the target of denosumab) during pregnancy may interfere with maturation of the mammary gland leading to impaired lactation post‑partum. A decision on whether to abstain from breastfeeding or to abstain from therapy with Prolia should be made, taking into account the benefit of breastfeeding to the newborn/infant and the benefit of Prolia therapy to the woman. Fertility: No data are available on the effect of denosumab on human fertility. Animal studies do not indicate direct or indirect harmful effects with respect to fertility (see section 5.3 of the Summary of Product Characteristics). 4.7 Effects on ability to drive and use machines: Prolia has no or negligible influence on the ability to drive and use machines. 4.8 Undesirable effects: Summary of the safety profile: The most common side effects with denosumab (seen in more than one patient in ten) are musculoskeletal pain and pain in the extremity. Uncommon cases of cellulitis, rare cases of hypocalcaemia, hypersensitivity, osteonecrosis of the jaw and atypical femoral fractures (see sections 4.4 and 4.8 - description of selected adverse reactions) have been observed in patients taking denosumab. Tabulated list of adverse reactions: The data in Table 1 below describe adverse reactions reported from Phase II and III clinical trials in patients with osteoporosis and breast or prostate cancer patients receiving hormone ablation; and/or spontaneous reporting. The following convention has been used for the classification of the adverse reactions (see table 1): 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), very rare (< 1/10,000) and not known (cannot be estimated from the available data). Within each frequency grouping and system organ class, adverse reactions are presented in order of decreasing seriousness.
Table 1 - Adverse reactions reported in patients with osteoporosis and breast or prostate cancer patients receiving hormone ablation
MedDRA system organ class |
Frequency category |
Adverse reactions |
Infections and infestations |
Common |
Urinary tract infection |
Common |
Upper respiratory tract infection |
Uncommon |
Diverticulitis1 |
Uncommon |
Cellulitis1 |
Uncommon |
Ear infection |
Immune system disorders |
Rare |
Drug hypersensitivity1 |
Rare |
Anaphylactic reaction1 |
Metabolism and nutrition disorders |
Rare |
Hypocalcaemia1 |
Nervous system disorders |
Common |
Sciatica |
Gastrointestinal disorders |
Common |
Constipation |
Common |
Abdominal discomfort |
Skin and subcutaneous tissue disorders |
Common |
Rash |
Common |
Eczema |
Common |
Alopecia |
uncommon |
Lichenoid drug eruptions1 |
Musculoskeletal and connective tissue disorders |
Very common |
Pain in extremity |
Very common |
Musculoskeletal pain1 |
Rare |
Osteonecrosis of the jaw1 |
Rare |
Atypical femoral fractures1 |
Not Known |
Osteonecrosis of the external auditory canal2 |
1 See section Description of selected adverse reactions
2 See section 4.4
In a pooled analysis of data from all Phase II and Phase III placebo‑controlled studies, influenza-like illness was reported with a crude incidence rate of 1.2% for denosumab and 0.7% for placebo. Although this imbalance was identified via a pooled analysis, it was not identified via a stratified analysis. Description of selected adverse reactions: Hypocalcaemia: In two Phase III placebo-controlled clinical trials in postmenopausal women with osteoporosis, approximately 0.05% (2 out of 4,050) of patients had declines of serum calcium levels (less than 1.88 mmol/l) following Prolia administration. Declines of serum calcium levels (less than 1.88 mmol/l) were not reported in neither the two Phase III placebo‑controlled clinical trials in patients receiving hormone ablation, nor the Phase III placebo-controlled clinical trial in men with osteoporosis. In the post‑marketing setting, rare cases of severe symptomatic hypocalcaemia have been reported predominantly in patients at increased risk of hypocalcaemia receiving denosumab, with most cases occurring in the first weeks of initiating therapy. Examples of the clinical manifestations of severe symptomatic hypocalcaemia have included QT interval prolongation, tetany, seizures and altered mental status (see section 4.4). Symptoms of hypocalcaemia in denosumab clinical studies included paraesthesias or muscle stiffness, twitching, spasms and muscle cramps. Skin infections: In Phase III placebo-controlled clinical trials, the overall incidence of skin infections was similar in the placebo and the denosumab groups: in postmenopausal women with osteoporosis (placebo [1.2%, 50 out of 4,041] versus Prolia [1.5%, 59 out of 4,050]); in men with osteoporosis (placebo [0.8%, 1 out of 120] versus Prolia [0%, 0 out of 120]); in breast or prostate cancer patients receiving hormone ablation (placebo [1.7%, 14 out of 845] versus Prolia [1.4%, 12 out of 860]). Skin infections leading to hospitalisation were reported in 0.1% (3 out of 4,041) of postmenopausal women with osteoporosis receiving placebo versus 0.4% (16 out of 4,050) of women receiving Prolia. These cases were predominantly cellulitis. Skin infections reported as serious adverse reactions were similar in the placebo (0.6%, 5 out of 845) and the Prolia (0.6%, 5 out of 860) groups in the breast and prostate cancer studies. Osteonecrosis of the jaw: ONJ has been reported rarely, in 16 patients, in clinical trials in osteoporosis and in breast or prostate cancer patients receiving hormone ablation, including a total of 23,148 patients (see section 4.4). Thirteen of these ONJ cases occurred in postmenopausal women with osteoporosis during the Phase III clinical trial extension following treatment with denosumab for up to 10 years. Incidence of ONJ was 0.04% at 3 years, 0.06% at 5 years and 0.44% at 10 years of denosumab treatment. The risk of ONJ increased with duration of exposure to denosumab. Atypical fractures of the femur: In the osteoporosis clinical trial program, atypical femoral fractures were reported rarely in patients treated with denosumab (see section 4.4). Diverticulitis: In a single Phase III placebo-controlled clinical trial in patients with prostate cancer receiving ADT, an imbalance in diverticulitis adverse events was observed (1.2% denosumab, 0% placebo). The incidence of diverticulitis was comparable between treatment groups in postmenopausal women or men with osteoporosis and in women undergoing aromatase inhibitor therapy for non‑metastatic breast cancer. Drug‑related hypersensitivity reactions: In the post-marketing setting, rare events of drug‑related hypersensitivity, including rash, urticaria, facial swelling, erythema, and anaphylactic reactions have been reported in patients receiving Prolia. Musculoskeletal pain: Musculoskeletal pain, including severe cases, has been reported in patients receiving Prolia in the post-marketing setting. In clinical trials, musculoskeletal pain was very common in both denosumab and placebo groups. Musculoskeletal pain leading to discontinuation of study treatment was uncommon. Lichenoid drug eruptions: Lichenoid drug eruptions (e.g. lichen planus-like reactions) have been reported in patients in the post-marketing setting. Other special populations: Renal impairment: In clinical studies, patients with severe renal impairment (creatinine clearance < 30 mL/min) or receiving dialysis were at greater risk of developing hypocalcaemia in the absence of calcium supplementation. Adequate intake of calcium and vitamin D is important in patients with severe renal impairment or receiving dialysis (see section 4.4). 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 their national reporting systems – in Spain, this is the Spanish Pharmacovigilance System for Medicinal Products for Human Use (Sistema Español de Farmacovigilancia de Medicamentos de Uso Humano): https://www.notificaram.es. 4.9 Overdose: There is no experience with overdose in clinical studies. Denosumab has been administered in clinical studies using doses up to 180 mg every 4 weeks (cumulative doses up to 1,080 mg over 6 months), and no additional adverse reactions were observed. 6. PHARMACEUTICAL PARTICULARS: 6.1 List of excipients: Acetic acid, glacial*, sodium hydroxide (for pH adjustment)*, sorbitol (E420), polysorbate 20, water for injections. *Acetate buffer is formed by mixing acetic acid with sodium hydroxide. 6.2 Incompatibilities: In the absence of compatibility studies, this medicinal product must not be mixed with other medicinal products. 6.3 Shelf life: 3 years. Once removed from the refrigerator, Prolia may be stored at room temperature (up to 25°C) for up to 30 days in the original container. It must be used within this 30 days period. 6.4 Special precautions for storage: Store in a refrigerator (2°C–8°C). Do not freeze. Keep the container in the outer carton in order to protect from light. 6.5 Nature and contents of container: One mL solution in a single use pre‑filled syringe made from type I glass with stainless steel 27-gauge needle, with or without needle guard. The needle cover of the pre‑filled syringe contains dry natural rubber, which is a derivative of latex (see section 4.4). Pack size of one pre‑filled syringe, presented in blistered (pre‑filled syringe with or without a needle guard) or unblistered packaging (pre‑filled syringe without a needle guard only). Not all pack sizes may be marketed. 6.6 Special precautions for disposal and other handling: • Before administration, the solution should be inspected. Do not inject the solution if it contains particles, or is cloudy or discoloured. • Do not shake. • To avoid discomfort at the site of injection, allow the pre‑filled syringe to reach room temperature (up to 25°C) before injecting and inject slowly. • Inject the entire contents of the pre‑filled syringe. Any unused medicinal product or waste material should be disposed of in accordance with local requirements. 7. MARKETING AUTHORISATION HOLDER: Amgen Europe B.V. Minervum 7061, 4817 ZK Breda, The Netherlands. 10. DATE OF REVISION OF THE TEXT: February 2020.
For Spanish HCPs only.
Para profesionales sanitarios que ejercen su profesión en España:
RÉGIMEN DE PRESCRIPCIÓN Y DISPENSACIÓN: Con receta médica. Financiado por la Seguridad Social. Aportación normal
PRESENTACIÓN Y PRECIO: Prolia 60 mg solución inyectable en una jeringa precargada; PVP (IVA): 225,59€.
La indicación de Prolia en el tratamiento de la pérdida ósea asociada con el tratamiento sistémico a largo plazo con glucocorticoides en pacientes adultos con riesgo elevado de fracturas está pendiente de la resolución administrativa sobre su precio y reembolso por parte de la Dirección General de Cartera Básica de Servicios del Sistema Nacional de Salud y Farmacia.
Detailed information on this medicinal product is available on the website of the European Medicines Agency
http://www.ema.europa.eu