NovoSeven

eptacog alfa (activated)

Name of the medicinal product

NovoSeven Recombinant coagulation factor Vlla, eptacog alfa (activated) 60 KlU/vial (1.2 mg/vial)

Composition

Active ingredient: Recombinant coagulation factor Vlla.

Excipients:

Sodium Chloride, Calcium Chloride Dihydrate Glycylglycine, Polysorbate 80, Mannitol, Water for Injections PhEur.

Pharmaceutical form

Powder for injection.

Strength of active ingredient

The powder for injection contains: 60 KlU/vial corresponding to 1.2 mg/vial.

The reconstituted product contains: 30 KlU/ml corresponding to 0.6 mg/ml.

1 KIU equals 1000 IU (International Units).

Description - Package

The NovoSeven package contains:

  • 1 vial with white powder for injection
  • 1 vial with accompanying diluent (water for injections) for reconstitution
  • 1 sterile needle for reconstitution (transfer needle)
  • 1 sterile disposable syringe for reconstitution and administration and 2 alcohol swabs for cleansing the rubber stoppers on the vials.

Pharmacotherapeutic group

Coagulation factors, ATC code B02B D05.

Marketing authorisation holder: Novo Nordist A/S Novo Allé, DK-2880 Bagsvaerd, Denmark.

Manufacturer: Novo Nordisk A/S, Novo Allé, DK-2880 Bagsvaerd, Denmark.

What you must know about the product which the doctor has prescribed for you

General information

NovoSeven is a medicine that works by activating the clotting system in the blood at the site of bleeding in patients with bleeding complications due to the development of inhibitors against coagulation factor VlIl or IX

Therapeutic indications

  • Treatment of serious bleeding
  • Prevention of excessive bleeding in connection with surgery

Contra-indications

Inform your doctor before taking this product if you: - have just undergone surgery

  • suffer from crush injury
  • suffer from thrombotic complications or advanced atherosclerotic disease
  • suffer from blood poisoning
  • are allergic to mice, hamsters, or cattle

Special warnings and special precautions during use Medication with NovoSeven should be guided by a specialised centre.

See your doctor if your bleeding does not stop.

Inform your doctor of known hypersensitivity to foreign protein.

Keep all medicines safely away from children.

Pregnancy and breastfeeding

NovoSeven should only be given to a pregnant woman if clearly needed.

If you are breast-feeding, your doctor may advise you to stop the treatment with NovoSeven or stop breast-feeding.

Interactions with other medicines

Before you take this medicine, you should consult your doctor concerning any other medicine you use.

Dosage

After reconstitution the medicine should be injected intravenously over 2-5 minutes (bolus injection).

Dosage range

3-6 KIU (60-120 >9) per kg body weight per single dose. The initial dose is usually 4.5 KIU (90 µg) per kg body weight. Your doctor might change the dosage.

Dosage intervals

Consult your doctor regarding the dosage schedule and duration of treatment. The treatment may be continued for 2-3 weeks. Omission of dosage and sudden discontinuation of treatment should be advised by your doctor.

Reconstitution

Always use aseptic technique (eg wash your hands prior to use etc).

  1. Bring NovoSeven (powder) and Water for Injections PhEur (diluent) to room temperature (but not above 37 C), e.g. by holding the product in your hands.
  2. Remove the protective plastic caps from powder and diluent vials to expose central portions of rubber stoppers.
  3. Cleanse stoppers with alcohol swabs and allow to dry prior to use.
  4. Take the transfer needle out of the package by pressing the needle end. Break protective covering from the transfer needle and attach the disposable syringe supplied in the package. Remove the last part of the needle covering.
  5. Draw back the plunger (to the same volume as in the diluent vial) to admit air into the syringe.
  6. Insert the transfer needle through the diluent vial stopper at its centre and inject the air into the vial. Hold the vial upside down, then withdraw the total contents of the vial into the syringe (cc=ml),
  7. Inject the diluent from the syringe into the vial containing the powder through the centre of the stopper (the powder does not contain a vacuum}.
  8. Gently swirl until all material is dissolved.

Administration

  1. Draw back the plunger (to the same volume as you are going to inject) to admit air into the syringe.
  2. Insert transfer needle into the vial containing reconstituted NovoSeven.
  3. Inject air into the vial and then withdraw the reconstituted NovoSeven into the syringe.
  4. Remove and discard the transfer needle.
  5. Attach a suitable intravenous injection needle and administer.
  6. Discard the administration needle.

Remember to discard the used needles in a safe way (e.g. use the needle disposal can).

 

Overdose

If too much NovoSeven is injected, seek medical advice at once.

 

Undesirable side effects

Serious side effects are rarely seen with NovoSeven but in case anything unusual does happen, consult your doctor.

On rare occasions reactions such as rash, itching fever, nausea, headache, general discomfort, perspiration or changes in blood pressure may occur.

Major adverse events possibly related to treatment with NovoSeven have been reported in seven cases (renal failure, ataxia, cerebrovascular disorder, angina pectoris, atrial arrythmia and circulatory shock).

continued

Expiry date

The expiry date is stated on the outer carton and labels. Do not use the product after this date.

Special precautions for storage

Keep NovoSeven refrigerated (2°C-8°C)

Do not freeze, to prevent damage to the diluent bottle.

Use preferably immediately or at least within 3 hours after reconstitution.

Do not store reconstituted NovoSeven in plastic syringes.

Do not expose to direct sunlight.

Last revision: October 1995.