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FDA Issues Safety Advisory Regarding Sporanox Products/Lamisil Tablets For Fungal Nail Infections

ROCKVILLE, MD -- May 14, 2001 -- The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) issued a Public Health Advisory to announce significant safety-related updates to the labeling of Sporanox® (itraconazole) products and Lamisil® (terbinafine hydrochloride) tablets. Sporanox and Lamisil are used to treat nail (onychomycosis), skin and other systemic fungal infections.

The purpose of the FDA Public Health Advisory is to alert healthcare professionals to serious risks associated with the use of Sporanox and Lamisil. FDA believes there is a small but real risk of developing congestive heart failure (CHF) associated with the use of Sporanox. Both Sporanox and Lamisil have been associated with serious liver problems resulting in liver failure and death. However, there is insufficient data to allow FDA to make any kind of statement about the comparative safety of Sporanox and Lamisil.

Results of recent studies of Sporanox revealed a potential for the drug to weaken the force of the heart muscle's contractions. This so-called "negative inotropic effect" was observed when intravenous Sporanox was injected into anesthetized dogs and healthy human volunteers. In these studies, the adverse effect on the heart muscle resolved once the drug was stopped.

Since becoming aware of the study findings, FDA analyzed US and international post-marketing adverse event reports involving Sporanox that were received between its approval in September 1992 and April 2001.

During this period, FDA received 94 cases in which patients receiving Sporanox developed CHF. In 58 of the 94 cases, FDA believes Sporanox contributed to or may have been the cause of CHF. In 26 of these 58 cases, Sporanox was being administered to treat fungal nail infections. Of these 58 patients, 28 were hospitalized. Death was reported in 13 cases. However, the causal relationship between the 13 deaths and Sporanox is very unclear because of confounding factors. For example, 10 of the 13 patients who died had serious underlying conditions.

In response to the study findings and the analysis of the post-marketing adverse event reports, FDA has added additional information to the current "black box" warning in the Sporanox labeling. The warning now states that Sporanox should not be administered for the treatment of fungal nail infections in patients with evidence of cardiac dysfunction, such as CHF, or a history of CHF. The Sporanox "black box" warning also includes important information about heart-related adverse events caused by drug interactions.

If signs and symptoms of CHF occur during treatment of fungal nail infections, the revised labeling recommends that Sporanox should be discontinued. If signs and symptoms of CHF occur during treatment for more serious fungal infections involving other parts of the body, the revised labeling recommends that continued use of Sporanox should be reassessed by the physician.

The advisory also alerts healthcare professionals to rare cases of serious liver problems including liver failure, transplantation and death associated with the use of Sporanox products and Lamisil tablets. While adverse liver effects were already included in the labeling for both products, FDA decided to include this information in the advisory because some cases involved patients who had neither pre-existing liver disease nor a serious underlying medical condition.

FDA's concerns do not apply to the topically applied versions of Lamisil such as cream and solution.

As of April 2001, FDA has received and reviewed 16 possible Lamisil-associated cases of liver failure, including 11 deaths and two liver transplantations.

As of March 2001, FDA has received and reviewed 24 cases of liver failure possibly associated with Sporanox, including 11 deaths. Approximately half of the liver failure cases received Sporanox for fungal nail infections or other dermatological infections.

Given the possible serious risks associated with Sporanox products and Lamisil tablets, the new labeling for both products now recommends that healthcare professionals should obtain nail specimens for laboratory testing prior to prescribing the medications for fungal nail infections, to confirm the diagnosis.

In conjunction with FDA's advisory, the manufacturer of Sporanox (Janssen Pharmaceutica Products, L.P. of Titusville, NJ and Ortho Biotech Products, L.P. of Raritan, NJ) and Lamisil (Novartis Pharmaceuticals of East Hanover, NJ) are notifying healthcare professionals of the labeling changes by issuing "Dear Healthcare Professional" letters.


SOURCE: FDA

Related Links: Sporanox (itraconazole), Janssen Pharmaceutica Products, Lamisil (terbinafine hydrochloride) and Novartis Pharmaceuticals.

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