2.1 Recommended Dosage

The recommended dosage is 20 mcg per dose given subcutaneously once a day. Instruct patients to take supplemental calcium and vitamin D if daily dietary intake is inadequate.

2.2 Administration Instructions

• Administer FORTEO as a subcutaneous injection into the thigh or abdominal region. FORTEO is not approved for intravenous or intramuscular use.
• FORTEO should be administered initially under circumstances in which the patient can sit or lie down if symptoms of orthostatic hypotension occur [see Warnings and Precautions (5.4)].
• Parenteral drug products should be inspected visually for particulate matter and discoloration prior to administration (FORTEO is a clear and colorless liquid). Do not use if solid particles appear or if the solution is cloudy or colored.
• Patients and/or caregivers who administer FORTEO should receive appropriate training and instruction on the proper use of the FORTEO prefilled delivery device (pen) from a qualified health professional.
• Discard the delivery device 28 days after first use.

2.3 Recommended Treatment Duration

Use of FORTEO for more than 2 years during a patient's lifetime should only be considered if a patient remains at or has returned to having a high risk for fracture [see Warnings and Precautions (5.1)].

5.1 Osteosarcoma

An increase in the incidence of osteosarcoma (a malignant bone tumor) was observed in male and female rats treated with teriparatide. Osteosarcoma has been reported in patients treated with FORTEO in the post marketing setting; however, an increased risk of osteosarcoma has not been observed in observational studies in humans. There are limited data assessing the risk of osteosarcoma beyond 2 years of FORTEO use [see Dosage and Administration (2.3), Adverse Reactions (6.3), and Nonclinical Toxicology (13.1)].

Avoid FORTEO use in patients with (these patients are at increased baseline risk of osteosarcoma):

• Open epiphyses (pediatric and young adult patients) (FORTEO is not approved in pediatric patients) [see Use in Specific Populations (8.4)].
• Metabolic bone diseases other than osteoporosis, including Paget's disease of the bone.
• Bone metastases or a history of skeletal malignancies.
• Prior external beam or implant radiation therapy involving the skeleton.
• Hereditary disorders predisposing to osteosarcoma.

5.2 Hypercalcemia and Cutaneous Calcification

5.3 Risk of Urolithiasis

In clinical trials, the frequency of urolithiasis was similar in patients treated with FORTEO and patients treated with placebo. However, FORTEO has not been studied in patients with active urolithiasis. If FORTEO-treated patients have pre-existing hypercalciuria or suspected/known active urolithiasis, consider measuring urinary calcium excretion. Consider the risks and benefits of use in patients with active or recent urolithiasis because of the potential to exacerbate this condition.

5.4 Orthostatic Hypotension

FORTEO should be administered initially under circumstances in which the patient can sit or lie down if symptoms of orthostatic hypotension occur. In short-term clinical pharmacology studies of FORTEO in healthy volunteers, transient episodes of symptomatic orthostatic hypotension were observed in 5% of volunteers. Typically, these events began within 4 hours of dosing and resolved (without treatment) within a few minutes to a few hours. When transient orthostatic hypotension occurred, it happened within the first several doses, it was relieved by placing the person in a reclining position, and it did not preclude continued treatment.

5.5 Risk of Digoxin Toxicity

Hypercalcemia may predispose patients to digitalis toxicity because FORTEO transiently increases serum calcium. Consider the potential onset of signs and symptoms of digitalis toxicity when FORTEO is used in patients receiving digoxin [see Drug Interactions (7.1) and Clinical Pharmacology (12.3)].

6.1 Clinical Trials Experience

Because clinical studies are conducted under widely varying conditions, adverse reaction rates observed in the clinical studies of a drug cannot be directly compared to rates in the clinical studies of another drug and may not reflect the rates observed in practice.

6.2 Immunogenicity

As with all peptides, there is potential for immunogenicity. The detection of antibody formation is highly dependent on the sensitivity and specificity of the assay. Additionally, the observed incidence of antibody (including neutralizing antibody) positivity in an assay may be influenced by several factors, including assay methodology, sample handling, timing of sample collection, concomitant medications, and underlying disease. For these reasons, comparison of the incidence of antibodies in the studies described below with the incidence of antibodies in other studies or to other teriparatide products may be misleading.

In the clinical trial of postmenopausal women with osteoporosis [see Clinical Studies (14.1)], antibodies that cross reacted with teriparatide were detected in 3% of women (15/541) who received FORTEO. Generally, antibodies were first detected following 12 months of treatment and diminished after withdrawal of therapy. There was no evidence of hypersensitivity reactions among these patients. Antibody formation did not appear to have effects on serum calcium, or on bone mineral density (BMD) response.

6.3 Postmarketing Experience

7.1 Digoxin

Sporadic case reports have suggested that hypercalcemia may predispose patients to digitalis toxicity. FORTEO may transiently increase serum calcium. Consider the potential onset of signs and symptoms of digitalis toxicity when FORTEO is used in patients receiving digoxin [see Warnings and Precaution (5.5) and Clinical Pharmacology (12.3)].

8.1 Pregnancy

8.2 Lactation

8.4 Pediatric Use

The safety and effectiveness of FORTEO have not been established in pediatric patients. Pediatric patients are at higher baseline risk of osteosarcoma because of open epiphyses [see Warnings and Precautions (5.1)].

8.5 Geriatric Use

Of the patients who received FORTEO in the osteoporosis trial of 1637 postmenopausal women, 75% were 65 years of age and older and 23% were 75 years of age and older. Of the patients who received FORTEO in the trial of 437 men with primary or hypogonadal osteoporosis, 39% were 65 years of age and over and 13% were 75 years of age and over. Of the 214 patients who received FORTEO in the glucocorticoid induced osteoporosis trial, 28% were 65 years of age and older and 9% were 75 years of age and older. No overall differences in safety or effectiveness of FORTEO have been observed between patients 65 years of age and older and younger adult patients.

8.6 Hepatic Impairment

No studies have been performed in patients with hepatic impairment [see Clinical Pharmacology (12.3)].

8.7 Renal Impairment

In 5 patients with severe renal impairment (CrCl<30 mL/minute), the AUC and T1/2 of teriparatide were increased by 73% and 77%, respectively. Maximum serum concentration of teriparatide was not increased. It is unknown whether FORTEO alters the underlying metabolic bone disease seen in chronic renal impairment [see Clinical Pharmacology (12.3)].

Overdose Management — There is no specific antidote for a FORTEO overdosage. Treatment of suspected overdosage should include discontinuation of FORTEO, monitoring of serum calcium and phosphorus, and implementation of appropriate supportive measures, such as hydration.

12.1 Mechanism of Action

Endogenous 84-amino acid parathyroid hormone (PTH) is the primary regulator of calcium and phosphate metabolism in bone and kidney. Physiological actions of PTH include regulation of bone metabolism, renal tubular reabsorption of calcium and phosphate, and intestinal calcium absorption. The biological actions of PTH and teriparatide are mediated through binding to specific high-affinity cell-surface receptors. Teriparatide and the 34 N-terminal amino acids of PTH bind to these receptors with the same affinity and have the same physiological actions on bone and kidney. Teriparatide is not expected to accumulate in bone or other tissues.

The skeletal effects of teriparatide depend upon the pattern of systemic exposure. Once-daily administration of teriparatide stimulates new bone formation on trabecular and cortical (periosteal and/or endosteal) bone surfaces by preferential stimulation of osteoblastic activity over osteoclastic activity. In monkey studies, teriparatide improved trabecular microarchitecture and increased bone mass and strength by stimulating new bone formation in both cancellous and cortical bone. In humans, the anabolic effects of teriparatide manifest as an increase in skeletal mass, an increase in markers of bone formation and resorption, and an increase in bone strength. By contrast, continuous excess of endogenous PTH, as occurs in hyperparathyroidism, may be detrimental to the skeleton because bone resorption may be stimulated more than bone formation.

12.2 Pharmacodynamics

12.3 Pharmacokinetics

13.1 Carcinogenesis, Mutagenesis, Impairment of Fertility

13.2 Animal Toxicology

In single-dose rodent studies using subcutaneous injection of teriparatide, no mortality was seen in rats given doses of 1000 mcg/kg (540 times the human dose based on surface area, mcg/m2) or in mice given 10,000 mcg/kg (2700 times the human dose based on surface area, mcg/m2).

In a long-term study, skeletally mature ovariectomized female monkeys (N=30 per treatment group) were given either daily subcutaneous teriparatide injections of 5 mcg/kg or vehicle. Following the 18-month treatment period, the monkeys were removed from teriparatide treatment and were observed for an additional 3 years. The 5 mcg/kg dose resulted in systemic exposures that were approximately 6 times higher than the systemic exposure observed in humans following a subcutaneous dose of 20 mcg (based on AUC comparison). Bone tumors were not detected by radiographic or histologic evaluation in any monkey in the study.

14.1 Treatment of Osteoporosis in Postmenopausal Women

The safety and efficacy of once-daily FORTEO, median exposure of 19 months, were examined in a double-blind, multicenter, placebo-controlled clinical study of 1637 postmenopausal women with osteoporosis. In this study 541 postmenopausal women were treated with 20 mcg FORTEO subcutaneously once daily.

All women received 1000 mg of calcium and at least 400 IU of vitamin D per day. Baseline and endpoint spinal radiographs were evaluated using the semiquantitative scoring. Ninety percent of the women in the study had 1 or more radiographically diagnosed vertebral fractures at baseline. The primary efficacy endpoint was the occurrence of new radiographically diagnosed vertebral fractures defined as changes in the height of previously undeformed vertebrae. Such fractures are not necessarily symptomatic.

Effect on Fracture Incidence

New Vertebral Fractures — FORTEO, when taken with calcium and vitamin D and compared with calcium and vitamin D alone, reduced the risk of 1 or more new vertebral fractures from 14.3% of women in the placebo group to 5.0% in the FORTEO group (444 of the 541 patients treated with 20 mcg once daily of FORTEO were included in this analysis). This difference was statistically significant (p<0.001); the absolute reduction in risk was 9.3% and the relative reduction was 65%. FORTEO was effective in reducing the risk for vertebral fractures regardless of age, baseline rate of bone turnover, or baseline BMD (see Table 2).

Table 2: Effect of FORTEO on Risk of Vertebral Fractures in Postmenopausal Women with Osteoporosis

a p≤0.001 compared with placebo.
Percent of Women With Fracture
	FORTEO (N=444)	Placebo (N=448)	Absolute Risk Reduction (%, 95% CI)	Relative Risk Reduction (%, 95% CI)
New fracture (≥1)	5.0a	14.3	9.3 (5.5-13.1)	65 (45-78)
1 fracture	3.8	9.4
2 fractures	0.9	2.9
≥3 fractures	0.2	2.0

New Nonvertebral Osteoporotic Fractures — FORTEO significantly reduced the risk of any nonvertebral fracture from 5.5% in the placebo group to 2.6% in the FORTEO group (p<0.05). The absolute reduction in risk was 2.9% and the relative reduction was 53%. The incidence of new nonvertebral fractures in the FORTEO group compared with the placebo group was ankle/foot (0.2%, 0.7%), hip (0.2%, 0.7%), humerus (0.4%, 0.4%), pelvis (0%, 0.6%), ribs (0.6%, 0.9%), wrist (0.4%, 1.3%), and other sites (1.1%, 1.5%), respectively.

The cumulative percentage of postmenopausal women with osteoporosis who sustained new nonvertebral fractures was lower in women treated with FORTEO than in women treated with placebo (see Figure 1).

Figure 1: Cumulative Percentage of Postmenopausal Women with Osteoporosis Sustaining New Nonvertebral Osteoporotic Fractures

14.2 Treatment to Increase Bone Mass in Men with Primary or Hypogonadal Osteoporosis

The safety and efficacy of once-daily FORTEO, median exposure of 10 months, were examined in a double-blind, multicenter, placebo-controlled clinical study of 437 men with either primary (idiopathic) or hypogonadal osteoporosis. In this study, 151 men received 20 mcg of FORTEO given subcutaneously once daily. All men received 1000 mg of calcium and at least 400 IU of vitamin D per day. The primary efficacy endpoint was change in lumbar spine BMD.

FORTEO increased lumbar spine BMD in men with primary or hypogonadal osteoporosis. Statistically significant increases were seen at 3 months and continued throughout the treatment period. FORTEO was effective in increasing lumbar spine BMD regardless of age, baseline rate of bone turnover, and baseline BMD. The effects of FORTEO at additional skeletal sites are shown in Table 4.

FORTEO treatment for a median of 10 months increased lumbar spine BMD from baseline in 94% of men treated. Fifty-three percent of patients treated with FORTEO achieved at least a 5% increase in spine BMD, and 14% gained 10% or more.

14.3 Treatment of Men and Women with Glucocorticoid-Induced Osteoporosis

The efficacy of FORTEO for treating glucocorticoid-induced osteoporosis was assessed in a randomized, double-blind, active-controlled trial of 428 patients (19% men, 81% women) aged 22 to 89 years (mean 57 years) treated with ≥5 mg/day prednisone or equivalent for a minimum of 3 months. The duration of the trial was 18 months. In the trial 214  patients were treated with FORTEO 20 mcg given subcutaneously once daily. In the FORTEO group, the baseline median glucocorticoid dose was 7.5 mg/day and the baseline median duration of glucocorticoid use was 1.5 years. The mean (SD) baseline lumbar spine BMD was 0.85 ± 0.13 g/cm2 and lumbar spine BMD T-score was –2.5 ± 1 (number of standard deviations below the mean BMD value for healthy adults). A total of 30% of patients had prevalent vertebral fracture(s) and 43% had prior non-vertebral fracture(s). The patients had chronic rheumatologic, respiratory or other diseases that required sustained glucocorticoid therapy. All patients received 1000 mg of calcium plus 800 IU of vitamin D supplementation per day.

Because of differences in mechanism of action (anabolic vs. anti-resorptive) and lack of clarity regarding differences in BMD as an adequate predictor of fracture efficacy, data on the active comparator are not presented.

16.1 How Supplied

FORTEO (teriparatide injection) is a clear and colorless solution, available as single-patient-use prefilled delivery device (pen) in the following package size:

• 560 mcg/2.24 mL (250 mcg/mL) [intended to deliver 28 daily doses of 20 mcg] NDC 0002-8400-01 (MS8400).

16.2 Storage and Handling

• Store FORTEO under refrigeration at 2° to 8°C (36° to 46°F) at all times except when administering the product.
• Recap the delivery device (pen) when not in use to protect the cartridge from physical damage and light.
• When using FORTEO, minimize the time out of the refrigerator; deliver the dose immediately following removal from the refrigerator.
• Do not freeze. Do not use FORTEO if it has been frozen.
• Throw away the device 28 days after first use.

Osteosarcoma

Patients should be made aware that in rats, teriparatide caused an increase in the incidence of osteosarcoma (a malignant bone tumor). Although cases of osteosarcoma have been reported in patients using FORTEO no increased risk of osteosarcoma was observed in adult humans treated with FORTEO [see Warnings and Precautions (5.1)].

Hypercalcemia

Instruct patients taking FORTEO to contact a health care provider if they develop persistent symptoms of hypercalcemia (e.g., nausea, vomiting, constipation, lethargy, muscle weakness) [see Warnings and Precautions (5.2)].

Orthostatic Hypotension

When initiating FORTEO treatment, instruct patients to be prepared to immediately sit or lie down during or after administration in case they feel lightheaded or have palpitations after the injection. Instruct patients to sit or lie down until the symptoms resolve. If symptoms persist or worsen, instruct patients to consult a healthcare provider before continuing treatment [see Warnings and Precautions (5.4)].

Other Osteoporosis Treatment Modalities

Patients should be informed regarding the roles of supplemental calcium and/or vitamin D.

Use of the Prefilled Delivery Device (Pen)

Instruct patients and caregivers who administer FORTEO on how to properly use the delivery device (refer to User Manual), to properly dispose of needles, and not to share their prefilled delivery device with other patients. Instruct patients and caregivers who administer FORTEO that the contents of the delivery device should not be transferred to a syringe.

Inform patients that each FORTEO delivery device can be used up to 28 days after first use. After the 28-day use period, instruct patients to discard the FORTEO delivery device, even if it still contains some unused solution. Instruct patients not to use FORTEO after the expiration date printed on the delivery device and packaging.

Marketed by: Lilly USA, LLC
Indianapolis, IN 46285, USA
www.forteo.com

Copyright © 2002, 2024, Eli Lilly and Company. All rights reserved.

FOR-0005-USPI-20240724