2.1 Radiation Safety - Drug Handling

Axumin is a radioactive drug and should be handled with appropriate safety measures to minimize radiation exposure during administration [see Warnings and Precautions (5.3)]. Use waterproof gloves and effective shielding, including syringe shields, when handling and administering Axumin.

2.2 Recommended Dose and Administration Instructions

The recommended dose is 370 MBq (10 mCi) administered as an intravenous bolus injection.

• Inspect Axumin visually for particulate matter and discoloration before administration. Do not use the drug if the solution contains particulate matter or is discolored.
• Use aseptic technique and radiation shielding when withdrawing and administering Axumin.
• Calculate the necessary volume to administer based on calibration time and date, using a suitably calibrated instrument. The recommended maximum volume of injection of undiluted Axumin is 5mL.
• Axumin may be diluted with 0.9% Sodium Chloride Injection, USP.
• After the Axumin injection, administer an intravenous flush of sterile 0.9% Sodium Chloride Injection, USP to ensure full delivery of the dose.
• Dispose of any unused drug in a safe manner in compliance with applicable regulations.

2.3 Patient Preparation Prior to PET Imaging

• Advise the patient to avoid any significant exercise for at least one day prior to PET imaging.
• Advise patients not to eat or drink for at least 4 hours (other than sips of water for taking medications) prior to administration of Axumin.
• Advise patients to void approximately 30 minutes to 60 minutes prior to administration of Axumin and then refrain from voiding until after the scan has been completed

2.4 Image Acquisition Guidelines

Position the patient supine with arms above the head. Begin PET scanning 3 minutes to 5 minutes after completion of the Axumin injection. It is recommended that image acquisition should start from mid-thigh and proceed to the base of the skull. Typical total scan time is between 20 minutes to 30 minutes.

2.5 Image Display and Interpretation

Localization of prostate cancer recurrence in sites typical for prostate cancer recurrence is based on fluciclovine F 18 uptake in comparison with tissue background. For small lesions (less than 1cm in diameter) focal uptake greater than blood pool should be considered suspicious for prostate cancer recurrence. For larger lesions, uptake equal to or greater than bone marrow is considered suspicious for prostate cancer recurrence.

2.6 Radiation Dosimetry

The radiation absorbed doses estimated for adult patients following intravenous injection of Axumin are shown in Table 1. Values were calculated from human biodistribution data using OLINDA/EXM (Organ Level Internal Dose Assessment/Exponential Modeling) software.

The (radiation absorbed) effective dose resulting from the administration of the recommended activity of 370 MBq of Axumin is 8 mSv. For an administered activity of 370 MBq (10 mCi), the highest-magnitude radiation doses are delivered to the pancreas, cardiac wall, and uterine wall: 38 mGy, 19 mGy, and 17 mGy, respectively. If a CT scan is simultaneously performed as part of the PET procedure, exposure to ionizing radiation will increase in an amount dependent on the settings used in the CT acquisition.

5.1 Risk for Image Misinterpretation

Image interpretation errors can occur with Axumin PET imaging. A negative image does not rule out the presence of recurrent prostate cancer and a positive image does not confirm the presence of recurrent prostate cancer. The performance of Axumin seems to be affected by PSA levels [See Clinical Studies (14)]. Fluciclovine F 18 uptake is not specific for prostate cancer and may occur with other types of cancer and benign prostatic hypertrophy in primary prostate cancer. Clinical correlation, which may include histopathological evaluation of the suspected recurrence site, is recommended.

5.2 Hypersensitivity Reactions

Hypersensitivity reactions including anaphylaxis may occur in patients who receive Axumin. Emergency resuscitation equipment and personnel should be immediately available.

5.3 Radiation Risks

Axumin use contributes to a patient's overall long-term cumulative radiation exposure. Long-term cumulative radiation exposure is associated with an increased risk for cancer. Ensure safe handling to minimize radiation exposure to the patient and health care providers [see Dosage and Administration (2.1)].

Clinical Trials Experience

Because clinical trials are conducted under widely varying conditions, adverse reaction rates observed in the clinical trials of a drug cannot be directly compared to rates in the clinical trials of another drug and may not reflect the rates observed in practice. The clinical trial database for Axumin includes data from 877 subjects including 797 males diagnosed with prostate cancer. Most patients received a single administration of Axumin, a small number of subjects (n = 50) received up to five administrations of the drug. The mean administered activity was 370 MBq (range, 163 MBq to 485 MBq).

Adverse reactions were reported in ≤1% of subjects during clinical studies with Axumin. The most common adverse reactions were injection site pain, injection site erythema and dysgeusia.

8.1 Pregnancy

8.2 Lactation

8.3 Pediatric Use

Safety and effectiveness have not been established in pediatric patients.

8.4 Geriatric Use

Of the total number of patients in clinical studies of Axumin, the average age was 66 years with a range of 21 to 90 years. No overall differences in safety or effectiveness were observed between older subjects and younger subjects.

11.1 Chemical Characteristics

Axumin contains the fluorine 18 (F 18) labeled synthetic amino acid analog fluciclovine. Fluciclovine F 18 is a radioactive diagnostic agent used with PET imaging. Chemically, fluciclovine F 18 is (1r, 3r)-1-amino-3[18F]fluorocyclobutane-1-carboxylic acid. The molecular weight is 132.1 and the structural formula is:

Axumin is a sterile, non-pyrogenic, clear, colorless, hyperosmolal (approximately 500 mOsm/kg to 540 mOsm/kg) injection for intravenous use. Each milliliter contains up to 2 micrograms of fluciclovine, 335 MBq to 8,200 MBq (9 mCi to 221 mCi) fluciclovine F 18 at calibration time and date, and 20 mg trisodium citrate in water for injection. The solution also contains hydrochloric acid, sodium hydroxide and has a pH between 4 and 6.

11.2 Physical Characteristics

Fluorine 18 (F 18) is a cyclotron produced radionuclide that decays by positron emission (ß+ decay, 96.7%) and orbital electron capture (3.3%) to stable oxygen 18 with a physical half-life of 109.7 minutes. The positron can undergo annihilation with an electron to produce two gamma rays; the energy of each gamma ray is 511 keV (Table 2).

11.3 External Radiation

The point source air-kerma coefficient for F 18 is 3.75 x 10-17 Gy m2/(Bq s). The first half-value thickness of lead (Pb) for F 18 gamma rays is approximately 6 mm. The relative reduction of radiation emitted by F 18 that results from various thicknesses of lead shielding is shown in Table 3. The use of 8 cm of Pb will decrease the radiation transmission (i.e., exposure) by a factor of about 10,000.

12.1 Mechanism of action

Fluciclovine F 18 is a synthetic amino acid transported across mammalian cell membranes by amino acid transporters, such as LAT-1 and ASCT2, which are upregulated in prostate cancer cells. Fluciclovine F 18 is taken up to a greater extent in prostate cancer cells compared with surrounding normal tissues.

12.2 Pharmacodynamics

Following intravenous administration, the tumor-to-normal tissue contrast is highest between 4 and 10 minutes after injection, with a 61% reduction in mean tumor uptake at 90 minutes after injection.

12.3 Pharmacokinetics

13.1 Carcinogenesis, Mutagenesis, Impairment of Fertility

16.1 How Supplied

Axumin is supplied as a clear, colorless injection in a 30 mL or 50 mL multiple-dose glass vial containing approximately 26 mL solution of 335 MBq/mL to 8,200 MBq/mL (9 mCi/mL to 221 mCi/mL) fluciclovine F 18 at calibration time and date.

30 mL sterile multiple-dose vial: NDC 69932-001-30

50 mL sterile multiple-dose vial: NDC 69932-001-50

16.2 Storage and Handling

Store Axumin at controlled room temperature (USP) 20°C to 25°C (68°F to 77°F). Axumin does not contain a preservative. Store Axumin within the original container in radiation shielding. Do not use Axumin more than 10 hours after end of synthesis and dispose of in accordance with institutional guidelines.

This preparation is approved for use by persons under license by the Nuclear Regulatory Commission or the relevant regulatory authority of an Agreement State.