Professional Documents
Culture Documents
Actilyse
Actilyse
alteplase (rch)
ACTILYSE is presented as a sterile, white to off-white, lyophilised powder, intended for intravenous
administration after reconstitution with sterilised Water for Injections.
ACTILYSE 10 mg
Box containing 1 vial of ACTILYSE 10 mg alteplase (corresponding to 5,800,000 IU) in up to 466.6 mg
dry powder, 1 vial of sterilised Water for Injections, 10 mL.
ACTILYSE 20 mg*
Box containing 1 vial of ACTILYSE 20 mg alteplase (corresponding to 11,600,000 IU) in 933.2 mg dry
powder, 1 vial of sterilised Water for Injections, 20 mL, and 1 transfer cannula for preparing a sterile
solution of ACTILYSE.
ACTILYSE 50 mg
Box containing 1 vial of ACTILYSE 50 mg alteplase (corresponding to 29,000,000 IU) in 2333 mg dry
powder, 1 vial of sterilised Water for Injections, 50 mL, and 1 transfer cannula for preparing a sterile
solution of ACTILYSE.
*Not currently distributed in Australia.
The specific activity of alteplase in-house reference material is 580,000 IU/mg. This has been
confirmed by comparison with the second international WHO standard for t-PA. The specification for
the specific activity of alteplase is 522,000 to 696,000 IU/mg.
For the full list of excipients, see Section 6.1 List of excipients.
4 CLINICAL PARTICULARS
Myocardial Infarction
ACTILYSE is indicated for intravenous use in adults for the lysis of suspected occlusive coronary artery
thrombi associated with evolving transmural myocardial infarction. Treatment should be initiated as
soon as possible after the onset of symptoms. The treatment can be initiated within 12 hours of
symptom onset.
Pulmonary Embolism
ACTILYSE is also indicated in patients with acute massive pulmonary embolism in whom thrombolytic
therapy is considered appropriate.
Acute Ischaemic Stroke
ACTILYSE is indicated for thrombolytic treatment of acute ischaemic stroke. Treatment must be
started as early as possible within 4.5 hours after onset of stroke symptoms and after exclusion of
intracranial haemorrhage by appropriate imaging techniques (e.g. cranial computerised tomography
or other diagnostic imaging method sensitive for the presence of haemorrhage). The treatment effect
is time-dependent; therefore earlier treatment increases the probability of a favourable outcome.
Administer ACTILYSE as early as possible after onset of symptoms. ACTILYSE is intended for
intravenous use only. It should be given via a dedicated intravenous line with an infusion pump.
ACTILYSE PI0111-10 1
A total dose exceeding 100 mg of ACTILYSE should not be used for the treatment of acute myocardial
infarction or acute massive pulmonary embolism because it has been associated with an increase in
intracranial bleeding. For the same reason, the total dose used for the treatment of acute ischaemic
stroke should not exceed 90 mg.
Acute Myocardial Infarction
a) Accelerated Infusion
The accelerated dosage regimen is based on the results from the GUSTO Study (See Section 5.1
Pharmacodynamic Properties – Clinical trials).
For patients weighing ≥65 kg, the recommended total dose is 100 mg administered as follows:
• 15 mg intravenous bolus, immediately followed by
• 50 mg intravenous infusion over the first 30 minutes, followed by an intravenous infusion of
• 35 mg over the following 60 minutes.
For patients weighing <65 kg, the dose is adjusted on the basis of bodyweight as follows:
• 15 mg intravenous bolus, immediately followed by
• 0.75 mg/kg as an intravenous infusion over the first 30 minutes (maximum 50 mg), followed by an
intravenous infusion of
• 0.5 mg/kg over the following 60 minutes (up to a maximum of 35 mg).
b) 3 Hour Infusion
For a description of the trials this dosage regimen is based on, see Section 5.1 Pharmacodynamic
Properties – Clinical trials.
For patients weighing ≥65 kg, the recommended total dose is 100 mg administered as follows:
• 10 mg intravenous bolus, immediately followed by
• 50 mg intravenous infusion over the first hour, followed by an intravenous infusion of
• 40 mg over the following 2 hours.
For patients weighing <65 kg, the dose is adjusted on the basis of bodyweight as follows:
• 10 mg as an intravenous bolus, immediately followed by
• an intravenous infusion up to a maximum total dose of 1.5 mg/kg over three hours.
Adjunctive Therapy:
Antithrombotic adjunctive therapy is recommended according to the current international guidelines
for the management of patients with ST-elevation myocardial infarction.
For the antithrombotic adjunctive therapy regimen used in the GUSTO study, see Section 5.1
Pharmacodynamic Properties – Clinical trials.
Acute massive pulmonary embolism
For patients weighing ≥ 65 kg, a total dose of 100 mg should be administered over 2 hours. The most
experience available is with the following dose regimen:
• 10 mg as an intravenous bolus over 1-2 minutes, immediately followed by
• 90 mg as an intravenous infusion over two hours until the total dose of 100 mg.
ACTILYSE PI0111-10 2
Acute Ischaemic Stroke
Treatment must be performed by a physician specialised in neurological care. (See Section 4.4 Special
Warnings and Precautions for Use – Additional Warnings in Acute Ischaemic Stroke)
The recommended total dose is 0.9 mg alteplase/kg bodyweight (maximum of 90 mg) starting with
10% of the total dose as an initial intravenous bolus, immediately followed by the remainder of the total
dose infused intravenously over 60 minutes.
Treatment with ACTILYSE should be initiated as early as possible within 4.5 hours of symptom onset,
see Section 4.4 Special Warnings and Precautions for Use – Additional Warnings in Acute Ischaemic
Stroke. The treatment effect is time-dependent; therefore earlier treatment increases the probability
of a favourable outcome.
DOSING TABLE FOR ACUTE ISCHAEMIC STROKE
Weight Total Bolus Infusion Infusion Administration
Dose Dose Dose (50mL Syringes, 1mg/mL concentration)
(kg) (mg) (mg) (mg) 1st Syringe 2nd Syringe Infusion Rate*
(mL/hour)
40 36.0 3.6 32.4 32.4 N/A 32.4
42 37.8 3.8 34.0 34.0 N/A 34.0
44 39.6 4.0 35.6 35.6 N/A 35.6
46 41.4 4.1 37.3 37.3 N/A 37.3
48 43.2 4.3 38.9 38.9 N/A 38.9
50 45.0 4.5 40.5 40.5 N/A 40.5
52 46.8 4.7 42.1 42.1 N/A 42.1
54 48.6 4.9 43.7 43.7 N/A 43.7
56 50.4 5.0 45.4 45.4 N/A 45.4
58 52.2 5.2 47.0 47.0 N/A 47.0
60 54.0 5.4 48.6 48.6 N/A 48.6
62 55.8 5.6 50.2 50.2 N/A 50.2
64 57.6 5.8 51.8 50.0 1.8 51.8
66 59.4 5.9 53.5 50.0 3.5 53.5
68 61.2 6.1 55.1 50.0 5.1 55.1
70 63.0 6.3 56.7 50.0 6.7 56.7
72 64.8 6.5 58.3 50.0 8.3 58.3
74 66.6 6.7 59.9 50.0 9.9 59.9
76 68.4 6.8 61.6 50.0 11.6 61.6
78 70.2 7.0 63.2 50.0 13.2 63.2
80 72.0 7.2 64.8 50.0 14.8 64.8
82 73.8 7.4 66.4 50.0 16.4 66.4
84 75.6 7.6 68.0 50.0 18.0 68.0
86 77.4 7.7 69.7 50.0 19.7 69.7
88 79.2 7.9 71.3 50.0 21.3 71.3
90 81.0 8.1 72.9 50.0 22.9 72.9
92 82.8 8.3 74.5 50.0 24.5 74.5
94 84.6 8.5 76.1 50.0 26.1 76.1
96 86.4 8.6 77.8 50.0 27.8 77.8
98 88.2 8.8 79.4 50.0 29.4 79.4
100+ 90.0 9.0 81.0 50.0 31.0 81.0
* Infusion rate is the same for both the first and second syringes.
Adjunctive therapy:
The safety and efficacy of this regimen with concomitant administration of heparin, oral anticoagulants
or platelet aggregation inhibitors such as aspirin within the first 24 hours of onset of the symptoms
have not been sufficiently investigated. Administration of intravenous heparin or platelet aggregation
inhibitors such as aspirin should be avoided in the first 24 hours after treatment with ACTILYSE due
ACTILYSE PI0111-10 3
to an increased haemorrhagic risk. If heparin is required for other indications (e.g. prevention of deep
vein thrombosis) the dose should not exceed 10,000 IU per day, administered subcutaneously.
Method of administration
The reconstituted solution should be administered intravenously and is for immediate use.
Instructions for use
For this purpose a transfer cannula is included with the pack sizes of 20 mg and 50 mg. For the pack
size 10 mg a syringe should be used.
It is important that ACTILYSE be reconstituted only with sterilised Water for Injections without
preservatives. Do not use bacteriostatic Water for Injections.
The reconstituted lyophilised preparation results in a colourless to pale yellow transparent solution
containing ACTILYSE 1.0 mg/mL at a pH of 7.3. The osmolality of this solution is approximately 215
mOsm/kg.
ACTILYSE should not be mixed with other drugs, neither in the same infusion vial nor the same venous
line (not even with heparin). Before dilution or administration, parenteral drug products should be
visually inspected for particulate matter and discolouration prior to administration whenever solution
and container permit.
Instructions for reconstituting ACTILYSE
ACTILYSE PI0111-10 4
3 Swab the rubber top of each vial with
an alcohol wipe.
ACTILYSE PI0111-10 5
7 Hold the sterile water vial and the
transfer cannula steady with one hand
using the two side flaps.
ACTILYSE PI0111-10 6
9 Remove the empty water vial together
with the transfer cannula.
They can be disposed of.
11 The solution consists of 1 mg/mL ACTILYSE. It should be clear and colourless to pale
yellow and it should not contain any particles.
ACTILYSE PI0111-10 7
13 Use immediately.
Dispose of any unused solution.
(*if a transfer cannula is included in the kit. The reconstitution can also be performed with a syringe and a needle.)
Dilution
The reconstituted solution (1 mg alteplase per mL) may be diluted further, immediately before
administration, with sterilised physiological saline solution (0.9% Sodium Chloride for Injection) up to
a minimal concentration of 0.2 mg alteplase per mL. Further dilution of the reconstituted solution with
sterile physiological saline solution (0.9% Sodium Chloride for Injection) below a minimal concentration
of 0.2 mg alteplase per mL is not recommended since the occurrence of turbidity of the reconstituted
solution cannot be excluded.
A further dilution of the 1 mg/mL reconstituted solution with sterilised Water for Injections, carbohydrate
infusion solutions (e.g. glucose), or preservative containing solutions is not recommended due to
increasing formation of turbidity of the reconstituted solution.
Excessive agitation during dilution should be avoided; mixing should be accomplished with gentle
swirling and/or slow inversion.
No other medication should be added to ACTILYSE solution. Because ACTILYSE contains no
preservatives, it should be reconstituted immediately before use.
4.3 CONTRAINDICATIONS
ACTILYSE is contraindicated in patients with known hypersensitivity to the active substance alteplase,
gentamicin (a trace residue from the manufacturing process) or any of the excipients (listed under
Section 6.1 List of Excipients).
ACTILYSE should not be used in cases where there is a high risk of haemorrhage such as:
• Significant bleeding disorder at present or within the past 6 months, known haemorrhagic diathesis
• History or evidence of or suspected intracranial haemorrhage, including subarachnoid
haemorrhage
• History of central nervous system damage (e.g. neoplasm, aneurysm, intracranial or spinal
surgery)
• Severe uncontrolled hypertension
• Recent (within 10 days) prolonged or traumatic cardiopulmonary resuscitation (> 2 minutes),
obstetrical delivery, organ biopsy, puncture of noncompressible blood vessel (e.g. subclavian or
jugular vein puncture)
• Major surgery (e.g. coronary artery bypass graft) or significant trauma (including any trauma
associated with acute myocardial infarction) within the past 3 months, recent trauma to the head
or cranium
• Documented ulcerative gastrointestinal disease during the last 3 months
• Arterial aneurysms, arterial/venous malformations
• Neoplasm with increased bleeding risk
• Bacterial endocarditis, pericarditis
• Acute pancreatitis
• Haemostatic defects including those secondary to severe hepatic or renal disease; special
attention should be paid to coagulation parameters in patients with significant liver dysfunction
• Severe hepatic disease/dysfunction, including hepatic failure, cirrhosis, portal hypertension
(oesophageal varices) and active hepatitis
• Patients receiving other intravenous thrombolytic agents
• Patients currently receiving effective oral anticoagulant treatment, e.g. warfarin sodium (INR> 1.3),
see Section 4.4 Special Warnings and Precautions for Use, Bleeding
ACTILYSE PI0111-10 8
Additional Contraindications for Patients with Acute Myocardial Infarction / Acute Massive
Pulmonary Embolism:
• Symptoms of ischaemic attack began more than 4.5 hours prior to infusion start or when time of
symptom onset is unknown
• Minor neurological deficit or symptoms rapidly improving before start of infusion
• Severe stroke as assessed clinically (e.g. NIHSS > 25) and/or by appropriate imaging techniques
due to a higher risk of intracerebral haemorrhage and death
• Seizure at onset of stroke
• Evidence of intracranial haemorrhage (ICH) on the CT-scan
• Symptoms suggestive of subarachnoid haemorrhage, even if CT-scan is normal
• Administration of heparin within 48 hours preceding the onset of stroke and with an elevated
activated partial thromboplastin time (aPTT) at presentation
• History of prior stroke and concomitant diabetes
• History of previous stroke or serious head-trauma within the last 3 months
• Platelet count of below 100,000/mm3
• Systolic blood pressure (BP) > 185 mm Hg or diastolic BP > 110 mm Hg, or aggressive
management (IV medication) necessary to reduce BP to these limits
• Blood glucose < 50 mg/dL (< 2.8 mmol/L) or > 400 mg/dL (> 22.2 mmol/L)
• Patients < 18 years.
The appropriate presentation of alteplase should be chosen carefully and in accordance with the
intended use. The 2 mg presentation of alteplase (ACTILYSE CATHFLO) is not suitable for use in
acute myocardial infarction, acute massive pulmonary embolism or acute ischaemic stroke (due to risk
of massive under dosing). Only the 10 mg, 20 mg and 50 mg presentations of alteplase (ACTILYSE)
are indicated for use in these indications.
ACTILYSE should be used by physicians experienced in the use of thrombolytic treatment and with
the facilities to monitor its use. As with other thrombolytics, it is recommended that when ACTILYSE
is administered standard resuscitation equipment and medication be available in all circumstances.
Traceability
In order to improve traceability of biological medicinal products, the trade name and the batch number
of the administered product should be clearly recorded in the patient file.
Bleeding
The most common complication encountered during therapy with ACTILYSE is bleeding. The type of
bleeding associated with thrombolytic therapy can be divided into two broad categories:
• Internal bleeding at any site or body cavity;
• Superficial or surface bleeding, observed mainly at invaded or disturbed sites (e.g. venous
cutdowns, arterial punctures, sites of recent surgical intervention).
Cholesterol embolism has been reported rarely in patients treated with all types of thrombolytic agents;
the true incidence is unknown. This serious condition, which can be lethal, is also associated with
invasive vascular procedures (e.g. cardiac catherisation, angiography, vascular surgery) and/or
anticoagulant therapy. Clinical features of cholesterol embolism may include livedo reticularis, “purple
toe” syndrome, acute renal failure, gangrenous digits, hypertension, pancreatitis, myocardial infarction,
cerebral infarction, spinal cord infarction, retinal artery occlusion, bowel infarction, and
rhabdomyolysis.
Additional Warnings in Acute Myocardial Infarction / Acute Massive Pulmonary Embolism
Additionally, the potential risks of ACTILYSE therapy should be carefully evaluated against the
expected benefits in patients treated for acute Myocardial Infarction / acute massive Pulmonary
Embolism with the following conditions:
• Systolic blood pressure > 160 mm Hg
• Advanced age, which may increase the risk of intracerebral haemorrhage. As there is also a
therapeutic benefit to these patients, the risk-benefit evaluation should be carried out carefully.
• The use of thrombolytics can increase the risk of thrombo-embolic events in patients with left heart
thrombus, e.g. mitral stenosis or atrial fibrillation
• Clinical evidence or history of ischaemic stroke or transient ischaemic attacks more than 6 months
previously (see Section 4.3 Contraindications)
• A history or clinical evidence of hypertensive disease in a patient over 70 years old
• Septic thrombophlebitis or occluded AV cannula at seriously infected site.
Arrhythmias
Coronary thrombolysis may result in arrhythmias associated with reperfusion. These arrhythmias
(such as sinus bradycardia, accelerated idioventricular rhythm, ventricular premature depolarisations,
ventricular tachycardia) are not different from those often seen in the ordinary course of acute
myocardial infarction. Reperfusion arrhythmias may lead to cardiac arrest, can be life threatening and
may require the use of conventional antiarrhythmic therapies. It is recommended that antiarrhythmic
therapy for bradycardia and/or ventricular irritability be available when infusions of ACTILYSE are
administered.
ACTILYSE PI0111-10 10
Use of Anticoagulants
Treatment must be performed under the responsibility of a physician trained and experienced in
neurological care. For the verification of treatment indication, remote diagnostic measures may be
considered as appropriate (see Section 4.1 Therapeutic Indications, Acute Ischaemic Stroke).
Before ACTILYSE treatment is initiated, timely imaging evidence must be obtained to exclude
intracranial haemorrhage, e.g. by cranial computerised tomography or other diagnostic imaging
method sensitive for the presence of haemorrhage.
Bleeding
Intracerebral haemorrhages represents the major adverse events (up to approximately 15% of
patients). However, this had not shown an increased overall morbidity or mortality.
Compared to other indications, patients with acute ischaemic stroke treated with ACTILYSE have a
significantly increased risk of intracranial haemorrhage as the bleeding occurs predominantly into the
infarcted area. This applies in particular in the following cases:
• Any situations involving a high risk of haemorrhage (see Section 4.3 Contraindications)
• Late time-to-treatment onset
• Patients pre-treated with aspirin may have a greater risk of intracerebral haemorrhage, particularly
if ACTILYSE treatment is delayed.
• Due to an increased haemorrhagic risk, treatment with platelet aggregation inhibitors should not
be initiated within the first 24 hours following thrombolysis with ACTILYSE (see Section 4.2 Dose
and Method of Administration).
• Compared to younger patients, patients of advanced age (over 80 years) may have a somewhat
poorer outcome independent of treatment. They may also have more severe strokes which are
associated with a higher absolute risk of intracerebral haemorrhage when thrombolysed compared
with non-thrombolysed patients. Although available data indicate that the net benefit of Actilyse in
patients over 80 years is smaller compared with younger patients, the benefit-risk of thrombolysis
in patients of advanced age remains positive. Thrombolysis in acute ischaemic stroke patients of
any age should be evaluated on an individual benefit-risk basis. Patients of advanced age should
be selected very carefully taking into account both the general health and the neurological status.
ACTILYSE treatment must not be initiated later than 4.5 hours after the onset of stroke symptoms (see
Section 4.3 Contraindications) because of an unfavourable benefit/risk ratio mainly based on the
following:
• Positive treatment effects decrease over time
• Particularly in patients with prior aspirin treatment the mortality rate increases
• Risk increases with regard to symptomatic haemorrhages
ACTILYSE PI0111-10 11
Special patient groups at reduced benefit-risk
The therapeutic benefit is reduced in patients who had a prior stroke. Thus the benefit/risk ratio is
considered less favourable, but still positive in these patients.
The therapeutic benefit is reduced in patients in whom uncontrolled diabetes is known. Thus the
benefit/risk ratio is considered less favourable, but still positive in these patients.
For patients with both conditions (with a history of prior stroke and concomitant diabetes) the use of
ACTILYSE is contraindicated (see Section 4.3 Contraindications).
Patients with extensive infarctions are at greater risk of poor outcome including severe haemorrhage
and death. In such patients, the benefit/risk ratio should be thoroughly considered.
In stroke patients the likelihood of a favourable outcome decreases with longer time to treatment from
onset of symptoms, increasing age, increasing stroke severity and increased levels of blood glucose
on admission; while the likelihood of severe disability and death or symptomatic intracranial bleeding
increases, independently from treatment. The use of ACTILYSE in patients over 80 years of age
should be weighed carefully against anticipated risks on an individual basis (see Section 5.1
Pharmacodynamic Properties – Clinical trials).
Cerebral oedema
Reperfusion of ischaemic area may induce cerebral oedema in the infarcted zone.
General
ACTILYSE should be administered in a setting where the appropriate diagnostic and monitoring
techniques are readily available.
Routine management of myocardial infarction should not be deferred after evidence of successful
thrombolysis is seen. Evaluation for presence of underlying artherosclerotic heart disease should be
carried out as clinically indicated.
The diagnosis of acute massive pulmonary embolism should be confirmed whenever possible by
objective means such as pulmonary angiography or non-invasive procedures such as lung scanning.
It should be realised that the treatment of acute massive pulmonary embolism with ACTILYSE has not
been shown to constitute adequate clinical treatment of underlying deep vein thrombosis.
Furthermore, the possible risk of re-embolisation due to the lysis of underlying deep venous thrombi
should be considered.
Noncompressible arterial puncture must be avoided. Arterial and venous punctures should be
minimised. In the event of serious bleeding, ACTILYSE and heparin should be discontinued
immediately. Heparin effects can be reversed by protamine.
Current data generally do not support the use of thrombolytic therapy in patients when the ECG shows
only ST depression (with the exception of those patients with a “true posterior” infarct, as indicated by
tall R waves and marked ST depression in leads V1 - V3).
Hypersensitivity
The risks of therapy may be increased in the elderly. In a pooled analysis of randomised controlled
clinical trials, patients over 80 years was associated with an increased risk of haemorrhage (both ICH
and symptomatic ICH), mortality and decreased efficacy compared to younger patients (see Section
5.1 Pharmacodynamic Properties – Clinical trials).
Paediatric use
Safety and effectiveness of ACTILYSE in children has not been established. Therefore treatment of
such patients is not recommended. ACTILYSE is not indicated for treatment of acute stroke in patients
less than 18 years of age.
Effects on Laboratory Tests
During ACTILYSE infusion, coagulation tests and/or measures of fibrinolytic activity may be performed
if desired. However, routine measurements of fibrinogen as well as fibrinogen degradation products
are unreliable, and should not be undertaken unless specific precautions are taken to prevent in vitro
artifacts. ACTILYSE is a serine protease that when present in blood in pharmacologic concentrations
remains active under in vitro conditions.
This can lead to degradation of fibrinogen in a blood sample removed for analysis. Collection of blood
samples on aprotinin (150-200 units/mL) can to some extent mitigate this phenomenon.
Effects on Fertility
Studies with ACTILYSE have not been performed to determine effect on fertility or reproduction.
Use in Pregnancy (Category B1)
Studies have shown that ACTILYSE is not teratogenic in the rat and rabbit and does not cross the
placental barrier in the pregnant rat. In the rabbit, however, a dose-related increase in abortions and
resorption rate was seen in the dose range 3-10 mg/kg/day. ACTILYSE should be given to pregnant
women only if the need clearly outweighs the potential risk.
Use in Lactation
It is not known whether ACTILYSE is excreted in human milk. Because many drugs are excreted by
this route, caution should be exercised when ACTILYSE is administered to breastfeeding women.
ACTILYSE PI0111-10 13
4.7 EFFECTS ON ABILITY TO DRIVE AND USE MACHINES
The effects of this medicine on a person's ability to drive and use machines were not assessed as part
of its registration.
Reporting suspected adverse reactions after registration 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 at www.tga.gov.au/reporting-problems.
Summary of the safety profile
The most frequent adverse reaction associated with ACTILYSE is bleeding (≥1% to <10% major
bleeds; ≥10% any haemorrhage) which may result in a fall in haematocrit and/or haemoglobin values.
Haemorrhage at any site or body cavity can occur and may result in life-threatening situations,
permanent disability or death.
Neurological symptoms such as somnolence, aphasia, hemiparesis, convulsion, epileptic seizure,
speech disorder, delirium, acute brain syndrome, agitation, confusion, depression and psychosis may
be associated with intracranial haemorrhage.
The type of bleeding associated with thrombolytic therapy can be divided into two broad categories:
• Internal bleeding at any site or body cavity;
• Superficial or surface bleeding, observed mainly at invaded or disturbed sites (e.g. venous
cutdowns, arterial punctures, sites of recent surgical intervention).
Should serious bleeding in a critical location (intracranial, gastrointestinal, retroperitoneal, pericardial)
occur, ACTILYSE therapy should be discontinued immediately, along with any concomitant therapy
with heparin.
Death and permanent disability are not uncommonly reported in patients that have experienced stroke
(including intracranial bleeding) and other serious bleeding episodes.
The overall in-hospital mortality in myocardial infarction patients from all causes receiving ACTILYSE
averaged 5-6%.
The following adverse reactions have been reported among patients receiving ACTILYSE in clinical
trials and in post-marketing experience. The frequencies given below are based on adverse events
reported for one or all three indications which may be causally related to ACTILYSE treatment.
The number of patients treated in clinical trials in the indications acute massive pulmonary embolism
and acute ischaemic stroke (within the 0 - 4.5 hours time window) was smaller than the number in
trials for acute myocardial infarction (see Section 5.1 Pharmacodynamic Properties – Clinical trials).
Except for intracranial haemorrhage as a side effect in the acute ischaemic stroke indication and
reperfusion arrhythmias in the acute myocardial infarction indication, there is no medical reason to
assume that the qualitative/quantitative side effect profile of ACTILYSE would differ between the three
indications.
a) Adverse events related specifically to one or more indications
ACTILYSE PI0111-10 14
– ventricular tachycardia occur in close temporal relationship to treatment
with ACTILYSE
Nervous system disorders (related to acute myocardial infarction and acute massive pulmonary
embolism indications):
>0.1% and 1%: intracranial haemorrhage, such as
– cerebral haemorrhage
– cerebral haematoma
– haemorrhagic stroke
– haemorrhagic transformation of stroke
– intracranial haematoma
– subarachnoid haemorrhage
Nervous system disorders (related to acute ischaemic stroke indication only):
>1% and 10%: intracranial haemorrhage, such as
– cerebral haemorrhage
– cerebral haematoma
– haemorrhagic stroke
– haemorrhagic transformation of stroke
– intracranial haematoma
– subarachnoid haemorrhage
b) Adverse events related to all three indications
Gastrointestinal disorders:
>1% and 10%: gastrointestinal haemorrhage, such as
– gastric haemorrhage
– gastric ulcer haemorrhage
– rectal haemorrhage
– haematemesis
– melaena
– mouth haemorrhage
– nausea
– vomiting
Nausea and vomiting can also occur as symptoms of myocardial infarction.
>0.1% and 1%: retroperitoneal haemorrhage, such as
– retroperitoneal haematoma
– gingival bleeding
ACTILYSE PI0111-10 15
Injury and poisoning and procedural complications
>0.01% and 0.1%: fat embolism, which may lead to corresponding consequences in the organs
concerned
Fat embolism was not observed in the clinical trial population, but was found in spontaneous reporting.
Eye disorders:
0.01%: eye haemorrhage
Cardiac disorders:
>0.1% and 1%: pericardial haemorrhage
Investigations:
>10%: blood pressure decreased
>1% and 10%: body temperature increased
Renal and urinary disorders:
>1% and 10%: urogenital haemorrhage, such as
– haematuria
– haemorrhage urinary tract
Respiratory, thoracic and mediastinal disorders:
>1% and 10%: respiratory tract haemorrhage, such as
– pharyngeal haemorrhage
– haemoptysis
– epistaxis
≥0.01% and <0.1%: pulmonary haemorrhage
Surgical and medical procedures:
>1% and 10%: transfusion
Skin and subcutaneous tissue disorders:
>1% and 10%: ecchymosis
Vascular disorders:
>10%: haemorrhage (such as haematoma)
>0.1% and 1%: embolism, which may lead to corresponding consequences in the organs
concerned
>0.01% and 0.1%: bleeding of parenchymatous organs, such as hepatic haemorrhage
As with other thrombolytic agents, the following events have been reported as sequelae of the
underlying disease and/or thrombolytic administration and the effect of ACTILYSE on the incidence of
these events is unknown. These events may be life threatening and may lead to death.
Use in acute myocardial infarction:
• recurrent ischemia / angina
• heart failure
• cardiogenic shock
• myocardial re-infarction
• myocardial rupture
• electromechanical dissociation
• pericardial effusion
• pericarditis
• mitral regurgitation
• cardiac tamponade
ACTILYSE PI0111-10 16
• pulmonary oedema
• ventricular septal defect
Use in acute massive pulmonary embolism:
• pulmonary re-embolisation
• pulmonary oedema
• pleural effusion
• hypotension
Use in acute ischemic stroke:
• cerebral oedema
• cerebral herniation
• seizure
• new ischemic stroke
4.9 OVERDOSE
For information on the management of overdose, contact the Poison Information Centre on 13 11 26
(Australia).
Symptoms
If the maximum recommended dose is exceeded the risk of intracranial bleeding increases.
The relative fibrin specificity notwithstanding, a clinically significant reduction in fibrinogen and other
blood coagulation components may occur after overdose.
Therapy
Should serious bleeding occur in a critical location, in particular cerebral haemorrhage, the infusion of
ACTILYSE and any other concomitant anticoagulant therapy should be discontinued immediately.
Most patients can be managed by interruption of thrombolytic and anticoagulant therapy, volume
replacement and manual pressure applied to the bleeding vessel if accessible. Protamine should be
considered if heparin has been administered within 4 hours of the onset of bleeding. If necessary,
blood loss and reversal of the bleeding tendency can be managed with fresh whole blood or packed
red blood cells. In the event of clinically significant fibrinogen depletion, fresh frozen plasma or
cryoprecipitate can be infused with clinical and laboratory reassessment after each administration. A
target fibrinogen level of 1 g/L is desirable with cryoprecipitate infusion. Antifibrinolytic agents may be
used as a last option.
5 PHARMACOLOGICAL PROPERTIES
ACTILYSE is a serine protease which has the property of fibrin-enhanced conversion of plasminogen
to plasmin. ACTILYSE produces minimal conversion of plasminogen in the absence of fibrin; and
when introduced into the systemic circulation, ACTILYSE binds to fibrin in a thrombus and converts
the entrapped plasminogen to plasmin. This initiates local fibrinolysis with minimal systemic effects.
ACTILYSE at a dose of 100 mg leads to a modest decrease of the circulating fibrinogen levels to 54%-
60% at 4 hours, which generally reverts to about 80% after 24 hours. Plasminogen and alpha-2-
antiplasmin decrease to 52%-70% and 25%-35% respectively after 4 hours and increase again to
about 80% at 24 hours. A marked and prolonged decrease of the circulating fibrinogen level is only
seen in a few patients.
In patients evaluated within four hours of onset of symptoms an occlusive thrombus is present in the
infarct-related coronary artery in approximately 80% of patients experiencing a transmural myocardial
infarction. In patients studied with coronary angiography prior to and following infusion of ACTILYSE,
ACTILYSE PI0111-10 17
the use of ACTILYSE resulted in reperfusion of documented obstructed vessels within 90 minutes after
the commencement of thrombolytic therapy in approximately 70% of the patients.
Treatment of myocardial infarction with ACTILYSE is intended to restore coronary artery patency,
reduce infarct size, preserve ventricular function and reduce mortality.
Effect on Coagulation
ACTILYSE differs from other plasminogen activators in that it is fibrin-dependent. Relatively selective
fibrinolysis with ACTILYSE, i.e. localised activation of the fibrinolytic system, is possible due to several
factors such as the high affinity of tissue plasminogen activator for fibrin, the fibrin-dependent activation
of tissue plasminogen activator, and the coprecipitation of plasminogen within the fibrin clot. As a
result, ACTILYSE produces clot dissolution in vivo with minimal systemic effects.
Clinical Trials
Two ACTILYSE dose regimens have been studied in patients experiencing acute myocardial
infarction. The comparative efficacy of these two regimens has not been evaluated.
Accelerated Infusion in AMI patients
Accelerated infusion of ACTILYSE was studied in an international, multi-centre trial (GUSTO) that
randomised 41,021 patients with acute myocardial infarction to four thrombolytic regimens. Entry
criteria included onset of chest pain within 6 hours of treatment and ST elevation of the ECG. The four
regimens were:
• Streptokinase + subcutaneous heparin (n = 9841)
• Streptokinase + intravenous heparin (n = 10410)
• Accelerated alteplase + intravenous heparin (n = 10396), and
• Alteplase + streptokinase + intravenous heparin (n = 10374).
The accelerated alteplase dose was 100 mg over 90 minutes (see Section 4.2 Dose and Method of
Administration).
The streptokinase (Kabikinase) dose was 1.5 million units over 60 minutes.
Aspirin and heparin use were directed by the GUSTO protocol as follows:
• Aspirin: 160 mg (chewable) as soon as possible, followed by 160-325 mg daily.
• Heparin intravenous (IV): 5,000 units IV bolus as soon as possible, followed by 1,000 units per
hour continuous IV infusion for at least 48 hours; subsequent heparin therapy was at the discretion
of the attending physician.
• Heparin subcutaneous (SQ): 12,500 units four hours after initiation of streptokinase therapy,
followed by 12,500 units twice daily for 7 days or until discharge, whichever came first. Many
patients randomised to SQ heparin received some IV heparin, usually in response to recurrent
chest pain and or the need for a medical procedure. Some received IV heparin on arrival in the
emergency room prior to enrolment and randomisation.
Results are given in the Table 1. The primary endpoint was 30-day mortality.
ACTILYSE PI0111-10 18
Table 1 GUSTO study Results
Accelerated
Streptokinase Streptokinase
Event Alteplase + p-value1 p-value1
+ IV Heparin + SQ Heparin
IV Heparin
30-Day Mortality 6.3% 7.3% 0.003 7.3% 0.007
30-Day Mortality or
7.2% 8.2% 0.006 8.0% 0.036
Non-Fatal Stroke
24-Hour Mortality 2.4% 2.9% 0.009 2.8% 0.029
Any Stroke 1.6% 1.4% 0.32 1.2% 0.03
Intracerebral
0.7% 0.6% 0.22 0.5% 0.02
Haemorrhage
1 Two-tailed p-value for comparison of accelerated alteplase with each streptokinase control arm.
Administration of 100 mg alteplase over 90 minutes, with concomitant IV heparin infusion, led to a
lower mortality after 30 days (6.3%) as compared to the administration of streptokinase, 1.5 million IU
over 60 minutes, with SQ or IV heparin (7.3%). The 1% absolute decrease in 30-day mortality for
alteplase compared to streptokinase was statistically significant (p = 0.001).
There was a definite further reduction in mortality in the accelerated alteplase treated patients as
compared to the patients treated with any of the three regimens using streptokinase. This improvement
was independent of age, site of infarction, or area of infarction. This difference may be due to the
higher patency rate achieved with accelerated alteplase in the acute patient with ST-segment
elevation.
Alteplase-treated patients showed higher infarct related vessel patency rates at 90 minutes after
thrombolysis than the streptokinase-treated patients. No differences in patency rates were noted at
180 minutes or longer.
ACTILYSE has been shown to reduce 30-day mortality in patients with acute myocardial infarction
treated up to 12 hours after symptom onset.
A large scale mortality trial (ASSENT-2) in approximately 17,000 patients showed that alteplase and
tenecteplase are therapeutically equivalent in reducing mortality (6.2% for both treatments, at 30 days).
The use of tenecteplase was associated with a significantly lower incidence of non-intracranial
bleedings compared to alteplase (26.4% versus 28.9%, p = 0.0003).
3-hour infusion in AMI patients
In patients studied in a controlled trial with coronary angiography at 90 and 120 minutes, following
infusion of alteplase, infarct artery patency was observed in 71% and 85% of patients (n = 85),
respectively. In a second study, where patients received coronary angiography prior to and following
infusion of alteplase within 6 hours of the onset of symptoms, reperfusion of the obstructed vessel
occurred within 90 minutes after the commencement of therapy in 71% of 83 patients.
In a double-blind, randomised trial (n = 138) comparing alteplase to placebo, patients infused with
alteplase within 4 hours of onset of symptoms experienced improved left ventricular function at day 10
compared with placebo, when ejection fraction was measured by gated blood pool scan (53.2% versus
46.4%, P = 0.018). Relative to baseline values, the net changes in ejection fraction were +3.6% and -
4.7% for the treated and placebo groups, respectively (P = 0.0001). Also documented was a reduced
incidence of clinical congestive heart failure in the treated group (14%) compared to the placebo group
(33%) (P = 0.009).
In a double-blind, randomised trial (n = 145) comparing alteplase to placebo, patients infused with
alteplase within 2.5 hours of onset of symptoms experienced improved left ventricular function at a
mean of 21 days compared to the placebo group, when ejection fraction was measured by gated blood
pool scan (52% versus 48%, P = 0.08) and by contrast ventriculogram (61% versus 54%, P = 0.006).
Although the contribution of alteplase alone is unclear, the incidence of nonischaemic cardiac
complications when taken as a group (i.e, congestive heart failure, pericarditis, atrial fibrillation, and
conduction disturbance) was reduced when compared to those patients treated with placebo (P <
0.01).
In a double-blind, randomised trial (ASSET) (n = 5,013) comparing alteplase to placebo, patients
infused with alteplase within 5 hours of the onset of symptoms of AMI experienced improved 30-day
ACTILYSE PI0111-10 19
survival compared to those treated with placebo. At 1 month, the overall mortality rates were 7.2% for
the alteplase group and 9.8% for the placebo group (P = 0.001). This benefit was maintained at 6
months for alteplase treated patients (10.4%) compared to those treated with placebo (13.1%, P =
0.008).
In a double-blind, randomised trial (n = 721) comparing alteplase to placebo, patients infused with
alteplase within 5 hours of the onset of symptoms experienced improved ventricular function 10-22
days after treatment compared to the placebo group, when global ejection fraction was measured by
contrast ventriculography (50.7% versus 48.5%, P = 0.01). Patients treated with alteplase had a 19%
reduction in infarct size, as measured by cumulative release of HBDH (-hydroxybutyrate
dehydrogenase) activity compared to placebo-treated patients (P = 0.001). Patients treated with
alteplase had significantly fewer episodes of cardiogenic shock (P = 0.02), ventricular fibrillation (P <
0.04) and pericarditis (P = 0.01) compared to patients treated with placebo. Mortality at 21 days in
alteplase treated patients was reduced to 3.7% compared to 6.3% in placebo-treated patients (P =
0.05). Although these data do not demonstrate unequivocally a significant reduction in mortality for
this study, they do indicate a trend that is supported by the results of the ASSET study.
In a randomised, double-blind study (LATE), 5,711 patients with symptoms of AMI received
intravenous alteplase (100 mg over 3 hours) or matching placebo, between 6 and 24 hours from
symptom onset. Both groups received immediate oral aspirin and for later recruits intravenous heparin
for 48 hours. All patients were followed up for at least 6 months and 73% were followed up for 1 year.
Intention-to-treat analysis of survival revealed a non-significant reduction in the alteplase group
compared with placebo. 35-day mortality was 8.86% and 10.31% respectively, a relative reduction of
14.1% (95% CI: 0-28.1%, P = 0.07). Pre-specified survival analysis according to treatment within 12
hours of symptom onset, showed a significant reduction in mortality in favour of alteplase, 35-day
mortality was 8.90% versus 11.97% for placebo, a relative reduction of 25.6% (95% CI: 6.3-45.0%, P
= 0.0229). For patients admitted between 12 and 24 hours, the mortality after alteplase was 8.7%
versus 9.2% (relative reduction of 5.4%, P = 0.14). This benefit was not significant overall but varied
across subgroups.
Acute Massive Pulmonary Embolism
Several studies have been carried out in the field of acute ischaemic stroke. The NINDS study is the
only study without an upper age limit, i.e. which also included patients over 80 years. All other
randomised trials have excluded patients over 80 years of age. Therefore, treatment decisions in this
patient group require particular care on an individual patient basis.
Meta-analysis of Stroke Studies
A meta-analysis of data from six placebo-controlled, double-blind trials was performed. The analysis
was based on individual patient data from the ITT-population (n = 2,799) by means of a logistic
regression model. The six trials included the NINDS (Parts 1 & 2), ECASS (I & II) and ATLANTIS
(parts A & B) studies.
The objective of the meta-analysis was to study the comparability as well as to combine the data of
the various trials of alteplase in acute ischaemic stroke and thereby to put the results of the NINDS
Part 2 study into perspective (see ‘NINDS Stroke Trials’ below).
ACTILYSE PI0111-10 20
An overview of these trials is presented in Table 2. With the exception of ECASS-I, the dose of
alteplase used in the other studies was 0.9 mg/kg; a higher dose of alteplase of 1.1 mg/kg was used
in the ECASS-I study. While the pivotal NINDS Part 1 & Part 2 studies examined the treatment window
of 0-3 hours after onset of stroke symptoms, the other studies investigated an extended treatment
window of up to 6 hours (after onset of stroke symptoms). With respect to patient selection, the
inclusion and exclusion criteria were similar across the studies. The most relevant difference was that
in ECASS (I & II) and ATLANTIS (Part B) studies, patients with major infarctions based on their CT
scan (>1/3 of the middle cerebral artery territory) were excluded while this criterion was not applied in
the NINDS studies.
Table 2 Meta-analysis: Alteplase Trials
STUDY NINDS ECASS-I ECASS-II ATLANTIS
Part 1 Part 2 Part A Part B
0.9 mg/kg 1.1 mg/kg 0.9 mg/kg 0.9 mg/kg
Dosage
(max. 90 mg) (max. 100 mg) (max. 90 mg) (max. 90 mg)
Treatment
0-3 hrs 0-6 hrs 0-6 hrs 0-6 hrs 0-5 hrs
Time Window
Number of subjects treated within 0-3 hrs of onset (total number of subjects in each treatment group)
Alteplase 144 168 49 (313) 81 (409) 23 (372)
Placebo 147 165 38 (307) 77 (391) 38 (383)
The efficacy and safety results of the meta-analysis are summarised in Table 3. The results are
presented as risk differences (RD) and as relative risks (RR) divided into subjects treated within 0-3
hrs of onset of stroke symptoms (‘0-3 hrs’) versus those treated between 3-6 hrs after onset of stroke
symptoms (‘3-6 hrs’) and include the following endpoints (at day 90):
For efficacy:
• Functional independency, i.e. NIHSS 0-1
• Favourable outcome, i.e. modified Rankin Scale (mRS) 0-1
• Independent outcome, i.e. mRS 0-2
For safety:
• Disability or death, i.e. mRS 5-6
• Death (of all causes), i.e. mRS 6
• Intracerebral haemorrhage (ICH)
• Symptomatic ICH
ACTILYSE PI0111-10 21
Table 3 Meta-analysis: Summary of Efficacy and Safety Results
0-3 hrs 3-6 hrs
Outcome at
Placebo Actilyse RD^ RR^^ Placebo Actilyse RD^ RR^^
day 90
(95% CI) (95% CI) (95% CI) (95% CI)
EFFICACY
NIHSS 0-1 108/465 172/465 14% 1.59 275/921 324/932 5% 1.15
Functional 23.2% 37.0% (8, 20) (1.30, 1.94) 29.9% 34.8% (1, 9) (1.01, 1.31)
independency
mRS# 0-1 136/465 197/465 14% 1.47 314/921 346/932 2% 1.09
Favourable 29.2% 42.4% (7, 20) (1.23, 1.76) 34.1% 37.1% (-2, 6) (0.97, 1.23)
outcome
mRS# 0-2 185/465 233/465 11% 1.29 424/921 457/932 2% 1.07
Independent 39.8% 50.1% (5, 17) (1.12, 1.48) 46.0% 49.0% (-2, 7) (0.97, 1.17)
outcome
SAFETY
mRS# 5-6 117/465 112/465 -1% 0.96 189/921 226/932 3% 1.18
Disability or 25.2% 24.1% (-7, 4) (0.77, 1.19) 20.5% 24.2% (-0, 7) (1.03, 1.36)
death
mRS# 6 80/465 82/465 1% 0.97 99/921 132/932 3% 1.32
Death (of all 17.2% 17.6% (-4, 5) (0.73, 1.29) 10.7% 14.2% (0, 6) (1.03, 1.68)
causes)
ICH 147/465 158/465 2% 1.01 220/921 317/932 11% 1.31
Intracerebral 31.6% 34.0% (-4, 8) (0.85, 1.22) 23.9% 34.0% (7, 14) (1.14, 1.50)
haemorrhage
Symptomatic 7/427 33/416 6% 4.03 14/654 56/671 6% 3.58
ICH 1.6% 7.9% (3, 9) (1.85, 8.79) 2.1% 8.3% (4, 8) (2.02, 6.34)
#mRS: 0 = no symptoms; 1 = no significant disability; 5 = severe disability; 6 = death
^RD = Risk Difference. ^^RR = Relative Risk.
The meta-analysis of all patients treated within 3 hours after stroke onset confirmed the beneficial
effect of alteplase as observed in the NINDS Part 2 study. In this analysis, the probability of a
favourable outcome at day 90 increased as the time to treatment with alteplase decreased. The risk
difference versus placebo for a good recovery (favourable outcome) was approximately 14% despite
an increased risk of symptomatic intracranial haemorrhage (see Table 3). A symptomatic intracranial
haemorrhage rate (parenchymal haematoma, type II) was seen in 5.9% of patients treated with
alteplase versus 1.1% with placebo (p<0.0001). The data do not allow drawing a definite conclusion
on the treatment effect on death. The point estimate for the relative risk of death suggests that it is
similar between the alteplase and placebo groups (RR=0.97, 95% CI = [0.73-1.29]). The meta-
analysis also showed that alteplase is less effective in patients treated after 3 hours of onset (3 to 6
hours) compared with those treated within 3 hours of onset of symptoms, while the risks were higher.
In conclusion, the benefit/risk of alteplase, when given within 3 hours of stroke onset and taking into
account the precautions stated, is considered favourable. This analysis confirms that rapid treatment
with alteplase is associated with better outcomes at day 90. It also provides evidence that the
therapeutic window may extend as far out as 4.5 hours (which was later confirmed by the results of
the ECASS III trial – see below).
NINDS Stroke Trials
The pivotal NINDS Part 1 and Part 2 trials enrolled acute ischaemic stroke patients with measurable
neurological deficit who could complete screening and begin study treatment within 3 hours from
symptom onset. A cranial computerised tomography (CT) scan was performed prior to treatment to
rule out the presence of intracranial haemorrhage. Patients were also excluded for the presence of
conditions related to risks of bleeding, for minor neurological deficit, for rapidly improving symptoms
prior to initiating study treatment, or for blood glucose of < 50 mg/dL (< 2.8 mmol/L) or > 400 mg/dL (>
22.2 mmol/L) (see Section 4.3 Contraindications). Patients were randomised to receive either 0.9
mg/kg alteplase (maximum of 90 mg), or placebo. Alteplase was administered as a 10% initial bolus
over 1 minute followed by continuous intravenous infusion of the remainder over 60 minutes.
The initial study NINDS Part 1 (n = 291, ITT-analysis) evaluated neurological improvement at 24 hours
after stroke onset. The primary endpoint, the proportion of patients with a 4 or more point improvement
in the National Institutes of Health Stroke Scale (NIHSS) score or complete recovery (NIHSS score =
0), was not significantly different between treatment groups. A secondary analysis demonstrated a
ACTILYSE PI0111-10 22
significantly superior 3-month outcome associated with alteplase treatment using the following stroke
assessment scales: Barthel Index (score 95), Modified Rankin Scale (score 1), Glasgow Outcome
Scale (score = 1), and the NIHSS (score 1).
A second study NINDS Part 2 (n = 333, ITT-analysis) assessed clinical outcome at 3 months as the
primary outcome. A favourable outcome was a priori defined as minimal or no disability using the four
stroke assessment scales: Barthel Index (score 95), Modified Rankin Scale (score 1), Glasgow
Outcome Scale (score = 1), and NIHSS (score 1). The results comparing alteplase and placebo-
treated patients for the four outcome scales together (Generalised Estimating Equations) and
individually are presented in Table 4. In this study, depending upon the scale, the favourable outcome
of minimal or no disability occurred in at least 11 per 100 more patients treated with alteplase than
those receiving placebo. The odds ratio for favourable outcome in the alteplase group was 1.7 (95%
CI = 1.2 - 2.6). Compared to placebo there was 13% absolute increase in the number of patients with
minimal or no disability (mRS 0-1) (OR =1.7; 95% CI = 1.1 - 2.6). There was also a consistent benefit
seen with alteplase on other neurologic and disability scales (see Table 4). Secondary analyses
demonstrated consistent functional and neurological improvement within all four stroke scales as
indicated by median scores. These results were highly consistent with the 3-month outcome treatment
effects as observed in the Part 1 study.
Table 4 The NINDS rt-PA Stroke Trial, Part 2: 3-Month Efficacy Outcomes
Frequency of Favourable Outcomea
Absolute Relative
Analysis Placebo Alteplase
Difference Frequencyb p-Valuec
(n = 165) (n = 168)
(95% CI) (95% Cl)
Generalised Estimating - - - 1.34 0.02
Equations (Multivariate) (1.05, 1.72)
Barthel Index 37.6% 50.0% 12.4% 1.33 0.02
(3.0, 21.9) (1.04, 1.71)
Modified Rankin Scale 26.1% 38.7% 12.6% 1.48 0.02
(3.7, 21.6) (1.08, 2.04)
Glasgow Outcome Scale 31.5% 44.0% 12.5% 1.40 0.02
(3.3, 21.8) (1.05, 1.85)
NIHSS 20.0% 31.0% 11.0% 1.55 0.02
(2.6, 19.3) (1.06, 2.26)
a Favourable Outcome is defined as recovery with minimal or no disability.
b Value > 1 indicates frequency of recovery in favour of alteplase treatment.
c p-Value for Relative Frequency is from Generalised Estimating Equations with log link.
The incidences of all-cause 90-day mortality, ICH, and new ischaemic stroke following alteplase
treatment compared to placebo are presented in Table 5 as a combined safety analysis (n = 624) for
Parts 1 and 2. These data indicated a significant increase in ICH following alteplase treatment,
particularly symptomatic ICH within 36 hours. However, in alteplase-treated patients, there were no
increases compared to placebo in the incidences of 90-day mortality or severe disability.
Table 5 The NINDS rt-PA Stroke Trial: 3-Month Safety Outcome
Part 1 and Part 2 Combined
Placebo Alteplase p-Value**
(n = 312) (n = 312)
All-Cause 90-day Mortality 64 (20.5%) 54 (17.3%) 0.36
Total ICH* 20 (6.4%) 48 (15.4%) < 0.01
Symptomatic 4 (1.3%) 25 (8.0%) < 0.01
Asymptomatic 16 (5.1%) 23 (7.4%) 0.32
Symptomatic ICH within 36 hours 2 (0.6%) 20 (6.4%) < 0.01
New Ischaemic Stroke (3-months) 17 (5.4%) 18 (5.8%) 1.00
* Within trial follow-up period. Symptomatic ICH was defined as the occurrence of sudden clinical worsening
followed by subsequent verification of ICH on CT scan. Asymptomatic ICH was defined as ICH detected on a
routine repeat CT scan without preceding clinical worsening.
** Fisher's Exact Test
ACTILYSE PI0111-10 23
In a pre-specified subgroup analysis in patients receiving aspirin prior to onset of stroke symptoms,
there was preserved favourable outcome for alteplase-treated patients.
Exploratory, multivariate analyses of both studies combined (n = 624) to investigate potential
predictors of ICH and treatment effect modifiers were performed. In alteplase-treated patients
presenting with severe neurological deficit (e.g. NIHSS > 25) or of advanced age (e.g. > 80 years of
age), the trends toward increased risk for symptomatic ICH within the first 36 hours were more
prominent. Similar trends were also seen for total ICH and for all-cause 90-day mortality in these
patients. When risk was assessed by the combination of death and severe disability in these patients,
there was no difference between placebo and alteplase groups. Analyses for efficacy suggested a
reduced but still favourable clinical outcome for alteplase-treated patients with severe neurological
deficit or advanced age at presentation.
SITS-MOST Study
In a large observational study (SITS-MOST: The Safe Implementation of Thrombolysis in Stroke –
Monitoring Study), the safety and efficacy of alteplase for acute stroke treatment within 3 hours in a
routine clinical setting was assessed and compared with results from randomised clinical trials. All
patients had to be compliant with the Product Information of ACTILYSE. Treatment and outcome data
of 6,483 patients from 285 centres in 14 European countries were collected. Primary outcomes were
symptomatic intracranial haemorrhage within 24 hours and mortality at 3 months. The rate of
symptomatic intracranial haemorrhage (as per NINDS definition) found in SITS-MOST was
comparable with the symptomatic intracranial haemorrhage rate as reported in randomised trials, 7.3%
(468/6437; 95% CI = 6.7 - 7.9) in SITS-MOST versus 8.6% (40/465; 95% CI = 6.3 - 11.6) in randomised
clinical trials. Mortality was 11.3% (701/6218; 95% CI = 10.5 - 12.1) in SITS-MOST versus 17.3%
(83/479; 95% CI = 14.1 - 21.1) in randomised clinical trials. The results of SITS-MOST indicate that,
the routine clinical use of alteplase within 3 hours of stroke onset is as safe as reported in randomised
clinical trials.
ECASS III Trial
The ECASS III trial was a placebo-controlled, double-blind trial conducted in patients with acute stroke
in a time-window of 3 to 4.5 hours. The study enrolled patients with measurable neurological deficit
compliant with the Product Information of ACTILYSE except the time-window. After exclusion of brain
haemorrhage or major infarction by computed tomography and/or as assessed clinically (e.g. NIHSS
> 25), patients with acute ischemic stroke were randomised in a 1:1 double-blind fashion to intravenous
alteplase (0.9 mg/kg bodyweight) or placebo. The primary endpoint was disability at 90 days,
dichotomised for favourable (modified Rankin scale [mRS] 0 to 1) or unfavourable (mRS 2 to 6)
outcome. The principal secondary endpoint was a global outcome analysis of four neurologic and
disability scores combined. Safety endpoints included mortality, any intracranial haemorrhage,
symptomatic intracranial haemorrhage, and serious adverse events.
A total of 821 patients (418 alteplase/403 placebo) were randomised. Of the 730 patients
(375 alteplase/355 placebo) treated, the age ranged between 20 to 80 years of age, 68.8% aged
between 61 and 80 years. More patients achieved favourable outcome with alteplase (52.4%) versus
placebo (45.2%; odds ratio [OR] = 1.3; 95% CI = 1.02 - 1.76; relative risk [RR] = 1.16; 95% CI = 1.01
- 1.34; p = 0.038). On the global analysis, outcome was also improved (OR = 1.28; 95% CI = 1.00 -
1.65; p = 0.048). The incidence of intracranial haemorrhage was higher with alteplase versus placebo
(any ICH 27.0% versus 17.6%, p = 0.0012; symptomatic ICH by NINDS definition 7.9% versus 3.5%,
p = 0.006). Haemorrhagic transformations were seen in 22.24% of patients in the alteplase group
versus 16.13% in the placebo group. Parenchymatous haemorrhages occurred in 4.78% with
alteplase versus 1.49% with placebo. Mortality was low and not significantly different between
alteplase (7.7%) and placebo (8.4%; p = 0.681). There were 3 cases of fatal intracranial haemorrhages
in the alteplase group, none with placebo. The results of ECASS III show that alteplase between 3
and 4.5 hours after symptom onset significantly improves clinical outcomes in patients with acute
ischemic stroke. See Table 6.
Since generally, the net clinical benefit for alteplase decreases over time, the benefits and risks need
to be carefully weighed and earlier treatment increases the probability of a favourable outcome.
Pooled data demonstrate that the net-clinical benefit is no longer favourable for alteplase in the time
window beyond 4.5 hours.
ACTILYSE PI0111-10 24
Table 6 ECASS III Trial: Summary of Main Efficacy and Safety Outcomes
Odds Ratio Relative Risk
Outcomes at day 90 Placebo Actilyse p-value
(95% CI) (95% CI)
EFFICACY
mRS 0-1 182/403 219/418 1.34 1.16
0.038
Favourable outcome (45.2%) (52.4%) (1.02, 1.76) (1.01, 1.34)
SAFETY
34/403 32/418 0.90 0.91
All cause mortality (8.4%) (7.7%) (0.54, 1.76) (0.57, 1.44)
0.681
71/403 113/418 1.72 1.53
Any ICH (17.6%) (27.0%) (1.24, 2.42) (1.18, 2.00)
0.001
1/403 10/418 9.85 9.64
ECASS III 0.008
(0.2%) (2.4%) (1.26, 77.32) (1.24, 74.97)
9/403 22/418 2.43 2.36
Symptomatic ECASS II 0.023
(2.2%) (5.3%) (11.1, 5.35) (1.10, 5.06)
ICH by 14/403 33/418 2.38 2.27
definitiona NINDS
(3.5%) (7.9%) (1.25, 4.52) (1.23, 4.18)
0.006
1/403 8/418 7.84 7.71
SITS-MOST 0.022
(0.2%) (1.9%) (0.98, 63.00) (0.97, 61.39)
a Definitions of symptomatic ICH:
ECASS III definition – Symptomatic cerebral haemorrhage was defined as any blood in the brain or intracranially
associated with a clinical deterioration of ≥ 4 points of the NIHSS for which the haemorrhage has been identified
as the dominating cause of the neurologic deterioration.
ECASS II definition – Any intracranial bleed and 4 points or more worsening on the NIHSS score from baseline
or the lowest value in the first 7 days, or any haemorrhage leading to death.
NINDS definition – A haemorrhage was considered symptomatic if it was not seen on a previous CT scan and
there had subsequently been either a suspicion of haemorrhage or any decline in neurologic status. To detect
intracranial haemorrhage, CT scans were required at 24 hours and 7 to 10 days after the onset of stroke and
when clinical finding suggested haemorrhage.
SITS-MOST definition – Local or remote parenchymal haematoma type 2 on the 22- to 36-hour post-treatment
imaging scan, combined with a neurologic deterioration of 4 points or more on the NIHSS from baseline, or from
the lowest NIHSS value between baseline and 24 hours, or leading to death.
ACTILYSE PI0111-10 25
Any ICH was significantly higher on alteplase (51.3%; n=39/76) versus placebo (21.3%; n=13/61) in
patients aged ≥ 80 years (OR adjusted for NIHSS at baseline = 4.01; 95% CI = 1.76 - 9.13) compared
to those < 80 years of age (28.9%; n=295/1021 on alteplase versus 23.5%; n=245/1041 on placebo).
Symptomatic ICH (as per SITS-MOST definition) was significantly higher on alteplase (6.6%; n=5/76)
versus placebo (0%; n=0/0) in patients aged ≥ 80 years (unadjusted OR = 8.51; 95% CI = 0.45 -
159.02) compared to those < 80 years of age (2.5%; n=25/1021 on alteplase versus 0.5%; n=5/1041
on placebo).
ACTILYSE is cleared rapidly from circulating plasma primarily by the liver, at a rate of approximately
500 mL/min in patients with vascular disease, and approximately 700 mL/min in normal subjects. More
than 50% of ACTILYSE present in plasma is cleared within 5 minutes after the infusion has been
terminated, and approximately 80% is cleared within 10 minutes. For the residual amount remaining
in a deep compartment, a beta half-life of about 40 minutes was measured.
Genotoxicity
6 PHARMACEUTICAL PARTICULARS
The inactive ingredients are: arginine, phosphoric acid, polysorbate 80, and nitrogen. Phosphoric acid
and/or sodium hydroxide may be used prior to lyophilisation for pH adjustment.
6.2 INCOMPATIBILITIES
Incompatibilities were either not assessed or not identified as part of the registration of this medicine.
In Australia, information on the shelf life can be found on the public summary of the Australian Register
of Therapeutic Goods (ARTG). The expiry date can be found on the packaging.
Lyophilised ACTILYSE is stable up to the expiration date stamped on the vial.
Powder:
10 mL, 20 mL or 50 mL sterilised glass vials, sealed with sterile siliconised grey butyl-type stoppers
with aluminium/plastic flip-off caps.
ACTILYSE PI0111-10 26
Solvent:
For the 10 mg, 20 mg and 50 mg presentations, the water for injections is filled into either 10 mL,
20 mL or 50 mL vials, depending on the size of the powder vials. The water for injections vials are
sealed with rubber stoppers and aluminium/plastic flip-off caps.
Transfer cannulas (included with presentations of 20 mg and 50 mg only)
For single use in only one patient. Discard any unused solution.
8 SPONSOR
26 September 1991
10 DATE OF REVISION
4 August 2020
ACTILYSE PI0111-10 27