Drug Interactions between pirfenidone and Yosprala

MONITOR: Coadministration with moderate or potent inhibitors of CYP450 2C9, 2C19, 2D6, and/or 2E1 may increase the plasma concentrations of pirfenidone, especially when used in addition to a moderate or potent CYP450 1A2 inhibitor. Pirfenidone is primarily (70% to 80%) metabolized by CYP450 1A2, with minor contribution from CYP450 2C9, 2C19, 2D6, and 2E1. In 25 healthy nonsmokers and 25 smokers who were administered a single dose of pirfenidone with the potent CYP450 1A2 inhibitor fluvoxamine (50 mg at bedtime for 3 days; 50 mg twice a day for 3 days; then 50 mg in the morning and 100 mg at bedtime for 4 days), pirfenidone systemic exposure (AUC) increased approximately 4-fold in nonsmoking subjects and 7-fold in smoking subjects. Fluvoxamine also inhibits CYP450 2C9, 2C19 and 2D6, although the extent to which these effects contribute to the interaction has not been established. The interaction has not been studied with specific inhibitors of other isoenzymes involved in the metabolism of pirfenidone.

MANAGEMENT: Concomitant use of pirfenidone with moderate or potent inhibitors of CYP450 2C9, 2C19, 2D6, and/or 2E1 in addition to a moderate or potent inhibitor of CYP450 1A2 (e.g., certain fluoroquinolones, oral contraceptives, deferasirox, methoxsalen, mexiletine, thiabendazole, ticlopidine, zileuton) should be avoided. No particular precaution is necessary if pirfenidone and CYP450 2C9, 2C19, 2D6, and/or 2E1 inhibitors are coadministered without a moderate or potent CYP450 1A2 inhibitor. However, a prolonged duration of monitoring for adverse effects may be required depending on the elimination half-life of the concomitant drug. For example, it should be noted that rolapitant, a moderate CYP450 2D6 inhibitor, may increase plasma concentrations and the risk of adverse effects of pirfenidone for at least 28 days after administration of rolapitant.

Coadministration with proton pump inhibitors may decrease the oral bioavailability of aspirin and other salicylates. The interaction has been studied with omeprazole and aspirin, although data are conflicting. In one study, pretreatment with omeprazole (20 mg/day for 2 days) in 11 healthy volunteers led to a significant and progressively greater reduction in the mean serum salicylate level at 30, 60, and 90 minutes after administration of aspirin (650 mg single dose). The investigators suggest that acid suppression may reduce the lipophilic nature of aspirin, thereby adversely affecting its absorption from the gastrointestinal tract. Another study found no effect of omeprazole pretreatment (20 mg/day for 4 days) on plasma salicylate and aspirin levels, skin bleeding times, or antiplatelet effect of low-dose aspirin (125 mg single dose) in 14 healthy volunteers. However, these results do not exclude the possibility that omeprazole might interfere with the analgesic, antipyretic, or anti-inflammatory effects of aspirin, which has been demonstrated in rats.

Proton pump inhibitors may enhance the release rate of salicylates from enteric-coated formulations due to premature disruption of the coating and intragastric release of the drug secondary to an increase in gastric pH. In eight healthy volunteers, omeprazole pretreatment (20 mg/day for 4 days) did not affect the bioavailability of salicylate from uncoated aspirin tablets but significantly increased the absorption rate of salicylate from enteric-coated sodium salicylate tablets. The clinical significance of this interaction is unknown. Theoretically, it may increase the risk of gastric adverse effects associated with salicylates.