Drug Interaction Report

GENERALLY AVOID: Coadministration with drugs that cause moderate inhibition of CYP450 2C9 and moderate or strong inhibition of CYP450 3A4 may increase the plasma concentrations of siponimod, which is primarily metabolized by these isoenzymes. This interaction includes concomitant use of siponimod with a moderate CYP450 2C9/3A4 dual inhibitor or a moderate CYP450 2C9 inhibitor in combination with a separate moderate or strong CYP450 3A4 inhibitor. In healthy CYP450 2C9*1/*1 genotype volunteers, coadministration of a moderate CYP450 2C9/3A4 dual inhibitor (fluconazole 200 mg daily at steady-state) and siponimod (a single 4 mg dose) resulted in 2-fold and 50% increases in siponimod AUC and terminal half-life, respectively. According to in silico (computer-based) evaluation, use of fluconazole resulted in a 2- to 4-fold increase in the steady-state AUC of siponimod across different CYP450 2C9 genotypes. The CYP450 2C9 genotype influences the fractional contributions of CYP450 2C9 and 3A4 to overall elimination. If the metabolic activity of CYP450 2C9 is decreased, a larger contribution of CYP450 3A4 can be anticipated.

MANAGEMENT: Concomitant use of siponimod with a moderate or strong CYP450 2C9/3A4 dual inhibitor (e.g., fluconazole, mifepristone) or a moderate CYP450 2C9 inhibitor (e.g., abiraterone, amiodarone, fenofibrate, gemfibrozil, nitisinone, oxandrolone) in combination with a moderate or strong CYP450 3A4 inhibitor (e.g., amprenavir, aprepitant, atazanavir, boceprevir, ceritinib, chloramphenicol, ciprofloxacin, clarithromycin, cobicistat, conivaptan, crizotinib, dalfopristin-quinupristin, darunavir, delavirdine, diltiazem, dronedarone, erythromycin, fedratinib, fluvoxamine, fosamprenavir, fosaprepitant, fosnetupitant, fusidic acid, idelalisib, imatinib, indinavir, isavuconazole, itraconazole, ketoconazole, letermovir, mibefradil, nefazodone, nelfinavir, netupitant, posaconazole, ribociclib, ritonavir, saquinavir, stiripentol, telaprevir, telithromycin, troleandomycin, verapamil, voriconazole, voxelotor) is not recommended. Caution is advised if siponimod is used in combination with moderate CYP450 2C9 inhibitors.

GENERALLY AVOID: Due to its significant bradycardic effects, the risk of QT prolongation and torsade de pointes arrhythmia may be increased during initiation of siponimod treatment in patients receiving drugs that prolong the QT interval. Siponimod can cause a decrease in heart rate during initiation of therapy that is apparent within an hour of the first dose, and the day 1 decline is maximal at approximately 3 to 4 hours. The maximal decrease in heart rate from baseline was seen between day 5 and 6. After day 6, heart rate starts increasing and reaches placebo levels within 10 days after treatment initiation. The highest daily postdose-dose decrease in absolute hourly mean heart rate is observed on day 1, with a decrease of 5 to 6 bpm. Following day 1, decreases in heart rate are less pronounced. Heart rates below 40 bpm were rarely observed. In controlled clinical trials, bradycardia (including sinus bradycardia and decreased heart rate) occurred in 6% of siponimod-treated patients compared to 3% of patients receiving placebo. Initiation of siponimod treatment has also resulted in transient AV conduction delays. First-degree AV block (prolonged PR interval on ECG) occurred in 5.1% of siponimod-treated patients and 1.9% of patients receiving placebo. Second-degree AV blocks, usually Mobitz type I (Wenckebach), have been observed at the time of siponimod initiation in less than 1.7% of patients. Bradycardia and conduction abnormalities were usually transient and asymptomatic, and resolved within the first 24 hours, but they occasionally required treatment with atropine. In a study evaluating the effect on QT interval of siponimod 2 or 10 mg at steady-state, siponimod treatment resulted in maximum prolongations of the QTc of 7.8 and 7.2 msec, respectively, with upper bounds of the 90% confidence interval of 9.93 and 9.72 msec, respectively. In general, the risk of an individual agent or a combination of agents causing ventricular arrhythmia in association with QT prolongation is largely unpredictable but may be increased by certain underlying risk factors such as congenital long QT syndrome, cardiac disease, and electrolyte disturbances (e.g., hypokalemia, hypomagnesemia). In addition, the extent of drug-induced QT prolongation is dependent on the particular drug(s) involved and dosage(s) of the drug(s).

MANAGEMENT: Siponimod has not been studied in patients receiving drugs that can prolong the QT interval. Because bradycardia and AV block are recognized risk factors for QT prolongation and torsade de pointes arrhythmia, treatment with siponimod should generally not be initiated in patients who are concurrently treated with QT prolonging drugs with known arrhythmogenic properties. Advice from a cardiologist should be sought if treatment with siponimod is considered in patients on concurrent therapy with QT prolonging drugs with a known risk of torsades de pointes or drugs that slow heart rate or AV conduction.

MONITOR: Coadministration with ritonavir, with or without lopinavir, has been suggested in postmarketing reports to increase the proximal tubular intracellular concentrations of tenofovir and potentiate the risk of tenofovir-induced nephrotoxicity. The proposed mechanism is ritonavir inhibition of tenofovir renal tubular secretion into the urine via multidrug resistance protein MRP2. Analysis of data from a compassionate access study in which 271 patients with advanced HIV disease received the combination for a mean duration of 63 weeks revealed no clinically significant nephrotoxicity associated with coadministration. However, there have been case reports of renal failure associated with acute tubular necrosis, Fanconi's syndrome, and nephrogenic diabetes insipidus in patients treated with tenofovir disoproxil fumarate in combination with ritonavir. Some patients had incomplete recovery of renal function more than a year after cessation of tenofovir therapy. Ritonavir given in combination with lopinavir has also been reported to modestly increase the plasma concentrations of tenofovir. In contrast, both slight decreases and no change in lopinavir and ritonavir concentrations have been reported.

MANAGEMENT: Caution is advised if tenofovir disoproxil fumarate is prescribed with ritonavir. Renal function should be monitored regularly, including surveillance for signs of tubulopathy such as glycosuria, acidosis, increases in serum creatinine level, electrolyte disturbances (e.g., hypokalemia, hypophosphatemia), and proteinuria. The same precaution may be applicable during therapy with other protease inhibitors based on their similar pharmacokinetic profile, although clinical data are lacking. Nelfinavir reportedly does not alter the pharmacokinetics of tenofovir, or vice versa. Tenofovir administration should be discontinued promptly if nephropathy develops.

MONITOR: Coadministration with ritonavir, with or without lopinavir, has been suggested in postmarketing reports to increase the proximal tubular intracellular concentrations of tenofovir and potentiate the risk of tenofovir-induced nephrotoxicity. The proposed mechanism is ritonavir inhibition of tenofovir renal tubular secretion into the urine via multidrug resistance protein MRP2. Analysis of data from a compassionate access study in which 271 patients with advanced HIV disease received the combination for a mean duration of 63 weeks revealed no clinically significant nephrotoxicity associated with coadministration. However, there have been case reports of renal failure associated with acute tubular necrosis, Fanconi's syndrome, and nephrogenic diabetes insipidus in patients treated with tenofovir disoproxil fumarate in combination with ritonavir. Some patients had incomplete recovery of renal function more than a year after cessation of tenofovir therapy. Ritonavir given in combination with lopinavir has also been reported to modestly increase the plasma concentrations of tenofovir. In contrast, both slight decreases and no change in lopinavir and ritonavir concentrations have been reported.

MANAGEMENT: Caution is advised if tenofovir disoproxil fumarate is prescribed with ritonavir. Renal function should be monitored regularly, including surveillance for signs of tubulopathy such as glycosuria, acidosis, increases in serum creatinine level, electrolyte disturbances (e.g., hypokalemia, hypophosphatemia), and proteinuria. The same precaution may be applicable during therapy with other protease inhibitors based on their similar pharmacokinetic profile, although clinical data are lacking. Nelfinavir reportedly does not alter the pharmacokinetics of tenofovir, or vice versa. Tenofovir administration should be discontinued promptly if nephropathy develops.

ADJUST DOSING INTERVAL: Administration with food may modestly affect the bioavailability of ritonavir from the various available formulations. When the oral solution was given under nonfasting conditions, peak ritonavir concentrations decreased 23% and the extent of absorption decreased 7% relative to fasting conditions. Dilution of the oral solution (within one hour of dosing) with 240 mL of chocolate milk or a nutritional supplement (Advera or Ensure) did not significantly affect the extent and rate of ritonavir absorption. When a single 100 mg dose of the tablet was administered with a high-fat meal (907 kcal; 52% fat, 15% protein, 33% carbohydrates), approximately 20% decreases in mean peak concentration (Cmax) and systemic exposure (AUC) were observed relative to administration after fasting. Similar decreases in Cmax and AUC were reported when the tablet was administered with a moderate-fat meal. In contrast, the extent of absorption of ritonavir from the soft gelatin capsule formulation was 13% higher when administered with a meal (615 KCal; 14.5% fat, 9% protein, and 76% carbohydrate) relative to fasting.

MANAGEMENT: Ritonavir should be taken with meals to enhance gastrointestinal tolerability.

ADJUST DOSING INTERVAL: Food significantly increases the bioavailability of lopinavir from the oral solution formulation of lopinavir-ritonavir. Relative to fasting, administration of lopinavir-ritonavir oral solution with a moderate-fat meal (500 to 682 Kcal; 23% to 25% calories from fat) increased lopinavir peak plasma concentration (Cmax) and systemic exposure (AUC) by 54% and 80%, respectively, whereas administration with a high-fat meal (872 Kcal; 56% from fat) increased lopinavir Cmax and AUC by 56% and 130%, respectively. No clinically significant changes in Cmax and AUC were observed following administration of lopinavir-ritonavir tablets under fed conditions versus fasted conditions. Relative to fasting, administration of a single 400 mg-100 mg dose (two 200 mg-50 mg tablets) with a moderate-fat meal (558 Kcal; 24.1% calories from fat) increased lopinavir Cmax and AUC by 17.6% and 26.9%, respectively, while administration with a high-fat meal (998 Kcal; 51.3% from fat) increased lopinavir AUC by 18.9% but not Cmax. Relative to fasting, ritonavir Cmax and AUC also increased by 4.9% and 14.9%, respectively, with the moderate-fat meal and 10.3% and 23.9%, respectively, with the high-fat meal.

MANAGEMENT: Lopinavir-ritonavir oral solution should be taken with meals to enhance bioavailability and minimize pharmacokinetic variability. Lopinavir-ritonavir tablets may be taken without regard to meals.

Food enhances the oral absorption and bioavailability of tenofovir, the active entity of tenofovir disoproxil fumarate. According to the product labeling, administration of the drug following a high-fat meal increased the mean peak plasma concentration (Cmax) and area under the concentration-time curve (AUC) of tenofovir by approximately 14% and 40%, respectively, compared to administration in the fasting state. However, administration with a light meal did not significantly affect the pharmacokinetics of tenofovir compared to administration in the fasting state. Food delays the time to reach tenofovir Cmax by approximately 1 hour. Tenofovir disoproxil fumarate may be administered without regard to meals.