Risk Summary

Based on findings from animal studies, lefamulin may cause fetal harm when administered to pregnant women. There are no available data on the use of XENLETA in pregnant women to evaluate for a drug-associated risk of major birth defects, miscarriage or adverse maternal or fetal outcomes.

Animal studies indicate that intravenous administration of lefamulin during organogenesis resulted in an increased incidence of prenatal mortality at mean maternal exposures 0.9 times the mean exposure in clinical patients (based on AUC0-24h), decreased fetal body weights, apparent delay in sexual maturation that suggest treatment-related developmental delay, and malformations in rats at maternal exposures greater than 0.4 times the mean exposure in CABP patients for which the litter incidence was nonexistent in concurrent controls and rare (0 to approximately 0.3%) in historical controls. Decreased ossification was seen in fetuses at all doses in a dose-related manner, suggestive of developmental delay (see Data).

The estimated background risk of major birth defects and miscarriage for the indicated population is unknown. All pregnancies have a background risk of birth defect, loss, or other adverse outcomes. In the U.S. general population, the estimated background risk of major birth defects and miscarriage in clinically recognized pregnancies is 2 to 4% and 15 to 20%, respectively. 

There is a pregnancy pharmacovigilance program for XENLETA. If XENLETA is inadvertently administered during pregnancy or if a patient becomes pregnant while receiving XENLETA, healthcare providers should report XENLETA exposure by calling 1-855-5NABRIVA to enroll.

Data

Animal Data

In a prenatal and postnatal development study in rats treated from the beginning of organogenesis through lactation (Gestation Day [GD] 6 through lactation day 21), the percent of live births was reduced (87.4% compared with the concurrent control of 98.7%) in the high dose group of 100 mg/kg/day (0.9 times the mean exposure in CABP patients treated IV). Equivocal findings in that study were indicative of early post-natal mortality and apparent developmental delay that may be related to pre-natal effects.

In the rat embryo-fetal development study of IV lefamulin during organogenesis (GD 6-17), findings included late resorptions in the high-dose group and malformations (cleft palate/jaw/vertebral malformations at the mid and high doses and enlarged ventricular heart chamber with a thin ventricular wall at the high dose) for which the litter incidence was nonexistent in concurrent controls and rare in historical controls (0 to approximately 0.3%). Decreased or no ossification in a number of skeletal elements in all treated groups may indicate treatment-related developmental delay at all doses. The mean exposure at the lowest dose was approximately 0.4 times the mean exposure in CABP patients treated IV. The main human metabolite, 2R-hydroxy lefamulin, was evaluated in an embryo-fetal development study in rats after IV administration and was also associated with the same cardiac malformation seen in the above study, enlarged ventricular heart chamber with or without a thin ventricular wall (which could be associated with undetected valve or great vessel anomalies).

In the rabbit embryo-fetal development study of IV lefamulin during organogenesis (GD 6-18), low numbers of live fetuses in utero in treated groups limited evaluation of the study. Additional findings at the high dose included decreased fetal weight and decreased or no ossification of skeletal elements, which may be indicative of developmental delay. A NOAEL was not determined. The lowest dose (not fully evaluated due to fetal mortality) would correspond to a mean exposure approximately 0.1 times the mean exposure in CABP patients.

Results of animal studies indicate that lefamulin crosses the placenta and is found in fetal tissues. Following a single intravenous administration of 30 mg/kg radio-labelled lefamulin to pregnant female rats on Day 17 of gestation, radioactivity was visible in fetal tissue, with greatest concentrations measured in the placenta and fetal liver (34.3 and 8.26 mcg equivalents/g, respectively) compared to 96.6 mcg equivalents/g in the maternal liver. Radioactivity in fetal tissues generally declined rapidly, and radioactivity associated with the fetus itself was below the limit of quantification by 12 hours post-dose. Radioactivity in the placenta declined rapidly and was below the limit of quantification by 24 hours after dosing. Concentrations of radioactivity in the amniotic sac remained measurable at the final sampling time (72 hours), peaking at 6 hours post-dose. The amniotic fluid did not contain radioactivity at any time after dose administration.