Risk Summary

Limited published data from case reports with Orenitram use in pregnant women are not sufficient to assess for a drug-associated risk of major birth defects, miscarriage, or adverse maternal or fetal outcomes. There are risks to the mother and the fetus associated with pulmonary arterial hypertension (see Clinical Considerations). Animal reproductive studies with treprostinil diolamine administered orally have shown an adverse effect on the fetus. In rats, administration of treprostinil to pregnant rats during the period of organogenesis at doses ≥10 mg/kg/day (approximately 15 times the human exposure at the dose of 3.5 mg BID on an AUC basis) resulted in decreased pregnancy rate, increased post-implantation loss, and decreased fetal viability and growth. In rabbits, teratogenicity and decreased fetal viability and growth were observed at doses ≥1.5 mg/kg/day (approximately 7 times the human exposure at the dose of 3.5 mg BID on an AUC basis) (see Animal Data).

The estimated background risk of major birth defects and miscarriage for the indicated populations 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.

Clinical Considerations

Disease-associated maternal and embryo-fetal risk

Pulmonary arterial hypertension in pregnancy increases the risk of maternal heart failure, stroke and death, preterm delivery, low birth weight, and stillbirth.

Data

Animal Data

In pregnant rats, reversible, dose-dependent decreases in body weight gain and food consumption were observed during the first four days of dosing in animals administered 10, 20, and 30 mg/kg/day treprostinil diolamine. In a dose range-finding study, there was a 17% decrease in the pregnancy rate in the animals administered 20 and 30 mg/kg/day. One dam in each of the 20 and 30 mg/kg/day had litters with no viable fetuses. In the definitive study (0, 5, 10, and 20 mg/kg/day), there were four treatment-related deaths, and a 32% decrease in the pregnancy rate for rats administered 20 mg/kg/day. There was an 8% decrease in the pregnancy rate in the animals administered 10 mg/kg/day. Across both studies, an increase in post-implantation loss was observed in animals administered 10 to 30 mg/kg/day, and a significant decrease in the mean number of live births was seen at dose levels ≥10 mg/kg/day. The no observed adverse effect level was 5 mg/kg/day (maternal, fetal viability and growth), and 20 mg/kg/day (teratogenicity), the highest dose tested in the definitive study. The exposures at 5 and 20 mg/kg/day doses represent 8 and 33 times, respectively, the human exposure at the dose of 3.5 mg BID on an AUC basis.

For F1 progeny, a decreased copulation index was observed at the 5 and 10 mg/kg/day treprostinil diolamine dose levels in rats. The no observed effect levels for physical development, reflex development, exploratory behavior, learning and memory, and sexual maturation was 10 mg/kg/day. The no observed effect level for F1 progeny general development (based on body weight) was 10 mg/kg/day for females and ≤2.5 mg/kg/day for males; the no observed effect level for F1 reproductive performance was 2.5 mg/kg/day (approximately 4 times the human exposure at the dose of 3.5 mg BID on an AUC basis).

In pregnant rabbits, the primary maternal adverse effect was gastrointestinal disturbance; dose-dependent decreases in mean body weight, body weight gain, and food consumption were observed. During the post-dose phase, the effect was reversed. In a dose range-finding study, there was a 17% decrease in the pregnancy rate for animals administered 4 mg/kg/day. A dose-dependent increase in post-implantation loss was observed. Two dams administered 4 mg/kg/day had litters with no viable fetuses; the mean fetal weight was slightly decreased in animals administered 4 mg/kg/day. In the definitive study, mean fetal weights were significantly decreased in animals administered 0.5 to 3 mg/kg/day of treprostinil diolamine. At doses of 1.5 and 3 mg/kg/day, external fetal and soft tissue malformations were observed in a few fetuses, and the total fetal skeletal malformations were significantly increased. The no observed adverse effect level was less than 0.5 mg/kg/day (maternal), 1.5 mg/kg/day (fetal viability and growth), and 0.5 mg/kg/day (teratogenicity). The 0.5 mg/kg/day dose represents about 3 times the human exposure at the dose of 3.5 mg BID on an AUC basis.