Metalyse

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ANNEX I

SUMMARY OF PRODUCT CHARACTERISTICS



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1. NAME OF THE MEDICINAL PRODUCT

Metalyse 8,000 units powder and solvent for solution for injection

2. QUALITATIVE AND QUANTITATIVE COMPOSITION

Each vial contains 8,000 units (40 mg) tenecteplase.
Each pre-filled syringe contains 8 ml solvent.

The reconstituted solution contains 1,000 units (5 mg) tenecteplase per ml.

Potency of tenecteplase is expressed in units (U) by using a reference standard which is specific for 
tenecteplase and is not comparable with units used for other thrombolytic agents.

Tenecteplase is a fibrin-specific plasminogen activator produced in a Chinese hamster ovary cell line 
by recombinant DNA technology.

For a full list of excipients, see section 6.1.

3. PHARMACEUTICAL FORM

Powder and solvent for solution for injection.

The powder is white to off-white.
The solvent is clear and colourless.
The reconstituted preparation is a clear and colourless to slightly yellow solution.

4. CLINICAL PARTICULARS

4.1 Therapeutic indications

Metalyse is indicated in adults for the thrombolytic treatment of suspected myocardial infarction with 
persistent ST elevation or recent left Bundle Branch Block within 6 hours after the onset of acute 
myocardial infarction (AMI) symptoms. 

4.2 Posology and method of administration

Posology

Metalyse should be prescribed by physicians experienced in the use of thrombolytic treatment and 
with the facilities to monitor that use.

Treatment with Metalyse should be initiated as soon as possible after onset of symptoms.

Metalyse should be administered on the basis of body weight, with a maximum dose of 10,000 units
(50 mg tenecteplase). The volume required to administer the correct dose can be calculated from the 
following scheme:



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Patients’ body weight 
category

(kg)

Tenecteplase
(U)

Tenecteplase 
(mg)

Corresponding volume of 
reconstituted solution

(ml)

< 60 6,000 30 6

 60 to < 70 7,000 35 7

 70 to < 80 8,000 40 8

 80 to < 90 9,000 45 9

 90 10,000 50 10

For details see section 6.6: Special precautions for disposal and other handling

Elderly ( 75 years)
Metalyse should be administered with caution in the elderly ( 75 years) due to a higher bleeding risk 
(see information on bleeding in section 4.4 and on the STREAM study in section 5.1).

Paediatric population
The safety and efficacy of Metalyse in children (below 18 years) have not been established. No data 
are available.

Method of administration

The required dose should be administered as a single intravenous bolus over approximately 10 
seconds.

A pre-existing intravenous line may be used for administration of Metalyse in sodium chloride 
9 mg/ml (0.9%) solution only. Metalyse is incompatible with glucose solution.

No other medicinal product should be added to the injection solution.

For instructions on reconstitution of the medicinal product before administration, see section 6.6.

Adjunctive therapy

Antithrombotic adjunctive therapy with platelet inhibitors and anticoagulants should be administered 
according to the current relevant treatment guidelines for the management of patients with 
ST-elevation myocardial infarction.
For coronary intervention see section 4.4.

Unfractionated heparin and enoxaparin have been used as antithrombotic adjunctive therapy in clinical 
studies with Metalyse. 

Acetylsalicylic acid should be initiated as soon as possible after symptom onset and continued with 
lifelong treatment unless it is contraindicated.

4.3 Contraindications

Metalyse must not be administered to patients with a history of an anaphylactic (i.e. life-threatening) 
reaction to any of the constituents (i.e. tenecteplase or any excipient) or gentamicin (a trace residue 
from the manufacturing process). If treatment with Metalyse is nevertheless considered to be 
necessary, facilities for resuscitation should be immediately available in case of need.

Furthermore, Metalyse is contraindicated in the following situations because thrombolytic therapy is 
associated with a higher risk of bleeding:



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- Significant bleeding disorder either at present or within the past 6 months
- Patients receiving effective oral anticoagulant treatment, e.g. warfarin sodium (INR > 1.3) (see 

section 4.4, subsection “Bleeding”)
- Any history of central nervous system damage (i.e. neoplasm, aneurysm, intracranial or spinal 

surgery) 
- Known haemorrhagic diathesis 
- Severe uncontrolled hypertension 
- Major surgery, biopsy of a parenchymal organ, or significant trauma within the past 2 months

(this includes any trauma associated with the current AMI)
- Recent trauma to the head or cranium
- Prolonged cardiopulmonary resuscitation (> 2 minutes) within the past 2 weeks
- Acute pericarditis and/or subacute bacterial endocarditis
- Acute pancreatitis
- Severe hepatic dysfunction, including hepatic failure, cirrhosis, portal hypertension 

(oesophageal varices) and active hepatitis
- Active peptic ulceration
- Arterial aneurysm and known arterial/venous malformation
- Neoplasm with increased bleeding risk
- Any known history of haemorrhagic stroke or stroke of unknown origin
- Known history of ischaemic stroke or transient ischaemic attack in the preceding 6 months
- Dementia

4.4 Special warnings and precautions for use

Coronary intervention

If primary percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) is scheduled according to the current relevant 
treatment guidelines, tenecteplase (see section 5.1 ASSENT-4 study) should not be given.

Patients who cannot undergo primary PCI within one hour as recommended by guidelines and receive
tenecteplase as primary coronary recanalization treatment should be transferred without delay to a 
coronary intervention capable facility for angiography and timely adjunctive coronary intervention 
within 6-24 hours or earlier if medically indicated (see section 5.1 STREAM study).

Bleeding

The most common complication encountered during tenecteplase therapy is bleeding. The concomitant 
use of heparin anticoagulation may contribute to bleeding. As fibrin is lysed during tenecteplase 
therapy, bleeding from recent puncture site may occur. Therefore, thrombolytic therapy requires 
careful attention to all possible bleeding sites (including catheter insertion sites, arterial and venous 
puncture sites, cutdown sites and needle puncture sites). The use of rigid catheters as well as 
intramuscular injections and non-essential handling of the patient should be avoided during treatment 
with tenecteplase.

Most frequently haemorrhage at the injection site, and occasionally genitourinary and gingival 
bleeding were observed. 

Should serious bleeding occur, in particular cerebral haemorrhage, concomitant heparin administration 
should be terminated immediately. Administration of protamine should be considered if heparin has 
been administered within 4 hours before the onset of bleeding. In the few patients who fail to respond 
to these conservative measures, judicious use of transfusion products may be indicated. Transfusion of 
cryoprecipitate, fresh frozen plasma, and platelets should be considered with clinical and laboratory 
reassessment after each administration. A target fibrinogen level of 1 g/l is desirable with 
cryoprecipitate infusion. Antifibrinolytic agents are available as a last alternative. In the following 
conditions, the risk of tenecteplase therapy may be increased and should be weighed against the 
anticipated benefits:



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- Systolic blood pressure > 160 mm Hg 
- Cerebrovascular disease
- Recent gastrointestinal or genitourinary bleeding (within the past 10 days)
- High likelihood of left heart thrombus, e.g., mitral stenosis with atrial fibrillation
- Any known recent (within the past 2 days) intramuscular injection
- Advanced age, i.e. over 75 years
- Low body weight < 60 kg
- Patients receiving oral anticoagulants: The use of Metalyse may be considered when dosing or 

time since the last intake of anticoagulant treatment makes residual efficacy unlikely and if 
appropriate test(s) of anticoagulant activity for the product(s) concerned show no clinically 
relevant activity on the coagulation system (e.g. INR ≤ 1.3 for vitamin K antagonists or other 
relevant test(s) for other oral anticoagulants are within the respective upper limit of normal).

Arrhythmias

Coronary thrombolysis may result in arrhythmias associated with reperfusion. It is recommended that 
antiarrhythmic therapy for bradycardia and/or ventricular tachyarrhythmias (pacemaker, defibrillator) 
is available when tenecteplase is administered.

GPIIb/IIIa antagonists

Concomitant use of GPIIb/IIIa antagonists increases bleeding risk.

Hypersensitivity/Re-administration

No sustained antibody formation to the tenecteplase molecule has been observed after treatment. 
However there is no systematic experience with re-administration of tenecteplase. Caution is needed 
when administering tenecteplase to persons with a known hypersensitivity (other than anaphylactic 
reaction) to the active substance, to any of the excipients, or to gentamicin (a residue from the 
manufacturing process). If an anaphylactoid reaction occurs, the injection should be discontinued 
immediately and appropriate therapy should be initiated. In any case, tenecteplase should not be re-
administered before assessment of haemostatic factors like fibrinogen, plasminogen and alpha2-
antiplasmin.

Paediatric population

Metalyse is not recommended for use in children (below 18 years) due to a lack of data on safety and 
efficacy.

4.5 Interaction with other medicinal products and other forms of interaction

No formal interaction studies with tenecteplase and medicinal products commonly administered in 
patients with AMI have been performed. However, the analysis of data from more than 12,000 patients 
treated during phase I, II and III did not reveal any clinically relevant interactions with medicinal 
products commonly used in patients with AMI and concomitantly used with tenecteplase.

Medicinal products that affect coagulation or those that alter platelet function (e.g. ticlopidine, 
clopidogrel, LMWH) may increase the risk of bleeding prior to, during or after tenecteplase therapy.

Concomitant use of GPIIb/IIIa antagonists increases bleeding risk.



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4.6 Fertility, pregnancy and lactation

Pregnancy

There is limited amount of data from the use of Metalyse in pregnant women.
Nonclinical data performed with tenecteplase have shown bleeding with secondary mortality of dams 
due to the known pharmacological activity of the active substance and in a few cases abortion and 
resorption of the foetus occurred (effects only have been observed with repeated dose administration). 
Tenecteplase is not considered to be teratogenic (please see section 5.3).

The benefit of treatment must be evaluated against the potential risks in case of myocardial infarction 
during pregnancy.

Breast-feeding

It is not known if tenecteplase is excreted in human milk. Breast-feeding should be discarded within 
the first 24 hours after thrombolytic therapy.

Fertility

Clinical data as well as nonclinical studies on fertility are not available for tenecteplase (Metalyse).

4.7 Effects on ability to drive and use machines

Not relevant.

4.8 Undesirable effects

Summary of the safety profile

Haemorrhage is a very common undesirable effect associated with the use of tenecteplase. The type of 
haemorrhage is predominantly superficial at the injection site. Ecchymoses are observed commonly 
but usually do not require any specific action. Death and permanent disability are reported in patients 
who have experienced stroke (including intracranial bleeding) and other serious bleeding episodes.

Tabulated list of adverse reactions

Adverse reactions listed below are classified according to frequency and system organ class. 
Frequency groupings are defined according to the following convention: Very common (≥1/10), 
Common (≥1/100 to <1/10), Uncommon (≥1/1,000 to <1/100), Rare (≥1/10,000 to <1/1,000), Very 
rare (<1/10,000), Not known (cannot be estimated from the available data). 



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Table 1 displays the frequency of adverse reactions.
System organ class Adverse reaction
Immune system disorders

Rare Anaphylactoid reaction (including rash, urticaria, 
bronchospasm, laryngeal oedema)

Nervous system disorders
Uncommon Intracranial haemorrhage (such as cerebral haemorrhage, 

cerebral haematoma, haemorrhagic stroke, haemorrhagic 
transformation stroke, intracranial haematoma, subarachnoid 
haemorrhage) including associated symptoms as somnolence, 
aphasia, hemiparesis, convulsion

Eye disorders
Uncommon Eye haemorrhage

Cardiac disorders
Uncommon Reperfusion arrhythmias (such as asystole, accelerated 

idioventricular arrhythmia, arrhythmia, extrasystoles, atrial 
fibrillation, atrioventricular first degree to atrioventricular 
block complete, bradycardia, tachycardia, ventricular 
arrhythmia, ventricular fibrillation, ventricular tachycardia) 
occur in close temporal relationship to treatment with 
tenecteplase. Reperfusion arrhythmias may lead to cardiac 
arrest, can be life threatening and may require the use of 
conventional antiarrhythmic therapies.

Rare Pericardial haemorrhage
Vascular disorders

Very common Haemorrhage
Rare Embolism (thrombotic embolisation)

Respiratory, thoracic and mediastinal disorders
Common Epistaxis
Rare Pulmonary haemorrhage

Gastrointestinal disorders
Common Gastrointestinal haemorrhage (such as gastric haemorrhage, 

gastric ulcer haemorrhage, rectal haemorrhage, 
haematemesis, melaena, mouth haemorrhage) 

Uncommon Retroperitoneal haemorrhage (such as retroperitoneal 
haematoma)

Not known Nausea, vomiting
Skin and subcutaneous tissue disorders

Common Ecchymosis
Renal and urinary disorders

Common Urogenital haemorrhage (such as haematuria, haemorrhage 
urinary tract)

General disorders and administration site conditions
Common Injection site haemorrhage, puncture site haemorrhage

Investigations
Rare Blood pressure decreased
Not known Body temperature increased

Injury, poisoning and procedural complications
Not known Fat embolism, which may lead to corresponding 

consequences in the organs concerned



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As with other thrombolytic agents, the following events have been reported as sequelae of myocardial 
infarction and/or thrombolytic administration:
- very common: hypotension, heart rate and rhythm disorders, angina pectoris
- common: recurrent ischaemia, cardiac failure, myocardial infarction, cardiogenic shock, 

pericarditis, pulmonary oedema
- uncommon: cardiac arrest, mitral valve incompetence, pericardial effusion, venous thrombosis, 

cardiac tamponade, myocardial rupture
- rare: pulmonary embolism

These cardiovascular events can be life-threatening and may lead to death.

Reporting of suspected adverse reactions 
Reporting suspected adverse reactions after authorisation 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 via the national reporting system 
listed in Appendix V. 

4.9 Overdose

In the event of overdose there may be an increased risk of bleeding. In case of severe prolonged 
bleeding substitution therapy may be considered (plasma, platelets), see also section 4.4.

5. PHARMACOLOGICAL PROPERTIES

5.1 Pharmacodynamic properties

Pharmacotherapeutic group: Antithrombotic agents, enzymes; ATC code: B01A D11

Mechanism of action

Tenecteplase is a recombinant fibrin-specific plasminogen activator that is derived from native t-PA 
by modifications at three sites of the protein structure. It binds to the fibrin component of the thrombus 
(blood clot) and selectively converts thrombus-bound plasminogen to plasmin, which degrades the 
fibrin matrix of the thrombus. Tenecteplase has a higher fibrin specificity and greater resistance to 
inactivation by its endogenous inhibitor (PAI-1) compared to native t-PA.

Pharmacodynamic effects

After administration of tenecteplase dose dependent consumption of 2-antiplasmin (the fluid-phase 
inhibitor of plasmin) with consequent increase in the level of systemic plasmin generation have been 
observed. This observation is consistent with the intended effect of plasminogen activation. In 
comparative studies a less than 15% reduction in fibrinogen and a less than 25% reduction in 
plasminogen were observed in subjects treated with the maximum dose of tenecteplase (10,000 U, 
corresponding to 50 mg), whereas alteplase caused an approximately 50% decrease in fibrinogen and 
plasminogen levels. No clinically relevant antibody formation was detected at 30 days.

Clinical efficacy and safety

Patency data from the phase I and II angiographic studies suggest that tenecteplase, administered as a 
single intravenous bolus, is effective in dissolving blood clots in the infarct-related artery of subjects 
experiencing an AMI on a dose related basis.

ASSENT-2
A large scale mortality trial (ASSENT-2) in approx. 17,000 patients showed that tenecteplase is 
therapeutically equivalent to alteplase in reducing mortality (6.2% for both treatments, at 30 days, 
upper limit of the 95% CI for the relative risk ratio 1.124) and that the use of tenecteplase is associated 

http://www.ema.europa.eu/docs/en_GB/document_library/Template_or_form/2013/03/WC500139752.doc


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with a significantly lower incidence of non-intracranial bleedings (26.4% vs. 28.9%, p=0.0003). This 
translates into a significantly lower need of transfusions (4.3% vs. 5.5%, p=0.0002). Intracranial 
haemorrhage occurred at a rate of 0.93% vs. 0.94% for tenecteplase and alteplase, respectively.

Coronary patency and limited clinical outcome data showed that AMI patients have been successfully 
treated later than 6 hours after symptom onset.

ASSENT-4
The ASSENT-4 PCI study was designed to show if in 4000 patients with large myocardial infarctions 
pre-treatment with full dose tenecteplase and concomitant single bolus of up to 4,000 IU 
unfractionated heparin administered prior to primary PCI to be performed within 60 to 180 minutes 
leads to better outcomes than primary PCI alone. The trial was prematurely terminated with 1667 
randomised patients due to a numerically higher mortality in the facilitated PCI group receiving 
tenecteplase. The occurrence of the primary endpoint, a composite of death or cardiogenic shock or 
congestive heart failure within 90 days, was significantly higher in the group receiving the exploratory 
regimen of tenecteplase followed by routine immediate PCI: 18.6% (151/810) compared to 13.4% 
(110/819) in the PCI only group, p=0.0045. This significant difference between the groups for the 
primary endpoint at 90 days was already present in-hospital and at 30 days. 

Numerically all of the components of the clinical composite endpoint were in favour of the PCI only 
regimen: death: 6.7% vs. 4.9% p=0.14; cardiogenic shock: 6.3% vs. 4.8% p=0.19; congestive heart 
failure: 12.0% vs. 9.2% p=0.06 respectively. The secondary endpoints re-infarction and repeat target 
vessel revascularisation were significantly increased in the group pre-treated with tenecteplase: re-
infarction: 6.1% vs. 3.7% p=0.0279; repeat target vessel revascularisation: 6.6% vs. 3.4% p=0.0041.
The following adverse events occurred more frequently with tenecteplase prior to PCI: intracranial 
haemorrhage: 1% vs. 0% p=0.0037; stroke: 1.8% vs. 0% p<0.0001; major bleeds: 5.6% vs. 4.4% 
p=0.3118; minor bleeds: 25.3% vs. 19.0% p= 0.0021; blood transfusions: 6.2% vs. 4.2% p=0.0873; 
abrupt vessel closure: 1.9% vs. 0.1% p=0.0001. 

STREAM study
The STREAM study was designed to evaluate the efficacy and safety of a pharmaco-invasive strategy 
versus a strategy of standard primary PCI in patients presenting with ST elevation acute myocardial 
infarction within 3 hours of onset of symptoms not able to undergo primary PCI within one hour of 
first medical contact. The pharmaco-invasive strategy consisted of early fibrinolytic treatment with 
bolus tenecteplase and additional antiplatelet and anticoagulant therapy followed by angiography 
within 6-24 hours or rescue coronary intervention. 

The study population consisted of 1,892 patients randomised by means of an interactive voice 
response system. The primary endpoint, a composite of death or cardiogenic shock or congestive heart 
failure or re-infarction within 30 days, was observed in 12.4% (116/939) of the pharmaco-invasive 
arm versus 14.3% (135/943) in the primary PCI arm (relative risk 0.86 (0.68-1.09)).

Single components of the primary composite endpoint for the pharmaco-invasive strategy versus 
primary PCI respectively were observed with the following frequencies:

Pharmaco-invasive
(n=944)

Primary PCI
(n=948)

p

Composite death, shock, congestive 
heart failure, re-infarction

All-cause mortality
Cardiogenic shock
Congestive heart failure
Re-infarction

116/939 (12.4%)

43/939 (4.6%)
41/939 (4.4%)
57/939 (6.1%)
23/938 (2.5%)

135/943 (14.3%)

42/946 (4.4%)
56/944 (5.9%)
72/943 (7.6%)
21/944 (2.2%)

0.21

0.88
0.13
0.18
0.74

Cardiac mortality 31/939 (3.3%) 32/946 (3.4%) 0.92



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The observed incidence of major and of minor non-ICH bleeds were similar in both groups:

Pharmaco-invasive
(n=944)

Primary PCI
(n=948)

p

Major non-ICH bleed 61/939 (6.5%) 45/944 (4.8%) 0.11
Minor non-ICH bleed 205/939 (21.8%) 191/944 (20.2%) 0.40

Incidence of total strokes and intracranial haemorrhage

Pharmaco-invasive
(n=944)

Primary PCI
(n=948)

p

Total stroke (all types) 15/939 (1.6%) 5/946 (0.5%) 0.03*
Intracranial haemorrhage
Intracranial haemorrhage after protocol 
amendment to half dose in patients ≥ 75 
years :

9/939 (0.96%)

4/747 (0.5%)

2/946 (0.21%)

2/758 (0.3%)

0.04**

0.45
* the incidences in both groups are those expected in STEMI patients treated by fibrinolytics or 
primary PCI (as observed in previous studies).
** the incidence in the pharmaco-invasive group is as expected for fibrinolysis with tenecteplase (as 
observed in previous studies).

After the dose reduction of tenecteplase by half in patients ≥ 75 years there was no further intracranial 
hemorrhage (0 of 97 patients) (95% CI: 0.0-3.7) versus 8.1% (3 of 37 patients) (95% CI: 1.7-21.9) 
prior to dose reduction. The bounds of the confidence interval of the observed incidences prior and 
after dose reduction are overlapping.

In patients ≥ 75 years the observed incidence of the primary efficacy composite end point for the 
pharmaco-invasive strategy and primary PCI were as follows: before dose reduction 11/37 (29.7%) 
(95% CI: 15.9- 47.0) versus 10/32 (31.3%) (95% CI: 16.1-50.0), after dose reduction: 25/97 (25.8%) 
(95% CI: 17.4-35.7) versus 25/88 (24.8%) (95% CI: 19.3-39.0). In both groups the bounds of the 
confidence interval of the observed incidences prior and post dose reduction are overlapping.

5.2 Pharmacokinetic properties

Absorption and distribution

Tenecteplase is an intravenously administered, recombinant protein that activates plasminogen. 
Following intravenous bolus administration of 30 mg tenecteplase in patients with acute myocardial 
infarction, the initially estimated tenecteplase plasma concentration was 6.45 ± 3.60 µg/mL (mean ± 
SD). The distribution phase represents 31% ± 22% to 69% ± 15% (mean ± SD) of the total AUC 
following the administration of doses ranges from 5 to 50 mg.

Data on tissue distribution were obtained in studies with radioactively labelled tenecteplase in rats. 
The main organ to which tenecteplase distributed was the liver. It is not known whether and to which 
extent tenecteplase binds to plasma proteins in humans. The mean residence time (MRT) in the body 
is approximately 1 h and the mean (± SD) volume of distribution at the steady-state (Vss) ranged from 
6.3 ± 2 L to 15 ± 7 L.

Biotransformation

Tenecteplase is cleared from circulation by binding to specific receptors in the liver followed by 
catabolism to small peptides. Binding to hepatic receptors is, however, reduced compared to native t-
PA, resulting in a prolonged half-life. 



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Elimination

After single intravenous bolus injection of tenecteplase in patients with acute myocardial infarction, 
tenecteplase antigen exhibits biphasic elimination from plasma. There is no dose dependence of 
tenecteplase clearance in the therapeutic dose range. The initial, dominant half-life is 24 ± 5.5 (mean 
±SD) min, which is 5 times longer than native t-PA. The terminal half-life is 129 ± 87 min, and 
plasma clearance is 119 ± 49 ml/min. 

Increasing body weight resulted in a moderate increase of tenecteplase clearance, and increasing age 
resulted in a slight decrease of clearance. Women exhibit in general lower clearance than men, but this 
can be explained by the generally lower body weight of women.

Linearity/Non-Linearity

The dose linearity analysis based on AUC suggested that tenecteplase exhibits non-linear 
pharmacokinetics in the dose range studied, i.e. 5 to 50 mg.

Renal and hepatic impairment

Because elimination of tenecteplase is through the liver, it is not expected that renal dysfunction will 
affect its the pharmacokinetics. This is also supported by animal data. However, the effect of renal and 
hepatic dysfunction on pharmacokinetics of tenecteplase in humans has not been specifically 
investigated. Accordingly, there is no guidance for the adjustment to tenecteplase dose in patients with 
hepatic and severe renal insufficiency.

5.3 Preclinical safety data

Intravenous single dose administration in rats, rabbits and dogs resulted only in dose-dependent and 
reversible alterations of the coagulation parameters with local haemorrhage at the injection site, which 
was regarded as a consequence of the pharmacodynamic effect of tenecteplase. Multiple-dose toxicity 
studies in rats and dogs confirmed these above-mentioned observations, but the study duration was 
limited to two weeks by antibody formation to the human protein tenecteplase, which resulted in 
anaphylaxis.

Safety pharmacology data in cynomolgus monkeys revealed reduction of blood pressure followed by 
changes of ECG, but these occurred at exposures that were considerably higher than the clinical 
exposure.

With regard to the indication and the single dose administration in humans, reproductive toxicity 
testing was limited to an embryotoxicity study in rabbits, as a sensitive species. Tenecteplase induced 
total litter deaths during the mid-embryonal period. When tenecteplase was given during the mid- or 
late-embryonal period maternal animals showed vaginal bleeding on the day after the first dose. 
Secondary mortality was observed 1-2 days later. Data on the foetal period are not available.

Mutagenicity and carcinogenicity are not expected for this class of recombinant proteins and 
genotoxicity and carcinogenicity testing were not necessary.

No local irritation of the blood vessel was observed after intravenous, intra-arterial or paravenous 
administration of the final formulation of tenecteplase.



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6. PHARMACEUTICAL PARTICULARS

6.1 List of excipients

Powder

L-arginine
Phosphoric acid
Polysorbate 20.
Trace residue from manufacturing process: Gentamicin

Solvent

Water for injections.

6.2 Incompatibilities

Metalyse is incompatible with glucose infusion solutions.

6.3 Shelf life

Shelf life as packaged for sale

2 years

Reconstituted solution

Chemical and physical in-use stability has been demonstrated for 24 hours at 2-8°C and 8 hours at 
30°C.

From a microbiological point of view, the reconstituted solution should be used immediately. If not 
used immediately, in-use storage times and conditions prior to use are the responsibility of the user 
and would normally not be longer than 24 hours at 2-8°C.

6.4 Special precautions for storage

Do not store above 30°C. Keep the container in the outer carton in order to protect from light.
For storage conditions of the reconstituted medicinal product, see section 6.3.

6.5 Nature and contents of container

20 ml glass vial type I, with a coated (B2-42) grey rubber stopper and a flip-off cap filled with powder 
for solution for injection. Each vial 40 mg tenecteplase.
10 ml plastic pre-filled syringe with 8 ml of solvent.
Sterile vial adapter.
Sterile needle for single use.

6.6 Special precautions for disposal and other handling

Metalyse should be reconstituted by adding the complete volume of water for injections from the pre-
filled syringe to the vial containing the powder for injection.



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1. Ensure that the appropriate vial size is chosen according to the body weight of the patient.

Patients’ body weight 
category

(kg)

Volume of 
reconstituted solution

(ml)

Tenecteplase
(U)

Tenecteplase 
(mg)

< 60 6 6,000 30

 60 to < 70 7 7,000 35

 70 to < 80 8 8,000 40

 80 to < 90 9 9,000 45

 90 10 10,000 50

2. Check that the cap of the vial is still intact.
3. Remove the flip-off cap from the vial.
4. Remove the tip-cap from the syringe. Then immediately screw the pre-filled syringe on the vial 

adapter and penetrate the vial stopper in the middle with the spike of the vial adapter.
5. Add the water for injections into the vial by pushing the syringe plunger down slowly to avoid 

foaming.
6. Reconstitute by swirling gently.
7. The reconstituted preparation results in a colourless to pale yellow, clear solution. Only clear 

solution without particles should be used.
8. Directly before the solution will be administered, invert the vial with the syringe still attached, 

so that the syringe is below the vial.
9. Transfer the appropriate volume of reconstituted solution of Metalyse into the syringe, based on 

the patient’s weight.
10. Disconnect the syringe from the vial adapter.
11. Metalyse is to be administered to the patient, intravenously in about 10 seconds. It should not be 

administered in a line containing glucose.
12. Any unused solution should be discarded.

Alternatively the reconstitution can be performed with the included needle.

Any unused medicinal product or waste material should be disposed of in accordance with local 
requirements.

7. MARKETING AUTHORISATION HOLDER

Boehringer Ingelheim International GmbH
Binger Strasse 173
D-55216 Ingelheim am Rhein
Germany 

8. MARKETING AUTHORISATION NUMBER(S)

EU/1/00/169/005

9. DATE OF FIRST AUTHORISATION/RENEWAL OF THE AUTHORISATION

Date of first authorisation: 23 February 2001
Date of last renewal: 23 February 2006



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10. DATE OF REVISION OF THE TEXT 

Detailed information on this medicinal product is available on the website of the European Medicines 
Agency http://www.ema.europa.eu

http://www.ema.europa.eu/


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1. NAME OF THE MEDICINAL PRODUCT

Metalyse 10,000 units powder and solvent for solution for injection

2. QUALITATIVE AND QUANTITATIVE COMPOSITION

Each vial contains 10,000 units (50 mg) tenecteplase.
Each pre-filled syringe contains 10 ml solvent.

The reconstituted solution contains 1,000 units (5 mg) tenecteplase per ml.

Potency of tenecteplase is expressed in units (U) by using a reference standard which is specific for 
tenecteplase and is not comparable with units used for other thrombolytic agents.

Tenecteplase is a fibrin-specific plasminogen activator produced in a Chinese hamster ovary cell line 
by recombinant DNA technology.

For a full list of excipients, see section 6.1.

3. PHARMACEUTICAL FORM

Powder and solvent for solution for injection.

The powder is white to off-white.
The solvent is clear and colourless.
The reconstituted preparation is a clear and colourless to slightly yellow solution.

4. CLINICAL PARTICULARS

4.1 Therapeutic indications

Metalyse is indicated in adults for the thrombolytic treatment of suspected myocardial infarction with 
persistent ST elevation or recent left Bundle Branch Block within 6 hours after the onset of acute 
myocardial infarction (AMI) symptoms. 

4.2 Posology and method of administration

Posology

Metalyse should be prescribed by physicians experienced in the use of thrombolytic treatment and 
with the facilities to monitor that use.

Treatment with Metalyse should be initiated as soon as possible after onset of symptoms.

Metalyse should be administered on the basis of body weight, with a maximum dose of 10,000 units
(50 mg tenecteplase). The volume required to administer the correct dose can be calculated from the 
following scheme:



16

Patients’ body weight 
category

(kg)

Tenecteplase
(U)

Tenecteplase 
(mg)

Corresponding volume of 
reconstituted solution

(ml)
< 60 6,000 30 6

 60 to < 70 7,000 35 7

 70 to < 80 8,000 40 8

 80 to < 90 9,000 45 9

 90 10,000 50 10

For details see section 6.6: Special precautions for disposal and other handling

Elderly ( 75 years)
Metalyse should be administered with caution in the elderly ( 75 years) due to a higher bleeding risk 
(see information on bleeding in section 4.4 and on the STREAM study in section 5.1).

Paediatric population
The safety and efficacy of Metalyse in children (below 18 years) have not been established. No data 
are available.

Method of administration

The required dose should be administered as a single intravenous bolus over approximately 10 
seconds.

A pre-existing intravenous line may be used for administration of Metalyse in sodium chloride 
9 mg/ml (0.9%) solution only. Metalyse is incompatible with glucose solution.

No other medicinal product should be added to the injection solution.

For instructions on reconstitution of the medicinal product before administration, see section 6.6.

Adjunctive therapy

Antithrombotic adjunctive therapy with platelet inhibitors and anticoagulants should be administered 
according to the current relevant treatment guidelines for the management of patients with 
ST-elevation myocardial infarction.
For coronary intervention see section 4.4.

Unfractionated heparin and enoxaparin have been used as antithrombotic adjunctive therapy in clinical 
studies with Metalyse. 

Acetylsalicylic acid should be initiated as soon as possible after symptom onset and continued with 
lifelong treatment unless it is contraindicated.

4.3 Contraindications

Metalyse must not be administered to patients with a history of an anaphylactic (i.e. life-threatening) 
reaction to any of the constituents (i.e. tenecteplase or any excipient) or gentamicin (a trace residue 
from the manufacturing process). If treatment with Metalyse is nevertheless considered to be 
necessary, facilities for resuscitation should be immediately available in case of need.

Furthermore, Metalyse is contraindicated in the following situations because thrombolytic therapy is 
associated with a higher risk of bleeding:



17

- Significant bleeding disorder either at present or within the past 6 months
- Patients receiving effective oral anticoagulant treatment, e.g. warfarin sodium (INR > 1.3) (see 

section 4.4, subsection “Bleeding”)
- Any history of central nervous system damage (i.e. neoplasm, aneurysm, intracranial or spinal 

surgery) 
- Known haemorrhagic diathesis 
- Severe uncontrolled hypertension 
- Major surgery, biopsy of a parenchymal organ, or significant trauma within the past 2 

months(this includes any trauma associated with the current AMI)
- Recent trauma to the head or cranium
- Prolonged cardiopulmonary resuscitation (> 2 minutes) within the past 2 weeks
- Acute pericarditis and/or subacute bacterial endocarditis
- Acute pancreatitis
- Severe hepatic dysfunction, including hepatic failure, cirrhosis, portal hypertension 

(oesophageal varices) and active hepatitis
- Active peptic ulceration
- Arterial aneurysm and known arterial/venous malformation
- Neoplasm with increased bleeding risk
- Any known history of haemorrhagic stroke or stroke of unknown origin
- Known history of ischaemic stroke or transient ischaemic attack in the preceding 6 months
- Dementia

4.4 Special warnings and precautions for use

Coronary intervention

If primary percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) is scheduled according to the current relevant 
treatment guidelines, tenecteplase (see section 5.1 ASSENT-4 study) should not be given.

Patients who cannot undergo primary PCI within one hour as recommended by guidelines and receive
tenecteplase as primary coronary recanalization treatment should be transferred without delay to a 
coronary intervention capable facility for angiography and timely adjunctive coronary intervention 
within 6-24 hours or earlier if medically indicated (see section 5.1 STREAM study).

Bleeding

The most common complication encountered during tenecteplase therapy is bleeding. The concomitant 
use of heparin anticoagulation may contribute to bleeding. As fibrin is lysed during tenecteplase 
therapy, bleeding from recent puncture site may occur. Therefore, thrombolytic therapy requires 
careful attention to all possible bleeding sites (including catheter insertion sites, arterial and venous 
puncture sites, cutdown sites and needle puncture sites). The use of rigid catheters as well as 
intramuscular injections and non-essential handling of the patient should be avoided during treatment 
with tenecteplase.

Most frequently haemorrhage at the injection site, and occasionally genitourinary and gingival 
bleeding were observed. 

Should serious bleeding occur, in particular cerebral haemorrhage, concomitant heparin administration 
should be terminated immediately. Administration of protamine should be considered if heparin has 
been administered within 4 hours before the onset of bleeding. In the few patients who fail to respond 
to these conservative measures, judicious use of transfusion products may be indicated. Transfusion of 
cryoprecipitate, fresh frozen plasma, and platelets should be considered with clinical and laboratory 
reassessment after each administration. A target fibrinogen level of 1 g/l is desirable with 
cryoprecipitate infusion. Antifibrinolytic agents are available as a last alternative. In the following 
conditions, the risk of tenecteplase therapy may be increased and should be weighed against the 
anticipated benefits:



18

- Systolic blood pressure > 160 mm Hg 
- Cerebrovascular disease
- Recent gastrointestinal or genitourinary bleeding (within the past 10 days)
- High likelihood of left heart thrombus, e.g., mitral stenosis with atrial fibrillation
- Any known recent (within the past 2 days) intramuscular injection
- Advanced age, i.e. over 75 years
- Low body weight < 60 kg
- Patients receiving oral anticoagulants: The use of Metalyse may be considered when dosing or 

time since the last intake of anticoagulant treatment makes residual efficacy unlikely and if
appropriate test(s) of anticoagulant activity for the product(s) concerned show no clinically 
relevant activity on the coagulation system (e.g. INR ≤ 1.3 for vitamin K antagonists or other 
relevant test(s) for other oral anticoagulants are within the respective upper limit of normal).

Arrhythmias

Coronary thrombolysis may result in arrhythmias associated with reperfusion. It is recommended that 
antiarrhythmic therapy for bradycardia and/or ventricular tachyarrhythmias (pacemaker, defibrillator) 
is available when tenecteplase is administered.

GPIIb/IIIa antagonists

Concomitant use of GPIIb/IIIa antagonists increases bleeding risk.

Hypersensitivity/Re-administration

No sustained antibody formation to the tenecteplase molecule has been observed after treatment. 
However there is no systematic experience with re-administration of tenecteplase. Caution is needed 
when administering tenecteplase to persons with a known hypersensitivity (other than anaphylactic 
reaction) to the active substance, to any of the excipients, or to gentamicin (a residue from the 
manufacturing process). If an anaphylactoid reaction occurs, the injection should be discontinued 
immediately and appropriate therapy should be initiated. In any case, tenecteplase should not be re-
administered before assessment of haemostatic factors like fibrinogen, plasminogen and alpha2-
antiplasmin.

Paediatric population

Metalyse is not recommended for use in children (below 18 years) due to a lack of data on safety and 
efficacy.

4.5. Interaction with other medicinal products and other forms of interaction

No formal interaction studies with tenecteplase and medicinal products commonly administered in 
patients with AMI have been performed. However, the analysis of data from more than 12,000 patients 
treated during phase I, II and III did not reveal any clinically relevant interactions with medicinal 
products commonly used in patients with AMI and concomitantly used with tenecteplase.

Medicinal products that affect coagulation or those that alter platelet function (e.g. ticlopidine, 
clopidogrel, LMWH) may increase the risk of bleeding prior to, during or after tenecteplase therapy.

Concomitant use of GPIIb/IIIa antagonists increases bleeding risk.



19

4.6 Fertility, pregnancy and lactation

Pregnancy

There is a limited amount of data from the use of Metalyse in pregnant women.
Nonclinical data performed with tenecteplase have shown bleeding with secondary mortality of dams 
due to the known pharmacological activity of the active substance and in a few cases abortion and 
resorption of the foetus occurred (effects only have been observed with repeated dose administration). 
Tenecteplase is not considered to be teratogenic (please see section 5.3).

The benefit of treatment must be evaluated against the potential risks in case of myocardial infarction 
during pregnancy.

Breast-feeding

It is not known if tenecteplase is excreted in human milk. Breast-feeding should be discarded within 
the first 24 hours after thrombolytic therapy.

Fertility

Clinical data as well as nonclinical studies on fertility are not available for tenecteplase (Metalyse). 

4.7 Effects on ability to drive and use machines

Not relevant.

4.8 Undesirable effects

Summary of the safety profile

Haemorrhage is a very common undesirable effect associated with the use of tenecteplase. The type of 
haemorrhage is predominantly superficial at the injection site. Ecchymoses are observed commonly 
but usually do not require any specific action. Death and permanent disability are reported in patients 
who have experienced stroke (including intracranial bleeding) and other serious bleeding episodes.

Tabulated list of adverse reactions

Adverse reactions listed below are classified according to frequency and system organ class. 
Frequency groupings are defined according to the following convention: Very common (≥1/10), 
Common (≥1/100 to <1/10), Uncommon (≥1/1,000 to <1/100), Rare (≥1/10,000 to <1/1,000), Very 
rare (<1/10,000), Not known (cannot be estimated from the available data). 



20

Table 1 displays the frequency of adverse reactions.
System organ class Adverse reaction
Immune system disorders

Rare Anaphylactoid reaction (including rash, urticaria, 
bronchospasm, laryngeal oedema)

Nervous system disorders
Uncommon Intracranial haemorrhage (such as cerebral haemorrhage, 

cerebral haematoma, haemorrhagic stroke, haemorrhagic 
transformation stroke, intracranial haematoma, subarachnoid 
haemorrhage) including associated symptoms as somnolence, 
aphasia, hemiparesis, convulsion

Eye disorders
Uncommon Eye haemorrhage

Cardiac disorders
Uncommon Reperfusion arrhythmias (such as asystole, accelerated 

idioventricular arrhythmia, arrhythmia, extrasystoles, atrial 
fibrillation, atrioventricular first degree to atrioventricular 
block complete, bradycardia, tachycardia, ventricular 
arrhythmia, ventricular fibrillation, ventricular tachycardia) 
occur in close temporal relationship to treatment with 
tenecteplase. Reperfusion arrhythmias may lead to cardiac 
arrest, can be life threatening and may require the use of 
conventional antiarrhythmic therapies.

Rare Pericardial haemorrhage
Vascular disorders

Very common Haemorrhage
Rare Embolism (thrombotic embolisation)

Respiratory, thoracic and mediastinal disorders
Common Epistaxis
Rare Pulmonary haemorrhage

Gastrointestinal disorders
Common Gastrointestinal haemorrhage (such as gastric haemorrhage, 

gastric ulcer haemorrhage, rectal haemorrhage, 
haematemesis, melaena, mouth haemorrhage) 

Uncommon Retroperitoneal haemorrhage (such as retroperitoneal 
haematoma)

Not known Nausea, vomiting
Skin and subcutaneous tissue disorders

Common Ecchymosis
Renal and urinary disorders

Common Urogenital haemorrhage (such as haematuria, haemorrhage 
urinary tract)

General disorders and administration site conditions
Common Injection site haemorrhage, puncture site haemorrhage

Investigations
Rare Blood pressure decreased
Not known Body temperature increased

Injury, poisoning and procedural complications
Not known Fat embolism, which may lead to corresponding 

consequences in the organs concerned



21

As with other thrombolytic agents, the following events have been reported as sequelae of myocardial 
infarction and/or thrombolytic administration:
- very common: hypotension, heart rate and rhythm disorders, angina pectoris
- common: recurrent ischaemia, cardiac failure, myocardial infarction, cardiogenic shock, 

pericarditis, pulmonary oedema
- uncommon: cardiac arrest, mitral valve incompetence, pericardial effusion, venous thrombosis, 

cardiac tamponade, myocardial rupture
- rare: pulmonary embolism

These cardiovascular events can be life-threatening and may lead to death.

Reporting of suspected adverse reactions 
Reporting suspected adverse reactions after authorisation 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 via the national reporting system 
listed in Appendix V. 

4.9 Overdose

In the event of overdose there may be an increased risk of bleeding. In case of severe prolonged 
bleeding substitution therapy may be considered (plasma, platelets), see also section 4.4.

5. PHARMACOLOGICAL PROPERTIES

5.1 Pharmacodynamic properties

Pharmacotherapeutic group: Antithrombotic agents, enzymes; ATC code: B01A D11

Mechanism of action

Tenecteplase is a recombinant fibrin-specific plasminogen activator that is derived from native t-PA 
by modifications at three sites of the protein structure. It binds to the fibrin component of the thrombus 
(blood clot) and selectively converts thrombus-bound plasminogen to plasmin, which degrades the 
fibrin matrix of the thrombus. Tenecteplase has a higher fibrin specificity and greater resistance to 
inactivation by its endogenous inhibitor (PAI-1) compared to native t-PA.

Pharmacodynamic effects

After administration of tenecteplase dose dependent consumption of 2-antiplasmin (the fluid-phase 
inhibitor of plasmin) with consequent increase in the level of systemic plasmin generation have been 
observed. This observation is consistent with the intended effect of plasminogen activation. In 
comparative studies a less than 15% reduction in fibrinogen and a less than 25% reduction in 
plasminogen were observed in subjects treated with the maximum dose of tenecteplase (10,000 U, 
corresponding to 50 mg), whereas alteplase caused an approximately 50% decrease in fibrinogen and 
plasminogen levels. No clinically relevant antibody formation was detected at 30 days.

Clinical efficacy and safety

Patency data from the phase I and II angiographic studies suggest that tenecteplase, administered as a 
single intravenous bolus, is effective in dissolving blood clots in the infarct-related artery of subjects 
experiencing an AMI on a dose related basis.

ASSENT-2
A large scale mortality trial (ASSENT-2) in approx. 17,000 patients showed that tenecteplase is 
therapeutically equivalent to alteplase in reducing mortality (6.2% for both treatments, at 30 days, 
upper limit of the 95% CI for the relative risk ratio 1.124) and that the use of tenecteplase is associated 

http://www.ema.europa.eu/docs/en_GB/document_library/Template_or_form/2013/03/WC500139752.doc


22

with a significantly lower incidence of non-intracranial bleedings (26.4% vs. 28.9%, p=0.0003). This 
translates into a significantly lower need of transfusions (4.3% vs. 5.5%, p=0.0002). Intracranial 
haemorrhage occurred at a rate of 0.93% vs. 0.94% for tenecteplase and alteplase, respectively.

Coronary patency and limited clinical outcome data showed that AMI patients have been successfully 
treated later than 6 hours after symptom onset.

ASSENT-4
The ASSENT-4 PCI study was designed to show if in 4000 patients with large myocardial infarctions 
pre-treatment with full dose tenecteplase and concomitant single bolus of up to 4,000 IU 
unfractionated heparin administered prior to primary PCI to be performed within 60 to 180 minutes 
leads to better outcomes than primary PCI alone. The trial was prematurely terminated with 1667 
randomised patients due to a numerically higher mortality in the facilitated PCI group receiving 
tenecteplase. The occurrence of the primary endpoint, a composite of death or cardiogenic shock or 
congestive heart failure within 90 days, was significantly higher in the group receiving the exploratory 
regimen of tenecteplase followed by routine immediate PCI: 18.6% (151/810) compared to 13.4% 
(110/819) in the PCI only group, p=0.0045. This significant difference between the groups for the 
primary endpoint at 90 days was already present in-hospital and at 30 days. 

Numerically all of the components of the clinical composite endpoint were in favour of the PCI only 
regimen: death: 6.7% vs. 4.9% p=0.14; cardiogenic shock: 6.3% vs. 4.8% p=0.19; congestive heart 
failure: 12.0% vs. 9.2% p=0.06 respectively. The secondary endpoints re-infarction and repeat target 
vessel revascularisation were significantly increased in the group pre-treated with tenecteplase: re-
infarction: 6.1% vs. 3.7% p=0.0279; repeat target vessel revascularisation: 6.6% vs. 3.4% p=0.0041.
The following adverse events occurred more frequently with tenecteplase prior to PCI: intracranial 
haemorrhage: 1% vs. 0% p=0.0037; stroke: 1.8% vs. 0% p<0.0001; major bleeds: 5.6% vs. 4.4% 
p=0.3118; minor bleeds: 25.3% vs. 19.0% p= 0.0021; blood transfusions: 6.2% vs. 4.2% p=0.0873; 
abrupt vessel closure: 1.9% vs. 0.1% p=0.0001. 

STREAM study
The STREAM study was designed to evaluate the efficacy and safety of a pharmaco-invasive strategy 
versus a strategy of standard primary PCI in patients presenting with ST elevation acute myocardial 
infarction within 3 hours of onset of symptoms not able to undergo primary PCI within one hour of 
first medical contact. The pharmaco-invasive strategy consisted of early fibrinolytic treatment with 
bolus tenecteplase and additional antiplatelet and anticoagulant therapy followed by angiography 
within 6-24 hours or rescue coronary intervention. 

The study population consisted of 1,892 patients randomised by means of an interactive voice 
response system. The primary endpoint, a composite of death or cardiogenic shock or congestive heart 
failure or re-infarction within 30 days, was observed in 12.4% (116/939) of the pharmaco-invasive 
arm versus 14.3% (135/943) in the primary PCI arm (relative risk 0.86 (0.68-1.09)).

Single components of the primary composite endpoint for the pharmaco-invasive strategy versus 
primary PCI respectively were observed with the following frequencies:

Pharmaco-invasive
(n=944)

Primary PCI
(n=948)

p

Composite death, shock, congestive 
heart failure, re-infarction

All-cause mortality
Cardiogenic shock
Congestive heart failure
Re-infarction

116/939 (12.4%)

43/939 (4.6%)
41/939 (4.4%)
57/939 (6.1%)
23/938 (2.5%)

135/943 (14.3%)

42/946 (4.4%)
56/944 (5.9%)
72/943 (7.6%)
21/944 (2.2%)

0.21

0.88
0.13
0.18
0.74

Cardiac mortality 31/939 (3.3%) 32/946 (3.4%) 0.92



23

The observed incidence of major and of minor non-ICH bleeds were similar in both groups:

Pharmaco-invasive
(n=944)

Primary PCI
(n=948)

p

Major non-ICH bleed 61/939 (6.5%) 45/944 (4.8%) 0.11
Minor non-ICH bleed 205/939 (21.8%) 191/944 (20.2%) 0.40

Incidence of total strokes and intracranial haemorrhage

Pharmaco-invasive
(n=944)

Primary PCI
(n=948)

p

Total stroke (all types) 15/939 (1.6%) 5/946 (0.5%) 0.03*
Intracranial haemorrhage
Intracranial haemorrhage after protocol 
amendment to half dose in patients ≥ 75 
years :

9/939 (0.96%)

4/747 (0.5%)

2/946 (0.21%)

2/758 (0.3%)

0.04**

0.45
* the incidences in both groups are those expected in STEMI patients treated by fibrinolytics or 
primary PCI (as observed in previous studies).
** the incidence in the pharmaco-invasive group is as expected for fibrinolysis with tenecteplase (as 
observed in previous studies).

After the dose reduction of tenecteplase by half in patients ≥ 75 years there was no further intracranial 
hemorrhage (0 of 97 patients) (95% CI: 0.0-3.7) versus 8.1% (3 of 37 patients) (95% CI: 1.7-21.9) 
prior to dose reduction. The bounds of the confidence interval of the observed incidences prior and 
after dose reduction are overlapping.

In patients ≥ 75 years the observed incidence of the primary efficacy composite end point for the 
pharmaco-invasive strategy and primary PCI were as follows: before dose reduction 11/37 (29.7%) 
(95% CI: 15.9- 47.0) versus 10/32 (31.3%) (95% CI: 16.1-50.0), after dose reduction: 25/97 (25.8%) 
(95% CI: 17.4-35.7) versus 25/88 (24.8%) (95% CI: 19.3-39.0). In both groups the bounds of the 
confidence interval of the observed incidences prior and post dose reduction are overlapping.

5.2 Pharmacokinetic properties

Absorption and distribution

Tenecteplase is an intravenously administered, recombinant protein that activates plasminogen. 
Following intravenous bolus administration of 30 mg tenecteplase in patients with acute myocardial 
infarction, the initially estimated tenecteplase plasma concentration was 6.45 ± 3.60 µg/mL (mean ± 
SD). The distribution phase represents 31% ± 22% to 69% ± 15% (mean ± SD) of the total AUC 
following the administration of doses ranges from 5 to 50 mg.

Data on tissue distribution were obtained in studies with radioactively labelled tenecteplase in rats. 
The main organ to which tenecteplase distributed was the liver. It is not known whether and to which
extent tenecteplase binds to plasma proteins in humans. The mean residence time (MRT) in the body 
is approximately 1 h and the mean (± SD) volume of distribution at the steady-state (Vss) ranged from 
6.3 ± 2 L to 15 ± 7 L.

Biotransformation

Tenecteplase is cleared from circulation by binding to specific receptors in the liver followed by 
catabolism to small peptides. Binding to hepatic receptors is, however, reduced compared to native t-
PA, resulting in a prolonged half-life.



24

Elimination

After single intravenous bolus injection of tenecteplase in patients with acute myocardial infarction, 
tenecteplase antigen exhibits biphasic elimination from plasma. There is no dose dependence of 
tenecteplase clearance in the therapeutic dose range. The initial, dominant half-life is 24 ± 5.5 (mean 
±SD) min, which is 5 times longer than native t-PA. The terminal half-life is 129 ± 87 min, and 
plasma clearance is 119 ± 49 ml/min. 

Increasing body weight resulted in a moderate increase of tenecteplase clearance, and increasing age 
resulted in a slight decrease of clearance. Women exhibit in general lower clearance than men, but this 
can be explained by the generally lower body weight of women.

Linearity/Non-Linearity

The dose linearity analysis based on AUC suggested that tenecteplase exhibits non-linear 
pharmacokinetics in the dose range studied, i.e. 5 to 50 mg.

Renal and hepatic impairment

Because elimination of tenecteplase is through the liver, it is not expected that renal dysfunction will 
affect its the pharmacokinetics. This is also supported by animal data. However, the effect of renal and 
hepatic dysfunction on pharmacokinetics of tenecteplase in humans has not been specifically 
investigated. Accordingly, there is no guidance for the adjustment to tenecteplase dose in patients with 
hepatic and severe renal insufficiency.

5.3 Preclinical safety data

Intravenous single dose administration in rats, rabbits and dogs resulted only in dose-dependent and 
reversible alterations of the coagulation parameters with local haemorrhage at the injection site, which 
was regarded as a consequence of the pharmacodynamic effect of tenecteplase. Multiple-dose toxicity 
studies in rats and dogs confirmed these above-mentioned observations, but the study duration was 
limited to two weeks by antibody formation to the human protein tenecteplase, which resulted in 
anaphylaxis.

Safety pharmacology data in cynomolgus monkeys revealed reduction of blood pressure followed by 
changes of ECG, but these occurred at exposures that were considerably higher than the clinical 
exposure.

With regard to the indication and the single dose administration in humans, reproductive toxicity 
testing was limited to an embryotoxicity study in rabbits, as a sensitive species. Tenecteplase induced 
total litter deaths during the mid-embryonal period. When tenecteplase was given during the mid- or 
late-embryonal period maternal animals showed vaginal bleeding on the day after the first dose. 
Secondary mortality was observed 1-2 days later. Data on the foetal period are not available.

Mutagenicity and carcinogenicity are not expected for this class of recombinant proteins and 
genotoxicity and carcinogenicity testing were not necessary.

No local irritation of the blood vessel was observed after intravenous, intra-arterial or paravenous 
administration of the final formulation of tenecteplase.



25

6. PHARMACEUTICAL PARTICULARS

6.1 List of excipients

Powder

L-arginine
Phosphoric acid
Polysorbate 20.
Trace residue from manufacturing process: Gentamicin

Solvent

Water for injections.

6.2 Incompatibilities

Metalyse is incompatible with glucose infusion solutions.

6.3 Shelf life

Shelf life as packaged for sale

2 years

Reconstituted solution

Chemical and physical in-use stability has been demonstrated for 24 hours at 2-8°C and 8 hours at 
30°C.

From a microbiological point of view, the reconstituted solution should be used immediately. If not 
used immediately, in-use storage times and conditions prior to use are the responsibility of the user 
and would normally not be longer than 24 hours at 2-8°C.

6.4 Special precautions for storage

Do not store above 30°C. Keep the container in the outer carton in order to protect from light.
For storage conditions of the reconstituted medicinal product, see section 6.3.

6.5 Nature and contents of container

20 ml glass vial type I, with a coated (B2-42) grey rubber stopper and a flip-off cap filled with powder 
for solution for injection. Each vial 50 mg tenecteplase.
10 ml plastic pre-filled syringe with 10 ml of solvent.
Sterile vial adapter.
Sterile needle for single use.

6.6 Special precautions for disposal and other handling

Metalyse should be reconstituted by adding the complete volume of water for injections from the pre-
filled syringe to the vial containing the powder for injection.



26

1. Ensure that the appropriate vial size is chosen according to the body weight of the patient.

Patients’ body weight 
category

(kg)

Volume of 
reconstituted solution

(ml)

Tenecteplase
(U)

Tenecteplase 
(mg)

< 60 6 6,000 30

 60 to < 70 7 7,000 35

 70 to < 80 8 8,000 40

 80 to < 90 9 9,000 45

 90 10 10,000 50

2. Check that the cap of the vial is still intact.
3. Remove the flip-off cap from the vial.
4. Remove the tip-cap from the syringe. Then immediately screw the pre-filled syringe on the vial 

adapter and penetrate the vial stopper in the middle with the spike of the vial adapter.
5. Add the water for injections into the vial by pushing the syringe plunger down slowly to avoid 

foaming.
6. Reconstitute by swirling gently.
7. The reconstituted preparation results in a colourless to pale yellow, clear solution. Only clear 

solution without particles should be used.
8. Directly before the solution will be administered, invert the vial with the syringe still attached, 

so that the syringe is below the vial.
9. Transfer the appropriate volume of reconstituted solution of Metalyse into the syringe, based on 

the patient’s weight.
10. Disconnect the syringe from the vial adapter.
11. Metalyse is to be administered to the patient, intravenously in about 10 seconds. It should not be 

administered in a line containing glucose.
12. Any unused solution should be discarded.

Alternatively the reconstitution can be performed with the included needle.

Any unused medicinal product or waste material should be disposed of in accordance with local 
requirements.

7. MARKETING AUTHORISATION HOLDER

Boehringer Ingelheim International GmbH
Binger Strasse 173
D-55216 Ingelheim am Rhein
Germany 

8. MARKETING AUTHORISATION NUMBER(S)

EU/1/00/169/006

9. DATE OF FIRST AUTHORISATION/RENEWAL OF THE AUTHORISATION

Date of first authorisation: 23 February 2001
Date of last renewal: 23 February 2006



27

10. DATE OF REVISION OF THE TEXT

Detailed information on this medicinal product is available on the website of the European Medicines 
Agency http://www.ema.europa.eu

http://www.ema.europa.eu/


28

ANNEX II

A. MANUFACTURER(S) OF THE BIOLOGICAL ACTIVE 
SUBSTANCE(S) AND MANUFACTURER(S) RESPONSIBLE 
FOR BATCH RELEASE

B. CONDITIONS OR RESTRICTIONS REGARDING SUPPLY 
AND USE

C. OTHER CONDITIONS AND REQUIREMENTS OF THE 
MARKETING AUTHORIZATION

D. CONDITIONS OR RESTRICTIONS WITH REGARD TO 
THE SAFE AND EFFECTIVE USE OF THE MEDICINAL 
PRODUCT



29

A. MANUFACTURER(S) OF THE BIOLOGICAL ACTIVE SUBSTANCE(S) AND 
MANUFACTURER(S) RESPONSIBLE FOR BATCH RELEASE

Name and address of the manufacturer(s) of the biological active substance(s)

Boehringer Ingelheim Pharma GmbH & Co. KG
Birkendorfer Strasse 65, 88397 Biberach/Riss
Germany

Name and address of the manufacturer(s) responsible for batch release

Boehringer Ingelheim Pharma GmbH & Co. KG
Birkendorfer Strasse 65, 88397 Biberach/Riss
Germany

B. CONDITIONS OR RESTRICTIONS REGARDING SUPPLY AND USE 

Medicinal product subject to restricted medical prescription (See Annex I: Summary of Product 
Characteristics, section 4.2).

C. OTHER CONDITIONS AND REQUIREMENTS OF THE MARKETING 
AUTHORISATION

 Periodic Safety Update Reports

The requirements for submission of periodic safety update reports for this medicinal product are set 
out in the list of Union reference dates (EURD list)  provided for under Article 107c(7) of Directive 
2001/83/EC and any subsequent updates published on the European medicines web-portal.

D. CONDITIONS OR RESTRICTIONS WITH REGARD TO THE SAFE AND
EFFECTIVE USE OF THE MEDICINAL PRODUCT

Not applicable.



30

ANNEX III

LABELLING AND PACKAGE LEAFLET



31

A. LABELLING



32

PARTICULARS TO APPEAR ON THE OUTER PACKAGING

OUTER CARTON

1. NAME OF THE MEDICINAL PRODUCT

Metalyse 8,000 U
Powder and solvent for solution for injection
Tenecteplase

2. STATEMENT OF ACTIVE SUBSTANCE(S)

Each vial contains 8,000 units (40 mg) tenecteplase.
Each pre-filled syringe contains 8 ml solvent.
The reconstituted solution contains 1,000 units (5 mg) tenecteplase per ml.

3. LIST OF EXCIPIENTS

Excipients: L-Arginine, Phosphoric Acid, Polysorbate 20
Trace residue from manufacturing process: Gentamicin
The solvent is water for injections.

4. PHARMACEUTICAL FORM AND CONTENTS

1 vial of powder for solution for injection with 40 mg tenecteplase
1 pre-filled syringe with 8 ml of solvent for parenteral use

5. METHOD AND ROUTE(S) OF ADMINISTRATION

Read the package leaflet before use.
For intravenous use after reconstitution with 8 ml solvent

6. SPECIAL WARNING THAT THE MEDICINAL PRODUCT MUST BE STORED OUT 
OF THE SIGHT AND REACH OF CHILDREN

Keep out of the sight and reach of children.

7. OTHER SPECIAL WARNING(S), IF NECESSARY

Please follow accurately the instructions for use. Failure to do so may lead to greater than the required 
dose of Metalyse being administered.

8. EXPIRY DATE

EXP 



33

9. SPECIAL STORAGE CONDITIONS

Do not store above 30C.
Keep the container in the outer carton in order to protect from light.

10. SPECIAL PRECAUTIONS FOR DISPOSAL OF UNUSED MEDICINAL PRODUCTS 
OR WASTE MATERIALS DERIVED FROM SUCH MEDICINAL PRODUCTS, IF 
APPROPRIATE

11. NAME AND ADDRESS OF THE MARKETING AUTHORISATION HOLDER

Boehringer Ingelheim International GmbH
Binger Strasse 173
D-55216 Ingelheim am Rhein
Germany

12. MARKETING AUTHORISATION NUMBER(S)

EU/1/00/169/005

13. BATCH NUMBER

Lot

14. GENERAL CLASSIFICATION FOR SUPPLY

15. INSTRUCTIONS ON USE

PARTICULARS TO APPEAR ON THE INNER SIDE OF THE LID OF THE CARTON
IN FORM OF A PICTOGRAMM

Instructions
for use

Open the 
top of the 
vial-adapter.

Remove 
tip-cap 
from 
syringe.
Remove 
the flip-off 
cap from 
the vial.

Screw pre-
filled 
syringe in 
the vial-
adapter 
tightly.

Penetrate 
the vial 
stopper in 
the middle 
with the 
spike of the 
vial-
adapter.

Add the 
water for 
injections 
by pushing 
the syringe 
plunger 
slowly
down to 
avoid 
foaming.

Reconstitute 
by swirling 
gently.

Invert 
vial/syringe 
and transfer 
the appropriate
volume of the 
solution into 
syringe 
according to 
the dosing 
instructions.

Disconnect 
syringe 
from the 
vial-
adapter. 
Now 
solution is 
ready for iv. 
bolus 
injection.



34

16. INFORMATION IN BRAILLE

17. UNIQUE IDENTIFIER – 2D BARCODE

2D barcode carrying the unique identifier included.

18. UNIQUE IDENTIFIER – HUMAN READABLE DATA

PC: {number} 
SN: {number} 
NN: {number} 



35

PARTICULARS TO APPEAR ON THE IMMEDIATE PACKAGING

VIAL LABEL 

1. NAME OF THE MEDICINAL PRODUCT

Metalyse 8,000 U
Powder for solution for injection.
Tenecteplase

2. STATEMENT OF ACTIVE SUBSTANCE(S)

3. LIST OF EXCIPIENTS

4. PHARMACEUTICAL FORM AND CONTENTS

5. METHOD AND ROUTE(S) OF ADMINISTRATION

For intravenous use after reconstitution with 8 ml solvent

6. SPECIAL WARNING THAT THE MEDICINAL PRODUCT MUST BE STORED OUT 
OF THE SIGHT AND REACH OF CHILDREN

7. OTHER SPECIAL WARNING(S), IF NECESSARY

8. EXPIRY DATE

EXP 

9. SPECIAL STORAGE CONDITIONS

Keep the container in the outer carton.

10. SPECIAL PRECAUTIONS FOR DISPOSAL OF UNUSED MEDICINAL PRODUCTS 
OR WASTE MATERIALS DERIVED FROM SUCH MEDICINAL PRODUCTS, IF 
APPROPRIATE

11. NAME AND ADDRESS OF THE MARKETING AUTHORISATION HOLDER

12. MARKETING AUTHORISATION NUMBER(S)



36

13. BATCH NUMBER

Lot

14. GENERAL CLASSIFICATION FOR SUPPLY

15. INSTRUCTIONS ON USE

16. INFORMATION IN BRAILLE



37

MINIMUM PARTICULARS TO APPEAR ON SMALL IMMEDIATE PACKAGING UNITS

SYRINGE LABEL FOR SOLVENT

1. NAME OF THE MEDICINAL PRODUCT AND ROUTE(S) OF ADMINISTRATION

Solvent for Metalyse 8,000 U
Solvent for parenteral use

2. METHOD OF ADMINISTRATION

Reconstituted solution, for patients of body weight (kg):

3. EXPIRY DATE

EXP 

4. BATCH NUMBER

Lot

5. CONTENTS BY WEIGHT, BY VOLUME OR BY UNIT

8 ml water for injections

6. OTHER



38

PARTICULARS TO APPEAR ON THE OUTER PACKAGING

OUTER CARTON

1. NAME OF THE MEDICINAL PRODUCT

Metalyse 10,000 U
Powder and solvent for solution for injection
Tenecteplase

2. STATEMENT OF ACTIVE SUBSTANCE(S)

Each vial contains 10,000 units (50 mg) tenecteplase.
Each pre-filled syringe contains 10 ml solvent.
The reconstituted solution contains 1,000 units (5 mg) tenecteplase per ml.

3. LIST OF EXCIPIENTS

Excipients: L-Arginine, Phosphoric Acid, Polysorbate 20
Trace residue from manufacturing process: Gentamicin
The solvent is water for injections.

4. PHARMACEUTICAL FORM AND CONTENTS

1 vial of powder for solution for injection with 50 mg tenecteplase
1 pre-filled syringe with 10 ml of solvent for parenteral use

5. METHOD AND ROUTE(S) OF ADMINISTRATION

Read the package leaflet before use.
For intravenous use after reconstitution with 10 ml solvent

6. SPECIAL WARNING THAT THE MEDICINAL PRODUCT MUST BE STORED OUT 
OF THE SIGHT AND REACH  OF CHILDREN

Keep out of the sight and reach of children.

7. OTHER SPECIAL WARNING(S), IF NECESSARY

Please follow accurately the instructions for use. Failure to do so may lead to greater than the required 
dose of Metalyse being administered.

8. EXPIRY DATE

EXP 



39

9. SPECIAL STORAGE CONDITIONS

Do not store above 30C.
Keep the container in the outer carton in order to protect from light.

10. SPECIAL PRECAUTIONS FOR DISPOSAL OF UNUSED MEDICINAL PRODUCTS 
OR WASTE MATERIALS DERIVED FROM SUCH MEDICINAL PRODUCTS, IF 
APPROPRIATE

11. NAME AND ADDRESS OF THE MARKETING AUTHORISATION HOLDER

Boehringer Ingelheim International GmbH
Binger Strasse 173
D-55216 Ingelheim am Rhein
Germany

12. MARKETING AUTHORISATION NUMBER(S)

EU/1/00/169/006

13. BATCH NUMBER

Lot

14. GENERAL CLASSIFICATION FOR SUPPLY

15. INSTRUCTIONS ON USE

PARTICULARS TO APPEAR ON THE INNER SIDE OF THE LID OF THE CARTON
IN FORM OF A PICTOGRAMM

Instructions
for use

Open the 
top of the 
vial-adapter.

Remove 
tip-cap 
from 
syringe.
Remove 
the flip-off 
cap from 
the vial.

Screw pre-
filled 
syringe in 
the vial-
adapter 
tightly.

Penetrate 
the vial 
stopper in 
the middle 
with the 
spike of the 
vial-
adapter.

Add the 
water for 
injections 
by pushing 
the syringe 
plunger 
slowly
down to 
avoid 
foaming.

Reconstitute 
by swirling 
gently.

Invert 
vial/syringe 
and transfer 
the appropriate 
volume of the 
solution into 
syringe 
according to 
the dosing 
instructions.

Disconnect 
syringe 
from the 
vial-
adapter. 
Now 
solution is 
ready for iv. 
bolus 
injection.



40

16. INFORMATION IN BRAILLE

17. UNIQUE IDENTIFIER – 2D BARCODE

2D barcode carrying the unique identifier included.

18. UNIQUE IDENTIFIER – HUMAN READABLE DATA

PC: {number} 
SN: {number} 
NN: {number}



41

PARTICULARS TO APPEAR ON THE IMMEDIATE PACKAGING

VIAL LABEL 

1. NAME OF THE MEDICINAL PRODUCT

Metalyse 10,000 U
Powder for solution for injection.
Tenecteplase

2. STATEMENT OF ACTIVE SUBSTANCE(S)

3. LIST OF EXCIPIENTS

4. PHARMACEUTICAL FORM AND CONTENTS

5. METHOD AND ROUTE(S) OF ADMINISTRATION

For intravenous use after reconstitution with 10 ml solvent

6. SPECIAL WARNING THAT THE MEDICINAL PRODUCT MUST BE STORED OUT 
OF THE SIGHT AND REACH OF CHILDREN

7. OTHER SPECIAL WARNING(S), IF NECESSARY

8. EXPIRY DATE

EXP 

9. SPECIAL STORAGE CONDITIONS

Keep the container in the outer carton.

10. SPECIAL PRECAUTIONS FOR DISPOSAL OF UNUSED MEDICINAL PRODUCTS 
OR WASTE MATERIALS DERIVED FROM SUCH MEDICINAL PRODUCTS, IF 
APPROPRIATE

11. NAME AND ADDRESS OF THE MARKETING AUTHORISATION HOLDER

12. MARKETING AUTHORISATION NUMBER(S)



42

13. BATCH NUMBER

Lot

14. GENERAL CLASSIFICATION FOR SUPPLY

15. INSTRUCTIONS ON USE

16. INFORMATION IN BRAILLE



43

MINIMUM PARTICULARS TO APPEAR ON SMALL IMMEDIATE PACKAGING UNITS

SYRINGE LABEL FOR SOLVENT

1. NAME OF THE MEDICINAL PRODUCT AND ROUTE(S) OF ADMINISTRATION

Solvent for Metalyse 10,000 U
Solvent for parenteral use

2. METHOD OF ADMINISTRATION

Reconstituted solution, for patients of body weight (kg):

3. EXPIRY DATE

EXP 

4. BATCH NUMBER

Lot

5. CONTENTS BY WEIGHT, BY VOLUME OR BY UNIT

10 ml water for injections

6. OTHER



44

B. PACKAGE LEAFLET



45

Package leaflet: Information for the user

Metalyse 8,000 units powder and solvent for solution for injection
Tenecteplase

Read all of this leaflet carefully before you receive this medicine because it contains important 
information for you.
- Keep this leaflet. You may need to read it again.
- If you have any further questions, ask your doctor or pharmacist.
- If you get any side effects, talk to your doctor or pharmacist. This includes any possible side 

effects not listed in this leaflet. See section 4.

What is in this leaflet

1. What Metalyse is and what it is used for
2. What you need to know before you receive Metalyse
3. How is Metalyse administered
4. Possible side effects
5. How to store Metalyse
6. Contents of the pack and other information

1. What Metalyse is and what it is used for

Metalyse is a powder and solvent for solution for injection. This means that each pack contains:

 one vial of 8,000 units Metalyse powder and
 one pre-filled syringe containing 8 ml water for injections

Before use, the solvent (water for injections) is added to the powder to form a solution that is given by 
injection.

Metalyse belongs to a group of medicines called thrombolytic agents. These medicines help to 
dissolve blood clots. Tenecteplase is a recombinant fibrin-specific plasminogen activator.

Metalyse is used to treat myocardial infarctions (heart attacks) within 6 hours after the onset of 
symptoms and helps to dissolve the blood clots that have formed in the blood vessels of the heart. This 
helps to prevent the damage caused by heart attacks and has been shown to save lives. 

2. What do you need to know before you receive Metalyse

Metalyse will not be prescribed and given by your doctor:

 if you have previously had a sudden life-threatening allergic reaction (severe hypersensitivity) 
to the active ingredient tenecteplase, to gentamicin (a trace residue from the manufacturing 
process) or any of the other ingredients of Metalyse. If treatment with Metalyse is nevertheless 
considered to be necessary, facilities for reanimation should be immediately available in case of 
need;

 if you have, or have recently had, an illness that increases your risk of bleeding (haemorrhage), 
including:

 a bleeding disorder or tendency to bleed (haemorrhage)
 stroke (cerebrovascular event)
 very high, uncontrolled blood pressure
 a head injury



46

 severe liver disease
 a stomach ulcer (peptic ulcer)
 varicose veins in the gullet (oesophageal varices)
 abnormality of the blood vessels (e.g. an aneurysm)
 certain tumours
 inflammation of the lining around the heart (pericarditis); inflammation or infection of the 

heart valves (endocarditis)
 dementia;

 if you are taking tablets/capsules used to ”thin” the blood, such as warfarin or coumarin (anti-
coagulants);

 if you have an inflamed pancreas (pancreatitis);
 if you have recently had major surgery including surgery to your brain or spine;
 if you have been given cardiopulmonary resuscitation (chest compressions) for more than 2 

minutes duration, in the last two weeks.

Warnings and precautions

Your doctor will take special care with Metalyse:

 if you have had any allergic reaction other than a sudden life-threatening allergic reaction 
(severe hypersensitive) to the active substance tenecteplase, to gentamicin (a trace residue from 
the manufacturing process), or to any of the other ingredients of Metalyse (see section 6: 
“Contents of the pack and other information”);

 if you have high blood pressure;
 if you have problems with circulation of blood in the brain (cerebrovascular disease);
 if you have had gastrointestinal (gut) or genitourinary bleeding within the last ten days (this may 

cause blood in stools or urine);
 if you have a heart valve abnormality (e.g. mitral stenosis) with an abnormal heart rhythm (e.g. 

atrial fibrillation);
 if you have had an intramuscular injection in the last two days;
 if you are aged over 75 years;
 if you weigh less than 60 kg;
 if you have ever received Metalyse before.

Children and adolescents
The use of Metalyse in children and adolescents up to the age of 18 years is not recommended. 

Other medicines and Metalyse
Tell your doctor or pharmacist if you are taking, have recently taken or might take any other 
medicines.

Pregnancy and breast-feeding
If you are pregnant or breast-feeding, think you might be pregnant or are planning to have a baby, ask 
your doctor for advice before you are given this medicine.

3. How is Metalyse administered

The doctor calculates your dose of Metalyse according to your bodyweight, based on the following 
scheme:

Bodyweight (kg) less than 60 60 to 70 70 to 80 80 to 90 above 90

Metalyse (U) 6,000 7,000 8,000 9,000 10,000



47

Your doctor will give you the medicinal product to prevent blood clotting in addition to Metalyse, as 
soon as possible after your chest pain starts.

Metalyse is given by a single injection into a vein by a doctor who is experienced in the use of this 
type of medicinal product.

Your doctor will give Metalyse as soon as possible after your chest pain starts as a single dose.

4. Possible side effects

Like all medicines, this medicine can cause side effects, although not everybody gets them.

The side effects described below have been experienced by people given Metalyse:

Very common (may affect more than 1 in 10 people):
 bleeding

Common (may affect up to 1 in 10 people):
 bleeding at the injection or puncture site 
 nosebleeds
 genitourinary bleeding (you may notice blood in your urine)
 bruising
 gastro-intestinal bleeding (e.g. bleeding from the stomach or bowel)

Uncommon (may affect up to 1 in 100 people):
 irregular heart beat (reperfusion arrhythmias), sometimes leading to cardiac arrest. Cardiac 

(heart) arrest can be life threatening.
 internal bleeding in the abdomen (retroperitoneal bleeding)
 bleeding in the brain (cerebral haemorrhage). Death or permanent disability may occur 

following bleeding in the brain or other serious bleeding events
 bleeding in the eyes (eye haemorrhage)

Rare (may affect up to 1 in 1,000 people):
 low blood pressure (hypotension)
 bleeding in the lungs (pulmonary haemorrhage)
 hypersensitivity (anaphylactoid reactions) e.g. rash, hives (urticaria), difficulty breathing 

(bronchospasm)
 bleeding into the area surrounding the heart (haemopericardium)
 blood clot in the lung (pulmonary embolism) and in the vessels of other organ systems 

(thrombotic embolisation)

Not known (frequency cannot be estimated from the available data):
 fat embolism (clots consisting of fat)
 nausea
 vomiting
 body temperature increased (fever)
 blood transfusions as consequence of bleedings

As with other thrombolytic agents, the following events have been reported as sequelae of myocardial 
infarction and/or thrombolytic administration:

Very common (may affect more than 1 in 10 people): 
 Low blood pressure (hypotension)
 Irregular heart beat 
 Chest pain (angina pectoris)



48

Common (may affect up to 1 in 10 people):
 Further chest pain/angina (recurrent ischaemia)
 Heart attack
 Heart failure
 Shock due to heart failure
 Inflammation of the lining around the heart
 Fluid in the lungs (pulmonary oedema) 

Uncommon (may affect up to 1 in 100 people):
 Heart arrest
 Problem with the heart valve or heart lining (mitral valve incompetence, pericardial effusion)
 Blood clot in the veins (venous thrombosis)
 Fluid between the heart lining and the heart (cardiac tamponade)
 Rupture of the heart muscle (myocardial rupture)

Rare (may affect up to 1 in 1,000 people):
 Blood clot in the lung (pulmonary embolism)

These cardiovascular events can be life-threatening and may lead to death.

In case of bleeding in the brain events related to the nervous system have been reported e.g. 
drowsiness (somnolence), speech disorders, palsy of parts of the body (hemiparesis) and fits 
(convulsions).

Reporting of side effects 
If you get any side effects, talk to your doctor or nurse. This includes any possible side effects not 
listed in this leaflet. You can also report side effects directly via the national reporting system listed in 
Appendix V. By reporting side effects you can help provide more information on the safety of this 
medicine.

5. How to store Metalyse

Keep this medicine out of the sight and reach of children.

Do not use this medicine after the expiry date which is stated on the label and carton after EXP.

Do not store above 30°C.
Keep the container in the outer carton in order to protect from light.

Once Metalyse has been reconstituted it may be stored for 24 hours at 2-8°C and 8 hours at 30°C. 
However, for microbiological reasons your doctor will normally use the reconstituted solution for 
injection immediately. 

Do not throw away any medicines via wastewater or household waste. Ask your pharmacist how to 
throw away medicines you no longer use. These measures will help protect the environment. 

http://www.ema.europa.eu/docs/en_GB/document_library/Template_or_form/2013/03/WC500139752.doc


49

6. Contents of the pack and other information

What Metalyse contains

 The active substance is tenecteplase. Each vial contains 8,000 units (40 mg) of tenecteplase. 
Each pre-filled syringe contains 8 ml of solvent. When reconstituted with 8 ml solvent each ml 
contains 1,000 U tenecteplase.

 The other ingredients are L-arginine, phosphoric acid and polysorbate 20.
 The solvent is water for injections.
 Gentamicin is contained as trace residue from the manufacturing process

What Metalyse looks like and contents of the pack

The carton contains one vial with a lyophilised powder with 40 mg tenecteplase, one ready for use 
pre-filled syringe with 8 ml solvent, one vial adapter and one needle.

Marketing Authorisation Holder and Manufacturer

Marketing Authorisation Holder

Boehringer Ingelheim International GmbH
Binger Strasse 173
D-55216 Ingelheim am Rhein
Germany

Manufacturer

Boehringer Ingelheim Pharma GmbH & Co. KG
Birkendorfer Strasse 65 
D-88397 Biberach/Riss
Germany



50

For any information about this medicine, please contact the local representative of the Marketing 
Authorisation Holder:

België/Belgique/Belgien
SCS Boehringer Ingelheim Comm.V
Tél/Tel: +32 2 773 33 11

Lietuva
Boehringer Ingelheim RCV GmbH & Co KG
Lietuvos filialas
Tel: +370 37 473922

България
Бьорингер Ингелхайм РЦВ ГмбХ и Ко. КГ 
- клон България
Тел: +359 2 958 79 98

Luxembourg/Luxemburg
SCS Boehringer Ingelheim Comm.V
Tél/Tel: +32 2 773 33 11

Česká republika
Boehringer Ingelheim spol. s r.o.
Tel: +420 234 655 111

Magyarország
Boehringer Ingelheim RCV GmbH & Co KG 
Magyarországi Fióktelepe
Tel: +36 1 299 89 00

Danmark
Boehringer Ingelheim Danmark A/S
Tlf: +45 39 15 88 88

Malta
Boehringer Ingelheim Ireland Ltd.
Tel: +353 1 295 9620

Deutschland
Boehringer Ingelheim Pharma GmbH & Co. 
KG
Tel: +49 (0) 800 77 90 900

Nederland
Boehringer Ingelheim bv
Tel: +31 (0) 800 22 55 889

Eesti
Boehringer Ingelheim RCV GmbH & Co KG
Eesti filiaal
Tel: +372 612 8000

Norge
Boehringer Ingelheim Norway KS
Tlf: +47 66 76 13 00

Ελλάδα
Boehringer Ingelheim Ellas A.E.
Tηλ: +30 2 10 89 06 300

Österreich
Boehringer Ingelheim RCV GmbH & Co KG
Tel: +43 1 80 105-0

España
Boehringer Ingelheim España, S.A.
Tel: +34 93 404 51 00

Polska
Boehringer Ingelheim Sp. z o.o.
Tel: +48 22 699 0 699

France
Boehringer Ingelheim France S.A.S.
Tél: +33 3 26 50 45 33

Portugal
Boehringer Ingelheim, Unipessoal, Lda.
Tel: +351 21 313 53 00

Hrvatska
Boehringer Ingelheim Zagreb d.o.o.
Tel: +385 1 2444 600

România
Boehringer Ingelheim RCV GmbH & Co KG
Viena - Sucursala Bucureşti
Tel: +40 21 302 28 00

Ireland
Boehringer Ingelheim Ireland Ltd.
Tel: +353 1 295 9620

Slovenija
Boehringer Ingelheim RCV GmbH & Co KG 
Podružnica Ljubljana
Tel: +386 1 586 40 00



51

Ísland
Vistor hf.
Sími: +354 535 7000

Slovenská republika
Boehringer Ingelheim RCV GmbH & Co KG 
organizačná zložka
Tel: +421 2 5810 1211

Italia
Boehringer Ingelheim Italia S.p.A.
Tel: +39 02 5355 1

Suomi/Finland
Boehringer Ingelheim Finland Ky
Puh/Tel: +358 10 3102 800

Κύπρος
Boehringer Ingelheim Ellas A.E.
Tηλ: +30 2 10 89 06 300

Sverige
Boehringer Ingelheim AB
Tel: +46 8 721 21 00

Latvija
Boehringer Ingelheim RCV GmbH & Co KG
Latvijas filiāle
Tel: +371 67 240 011

United Kingdom
Boehringer Ingelheim Ltd.
Tel: +44 1344 424 600

This leaflet was last approved in {MM/YYYY}.

Other sources of information

Detailed information on this medicine is available on the European Medicines Agency web site: 
http://www.ema.europa.eu

This leaflet is available in all EU/EEA languages on the European Medicines Agency website. 



52

Package leaflet: Information for the user

Metalyse 10,000 units powder and solvent for solution for injection
Tenecteplase

Read all of this leaflet carefully before you receive this medicine because it contains important 
information for you.
- Keep this leaflet. You may need to read it again.
- If you have any further questions, ask your doctor or pharmacist.
- If you get any side effects, talk to your doctor or pharmacist. This includes any possible side 

effects  not listed in this leaflet. See section 4.

What is in this leaflet

1. What Metalyse is and what it is used for
2. What you need to know before you receive Metalyse
3. How is Metalyse administered
4. Possible side effects
5. How to store Metalyse
6. Content of the pack and other information

1. What Metalyse is and what it is used for 

Metalyse is a powder and solvent for solution for injection. This means that each pack contains:

 one vial of 10,000 units Metalyse powder and 
 one pre-filled syringe containing 10 ml water for injections.

Before use, the solvent (water for injections) is added to the powder to form a solution that is given by 
injection.

Metalyse belongs to a group of medicines called thrombolytic agents. These medicines help to 
dissolve blood clots. Tenecteplase is a recombinant fibrin-specific plasminogen activator.

Metalyse is used to treat myocardial infarctions (heart attacks) within 6 hours after the onset of 
symptoms and helps to dissolve the blood clots that have formed in the blood vessels of the heart. This 
helps to prevent the damage caused by heart attacks and has been shown to save lives. 

2. What you need to know before you receive Metalyse

Metalyse will not be prescribed and given by your doctor:

 if you have previously had a sudden life-threatening allergic reaction (severe hypersensitivity) 
to the active ingredient tenecteplase, to gentamicin (a trace residue from the manufacturing 
process) or any of the other ingredients of Metalyse. If treatment with Metalyse is nevertheless 
considered to be necessary, facilities for reanimation should be immediately available in case of 
need;

 if you have, or have recently had, an illness that increases your risk of bleeding (haemorrhage), 
including:

 a bleeding disorder or tendency to bleed (haemorrhage)
 stroke (cerebrovascular event)
 very high, uncontrolled blood pressure
 a head injury



53

 severe liver disease
 a stomach ulcer (peptic ulcer)
 varicose veins in the gullet (oesophageal varices)
 abnormality of the blood vessels (e.g. an aneurysm)
 certain tumours
 inflammation of the lining around the heart (pericarditis); inflammation or infection of the 

heart valves (endocarditis)
 dementia;

 if you are taking tablets/capsules used to ”thin” the blood, such as warfarin or coumarin (anti-
coagulants);

 if you have an inflamed pancreas (pancreatitis);
 if you have recently had major surgery including surgery to your brain or spine;
 if you have been given cardiopulmonary resuscitation (chest compressions) for more than 2 

minutes duration, in the last two weeks.

Warnings and precautions

Your doctor will take special care with Metalyse:

 if you have had any allergic reaction other than a sudden life-threatening allergic reaction 
(severe hypersensitive) to the active substance tenecteplase, to gentamicin (a trace residue from 
the manufacturing process), or to any of the other ingredients of Metalyse (see section 6: 
“Contents of the pack and other information”);

 if you have high blood pressure;
 if you have problems with circulation of blood in the brain (cerebrovascular disease);
 if you have had gastrointestinal (gut) or genitourinary bleeding within the last ten days (this may 

cause blood in stools or urine);
 if you have a heart valve abnormality (e.g. mitral stenosis) with an abnormal heart rhythm (e.g. 

atrial fibrillation);
 if you have had an intramuscular injection in the last two days;
 if you are aged over 75 years;
 if you weigh less than 60 kg;
 if you have ever received Metalyse before.

Children and adolescents
The use of Metalyse in children and adolescents up to the age of 18 years is not recommended.

Other medicines and Metalyse
Tell your doctor or pharmacist if you are taking, have recently taken or might take any other 
medicines.

Pregnancy and breast-feeding
If you are pregnant or breast-feeding, think you may be pregnant or are planning to have a baby, ask 
your doctor for advice before you are given this medicine.

3. How is Metalyse administered 

The doctor calculates your dose of Metalyse according to your bodyweight, based on the following 
scheme:

Bodyweight (kg) less than 60 60 to 70 70 to 80 80 to 90 above 90

Metalyse (U) 6,000 7,000 8,000 9,000 10,000



54

Your doctor will give you the medicinal product to prevent blood clotting in addition to Metalyse, as 
soon as possible after your chest pain starts.

Metalyse is given by a single injection into a vein by a doctor who is experienced in the use of this 
type of medicinal product.

Your doctor will give Metalyse as soon as possible after your chest pain starts as a single dose.

4. Possible side effects

Like all medicines, this medicine can cause side effects, although not everybody gets them.

The side effects described below have been experienced by people given Metalyse:

Very common (may affect more than 1 in 10 people):
 bleeding

Common (may affect up to 1 in 10 people):
 bleeding at the injection or puncture site 
 nosebleeds
 genitourinary bleeding (you may notice blood in your urine)
 bruising
 gastro-intestinal bleeding (e.g. bleeding from the stomach or bowel)

Uncommon (may affect up to 1 in 100 people):
 irregular heart beat (reperfusion arrhythmias), sometimes leading to cardiac arrest. Cardiac 

(heart) arrest can be life threatening.
 internal bleeding in the abdomen (retroperitoneal bleeding)
 bleeding in the brain (cerebral haemorrhage). Death or permanent disability may occur 

following bleeding in the brain or other serious bleeding events
 bleeding in the eyes (eye haemorrhage)

Rare (may affect up to 1 in 1,000 people):
 low blood pressure (hypotension)
 bleeding in the lungs (pulmonary haemorrhage)
 hypersensitivity (anaphylactoid reactions) e.g. rash, hives (urticaria), difficulty breathing 

(bronchospasm)
 bleeding into the area surrounding the heart (haemopericardium)
 blood clot in the lung (pulmonary embolism) and in the vessels of other organ systems

(thrombotic embolisation)

Not known (frequency cannot be estimated from the available data):
 fat embolism (clots consisting of fat)
 nausea
 vomiting
 body temperature increased (fever)
 blood transfusions as consequence of bleedings

As with other thrombolytic agents, the following events have been reported as sequelae of myocardial 
infarction and/or thrombolytic administration:

Very common (may affect more than 1 in 10 people): 
 Low blood pressure (hypotension)
 Irregular heart beat 
 Chest pain (angina pectoris)



55

Common (may affect up to 1 in 10 people):
 Further chest pain/angina (recurrent ischaemia)
 Heart attack
 Heart failure
 Shock due to heart failure
 Inflammation of the lining around the heart
 Fluid in the lungs (pulmonary oedema) 

Uncommon (may affect up to 1 in 100 people):
 Heart arrest
 Problem with the heart valve or heart lining (mitral valve incompetence, pericardial effusion)
 Blood clot in the veins (venous thrombosis)
 Fluid between the heart lining and the heart (cardiac tamponade)
 Rupture of the heart muscle (myocardial rupture)

Rare (may affect up to 1 in 1,000 people):
 Blood clot in the lung (pulmonary embolism)

These cardiovascular events can be life-threatening and may lead to death.

In case of bleeding in the brain events related to the nervous system have been reported e.g. 
drowsiness (somnolence), speech disorders, palsy of parts of the body (hemiparesis) and fits 
(convulsions).

Reporting of side effects 
If you get any side effects, talk to your doctor or nurse. This includes any possible side effects not 
listed in this leaflet. You can also report side effects directly via the national reporting system listed in 
Appendix V. By reporting side effects you can help provide more information on the safety of this 
medicine

5. How to store Metalyse

Keep this medicine out of the sight and reach of children.

Do not use this medicine after the expiry date which is stated on the label and carton after EXP.

Do not store above 30°C.
Keep the container in the outer carton in order to protect from light.

Once Metalyse has been reconstituted it may be stored for 24 hours at 2-8°C and 8 hours at 30°C. 
However, for microbiological reasons your doctor will normally use the reconstituted solution for 
injection immediately. 

Do not throw away any medicines via wastewater or household waste. Ask your pharmacist how to 
throw away medicines you no longer use. These measures will help protect the environment.

http://www.ema.europa.eu/docs/en_GB/document_library/Template_or_form/2013/03/WC500139752.doc


56

6. Contents of the pack and other information

What Metalyse contains

 The active substance is tenecteplase. Each vial contains 10,000 units (50 mg) of tenecteplase. 
Each pre-filled syringe contains 10 ml of solvent. When reconstituted with 10 ml solvent 
each ml contains 1,000 U tenecteplase.

 The other ingredients are L-arginine, phosphoric acid and polysorbate 20.
 The solvent is water for injections.
 Gentamicin is contained as trace residue from the manufacturing process

What Metalyse looks like and contents of the pack

The carton contains one vial with a lyophilised powder with 50 mg tenecteplase, one ready for use 
pre-filled syringe with 10 ml solvent, one vial adapter and one needle.

Marketing Authorisation Holder and Manufacturer

Marketing Authorisation Holder

Boehringer Ingelheim International GmbH
Binger Strasse 173
D-55216 Ingelheim am Rhein
Germany

Manufacturer

Boehringer Ingelheim Pharma GmbH & Co. KG
Birkendorfer Strasse 65 
D-88397 Biberach/Riss
Germany



57

For any information about this medicine please contact the local representative of the Marketing 
Authorisation Holder:

België/Belgique/Belgien
SCS Boehringer Ingelheim Comm.V
Tél/Tel: +32 2 773 33 11

Lietuva
Boehringer Ingelheim RCV GmbH & Co KG
Lietuvos filialas
Tel: +370 37 473922

България
Бьорингер Ингелхайм РЦВ ГмбХ и Ко. КГ 
- клон България
Тел: +359 2 958 79 98

Luxembourg/Luxemburg
SCS Boehringer Ingelheim Comm.V
Tél/Tel: +32 2 773 33 11

Česká republika
Boehringer Ingelheim spol. s r.o.
Tel: +420 234 655 111

Magyarország
Boehringer Ingelheim RCV GmbH & Co KG 
Magyarországi Fióktelepe
Tel: +36 1 299 89 00

Danmark
Boehringer Ingelheim Danmark A/S
Tlf: +45 39 15 88 88

Malta
Boehringer Ingelheim Ireland Ltd.
Tel: +353 1 295 9620

Deutschland
Boehringer Ingelheim Pharma GmbH & Co. 
KG
Tel: +49 (0) 800 77 90 900

Nederland
Boehringer Ingelheim bv
Tel: +31 (0) 800 22 55 889

Eesti
Boehringer Ingelheim RCV GmbH & Co KG
Eesti filiaal
Tel: +372 612 8000

Norge
Boehringer Ingelheim Norway KS
Tlf: +47 66 76 13 00

Ελλάδα
Boehringer Ingelheim Ellas A.E.
Tηλ: +30 2 10 89 06 300

Österreich
Boehringer Ingelheim RCV GmbH & Co KG
Tel: +43 1 80 105-0

España
Boehringer Ingelheim España, S.A.
Tel: +34 93 404 51 00

Polska
Boehringer Ingelheim Sp. z o.o.
Tel: +48 22 699 0 699

France
Boehringer Ingelheim France S.A.S.
Tél: +33 3 26 50 45 33

Portugal
Boehringer Ingelheim, Unipessoal, Lda.
Tel: +351 21 313 53 00

Hrvatska
Boehringer Ingelheim Zagreb d.o.o.
Tel: +385 1 2444 600

România
Boehringer Ingelheim RCV GmbH & Co KG
Viena - Sucursala Bucureşti
Tel: +40 21 302 28 00

Ireland
Boehringer Ingelheim Ireland Ltd.
Tel: +353 1 295 9620

Slovenija
Boehringer Ingelheim RCV GmbH & Co KG 
Podružnica Ljubljana
Tel: +386 1 586 40 00



58

Ísland
Vistor hf.
Sími: +354 535 7000

Slovenská republika
Boehringer Ingelheim RCV GmbH & Co KG 
organizačná zložka
Tel: +421 2 5810 1211

Italia
Boehringer Ingelheim Italia S.p.A.
Tel: +39 02 5355 1

Suomi/Finland
Boehringer Ingelheim Finland Ky
Puh/Tel: +358 10 3102 800

Κύπρος
Boehringer Ingelheim Ellas A.E.
Tηλ: +30 2 10 89 06 300

Sverige
Boehringer Ingelheim AB
Tel: +46 8 721 21 00

Latvija
Boehringer Ingelheim RCV GmbH & Co KG
Latvijas filiāle
Tel: +371 67 240 011

United Kingdom
Boehringer Ingelheim Ltd.
Tel: +44 1344 424 600

This leaflet was last approved in {MM/YYYY}.

Other sources of information

Detailed information on this medicine is available on the European Medicines Agency web site: 
http://www.ema.europa.eu

This leaflet is available in all EU/EEA languages on the European Medicines Agency website.

http://www.ema.europa.eu

	SUMMARY OF PRODUCT CHARACTERISTICS
	A.	MANUFACTURER(S) OF THE BIOLOGICAL ACTIVE SUBSTANCE(S) AND MANUFACTURER(S) RESPONSIBLE FOR BATCH RELEASE
	B.	CONDITIONS OR RESTRICTIONS REGARDING SUPPLY AND USE
	C.	OTHER CONDITIONS AND REQUIREMENTS OF THE MARKETING AUTHORISATION
	D.	CONDITIONS OR RESTRICTIONS WITH REGARD TO THE SAFE AND  EFFECTIVE USE OF THE MEDICINAL PRODUCT
	A. LABELLING
	B. PACKAGE LEAFLET