Dulaglutide: What to Know Before You Take It

5 WARNINGS AND PRECAUTIONS Thyroid C-cell Tumors: See Boxed Warning ( 5.1 ). Pancreatitis: Has been reported in clinical trials. Discontinue promptly if pancreatitis is suspected. Do not restart if pancreatitis is confirmed ( 5.2 ). Hypoglycemia: Concomitant use with an insulin secretagogue or insulin may increase the risk of hypoglycemia, including severe hypoglycemia. Reducing the dose of insulin secretagogue or insulin may be necessary ( 5.3 ). Hypersensitivity Reactions: Serious hypersensitivity reactions (e.g., anaphylactic reactions and angioedema) have occurred. Discontinue TRULICITY and promptly seek medical advice ( 5.4 ). Acute Kidney Injury: Monitor renal function in patients with renal impairment reporting severe adverse gastrointestinal reactions ( 5.5 ). Severe Gastrointestinal Disease: Use may be associated with gastrointestinal adverse reactions, sometimes severe. Has not been studied in patients with severe gastrointestinal disease and is not recommended in these patients ( 5.6 ). Diabetic Retinopathy Complications: Have been reported in a cardiovascular outcomes trial. Monitor patients with a history of diabetic retinopathy ( 5.7 ). Acute Gallbladder Disease: If cholelithiasis or cholecystitis are suspected, gallbladder studies are indicated ( 5.8 ). 5.1 Risk of Thyroid C-cell Tumors In male and female rats, dulaglutide causes a dose-related and treatment-duration-dependent increase in the incidence of thyroid C-cell tumors (adenomas and carcinomas) after lifetime exposure [see Nonclinical Toxicology ( 13.1 )] . Glucagon-like peptide-1 (GLP-1) receptor agonists have induced thyroid C-cell adenomas and carcinomas in mice and rats at clinically relevant exposures. It is unknown whether TRULICITY will cause thyroid C-cell tumors, including medullary thyroid carcinoma (MTC), in humans, as the human relevance of dulaglutide-induced rodent thyroid C-cell tumors has not been determined. One case of MTC was reported in a patient treated with TRULICITY in a clinical trial. This patient had pretreatment calcitonin levels approximately 8 times the upper limit of normal (ULN). An additional case of C-cell hyperplasia with elevated calcitonin levels following treatment was reported in the cardiovascular outcomes trial (REWIND). Cases of MTC in patients treated with liraglutide, another GLP-1 receptor agonist, have been reported in the postmarketing period; the data in these reports are insufficient to establish or exclude a causal relationship between MTC and GLP-1 receptor agonist use in humans. TRULICITY is contraindicated in patients with a personal or family history of MTC or in patients with MEN 2. Counsel patients regarding the potential risk for MTC with the use of TRULICITY and inform them of symptoms of thyroid tumors (e.g. a mass in the neck, dysphagia, dyspnea, persistent hoarseness). Routine monitoring of serum calcitonin or using thyroid ultrasound is of uncertain value for early detection of MTC in patients treated with TRULICITY. Such monitoring may increase the risk of unnecessary procedures, due to the low test specificity for serum calcitonin and a high background incidence of thyroid disease. Significantly elevated serum calcitonin values may indicate MTC and patients with MTC usually have calcitonin values >50 ng/L. If serum calcitonin is measured and found to be elevated, the patient should be further evaluated. Patients with thyroid nodules noted on physical examination or neck imaging should also be further evaluated. 5.2 Pancreatitis In a pooled analysis from the original registration studies, 12 (3.4 cases per 1000 patient years) pancreatitis-related adverse reactions were reported in patients exposed to TRULICITY versus 3 in non-incretin comparators (2.7 cases per 1000 patient years). An analysis of adjudicated events revealed 5 cases of confirmed pancreatitis in patients exposed to TRULICITY (1.4 cases per 1000 patient years) versus 1 case in non-incretin comparators (0.88 cases per 1000 patient years). Based on an analysis of adjudicated events in a clinical trial evaluating Trulicity 1.5 mg, 3 mg, or 4.5 mg once weekly, pancreatitis occurred in 1 patient exposed to TRULICITY 1.5 mg (0.2%), in 2 patients exposed to TRULICITY 3 mg (0.3%), and 3 patients exposed to TRULICITY 4.5 mg (0.5%). After initiation of TRULICITY, observe patients carefully for signs and symptoms of pancreatitis, including persistent severe abdominal pain, sometimes radiating to the back, which may or may not be accompanied by vomiting. If pancreatitis is suspected, promptly discontinue TRULICITY and initiate appropriate management. If pancreatitis is confirmed, TRULICITY should not be restarted. TRULICITY has not been evaluated in patients with a prior history of pancreatitis. Consider other antidiabetic therapies in patients with a history of pancreatitis. 5.3 Hypoglycemia with Concomitant Use of Insulin Secretagogues or Insulin Patients receiving TRULICITY in combination with an insulin secretagogue (e.g., sulfonylurea) or insulin may have an increased risk of hypoglycemia, including severe hypoglycemia [see Adverse Reactions ( 6.1 ) and Drug Interactions ( 7 )]. The risk of hypoglycemia may be lowered by a reduction in the dose of sulfonylurea (or other concomitantly administered insulin secretagogue) or insulin. Inform patients using these concomitant medications of the risk of hypoglycemia and educate them on the signs and symptoms of hypoglycemia. 5.4 Hypersensitivity Reactions There have been postmarketing reports of serious hypersensitivity reactions including anaphylactic reactions and angioedema in patients treated with TRULICITY [see Adverse Reactions ( 6.2 )] . If a hypersensitivity reaction occurs, discontinue TRULICITY; treat promptly per standard of care, and monitor until signs and symptoms resolve. TRULICITY is contraindicated in patients with a previous serious hypersensitivity reaction to dulaglutide or to any of the components of TRULICITY. Anaphylaxis and angioedema have been reported with other GLP-1 receptor agonists. Use caution in a patient with a history of angioedema or anaphylaxis with another GLP-1 receptor agonist because it is unknown whether such patients will be predisposed to anaphylaxis with TRULICITY. 5.5 Acute Kidney Injury In patients treated with GLP-1 receptor agonists, including TRULICITY, there have been postmarketing reports of acute renal failure and worsening of chronic renal failure, which may sometimes require hemodialysis. Some of these events were reported in patients without known underlying renal disease. A majority of reported events occurred in patients who had experienced nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, or dehydration. Because these reactions may worsen renal function, use caution when initiating or escalating doses of TRULICITY in patients with renal impairment. Monitor renal function in patients with renal impairment reporting severe adverse gastrointestinal reactions [see Use in Specific Populations ( 8.6 )] . 5.6 Severe Gastrointestinal Disease Use of TRULICITY may be associated with gastrointestinal adverse reactions, sometimes severe [see Adverse Reactions ( 6.1 )] . TRULICITY has not been studied in patients with severe gastrointestinal disease, including severe gastroparesis, and is therefore not recommended in these patients. 5.7 Diabetic Retinopathy Complications in Patients with a History of Diabetic Retinopathy In a cardiovascular outcomes trial with a median follow up of 5.4 years involving patients with type 2 diabetes with established cardiovascular disease or multiple cardiovascular risk factors, diabetic retinopathy complications occurred in patients treated with TRULICITY 1.5 mg (1.9%) and placebo (1.5%). These events were prospectively ascertained as a secondary composite endpoint. The proportion of patients with diabetic retinopathy complications was larger among patients with a history of diabetic retinopathy at baseline (TRULICITY 8.5%, placebo 6.2%) than among patients without a known history of diabetic retinopathy (TRULICITY 1%, placebo 1%). Rapid improvement in glucose control has been associated with a temporary worsening of diabetic retinopathy. Patients with a history of diabetic retinopathy should be monitored for progression of diabetic retinopathy. 5.8 Acute Gallbladder Disease Acute events of gallbladder disease such as cholelithiasis or cholecystitis have been reported in GLP-1 receptor agonist trials and postmarketing. In a cardiovascular outcomes trial with a median follow up of 5.4 years, cholelithiasis occurred at a rate of 0.62/100 patient-years in TRULICITY-treated patients and 0.56/100 patient-years in placebo-treated patients after adjusting for prior cholecystectomy. Serious events of acute cholecystitis were reported in 0.5% and 0.3% of patients on TRULICITY and placebo respectively. If cholelithiasis is suspected, gallbladder studies and appropriate clinical follow-up are indicated.