ENBREL 50mg injectible solution medication leaflet

L04AB01 etanercept • Antineoplastic and immunomodulating agents | Immunosuppressants | Tumor necrosis factor alpha (tnf-alpha) inhibitors

Etanercept is a biological medication used in the treatment of autoimmune diseases such as rheumatoid arthritis, ankylosing spondylitis, or psoriasis. It works by blocking a protein involved in the inflammatory process, thus reducing inflammation, pain, and joint damage.

Etanercept is administered as subcutaneous injections, usually once or twice a week, according to the doctor's instructions. The dose and frequency of treatment are determined individually, depending on the condition being treated and the patient's response.

Side effects may include injection site reactions, respiratory infections, headaches, or, rarely, severe allergic reactions. Medical monitoring is necessary throughout the treatment to prevent complications.

Etanercept is an effective option for patients with autoimmune diseases, helping to improve quality of life and reduce symptoms in the long term.

General data about ENBREL 50mg

Substance: etanercept

Date of last drug list: 01-06-2025

Commercial code: W64812002

Concentration: 50mg

Pharmaceutical form: injectible solution

Quantity: 4

Product type: original

Price: 3027.26 RON

Prescription restrictions: P-RF - Medicines prescription that is retained in the pharmacy (not renewable).

Marketing authorisation

Manufacturer: PFIZER MANUFACTURING BELGIUM NV - BELGIA

Holder: PFIZER EUROPE MA EEIG - BELGIA

Number: 126/2006/20

Shelf life: 30 months

Concentrations available for etanercept

10mg, 25mg, 50mg

Compensation lists for ENBREL 50mg PFIZER

G31B (C1) - Rheumatoid arthritis

Price

Copayment

Patient

3027.26 RON

2368.70 RON

658.56 RON

G31C (C1) - Psoriatic arthropathy

Price

Copayment

Patient

3027.26 RON

2368.70 RON

658.56 RON

G31D (C1) - Ankylosing spondylitis

Price

Copayment

Patient

3027.26 RON

2368.70 RON

658.56 RON

G31E (C1) - Juvenile arthritis

Price

Copayment

Patient

3027.26 RON

2368.70 RON

658.56 RON

G31F (C1) - Severe chronic psoriasis (plaques)

Price

Copayment

Patient

3027.26 RON

2368.70 RON

658.56 RON

GX (C1) - GENERIC (used in compensation list, C1, for another diagnosis)

Price

Copayment

Patient

3027.26 RON

2368.70 RON

658.56 RON

NHP 9.1 (C2) - Spinal cord transplant

Price

Copayment

Patient

3027.26 RON

3027.26 RON

0.00 RON

Contents of the package leaflet for the medicine ENBREL 50mg injectible solution

1. NAME OF THE MEDICINAL PRODUCT

Enbrel 25 mg solution for injection in pre-filled syringe

Enbrel 50 mg solution for injection in pre-filled syringe

2. QUALITATIVE AND QUANTITATIVE COMPOSITION

Enbrel 25 mg solution for injection in pre-filled syringe

Each pre-filled syringe contains 25 mg of etanercept.

Enbrel 50 mg solution for injection in pre-filled syringe

Each pre-filled syringe contains 50 mg of etanercept.

Etanercept is a human tumour necrosis factor receptor p75 Fc fusion protein produced by recombinant

DNA technology in a Chinese hamster ovary (CHO) mammalian expression system.

For the full list of excipients, see section 6.1.

3. PHARMACEUTICAL FORM

Solution for injection.

The solution is clear, and colourless to pale yellow or pale brown.

4. CLINICAL PARTICULARS

4.1 Therapeutic indications

Rheumatoid arthritis

Enbrel in combination with methotrexate is indicated for the treatment of moderate to severe activerheumatoid arthritis in adults when the response to disease-modifying antirheumatic drugs, includingmethotrexate (unless contraindicated), has been inadequate.

Enbrel can be given as monotherapy in case of intolerance to methotrexate or when continuedtreatment with methotrexate is inappropriate.

Enbrel is also indicated in the treatment of severe, active and progressive rheumatoid arthritis in adultsnot previously treated with methotrexate.

Enbrel, alone or in combination with methotrexate, has been shown to reduce the rate of progressionof joint damage as measured by X-ray and to improve physical function.

Juvenile idiopathic arthritis

Treatment of polyarthritis (rheumatoid factor positive or negative) and extended oligoarthritis inchildren and adolescents from the age of 2 years who have had an inadequate response to, or who haveproved intolerant of, methotrexate.

Treatment of psoriatic arthritis in adolescents from the age of 12 years who have had an inadequateresponse to, or who have proved intolerant of, methotrexate.

Treatment of enthesitis-related arthritis in adolescents from the age of 12 years who have had aninadequate response to, or who have proved intolerant of, conventional therapy.

Psoriatic arthritis

Treatment of active and progressive psoriatic arthritis in adults when the response to previousdisease-modifying antirheumatic drug therapy has been inadequate. Enbrel has been shown to improvephysical function in patients with psoriatic arthritis, and to reduce the rate of progression of peripheraljoint damage as measured by X-ray in patients with polyarticular symmetrical subtypes of the disease.

Axial spondyloarthritis
Ankylosing spondylitis (AS)

Treatment of adults with severe active ankylosing spondylitis who have had an inadequate response toconventional therapy.

Non-radiographic axial spondyloarthritis

Treatment of adults with severe non-radiographic axial spondyloarthritis with objective signs ofinflammation as indicated by elevated C-reactive protein (CRP) and/or magnetic resonance imaging(MRI) evidence, who have had an inadequate response to nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs(NSAIDs).

Plaque psoriasis

Treatment of adults with moderate to severe plaque psoriasis who failed to respond to, or who have acontraindication to, or are intolerant to other systemic therapy, including ciclosporin, methotrexate orpsoralen and ultraviolet-A light (PUVA) (see section 5.1).

Paediatric plaque psoriasis

Treatment of chronic severe plaque psoriasis in children and adolescents from the age of 6 years whoare inadequately controlled by, or are intolerant to, other systemic therapies or phototherapies.

4.2 Posology and method of administration

Enbrel treatment should be initiated and supervised by specialist physicians experienced in thediagnosis and treatment of rheumatoid arthritis, juvenile idiopathic arthritis, psoriatic arthritis,ankylosing spondylitis, non-radiographic axial spondyloarthritis, plaque psoriasis or paediatric plaquepsoriasis. Patients treated with Enbrel should be given the Patient Card.

Enbrel is available in strengths of 10, 25 and 50 mg.

Posology

Rheumatoid arthritis25 mg Enbrel administered twice weekly is the recommended dose. Alternatively, 50 mg administeredonce weekly has been shown to be safe and effective (see section 5.1).

Psoriatic arthritis, ankylosing spondylitis and non-radiographic axial spondyloarthritis

The recommended dose is 25 mg Enbrel administered twice weekly, or 50 mg administered onceweekly.

For all of the above indications, available data suggest that a clinical response is usually achievedwithin 12 weeks of treatment. Continued therapy should be carefully reconsidered in a patient notresponding within this time period.

Plaque psoriasis

The recommended dose of Enbrel is 25 mg administered twice weekly or 50 mg administered onceweekly. Alternatively, 50 mg given twice weekly may be used for up to 12 weeks followed, ifnecessary, by a dose of 25 mg twice weekly or 50 mg once weekly. Treatment with Enbrel shouldcontinue until remission is achieved, for up to 24 weeks. Continuous therapy beyond 24 weeks may beappropriate for some adult patients (see section 5.1). Treatment should be discontinued in patients whoshow no response after 12 weeks. If re-treatment with Enbrel is indicated, the same guidance ontreatment duration should be followed. The dose should be 25 mg twice weekly or 50 mg onceweekly.

Special populations
Renal and hepatic impairment

No dose adjustment is required.

Elderly

No dose adjustment is required. Posology and administration are the same as for adults 18-64 years ofage.

Paediatric population

The dosage of Enbrel is based on body weight for paediatric patients. Patients weighing less than 62.5 kgshould be accurately dosed on a mg/kg basis using the powder and solvent for solution for injectionpresentations or the powder for solution for injection presentations (see below for dosing for specificindications). Patients weighing 62.5 kg or more, may be dosed using a fixed-dose pre-filled syringe orpre-filled pen.

The safety and efficacy of Enbrel in children aged less than 2 years has not been established.

No data are available.

Juvenile idiopathic arthritis

The recommended dose is 0.4 mg/kg (up to a maximum of 25 mg per dose) given twice weekly as asubcutaneous injection with an interval of 3-4 days between doses or 0.8 mg/kg (up to a maximum of50 mg per dose) given once weekly. Discontinuation of treatment should be considered in patientswho show no response after 4 months.

The 10 mg vial strength may be more appropriate for administration to children with JIA below theweight of 25 kg.

No formal clinical trials have been conducted in children aged 2 to 3 years. However, limited safetydata from a patient registry suggest that the safety profile in children from 2 to 3 years of age is similarto that seen in adults and children aged 4 years and older, when dosed every week with 0.8 mg/kgsubcutaneously (see section 5.1).

There is generally no applicable use of Enbrel in children aged below 2 years in the indication juvenileidiopathic arthritis.

Paediatric plaque psoriasis (age 6 years and above)

The recommended dose is 0.8 mg/kg (up to a maximum of 50 mg per dose) once weekly for up to24 weeks. Treatment should be discontinued in patients who show no response after 12 weeks.

If re-treatment with Enbrel is indicated, the above guidance on treatment duration should be followed.

The dose should be 0.8 mg/kg (up to a maximum of 50 mg per dose) once weekly.

There is generally no applicable use of Enbrel in children aged below 6 years in the indication plaquepsoriasis.

Method of administration

Enbrel is administered by subcutaneous injection (see section 6.6).

Comprehensive instructions for administration are given in the package leaflet, section 7, 'Instructionsfor use.' Detailed instructions on unintentional dosing or scheduling variations, including misseddoses, are provided in section 3 of the package leaflet.

4.3 Contraindications

Hypersensitivity to the active substance or to any of the excipients listed in section 6.1.

Sepsis or risk of sepsis.

Treatment with Enbrel should not be initiated in patients with active infections, including chronic orlocalised infections.

4.4 Special warnings and precautions for use

In order to improve the traceability of biological medicinal products, the brand name and batchnumber of the administered product should be clearly recorded (or stated) in the patient file.

Infections

Patients should be evaluated for infections before, during, and after treatment with Enbrel, taking intoconsideration that the mean elimination half-life of etanercept is approximately 70 hours (range 7 to300 hours).

Serious infections, sepsis, tuberculosis, and opportunistic infections, including invasive fungalinfections, listeriosis and legionellosis, have been reported with the use of Enbrel (see section 4.8).

These infections were due to bacteria, mycobacteria, fungi, viruses and parasites (including protozoa).

In some cases, particular fungal and other opportunistic infections have not been recognised, resultingin delay of appropriate treatment and sometimes death. In evaluating patients for infections, thepatient’s risk for relevant opportunistic infections (e.g., exposure to endemic mycoses) should beconsidered.

Patients who develop a new infection while undergoing treatment with Enbrel should be monitoredclosely. Administration of Enbrel should be discontinued if a patient develops a serious infection. Thesafety and efficacy of Enbrel in patients with chronic infections have not been evaluated. Physiciansshould exercise caution when considering the use of Enbrel in patients with a history of recurring orchronic infections or with underlying conditions that may predispose patients to infections, such asadvanced or poorly controlled diabetes.

Tuberculosis

Cases of active tuberculosis, including miliary tuberculosis and tuberculosis with extra-pulmonarylocation, have been reported in patients treated with Enbrel.

Before starting treatment with Enbrel, all patients must be evaluated for both active and inactive(‘latent’) tuberculosis. This evaluation should include a detailed medical history with personal historyof tuberculosis or possible previous contact with tuberculosis and previous and/or currentimmunosuppressive therapy. Appropriate screening tests, i.e., tuberculin skin test and chest X-ray,should be performed in all patients (local recommendations may apply). It is recommended that theconduct of these tests should be recorded in the Patient Card. Prescribers are reminded of the risk offalse negative tuberculin skin test results, especially in patients who are severely ill orimmunocompromised.

If active tuberculosis is diagnosed, Enbrel therapy must not be initiated. If inactive (‘latent’)tuberculosis is diagnosed, treatment for latent tuberculosis must be started with anti-tuberculosistherapy before the initiation of Enbrel, and in accordance with local recommendations. In thissituation, the benefit/risk balance of Enbrel therapy should be very carefully considered.

All patients should be informed to seek medical advice if signs/symptoms suggestive of tuberculosis(e.g., persistent cough, wasting/weight loss, low-grade fever) appear during or after Enbrel treatment.

Hepatitis B reactivation

Reactivation of hepatitis B in patients who were previously infected with the hepatitis B virus (HBV)and had received concomitant TNF-antagonists, including Enbrel, has been reported. This includesreports of reactivation of hepatitis B in patients who were anti-HBc positive but HBsAg negative.

Patients should be tested for HBV infection before initiating treatment with Enbrel. For patients whotest positive for HBV infection, consultation with a physician with expertise in the treatment ofhepatitis B is recommended. Caution should be exercised when administering Enbrel in patientspreviously infected with HBV. These patients should be monitored for signs and symptoms of active

HBV infection throughout therapy and for several weeks following termination of therapy. Adequatedata from treating patients infected with HBV with anti-viral therapy in conjunction with

TNF-antagonist therapy are not available. In patients who develop HBV infection, Enbrel should bestopped and effective anti-viral therapy with appropriate supportive treatment should be initiated.

Worsening of hepatitis C

There have been reports of worsening of hepatitis C in patients receiving Enbrel. Enbrel should beused with caution in patients with a history of hepatitis C.

Concurrent treatment with anakinra

Concurrent administration of Enbrel and anakinra has been associated with an increased risk of seriousinfections and neutropenia compared to Enbrel alone. This combination has not demonstratedincreased clinical benefit. Thus, the combined use of Enbrel and anakinra is not recommended (seesections 4.5 and 4.8).

Concurrent treatment with abatacept

In clinical studies, concurrent administration of abatacept and Enbrel resulted in increased incidencesof serious adverse events. This combination has not demonstrated increased clinical benefit; such useis not recommended (see section 4.5).

Allergic reactions

Allergic reactions associated with Enbrel administration have been reported commonly. Allergicreactions have included angioedema and urticaria; serious reactions have occurred. If any seriousallergic or anaphylactic reaction occurs, Enbrel therapy should be discontinued immediately andappropriate therapy initiated.

The needle cover of the pre-filled syringe contains latex (dry natural rubber) that may causehypersensitivity reactions when handled by, or when Enbrel is administered to, persons with known orpossible latex sensitivity.

Immunosuppression

The possibility exists for TNF-antagonists, including Enbrel, to affect host defences against infectionsand malignancies since TNF mediates inflammation and modulates cellular immune responses. In astudy of 49 adult patients with rheumatoid arthritis treated with Enbrel, there was no evidence ofdepression of delayed-type hypersensitivity, depression of immunoglobulin levels, or change inenumeration of effector cell populations.

Two juvenile idiopathic arthritis patients developed varicella infection and signs and symptoms ofaseptic meningitis, which resolved without sequelae. Patients with a significant exposure to varicellavirus should temporarily discontinue Enbrel therapy and be considered for prophylactic treatment with

Varicella Zoster Immune Globulin.

The safety and efficacy of Enbrel in patients with immunosuppression have not been evaluated.

Malignancies and lymphoproliferative disorders

Solid and haematopoietic malignancies (excluding skin cancers)

Reports of various malignancies (including breast and lung carcinoma and lymphoma) have beenreceived in the postmarketing period (see section 4.8).

In the controlled portions of clinical trials of TNF-antagonists, more cases of lymphoma have beenobserved among patients receiving a TNF-antagonist compared with control patients. However, theoccurrence was rare, and the follow-up period of placebo patients was shorter than for patientsreceiving TNF-antagonist therapy. In the postmarketing setting, cases of leukaemia have been reportedin patients treated with TNF-antagonists. There is an increased background risk for lymphoma andleukaemia in rheumatoid arthritis patients with long-standing, highly active, inflammatory disease,which complicates risk estimation.

Based on current knowledge, a possible risk for the development of lymphomas, leukaemia or otherhaematopoietic or solid malignancies in patients treated with a TNF-antagonist cannot be excluded.

Caution should be exercised when considering TNF-antagonist therapy for patients with a history ofmalignancy or when considering continuing treatment in patients who develop a malignancy.

Malignancies, some fatal, have been reported among children, adolescents and young adults (up to22 years of age) treated with TNF-antagonists (initiation of therapy ≤ 18 years of age), including

Enbrel, in the postmarketing setting. Approximately half the cases were lymphomas. The other casesrepresented a variety of different malignancies and included rare malignancies typically associatedwith immunosuppression. A risk for the development of malignancies in children and adolescentstreated with TNF-antagonists cannot be excluded.

Skin cancers

Melanoma and non-melanoma skin cancer (NMSC) have been reported in patients treated with

TNF-antagonists, including Enbrel. Postmarketing cases of Merkel cell carcinoma have been reportedvery infrequently in patients treated with Enbrel. Periodic skin examination is recommended for allpatients, particularly those with risk factors for skin cancer.

Combining the results of controlled clinical trials, more cases of NMSC were observed in patientsreceiving Enbrel compared with control patients, particularly in patients with psoriasis.

Vaccinations

Live vaccines should not be given concurrently with Enbrel. No data are available on the secondarytransmission of infection by live vaccines in patients receiving Enbrel. In a double-blind,placebo-controlled, randomised clinical study in adult patients with psoriatic arthritis, 184 patients alsoreceived a multivalent pneumococcal polysaccharide vaccine at week 4. In this study, most psoriaticarthritis patients receiving Enbrel were able to mount effective B-cell immune response topneumococcal polysaccharide vaccine, but titres in aggregate were moderately lower, and few patientshad two-fold rises in titres compared to patients not receiving Enbrel. The clinical significance of thisis unknown.

Autoantibody formation

Treatment with Enbrel may result in the formation of autoimmune antibodies (see section 4.8).

Haematologic reactions

Rare cases of pancytopenia and very rare cases of aplastic anaemia, some with fatal outcome, havebeen reported in patients treated with Enbrel. Caution should be exercised in patients being treatedwith Enbrel who have a previous history of blood dyscrasias. All patients and parents/caregiversshould be advised that if the patient develops signs and symptoms suggestive of blood dyscrasias orinfections (e.g., persistent fever, sore throat, bruising, bleeding, paleness) whilst on Enbrel, theyshould seek immediate medical advice. Such patients should be investigated urgently, including fullblood count; if blood dyscrasias are confirmed, Enbrel should be discontinued.

Neurological disorders

There have been rare reports of CNS demyelinating disorders in patients treated with Enbrel (seesection 4.8). Additionally, there have been rare reports of peripheral demyelinating polyneuropathies(including Guillain-Barré syndrome, chronic inflammatory demyelinating polyneuropathy,demyelinating polyneuropathy, and multifocal motor neuropathy). Although no clinical trials havebeen performed evaluating Enbrel therapy in patients with multiple sclerosis, clinical trials of other

TNF antagonists in patients with multiple sclerosis have shown increases in disease activity. A carefulrisk/benefit evaluation, including a neurologic assessment, is recommended when prescribing Enbrelto patients with pre-existing or recent onset of demyelinating disease, or to those who are consideredto have an increased risk of developing demyelinating disease.

Combination therapy

In a controlled clinical trial of two years duration in rheumatoid arthritis patients, the combination of

Enbrel and methotrexate did not result in unexpected safety findings, and the safety profile of Enbrelwhen given in combination with methotrexate was similar to the profiles reported in studies of Enbreland methotrexate alone. Long-term studies to assess the safety of the combination are ongoing. Thelong-term safety of Enbrel in combination with other disease-modifying antirheumatic drugs(DMARD) has not been established.

The use of Enbrel in combination with other systemic therapies or phototherapy for the treatment ofpsoriasis has not been studied.

Renal and hepatic impairment

Based on pharmacokinetic data (see section 5.2), no dose adjustment is needed in patients with renalor hepatic impairment; clinical experience in such patients is limited.

Congestive heart failure (Cardiac failure congestive)

Physicians should use caution when using Enbrel in patients who have congestive heart failure (CHF).

There have been postmarketing reports of worsening of CHF, with and without identifiableprecipitating factors, in patients taking Enbrel. There have also been rare (< 0.1%) reports of newonset CHF, including CHF in patients without known pre-existing cardiovascular disease. Some ofthese patients have been under 50 years of age. Two large clinical trials evaluating the use of Enbrel inthe treatment of CHF were terminated early due to lack of efficacy. Although not conclusive, datafrom one of these trials suggest a possible tendency toward worsening CHF in those patients assignedto Enbrel treatment.

Alcoholic hepatitis

In a phase II randomised placebo-controlled study of 48 hospitalised patients treated with Enbrel orplacebo for moderate to severe alcoholic hepatitis, Enbrel was not efficacious, and the mortality rate inpatients treated with Enbrel was significantly higher after 6 months. Consequently, Enbrel should notbe used in patients for the treatment of alcoholic hepatitis. Physicians should use caution when using

Enbrel in patients who also have moderate to severe alcoholic hepatitis.

Wegener's granulomatosis

A placebo-controlled trial, in which 89 adult patients were treated with Enbrel in addition to standardtherapy (including cyclophosphamide or methotrexate, and glucocorticoids) for a median duration of25 months, has not shown Enbrel to be an effective treatment for Wegener’s granulomatosis. Theincidence of non-cutaneous malignancies of various types was significantly higher in patients treatedwith Enbrel than in the control group. Enbrel is not recommended for the treatment of Wegener’sgranulomatosis.

Hypoglycaemia in patients treated for diabetes

There have been reports of hypoglycaemia following initiation of Enbrel in patients receivingmedication for diabetes, necessitating a reduction in anti-diabetic medication in some of these patients.

Special populations
Elderly

In the Phase 3 studies in rheumatoid arthritis, psoriatic arthritis, and ankylosing spondylitis, no overalldifferences in adverse events, serious adverse events, and serious infections in patients age 65 or olderwho received Enbrel were observed compared with younger patients. However, caution should beexercised when treating the elderly and particular attention paid with respect to occurrence ofinfections.

Paediatric population
Vaccinations

It is recommended that paediatric patients, if possible, be brought up to date with all immunisations inagreement with current immunisation guidelines prior to initiating Enbrel therapy (see Vaccinations,above).

Sodium content

This medicinal product contains less than 1 mmol sodium (23 mg) per dosage unit. Patients on lowsodium diets can be informed that this medicinal product is essentially ‘sodium-free’.

4.5 Interaction with other medicinal products and other forms of interaction

Concurrent treatment with anakinra

Adult patients treated with Enbrel and anakinra were observed to have a higher rate of seriousinfection when compared with patients treated with either Enbrel or anakinra alone (historical data).

In addition, in a double-blind, placebo-controlled trial in adult patients receiving backgroundmethotrexate, patients treated with Enbrel and anakinra were observed to have a higher rate of seriousinfections (7%) and neutropenia than patients treated with Enbrel (see sections 4.4 and 4.8). Thecombination Enbrel and anakinra has not demonstrated increased clinical benefit, and is therefore notrecommended.

Concurrent treatment with abatacept

In clinical studies, concurrent administration of abatacept and Enbrel resulted in increased incidencesof serious adverse events. This combination has not demonstrated increased clinical benefit; such useis not recommended (see section 4.4).

Concurrent treatment with sulfasalazine

In a clinical study of adult patients who were receiving established doses of sulfasalazine, to which

Enbrel was added, patients in the combination group experienced a statistically significant decrease inmean white blood cell counts in comparison to groups treated with Enbrel or sulfasalazine alone. Theclinical significance of this interaction is unknown. Physicians should use caution when consideringcombination therapy with sulfasalazine.

Non-interactions

In clinical trials, no interactions have been observed when Enbrel was administered withglucocorticoids, salicylates (except sulfasalazine), nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs),analgesics, or methotrexate. See section 4.4 for vaccination advice.

No clinically significant pharmacokinetic drug-drug interactions were observed in studies withmethotrexate, digoxin or warfarin.

4.6 Fertility, pregnancy and lactation

Women of childbearing potential

Women of childbearing potential should consider the use of appropriate contraception to avoidbecoming pregnant during Enbrel therapy and for three weeks after discontinuation of therapy.

Pregnancy

Developmental toxicity studies performed in rats and rabbits have revealed no evidence of harm to thefoetus or neonatal rat due to etanercept. The effects of etanercept on pregnancy outcomes have beeninvestigated in two observational cohort studies. A higher rate of major birth defects was observed inone observational study comparing pregnancies exposed to etanercept (n=370) during the firsttrimester with pregnancies not exposed to etanercept or other TNF-antagonists (n=164) (adjusted oddsratio 2.4, 95% CI: 1.0-5.5). The types of major birth defects were consistent with those mostcommonly reported in the general population and no particular pattern of abnormalities was identified.

No change in the rate of spontaneous abortion, stillbirth, or minor malformations was observed. Inanother observational multi-country registry study comparing the risk of adverse pregnancy outcomesin women exposed to etanercept during the first 90 days of pregnancy (n=425) to those exposed tonon-biologic drugs (n=3497), there was no observed increased risk of major birth defects (crude oddsratio [OR]= 1.22, 95% CI: 0.79-1.90; adjusted OR = 0.96, 95% CI: 0.58-1.60 after adjusting forcountry, maternal disease, parity, maternal age and smoking in early pregnancy). This study alsoshowed no increased risks of minor birth defects, preterm birth, stillbirth, or infections in the first yearof life for infants born to women exposed to etanercept during pregnancy. Enbrel should only be usedduring pregnancy if clearly needed.

Etanercept crosses the placenta and has been detected in the serum of infants born to female patientstreated with Enbrel during pregnancy. The clinical impact of this is unknown, however, infants may beat increased risk of infection. Administration of live vaccines to infants for 16 weeks after themother’s last dose of Enbrel is generally not recommended.

Breast-feeding

In lactating rats following subcutaneous administration, etanercept was excreted in the milk anddetected in the serum of pups. Limited information from the published literature indicates etanercepthas been detected at low levels in human milk. Etanercept could be considered for use duringbreast-feeding taking into account the benefit of breast-feeding for the child and the benefit of therapyfor the woman.

While systemic exposure in a breastfed infant is expected to be low because etanercept is largelydegraded in the gastrointestinal tract, limited data regarding systemic exposure in the breastfed infantare available. Therefore, the administration of live vaccines (e.g., BCG) to a breastfed infant when themother is receiving etanercept could be considered 16 weeks after stopping breast-feeding (or at anearlier timepoint if the infant etanercept serum levels are undetectable).

Fertility

Preclinical data about peri- and postnatal toxicity of etanercept and of effects of etanercept on fertilityand general reproductive performance are not available.

4.7 Effects on ability to drive and use machines

Enbrel has no or negligible influence on the ability to drive and use machines.

4.8 Undesirable effects

Summary of the safety profile

The most commonly reported adverse reactions are injection site reactions (such as pain, swelling,itching, reddening and bleeding at the puncture site), infections (such as upper respiratory infections,bronchitis, bladder infections and skin infections), headache, allergic reactions, development ofautoantibodies, itching, and fever.

Serious adverse reactions have also been reported for Enbrel. TNF-antagonists, such as Enbrel, affectthe immune system and their use may affect the body’s defenses against infection and cancer. Seriousinfections affect fewer than 1 in 100 patients treated with Enbrel. Reports have included fatal andlife-threatening infections and sepsis. Various malignancies have also been reported with use of

Enbrel, including cancers of the breast, lung, skin and lymph glands (lymphoma).

Serious haematological, neurological and autoimmune reactions have also been reported. Theseinclude rare reports of pancytopenia and very rare reports of aplastic anaemia. Central and peripheraldemyelinating events have been seen rarely and very rarely, respectively, with Enbrel use. There havebeen rare reports of lupus, lupus-related conditions, and vasculitis.

Tabulated list of adverse reactions

The following list of adverse reactions is based on experience from clinical trials and onpostmarketing experience.

Within the organ system classes, adverse reactions are listed under headings of frequency (number ofpatients expected to experience the reaction), using the following categories: 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); veryrare (< 1/10,000); not known (cannot be estimated from the available data).

System Organ Very Common Uncommon Rare Very Rare Not Known

Class Common ≥ 1/100 to ≥ 1/1,000 to ≥ 1/10,000 to < 1/10,000 (Cannot be≥ 1/10 < 1/10 < 1/100 < 1/1,000 Estimated from

Available Data)

Infections and Infection Serious Tuberculosis, Hepatitis Binfestations (including infections opportunistic reactivation, listeriaupper (including infection (includingrespiratory pneumonia, invasive fungal,tract cellulitis, protozoal, bacterial,infection, arthritis atypicalbronchitis, bacterial, sepsis mycobacterial, viralcystitis, and parasitic infections, andskin infection)* Legionella)*infection)*

Neoplasms Non-melanoma Malignant melanoma Merkel cellbenign, skin cancers* (see section 4.4), carcinoma (seemalignant and (see section 4.4) lymphoma, section 4.4),unspecified leukaemia Kaposi’s sarcoma(including cystsand polyps)

Blood and Thrombocytope Pancytopenia* Aplastic Histiocytosislymphatic nia, anaemia, anaemia* haematophagicsystem leukopenia, (macrophagedisorders neutropenia activationsyndrome)*

Immune system Allergic Vasculitis Serious Worsening ofdisorders reactions (see (including anti- allergic/anaphylactic symptoms of

Skin and neutrophilic reactions (including dermatomyositissubcutaneous cytoplasmic angioedema,tissue antibody positive bronchospasm),disorders), vasculitis) sarcoidosisautoantibodyformation*

Nervous system Headache CNS demyelinatingdisorders events suggestive ofmultiple sclerosis orlocaliseddemyelinatingconditions, such asoptic neuritis andtransverse myelitis(see section 4.4),peripheraldemyelinatingevents, including

Guillain-Barrésyndrome, chronicinflammatorydemyelinatingpolyneuropathy,demyelinatingpolyneuropathy, andmultifocal motorneuropathy (seesection 4.4), seizure

Eye disorders Uveitis, scleritis

Cardiac Worsening of New onset cardiacdisorders cardiac failure failure congestivecongestive (see (see section 4.4)section 4.4)

Respiratory, Interstitial lungthoracic, and disease (includingmediastinal pneumonitis anddisorders pulmonary fibrosis)*

Gastrointestinal Inflammatorydisorders bowel disease

Hepatobiliary Elevated liver Autoimmunedisorders enzymes* hepatitis*

System Organ Very Common Uncommon Rare Very Rare Not Known

Class Common ≥ 1/100 to ≥ 1/1,000 to ≥ 1/10,000 to < 1/10,000 (Cannot be≥ 1/10 < 1/10 < 1/100 < 1/1,000 Estimated from

Available Data)

Skin and Pruritus, rash Angioedema, Stevens-Johnson Toxicsubcutaneous psoriasis syndrome, cutaneous epidermaltissue disorders (including new vasculitis (including necrolysisonset or hypersensitivityworsening and vasculitis), erythemapustular, multiforme,primarily palms lichenoid reactionsand soles),urticaria,psoriasiformrash

Musculoskeletal Cutaneous lupusand connective erythematosus,tissue disorders subacute cutaneouslupus erythematosus,lupus-like syndrome

Renal and Glomerulonephritisurinarydisorders

General Injection Pyrexiadisorders and siteadministration reactionssite conditions (includingbleeding,bruising,erythema,itching,pain,swelling)*

*see Description of selected adverse reactions, below.

Description of selected adverse reactions
Malignancies and lymphoproliferative disorders

One hundred and twenty-nine (129) new malignancies of various types were observed in 4,114rheumatoid arthritis patients treated in clinical trials with Enbrel for up to approximately 6 years,including 231 patients treated with Enbrel in combination with methotrexate in the 2-yearactive-controlled study. The observed rates and incidences in these clinical trials were similar to thoseexpected for the population studied. A total of 2 malignancies were reported in clinical studies ofapproximately 2 years duration involving 240 Enbrel-treated psoriatic arthritis patients. In clinicalstudies conducted for more than 2 years with 351 ankylosing spondylitis patients, 6 malignancies werereported in Enbrel-treated patients. In a group of 2,711 plaque psoriasis patients treated with Enbrel indouble-blind and open-label studies of up to 2.5 years, 30 malignancies and 43 nonmelanoma skincancers were reported.

In a group of 7,416 patients treated with Enbrel in rheumatoid arthritis, psoriatic arthritis, ankylosingspondylitis and psoriasis clinical trials, 18 lymphomas were reported.

Reports of various malignancies (including breast and lung carcinoma and lymphoma) have also beenreceived in the postmarketing period (see section 4.4).

Injection site reactions

Compared to placebo, patients with rheumatic diseases treated with Enbrel had a significantly higherincidence of injection site reactions (36% vs. 9%). Injection site reactions usually occurred in the firstmonth. Mean duration was approximately 3 to 5 days. No treatment was given for the majority ofinjection site reactions in the Enbrel treatment groups, and the majority of patients who were giventreatment received topical preparations, such as corticosteroids, or oral antihistamines. Additionally,some patients developed recall injection site reactions characterised by a skin reaction at the mostrecent site of injection, along with the simultaneous appearance of injection site reactions at previousinjection sites. These reactions were generally transient and did not recur with treatment.

In controlled trials in patients with plaque psoriasis, approximately 13.6% of patients treated with

Enbrel developed injection site reactions compared with 3.4% of placebo-treated patients during thefirst 12 weeks of treatment.

Serious infections

In placebo-controlled trials, no increase in the incidence of serious infections (fatal, life-threatening, orrequiring hospitalisation or intravenous antibiotics) was observed. Serious infections occurred in 6.3%of rheumatoid arthritis patients treated with Enbrel for up to 48 months. These included abscess (atvarious sites), bacteraemia, bronchitis, bursitis, cellulitis, cholecystitis, diarrhoea, diverticulitis,endocarditis (suspected), gastroenteritis, hepatitis B, herpes zoster, leg ulcer, mouth infection,osteomyelitis, otitis, peritonitis, pneumonia, pyelonephritis, sepsis, septic arthritis, sinusitis, skininfection, skin ulcer, urinary tract infection, vasculitis, and wound infection. In the 2-yearactive-controlled study where patients were treated with either Enbrel alone, methotrexate alone or

Enbrel in combination with methotrexate, the rates of serious infections were similar among thetreatment groups. However, it cannot be excluded that the combination of Enbrel with methotrexatecould be associated with an increase in the rate of infections.

There were no differences in rates of infection among patients treated with Enbrel and those treatedwith placebo for plaque psoriasis in placebo-controlled trials of up to 24 weeks duration. Seriousinfections experienced by Enbrel-treated patients included cellulitis, gastroenteritis, pneumonia,cholecystitis, osteomyelitis, gastritis, appendicitis, Streptococcal fasciitis, myositis, septic shock,diverticulitis and abscess. In the double-blind and open-label psoriatic arthritis trials, 1 patient reporteda serious infection (pneumonia).

Serious and fatal infections have been reported during use of Enbrel; reported pathogens includebacteria, mycobacteria (including tuberculosis), viruses and fungi. Some have occurred within a fewweeks after initiating treatment with Enbrel in patients who have underlying conditions (e.g., diabetes,congestive heart failure, history of active or chronic infections) in addition to their rheumatoid arthritis(see section 4.4). Enbrel treatment may increase mortality in patients with established sepsis.

Opportunistic infections have been reported in association with Enbrel, including invasive fungal,parasitic (including protozoal), viral (including herpes zoster), bacterial (including Listeria and

Legionella), and atypical mycobacterial infections. In a pooled data set of clinical trials, the overallincidence of opportunistic infections was 0.09% for the 15,402 subjects who received Enbrel. Theexposure-adjusted rate was 0.06 events per 100 patient-years. In postmarketing experience,approximately half of all of the case reports of opportunistic infections worldwide were invasivefungal infections. The most commonly reported invasive fungal infections included Candida,

Pneumocystis, Aspergillus, and Histoplasma. Invasive fungal infections accounted for more than halfof the fatalities amongst patients who developed opportunistic infections. The majority of the reportswith a fatal outcome were in patients with Pneumocystis pneumonia, unspecified systemic fungalinfections, and aspergillosis (see section 4.4).

Autoantibodies

Adult patients had serum samples tested for autoantibodies at multiple timepoints. Of the rheumatoidarthritis patients evaluated for antinuclear antibodies (ANA), the percentage of patients who developednew positive ANA (1:40) was higher in patients treated with Enbrel (11%) than in placebo-treatedpatients (5%). The percentage of patients who developed new positive anti-double-stranded DNAantibodies was also higher by radioimmunoassay (15% of patients treated with Enbrel compared to 4%of placebo-treated patients) and by Crithidia luciliae assay (3% of patients treated with Enbrelcompared to none of placebo-treated patients). The proportion of patients treated with Enbrel whodeveloped anticardiolipin antibodies was similarly increased compared to placebo-treated patients.

The impact of long-term treatment with Enbrel on the development of autoimmune diseases isunknown.

There have been rare reports of patients, including rheumatoid factor positive patients, who havedeveloped other autoantibodies in conjunction with a lupus-like syndrome or rashes that arecompatible with subacute cutaneous lupus or discoid lupus by clinical presentation and biopsy.

Pancytopenia and aplastic anaemia

There have been postmarketing reports of pancytopenia and aplastic anaemia, some of which had fataloutcomes (see section 4.4).

Interstitial lung disease

In controlled clinical trials of etanercept across all indications, the frequency (incidence proportion) ofinterstitial lung disease in patients receiving etanercept without concomitant methotrexate was 0.06%(frequency rare). In the controlled clinical trials that allowed concomitant treatment with etanerceptand methotrexate, the frequency (incidence proportion) of interstitial lung disease was 0.47%(frequency uncommon). There have been postmarketing reports of interstitial lung disease (includingpneumonitis and pulmonary fibrosis), some of which had fatal outcomes.

Concurrent treatment with anakinra

In studies when adult patients received concurrent treatment with Enbrel plus anakinra, a higher rate ofserious infections compared to Enbrel alone was observed and 2% of patients (3/139) developedneutropenia (absolute neutrophil count  1000/mm3). While neutropenic, one patient developedcellulitis that resolved after hospitalisation (see sections 4.4 and 4.5).

Elevated liver enzymes

In the double-blind periods of controlled clinical trials of etanercept across all indications, thefrequency (incidence proportion) of adverse events of elevated liver enzymes in patients receivingetanercept without concomitant methotrexate was 0.54% (frequency uncommon). In the double-blindperiods of controlled clinical trials that allowed concomitant treatment with etanercept andmethotrexate, the frequency (incidence proportion) of adverse events of elevated liver enzymes was4.18% (frequency common).

Autoimmune hepatitis

In controlled clinical trials of etanercept across all indications, the frequency (incidence proportion) ofautoimmune hepatitis in patients receiving etanercept without concomitant methotrexate was 0.02%(frequency rare). In the controlled clinical trials that allowed concomitant treatment with etanerceptand methotrexate, the frequency (incidence proportion) of autoimmune hepatitis was 0.24%(frequency uncommon).

Paediatric population

Undesirable effects in paediatric patients with juvenile idiopathic arthritis

In general, the adverse events in paediatric patients with juvenile idiopathic arthritis were similar infrequency and type to those seen in adult patients. Differences from adults and other specialconsiderations are discussed in the following paragraphs.

The types of infections seen in clinical trials in juvenile idiopathic arthritis patients aged 2 to 18 yearswere generally mild to moderate and consistent with those commonly seen in outpatient paediatricpopulations. Severe adverse events reported included varicella with signs and symptoms of asepticmeningitis, which resolved without sequelae (see also section 4.4), appendicitis, gastroenteritis,depression/personality disorder, cutaneous ulcer, oesophagitis/gastritis, group A streptococcal septicshock, type I diabetes mellitus, and soft tissue and post-operative wound infection.

In one study in children with juvenile idiopathic arthritis aged 4 to 17 years, 43 of 69 (62%) childrenexperienced an infection while receiving Enbrel during 3 months of the study (part 1, open-label), andthe frequency and severity of infections was similar in 58 patients completing 12 months of open-labelextension therapy. The types and proportion of adverse events in juvenile idiopathic arthritis patientswere similar to those seen in trials of Enbrel in adult patients with rheumatoid arthritis, and themajority were mild. Several adverse events were reported more commonly in 69 juvenile idiopathicarthritis patients receiving 3 months of Enbrel compared to the 349 adult rheumatoid arthritis patients.

These included headache (19% of patients, 1.7 events per patient year), nausea (9%, 1.0 event perpatient year), abdominal pain (19%, 0.74 events per patient year), and vomiting (13%, 0.74 events perpatient year).

There were 4 reports of macrophage activation syndrome in juvenile idiopathic arthritis clinical trials.

Undesirable effects in paediatric patients with plaque psoriasis

In a 48-week study in 211 children aged 4 to 17 years with paediatric plaque psoriasis, the adverseevents reported were similar to those seen in previous studies in adults with plaque psoriasis.

Reporting of suspected adverse reactions

Reporting suspected adverse reactions after authorisation of the medicinal product is important. Itallows continued monitoring of the benefit/risk balance of the medicinal product. Healthcareprofessionals are asked to report any suspected adverse reactions via the national reporting systemlisted in Appendix V.

4.9 Overdose

No dose-limiting toxicities were observed during clinical trials of rheumatoid arthritis patients. Thehighest dose level evaluated has been an intravenous loading dose of 32 mg/m2 followed bysubcutaneous doses of 16 mg/m2 administered twice weekly. One rheumatoid arthritis patientmistakenly self-administered 62 mg Enbrel subcutaneously twice weekly for 3 weeks withoutexperiencing undesirable effects. There is no known antidote to Enbrel.

5. PHARMACOLOGICAL PROPERTIES

5.1 Pharmacodynamic properties

Pharmacotherapeutic group: Immunosuppressants, Tumour Necrosis Factor alpha (TNF-α) inhibitors,

ATC code: L04AB01

Tumour necrosis factor (TNF) is a dominant cytokine in the inflammatory process of rheumatoidarthritis. Elevated levels of TNF are also found in the synovium and psoriatic plaques of patients withpsoriatic arthritis and in serum and synovial tissue of patients with ankylosing spondylitis. In plaquepsoriasis, infiltration by inflammatory cells, including T-cells, leads to increased TNF levels inpsoriatic lesions compared with levels in uninvolved skin. Etanercept is a competitive inhibitor of

TNF binding to its cell surface receptors, and thereby inhibits the biological activity of TNF. TNF andlymphotoxin are pro-inflammatory cytokines that bind to two distinct cell surface receptors: the55-kilodalton (p55) and 75-kilodalton (p75) tumour necrosis factor receptors (TNFRs). Both TNFRsexist naturally in membrane-bound and soluble forms. Soluble TNFRs are thought to regulate TNFbiological activity.

TNF and lymphotoxin exist predominantly as homotrimers, with their biological activity dependent oncross-linking of cell surface TNFRs. Dimeric soluble receptors, such as etanercept, possess a higheraffinity for TNF than monomeric receptors and are considerably more potent competitive inhibitors of

TNF binding to its cellular receptors. In addition, use of an immunoglobulin Fc region as a fusionelement in the construction of a dimeric receptor imparts a longer serum half-life.

Mechanism of action

Much of the joint pathology in rheumatoid arthritis and ankylosing spondylitis and skin pathology inplaque psoriasis is mediated by pro-inflammatory molecules that are linked in a network controlled by

TNF. The mechanism of action of etanercept is thought to be its competitive inhibition of TNFbinding to cell surface TNFR, preventing TNF-mediated cellular responses by rendering TNFbiologically inactive. Etanercept may also modulate biologic responses controlled by additionaldownstream molecules (e.g., cytokines, adhesion molecules, or proteinases) that are induced orregulated by TNF.

Clinical efficacy and safety

This section presents data from four randomised controlled trials in adults with rheumatoid arthritis,one study in adults with psoriatic arthritis, one study in adults with ankylosing spondylitis, two studiesin adults with non-radiographic axial spondyloarthritis, four studies in adults with plaque psoriasis,three studies in juvenile idiopathic arthritis and one study in paediatric patients with plaque psoriasis.

Adult patients with rheumatoid arthritis

The efficacy of Enbrel was assessed in a randomised, double-blind, placebo-controlled study. Thestudy evaluated 234 adult patients with active rheumatoid arthritis who had failed therapy with at leastone but no more than four disease-modifying antirheumatic drugs (DMARDs). Doses of 10 mg or25 mg Enbrel or placebo were administered subcutaneously twice a week for 6 consecutive months.

The results of this controlled trial were expressed in percentage improvement in rheumatoid arthritisusing American College of Rheumatology (ACR) response criteria.

ACR 20 and 50 responses were higher in patients treated with Enbrel at 3 and 6 months than inpatients treated with placebo (ACR 20: Enbrel 62% and 59%, placebo 23% and 11% at 3 and6 months, respectively: ACR 50: Enbrel 41% and 40%, placebo 8% and 5% at months 3 and 6,respectively; p<0.01 Enbrel vs. placebo at all timepoints for both ACR 20 and ACR 50 responses).

Approximately 15% of subjects who received Enbrel achieved an ACR 70 response at month 3 andmonth 6 compared to fewer than 5% of subjects in the placebo arm. Among patients receiving Enbrel,the clinical responses generally appeared within 1 to 2 weeks after initiation of therapy and nearlyalways occurred by 3 months. A dose response was seen; results with 10 mg were intermediatebetween placebo and 25 mg. Enbrel was significantly better than placebo in all components of the

ACR criteria, as well as other measures of rheumatoid arthritis disease activity not included in the

ACR response criteria, such as morning stiffness. A Health Assessment Questionnaire (HAQ), whichincluded disability, vitality, mental health, general health status, and arthritis-associated health statussubdomains, was administered every 3 months during the trial. All subdomains of the HAQ wereimproved in patients treated with Enbrel compared to controls at 3 and 6 months.

After discontinuation of Enbrel, symptoms of arthritis generally returned within a month.

Re-introduction of treatment with Enbrel after discontinuation of up to 24 months resulted in the samemagnitudes of responses as patients who received Enbrel without interruption of therapy based onresults of open-label studies. Continued durable responses have been seen for up to 10 years inopen-label extension treatment trials when patients received Enbrel without interruption.

The efficacy of Enbrel was compared to methotrexate in a randomised, active-controlled study withblinded radiographic evaluations as a primary endpoint in 632 adult patients with active rheumatoidarthritis (<3 years duration) who had never received treatment with methotrexate. Doses of 10 mg or25 mg Enbrel were administered subcutaneously (SC) twice a week for up to 24 months. Methotrexatedoses were escalated from 7.5 mg/week to a maximum of 20 mg/week over the first 8 weeks of thetrial and continued for up to 24 months. Clinical improvement, including onset of action within2 weeks with Enbrel 25 mg, was similar to that seen in the previous trials and was maintained for up to24 months. At baseline, patients had a moderate degree of disability, with mean HAQ scores of 1.4 to1.5. Treatment with Enbrel 25 mg resulted in substantial improvement at 12 months, with about 44%of patients achieving a normal HAQ score (less than 0.5). This benefit was maintained in Year 2 ofthis study.

In this study, structural joint damage was assessed radiographically and expressed as change in Total

Sharp Score (TSS) and its components, the erosion score and Joint Space Narrowing (JSN) score.

Radiographs of hands/wrists and feet were read at baseline and 6, 12, and 24 months. The 10 mg

Enbrel dose had consistently less effect on structural damage than the 25 mg dose. Enbrel 25 mg wassignificantly superior to methotrexate for erosion scores at both 12 and 24 months. The differences in

TSS and JSN were not statistically significant between methotrexate and Enbrel 25 mg. The results areshown in the figure below.

Radiographic Progression: Comparison of Enbrel vs. Methotrexate in Patients with RA of<3 Years Duration2.5 12 Months 2.5 24 Months2.22.0 2.01.5 1.3 1.5 1.31.21.0 0.9 0.90.8 1.00.6* 0.60.5 0.4* 0.4 0.4 0.50.0 0.0

TSS Erosions JSN TSS Erosions JSN

MTX

Enbrel 25 mg

*p < 0.05

In another active-controlled, double-blind, randomised study, clinical efficacy, safety, andradiographic progression in RA patients treated with Enbrel alone (25 mg twice weekly), methotrexatealone (7.5 to 20 mg weekly, median dose 20 mg), and the combination of Enbrel and methotrexateinitiated concurrently were compared in 682 adult patients with active rheumatoid arthritis of 6 monthsto 20 years duration (median 5 years) who had a less than satisfactory response to at least 1disease-modifying antirheumatic drug (DMARD) other than methotrexate.

Patients in the Enbrel in combination with methotrexate therapy group had significantly higher

ACR 20, ACR 50, ACR 70 responses and improvement for DAS and HAQ scores at both 24 and52 weeks than patients in either of the single therapy groups (results shown in table below).

Significant advantages for Enbrel in combination with methotrexate compared with Enbrelmonotherapy and methotrexate monotherapy were also observed after 24 months.

Clinical Efficacy Results at 12 Months: Comparison of Enbrel vs. Methotrexate vs. Enbrelin Combination with Methotrexate in Patients with RA of 6 Months To 20 Years Duration

Enbrel +

Endpoint Methotrexate Enbrel Methotrexate(n = 228) (n = 223) (n = 231)a

ACR Responses

ACR 20 58.8% 65.5% 74.5% †,

ACR 50 36.4% 43.0% 63.2% †,

ACR 70 16.7% 22.0% 39.8% †,

Change from Baseline

Clinical Efficacy Results at 12 Months: Comparison of Enbrel vs. Methotrexate vs. Enbrelin Combination with Methotrexate in Patients with RA of 6 Months To 20 Years Duration

Enbrel +

Endpoint Methotrexate Enbrel Methotrexate(n = 228) (n = 223) (n = 231)

DAS

Baseline 5.5 5.7 5.5scoreb

Week 52 3.0 3.0 2.3†,scoreb

Remissionc 14% 18% 37%†,

HAQ

Baseline 1.7 1.7 1.8

Week 52 1.1 1.0 0.8†,a: Patients who did not complete 12 months in the study were considered to be non-responders.

b: Values for Disease Activity Score (DAS) are means.

c: Remission is defined as DAS <1.6.

Pairwise comparison p-values: † = p < 0.05 for comparisons of Enbrel + methotrexate vs.

methotrexate and  = p < 0.05 for comparisons of Enbrel + methotrexate vs. Enbrel.

Radiographic progression at 12 months was significantly less in the Enbrel group than in themethotrexate group, while the combination was significantly better than either monotherapy atslowing radiographic progression (see figure below).

Radiographic Progression: Comparison of Enbrel vs. Methotrexate vs. Enbrel in Combinationwith Methotrexate in Patients with RA of 6 Months To 20 Years Duration (12 Month Results)3.0 2.80

Methotrexate

Enbrel2.5

Enbrel + Methotrexate2.01.681.51.121.00.52*0.5 0.320.21*0.0

- 0.23†,

- 0.5 -0.30†

- 0.54†,

- 1.0

TSS Erosions JSN

Pairwise comparison p-values: * = p < 0.05 for comparisons of Enbrel vs.

methotrexate, † = p < 0.05 for comparisons of Enbrel + methotrexate vs.

methotrexate and  = p < 0.05 for comparisons of Enbrel + methotrexate vs.

Enbrel.

Significant advantages for Enbrel in combination with methotrexate compared with Enbrelmonotherapy and methotrexate monotherapy were also observed after 24 months. Similarly, thesignificant advantages for Enbrel monotherapy compared with methotrexate monotherapy were alsoobserved after 24 months.

Change from Baseline

In an analysis in which all patients who dropped out of the study for any reason were considered tohave progressed, the percentage of patients without progression (TSS change ≤ 0.5) at 24 months washigher in the Enbrel in combination with methotrexate group compared with the Enbrel alone andmethotrexate alone groups (62%, 50%, and 36%, respectively; p< 0.05). The difference between

Enbrel alone and methotrexate alone was also significant (p< 0.05). Among patients who completed afull 24 months of therapy in the study, the non-progression rates were 78%, 70%, and 61%,respectively.

The safety and efficacy of 50 mg Enbrel (two 25 mg SC injections) administered once weekly wereevaluated in a double-blind, placebo-controlled study of 420 patients with active RA. In this study, 53patients received placebo, 214 patients received 50 mg Enbrel once weekly and 153 patients received25 mg Enbrel twice weekly. The safety and efficacy profiles of the two Enbrel treatment regimenswere comparable at week 8 in their effect on signs and symptoms of RA; data at week 16 did not showcomparability (non-inferiority) between the two regimens.

Adult patients with psoriatic arthritis

The efficacy of Enbrel was assessed in a randomised, double-blind, placebo-controlled study in 205patients with psoriatic arthritis. Patients were between 18 and 70 years of age and had active psoriaticarthritis ( 3 swollen joints and  3 tender joints) in at least one of the following forms: (1) distalinterphalangeal (DIP) involvement; (2) polyarticular arthritis (absence of rheumatoid nodules andpresence of psoriasis); (3) arthritis mutilans; (4) asymmetric psoriatic arthritis; or (5) spondylitis-likeankylosis. Patients also had plaque psoriasis with a qualifying target lesion  2 cm in diameter.

Patients had previously been treated with NSAIDs (86%), DMARDs (80%), and corticosteroids(24%). Patients currently on methotrexate therapy (stable for  2 months) could continue at a stabledose of  25 mg/week methotrexate. Doses of 25 mg of Enbrel (based on dose-finding studies inpatients with rheumatoid arthritis) or placebo were administered SC twice a week for 6 months. At theend of the double-blind study, patients could enter a long-term open-label extension study for a totalduration of up to 2 years.

Clinical responses were expressed as percentages of patients achieving the ACR 20, 50, and 70response and percentages with improvement in Psoriatic Arthritis Response Criteria (PsARC). Resultsare summarised in the table below.

Responses of Patients with Psoriatic Arthritis in a

Placebo-Controlled Trial

Percent of Patients

Placebo Enbrela

Psoriatic Arthritis Response n = 104 n = 101

ACR 20

Month 3 15 59b

Month 6 13 50b

ACR 50

Month 3 4 38b

Month 6 4 37b

ACR 70

Month 3 0 11b

Month 6 1 9c

PsARC

Month 3 31 72b

Month 6 23 70b

Responses of Patients with Psoriatic Arthritis in a

Placebo-Controlled Trial

Percent of Patients

Placebo Enbrela

Psoriatic Arthritis Response n = 104 n = 101a: 25 mg Enbrel SC twice weeklyb: p < 0.001, Enbrel vs. placeboc: p < 0.01, Enbrel vs. placebo

Among patients with psoriatic arthritis who received Enbrel, the clinical responses were apparent atthe time of the first visit (4 weeks) and were maintained through 6 months of therapy. Enbrel wassignificantly better than placebo in all measures of disease activity (p < 0.001), and responses weresimilar with and without concomitant methotrexate therapy. Quality of life in psoriatic arthritispatients was assessed at every timepoint using the disability index of the HAQ. The disability indexscore was significantly improved at all timepoints in psoriatic arthritis patients treated with Enbrel,relative to placebo (p < 0.001).

Radiographic changes were assessed in the psoriatic arthritis study. Radiographs of hands and wristswere obtained at baseline and months 6, 12, and 24. The modified TSS at 12 months is presented inthe table below. In an analysis in which all patients who dropped out of the study for any reason wereconsidered to have progressed, the percentage of patients without progression (TSS change ≤ 0.5) at12 months was higher in the Enbrel group compared with the placebo group (73% vs. 47%,respectively, p ≤ 0.001). The effect of Enbrel on radiographic progression was maintained in patientswho continued on treatment during the second year. The slowing of peripheral joint damage wasobserved in patients with polyarticular symmetrical joint involvement.

Mean (SE) Annualized Change from Baseline in Total Sharp Score

Placebo Etanercept

Time (n = 104) (n = 101)

Month 12 1.00 (0.29) -0.03 (0.09)a

SE = standard error.

a. p = 0.0001.

Enbrel treatment resulted in improvement in physical function during the double-blind period, and thisbenefit was maintained during the longer-term exposure of up to 2 years.

There is insufficient evidence of the efficacy of Enbrel in patients with ankylosing spondylitis-like andarthritis mutilans psoriatic arthropathies due to the small number of patients studied.

No study has been performed in patients with psoriatic arthritis using the 50 mg once-weekly dosingregimen. Evidence of efficacy for the once-weekly dosing regimen in this patient population has beenbased on data from the study in patients with ankylosing spondylitis.

Adult patients with ankylosing spondylitis

The efficacy of Enbrel in ankylosing spondylitis was assessed in 3 randomised, double-blind studiescomparing twice-weekly administration of 25 mg Enbrel with placebo. A total of 401 patients wereenrolled, from which 203 were treated with Enbrel. The largest of these trials (n= 277) enrolledpatients who were between 18 and 70 years of age and had active ankylosing spondylitis defined asvisual analog scale (VAS) scores of  30 for average of duration and intensity of morning stiffnessplus VAS scores of  30 for at least 2 of the following 3 parameters: patient global assessment;average of VAS values for nocturnal back pain and total back pain; average of 10 questions on the

Bath Ankylosing Spondylitis Functional Index (BASFI). Patients receiving DMARDs, NSAIDS, orcorticosteroids could continue them on stable doses. Patients with complete ankylosis of the spinewere not included in the study. Doses of 25 mg of Enbrel (based on dose-finding studies in patientswith rheumatoid arthritis) or placebo were administered subcutaneously twice a week for 6 months in138 patients.

The primary measure of efficacy (ASAS 20) was a 20% improvement in at least 3 of the 4

Assessment in Ankylosing Spondylitis (ASAS) domains (patient global assessments, back pain,

BASFI, and inflammation) and absence of deterioration in the remaining domain. ASAS 50 and 70responses used the same criteria with a 50% improvement or a 70% improvement, respectively.

Compared to placebo, treatment with Enbrel resulted in significant improvements in the ASAS 20,

ASAS 50 and ASAS 70 as early as 2 weeks after the initiation of therapy.

Responses of Patients with Ankylosing Spondylitis in a

Placebo-controlled Trial

Percent of Patients

Ankylosing Spondylitis Placebo Enbrel

Response N = 139 N = 138

ASAS 202 weeks 22 46a3 months 27 60a6 months 23 58a

ASAS 502 weeks 7 24a3 months 13 45a6 months 10 42a

ASAS 702 weeks 2 12b3 months 7 29b6 months 5 28ba: p <0.001, Enbrel vs. placebob: p = 0.002, Enbrel vs. placebo

Among patients with ankylosing spondylitis who received Enbrel, the clinical responses were apparentat the time of the first visit (2 weeks) and were maintained through 6 months of therapy. Responseswere similar in patients who were or were not receiving concomitant therapies at baseline.

Similar results were obtained in the 2 smaller ankylosing spondylitis trials.

In a fourth study, the safety and efficacy of 50 mg Enbrel (two 25 mg SC injections) administeredonce weekly vs. 25 mg Enbrel administered twice weekly were evaluated in a double-blind,placebo-controlled study of 356 patients with active ankylosing spondylitis. The safety and efficacyprofiles of the 50 mg once-weekly and 25 mg twice-weekly regimens were similar.

Adult patients with non-radiographic axial spondyloarthritis

Study 1

The efficacy of Enbrel in patients with non-radiographic axial spondyloarthritis (nr-AxSpa) wasassessed in a randomised, 12-week double-blind, placebo-controlled study. The study evaluated215 adult patients (modified intent-to-treat population) with active nr-AxSpa (18 to 49 years of age),defined as those patients meeting the ASAS classification criteria of axial spondyloarthritis but did notmeet the modified New York criteria for AS. Patients were also required to have an inadequateresponse or intolerance to two or more NSAIDs. In the double-blind period, patients received Enbrel50 mg weekly or placebo for 12 weeks. The primary measure of efficacy (ASAS 40) was a 40%improvement in at least three of the four ASAS domains and absence of deterioration in the remainingdomain. The double-blind period was followed by an open-label period during which all patientsreceive Enbrel 50 mg weekly for up to an additional 92 weeks. MRIs of the sacroiliac joint and spinewere obtained to assess inflammation at baseline and at weeks 12 and 104.

Compared to placebo, treatment with Enbrel resulted in statistically significant improvement in the

ASAS 40, ASAS 20 and ASAS 5/6. Significant improvement was also observed for the ASAS partialremission and BASDAI 50. Week 12 results are shown in the table below.

Efficacy Response in Placebo-Controlled nr-AxSpa Study: Percent of Patients Achieving

Endpoints

Double-Blind Clinical Placebo Enbrel

Responses at Week 12 N=106 to 109* N=103 to 105*

ASAS** 40 15.7 32.4b

ASAS 20 36.1 52.4c

ASAS 5/6 10.4 33.0a

ASAS partial remission 11.9 24.8c

BASDAI***50 23.9 43.8b

*Some patients did not provide complete data for each endpoint

**ASAS=Assessments in Spondyloarthritis International Society

***Bath Ankylosing Spondylitis Disease Activity Indexa: p <0.001, b:<0.01 and c:<0.05, respectively between Enbrel and placebo

At week 12, there was a statistically significant improvement in the SPARCC (Spondyloarthritis

Research Consortium of Canada) score for the sacroiliac joint (SIJ) as measured by MRI for patientsreceiving Enbrel. Adjusted mean change from baseline was 3.8 for Enbrel treated (n=95) versus 0.8for placebo treated (n=105) patients (p<0.001). At week 104, the mean change from baseline in the

SPARCC score measured on MRI for all Enbrel-treated subjects was 4.64 for the SIJ (n=153) and1.40 the spine (n=154).

Enbrel showed statistically significantly greater improvement from baseline to week 12 compared toplacebo in most health-related quality of life and physical function assessments, including BASFI(Bath Ankylosing Spondylitis Functional Index), EuroQol 5D Overall Health State Score and SF-36

Physical Component Score.

Clinical responses among nr-AxSpa patients who received Enbrel were apparent at the time of the firstvisit (2 weeks) and were maintained through 2 years of therapy. Improvements in health-relatedquality of life and physical function were also maintained through 2 years of therapy. The 2 year datadid not reveal any new safety findings. At week 104, 8 subjects had progressed to a score of bilateral

Grade 2 on spinal X-ray according to the modified New York Radiological Grade, indicative of axialspondyloarthropathy.

Study 2

This multi-center, open-label, phase 4, 3-period study evaluated the withdrawal and retreatment of

Enbrel in patients with active nr-AxSpa who achieved an adequate response (inactive disease definedas Ankylosing Spondylitis Disease Activity Score (ASDAS) C-reactive protein (CRP) less than 1.3)following 24 weeks of treatment.

209 adult patients with active nr-AxSpa (18 to 49 years of age), defined as those patients meeting the

Assessment of SpondyloArthritis International Society (ASAS) classification criteria of axialspondyloarthritis (but not meeting the modified New York criteria for AS), having positive MRIfindings (active inflammation on MRI highly suggestive of sacroiliitis associated with SpA) and/orpositive hsCRP (defined as high sensitivity C-reactive protein [hsCRP] >3 mg/l), and active symptomsdefined by an ASDAS CRP greater than or equal to 2.1 at the screening visit received open-label

Enbrel 50 mg weekly plus stable background NSAID at the optimal tolerated anti-inflammatorydosage for 24 weeks in Period 1. Patients were also required to have an inadequate response orintolerance to two or more NSAIDs. At week 24, 119 (57%) patients achieved inactive disease andentered into the Period 2 40-week withdrawal phase where subjects discontinued etanercept, yetmaintained the background NSAID. The primary measure of efficacy was the occurrence of flare(defined as an ASDAS erythrocyte sedimentation rate (ESR) greater than or equal to 2.1) within40 weeks following withdrawal of Enbrel. Patients who flared were retreated with Enbrel 50 mgweekly for 12 weeks (Period 3).

In Period 2, the proportion of patients experiencing ≥1 flare increased from 22% (25/112) at week 4 to67% (77/115) at week 40. Overall, 75% (86/115) patients experienced a flare at any time point within40 weeks following withdrawal of Enbrel.

The key secondary objective of Study 2 was to estimate time to flare after withdrawal of Enbrel andadditionally compare the time to flare to patients from Study 1 who met the Study 2 withdrawal phaseentry requirements and continued Enbrel therapy.

The median time to flare following withdrawal of Enbrel was 16 weeks (95% CI: 13-24 weeks). Lessthan 25% of patients in Study 1 who did not have treatment withdrawn experienced a flare over theequivalent 40-weeks as in Period 2 Study 2. The time to flare was statistically significantly shorter insubjects who discontinued Enbrel treatment (Study 2) compared to subjects who received continuousetanercept treatment (Study 1), p<0.0001.

Of the 87 patients who entered Period 3 and were retreated with Enbrel 50 mg weekly for 12 weeks,62% (54/87) reachieved inactive disease, with 50% of them reachieving it within 5 weeks (95% CI:

4-8 weeks).

Adult patients with plaque psoriasis

Enbrel is recommended for use in patients as defined in section 4.1. Patients who “failed to respondto” in the target population is defined by insufficient response (PASI<50 or PGA less than good), orworsening of the disease while on treatment, and who were adequately dosed for a sufficiently longduration to assess response with at least one of the three major systemic therapies as available.

The efficacy of Enbrel versus other systemic therapies in patients with moderate to severe psoriasis(responsive to other systemic therapies) has not been evaluated in studies directly comparing Enbrelwith other systemic therapies. Instead, the safety and efficacy of Enbrel were assessed in fourrandomised, double-blind, placebo-controlled studies. The primary efficacy endpoint in all four studieswas the proportion of patients in each treatment group who achieved the PASI 75 (i.e., at least a 75%improvement in the Psoriasis Area and Severity Index score from baseline) at 12 weeks.

Study 1 was a Phase 2 study in patients with active, but clinically stable, plaque psoriasis involving 10% of the body surface area who were  18 years old. One hundred and twelve (112) patients wererandomised to receive a dose of 25 mg of Enbrel (n=57) or placebo (n=55) twice a week for 24 weeks.

Study 2 evaluated 652 patients with chronic plaque psoriasis using the same inclusion criteria as study1 with the addition of a minimum psoriasis area and severity index (PASI) of 10 at screening. Enbrelwas administered at doses of 25 mg once a week, 25 mg twice a week or 50 mg twice a week for6 consecutive months. During the first 12 weeks of the double-blind treatment period, patientsreceived placebo or one of the above three Enbrel doses. After 12 weeks of treatment, patients in theplacebo group began treatment with blinded Enbrel (25 mg twice a week); patients in the activetreatment groups continued to week 24 on the dose to which they were originally randomised.

Study 3 evaluated 583 patients and had the same inclusion criteria as study 2. Patients in this studyreceived a dose of 25 mg or 50 mg Enbrel, or placebo twice a week for 12 weeks and then all patientsreceived open-label 25 mg Enbrel twice weekly for an additional 24 weeks.

Study 4 evaluated 142 patients and had similar inclusion criteria to studies 2 and 3. Patients in thisstudy received a dose of 50 mg Enbrel or placebo once weekly for 12 weeks and then all patientsreceived open-label 50 mg Enbrel once weekly for an additional 12 weeks.

In study 1, the Enbrel-treated group had a significantly higher proportion of patients with a PASI 75response at week 12 (30%) compared to the placebo-treated group (2%) (p < 0.0001). At 24 weeks,56% of patients in the Enbrel-treated group had achieved the PASI 75 compared to 5% ofplacebo-treated patients. Key results of studies 2, 3 and 4 are shown below.

Responses of Patients with Psoriasis in Studies 2, 3 and 4

Study 2 Study 3 Study 4

- ---------Enbrel--------- --------Enbrel------- -------Enbrel------25 mg 50 mg 25 mg 50 mg 50 mg 50 mg

Placebo BIW BIW Placebo BIW BIW Placebo QW QWn = 166 n = n = n = n = n = 193 n = 196 n = 196 n = 46 n = 96 n = 90wk 12 162 162 164 164 wk 12 wk 12 wk 12 wk 12 wk 12 wk 24a

Respons wk wk wk wke (%) 12 24a 12 24a

PASI 50 14 58* 70 74* 77 9 64* 77* 9 69* 83

PASI 75 4 34* 44 49* 59 3 34* 49* 2 38* 71

DSGA b,clear oralmostclear 5 34* 39 49* 55 4 39* 57* 4 39* 64

*p  0.0001 compared with placebo

a. No statistical comparisons to placebo were made at week 24 in studies 2 and 4 because the originalplacebo group began receiving Enbrel 25 mg BIW or 50 mg once weekly from week 13 to week 24.

b. Dermatologist Static Global Assessment. Clear or almost clear defined as 0 or 1 on a 0 to 5 scale.

Among patients with plaque psoriasis who received Enbrel, significant responses relative to placebowere apparent at the time of the first visit (2 weeks) and were maintained through 24 weeks of therapy.

Study 2 also had a drug withdrawal period during which patients who achieved a PASI improvementof at least 50% at week 24 had treatment stopped. Patients were observed off treatment for theoccurrence of rebound (PASI  150% of baseline) and for the time to relapse (defined as a loss of atleast half of the improvement achieved between baseline and week 24). During the withdrawal period,symptoms of psoriasis gradually returned, with a median time to disease relapse of 3 months. Norebound flare of disease and no psoriasis-related serious adverse events were observed. There wassome evidence to support a benefit of re-treatment with Enbrel in patients initially responding totreatment.

In study 3, the majority of patients (77%) who were initially randomised to 50 mg twice weekly andhad their Enbrel dose decreased at week 12 to 25 mg twice weekly maintained their PASI 75 responsethrough week 36. For patients who received 25 mg twice weekly throughout the study, the PASI 75response continued to improve between weeks 12 and 36.

In study 4, the Enbrel-treated group had a higher proportion of patients with PASI 75 at week 12(38%) compared to the placebo-treated group (2%) (p< 0.0001). For patients who received 50 mg onceweekly throughout the study, the efficacy responses continued to improve with 71% achieving PASI75 at week 24.

In long-term (up to 34 months) open-label studies where Enbrel was given without interruption,clinical responses were sustained and safety was comparable to shorter-term studies.

An analysis of clinical trial data did not reveal any baseline disease characteristics that would assistclinicians in selecting the most appropriate dosing option (intermittent or continuous). Consequently,the choice of intermittent or continuous therapy should be based upon physician judgment andindividual patient needs.

Antibodies to Enbrel

Antibodies to etanercept have been detected in the sera of some subjects treated with etanercept.

These antibodies have all been non-neutralising and are generally transient. There appears to be nocorrelation between antibody development and clinical response or adverse events.

In subjects treated with approved doses of etanercept in clinical trials for up to 12 months, cumulativerates of anti-etanercept antibodies were approximately 6% of subjects with rheumatoid arthritis, 7.5%of subjects with psoriatic arthritis, 2% of subjects with ankylosing spondylitis, 7% of subjects withpsoriasis, 9.7% of subjects with paediatric psoriasis, and 4.8% of subjects with juvenile idiopathicarthritis.

The proportion of subjects who developed antibodies to etanercept in longer-term trials (of up to3.5 years) increases over time, as expected. However, due to their transient nature, the incidence ofantibodies detected at each assessment point was typically less than 7% in rheumatoid arthritissubjects and psoriasis subjects.

In a long-term psoriasis study in which patients received 50 mg twice weekly for 96 weeks, theincidence of antibodies observed at each assessment point was up to approximately 9%.

Paediatric population

Paediatric patients with juvenile idiopathic arthritis

The safety and efficacy of Enbrel were assessed in a two-part study in 69 children withpolyarticular-course juvenile idiopathic arthritis who had a variety of juvenile idiopathic arthritis onsettypes (polyarthritis, pauciarthritis, systemic onset). Patients aged 4 to 17 years with moderately toseverely active polyarticular-course juvenile idiopathic arthritis refractory to, or intolerant of,methotrexate were enrolled; patients remained on a stable dose of a single nonsteroidalanti-inflammatory drug and/or prednisone (< 0.2 mg/kg/day or 10 mg maximum). In part 1, all patientsreceived 0.4 mg/kg (maximum 25 mg per dose) Enbrel subcutaneously twice weekly. In part 2,patients with a clinical response at day 90 were randomised to remain on Enbrel or receive placebo forfour months and assessed for disease flare. Responses were measured using the ACR Pedi 30, definedas  30% improvement in at least three of six and  30% worsening in no more than one of six JRAcore set criteria, including active joint count, limitation of motion, physician and patient/parent globalassessments, functional assessment, and erythrocyte sedimentation rate (ESR). Disease flare wasdefined as a  30% worsening in three of six JRA core set criteria and  30% improvement in notmore than one of the six JRA core set criteria and a minimum of two active joints.

In part 1 of the study, 51 of 69 (74%) patients demonstrated a clinical response and entered part 2. Inpart 2, 6 of 25 (24%) patients remaining on Enbrel experienced a disease flare compared to 20 of26 (77%) patients receiving placebo (p=0.007). From the start of part 2, the median time to flare was 116 days for patients who received Enbrel and 28 days for patients who received placebo. Ofpatients who demonstrated a clinical response at 90 days and entered part 2 of the study, some of thepatients remaining on Enbrel continued to improve from month 3 through month 7, while those whoreceived placebo did not improve.

In an open-label, safety extension study, 58 paediatric patients from the above study (from the age of4 years at time of enrolment) continued to receive Enbrel for up to 10 years. Rates of serious adverseevents and serious infections did not increase with long-term exposure.

Long-term safety of Enbrel monotherapy (n=103), Enbrel plus methotrexate (n=294), or methotrexatemonotherapy (n=197) were assessed for up to 3 years in a registry of 594 children aged 2 to 18 yearswith juvenile idiopathic arthritis, 39 of whom were 2 to 3 years of age. Overall, infections were morecommonly reported in patients treated with etanercept compared to methotrexate alone (3.8 versus2%), and the infections associated with etanercept use were of a more severe nature.

In another open-label single-arm study (n=127), 60 patients with extended oligoarthritis (EO)(15 patients aged 2 to 4, 23 patients aged 5 to 11 and 22 patients aged 12 to 17 years old), 38 patientswith enthesitis-related arthritis (12 to 17 years old), and 29 patients with psoriatic arthritis (12 to17 years old) were treated with Enbrel at a dose of 0.8 mg/kg (up to a maximum of 50 mg per dose)administered weekly for 12 weeks. In each of the JIA subtypes, the majority of patients met ACR Pedi30 criteria and demonstrated clinical improvement in secondary endpoints such as number of tenderjoints and physician global assessment. The safety profile was consistent with that observed in other

JIA studies.

Of the 127 patients in the parent study, 109 participated in the open-label extension study and werefollowed for an additional 8 years for a total of up to 10 years. At the end of the extension study,84/109 (77%) patients had completed the study; 27 (25%) while actively taking Enbrel, 7 (6%) hadwithdrawn from treatment due to low/inactive disease; 5 (5%) had re-started Enbrel following anearlier withdrawal from treatment; and 45 (41%) had stopped Enbrel (but remained underobservation); 25/109 (23%) patients permanently discontinued from the study. Improvements inclinical status achieved in the parent study were generally maintained for all efficacy endpoints duringthe entire follow-up period. Patients actively taking Enbrel could enter an optional withdrawal-retreatment period once during the extension study based on investigator’s judgement of clinicalresponse. 30 patients entered the withdrawal period. 17 patients were reported to have a flare (definedas ≥ 30% worsening in at least 3 of the 6 ACR Pedi components with ≥ 30% improvement in not morethan 1 of the remaining 6 components and a minimum of 2 active joints); median time to flare after

Enbrel withdrawal was 190 days. 13 patients were re-treated and the median time to re-treatment fromwithdrawal was estimated as 274 days. Due to the small number of data points, these results should beinterpreted with caution.

The safety profile was consistent with that observed in the parent study.

Studies have not been done in patients with juvenile idiopathic arthritis to assess the effects ofcontinued Enbrel therapy in patients who do not respond within 3 months of initiating Enbrel therapy.

Additionally, studies have not been conducted to assess the effects of reducing the recommended doseof Enbrel following its long-term use in patients with JIA.

Paediatric patients with plaque psoriasis

The efficacy of Enbrel was assessed in a randomised, double-blind, placebo-controlled study in 211paediatric patients aged 4 to 17 years with moderate to severe plaque psoriasis (as defined by an sPGAscore ≥ 3, involving ≥ 10% of the BSA, and PASI ≥ 12). Eligible patients had a history of receivingphototherapy or systemic therapy, or were inadequately controlled on topical therapy.

Patients received Enbrel 0.8 mg/kg (up to 50 mg) or placebo once weekly for 12 weeks. At week 12,more patients randomised to Enbrel had positive efficacy responses (e.g., PASI 75) than thoserandomised to placebo.

Paediatric Plaque Psoriasis Outcomes at 12 Weeks

Enbrel0.8 mg/kg Once

Weekly Placebo(N = 106) (N = 105)

PASI 75, n (%) 60 (57%)a 12 (11%)

PASI 50, n (%) 79 (75%)a 24 (23%)sPGA “clear” or “minimal”, n (%) 56 (53%)a 14 (13%)

Abbreviation: sPGA-static Physician Global Assessment

a. p < 0.0001 compared with placebo

After the 12-week double-blind treatment period, all patients received Enbrel 0.8 mg/kg (up to 50 mg)once weekly for additional 24 weeks. Responses observed during the open-label period were similar tothose observed in the double-blind period.

During a randomised withdrawal period, significantly more patients re-randomised to placeboexperienced disease relapse (loss of PASI 75 response) compared with patients re-randomised to

Enbrel. With continued therapy, responses were maintained up to 48 weeks.

The long-term safety and effectiveness of Enbrel 0.8 mg/kg (up to 50 mg) once weekly was assessed inan open-label extension study of 181 paediatric subjects with plaque psoriasis for up to 2 years beyondthe 48 week study discussed above. Long-term experience with Enbrel was generally comparable to theoriginal 48-week study and did not reveal any new safety findings.

5.2 Pharmacokinetic properties

Etanercept serum values were determined by an Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay (ELISA)method, which may detect ELISA-reactive degradation products, as well as the parent compound.

Absorption

Etanercept is slowly absorbed from the site of subcutaneous injection, reaching maximumconcentration approximately 48 hours after a single dose. The absolute bioavailability is 76%. Withtwice-weekly doses, it is anticipated that steady-state concentrations are approximately twice as highas those observed after single doses. After a single subcutaneous dose of 25 mg Enbrel, the averagemaximum serum concentration observed in healthy volunteers was 1.65  0.66 g/ml, and the areaunder the curve was 235  96.6 g*hr/ml.

Mean serum concentration profiles at steady state in treated RA patients were Cmax of 2.4 mg/l vs.

2.6 mg/l, Cmin of 1.2 mg/l vs. 1.4 mg/l, and partial AUC of 297 mgh/l vs. 316 mgh/l for 50 mg Enbrelonce weekly (n=21) vs. 25 mg Enbrel twice weekly (n=16), respectively. In an open-label,single-dose, two-treatment, crossover study in healthy volunteers, etanercept administered as a single50 mg/ml injection was found to be bioequivalent to two simultaneous injections of 25 mg/ml.

In a population pharmacokinetics analysis in ankylosing spondylitis patients, the etanercept steadystate AUCs were 466 g*hr/ml and 474 g*hr/ml for 50 mg Enbrel once weekly (N = 154) and 25 mgtwice weekly (N = 148), respectively.

Distribution

A biexponential curve is required to describe the concentration time curve of etanercept. The centralvolume of distribution of etanercept is 7.6 l, while the volume of distribution at steady-state is 10.4 l.

Elimination

Etanercept is cleared slowly from the body. The half-life is long, approximately 70 hours. Clearance isapproximately 0.066 l/hr in patients with rheumatoid arthritis, somewhat lower than the value of0.11 l/hr observed in healthy volunteers. Additionally, the pharmacokinetics of Enbrel in rheumatoidarthritis patients, ankylosing spondylitis and plaque psoriasis patients are similar.

There is no apparent pharmacokinetic difference between males and females.

Linearity

Dose proportionality has not been formally evaluated, but there is no apparent saturation of clearanceacross the dosing range.

Special populations
Renal impairment

Although there is elimination of radioactivity in urine after administration of radiolabelled etanerceptto patients and volunteers, increased etanercept concentrations were not observed in patients withacute renal failure. The presence of renal impairment should not require a change in dosage.

Hepatic impairment

Increased etanercept concentrations were not observed in patients with acute hepatic failure. Thepresence of hepatic impairment should not require a change in dosage.

Elderly

The impact of advanced age was studied in the population pharmacokinetic analysis of etanerceptserum concentrations. Clearance and volume estimates in patients aged 65 to 87 years were similar toestimates in patients less than 65 years of age.

Paediatric population

Paediatric patients with juvenile idiopathic arthritis

In a polyarticular-course juvenile idiopathic arthritis trial with Enbrel, 69 patients (aged 4 to 17 years)were administered 0.4 mg Enbrel/kg twice weekly for three months. Serum concentration profileswere similar to those seen in adult rheumatoid arthritis patients. The youngest children (4 years of age)had reduced clearance (increased clearance when normalised by weight) compared with older children(12 years of age) and adults. Simulation of dosing suggests that while older children (10-17 years ofage) will have serum levels close to those seen in adults, younger children will have appreciably lowerlevels.

Paediatric patients with plaque psoriasis

Patients with paediatric plaque psoriasis (aged 4 to 17 years) were administered 0.8 mg/kg (up to amaximum dose of 50 mg per week) of etanercept once weekly for up to 48 weeks. The mean serumsteady-state trough concentrations ranged from 1.6 to 2.1 mcg/ml at weeks 12, 24, and 48. These meanconcentrations in patients with paediatric plaque psoriasis were similar to the concentrations observedin patients with juvenile idiopathic arthritis (treated with 0.4 mg/kg etanercept twice weekly, up tomaximum dose of 50 mg per week). These mean concentrations were similar to those seen in adultpatients with plaque psoriasis treated with 25 mg etanercept twice-weekly.

5.3 Preclinical safety data

In the toxicological studies with Enbrel, no dose-limiting or target organ toxicity was evident. Enbrelwas considered to be non-genotoxic from a battery of in vitro and in vivo studies. Carcinogenicitystudies, and standard assessments of fertility and postnatal toxicity, were not performed with Enbreldue to the development of neutralising antibodies in rodents.

Enbrel did not induce lethality or notable signs of toxicity in mice or rats following a singlesubcutaneous dose of 2000 mg/kg or a single intravenous dose of 1000 mg/kg. Enbrel did not elicitdose-limiting or target organ toxicity in cynomolgus monkeys following twice weekly subcutaneousadministration for 4 or 26 consecutive weeks at a dose (15 mg/kg) that resulted in AUC-based serumdrug concentrations that were over 27-fold higher than that obtained in humans at the recommendeddose of 25 mg.

6. PHARMACEUTICAL PARTICULARS

6.1 List of excipients

Sucrose

Sodium chloride

L-Arginine hydrochloride

Sodium phosphate monobasic dihydrate

Sodium phosphate dibasic dihydrate

Water for injections

6.2 Incompatibilities

In the absence of compatibility studies, this medicinal product must not be mixed with other medicinalproducts.

6.3 Shelf life

30 months.

6.4 Special precautions for storage

Store in a refrigerator (2°C - 8°C).

Do not freeze.

Enbrel may be stored at temperatures up to a maximum of 25°C for a single period of up to fourweeks; after which, it should not be refrigerated again. Enbrel should be discarded if not used withinfour weeks of removal from refrigeration.

Keep the pre-filled syringes in the outer carton in order to protect from light.

6.5 Nature and contents of container

Enbrel 25 mg solution for injection in pre-filled syringe

Clear glass syringe (type I glass) with stainless steel needle, rubber needle cover and plastic plunger.

Cartons contain 4, 8, 12 or 24 pre-filled syringes of Enbrel and 4, 8, 12 or 24 alcohol swabs. Theneedle cover contains dry natural rubber (latex) (see section 4.4). Not all pack sizes may be marketed.

Enbrel 50 mg solution for injection in pre-filled syringe

Clear glass syringe (type I glass) with stainless steel needle, rubber needle cover and plastic plunger.

Cartons contain 2, 4 or 12 pre-filled syringes of Enbrel with 2, 4 or 12 alcohol swabs. The needlecover contains dry natural rubber (latex) (see section 4.4). Not all pack sizes may be marketed.

6.6 Special precautions for disposal and other handling

Before injection, Enbrel single-use pre-filled syringe should be allowed to reach room temperature(approximately 15 to 30 minutes). The needle cover should not be removed while allowing the pre-filled syringe to reach room temperature. The solution should be clear to slightly opalescent,colourless to pale yellow or pale brown and may contain small translucent or white particles ofprotein.

Comprehensive instructions for administration are given in the package leaflet, section 7, 'Instructionsfor use.'

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

7. MARKETING AUTHORISATION HOLDER

Pfizer Europe MA EEIG

Boulevard de la Plaine 171050 Bruxelles

Belgium

8. MARKETING AUTHORISATION NUMBER(S)

Enbrel 25 mg solution for injection in pre-filled syringe

EU/1/99/126/013

EU/1/99/126/014

EU/1/99/126/015

EU/1/99/126/026

Enbrel 50 mg solution for injection in pre-filled syringe

EU/1/99/126/016

EU/1/99/126/017

EU/1/99/126/018

9. DATE OF FIRST AUTHORISATION/RENEWAL OF THE AUTHORISATION

Date of first authorisation: 03 February 2000

Date of last renewal: 26 November 2009

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.