Droxidopa Drug Monograph Droxidopa (NORTHERA™) National Drug Monograph December 2014 VA Pharmacy Benefits Management Services, Medical Advisory Panel, and VISN Pharmacist Executives The purpose of VA PBM Services drug monographs is to provide a comprehensive drug review for making formulary decisions. Updates will be made when new clinical data warrant additional formulary discussion. Documents will be placed in the Archive section when the information is deemed to be no longer current. FDA Approval Information1 Description/Mechanism of Droxidopa is a synthetic amino acid analog that is metabolized by dopa- Action decarboxylase to norepinephrine. Norepinephrine increases blood pressure through peripheral arterial and venous vasoconstriction. Indication(s) Under Review in Droxidopa is indicated for the treatment of orthostatic dizziness, this document lightheadedness, or the “feeling that you are about to black out” in adult patients with symptomatic neurogenic orthostatic hypotension (NOH) caused by primary autonomic failure (Parkinson's disease, multiple system atrophy, and pure autonomic failure), dopamine beta-hydroxylase deficiency, and nondiabetic autonomic neuropathy. Effectiveness beyond 2 weeks of treatment has not been demonstrated. The continued effectiveness of droxidopa should be assessed periodically.1 Dosage Form(s) Under Droxidopa is available as 100 mg, 200 mg, 300 mg hard gelatin capsules. Review REMS REMS No REMS See Other Considerations for additional REMS information Pregnancy Rating Droxidopa is Pregnancy Category C. Executive Summary Efficacy1-3 Patients with symptomatic NOH treated with droxidopa experienced an improvement in symptoms compared to placebo as measured by the change in the Orthostatic Hypotension Questionnaire (OHQ) overall composite score (primary endpoint: droxidopa -1.83 vs. placebo -0.93; difference 0.90, P=0.003), composite symptom score and composite symptom-impact score (secondary endpoints) Treatment with droxidopa increased standing systolic blood pressure compared to placebo (difference 7.3 mm Hg; P<0.001) Safety1-3 Boxed Warning for Supine Hypertension: Monitor supine blood pressure prior to and during treatment with droxidopa and more frequently when increasing doses. Elevating the head of the bed lessens the risk of supine hypertension, and blood pressure should be measured in this position. If supine hypertension cannot be managed by elevation of the head of the bed, reduce or discontinue droxidopa. Case reports of a symptom complex resembling neuroleptic malignant syndrome (NMS) have been reported with droxidopa during post-marketing surveillance. Patients should be observed carefully if the dose of droxidopa is changed or when concomitant levodopa is reduced abruptly or discontinued, especially if the patient is receiving neuroleptics. Although NMS is uncommon, it can be life-threatening where early diagnosis is important to ensure appropriate treatment. NMS is characterized by fever or hyperthermia, muscle rigidity, involuntary movements, altered consciousness, and mental status changes. Data with use of droxidopa open-label is available for > 2 years; however, there is limited data for long-term use at the highest dose and no long-term controlled trials Other Considerations1-4 Only patients who responded to droxidopa during the initial titration period were enrolled in the pivotal trial Study 301 Benefit with droxidopa not seen past 2 weeks in clinical trials December 2014 Updated version may be found at www.pbm.va.gov or 1 https://vaww.cmopnational.va.gov/cmop/PBM/default.aspx Droxidopa Drug Monograph No direct comparison trials with other drug therapies used for NOH Potential Impact1,3-13 Projected place in therapy: Although limited data (and not FDA approved for orthostatic hypotension or NOH), fludrocortisone has been used for orthostatic hypotension, if symptoms are not managed by non-pharmacologic measures. Besides droxidopa, midodrine is the only other FDA approved treatment specifically for NOH. Other treatments have also been used for orthostatic hypotension, most with limited data. Results of comparison trials with droxidopa are not available at this time; place in therapy should be determined based on patient response, tolerability, convenience, and cost of treatment. Initial patient response to droxidopa should be assessed, with continued effectiveness of droxidopa reassessed periodically. Background Purpose for review Recent FDA approval. Issues to be determined: Does the evidence show that droxidopa is effective for the treatment of NOH that translates into a clinically meaningful benefit, including a decrease in the incidence and severity of symptoms, and improvement in functional capacity? Does droxidopa improve fall risk? Does droxidopa offer advantages to currently available alternatives? Does droxidopa offer advantages over current VANF agents? What safety issues need to be considered with the use of droxidopa? Does droxidopa have specific characteristics best managed by the non- formulary process or criteria for use? Other therapeutic options2,4- Midodrine is also available with an FDA indication for symptomatic NOH. 10,12,13 Midodrine was approved based on an increase in standing systolic blood pressure (SBP), considered a surrogate endpoint reasonably likely to predict clinical benefit.2 Additional studies also report symptomatic improvement with midodrine in patients with NOH.4-8,13 Fludrocortisone has also been used in patients with NOH, with limited data, but is not FDA approved for this indication.2,4,9-10,12 Additional pharmacologic agents have been used off-label for NOH: desmopressin, dihydroergotamine, indomethacin, pyridostigmine, erythropoietin,2,4 as well as other agents; most of which have limited data.4,10 Select Formulary Other Considerations Alternatives Midodrine FDA approved for symptomatic NOH Efficacy: Midodrine statistically significantly improved standing SBP vs. placebo (3 weeks, N=171) in patients with NOH. Symptoms of lightheadedness improved with midodrine vs. placebo throughout trial (2 weeks, P=0.02; 3 weeks, P=0.06). Global symptom relief score statistically significantly improved with midodrine vs. placebo.6,13 Midodrine (10mg dose) increased standing SBP vs. placebo (P<0.001); and improved symptoms of dizziness, weakness/fatigue, syncope, energy level, standing > 15 minutes, depression (P<0.05 depending on the dose) in a 4 week trial of 97 patients with NOH.7,13 Dosing: 2.5 to 10 mg three times daily (usual dose 5 to 10 mg three times daily; e.g., before arising, before lunch, mid- afternoon,8 avoid giving within 4 hours of bedtime) Adverse Events: supine hypertension; paresthesia; dysuria; piloerection; pruritus Use with caution in renal or hepatic impairment Fludrocortisone Off-label for symptomatic NOH Efficacy: Limited controlled trial data;9,10,12 Supine and tilted SBP statistically significantly increased with December 2014 Updated version may be found at www.pbm.va.gov or 2 https://vaww.cmopnational.va.gov/cmop/PBM/default.aspx Droxidopa Drug Monograph fludrocortisone compared to placebo (3 weeks, N=6) in patients with diabetic autonomic neuropathy.9,12 Statistically significant improvement in orthostatic symptoms with fludrocortisone plus nonpharmacologic treatment compared to nonpharmacologic treatment alone (3 week trial, N=17) in patients with Parkinson’s disease.12 Fludrocortisone allowed as adjunct therapy in trials evaluating efficacy of other therapies (e.g., midodrine 46% of patients,6 droxidopa 29%1). Dosing: 0.1 to 0.4 mg daily (once or divided twice daily)4,9,12 Adverse Events: supine hypertension; hypokalemia; fluid retention Use with caution in patients with renal insufficiency Efficacy (FDA Approved Indications) Literature Search Summary A literature search was performed on PubMed/Medline (1976 to October 2014) using the search terms droxidopa, L- DOPS, L-threo-3,4-dihydroxyphenylserine. The search was limited to studies performed in humans and published in the English language. Reference lists of review articles were searched for relevant clinical trials. Randomized controlled Phase 3 trials published in peer-reviewed journals evaluating the FDA approved indications were included. Medical reviews on the FDA Web site were also reviewed for additional information. Review of Efficacy FDA approval of droxidopa was based on one trial (Study 301) of four that were submitted during the initial application, as well as data from an additional trial (Study 306B) submitted for subsequent review. Results from Study 301 demonstrated a statistically significant improvement in symptoms of NOH at Week 1, as measured by a change in the Orthostatic Hypotension Questionnaire (OHQ) overall composite score (primary endpoint), as well as the OHQ composite symptom score and composite symptom-impact score (refer to details below). Patients receiving treatment with droxidopa also experienced a greater increase in standing systolic blood pressure compared to placebo. The beneficial effect of droxidopa for symptomatic NOH past 2 weeks of treatment has not been demonstrated. Whether treatment with droxidopa prevents falls, or improves activities of daily living or quality of life, in patients with symptomatic NOH has not been established. Results from direct comparison trials are not available to determine how droxidopa compares to other available treatments for patients with symptomatic NOH. Overall, there is low quality of evidence for the use of droxidopa in patients with symptomatic NOH (Refer to Appendix