Tigecycline for injection is a tetracycline class antibacterial indicated in patients 18 years of age and older for:

Complicated Skin and Skin Structure Infections
Tigecycline for injection is indicated for the treatment of complicated skin and skin structure infections caused by susceptible isolates of Escherichia coli, Enterococcus faecalis (vancomycin-susceptible isolates), Staphylococcus aureus (methicillin-susceptible and -resistant isolates), Streptococcus agalactiae, Streptococcus anginosus grp. (includes S. anginosus, S. intermedius, and S. constellatus), Streptococcus pyogenes, Enterobacter cloacae, Klebsiella pneumoniae, and Bacteroides fragilis.

Complicated Intra-abdominal Infections
Tigecycline for injection is indicated for the treatment of complicated intra-abdominal infections caused by susceptible isolates of Citrobacter freundii, Enterobacter cloacae, Escherichia coli, Klebsiella oxytoca, Klebsiella pneumoniae, Enterococcus faecalis (vancomycin-susceptible isolates), Staphylococcus aureus (methicillin-susceptible and -resistant isolates), Streptococcus anginosus grp. (includes S. anginosus, S. intermedius, and S. constellatus), Bacteroides fragilis, Bacteroides thetaiotaomicron, Bacteroides uniformis, Bacteroides vulgatus, Clostridium perfringens, and Peptostreptococcus micros.

Community-Acquired Bacterial Pneumonia
Tigecycline for injection is indicated in patients for the treatment of community-acquired bacterial pneumonia caused by susceptible isolates of Streptococcus pneumoniae (penicillin-susceptible isolates), including cases with concurrent bacteremia, Haemophilus influenzae, and Legionella pneumophila.

Limitations of Use
Tigecycline for injection is not indicated for the treatment of diabetic foot infections. A clinical trial failed to demonstrate non-inferiority of Tigecycline for injection for treatment of diabetic foot infections.
Tigecycline for injection is not indicated for the treatment of hospital-acquired or ventilator-associated pneumonia. In a comparative clinical trial, greater mortality and decreased efficacy were reported in Tigecycline for injection treated patients. (see section 4.5)

Usage
To reduce the development of drug-resistant bacteria and maintain the effectiveness of Tigecycline for injection and other antibacterial drugs, Tigecycline for injection should be used only to treat infections that are proven or strongly suspected to be caused by susceptible bacteria. When culture and susceptibility information are available, they should be considered in selecting or modifying antibacterial therapy. In the absence of such data, local epidemiology and susceptibility patterns may contribute to the empiric selection of therapy.
Appropriate specimens for bacteriological examination should be obtained in order to isolate and identify the causative organisms and to determine their susceptibility to tigecycline. Tigecycline for injection may be initiated as empiric monotherapy before results of these tests are known.

Posology

Recommended Adult Dosage
The recommended dosage regimen for Tigecycline for injection is an initial dose of 100 mg, followed by 50 mg every 12 hours. Intravenous infusions of Tigecycline for injection should be administered over approximately 30 to 60 minutes every 12 hours.
The recommended duration of treatment with Tigecycline for injection for complicated skin and skin structure infections or for complicated intra-abdominal infections is 5 to 14 days. The recommended duration of treatment with Tigecycline for injection for community-acquired bacterial pneumonia is 7 to 14 days. The duration of therapy should be guided by the severity and site of the infection and the patient's clinical and bacteriological progress.

Dosage in Patients with Hepatic Impairment
No dosage adjustment is warranted in patients with mild to moderate hepatic impairment (Child Pugh A and Child Pugh B). In patients with severe hepatic impairment (Child Pugh C), the initial dose of Tigecycline for injection should be 100 mg followed by a reduced maintenance dose of 25 mg every 12 hours. Patients with severe hepatic impairment (Child Pugh C) should be treated with caution and monitored for treatment response.

Dosage in Pediatric Patients
The safety and efficacy of the proposed pediatric dosing regimens have not been evaluated due to the observed increase in mortality associated with Tigecycline for injection in adult patients. Avoid use of Tigecycline for injection in pediatric patients unless no alternative antibacterial drugs are available. Under these circumstances, the following doses are suggested:
• Pediatric patients aged 8 to 11 years should receive 1.2 mg/kg of Tigecycline for injection every 12 hours intravenously to a maximum dose of 50 mg of Tigecycline for injection every 12 hours.
• Pediatric patients aged 12 to 17 years should receive 50 mg of Tigecycline for injection every 12 hours.
The proposed pediatric doses of Tigecycline for injection were chosen based on exposures observed in pharmacokinetic trials, which included small numbers of pediatric patients.

Method of Administration:
Tigecycline for injection may be administered intravenously through a dedicated line or through a Y-site. For instructions on reconstitution & dilution of the medicinal product before administration, see section 6.6.

In clinical studies in complicated skin and soft tissue infections (cSSTI), complicated intra-abdominal infections (cIAI), diabetic foot infections, nosocomial pneumonia and studies in resistant pathogens, a numerically higher mortality rate among tigecycline treated patients has been observed as compared to the comparator treatment. The causes of these findings remain unknown, but poorer efficacy and safety than the study comparators cannot be ruled out.

Mortality Imbalance and Lower Cure Rates in Hospital-Acquired Pneumonia
A trial of patients with hospital acquired, including ventilator-associated, pneumonia failed to
demonstrate the efficacy of Tigecycline for Injection. In this trial, patients were randomized to receive Tigecycline for Injection (100 mg initially, then 50 mg every 12 hours) or a comparator. In addition, patients were allowed to receive specified adjunctive therapies. The sub-group of patients with ventilator-associated pneumonia who received Tigecycline for Injection had lower cure rates (47.9% versus 70.1% for the clinically evaluable population).
In this trial, greater mortality was seen in patients with ventilator-associated pneumonia who received Tigecycline for Injection (25/131 [19.1%] versus 15/122 [12.3%] in comparator-treated patients) (see section 4.8). Particularly high mortality was seen among Tigecycline for Injection-treated patients with ventilator-associated pneumonia and bacteremia at baseline (9/18 [50.0%] versus 1/13 [7.7%] in comparator-treated patients).

Superinfection
In clinical trials in cIAI patients, impaired healing of the surgical wound has been associated with superinfection. A patient developing impaired healing should be monitored for the detection of superinfection (see section 4.8).
Patients who develop superinfections, in particular nosocomial pneumonia, appear to be associated with poorer outcomes. Patients should be closely monitored for the development of superinfection. If a focus of infection other than cSSTI or cIAI is identified after initiation of tigecycline therapy consideration should be given to instituting alternative antibacterial therapy that has been demonstrated to be efficacious in the treatment of the specific type of infection(s) present.

Anaphylaxis
Anaphylaxis/anaphylactoid reactions, potentially life-threatening, have been reported with tigecycline (see sections 4.3 and 4.8).

Hepatic failure
Cases of liver injury with a predominantly cholestatic pattern have been reported in patients receiving tigecycline treatment, including some cases of hepatic failure with a fatal outcome. Although hepatic failure may occur in patients treated with tigecycline due to the underlying conditions or concomitant medicinal products, a possible contribution of tigecycline should be considered (see section 4.8).

Tetracycline class antibiotics
Glycylcycline class antibiotics are structurally similar to tetracycline class antibiotics. Tigecycline may have adverse reactions similar to tetracycline class antibiotics. Such reactions may include
photosensitivity, pseudotumor cerebri, pancreatitis, and anti-anabolic action which has led to increased BUN, azotaemia, acidosis, and hyperphosphataemia (see section 4.8).

Pancreatitis
Acute pancreatitis, which can be serious, has occurred (frequency: uncommon) in association with tigecycline treatment (see section 4.8). The diagnosis of acute pancreatitis should be considered in patients taking tigecycline who develop clinical symptoms, signs, or laboratory abnormalities suggestive of acute pancreatitis. Most of the reported cases developed after at least one week of treatment. Cases have been reported in patients without known risk factors for pancreatitis. Patients usually improve after tigecycline discontinuation. Consideration should be given to the cessation of the treatment with tigecycline in cases suspected of having developed pancreatitis.

Underlying diseases
Experience in the use of tigecycline for treatment of infections in patients with severe underlying diseases is limited.
In clinical trials in cSSTI, the most common type of infection in tigecycline treated-patients was cellulitis (58.6 %), followed by major abscesses (24.9 %). Patients with severe underlying disease, such as those that were immunocompromised, patients with decubitus ulcer infections, or patients that had infections requiring longer than 14 days of treatment (for example, necrotizing fasciitis), were not enrolled. A limited number of patients were enrolled with co-morbid factors such as diabetes (25.8 %), peripheral vascular disease (10.4 %), intravenous substance abuse (4.0 %), and HIV-positive infection (1.2 %). Limited experience is also available in treating patients with concurrent bacteraemia (3.4 %). Therefore, caution is advised when treating such patients. The results in a large study in patients with diabetic foot infection, showed that tigecycline was less effective than comparator, therefore, tigecycline is not recommended for use in these patients (see section 4.1).
In clinical trials in cIAI, the most common type of infection in tigecycline-treated patients was complicated appendicitis (50.3 %), followed by other diagnoses less commonly reported such as complicated cholecystitis (9.6 %), perforation of intestine (9.6 %), intra-abdominal abscess (8.7 %), gastric or duodenal ulcer perforation (8.3 %), peritonitis (6.2 %) and complicated diverticulitis (6.0 %). Of these patients, 77.8 % had surgically-apparent peritonitis. There were a limited number of patients with severe underlying disease such as immunocompromised patients, patients with APACHE II scores > 15 (3.3 %), or with surgically apparent multiple intra-abdominal abscesses (11.4 %). Limited experience is also available in treating patients with concurrent bacteraemia (5.6 %). Therefore, caution is advised when treating such patients.
Consideration should be given to the use of combination antibacterial therapy whenever tigecycline is to be administered to severely ill patients with cIAI secondary to clinically apparent intestinal perforation or patients with incipient sepsis or septic shock (see section 4.8).
The effect of cholestasis in the pharmacokinetics of tigecycline has not been properly established. Biliary excretion accounts for approximately 50 % of the total tigecycline excretion. Therefore, patients presenting with cholestasis should be closely monitored.
Prothrombin time or other suitable anticoagulation test should be used to monitor patients if tigecycline is administered with anticoagulants (see section 4.5).
Pseudomembranous colitis has been reported with nearly all antibacterial agents and may range in severity from mild to life threatening. Therefore, it is important to consider this diagnosis in patients who present with diarrhoea during or subsequent to the administration of any antibacterial agent (see section 4.8).
The use of tigecycline may result in overgrowth of non-susceptible organisms, including fungi. Patients should be carefully monitored during therapy (see section 4.8).
Results of studies in rats with tigecycline have shown bone discolouration. Tigecycline may be associated with permanent tooth discolouration in humans if used during tooth development (see section 4.8).

Paediatric population
Clinical experience in the use of tigecycline for the treatment of infections in paediatric patients aged 8 years and older is very limited (see sections 4.8 and 5.1). Consequently, use in children should be restricted to those clinical situations where no alternative antibacterial therapy is available.
Nausea and vomiting are very common adverse reactions in children and adolescents (see section 4.8). Attention should be paid to possible dehydration. Tigecycline should be preferably administered over a 60-minute length of infusion in paediatric patients.
Abdominal pain is commonly reported in children as it is in adults. Abdominal pain may be indicative of pancreatitis. If pancreatitis develops, treatment with tigecycline should be discontinued.
Liver function tests, coagulation parameters, haematology parameters, amylase and lipase should be monitored prior to treatment initiation with tigecycline and regularly while on treatment.
Tigecycline for injection should not be used in children under 8 years of age due to the lack of safety and efficacy data in this age group and because tigecycline may be associated with permanent teeth discolouration (see sections 4.2 and 4.8).

Interaction studies have only been performed in adults.
Concomitant administration of tigecycline and warfarin (25 mg single-dose) to healthy subjects resulted in a decrease in clearance of R-warfarin and S-warfarin by 40 % and 23 %, and an increase in AUC by 68 % and 29 %, respectively. The mechanism of this interaction is still not elucidated. Available data does not suggest that this interaction may result in significant INR changes. However, since tigecycline may prolong both prothrombin time (PT) and activated partial thromboplastin time (aPTT), the relevant coagulation tests should be closely monitored when tigecycline is coadministered with anticoagulants (see section 4.4). Warfarin did not affect the pharmacokinetic profile of tigecycline.

Tigecycline is not extensively metabolised. Therefore, clearance of tigecycline is not expected to be affected by active substances that inhibit or induce the activity of the CYP450 isoforms. In vitro, tigecycline is neither a competitive inhibitor nor an irreversible inhibitor of CYP450 enzymes (see section 5.2).

Tigecycline in recommended dosage did not affect the rate or extent of absorption, or clearance of digoxin (0.5 mg followed by 0.25 mg daily) when administered in healthy adults. Digoxin did not affect the pharmacokinetic profile of tigecycline. Therefore, no dosage adjustment is necessary when tigecycline is administered with digoxin.
In in vitro studies, no antagonism has been observed between tigecycline and other commonly used antibiotic classes.
Concurrent use of antibiotics with oral contraceptives may render oral contraceptives less effective.
Based on an in vitro study tigecycline is a P-gp substrate. Co-administration of P-gp inhibitors (e.g., ketoconazole or cyclosporine) or P-gp inducers (e.g., rifampicin) could affect the pharmacokinetics of tigecycline (see section 5.2).

Pregnancy
Tigecycline for Injection may cause fetal harm when administered to a pregnant woman. If the patient becomes pregnant while taking tigecycline, the patient should be apprised of the potential hazard to the fetus. Results of animal studies indicate that tigecycline crosses the placenta and is found in fetal tissues. Decreased fetal weights in rats and rabbits (with associated delays in ossification) and fetal loss in rabbits have been observed with tigecycline.
As it is known for tetracycline class antibiotics, tigecycline may also induce permanent dental defects (discolouration and enamel defects) and a delay in ossification processes in foetuses, exposed in utero during the last half of gestation, and in children under eight years of age due to the
enrichment in tissues with a high calcium turnover and formation of calcium chelate complexes (see section 4.4). Tigecycline should not be used during pregnancy unless the clinical condition of the woman requires treatment with tigecycline.

Breast-feeding
It is unknown whether tigecycline/metabolites are excreted in human milk. Available pharmacodynamic/toxicological data in animals have shown excretion of tigecycline/metabolites in milk (see section 5.3). A risk to the newborns/infants cannot be excluded. A decision must be made whether to discontinue breast-feeding or to discontinue/abstain from tigecycline therapy taking into account the benefit of breast-feeding for the child and the benefit of therapy for the woman.

Fertility
Tigecycline did not affect mating or fertility in rats at exposures up to 4.7 times the human daily dose based on AUC. In female rats, there were no compound-related effects on ovaries or oestrus cycles at exposures up to 4.7 times the human daily dose based on AUC.

Dizziness may occur and this may have an effect on driving and use of machines (see section 4.8).

Summary of safety profile
The total number of cSSTI and cIAI patients treated with tigecycline in Phase 3 and 4 clinical studies was 2,393.
In clinical trials, the most common medicinal product-related treatment emergent adverse reactions were reversible nausea (21 %) and vomiting (13 %), which usually occurred early (on treatment days 1-2) and were generally mild or moderate in severity.
In patients treated for community-acquired bacterial pneumonia (CABP), nausea incidence was 24% for Tigecycline for Injection and 8% for levofloxacin; vomiting incidence was 16% for Tigecycline for Injection and 6% for levofloxacin

Tabulated summary of adverse reactions
Adverse reactions reported with tigecycline, including clinical trials and post-marketing experience, are tabulated below.

Tabulated list of adverse reactions

*ADR identified post-marketing

Description of selected adverse reactions
Antibiotic class effects
Pseudomembranous colitis which may range in severity from mild to life threatening (see section 4.4).
Overgrowth of non-susceptible organisms, including fungi (see section 4.4).

Tetracycline class effects
Glycylcycline class antibiotics are structurally similar to tetracycline class antibiotics. Tetracycline class adverse reactions may include photosensitivity, pseudotumour cerebri, pancreatitis, and anti-anabolic action which has led to increased BUN, azotaemia, acidosis, and hyperphosphataemia (see section 4.4).
Tigecycline may be associated with permanent tooth discolouration if used during tooth development (see section 4.4).
In Phase 3 and 4 cSSTI and cIAI clinical studies, infection-related serious adverse reactions were more frequently reported for subjects treated with tigecycline (7.1 %) vs comparators (5.3 %). Significant differences in sepsis/septic shock with tigecycline (2.2 %) vs comparators (1.1 %) were observed.
AST and ALT abnormalities in tigecycline-treated patients were reported more frequently in the post therapy period than in those in comparator-treated patients, which occurred more often on therapy.
In all Phase 3 and 4 (cSSTI and cIAI) studies, death occurred in 2.4 % (54/2216) of patients receiving tigecycline and 1.7% (37/2206) of patients receiving active comparators.

Paediatric population
Very limited safety data were available from two PK studies (see section 5.2). No new or unexpected safety concerns were observed with tigecycline in these studies.
In an open-label, single ascending dose PK study, the safety of tigecycline was investigated in 25 children aged 8 to 16 years who recently recovered from infections. The adverse reaction profile of tigecycline in these 25 subjects was generally consistent with that in adults.

Other special population(s)

Geriatric Use
Of the total number of subjects who received Tigecycline for injection in Phase 3 clinical studies (n=2514), 664 were 65 and over, while 288 were 75 and over. No overall differences in safety or effectiveness were observed between these subjects and younger subjects, but greater sensitivity to adverse events of some older individuals cannot be ruled out.
No significant difference in tigecycline exposure was observed between healthy elderly subjects and younger subjects following a single 100 mg dose of tigecycline (see section 5).

Hepatic Impairment
No dosage adjustment is warranted in patients with mild to moderate hepatic impairment (Child Pugh A and Child Pugh B). In patients with severe hepatic impairment (Child Pugh C), the initial dose of tigecycline should be 100 mg followed by a reduced maintenance dose of 25 mg every 12 hours.
Patients with severe hepatic impairment (Child Pugh C) should be treated with caution and monitored for treatment response (see section 5 and section 4.5).

To reports any side effect(s):

·         Saudi Arabia

·         Other GCC States

No specific information is available on the treatment of overdosage. Intravenous administration of tigecycline at a single dose of 300 mg over 60 minutes in healthy volunteers resulted in an increased incidence of nausea and vomiting.
Tigecycline is not removed in significant quantities by haemodialysis.

Pharmacotherapeutic group: Antibacterials for systemic use, tetracyclines, ATC code: J01AA12.

Mechanism of Action
Tigecycline, a glycylcycline antibiotic, inhibits protein translation in bacteria by binding to the 30S ribosomal subunit and blocking entry of amino-acyl tRNA molecules into the A site of the ribosome. This prevents incorporation of amino acid residues into elongating peptide chains.
In general, tigecycline is considered bacteriostatic. At 4 times the minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC), a 2-log reduction in colony counts was observed with tigecycline against Enterococcus spp., Staphylococcus aureus, and Escherichia coli.

Mechanism of resistance
Tigecycline is able to overcome the two major tetracycline resistance mechanisms, ribosomal protection and efflux. Cross-resistance between tigecycline and minocycline-resistant isolates among the Enterobacteriaceae due to multidrug resistance (MDR) efflux pumps has been shown. There is no target-based cross-resistance between tigecycline and most classes of antibiotics.
Tigecycline is vulnerable to chromosomally-encoded multi-drug efflux pumps of Proteeae and Pseudomonas aeruginosa. Pathogens of the family Proteeae (Proteus spp., Providencia spp., and Morganella spp.) are generally less susceptible to tigecycline than other members of the Enterobacteriaceae. Decreased susceptibility in both groups has been attributed to the overexpression of the non-specific AcrAB multi-drug efflux pump. Decreased susceptibility in Acinetobacter baumannii has been attributed to the overexpression of the AdeABC efflux pump.

Breakpoints
Minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) breakpoints established by the European Committee on Antimicrobial Susceptibility Testing (EUCAST) are as follows:
Staphylococcus spp. S ≤ 0.5 mg/L and R > 0.5 mg/L
Streptococcus spp. other than S. pneumoniae S ≤ 0.25 mg/L and R > 0.5 mg/L
Enterococcus spp. S ≤ 0.25 mg/L and R > 0.5 mg/L
Enterobacteriaceae S ≤ 1(^) mg/L and R > 2 mg/L
(^) Tigecycline has decreased in vitro activity against Proteus, Providencia, and Morganella spp.
For anaerobic bacteria there is clinical evidence of efficacy in polymicrobial intra-abdominal infections, but no correlation between MIC values, PK/PD data and clinical outcome. Therefore, no breakpoint for susceptibility is given. It should be noted that the MIC distributions for organisms of the genera Bacteroides and Clostridium are wide and may include values in excess of 2 mg/L tigecycline.
There is limited evidence of the clinical efficacy of tigecycline against enterococci. However, polymicrobial intraabdominal infections have shown to respond to treatment with tigecycline in clinical trials.

Susceptibility
The prevalence of acquired resistance may vary geographically and with time for selected species, and local information on resistance is desirable, particularly when treating severe infections. As necessary, expert advice should be sought when the local prevalence of resistance is such that the utility of the agent in at least some types of infections is questionable.

*denotes species against which it is considered that activity has been satisfactorily demonstrated in clinical studies.

† see section 5.1, Breakpoints above.

Cardiac Electrophysiology
No significant effect of a single intravenous dose of tigecycline 50 mg or 200 mg on QTc interval was detected in a randomized, placebo- and active-controlled four-arm crossover thorough QTc study of 46 healthy subjects.

Paediatric population
In an open-label, ascending multiple-dose study, 39 children aged 8 to 11 years with cIAI or cSSTI were administered tigecycline (0.75, 1, or 1.25 mg/kg). All patients received IV tigecycline for a minimum of 3 consecutive days to a maximum of 14 consecutive days, with the option to be switched to an oral antibiotic on or after day 4.
Clinical cure was assessed between 10 and 21 days after the administration of the last dose of treatment. The summary of clinical response in the modified intent-to-treat (mITT) population results is shown in the following table.

Efficacy data above shown should be viewed with caution as concomitant antibiotics were allowed in this study. In addition, the small number of patients should also be taken into consideration.

Absorption
Tigecycline is administered intravenously and therefore has 100 % bioavailability.
Distribution
The in vitro plasma protein binding of tigecycline ranges from approximately 71 % to 89 % at concentrations observed in clinical studies (0.1 to 1.0 mcg/ml). Animal and human pharmacokinetic studies have demonstrated that tigecycline readily distributes to tissues.
In rats receiving single or multiple doses of 14C-tigecycline, radioactivity was well distributed to most tissues, with the highest overall exposure observed in bone marrow, salivary glands, thyroid gland, spleen, and kidney. In humans, the steady-state volume of distribution of tigecycline averaged 500 to 700 L (7 to 9 L/kg), indicating that tigecycline is extensively distributed beyond the plasma volume and concentrates into tissues.
No data are available on whether tigecycline can cross the blood-brain barrier in humans.
In clinical pharmacology studies using the therapeutic dosage regimen of 100 mg followed by 50 mg q12h, serum tigecycline steady-state Cmax was 866±233 ng/ml for 30-minute infusions and 634±97 ng/ml for 60-minute infusions. The steady-state AUC0-12h was 2349±850 ng•h/ml.

Biotransformation
On average, it is estimated that less than 20 % of tigecycline is metabolised before excretion. In healthy male volunteers, following the administration of 14C-tigecycline, unchanged tigecycline was the primary 14C-labelled material recovered in urine and faeces, but a glucuronide, an N-acetyl metabolite and a tigecycline epimer were also present.
In vitro studies in human liver microsomes indicate that tigecycline does not inhibit metabolism mediated by any of the following 6 cytochrome P450 (CYP) isoforms: 1A2, 2C8, 2C9, 2C19, 2D6, and 3A4 by competitive inhibition. In addition, tigecycline did not show NADPH-dependency in the inhibition of CYP2C9, CYP2C19, CYP2D6 and CYP3A, suggesting the absence of mechanism-based inhibition of these CYP enzymes.

Elimination
The recovery of the total radioactivity in faeces and urine following administration of 14C-tigecycline indicates that 59 % of the dose is eliminated by biliary/faecal excretion, and 33 % is excreted in urine. Overall, the primary route of elimination for tigecycline is biliary excretion of unchanged tigecycline. Glucuronidation and renal excretion of unchanged tigecycline are secondary routes.
The total clearance of tigecycline is 24 L/h after intravenous infusion. Renal clearance is approximately 13 % of total clearance. Tigecycline shows a polyexponential elimination from serum with a mean terminal elimination half-life after multiple doses of 42 hours although high interindividual variability exists.
In vitro studies using Caco-2 cells indicate that tigecycline does not inhibit digoxin flux, suggesting that tigecycline is not a P-glycoprotein (P-gp) inhibitor. This in vitro information is consistent with the lack of effect of tigecycline on digoxin clearance noted in the in vivo drug interaction study described above (see section 4.5).
Tigecycline is a substrate of P-gp based on an in vitro study using a cell line overexpressing P-gp. The potential contribution of P-gp-mediated transport to the in vivo disposition of tigecycline is not known. Co-administration of P-gp inhibitors (e.g., ketoconazole or cyclosporine) or P-gp inducers (e.g., rifampicin) could affect the pharmacokinetics of tigecycline.

Special populations
Hepatic impairment
The single-dose pharmacokinetic disposition of tigecycline was not altered in patients with mild hepatic impairment. However, systemic clearance of tigecycline was reduced by 25 % and 55 % and the half-life of tigecycline was prolonged by 23 % and 43 % in patients with moderate or severe hepatic impairment (Child Pugh B and C), respectively (see section 4.2).

Renal impairment
The single dose pharmacokinetic disposition of tigecycline was not altered in patients with renal insufficiency (creatinine clearance <30 ml/min, n=6). In severe renal impairment, AUC was 30 % higher than in subjects with normal renal function (see section 4.2).

Elderly
No overall differences in pharmacokinetics were observed between healthy elderly subjects and younger subjects (see section 4.2).

Paediatric population
Tigecycline pharmacokinetics was investigated in two studies. The first study enrolled children aged 8-16 years (n=24) who received single doses of tigecycline (0.5, 1, or 2 mg/kg, up to a maximum dose of 50 mg, 100 mg, and 150 mg, respectively) administered intravenously over 30 minutes. The second study was performed in children aged 8 to 11 years who received multiple doses of tigecycline (0.75, 1, or 1.25 mg/kg up to a maximum dose of 50 mg) every 12 hours administered intravenously over 30 minutes. No loading dose was administered in these studies. Pharmacokinetic parameters are summarised in the table below.

The target AUC0-12h in adults after the recommended dose of 100 mg loading and 50 mg every 12 hours, was approximately 2500 ng•h/mL.
Population PK analysis of both studies identified body weight as a covariate of tigecycline clearance in children aged 8 years and older. A dosing regimen of 1.2 mg/kg of tigecycline every 12 hours (to a maximum dose of 50 mg every 12 hours) for children aged 8 to <12 years and of 50 mg every 12 hours for adolescents aged 12 to <18 years would likely result in exposures comparable to those observed in adults treated with the approved dosing regimen.
Higher Cmax values than in adult patients were observed in several children in these studies. As a consequence, care should be paid to the rate of infusion of tigecycline in children and adolescents.

Gender
There were no clinically relevant differences in the clearance of tigecycline between men and women. AUC was estimated to be 20 % higher in females than in males.

Race
There were no differences in the clearance of tigecycline based on race.

Weight
Clearance, weight-normalised clearance, and AUC were not appreciably different among patients with different body weights, including those weighing ≥ 125 kg. AUC was 24 % lower in patients weighing ≥ 125 kg. No data is available for patients weighing 140 kg and more.

In repeated dose toxicity studies in rats and dogs, lymphoid depletion/atrophy of lymph nodes, spleen and thymus, decreased erythrocytes, reticulocytes, leukocytes, and platelets, in association with bone marrow hypocellularity, and adverse renal and gastrointestinal effects have been seen with tigecycline at exposures of 8 and 10 times the human daily dose based on AUC in rats and dogs, respectively. These alterations were shown to be reversible after two weeks of dosing.

Bone discolouring was observed in rats which was not reversible after two weeks of dosing.

Results of animal studies indicate that tigecycline crosses the placenta and is found in foetal tissues. In reproduction toxicity studies, decreased foetal weights in rats and rabbits (with associated delays in ossification) and foetal loss in rabbits have been observed with tigecycline. Tigecycline was not teratogenic in the rat or rabbit. Tigecycline did not affect mating or fertility in rats at exposures up to 4.7 times the human daily dose based on AUC. In female rats, there were no compound-related effects on ovaries or oestrus cycles at exposures up to 4.7 times the human daily dose based on AUC.

Results from animal studies using 14C-labelled tigecycline indicate that tigecycline is excreted readily via the milk of lactating rats. Consistent with the limited oral bioavailability of tigecycline, there is little or no systemic exposure to tigecycline in the nursing pups as a result of exposure via maternal milk. Lifetime studies in animals to evaluate the carcinogenic potential of tigecycline have not been performed, but short-term genotoxicity studies of tigecycline were negative.

Bolus intravenous administration of tigecycline has been associated with a histamine response in animal studies. These effects were observed at exposures of 14 and 3 times the human daily dose based on the AUC in rats and dogs respectively.

No evidence of photosensitivity was observed in rats following administration of tigecycline.

Lactose monohydrate
Hydrochloric acid (for pH adjustment)
Sodium hydroxide (for pH adjustment)

The following active substances should not be administered simultaneously through the same Y-site as tigecycline: Amphotericin B, amphotericin B lipid complex, diazepam, esomeprazole, omeprazole and intravenous solutions that could result in an increase of pH above 7.
This medicinal product must not be mixed with other medicinal products except those mentioned in section 6.6.

Store below 25ºC
For storage conditions after reconstitution of the medicinal product, see section 6.3.

The product is packed as 50 mg in 5 mL USP Type I glass vial, stoppered with 13 mm ready to sterilize rubber stoppers and sealed with 13 mm aluminium flip off seals.

Preparation and Administration
Each vial of Tigecycline for injection should be reconstituted with 5.3 mL of 0.9% Sodium Chloride Injection, USP, 5% Dextrose Injection, USP, or Lactated Ringer's Injection, USP to achieve a concentration of 10 mg/mL of tigecycline. (Note: Each vial contains a 6% overage. Thus, 5 mL of reconstituted solution is equivalent to 50 mg of the drug.) The vial should be gently swirled until the drug dissolves. Reconstituted solution must be transferred and further diluted for intravenous infusion. Withdraw 5 mL of the reconstituted solution from the vial and add to a 100 mL intravenous bag for infusion (for a 100 mg dose, reconstitute two vials; for a 50 mg dose, reconstitute one vial). The maximum concentration in the intravenous bag should be 1 mg/mL. The reconstituted solution should be yellow to orange in color; if not, the solution should be discarded. Parenteral drug products should be inspected visually for particulate matter and discoloration (e.g., green or black) prior to administration. Alternatively, Tigecycline for injection mixed with 0.9% Sodium Chloride Injection, USP or 5% Dextrose Injection, USP or Lactated Ringer’s Injection may be stored refrigerated at 2° to 8°C (36° to 46°F) for up to 48 hours following immediate transfer of the reconstituted solution into the intravenous bag.
Tigecycline for injection may be administered intravenously through a dedicated line or through a Y-site. If the same intravenous line is used for sequential infusion of several drugs, the line should be flushed before and after infusion of Tigecycline for injection with 0.9% Sodium Chloride Injection, USP, 5% Dextrose Injection, USP or Lactated Ringer's Injection, USP. Injection should be made with an infusion solution compatible with tigecycline and with any other drug(s) administered via this common line.

Drug Compatibilities
Compatible intravenous solutions include 0.9% Sodium Chloride Injection, USP, 5% Dextrose Injection, USP, and Lactated Ringer's Injection, USP. When administered through a Y-site, Tigecycline for injection is compatible with the following drugs or diluents when used with either 0.9% Sodium Chloride Injection, USP or 5% Dextrose Injection, USP: amikacin, dobutamine, dopamine HCl, gentamicin, haloperidol, Lactated Ringer's, lidocaine HCl, metoclopramide, morphine, norepinephrine, piperacillin/tazobactam (EDTA formulation), potassium chloride, propofol, ranitidine HCl, theophylline, and tobramycin.