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Intravenous vedolizumab should be administered in a healthcare setting equipped to allow management of acute hypersensitivity reactions including anaphylaxis, if they occur. Appropriate monitoring and medical support measures should be available for immediate use when administering intravenous vedolizumab. All patients should be observed continuously during each infusion. For the first 2 infusions, they should also be observed for approximately 2 hours following completion of the infusion for signs and symptoms of acute hypersensitivity reactions. For all subsequent infusions, patients should be observed for approximately 1 hour following completion of the infusion.
Traceability: In order to improve the traceability of biological medicinal products, the name and the batch number of the administered product should be clearly recorded.
Infusion-related reactions and hypersensitivity reactions: In clinical studies, infusion-related reactions (IRR) and hypersensitivity reactions have been reported, with the majority being mild to moderate in severity (see Adverse Reactions).
If a severe IRR, anaphylactic reaction, or other severe reaction occurs, administration of Entyvio must be discontinued immediately and appropriate treatment initiated (e.g., epinephrine and antihistamines) (see Contraindications).
If a mild to moderate IRR occurs, the infusion rate can be slowed or interrupted and appropriate treatment initiated. Once the mild or moderate IRR subsides, continue the infusion. Physicians should consider pre-treatment (e.g., with antihistamine, hydrocortisone and/or paracetamol) prior to the next infusion for patients with a history of mild to moderate IRR to vedolizumab, in order to minimize their risks (see Adverse Reactions).
Infections: Vedolizumab is a gut-selective integrin antagonist with no identified systemic immunosuppressive activity (see Pharmacology: Pharmacodynamics under Actions).
Physicians should be aware of the potential increased risk of opportunistic infections or infections for which the gut is a defensive barrier (see Adverse Reactions). Vedolizumab treatment is not to be initiated in patients with active, severe infections until the infections are controlled, and physicians should consider withholding treatment in patients who develop a severe infection while on chronic treatment with vedolizumab. Caution should be exercised when considering the use of vedolizumab in patients with a controlled chronic severe infection or a history of recurring severe infections. Patients should be monitored closely for infections before, during and after treatment. Vedolizumab is contraindicated in patients with active tuberculosis (see Contraindications). Before starting treatment with vedolizumab, patients must be screened for tuberculosis according to the local practice. If latent tuberculosis is diagnosed, appropriate treatment must be started with anti-tuberculosis treatment in accordance with local recommendations, before beginning vedolizumab. In patients diagnosed with TB whilst receiving vedolizumab therapy, then vedolizumab therapy should be discontinued until the TB infection has been resolved.
Some integrin antagonists and some systemic immunosuppressive agents have been associated with progressive multifocal leukoencephalopathy (PML), which is a rare and often fatal opportunistic infection caused by the John Cunningham (JC) virus. By binding to the α4β7 integrin expressed on gut-homing lymphocytes, vedolizumab exerts an immunosuppressive effect specific to the gut.
Although no systemic immunosuppressive effect was noted in healthy subjects, the effects on systemic immune system function in patients with inflammatory bowel disease is not known.
Healthcare professionals should monitor patients on vedolizumab for any new onset or worsening of neurological signs and symptoms as outlined in physician education materials, and consider neurological referral if they occur. The patient is to be given a Patient Alert Card (see Dosage & Administration). If PML is suspected, treatment with vedolizumab must be withheld; if confirmed, treatment must be permanently discontinued.
Malignancies: The risk of malignancy is increased in patients with ulcerative colitis and Crohn's disease. Immunomodulatory medicinal products may increase the risk of malignancy (see Adverse Reactions).
Prior and concurrent use of biological products: No vedolizumab clinical trial data are available for patients previously treated with natalizumab or rituximab. Caution should be exercised when considering the use of vedolizumab in these patients.
Patients previously exposed to natalizumab should normally wait a minimum of 12 weeks prior to initiating therapy with vedolizumab, unless otherwise indicated by the patient's clinical condition.
No clinical trial data for concomitant use of vedolizumab with biologic immunosuppressants are available. Therefore, the use of vedolizumab in such patients is not recommended.
Live and oral vaccines: In a placebo-controlled study of healthy volunteers, a single 750 mg dose of vedolizumab did not lower rates of protective immunity to hepatitis B virus in subjects who were vaccinated intramuscularly with 3 doses of recombinant hepatitis B surface antigen. Vedolizumab-exposed subjects had lower seroconversion rates after receiving a killed, oral cholera vaccine. The impact on other oral and nasal vaccines is unknown. It is recommended that all patients be brought up to date with all immunisations in agreement with current immunisation guidelines prior to initiating vedolizumab therapy. Patients receiving vedolizumab treatment may continue to receive non-live vaccines. There are no data on the secondary transmission of infection by live vaccines in patients receiving vedolizumab. Administration of the influenza vaccine should be by injection in line with routine clinical practice. Other live vaccines may be administered concurrently with vedolizumab only if the benefits clearly outweigh the risks.
Induction of remission in Crohn's disease: Induction of remission in Crohn's disease may take up to 14 weeks in some patients. The reasons for this are not fully known and are possibly related to the mechanism of action. This should be taken into consideration, particularly in patients with severe active disease at baseline not previously treated with TNFα antagonists. (See also Pharmacology: Pharmacodynamics under Actions.)
Exploratory subgroup analyses from the clinical trials in Crohn's disease suggested that vedolizumab administered in patients without concomitant corticosteroid treatment may be less effective for induction of remission in Crohn's disease than in those patients already receiving concomitant corticosteroids (regardless of use of concomitant immunomodulators; see Pharmacology: Pharmacodynamics under Actions).
Effects on ability to drive and use machines: Vedolizumab has minor influence on the ability to drive and use machines, as dizziness has been reported in a small number of patients.
