Avaclyr

Description

Acyclovir is a synthetic herpes simplex virus nucleoside analog DNA polymerase inhibitor. The drug substance is a white crystalline powder with the molecular formula of C₈H₁₁N₅O₃ and a molecular weight of 225.2. The maximum solubility in water at 25°C is 1.41 mg/mL. The pka’s of acyclovir are 2.52 and 9.35.

The chemical name of acyclovir is 2-amino-1,9-dihydro-9-[(2-hydroxyethoxy)methyl]6H-purin-6-one, it has the following chemical structure:

AVACLYR is a sterile ointment for topical administration in eyes. Each gram of ointment contains 30 mg of acyclovir in a white petrolatum base.

AVACLYR is a sterile topical antiviral indicated for the treatment of acute herpetic keratitis (dendritic ulcers) in patients with herpes simplex (HSV-1 and HSV-2) virus.

Dosage And Administration

The recommended dosing regimen is to apply a 1 cm ribbon of ointment in the lower cul-de-sac of the affected eye 5 times per day (approximately every 3 hours while awake) until the corneal ulcer heals and then a 1 cm ribbon 3 times per day for 7 days.

How Supplied

Dosage Forms And Strengths

AVACLYR is an ophthalmic ointment containing 3% acyclovir.

Storage And Handling

AVACLYR is available in a 3.5 g tin tube with a black low density polyethylene cap as a clear, colorless, sterile ophthalmic ointment for topical use containing 3% acyclovir active drug. Each tube is packaged in an individual carton.

3.5 g tube (NDC 48102-026-35)

Store at 20°C to 25°C (68°F to 77°F).

Manufactured for: Fera Pharmaceuticals, LLC Locust Valley, N.Y. 11560. Revised: Jul 2021

The most common adverse reactions (2-10%) reported in patients were eye pain (stinging), punctate keratitis and follicular conjunctivitis. Rare reports of blepharitis and very rare reports of immediate hypersensitivity reactions including angioedema and urticaria have been observed post-marketing in patients taking AVACLYR.

Drug Interactions

No clinically significant interactions have been identified resulting from topical administration of other drugs concomitantly with AVACLYR.

Included as part of the PRECAUTIONS section.

Precautions

Topical Ophthalmic Use

AVACLYR is indicated for topical ophthalmic use.

Avoidance Of Contact Lenses

Patients should not wear contact lenses if they have signs or symptoms of herpetic keratitis or during the course of therapy with AVACLYR.

Risk Of Contamination

This product is sterile when packaged. Patients should be advised to not allow the tip of the container to touch any surface, as this may contaminate the ointment. If pain develops, or if redness, itching, or inflammation becomes aggravated, the patient should be advised to consult a physician.

Nonclinical Toxicology

Carcinogenesis, Mutagenesis, Impairment Of Fertility

Carcinogenesis

Acyclovir was not shown to be carcinogenic in mouse and rat bioassays at oral doses up to 450 mg/kg (approximately 1100 – 2200 times the maximum RHOD, on a mg/m² basis, assuming 100% absorption).

Mutagenesis

Acyclovir was tested in 16 in vitro and in vivo genetic toxicity assays. Acyclovir was found to be negative in the Ames test, positive in the in vitro mouse lymphoma assay (TK locus), and positive in the in vitro and in vivo assays for chromosomal effects.

Impairment Of Fertility

In reproduction studies, acyclovir did not impair fertility or reproduction at oral doses up to 450 mg/kg/day in mice (1100 times the RHOD), or at subcutaneous doses of 25 mg/kg/day in rats (125 times the RHOD). At a dose of 50 mg/kg/day in rats and rabbits (250 and 500 times the RHOD, respectively), implantation efficiency was decreased.

Use In Specific Populations

Pregnancy

Risk Summary

A prospective epidemiologic registry of acyclovir use from 1984 to 1999 indicated that the occurrence rate of birth defects in women exposed to systemically administered acyclovir during the first trimester of pregnancy (period of organogenesis) approximated that found in the general population. Likewise, oral and subcutaneous administration of acyclovir to pregnant mice, rats, and rabbits during organogenesis did not produce teratogenicity at clinically relevant doses (see Animal Data).

Data

Human Data

A prospective epidemiologic registry of acyclovir use during pregnancy was established in 1984 and completed in April 1999. There were 749 pregnancies followed in women exposed to systemically administered acyclovir during the first trimester of pregnancy resulting in 756 outcomes. The occurrence rate of birth defects approximates that found in the general population. However, the small size of the registry is insufficient to evaluate the risk for less common defects, or to permit reliable or definitive conclusions regarding the safety of acyclovir in pregnant women and their developing fetuses. The human maternal plasma level of acyclovir following ocular administration is unknown.

Animal Data

In published animal reproduction studies, acyclovir was not maternally toxic and did not produce

teratogenicity in the mouse at oral doses up to 450 mg/kg/day (1100 times the maximum recommended human ophthalmic dose [RHOD] on a mg/m² basis, assuming 100% absorption), or in the rat and rabbit at subcutaneous doses up to 50 mg/kg/day (approximately 250 and 500 times the RHOD, respectively) when administered throughout the period of organogenesis.

Administration of acyclovir from postnatal days 3 to 21 did not produce adverse effects in neonatal rats at subcutaneous doses less than or equal to 20 mg/kg/day (100 times the RHOD).

Lactation

Risk Summary

Acyclovir concentrations have been documented in breast milk following oral administration of acyclovir. There is no information regarding the presence of acyclovir in human milk following ocular administration, the effects on the breastfed infant, or the effects on milk production. The developmental and health benefits of breastfeeding should be considered along with the mother’s clinical need for acyclovir, and any potential adverse effects on the breast-fed child from acyclovir or from the underlying maternal condition.

Pediatric Use

Safety and efficacy of Acyclovir ophthalmic ointment in pediatric patients below the age of two years has not been established.

Geriatric Use

No overall differences in safety or effectiveness have been observed between elderly and other adult patients.

Overdosage of topical application of acyclovir 3% is unlikely because of minimal absorption.

Contraindications

AVACLYR is contraindicated for patients who develop sensitivity to acyclovir or valacyclovir.

Mechanism Of Action

Acyclovir is an antiviral drug [see Microbiology].

Pharmacokinetics

It has not been possible to detect acyclovir concentrations in the blood by existing bioanalytical methods after topical application to the eye. Trace quantities are detectable in the urine but are not therapeutically relevant.

Microbiology

Acyclovir is a synthetic purine nucleoside analogue that is phosphorylated intracellularly by the viral encoded thymidine kinase (TK) of HSV into acyclovir monophosphate, a nucleotide analogue. The monophosphate is further converted into diphosphate by cellular guanylate kinase and into triphosphate by a number of cellular enzymes. In a biochemical reaction, acyclovir triphosphate inhibits replication of herpes viral DNA by competing with nucleotides for binding to the viral DNA polymerase and by incorporation into and termination of the growing viral DNA chain. The cellular thymidine kinase of normal, uninfected cells does not use acyclovir effectively as a substrate, hence toxicity to mammalian host cells is low.

Antiviral Activities

The quantitative relationship between the cell culture susceptibility of herpes virus to antivirals and the clinical response to therapy has not been established in humans, and virus sensitivity testing has not been standardized. Sensitivity testing results, expressed as the concentration of drug required to inhibit by 50% the growth of virus in cell culture (EC50), vary greatly depending upon a number of factors. Using plaque-reduction assays, on Vero cells, the median EC50 value of acyclovir against clinical herpes simplex virus isolates (subjects receiving placebo) was 1.3 μM (range: < 0.56 to 3.3 μM).

Drug Resistance

Resistance of HSV to acyclovir can result from qualitative and quantitative changes in the viral TK and/or DNA polymerase. Clinical isolates of HSV with reduced susceptibility to acyclovir have been recovered from immune compromised patients, especially with advanced HIV infection. While most of the acyclovir resistant mutant isolates thus far from such patients have been found to be TK deficient, other mutant isolates involving the viral TK gene (TK partial and TK altered) or DNA polymerase have been identified. TK negative mutants may cause severe disease in infants and immune compromised adults. The possibility of viral resistance to acyclovir should be considered in immunocompromised patients who show poor clinical response during therapy.

Clinical Studies

In five randomized, double masked studies which enrolled a total of 238 subjects with dendritic herpetic keratitis, acyclovir ophthalmic ointment, 3% was either superior or as effective as idoxuridine ophthalmic ointment 0.5% or 1% in subjects with dendritic ulcers. Clinical resolution (healed ulcers) at Day 7 averaged 83% for acyclovir and 50% for idoxuridine.