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Nusinersen: Drug information

Nusinersen: Drug information
(For additional information see "Nusinersen: Patient drug information" and see "Nusinersen: Pediatric drug information")

For abbreviations, symbols, and age group definitions used in Lexicomp (show table)
Brand Names: US
  • Spinraza
Brand Names: Canada
  • Spinraza
Pharmacologic Category
  • Antisense Oligonucleotide
Dosing: Adult
Spinal muscular atrophy

Spinal muscular atrophy: Intrathecal: Loading dose: 12 mg once every 14 days for 3 doses; then 12 mg once 30 days after the third dose. Maintenance: 12 mg once every 4 months.

Dosing: Kidney Impairment: Adult

There are no dosage adjustments provided in the manufacturer’s labeling.

Dosing: Hepatic Impairment: Adult

There are no dosage adjustments provided in the manufacturer’s labeling.

Dosing: Pediatric

(For additional information see "Nusinersen: Pediatric drug information")

Spinal muscular atrophy

Spinal muscular atrophy: Infants, Children, and Adolescents:

Loading dose: Intrathecal: 12 mg once every 14 days for 3 doses; then 12 mg once 30 days after the third dose

Maintenance dose: Intrathecal: 12 mg once every 4 months

Dosing: Kidney Impairment: Pediatric

There are no dosage adjustments provided in the manufacturer’s labeling.

Dosing: Hepatic Impairment: Pediatric

There are no dosage adjustments provided in the manufacturer’s labeling.

Dosage Forms: US

Excipient information presented when available (limited, particularly for generics); consult specific product labeling.

Solution, Intrathecal [preservative free]:

Spinraza: 12 mg/5 mL (5 mL)

Generic Equivalent Available: US

No

Dosage Forms: Canada

Excipient information presented when available (limited, particularly for generics); consult specific product labeling.

Solution, Intrathecal:

Spinraza: 12 mg/5 mL (5 mL)

Administration: Adult

For intrathecal use only. Allow vial to warm to room temperature before use; do not use external heat sources. Prior to administration, remove 5 mL of cerebrospinal fluid. Administer as an intrathecal bolus injection over 1 to 3 minutes. Do not administer in areas with signs of infection or inflammation.

Administration: Pediatric

For intrathecal use only. Allow vial to warm to room temperature before use; do not use external heat sources. Prior to administration, remove 5 mL of cerebrospinal fluid. Administer as an intrathecal bolus injection over 1 to 3 minutes using spinal anesthesia needle. Do not administer in areas with signs of infection or inflammation.

Use: Labeled Indications

Spinal muscular atrophy: Treatment of spinal muscular atrophy (SMA)

Medication Safety Issues
High alert medication:

The Institute for Safe Medication Practices (ISMP) includes this medication (intrathecal administration) among its list of drugs that have a heightened risk of causing significant patient harm when used in error.

Adverse Reactions

The following adverse drug reactions and incidences are derived from product labeling unless otherwise specified.

>10%:

Central nervous system: Headache (29%)

Gastrointestinal: Constipation (35%), vomiting (29%), period of tooth development (18%)

Genitourinary: Proteinuria (58%)

Hematologic & oncologic: Thrombocytopenia (16%)

Neuromuscular & skeletal: Back pain (25%)

Respiratory: Lower respiratory tract infection (55%), atelectasis (18%)

Miscellaneous: Fever (43%)

1% to 10%:

Central nervous system: Fall (5%)

Endocrine & metabolic: Weight loss (5%)

Gastrointestinal: Flatulence (5%)

Genitourinary: Urinary tract infection (9%)

Hypersensitivity: Seasonal allergy (5%)

Immunologic: Antibody development (6%)

Otic: Otic infection (6%)

Respiratory: Respiratory congestion (5%; upper tract: 8%), epistaxis (7%)

<1%, postmarketing, and/or case reports: Angioedema, aseptic meningitis, hydrocephalus, hypersensitivity reaction, maculopapular rash, meningitis, serious infection, skin rash

Contraindications

There are no contraindications listed in the manufacturer's labeling.

Canadian labeling: Additional contraindications (not in US labeling): Known or suspected hypersensitivity to nusinersen or any component of the formulation.

Warnings/Precautions

Concerns related to adverse effects:

• Hematologic effects: Coagulation abnormalities and thrombocytopenia (including acute severe thrombocytopenia), have been observed with some antisense oligonucleotides; increased risk of bleeding complications may occur. Perform a platelet count and coagulation testing at baseline, prior to each dose and as clinically needed.

• Renal toxicity: Renal toxicity, including potentially fatal glomerulonephritis, has been observed with some antisense oligonucleotides. Conduct quantitative spot urine protein testing (preferably using first morning urine) at baseline and prior to each dose. For urinary protein concentration >0.2 g/L, consider repeat testing and further evaluation.

Metabolism/Transport Effects

None known.

Drug Interactions

There are no known significant interactions.

Pregnancy Considerations

Adverse events have been observed in some animal reproduction studies.

Breastfeeding Considerations

It is not known if nusinersen is present in breast milk.

According to the manufacturer, the decision to continue or discontinue breastfeeding during therapy should take into account the risk of infant exposure, the benefits of breastfeeding to the infant, and benefits of treatment to the mother.

Monitoring Parameters

Platelet count, coagulation tests (prothrombin time; activated partial thromboplastin time), and quantitative spot urine protein testing at baseline, prior to each dose, and as clinically indicated.

Mechanism of Action

Treats spinal muscular atrophy caused by mutations in chromosome 5q that lead to survival motor neuron (SMN) protein deficiency by binding to a specific sequence in the intron downstream of exon 7 of the SMN2 messenger ribonucleic acid (mRNA) transcript and increase production of full-length SMN protein.

Pharmacokinetics

Distribution: Within the CNS and peripheral tissues

Metabolism: Via exonuclease (3’- and 5’)-mediated hydrolysis

Half-life elimination: Terminal (mean range): CSF: 135 to 177 days; Plasma: 63 to 87 days

Time to peak (median range): 1.7 to 6 hours

Excretion: Urine

Pricing: US

Solution (Spinraza Intrathecal)

12 mg/5 mL (per mL): $31,977.00

Disclaimer: A representative AWP (Average Wholesale Price) price or price range is provided as reference price only. A range is provided when more than one manufacturer's AWP price is available and uses the low and high price reported by the manufacturers to determine the range. The pricing data should be used for benchmarking purposes only, and as such should not be used alone to set or adjudicate any prices for reimbursement or purchasing functions or considered to be an exact price for a single product and/or manufacturer. Medi-Span expressly disclaims all warranties of any kind or nature, whether express or implied, and assumes no liability with respect to accuracy of price or price range data published in its solutions. In no event shall Medi-Span be liable for special, indirect, incidental, or consequential damages arising from use of price or price range data. Pricing data is updated monthly.

Brand Names: International
  • Spinola (KR);
  • Spinraza (CH, DE, DK, ES, FI, GB, HR, IE, NO, PL, SE, TW)


For country code abbreviations (show table)
  1. Spinraza (nusinersen) [prescribing information]. Cambridge, MA: Biogen; June 2020.
  2. Spinraza (nusinersen) [product monograph]. Mississauga, Ontario, Canada: Biogen Canada Inc; April 2020.
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