FDA Approves Biorphen

FDA Approves Biorphen (phenylephrine hydrochloride) Ready-to-Use Injection for Hypotension During Anesthesia

DEER PARK, Ill., Oct. 22, 2019 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Eton Pharmaceuticals, Inc. (Nasdaq: ETON), a specialty pharmaceutical company focused on developing and commercializing innovative drug products, today announced that the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has approved Biorphen, the first and only FDA-approved ready-to-use formulation of phenylephrine for the treatment of clinically important hypotension resulting primarily from vasodilation in the setting of anesthesia.

Prior to the FDA approval of Biorphen, phenylephrine injection was only approved and available as a highly concentrated formulation that required hospitals to manually dilute the concentrate prior to administration, or purchase ready-to-use formulations from 503B compounding pharmacies. Compounded drugs do not have to undergo FDA premarket review for safety, effectiveness and certain controls over manufacturing quality. Due to this lower regulatory standard, compounded drugs are often associated with higher risks of medication error.1

“Today’s FDA approval of Biorphen addresses a critical medical need for an approved, ready-to-use standardized formulation of phenylephrine that can potentially reduce medication administration errors and improve patient safety,” said Sean Brynjelsen, chief executive officer of Eton Pharmaceuticals. "The approval of Biorphen represents an important step forward in Eton’s commitment to improving existing medicines to address unmet patient needs. We look forward to working with our manufacturing partner, Sintetica, to make Biorphen available to hospitals across the United States before the end of the year.” 

“Operating rooms, emergency departments and intensive care units are fast-paced and time-sensitive environments. Add to that the complexity of caring for patients with a wide range of critical conditions and the use of high-alert medications like phenylephrine – and you have an atmosphere primed for potential medication error,” said Jared Marcucci, M.D., assistant director, Community First Medical Center Department of Emergency Medicine in Chicago. “As a practicing emergency medicine physician, the availability of an FDA-approved, ready-to-use formulation of phenylephrine is a welcome advance, providing physicians and hospital systems with an important new option that does not require compounding and can potentially help reduce the risk of medication errors and minimize harm to patients.”

“Providers at the bedside need reliable, easy to use, safe drugs that have a consistent supply.  Many hospitals outsource unapproved ready-to-use phenylephrine from 503B compounders, however often have to navigate supply disruptions through these suppliers,” said Heather Nixon, M.D., Associate Professor Anesthesiology, University of Illinois at Chicago Hospital. “The availability of Biorphen will help address many of the underlying causes for risk and error associated with compounded phenylephrine while also reducing potential for waste associated with overdrawing medications. This will be an important new tool for anesthesiologists, pharmacists and other hospital providers in their efforts to enhance patient safety and prevent patient harm.” 

About Biorphen

Biorphen (phenylephrine HCI) Injection is the first and only FDA-approved ready-to-use formulation of phenylephrine for treating clinically important hypotension resulting primarily from vasodilation in the setting of anesthesia. Designed for patient safety, Biorphen can be administered without diluting, which reduces the risk of medication error in often stressful clinical environments. No compounding also reduces the risk of sterility breach, can assist safe injection practices, and reduces waste. Ready-to-use Biorphen can be standardized and stocked in the operating room, emergency department and intensive care unit, as well as in crash carts throughout the hospital. Biorphen’s three-year shelf life reduces the need for hospital staff to monitor and restock it as frequently as compounded phenylephrine.

INDICATION & USAGE 
Biorphen injection is an alpha-1 adrenergic receptor agonist indicated for the treatment of clinically important hypotension resulting primarily from vasodilation in the setting of anesthesia.

IMPORTANT SAFETY INFORMATION 
Intravenous administration of phenylephrine can precipitate angina in patients with severe arteriosclerosis or history of angina, exacerbate underlying heart failure, and increase pulmonary arterial pressure.  Biorphen can cause excessive peripheral and visceral vasoconstriction and ischemia to vital organs as well as severe bradycardia and decreased cardiac output. 

Extravasation during intravenous administration may cause necrosis or sloughing of tissue.  The most common side effects of phenylephrine during treatment are nausea, vomiting, and headache. Interactions with concomitant medications may augment or antagonize the pressor effect.  

Contraindications 
None.  

Warnings and Precautions  

• Exacerbation of Angina, Heart Failure, or Pulmonary Arterial Hypertension
• Peripheral and Visceral Ischemia
• Skin and Subcutaneous Necrosis
• Bradycardia

Adverse Reactions  
Most common adverse reactions during treatment: nausea, vomiting, and headache. 

Drug Interactions 

• Agonistic Effects (increase in Biorphen blood pressure effect) can occur with monoamine oxidase inhibitors (MAOI), oxytocin and oxytocic drugs, tricyclic antidepressants, angiotensin and aldosterone, atropine, steroids, norepinephrine transporter inhibitors, ergot alkaloids.
• Antagonistic Effects (decrease in Biorphen blood pressure effect) can occur with α-adrenergic antagonists, phosphodiesterase Type 5 inhibitors, mixed α- and β-receptor antagonists, calcium channel blockers, benzodiazepines and ACE inhibitors, centrally acting sympatholytic agents 

Overdosage 
Overdose of Biorphen (phenylephrine hydrochloride) can cause a rapid rise in blood pressure. Symptoms of overdose include headache, vomiting, hypertension, reflex bradycardia, a sensation of fullness in the head, tingling of the extremities, and cardiac arrhythmias including ventricular extrasystoles and ventricular tachycardia.