Winlevi (Clascoterone): Uses, Dosage, Side Effects & Warnings

Uses

(clascoterone) cream is an androgen receptor inhibitor indicated for the topical treatment of acne vulgaris in patients 12 years of age and older. WINLEVI (clascoterone) cream is an androgen receptor inhibitor indicated for the topical treatment of acne vulgaris in patients 12 years of age and older. ( 1 )

Dosage and administration

Cleanse the affected area gently. After the skin is dry, apply a thin uniform layer of WINLEVI cream twice per day, in the morning and the evening, to the affected area. Avoid accidental transfer of WINLEVI cream into eyes, mouth or other mucous membranes. If contact with mucous membranes occurs, rinse thoroughly with water. WINLEVI cream is for topical use only. WINLEVI cream is not for ophthalmic, oral or vaginal use. Apply a thin layer (approximately 1 gram) to affected area twice daily (morning and evening). Avoid contact with eyes, mouth, and mucous membranes. ( 2 ) Not for ophthalmic, oral or vaginal use. ( 2 )

Dosage forms and strengths

Cream 1%. Each gram of WINLEVI cream contains 10 mg of clascoterone in a white to almost white cream. Cream 1%. ( 3 )

Contraindications

None. None ( 4 )

Warnings and precautions

Local Irritation: Pruritus, burning, skin redness or peeling may be experienced with WINLEVI cream. If these effects occur, discontinue or reduce the frequency of application of WINLEVI cream. ( 5.1 ) Hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) axis suppression may occur during or after treatment with clascoterone. ( 5.2 ) Attempt to withdraw use if HPA axis suppression develops. ( 5.2 ) Pediatric patients may be more susceptible to systemic toxicity. ( 5.2 , 8.4 ) Hyperkalemia: Elevated potassium levels were observed in some subjects during the clinical trials. ( 12.2 ) 5.1 Local Skin Reactions WINLEVI cream may induce local irritation (erythema/redness, pruritus, scaling/ dryness). Concomitant use with other potentially irritating topical products (medicated or abrasive soaps and cleansers, soaps and cosmetics that have a strong drying effect and products with high concentrations of alcohol, astringents, spices or lime) should be limited. The product should not be applied to cuts, abrasions, eczematous or sunburned skin. 5.2 Hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) Axis Suppression Hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) axis suppression was observed and may occur during or after treatment with clascoterone. In the PK trial, all subjects returned to normal HPA axis function at follow-up 4 weeks after stopping treatment [see Clinical Pharmacology (12.2) ]. Conditions which augment systemic absorption include use over large surface areas, prolonged use, and the use of occlusive dressings. If HPA axis suppression develops, an attempt should be made to withdraw the drug. Pediatric patients may be more susceptible to systemic toxicity.

Side effects

Most common adverse reactions occurring in 7 to 12% of patients are erythema/reddening, pruritus and scaling/dryness. Additionally, edema, stinging, and burning occurred in >3% of patients and were reported in a similar percentage of subjects treated with vehicle. ( 6.1 ) To report SUSPECTED ADVERSE REACTIONS, contact Sun Pharmaceutical Industries, Inc. 1-800-818-4555 or FDA at 1-800-FDA-1088 or http://www.fda.gov/medwatch. 6.1 Clinical Trials Experience Because clinical trials are conducted under widely varying conditions, adverse reaction rates observed in the clinical trials of a drug cannot be directly compared to rates in the clinical trials of another drug and may not reflect the rates observed in practice. In two identical multicenter, randomized, double-blind, vehicle-controlled trials, 1421 subjects 12 years and older with facial acne vulgaris applied WINLEVI cream or vehicle twice daily for 12 weeks. Overall, 62% of the subjects were female, and 38% were male, 91% of the patients were Caucasian, and the mean age was 19.7 years. Local skin reactions (edema, erythema/redness, pruritus, scaling/dryness, skin atrophy, stinging/burning, striae rubrea, telangiectasia) were observed during the 12-week treatment and occurred in a similar percentage of subjects treated with vehicle. Local skin reactions reported by ≥ 1% of subjects treated with WINLEVI cream are shown in the following table. Table 1. Incidence of New or Worsening Local Skin Reactions Reported by ≥ 1% of Subjects Treated with WINLEVI Cream After Day 1 in 12-Week Controlled Clinical Trials WINLEVI Cream 1% (N=674 a ) Vehicle Cream (N=656 a ) a The denominators for calculating the percentages were the 674 of 709 subjects treated with WINLEVI cream and 656 of 712 subjects treated with vehicle in these trials who had local skin reaction results reported after Day 1. Edema 24 (3.6%) 23 (3.5%) Erythema/redness 82 (12.2%) 101 (15.4%) Pruritus 52 (7.7%) 54 (8.2%) Scaling/dryness 71 (10.5%) 68 (10.4%) Skin atrophy 11 (1.6%) 17 (2.6%) Stinging/burning 28 (4.2%) 28 (4.3%) Striae rubrae 17 (2.5%) 10 (1.5%) Telangiectasia 8 (1.2%) 12 (1.8%) The following adverse reactions associated with the use of WINLEVI cream were identified in clinical trials and long-term safety studies. Metabolism: hyperkalemia [see Clinical Pharmacology (12.2) ] Reproductive: polycystic ovaries, amenorrhea.

Use in specific populations

8.1 Pregnancy Risk Summary There are no available data on WINLEVI cream use in pregnant women to evaluate for a drug-associated risk of major birth defects, miscarriage, or adverse maternal or fetal outcomes. In animal reproduction studies, subcutaneous administration of clascoterone to pregnant rats and rabbits during organogenesis at doses 8 or 39 times the maximum recommended human dose (MRHD), respectively, increased malformations in rats and post-implantation loss and resorptions in rabbits (see Data ). The background risk of major birth defects and miscarriage for the indicated population is unknown. Adverse outcomes in pregnancy occur regardless of the health of the mother or the use of medications. In the U.S. general population, the estimated background risk of major birth defects and miscarriage in clinically recognized pregnancies is 2% to 4% and 15% to 20%, respectively. Data Animal Data In an embryofetal development study, clascoterone was administered subcutaneously to pregnant rats at doses of 1, 5, or 25 mg/kg/day during the period of organogenesis. No clascoterone-related maternal toxicity or effects on uterine parameters were noted at doses up to 25 mg/kg/day (336 times the MRHD based on AUC comparison). Clascoterone-related malformations were noted at all dose levels, without a dose relationship. Omphalocele was noted in a single fetus at each dose level. External and visceral malformations (severe dilation of the lateral and third cerebral ventricles; thin skin, small size, and protruding tongue) were noted in two additional fetuses at 1 mg/kg/day (8 times the MRHD based on AUC comparison). In an embryofetal development study, clascoterone was administered subcutaneously to pregnant rabbits at doses of 0.1, 0.4, or 1.5 mg/kg/day during the period of organogenesis. Post-implantation loss and resorptions were increased at 1.5 mg/kg/day (39 times the MRHD based on AUC comparison). No developmental toxicity was noted at doses up to 0.4 mg/kg/day (12 times the MRHD based on AUC comparison). No clascoterone-related maternal toxicity or fetal malformations were noted at doses up to 1.5 mg/kg/day (39 times the MRHD based on AUC comparison). In a prenatal and postnatal development study, clascoterone was administered subcutaneously to pregnant rats at doses of 0.5, 2.5, and 12.5 mg/kg/day beginning on gestation day 6 and continuing through lactation day 20. No significant maternal or developmental toxicity was observed at doses up to 12.5 mg/kg/day (163 times the MRHD based on AUC comparison). 8.2 Lactation Risk Summary There are no data regarding the presence of clascoterone or metabolite in human milk, the effects on the breastfed infant or the effects on milk production. The lack of clinical data during lactation precludes a clear determination of the risk of clascoterone to an infant during lactation; therefore, the developmental and health benefits of breastfeeding should be considered along with the mother's clinical need for clascoterone and any potential adverse effects on the breastfed child from clascoterone or from the underlying maternal condition. 8.4 Pediatric Use Safety and effectiveness of WINLEVI cream for the topical treatment of acne vulgaris have been established in 641 pediatric patients, aged 12 to 18 years in two identical multicenter, randomized, double-blind, vehicle-controlled, 12-week trials and 2 open-label pharmacokinetic studies [see Clinical Studies (14) ]. Safety and effectiveness of WINLEVI cream for the topical treatment of acne vulgaris has not been established in pediatric patients under 12 years of age. Hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) axis suppression was observed in 2/22 (9%) adolescent subjects. All subjects returned to normal HPA axis function at follow-up 4 weeks after stopping the treatment [see Clinical Pharmacology (12.2) ]. Children may be more susceptible to systemic toxicity when treated with clascoterone [see Pharmacodynamics (12.2) ]. 8.5 Geriatric Use Clinical studies of WINLEVI cream did not include sufficient numbers of subjects aged 65 years of age and over to determine whether they respond differently from younger subjects. Other reported clinical experience has not identified differences in responses between the elderly and younger patients. In general, dose selection for an elderly patient should be cautious, usually starting at the low end of the dosing range, reflecting the greater frequency of decreased hepatic, renal, or cardiac function, and of concomitant disease or other drug therapy.

Pregnancy

8.1 Pregnancy Risk Summary There are no available data on WINLEVI cream use in pregnant women to evaluate for a drug-associated risk of major birth defects, miscarriage, or adverse maternal or fetal outcomes. In animal reproduction studies, subcutaneous administration of clascoterone to pregnant rats and rabbits during organogenesis at doses 8 or 39 times the maximum recommended human dose (MRHD), respectively, increased malformations in rats and post-implantation loss and resorptions in rabbits (see Data ). The background risk of major birth defects and miscarriage for the indicated population is unknown. Adverse outcomes in pregnancy occur regardless of the health of the mother or the use of medications. In the U.S. general population, the estimated background risk of major birth defects and miscarriage in clinically recognized pregnancies is 2% to 4% and 15% to 20%, respectively. Data Animal Data In an embryofetal development study, clascoterone was administered subcutaneously to pregnant rats at doses of 1, 5, or 25 mg/kg/day during the period of organogenesis. No clascoterone-related maternal toxicity or effects on uterine parameters were noted at doses up to 25 mg/kg/day (336 times the MRHD based on AUC comparison). Clascoterone-related malformations were noted at all dose levels, without a dose relationship. Omphalocele was noted in a single fetus at each dose level. External and visceral malformations (severe dilation of the lateral and third cerebral ventricles; thin skin, small size, and protruding tongue) were noted in two additional fetuses at 1 mg/kg/day (8 times the MRHD based on AUC comparison). In an embryofetal development study, clascoterone was administered subcutaneously to pregnant rabbits at doses of 0.1, 0.4, or 1.5 mg/kg/day during the period of organogenesis. Post-implantation loss and resorptions were increased at 1.5 mg/kg/day (39 times the MRHD based on AUC comparison). No developmental toxicity was noted at doses up to 0.4 mg/kg/day (12 times the MRHD based on AUC comparison). No clascoterone-related maternal toxicity or fetal malformations were noted at doses up to 1.5 mg/kg/day (39 times the MRHD based on AUC comparison). In a prenatal and postnatal development study, clascoterone was administered subcutaneously to pregnant rats at doses of 0.5, 2.5, and 12.5 mg/kg/day beginning on gestation day 6 and continuing through lactation day 20. No significant maternal or developmental toxicity was observed at doses up to 12.5 mg/kg/day (163 times the MRHD based on AUC comparison).

Pediatric use

8.4 Pediatric Use Safety and effectiveness of WINLEVI cream for the topical treatment of acne vulgaris have been established in 641 pediatric patients, aged 12 to 18 years in two identical multicenter, randomized, double-blind, vehicle-controlled, 12-week trials and 2 open-label pharmacokinetic studies [see Clinical Studies (14) ]. Safety and effectiveness of WINLEVI cream for the topical treatment of acne vulgaris has not been established in pediatric patients under 12 years of age. Hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) axis suppression was observed in 2/22 (9%) adolescent subjects. All subjects returned to normal HPA axis function at follow-up 4 weeks after stopping the treatment [see Clinical Pharmacology (12.2) ]. Children may be more susceptible to systemic toxicity when treated with clascoterone [see Pharmacodynamics (12.2) ].

Geriatric use

8.5 Geriatric Use Clinical studies of WINLEVI cream did not include sufficient numbers of subjects aged 65 years of age and over to determine whether they respond differently from younger subjects. Other reported clinical experience has not identified differences in responses between the elderly and younger patients. In general, dose selection for an elderly patient should be cautious, usually starting at the low end of the dosing range, reflecting the greater frequency of decreased hepatic, renal, or cardiac function, and of concomitant disease or other drug therapy.

Description

(clascoterone) cream contains clascoterone, an androgen receptor inhibitor, in a cream base for topical dermatologic use. WINLEVI cream is a white to almost white cream. Chemically, clascoterone is cortexolone-17α propionate. Clascoterone is a white to almost white powder, practically insoluble in water. The compound has the empirical formula C 24 H 34 O 5 and molecular weight of 402.5 g/mol. The structural formula is shown below. Each gram of WINLEVI cream 1% contains 10 mg of clascoterone in a cream base of cetyl alcohol, citric acid monohydrate, edetate disodium, mineral oil, mono- and di-glycerides, polysorbate 80, propylene glycol, purified water, and vitamin E. image description

Mechanism of action

12.1 Mechanism of Action Clascoterone is an androgen receptor inhibitor. The mechanism of action of WINLEVI cream for the topical treatment of acne vulgaris is unknown.

How supplied

16 HOW SUPPLIED/STORAGE AND HANDLING WINLEVI cream 1% is supplied in an epoxy-lined aluminum blind-end tube with a polypropylene cap closure: NDC 47335-994-36 60-gram tube Prior to Dispensing: Store the product in a refrigerator between 36°F and 46°F (2°C and 8°C). Do not freeze. Dispensing Instructions for the Pharmacist: Direct the patient to store the product while in use at room temperature, between 68°F and 77°F (20°C to 25°C). Do not freeze. Discard the unused product 180 days after the date of dispensing or 1 month after first opening, whichever is sooner.

Storage

Prior to Dispensing: Store the product in a refrigerator between 36°F and 46°F (2°C and 8°C). Do not freeze. Dispensing Instructions for the Pharmacist: Direct the patient to store the product while in use at room temperature, between 68°F and 77°F (20°C to 25°C). Do not freeze. Discard the unused product 180 days after the date of dispensing or 1 month after first opening, whichever is sooner.

Patient information

Advise the patient to read the FDA-approved patient labeling (Patient Information). Avoid applying WINLEVI Cream to damaged skin (such as cuts, abrasions), eczematous areas, and sunburned skin. Avoid concomitant use of other potentially irritating topical products (medicated or not).

Active ingredients

Clascoterone in 1 product

Winlevi NDC products (1)

NDC	Strength & form	Labeler	Type
47335-994	Clascoterone 1 g/100g Cream	Sun Pharmaceutical Industries, Inc.	NDA

Frequently asked questions

What is Winlevi used for?

(clascoterone) cream is an androgen receptor inhibitor indicated for the topical treatment of acne vulgaris in patients 12 years of age and older. WINLEVI (clascoterone) cream is an androgen receptor inhibitor indicated for the topical treatment of acne vulgaris in patients 12 years of age and older. ( 1 )

What are the side effects of Winlevi?

Most common adverse reactions occurring in 7 to 12% of patients are erythema/reddening, pruritus and scaling/dryness. Additionally, edema, stinging, and burning occurred in >3% of patients and were reported in a similar percentage of subjects treated with vehicle. ( 6.1 ) To report SUSPECTED ADVERSE REACTIONS, contact Sun Pharmaceutical Industries, Inc. 1-800-818-4555 or FDA at 1-800-FDA-1088 or… See the full label for the complete list.

Who makes Winlevi?

Winlevi is listed by 1 labeler in the FDA NDC directory, including Sun Pharmaceutical Industries, Inc..