Optimizing therapeutic decision-making for off-label medicines use: A scoping review and consensus recommendations for improving practice and research.

PURPOSE: Off-label medicines use is a common and sometimes necessary practice in many populations, with important clinical, ethical and financial consequences, including potential unintended harm or lack of effectiveness. No internationally recognized guidelines exist to aid decision-makers in applying research evidence to inform off-label medicines use. We aimed to critically evaluate current evidence informing decision-making for off-label use and to develop consensus recommendations to improve future practice and research. METHODS: We conducted a scoping review to summarize the literature on available off-label use guidance, including types, extent and scientific rigor of evidence incorporated. Findings informed the development of consensus recommendations by an international multidisciplinary Expert Panel using a modified Delphi process. Our target audience includes clinicians, patients and caregivers, researchers, regulators, sponsors, health technology assessment bodies, payers and policy makers. RESULTS: We found 31 published guidance documents on therapeutic decision-making for off-label use. Of 20 guidances with general recommendations, only 35% detailed the types and quality of evidence needed and the processes for its evaluation to reach sound, ethical decisions about appropriate use. There was no globally recognized guidance. To optimize future therapeutic decision-making, we recommend: (1) seeking rigorous scientific evidence; (2) utilizing diverse expertise in evidence evaluation and synthesis; (3) using rigorous processes to formulate recommendations for appropriate use; (4) linking off-label use with timely conduct of clinically meaningful research (including real-world evidence) to address knowledge gaps quickly; and (5) fostering partnerships between clinical decision-makers, researchers, regulators, policy makers, and sponsors to facilitate cohesive implementation and evaluation of these recommendations. CONCLUSIONS: We provide comprehensive consensus recommendations to optimize therapeutic decision-making for off-label medicines use and concurrently drive clinically relevant research. Successful implementation requires appropriate funding and infrastructure support to engage necessary stakeholders and foster relevant partnerships, representing significant challenges that policy makers must urgently address.

Fatal adverse drug reactions: A worldwide perspective in the World Health Organization pharmacovigilance database.

AIMS: Adverse drug reactions (ADRs) are important causes of death. However, the main involved drugs are relatively unknown. The present study was performed to characterise death-related drugs recorded in a large pharmacovigilance database during the last 10 years. METHODS: A retrospective analysis of VigiBase, the World Health Organization pharmacovigilance database, was performed investigating fatal ADRs registered between 1 January 2010 and 31 December 2019 in male and female patients aged ≥18 years and reported by physicians. Analyses were descriptive investigating age, sex and suspected drugs. Differences in reporting according to sex, age and continents were investigated using disproportionality analysis with calculation of reporting odds ratio and its 95% confidence interval. RESULTS: Among the 23 millions ADRs recorded in VigiBase, 3 250 967 were included with 43 685 fatal. They were reported mainly in patients older than 75 years. The 3 most frequently involved drug classes were antineoplastic/immunomodulating drugs followed by nervous system and cardiac drugs. The top 3 individual drugs were denosumab, lenalidomide and thalidomide with marked differences according to age, sex, continents and countries. The risk of reporting fatal ADRs was higher in males, in the Americas and in patients ≥65 years. CONCLUSION: Fatal ADRs registered in a large pharmacovigilance database during the last 10 years correspond to just over 1% of the total number of ADRs. They occurred more in males, after 65 years and with antineoplastic/immunomodulating drugs in general. Our study also highlighted, for the first time, important differences in fatal ADRs between continents and countries.

Can tramadol really induce hyponatraemia? A pharmacovigilance study.

Several papers have described hyponatraemia with tramadol. However, in most reports, several confounding factors can be found. We used the WHO pharmacovigilance database (VigiBase®) to investigate if tramadol alone could be associated with hyponatraemia. All 1992-2019 ICSRs (individual case safety reports) with the preferred term (PT) "hyponatraemia" and tramadol were included. Two disproportionality analyses were performed: (1) after inclusion of all reports, and (2) after exclusion of concomitant hyponatraemic drugs. Results are expressed as reporting odds ratios (ROR; 95% CI) and information component (IC). Of 19 747 604 ICSRs, 225 575 were included. A significant association was found between tramadol use and reports of hyponatraemia (ROR = 1.49 [1.39-1.60], IC = 0.57 [IC025 = 0.47]). After exclusion of hyponatraemic drugs, the previously found association disappeared. The study failed to find any pharmacovigilance signal of hyponatraemia with tramadol alone. We suggest that reports of hyponatraemia with tramadol can be explained principally by other underlying causes of hyponatraemia, especially other concomitant hyponatraemic drugs.

Hepatic Disorders With the Use of Remdesivir for Coronavirus 2019.

Remdesivir is a nucleotide analog prodrug with antiviral activity against a broad spectrum of human coronavirus in cell cultures and mouse models including severe acute respiratory syndrome-associated coronavirus 2. Recently, the Food and Drug Agency (FDA) and the European Medicines Agency (EMA) recommended remdesivir for the treatment of patients hospitalized with severe coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) infection.1,2 In the remdesivir clinical development program, some cases have raised concerns regarding potential hepatobiliary disorders associated with remdesivir, including in healthy volunteers and patients with COVID-19.3 In cohort studies of patients hospitalized for severe COVID-19 who were treated with compassionate-use remdesivir, elevated hepatic enzymes were the most frequent adverse drug reaction reported.4,5 In the first randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled clinical trial assessing the effect of intravenous remdesivir in adults admitted to hospital with severe COVID-19 (n = 237), a higher proportion of remdesivir recipients than placebo recipients had dosing prematurely stopped by the investigators because of adverse events including aminotransferase or bilirubin increases (3 versus 0).6 Although there is no signal from the available data of severe hepatotoxicity or drug-induced liver injury in clinical trials, the number of patients exposed to remdesivir was too limited. Therefore, there is an urgent need to investigate the hepatic safety profile associated with remdesivir in COVID-19 patients.

Neurological Adverse Effects Associated With Anti-tumor Necrosis Factor Alpha Antibodies in Pediatric Inflammatory Bowel Diseases.

OBJECTIVES: Neurological adverse effects (NAEs) induced by biotherapies have been reported in the literature mainly in adult patients with inflammatory bowel disease (IBD), rheumatic diseases, or psoriasis. There are scant data in children. Aims of this study are to report and describe noninfective NAE associated with anti-TNFα antibodies in pediatric IBD, and to evaluate their incidence. METHODS: We retrospectively collected all reports of NAE in pediatric IBD treated with anti-TNFα antibodies recorded in the French Pharmacovigilance Database. To estimate the national incidence of NAEs, we extrapolated data from the French regional inception population-based cohort EPIMAD. RESULTS: Between 2000 and 2018, 231 adverse events in pediatric IBD exposed to anti-TNFα antibodies were reported to this Database. Seventeen NAEs (7.36%) were collected: 8 severe NAE (1 demyelinating neuropathy, 1 optic neuritis, 1 acute transverse myelitis, 1 polyradiculoneuritis, 1 sensorineural hearing loss, 1 seizure, 1 stroke, and 1 glioma), 7 moderate NAE (headaches), and 2 neuropsychic events. The median delay between anti-TNFα start and NAE occurrence was 6 months (range: 13 days to 26 months). In 10 of 17 patients, anti-TNFα antibodies were stopped. Nine of 17 patients had a complete resolution (including 2 severe NAE) and 8 of 17 a partial resolution (including 6 severe NAE). We estimate the incidence of severe NAE in pediatric IBD treated with anti-TNFα antibodies at 1 case for 10,000 patients-year in France. CONCLUSIONS: NAE associated with anti-TNFα antibodies in pediatric IBD are rare. In severe NAE, we recommend to discontinue anti-TNFα therapy and to consider alternative treatment.

[Completeness of pharmacovigilance reporting in general medicine in France.] / Informativité des déclarations de pharmacovigilance en médecine générale en France.

INTRODUCTION: Spontaneous reporting remains one of the cornerstones of post-marketing drug safety surveillance. One of its main limitations is a lack of completeness.The main aim of this study was to assess the completeness of pharmacovigilance reports sent by general practitioners (GPs) to regional pharmacovigilance centers (RPC) reported in the French pharmacovigilance database (FPVD). Secondary aim was to identify factors associated with complete reports. METHOD: All adverse drugs reactions (ADRs) sent by GPs in France in 2015 were analyzed. According to information provided in ADR reports (ADR, date of occurrence, clinical description, drugs suspected, etc.), completeness was analyzed from “mandatory” criteria (age, gender, ADR and suspected drug(s)) and “non-mandatory” criteria (medical history, concomitant drugs, symptoms evolution and complementary exams) and classified as “well-documented”, “slightly-documented” or “poorly-documented”. RESULTS: In 2015, the FPVD contained 3,020 ADR reports realized by GPs. Only 16.4% of these reports were classified as “well-documented”, in accordance with study criteria. The most poorly documented items were concomitant drugs (41.4%) and complementary exams (37.4%). An association between a “well-documented” ADR report and its “seriousness” (OR = 3,02 [95% CI 2,44; 3,23], P < 10–3) and elderly compared to adults (OR = 1,76 [95% CI 1,42; 2,18], P < 10–3) or children (OR = 4,59 [95% CI 2,51; 8,39], P < 10–3). CONCLUSION: Our study shows that only one out of six ADR reports was “well-documented”. It appears to be important to promote pharmacovigilance to improve completeness of ADR reports.

Tamoxifen and the risk of Parkinsonism: a case/non-case study.

BACKGROUND: Three studies have suggested a potential positive association between the use of tamoxifen in breast cancer and Parkinsonism, mainly after long-term exposure. OBJECTIVES: To explore this potential signal, we performed a case/non-case study using the World Health Organization Global Individual Case Safety Reports (ICSRs) database, VigiBase® between 1979 and 2018. METHODS: Among women ≥ 55 years, we measured the risk of reporting "Parkinsonism" compared with all other adverse drug reactions [as a reporting odds ratio (ROR 95% CI)] for tamoxifen compared to all other drugs or aromatase inhibitors. RESULTS: During the study period, 356 ICSRs of Parkinsonism reported with tamoxifen were identified. We failed to find a positive association between tamoxifen exposure and Parkinsonism in comparison with exposure to other drugs (ROR = 0.79; 95% CI 0.71-0.88) or aromatase inhibitors (ROR = 0.39; 95% CI 0.33-0.46). CONCLUSION: This study did not find evidence for Parkinsonism associated with tamoxifen.

Off-label and unlicensed drug use in children population.

INTRODUCTION: Off-label (OL) and unlicensed (UL) drug use is widely developed in the pediatric population according to previous reviews published in the early 2010s. The present study is a narrative review of the literature of OL-UL drug use from 2013. METHODS: We performed a literature search of research articles assessing OL-UL drug use in children (<18 years-old) published in Medline® from January 2013 until May 2017. RESULTS: Twenty-seven studies were included. OL drug use was defined by inappropriate age, indication, dosage or way of administration according to the summary of product characteristics in >80% of studies. UL drug used was defined by the use of drugs not licensed in the country or modifications of licensed drugs in >70% of studies. Among in- and out-patients, the frequency of patients exposed to at least one OL-UL drug ranged from 36.3 to 97.0% and from 18.6 to 40.2%, respectively. Drug use was categorized as OL mostly due to inappropriate age, dosage or indication. OL-UL drug use was the most prevalent in newborns (mainly preterms) and pre-school children (aged 2-5years). Various drugs were involved, depending on patients' age. Polypharmacy and long hospital stays were risk factors for OL-UL drug use. Whether OL-UL drug use leads to a higher incidence of adverse drug reactions is a controversial finding. CONCLUSIONS: OL-UL drug use is frequent in children. A standardized definition of OL-UL drug use is needed to better assess its frequency, risk factors and impact.

Pharmacovigilance in pediatrics.

The characteristics of pharmacology and drug evaluation in the pediatric age group highlight the necessity for the pharmacovigilance community to adjust to the specific features of children. At the time of marketing a medicinal product intended for children, the product's safety profile is sometimes less well known than for adults due to fewer or small sample clinical trials. Furthermore, the frequent off-labeled drug use, the use of unsuitable dosage forms and the need for continuous dose adjustments increase the risk of medication errors and thus lead to avoidable adverse drug reactions (ADRs). The occurrence of child-specific ADRs (such as growth disorders) or ADRs more commonly occurring in children than in adults make it necessary to monitor the safety of child-specific drugs. Pediatric pharmacovigilance includes also the consequences of in utero exposure, whether manifestations are present from birth or occur in early childhood (such as neurodevelopmental disorders). The incidence of ADRs varies with age, setting of medical care (in- or out-patients, pediatric specialties) and by country in which the study was carried out. The drugs most frequently reported with ADRs are those most commonly used in the pediatric age group, i.e. antibiotics and vaccines. The ADRs most often reported are skin, neurological and general disorders. As in adults, spontaneous notification is essential to generate alerts and child-specific pharmacoepidemiological studies are necessary and should be developed.

[Satisfaction of a pharmacovigilance declaration support network in general practice]. / Satisfaction des médecins généralistes d'un réseau d'aide à la déclaration de pharmacovigilance PharmacoMIP-MG.

OBJECTIVE: General practitioners (GPs) report little adverse drug reactions (ADR), although it is mandatory in France. The objective was to evaluate the satisfaction of the GPs who participated to a pharmacovigilance ADR declaration support network via a clinical research assistant (CRA) moving to their GP office in the French South-West region of Midi-Pyrénées. STUDY DESIGN: A satisfaction questionnaire was sent to the 59 active GPs of this network in November 2016. RESULTS: A total number of 44 GPs responded to the survey (mean age 44±11years; 48% of women). The overall satisfaction grade was rated 9/10 (SD±1). The personalized help from a CRA was highly appreciated (n=39; 89%), reduced time-loss (n=35; 90%), and facilitated communication with the local pharmacovigilance department (n=33; 85%). Most GP (95%; n=35) stated that they would keep reporting ADRs, 83% (n=35) stated to declare ADRs via the CRA, the others stated to declare ADRs directly to the Regional Pharmacovigilance Center, mainly via numerical or online tools. For 59% (n=26) their participation to the network had a positive impact on their relationship with patients through the improvement of their vigilance to ADR. DISCUSSION: Most of the active GP answered. They were very satisfied of the pharmacovigilance CRA network helping ADR reports. It may corroborate the increase of ADRs reporting in Midi-Pyrénées since this network was set up.

Adverse drug reactions of botulinum neurotoxin type A in children with cerebral palsy: a pharmaco-epidemiological study in VigiBase.

AIM: The aim of this study was to assess the risk of adverse drug reactions (ADRs) with botulinum neurotoxin type A (BoNT-A) in children with cerebral palsy (CP) using the World Health Organization global individual case safety report (ICSR) database, VigiBase. METHOD: We extracted all children ICSRs for ADRs with BoNT-A used as anti-spastic drug in CP recorded between 1995 and 2015 in VigiBase. We also performed a case/non-case method (disproportionality analysis) to assess the link between exposure to BoNT-A and each ADR of interest in children and adults, calculating reporting odds ratios (RORs). RESULTS: In VigiBase, 162 ICSRs were registered. They involved mainly males (n=95, 59%) and mean (SD) age was 7 years 11 months (4y 4mo). The most frequent ADR was dysphagia (27 ICSRs, 17%) followed by asthenia and muscular weakness (25 ICSRs each, 16%). Nineteen ICSRs (12%) were lethal. There was a significant association between BoNT-A and death in children (ROR=11.1 95%, confidence interval [CI] 7.0-17.7) but not in adults. INTERPRETATION: In children with CP, most ADRs seem to be linked to a systemic spread of BoNT-A. Our study suggests a higher risk of ADRs with BoNT-A in children than in adults.

[Improving adverse drug reaction reporting by general practitioners through clinical research assistants visits]. / Apport de la visite d'assistants de recherche clinique aux cabinets de médecins généralistes sur la notification des effets indésirables médicamenteux.

The main limitation of adverse drug reactions (ADRs) reporting, particularly by general practitioners (GP), to the regional pharmacovigilance centers is under-reporting. The Midi-Pyrénées Regional Pharmacovigilance Center (South western, France) sets up regular visits by a clinical research assistant (CRA) to GP in order to increase the number of ADR reports. The aim of this pilot study was to assess the effect of regular visits of a CRA in GPs offices on the rate of ADR reporting. After one year, CRA visits permit a two-fold increase in ADR reporting.

Atropinic (Anticholinergic) Burden in Parkinson's Disease.

Use of atropinic drugs remains controversial in Parkinson's disease (PD) because there is insufficient evidence about their efficacy and they can induce serious adverse drug reactions. Atropinic risk scales were developed to help to identify atropinic drugs in prescription forms and to evaluate their burden in clinical practice. In the present review, we discuss the few studies investigating atropinic burden in PD and present the results of our study indicating that atropinic drugs are still widely prescribed in PD (almost 3 of 5 prescriptions) with a clinically significant atropinic burden in around 1 of 6 PD patients. Drugs mainly responsible for high values of atropinic burden were those used for nonmotor symptoms. Clinically significant atropinic burdens were mainly induced by associations of several "low-risk" drugs. Physicians must be aware that in addition to classical atropinic antiparkinsonian drugs, many others (psychotropics) can contribute to increased atropinic burden in PD patients. © 2016 International Parkinson and Movement Disorder Society.

Pharmacovigilance, risks and adverse effects of self-medication.

Self-medication means resorting to one or more drugs in order to treat oneself without the help of a doctor. This phenomenon is developing fast. In this review, we will discuss the main definitions of self-medication; we will then present a few important characteristics of this therapeutic practice: prevalence, reasons, populations involved and drugs used. Whilst the theoretical risks of self-medication have been abundantly discussed in the literature (adverse effects, interactions, product, dosage or treatment duration errors, difficulty in self-diagnosis, risk of addiction or abuse…), there is in fact very little detailed pharmacovigilance data concerning the characteristics and the consequences of this usage in real life. This study therefore describes the all too rare data that is available: patients, clinical characteristics, "seriousness" and drugs involved in the adverse effects of self-medication. It also discusses leads to be followed in order to minimize medication risks, which are obviously not well known and clearly not sufficiently notified.