WO2011158178A1

WO2011158178A1 - Use of dronedarone for the preparation of a medicament for use in the treatment of patients

Info

Publication number: WO2011158178A1
Application number: PCT/IB2011/052575
Authority: WO
Inventors: Davide Radzik
Original assignee: Sanofi
Priority date: 2010-06-14
Filing date: 2011-06-14
Publication date: 2011-12-22

Abstract

The instant invention relates to a method of determining whether to administer to a patient dronedarone, or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof, in combination with a potassium-depleting diuretic for the treatment of arrhythmia comprising the steps of: i) measuring serum magnesium level in a patient suffering from arrhythmia prior to dronedarone administration to said patient; and ii) initiating dronedarone administration to the patient if the serum magnesium level from step i) is normal.

Description

Use of dronedarone for the preparation of a medicament for use in the treatment of patients

This invention relates to the use of dronedarone for the preparation of a medicament for use in the treatment of patients and the use of dronedarone for treating patients.

BACKGROUND

Dronedarone is a benzofuran derivative with the following chemical name: N-{2-butyl-3-[4-(3- dibutylaminopropoxy)benzoyl]benzofuran-5-yl} methanesulfonamide and is also referred to as 2-n-butyl-3-[4-(3-di-n-butylaminopropoxy)benzoyl]-5-methylsulfonamido-benzofuran. Its pharmaceutically acceptable salts are described in the European patent EP 0 471 609 B1 .

Dronedarone HCI is a white fine powder that is practically insoluble in water and freely soluble in methylene chloride and methanol. Its empirical formula is C₃1 H44N2O₅S, HCI with a relative molecular mass of 593.2. Its structural formula is:

Dronedarone is an antiarrhythmic agent effective in the reduction of cardiovascular hospitalization and death in patients with atrial fibrillation or atrial flutter or with a history of atrial fibrillation or atrial flutter, and is sold under the brand name Multaq® ("MULTAQ").

MULTAQ is currently indicated to reduce the risk of cardiovascular hospitalization in patients with paroxysmal or persistent atrial fibrillation (AF) or atrial flutter (AFL), with a recent episode of AF/AFL and associated cardiovascular risk factors (i.e., age >70, hypertension, diabetes, prior cerebrovascular accident, left atrial diameter≥50 mm or left ventricular ejection fraction [LVEF] <40%), who are in sinus rhythm or who will be cardioverted.

A subject of the present invention are methods of using dronedarone, or a pharmaceutically acceptable salts thereof, according to one or more aspects described herein. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The present invention is illustrated by the data hereinafter with reference to the attached drawings in which:

Figure 1 represents a Kaplan Meier curve with the cumulative rate of hospitalization or of death from any cause over a period of 30 months;

Figure 2 displays the Relative Risk (MULTAQ versus placebo) Estimates with 95% Confidence Intervals According to Selected Baseline Characteristics: First Cardiovascular Hospitalization or Death from any Cause.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION The term "MULTAQ," as used herein, refers to dronedarone HCI.

"AF" and "AFib" mean atrial fibrillation.

"AFL" means atrial flutter.

BID" means two times a day.

"CHF" mean congestive heart failure. The term "dronedarone," solely for the purposes of the present invention, refers to dronedarone or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof. In one aspect of the invention, the pharmaceutically acceptable salt is the hydrochloride salt.

The term "hypokalemia" as used herein, means an abnormally low level of potassium in the blood. In one aspect of the invention, hypokalemia is indicated by a serum potassium level of less than 0.7 mmol/L. For the purposes of the present invention, a normal serum potassium level is between about 3.5 and about 5.0 mmol/L.

The term "hypomagnesemia" as used herein, means an abnormally low level of magnesium in the blood. In one aspect of the invention, hypomagnesemia is indicated by a serum magnesium level of less than 0.7 mmol/L. For the purposes of the present invention, a normal serum magnesium level is between about 0.7 and about 1.0 mmol/L.

"NYHA" means New York Heart Association.

Dronedarone has been shown to be effective for reduction of the risk of cardiovascular hospitalization in patients with atrial fibrillation (AF) or atrial flutter (AFL) or a history of AF or AFL at a dosage of 400 mg twice daily (BID). The safety of dronedarone has been evaluated in a clinical development program that included, as of 12 March 2008, a total of 8276 treated patients/healthy subjects in 55 completed studies. Of these, 4794 patients/healthy subjects received dronedarone.

Patients with the claimed indication of AF/AFL were included in 5 controlled clinical studies representing 88% (6285 patients) of the exposed patient population (7109 patients). Other patient populations, representing 14% (1028 patients) of the exposed patient population, were included in 13 clinical studies in patients with other cardiac conditions and patients with renal and hepatic impairment.

The safety profile of dronedarone 400 mg BID is derived from analysis of the 3282 patients in the 5 AF/AFL studies who were treated with dronedarone 400 mg BID and the 2875 who received placebo. The mean duration of exposure across the 5 studies in the dronedarone 400 mg BID group was 13.5 months, representing total exposure of 3684 patient-years. In the ATHENA study, the maximum follow-up was 30 months.

The Applicant has now found a method for managing or preventing hypomagnesemia in a patient being treated for arrhythmia.

Accordingly, one aspect of the invention is a method of determining whether to administer to a patient dronedarone, or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof, in combination with a potassium-depleting diuretic for the treatment of arrhythmia comprising the steps of:

measuring serum magnesium level in a patient suffering from arrhythmia prior to

dronedarone administration to said patient; and initiating dronedarone administration to the patient if the serum magnesium level from step i) is normal. Another aspect of the invention further comprises the steps of measuring serum magnesium level in the patient after initiation of dronedarone administration; and discontinuing dronedarone administration to the patient if the serum magnesium level from step iii) is less than normal.

Another aspect of the invention is a method of treating arrhythmia by administering dronedarone, or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof, in combination with a potassium- depleting diuretic to a patient comprising the steps of i) measuring serum magnesium level in a patient suffering from arrhythmia prior to dronedarone administration to said patient; ii) initiating dronedarone administration to the patient if the serum magnesium level from step i) is normal; iii) monitoring serum magnesium level at regular intervals for the duration of the administration of dronedarone or pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof in combination with a potassium-depleting diuretic, wherein the monitoring comprises the steps of a) measuring serum magnesium level in the patient during dronedarone administration; and b)

discontinuing dronedarone administration to the patient if the serum magnesium level from step a) is less than normal.

Another aspect of the invention is a method of treating arrhythmia by administering dronedarone, or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof, in combination with a potassium- depleting diuretic to a patient comprising the steps of:

i) measuring serum potassium level in a patient suffering from arrhythmia prior to dronedarone administration to said patient; and

ii) initiating dronedarone administration to the patient if the serum potassium level from step i) is normal;

iii) monitoring serum magnesium level at regular intervals for the duration of the administration of dronedarone or pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof in combination with a potassium-depleting diuretic, wherein the monitoring comprises the steps of:

a) measuring serum magnesium level in the patient during dronedarone administration;

b) discontinuing dronedarone administration to the patient if the serum magnesium level from step a) is less than normal.

Another aspect of the invention is the use of dronedarone, or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof, in combination with a potassium-depleting diuretic for the treatment of arrhythmia in a patient, said use comprising the steps of i) measuring serum magnesium level in a patient suffering from arrhythmia prior to dronedarone administration to said patient; and ii) initiating dronedarone administration to the patient if the serum magnesium level from step i) is normal. Another aspect further comprising the steps of iii) measuring serum magnesium level in the patient after initiation of dronedarone administration; and iv) discontinuing dronedarone administration to the patient if the serum magnesium level from step iii) is less than normal.

Another aspect of the invention is the use of dronedarone, or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof, in combination with a potassium-depleting diuretic for the treatment of arrhythmia in a patient, said use comprising the steps of: i) measuring serum magnesium level in a patient suffering from arrhythmia prior to dronedarone administration to said patient; and

ii) initiating dronedarone administration to the patient if the serum magnesium level from step i) is normal;

Another aspect of the invention is the use of dronedarone, or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof, in combination with a potassium-depleting diuretic for the treatment of arrhythmia in a patient, said use comprising the steps of:

The instant method of treatment can be more specifically directed to the treatment of patients with atrial fibrillation or atrial flutter. Of course, these methods of treating arrhythmia and use of dronedarone to treat arrhythmia may be understood as a subject matter directed to the use of dronedarone for the preparation of a medicament for use in the treatment of arrhythmia or to dronedarone for the treatment of arrhythmia.

Examples of potassium-depleting diuretics include, but are not limited to, loop diuretics and thiazide diuretics, for example bumetanie, furosemide, bendroflumethiazide, hydrochlorothiazide and the like, and are well know to those skilled in the art.

The methods of the present invention may be used to treat as well as educate and reinforce the actions and behaviors of patients who are taking dronedarone, as well as prescribers who prescribe the drug and pharmacies who dispense the drug. A variety of educational materials may be employed to ensure proper prescribing, dispensing, and patient compliance according to the methods described herein. For example, a variety of literature and other materials, such as, for example, prescribing information, package inserts, medications guides, physician information sheets, healthcare professional information sheets, medical journal advertisements, product websites, and surveys may describe the risks and benefits of taking dronedarone.

In a placebo-controlled study in patients with severe heart failure requiring recent hospitalization or referral to a specialized heart failure clinic for worsening symptoms (the ANDROMEDA Study), patients given dronedarone had a greater than two-fold increase in mortality. Such patients should not be given dronedarone.

MULTAQ is contraindicated in patients with NYHA Class IV heart failure or NYHA Class II - III heart failure with a recent decompensation requiring hospitalization or referral to a specialized heart failure clinic.

More specifically, MULTAQ is contraindicated in patients with:

NYHA Class IV heart failure or NYHA Class II - III heart failure with a recent decompensation requiring hospitalization or referral to a specialized heart failure clinic;

Second- or third-degree atrioventricular (AV) block or sick sinus syndrome (except when used in conjunction with a functioning pacemaker);

Bradycardia <50 bpm;

Concomitant use of strong CYP 3A inhibitors, such as ketoconazole, itraconazole, voriconazole, cyclosporine, telithromycin, clarithromycin, nefazodone, and ritonavir; Concomitant use of drugs or herbal products that prolong the QT interval and might increase the risk of Torsade de Pointes, such as phenothiazine anti-psychotics, tricyclic antidepressants, certain oral macrolide antibiotics, and Class I and III antiarrhythmics;

QTc Bazett interval≥500 ms or PR interval >280 ms;

Severe hepatic impairment;

Pregnancy (Category X): MULTAQ may cause fetal harm when administered to a pregnant woman. MULTAQ is contraindicated in women who are or may become pregnant. If this drug is used during pregnancy, or if the patient becomes pregnant while taking this drug, the patient should be apprised of the potential hazard to a fetus; and

Nursing mothers.

The following are warnings and precautions regarding the use of dronedarone according to the present invention:

Heart failure: If heart failure develops or worsens, consider the suspension or discontinuation of MULTAQ. More specifically, advise patients to consult a physician if they develop signs or symptoms of heart failure, such as weight gain, dependent edema, or increasing shortness of breath. There are limited data available for AF/AFL patients who develop worsening heart failure during treatment with MULTAQ. If heart failure develops or worsens, consider the suspension or discontinuation of MULTAQ.

Hypokalemia and hypomagnesemia: Maintain potassium and magnesium levels within the normal range. More specifically, hypokalemia or hypomagnesemia may occur with concomitant administration of potassium-depleting diuretics. Potassium levels should be within the normal range prior to administration of MULTAQ and maintained in the normal range during administration of MULTAQ.

QT prolongation: Stop MULTAQ if QTc Bazett ≥500ms. More specifically, dronedarone induces a moderate (average of about 10 ms but much greater effects have been observed) QTc (Bazett) prolongation. If the QTc Bazett interval is≥500 ms, MULTAQ should be stopped. Increase in creatinine: Within a week, MULTAQ causes a small increase in serum creatinine that does not reflect a change in underlying renal function. More specifically, serum creatinine levels increase by about 0.1 mg/dL following dronedarone treatment initiation. The elevation has a rapid onset, reaches a plateau after 7 days and is reversible after discontinuation. If an increase in serum creatinine occurs and plateaus, this increased value should be used as the patient's new baseline. The change in creatinine levels has been shown to be the result of an inhibition of creatinine's tubular secretion, with no effect upon the glomerular filtration rate.

Teratogen: Women of childbearing potential should use effective contraception while using MULTAQ. More specifically, premenopausal women who have not undergone a hysterectomy or oophorectomy must use effective contraception while using MULTAQ. Dronedarone caused fetal harm in animal studies at doses equivalent to recommended human doses. Women of childbearing potential should be counseled regarding appropriate contraceptive choices taking into consideration their underlying medical conditions and lifestyle preferences.

Adverse Reactions

The following safety concerns are described herein:

· New or worsening heart failure;

Hypokalemia and hypomagnesemia with potassium-depleting diuretics;

QT prolongation.

The safety evaluation of dronedarone 400 mg twice daily in patients with AF or AFL is based on 5 placebo controlled studies, ATHENA, EURIDIS, ADONIS, ERATO and DAFNE. In these studies, a total of 6285 patients were randomized and treated, 3282 patients with MULTAQ 400 mg twice daily, and 2875 with placebo. The mean exposure across studies was 12 months. In ATHENA, the maximum follow-up was 30 months.

In clinical trials, premature discontinuation because of adverse reactions occurred in 1 1.8% of the dronedarone-treated patients and in 7.7% of the placebo-treated group. The most common reasons for discontinuation of therapy with MULTAQ were gastrointestinal disorders (3.2 % versus 1.8% in the placebo group) and QT prolongation (1.5% versus 0.5% in the placebo group).

The most frequent adverse reactions observed with MULTAQ 400 mg twice daily in the 5 studies were diarrhea, nausea, abdominal pain, vomiting, and asthenia. Table 1 displays adverse reactions more common with dronedarone 400 mg twice daily than with placebo in AF or AFL patients, presented by system organ class and by decreasing order of frequency. Adverse laboratory and ECG effects are presented separately in Table 2.

Table 1 : Adverse Drug Reactions that Occurred in at Least 1 % of Patients and Were More Frequent than Placebo

Photosensitivity reaction and dysgeusia have also been reported at an incidence less than 1 % in patients treated with MULTAQ.

The following laboratory data/ECG parameters were reported with MULTAQ 400 mg twice daily.

Table 2: Laboratory data/ECG parameters not necessarily reported as adverse events

Assessment of demographic factors such as gender or age on the incidence of treatment- emergent adverse events did not suggest an excess of adverse events in any particular subgroup.

Dronedarone is metabolized primarily by CYP 3A and is a moderate inhibitor of CYP 3A and CYP 2D6. Dronedarone's blood levels can therefore be affected by inhibitors and inducers of CYP 3A, and dronedarone can interact with drugs that are substrates of CYP 3A and CYP 2D6. Dronedarone has no significant potential to inhibit CYP 1A2, CYP 2C9, CYP 2C19, CYP 2C8 and CYP 2B6. It has the potential to inhibit P-glycoprotein (P-gP) transport. Pharmacodynamic interactions can be expected with beta-blockers; calcium antagonists and digoxin.

Accordingly, dronedarone has potentially important pharmacodynamic interactions, for example:

Antiarrhythmics: Avoid concomitant use;

Digoxin: Consider discontinuation or halve dose of digoxin before treatment and monitor;

· Calcium channel blockers (CCB): Initiate CCB with low dose and increase after ECG verification of tolerability;

Beta-blockers: May provoke excessive bradycardia, Initiate with low dose and increase after ECG verification of tolerability;

CYP 3A inducers: Avoid concomitant use;

· Grapefruit juice: Avoid concomitant use;

Statins: Follow label recommendations for concomitant use of certain statins with a CYP 3A and P-gP inhibitor like dronedarone;

CYP 3A substrates with a narrow therapeutic index (e.g., sirolimus and tacrolimus): Monitor and adjust dosage of concomitant drug as needed when used with MULTAQ.

In clinical trials, patients treated with dronedarone received concomitant medications including beta-blockers, digoxin, calcium antagonists (including those with heart rate-lowering effects), statins and oral anticoagulants.

Antiarrhythmics

Treatment with Class I or III antiarrhythmics (e.g., amiodarone, flecainide, propafenone, quinidine, disopyramide, dofetilide, sotalol) or drugs that are strong inhibitors of CYP3A (e.g., ketoconazole) must be stopped before starting MULTAQ.

Drugs prolonging the QT interval (inducing Torsade de Pointes)

Co-administration of drugs prolonging the QT interval (such as certain phenothiazines, tricyclic antidepressants, certain macrolide antibiotics, and Class I and III antiarrhythmics) is contraindicated because of the potential risk of Torsade de Pointes-type ventricular tachycardia.

Digoxin

Digoxin can potentiate the electrophysiologic effects of dronedarone (such as decreased AV- node conduction). In clinical trials, increased levels of digoxin were observed when dronedarone was co-administered with digoxin. Gastrointestinal disorders were also increased. Because of the pharmacokinetic interaction and possible pharmacodynamic interaction, reconsider the need for digoxin therapy. If digoxin treatment is continued, halve the dose of digoxin, monitor serum levels closely, and observe for toxicity.

Calcium channel blockers

Calcium channel blockers with depressant effects on the sinus and AV nodes could potentiate dronedarone's effects on conduction.

Give low doses of calcium channel blockers initially and increase only after ECG verification of good tolerability.

Beta-blockers

In clinical trials, bradycardia was more frequently observed when dronedarone was given in combination with beta-blockers.

Give low dose of beta-blockers initially, and increase only after ECG verification of good tolerability.

Ketoconazole and other potent CYP 3A inhibitors

Repeated doses of ketoconazole, a strong CYP 3A inhibitor, resulted in a 17-fold increase in dronedarone exposure and a 9-fold increase in Cmax. Concomitant use of ketoconazole as well as other potent CYP 3A inhibitors such as itraconazole, voriconazole, ritonavir, clarithromycin, and nefazodone is contraindicated.

Grapefruit juice

Grapefruit juice, a moderate inhibitor of CYP 3A, resulted in a 3-fold increase in dronedarone exposure and a 2.5-fold increase in Cmax. Therefore, patients should avoid grapefruit juice beverages while taking MULTAQ.

Rifampin and other CYP 3A inducers

Rifampin decreased dronedarone exposure by 80%. Avoid rifampin or other CYP 3A inducers such as phenobarbital, carbamazepine, phenytoin, and St John's wort with dronedarone because they decrease its exposure significantly. Calcium channel blockers

Verapamil and diltiazem are moderate CYP 3A inhibitors and increase dronedarone exposure by approximately 1.4-to 1.7-fold.

Pantoprazole

Pantoprazole, a drug that increases gastric pH, did not have a significant effect on dronedarone pharmacokinetics.

Effects of Dronedarone on Other Drugs

Statins

Dronedarone increased simvastatin/simvastatin acid exposure by 4- and 2-fold, respectively. Because of multiple mechanisms of interaction with statins (CYPs and transporters), follow statin label recommendations for use with CYP 3A and P-gP inhibitors such as dronedarone.

Calcium channel blockers

Dronedarone increases calcium channel blocker (verapamil, diltiazem or nifedipine) exposure by 1.4- to 1.5-fold.

Sirolimus, tacrolimus, and other CYP3A substrates with narrow therapeutic range

Dronedarone can increase plasma concentrations of tacrolimus, sirolimus, and other CYP 3A substrates with a narrow therapeutic range when given orally. Monitor plasma concentrations and adjust dosage appropriately.

Beta-blockers and other CYP 2D6 substrates

Dronedarone increased propranolol exposure by approximately 1 .3-fold following single dose administration. Dronedarone increased metoprolol exposure by 1.6-fold following multiple dose administration. Other CYP 2D6 substrates, including other beta-blockers, tricyclic antidepressants, and selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs) may have increased exposure upon co-administration with dronedarone.

Digoxin and P-glycoprotein substrates

Dronedarone increased digoxin exposure by 2.5-fold by inhibiting the P-gP transporter. Other P-gP substrates are expected to have increased exposure when coadministered with dronedarone.

Warfarin and losartan (CYP 2C9 substrates)

In healthy subjects, dronedarone at a dose of 600 mg twice daily increased S-warfarin exposure by 1 .2-fold with no change in R-warfarin and with no clinically significant increase in INR. In clinical trials in patients with AF/AFL, there was no observed excess risk of bleeding compared to placebo when dronedarone was co-administered with oral anticoagulants. Monitor INR per the warfarin label.

No interaction was observed between dronedarone and losartan.

Theophylline (CYP 1A2 substrate)

Dronedarone does not increase steady state theophylline exposure.

Oral contraceptives

No decreases in ethinylestradiol and levonorgestrel concentrations were observed in healthy subjects receiving dronedarone concomitantly with oral contraceptives.

Pregnancy

Pregnancy Category X: MULTAQ may cause fetal harm when administered to a pregnant woman. In animal studies, dronedarone was teratogenic in rats at the maximum recommended human dose (MRHD), and in rabbits at half the MRHD. If this drug is used during pregnancy or if the patient becomes pregnant while taking this drug, the patient should be apprised of the potential hazard to the fetus.

When pregnant rats received dronedarone at oral doses greater than or equal to the MRHD (on a mg/m2 basis), fetuses had increased rates of external, visceral and skeletal malformations (cranioschisis, cleft palate, incomplete evagination of pineal body, brachygnathia, partially fused carotid arteries, truncus arteriosus, abnormal lobation of the liver, partially duplicated inferior vena cava, brachydactyly, ectrodactylia, syndactylia, and anterior and/or posterior club feet). When pregnant rabbits received dronedarone, at a dose approximately half the MRHD (on a mg/m2 basis), fetuses had an increased rate of skeletal abnormalities (anomalous ribcage and vertebrae, pelvic asymmetry) at doses≥20 mg/kg (the lowest dose tested and approximately half the MRHD on a mg/m2 basis).

Actual animal doses: rat (≥80 mg/kg/day); rabbit (≥20 mg/kg)

Nursing Mothers

It is not known whether MULTAQ is excreted in human milk. Dronedarone and its metabolites are excreted in rat milk. During a pre- and post-natal study in rats, maternal dronedarone administration was associated with minor reduced body-weight gain in the offspring. Because many drugs are excreted in human milk and because of the potential for serious adverse reactions in nursing infants from MULTAQ, a decision should be made whether to discontinue nursing or to discontinue the drug, taking into account the importance of the drug to the mother. Pediatric Use

Safety and efficacy in children below the age of 18 years have not been established.

Geriatric Use

More than 4500 patients with AF or AFL aged 65 years or above were included in the MULTAQ clinical program (of whom more than 2000 patients were 75 years or older). Efficacy and safety were similar in elderly and younger patients.

Renal Impairment

Patients with renal impairment were included in clinical studies. Because renal excretion of dronedarone is minimal, no dosing alteration is needed.

Hepatic Impairment

Dronedarone is extensively metabolized by the liver. There is little clinical experience with moderate hepatic impairment and none with severe impairment. No dosage adjustment is recommended for moderate hepatic impairment.

In the event of overdosage, monitor the patient's cardiac rhythm and blood pressure. Treatment should be supportive and based on symptoms.

It is not known whether dronedarone or its metabolites can be removed by dialysis (hemodialysis, peritoneal dialysis or hemofiltration). There is no specific antidote available.

For their therapeutic use, dronedarone and pharmaceutically acceptable salts thereof are generally introduced into pharmaceutical compositions.

These pharmaceutical compositions contain an effective dose of dronedarone or of a pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof, and also at least one pharmaceutically acceptable excipient.

Said pharmaceutical composition may be given once or twice a day with food.

The dose of dronedarone administered per day, orally, may reach 800 mg, taken in one or more intakes, for example one or two.

More specifically, the dose of dronedarone administered may be taken with food.

More specifically, the dose of dronedarone administered per day, orally, may reach 800 mg, taken in two intakes with a meal.

The dose of dronedarone administered per day, orally may be taken at a rate of twice a day with a meal for example with the morning and the evening meal.

More specifically, the two intakes may comprise same quantity of dronedarone. There may be specific cases where higher or lower dosages are appropriate; such dosages do not depart from the context of the invention. According to the usual practice, the dosage appropriate for each patient is determined by the physician according to the method of administration, the weight, the pathology, the body surface, the cardiac output and the response of said patient.

Said excipients are chosen according to the pharmaceutical form and the method of administration desired, from the usual excipients which are known to those skilled in the art.

In said pharmaceutical compositions for oral, sublingual, subcutaneous, intramuscular, intravenous, topical, local, intratracheal, intranasal, transdermal or rectal administration, dronedarone, or the salt thereof, can be administered in unit administration form, as a mixture with conventional pharmaceutical excipients, to animals and to humans in the cases mentioned above.

The suitable unit administration forms comprise forms for oral administration, such as tablets, soft or hard gel capsules, powders, granules and oral solutions or suspensions, sublingual, buccal, intratracheal, intraocular or intranasal administration forms, forms for administration by inhalation, topical, transdermal, subcutaneous, intramuscular or intravenous administration forms, rectal administration forms, and implants. For topical application, dronedarone and pharmaceutically acceptable salts thereof can be used in creams, gels, ointments or lotions.

By way of example, a unit administration form of dronedarone or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof, in tablet form, may correspond to one of the following examples:

Each tablet of MULTAQ currently contains 400 mg of dronedarone (expressed as base). The inactive ingredients currently are: Core of the tablets-hypromellose, starch, crospovidone, poloxamer 407, lactose monohydrate, colloidal silicon dioxide, magnesium stearate.

Coating / polishing of the tablets-hypromellose, polyethylene glycol 6000, titanium dioxide, carnauba wax.

The currently recommended dosage of MULTAQ is 400 mg twice daily in adults. MULTAQ should be taken as one tablet with the morning meal and one tablet with the evening meal.

In one aspect, MULTAQ 400 mg tablets are provided as white film-coated tablets for oral administration, oblong-shaped, engraved with a double wave marking on one side and "4142" code on the other side in:

Bottles of 60 tablets, NDC 0024-4142-60

Bottles of 180 tablets, NDC 0024-4142-18

Bottles of 500 tablets NDC 0024-4142-50

Box of 10 blisters (10 tablets per blister) NDC 0024-4142-10

which should be stored at 25°C (77°F): excursions permitted to 15-30°C (59-86°F).

The mechanism of action of dronedarone is unknown. Dronedarone has antiarrhythmic properties belonging to all four Vaughan-Williams classes, but the contribution of each of these activities to the clinical effect is unknown.

Dronedarone exhibits properties of all four Vaughn-Williams antiarrhythmic classes, although it is unclear which of these are important in producing dronedarone's clinical effects. The effect of dronedarone on 12-lead ECG parameters (heart rate, PR, and QTc) was investigated in healthy subjects following repeated oral doses up to 1600 mg once daily or 800 mg twice daily for 14 days and 1600 mg twice daily for 10 days. In the dronedarone 400 mg twice daily group, there was no apparent effect on heart rate; a moderate heart rate lowering effect (about 4 bpm) was noted at 800 mg twice daily. There was a clear dose- dependent effect on PR-interval with an increase of +5 ms at 400 mg twice daily and up to +50 ms at 1600 mg twice daily. There was a moderate dose related effect on the QTc- interval with an increase of +10 ms at 400 mg twice daily and up to +25 ms with 1600 mg twice daily.

The DAFNE study was a dose-response study in patients with recurrent AF, evaluating the effect of dronedarone in comparison with placebo in maintaining sinus rhythm. The doses of dronedarone in this study were 400, 600, and 800 mg twice a day. In this small study, doses above 400 mg were not more effective and were less well tolerated. Dronedarone is extensively metabolized and has low systemic bioavailability; its bioavailability is increased by meals. Its elimination half life is 13-19 hours.

Because of presystemic first pass metabolism the absolute bioavailability of dronedarone without food is low, about 4%. It increases to approximately 15% when dronedarone is administered with a high fat meal. After oral administration in fed conditions, peak plasma concentrations of dronedarone and the main circulating active metabolite (N-debutyl metabolite) are reached within 3 to 6 hours. After repeated administration of 400 mg twice daily, steady state is reached within 4 to 8 days of treatment and the mean accumulation ratio for dronedarone ranges from 2.6 to 4.5. The steady state Cmax and exposure of the main N- debutyl metabolite is similar to that of the parent compound. The pharmacokinetics of dronedarone and its N-debutyl metabolite both deviate moderately from dose proportionality: a 2-fold increase in dose results in an approximate 2.5- to 3.0- fold increase with respect to Cmax and AUC.

The in vitro plasma protein binding of dronedarone and its N-debutyl metabolite is >98 % and not saturable. Both compounds bind mainly to albumin. After intravenous (IV) administration the volume of distribution at steady state is about 1400 L.

Dronedarone is extensively metabolized, mainly by CYP 3A. The initial metabolic pathway includes N-debutylation to form the active N-debutyl metabolite, oxidative deamination to form the inactive propanoic acid metabolite, and direct oxidation. The metabolites undergo further metabolism to yield over 30 uncharacterized metabolites. The N-debutyl metabolite exhibits pharmacodynamic activity but is 1/10 to 1/3 as potent as dronedarone

In a mass balance study with orally administered dronedarone (14C-labeled) approximately 6% of the labeled dose was excreted in urine, mainly as metabolites (no unchanged compound excreted in urine), and 84% was excreted in feces, mainly as metabolites. Dronedarone and its N-debutyl active metabolite accounted for less than 15% of the resultant radioactivity in the plasma.

After IV administration the plasma clearance of dronedarone ranges from 130 to 150 L/h. The elimination half-life of dronedarone ranges from 13 to 19 hours.

Dronedarone exposures are on average 30% higher in females than in males.

Pharmacokinetic differences related to race were not formally assessed. However, based on a cross study comparison, following single dose administration (400 mg), Asian males (Japanese) have about a 2-fold higher exposure than Caucasian males. The pharmacokinetics of dronedarone in other races has not been assessed. Of the total number of subjects in clinical studies of dronedarone, 73% were 65 years of age and over and 34% were 75 and over. In patients aged 65 years old and above, dronedarone exposures are 23% higher than in patients less than 65 years old.

In subjects with moderate hepatic impairment, the mean dronedarone exposure increased by 1 .3-fold relative to subjects with normal hepatic function and the mean exposure of the N- debutyl metabolite decreased by about 50%. Pharmacokinetic data were significantly more variable in subjects with moderate hepatic impairment.

The effect of severe hepatic impairment on the pharmacokinetics of dronedarone was not assessed.

Consistent with the low renal excretion of dronedarone, no pharmacokinetic difference was observed in subjects with mild or moderate renal impairment compared to subjects with normal renal function. No pharmacokinetic difference was observed in patients with mild to severe renal impairment in comparison with patients with normal renal function.

In studies in which dronedarone was administered to rats and mice for up to 2 years at doses of up to 70 mg/kg/day and 300 mg/kg/day, respectively, there was an increased incidence of histiocytic sarcomas in droned a rone-treated male mice (300 mg/kg/day or 5X the maximum recommended human dose based on AUC comparisons), mammary adenocarcinomas in droned a rone-treated female mice (300 mg/kg/day or 8X MRHD based on AUC comparisons) and hemangiomas in dronedarone-treated male rats (70 mg/kg/day or 5X MRHD based on AUC comparisons).

Dronedarone did not demonstrate genotoxic potential in the in vivo mouse micronucleus test, the Ames bacterial mutation assay, the unscheduled DNA synthesis assay, or an in vitro chromosomal aberration assay in human lymphocytes. S-9 processed dronedarone, however, was positive in a V79 transfected Chinese hamster V79 assay.

In fertility studies conducted with female rats, dronedarone given prior to breeding and implantation caused an increase in irregular estrus cycles and cessation of cycling at doses ≥10mg/kg (equivalent to 0.12X the MRHD on a mg/m2 basis).

Corpora lutea, implantations and live fetuses were decreased at 100 mg/kg (equivalent to 1.2X the MRHD on a mg/m2 basis). There were no reported effects on mating behavior or fertility of male rats at doses of up to 100 mg/kg/day.

Dronedarone was teratogenic in rats given oral doses≥80 mg/kg/day (a dose equivalent to the maximum recommended human dose [MHRD] on a mg/m2 basis), with fetuses showing external, visceral and skeletal malformations (cranioschisis, cleft palate, incomplete evagination of pineal body, brachygnathia, partially fused carotid arteries, truncus arteriosus, abnormal lobation of the liver, partially duplicated inferior vena cava, brachydactyly, ectrodactylia, syndactylia, and anterior and/or posterior club feet). In rabbits, dronedarone caused an increase in skeletal abnormalities (anomalous ribcage and vertebrae, pelvic asymmetry) at doses≥20 mg/kg (the lowest dose tested and approximately half the MRHD on a mg/m² basis).

Examples - Clinical Studies

Example 1

ATHENA was a multicenter, multinational, double blind, and randomized placebo-controlled study of dronedarone in 4628 patients with a recent history of AF/AFL who were in sinus rhythm or who were to be converted to sinus rhythm. The objective of the study was to determine whether dronedarone could delay death from any cause or hospitalization for cardiovascular reasons.

Initially patients were to be ≥70 years old, or <70 years old with at least one risk factor (including hypertension, diabetes, prior cerebrovascular accident, left atrial diameter≥50 mm or LVEF<0.40). The inclusion criteria were later changed such that patients were to be≥75 years old, or≥70 years old with at least one risk factor. Patients had to have both AF/AFL and sinus rhythm documented within the previous 6 months. Patients could have been in AF/AFL or in sinus rhythm at the time of randomization, but patients not in sinus rhythm were expected to be either electrically or chemically converted to normal sinus rhythm after anticoagulation.

Subjects were randomized and treated for up to 30 months (median follow-up: 22 months) with either MULTAQ 400 mg twice daily (2301 patients) or placebo (2327 patients), in addition to conventional therapy for cardiovascular diseases that included beta-blockers (71 %), ACE inhibitors or angiotensin II receptor blockers (ARBs)(69%), digoxin (14%), calcium antagonists (14%), statins (39%), oral anticoagulants (60%), aspirin (44%), other chronic antiplatelet therapy (6%) and diuretics (54%).

The primary endpoint of the study was the time to first hospitalization for cardiovascular reasons or death from any cause. Time to death from any cause, time to first hospitalization for cardiovascular reasons, and time to cardiovascular death and time to all causes of death were also explored.

Patients ranged in age from 23 to 97 years; 42% were 75 years old or older. Forty-seven percent (47%) of patients were female and a majority was Caucasian (89%). Approximately seventy percent (71 %) of those enrolled had no history of heart failure. The median ejection fraction was 60%. Twenty-nine percent (29%) of patients had heart failure, mostly NYHA class II (17%) The majority had hypertension (86%) and structural heart disease (60%).

Results are shown in Table 3. MULTAQ reduced the combined endpoint of cardiovascular hospitalization or death from any cause by 24.2% when compared to placebo. This difference was entirely attributable to its effect on cardiovascular hospitalization, principally hospitalization related to AF.

Other endpoints, death from any cause and first hospitalization for cardiovascular reasons, are shown in Table 3. Secondary endpoints count all first events of a particular type, whether or not they were preceded by a different type of event.

Table 3: Incidence of Endpoint Events

Cumulative incidence

Figure 1 displays a Kaplan-Meier Cumulative Incidence Curves from randomization to first cardiovascular hospitalization or death from any cause. The event curves separated early and continued to diverge over the 30 month follow-up period. Reasons for hospitalization included major bleeding (1 % in both groups), syncope (1 % in both groups), and ventricular arrhythmia (<1 % in both groups). The reduction in cardiovascular hospitalization or death from any cause was generally consistent in all subgroups based on baseline characteristics or medications (ACE inhibitors or ARBs; beta- blockers, digoxin, statins, calcium channel blockers, diuretics) (see Figure 2).

Examples 2 and 3

EURIDIS and ADONIS Studies

In EURIDIS and ADONIS, a total of 1237 patients in sinus rhythm with a prior episode of AF or AFL were randomized in an outpatient setting and treated with either MULTAQ 400 mg twice daily (n=828) or placebo (n=409) on top of conventional therapies (including oral anticoagulants, beta-blockers, ACE inhibitors or ARBs, chronic antiplatelet agents, diuretics, statins, digoxin, and calcium channel blockers). Patients had at least one ECG-documented AF/AFL episode during the 3 months prior to study entry but were in sinus rhythm for at least one hour. Patients ranged in age from 20 to 88 years, with the majority being Caucasian (97%), male (70%) patients. The most common co-morbidities were hypertension (56.8%) and structural heart disease (41 .5%), including coronary heart disease (21.8%). Patients were followed for 12 months.

In the pooled data from EURIDIS and ADONIS as well as in the individual trials, dronedarone delayed the time to first recurrence of AF/AFL (primary endpoint), lowering the risk of first AF/AFL recurrence during the 12-month study period by about 25%,with an absolute difference in recurrence rate of about 1 1 % at 12 months.

Example 4

ANDROMEDA Study (Increased Mortality in Patients with Severe Heart Failure)

Patients recently hospitalized with symptomatic heart failure and severe left ventricular systolic dysfunction (wall motion index <1.2) were randomized to either MULTAQ 400 mg twice daily or matching placebo, with a primary composite end point of all-cause mortality or hospitalization for heart failure. After enrollment of 627 of 1000 planned patients (310 and 317 in the dronedarone and placebo groups, respectively), and a median follow-up of 63 days, the trial was terminated because of excess mortality in the dronedarone group. Twenty-five (25) patients in the dronedarone group (8.1 %) versus 12 patients in the placebo group (3.8%) had died, hazard ratio 2.13; 95% CI: 1.07 to 4.25; p=0.027. The main reason for death was worsening heart failure. There were also excess hospitalizations for cardiovascular reasons in the dronedarone group (71 versus 51 for placebo).

The populations enrolled in the ANDROMEDA and ATHENA studies were significantly different. The patients enrolled in ANDROMEDA had relatively severe heart failure and had been hospitalized, or referred to a specialty heart failure clinic, for worsening symptoms of heart failure, notably shortness of breath. Note that these patients may have been clinically improved at the time of enrollment and it is the history of decompensation that characterized them. Patients enrolled into ANDROMEDA were predominantly NYHA Class II (40%) and III (57%), and only 38% had a history of AF/AFL (25% had AF at randomization). In contrast, in ATHENA, 71 % of patients had no heart failure, 25% were NYHA Class I or II, and only 4% were Class III. All patients had a history of AF/AFL.

Claims

1 . A method of determining whether to administer to a patient dronedarone, or a

pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof, in combination with a potassium-depleting diuretic for the treatment of arrhythmia comprising the steps of:

i) measuring serum magnesium level in a patient suffering from arrhythmia prior to dronedarone administration to said patient; and

ii) initiating dronedarone administration to the patient if the serum magnesium level from step i) is normal.

2. The method according to claim 1 , further comprising the steps of

iii) measuring serum magnesium level in the patient after initiation of dronedarone administration; and

iv) discontinuing dronedarone administration to the patient if the serum

magnesium level from step iii) is less than normal.

3. A method of treating arrhythmia by administering dronedarone, or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof, in combination with a potassium-depleting diuretic to a patient comprising the steps of:

i) measuring serum magnesium level in a patient suffering from arrhythmia prior to dronedarone administration to said patient;

b) measuring serum magnesium level in the patient during dronedarone administration; and

A method of treating arrhythmia by administering dronedarone, or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof, in combination with a potassium-depleting diuretic to a patient comprising the steps of:

The method according to any one of claims 1 to 4, wherein said patient is being treated for atrial fibrillation or atrial flutter.

Use of dronedarone, or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof, in combination with a potassium-depleting diuretic for the treatment of arrhythmia in a patient, said use comprising the steps of:

Use according to claim 1 , further comprising the steps of

iv) discontinuing dronedarone administration to the patient if the serum magnesium level from step iii) is less than normal.

10. Use according to any one of claims 5 to 9, wherein said patient is being treated for atrial fibrillation or atrial flutter.