General Dosing Information

FOR OPHTHALMIC INTRAVITREAL INJECTION.

Neovascular (Wet) Age-Related Macular Degeneration (AMD)

LUCENTIS 0.5 mg (0.05 mL of 10 mg/mL solution) is recommended to be administered by intravitreal injection once a month (approximately 28 days).

Although not as effective, patients may be treated with 3 monthly doses followed by less frequent dosing with regular assessment. In the 9 months after three initial monthly doses, less frequent dosing with 4-5 doses on average is expected to maintain visual acuity while monthly dosing may be expected to result in an additional average 1-2 letter gain. Patients should be assessed regularly [see Clinical Studies (14.1)].

Although not as effective, patients may also be treated with one dose every 3 months after 4 monthly doses. Compared with continued monthly dosing, dosing every 3 months over the next 9 months will lead to an approximate 5-letter (1-line) loss of visual acuity benefit, on average. Patients should be assessed regularly [see Clinical Studies (14.1)].

Macular Edema Following Retinal Vein Occlusion (RVO)

LUCENTIS 0.5 mg (0.05 mL of 10 mg/mL solution) is recommended to be administered by intravitreal injection once a month (approximately 28 days).

In Studies RVO-1 and RVO-2, patients received monthly injections of LUCENTIS for 6 months. In spite of being guided by optical coherence tomography and visual acuity re-treatment criteria, patients who were then not treated at Month 6 experienced on average, a loss of visual acuity at Month 7, whereas patients who were treated at Month 6 did not. Patients should be treated monthly [see Clinical Studies (14.2)].

Diabetic Macular Edema (DME) and Diabetic Retinopathy (DR)

​LUCENTIS 0.3 mg (0.05 mL of 6 mg/mL solution) is recommended to be administered by intravitreal injection once a month (approximately 28 days).

Myopic Choroidal Neovascularization (mCNV)

LUCENTIS 0.5 mg (0.05 mL of 10 mg/mL LUCENTIS solution) is recommended to be initially administered by intravitreal injection once a month (approximately 28 days) for up to 3 months. Patients may be retreated if needed [(see Clinical Studies 14.5)].

Preparation for Administration

​Prefilled Syringe:

​The prefilled syringe is sterile and is for single use only. Do not use the product if the packaging is damaged or has been tampered with.

​To prepare LUCENTIS for intravitreal administration, please adhere to these instructions for use. Read all the instructions carefully before using the prefilled syringe.

​The opening of the sealed tray and all subsequent steps should be done under aseptic conditions.

​For the intravitreal injection, a 30-gauge × ½ inch sterile injection needle should be used (not provided).

​Note: the dose must be set to 0.05 mL.

​Device description
​LUCENTIS prefilled syringes are available in 2 dose strengths: ​LUCENTIS 0.5 mg prefilled syringe with a CLEAR finger grip.
​
​LUCENTIS 0.3 mg prefilled syringe with an ORANGE finger grip.
​
​Check the labels on the LUCENTIS carton, syringe tray and prefilled syringe to make sure you have the correct dose strength.
Step 1: Prepare
Make sure that your pack contains a sterile prefilled syringe in a sealed tray. Peel the lid off the syringe tray and, using aseptic technique, remove the syringe.
Step 2: Inspect syringe
LUCENTIS should be colorless to pale yellow. Do not use the prefilled syringe if: - the syringe cap is detached from the Luer lock. - the syringe is damaged. - particulates, cloudiness, or discoloration are visible.
Step 3: Remove syringe cap
Snap off (do not turn or twist) the syringe cap (see Figure 2).
Step 4: Attach needle
Attach a 30G × ½ inch sterile injection needle firmly onto the syringe by screwing it tightly onto the Luer lock (see Figure 3). Carefully remove the needle cap by pulling it straight off. Note: Do not wipe the needle at any time.
Step 5: Dislodge air bubbles
Hold the syringe with the needle pointing up. If there are any air bubbles, gently tap the syringe with your finger until the bubbles rise to the top (see Figure 4).
Step 6: Expel air and adjust drug dose
Hold the syringe at eye level, and carefully push the plunger rod until the edge below the dome of the rubber stopper is aligned with the 0.05 mL dose mark (see Figure 5). Note: The plunger rod is not attached to the rubber stopper – this is to prevent air being drawn into the syringe.
Step 7: Inject
The injection procedure should be carried out under aseptic conditions. Insert the needle into the injection site. Inject slowly until rubber stopper reaches the bottom of the syringe to deliver the volume of 0.05 mL. After injection, do not recap the needle or detach it from the syringe. Dispose of the used syringe together with the needle in a sharps disposal container or in accordance with local requirements.

Administration

The intravitreal injection procedure should be carried out under controlled aseptic conditions, which include the use of sterile gloves, a sterile drape, and a sterile eyelid speculum (or equivalent). Adequate anesthesia and a broad-spectrum microbicide should be given prior to the injection.

Prior to and 30 minutes following the intravitreal injection, patients should be monitored for elevation in intraocular pressure using tonometry. Monitoring may also consist of a check for perfusion of the optic nerve head immediately after the injection [see Warnings and Precautions (5.2)]. Patients should also be monitored for and instructed to report any symptoms suggestive of endophthalmitis without delay following the injection [see Warnings and Precautions (5.1)].

Each prefilled syringe or vial should only be used for the treatment of a single eye. If the contralateral eye requires treatment, a new prefilled syringe or vial should be used and the sterile field, syringe, gloves, drapes, eyelid speculum, filter needle (vial only), and injection needles should be changed before LUCENTIS is administered to the other eye.

No special dosage modification is required for any of the populations that have been studied (e.g., gender, elderly).