Bortezomib Fresenius Kabi 3.5 mg powder for solution for injection EFG

Patient Information Leaflet

Introduction

Patient Information Leaflet

Bortezomib Fresenius Kabi 2.5 mg powder for solution for injection EFG

Bortezomib Fresenius Kabi 3.5 mg powder for solution for injection EFG

bortezomib

Read the entire leaflet carefully before you start using this medicine, as it contains important information for you.

• Keep this leaflet as you may need to read it again.
• If you have any questions, ask your doctor or pharmacist.
• If you experience any side effects, talk to your doctor or pharmacist, even if it is a side effect not listed in this leaflet. See section 4.

Leaflet Contents:

1. What Bortezomib Fresenius Kabi is and what it is used for
2. What you need to know before using Bortezomib Fresenius Kabi
3. How to use Bortezomib Fresenius Kabi
4. Possible side effects
5. How to store Bortezomib Fresenius Kabi
6. Contents of the pack and other information

1. What Bortezomib Fresenius Kabi is and what it is used for

This medicine contains the active substance bortezomib, a "proteasome inhibitor". Proteasomes play an important role in regulating cell function and growth. Bortezomib can destroy cancer cells by interfering with their normal functioning.

Bortezomib is used in the treatment of multiple myeloma (a cancer of the bone marrow) in patients over 18 years of age:

• alone or in combination with pegylated liposomal doxorubicin or dexamethasone, for patients whose disease is progressing after having received at least one prior therapy, and for those patients for whom blood stem cell transplantation has failed or is not suitable.
• in combination with melphalan and prednisone, for patients who have not received prior treatment and for whom high-dose chemotherapy followed by blood stem cell transplantation is not suitable.
• in combination with dexamethasone or dexamethasone plus thalidomide, for patients who have not received prior treatment and who are undergoing high-dose chemotherapy followed by blood stem cell transplantation (induction treatment).

Bortezomib is also used in the treatment of mantle cell lymphoma (a type of cancer affecting the lymph nodes) in patients aged 18 years or older, in combination with rituximab, cyclophosphamide, doxorubicin, and prednisone, for patients whose disease has not been previously treated and for whom blood stem cell transplantation is not considered appropriate.

2. What you need to know before starting Bortezomib Fresenius Kabi

Do not use bortezomib

• if you are allergic to bortezomib, boron, or any of the other ingredients of this medicine (listed in section 6)
• if you have certain severe lung or heart problems.

Warnings and precautions

Tell your doctor if you have any of the following:

• low red blood cell or white blood cell counts
• bleeding problems and/or low platelet count in the blood
• diarrhoea, constipation, nausea, or vomiting
• history of fainting, dizziness, or lightheadedness
• kidney problems
• moderate to severe liver problems
• previous numbness, tingling, or pain in hands or feet (neuropathy)
• heart problems or blood pressure problems
• difficulty breathing or cough
• seizures
• shingles (localized including around the eyes or widespread throughout the body)
• symptoms of tumour lysis syndrome, such as muscle cramps, muscle weakness, confusion, vision loss or changes, and difficulty breathing
• memory loss, thinking changes, difficulty walking, or vision loss. These may be signs of a serious brain infection, and your doctor may recommend further tests and monitoring.

You will need to have regular blood tests before and during treatment with bortezomib to monitor your blood cell counts regularly.

Tell your doctor if you have mantle cell lymphoma and are receiving rituximab together with bortezomib:

• if you think you currently have or have had hepatitis in the past. In a few cases, patients who have had hepatitis B may experience recurrent hepatitis, which can be fatal. If you have a history of hepatitis B infection, your doctor will closely monitor you for signs of active hepatitis B.

Before starting treatment with bortezomib, you should read the package leaflets of all the medicines you are due to take in combination with bortezomib to review information related to these medicines.

When using thalidomide, special attention must be paid to pregnancy testing and preventive measures (see Pregnancy and Breast-feeding in this section).

Children and adolescents

Bortezomib must not be used in children and adolescents because it is not known how the medicine will affect them.

Using bortezomib with other medicines

Tell your doctor or pharmacist if you are taking, have recently taken, or might need to take any other medicines.

In particular, inform your doctor if you are taking medicines containing any of the following active substances:

• ketoconazole, used to treat fungal infections
• ritonavir, used to treat HIV infection
• rifampicin, an antibiotic used to treat bacterial infections
• carbamazepine, phenytoin, or phenobarbital, used to treat epilepsy
• St. John’s wort (Hypericum perforatum), used for depression or other conditions
• oral antidiabetic medicines

Pregnancy and breast-feeding

You must not use this medicine during pregnancy unless clearly necessary.

Women of childbearing potential must use effective contraception during treatment and for up to 8 months after stopping treatment. Talk to your doctor if you wish to freeze your eggs before starting treatment.

Men must not father a child while using bortezomib and must use effective contraception during treatment and for up to 5 months after stopping treatment. Talk to your doctor if you wish to preserve your sperm before starting treatment.

You must not breast-feed while receiving bortezomib. Consult your doctor about when it is safe to restart breast-feeding after completing your treatment.

Thalidomide causes birth defects and fetal death. When bortezomib is administered in combination with thalidomide, the thalidomide pregnancy prevention programme must be followed (refer to the thalidomide package leaflet).

Driving and using machines

Bortezomib may cause fatigue, dizziness, fainting, or blurred vision. Do not drive or operate tools or machinery if you experience these side effects; even if you do not experience them, you should still remain cautious.

3. How to use Bortezomib Fresenius Kabi

Your doctor will determine the dose of bortezomib based on your height and weight (body surface area). The usual starting dose of bortezomib is 1.3 mg/m² body surface area, administered twice weekly.

Your doctor may adjust the dose and the total number of treatment cycles depending on your response to treatment, the occurrence of certain adverse effects, and your baseline condition (e.g., liver problems).

Relapsed multiple myeloma

When bortezomib is given alone, you will receive 4 doses of bortezomib intravenously or subcutaneously on days 1, 4, 8, and 11, followed by a 10-day "rest" period without treatment. This 21-day period (3 weeks) constitutes one treatment cycle. You may receive up to 8 cycles (24 weeks).

You may also receive bortezomib in combination with the medicines pegylated liposomal doxorubicin or dexamethasone.

When bortezomib is administered together with pegylated liposomal doxorubicin, you will receive bortezomib intravenously or subcutaneously in a 21-day treatment cycle, and pegylated liposomal doxorubicin 30 mg/m² is administered intravenously on day 4 of the 21-day bortezomib treatment cycle, as an intravenous infusion after the bortezomib injection.

You may receive up to 8 cycles (24 weeks).

When bortezomib is administered together with dexamethasone, you will receive bortezomib intravenously or subcutaneously in a 21-day treatment cycle, and dexamethasone 20 mg is administered orally on days 1, 2, 4, 5, 8, 9, 11, and 12 of the 21-day bortezomib treatment cycle.

You may receive up to 8 cycles (24 weeks).

Previously untreated multiple myeloma

If you have not been previously treated for multiple myeloma and are not a candidate for blood stem cell transplantation, you will receive bortezomib in combination with two other medicines: melphalan and prednisone.

In this case, the duration of one treatment cycle is 42 days (6 weeks). You will receive 9 cycles (54 weeks).

• In cycles 1 to 4, bortezomib is administered twice weekly on days 1, 4, 8, 11, 22, 25, 29, and 32.
• In cycles 5 to 9, bortezomib is administered once weekly on days 1, 8, 22, and 29.

Melphalan (9 mg/m²) and prednisone (60 mg/m²) are administered orally on days 1, 2, 3, and 4 of the first week of each cycle.

If you have not previously received treatment for multiple myeloma and are a candidate for blood stem cell transplantation, you will receive bortezomib intravenously or subcutaneously in combination with dexamethasone, or with dexamethasone and thalidomide, as induction therapy.

When bortezomib is administered together with dexamethasone, you will receive bortezomib intravenously or subcutaneously in a 21-day treatment cycle, and dexamethasone is administered orally at a dose of 40 mg on days 1, 2, 3, 4, 8, 9, 10, and 11 of the 21-day bortezomib treatment cycle.

You will receive 4 cycles (12 weeks).

When bortezomib is administered together with thalidomide and dexamethasone, the duration of a treatment cycle is 28 days (4 weeks).

Dexamethasone 40 mg is administered orally on days 1, 2, 3, 4, 8, 9, 10, and 11 of the 28-day bortezomib treatment cycle, and thalidomide is administered orally once daily at a dose of 50 mg up to day 14 of the first cycle; if tolerated, the thalidomide dose is increased to 100 mg on days 15–28, and from the second cycle onwards, it may be further increased to 200 mg daily. You may receive up to 6 cycles (24 weeks).

Previously untreated mantle cell lymphoma

If you have not been previously treated for mantle cell lymphoma, you will receive bortezomib intravenously or subcutaneously in combination with the medicines rituximab, cyclophosphamide, doxorubicin, and prednisone.

Bortezomib is administered intravenously or subcutaneously on days 1, 4, 8, and 11, followed by a "rest period" without treatment. The duration of one treatment cycle is 21 days (3 weeks). You may receive up to 8 cycles (24 weeks).

The following medicines are administered by intravenous infusion on day 1 of the 21-day bortezomib treatment cycle:

Rituximab at a dose of 375 mg/m², cyclophosphamide at a dose of 750 mg/m², and doxorubicin at a dose of 50 mg/m².

Prednisone is administered orally at a dose of 100 mg/m² on days 1, 2, 3, 4, and 5 of the bortezomib treatment cycle.

How bortezomib is administered

This medicine is administered intravenously or subcutaneously. Bortezomib will be administered by a healthcare professional experienced in the use of cytotoxic medicines.

The bortezomib powder must be dissolved before administration. This will be done by a healthcare professional. The reconstituted solution is then injected into a vein or under the skin. The intravenous injection takes between 3 and 5 seconds. The subcutaneous injection is administered in the thighs or abdomen.

If you receive more bortezomib than you should

This medicine will be administered by your doctor or nurse, so it is unlikely that you will receive too much. In the unlikely event of an overdose, your doctor will monitor you for any adverse effects.

4. Possible adverse effects

Like all medicines, this medicine can cause adverse effects, although not everyone will experience them. Some of these effects may be serious.

If you are being administered bortezomib for multiple myeloma or mantle cell lymphoma, inform your doctor immediately if you notice any of the following symptoms:

• Muscle cramps, muscle weakness
• Confusion, loss or changes in vision, blindness, seizures, headaches
• Difficulty breathing, swelling of the feet, or changes in heart rhythm, high blood pressure, fatigue, fainting
• Cough and difficulty breathing or chest tightness.

Treatment with bortezomib may very commonly cause a decrease in the number of red blood cells, white blood cells, and platelets in the blood. Therefore, you will need to have regular blood tests before and during treatment with bortezomib to monitor your blood cell counts regularly. You may experience a reduction in the number of:

• Platelets, which may make you more prone to bruising (contusions) or bleeding without evident injury (for example, intestinal, stomach, mouth, or gum bleeding, or bleeding in the brain or liver)
• Red blood cells, which may cause anemia, with symptoms such as fatigue and paleness
• White blood cells, which may make you more susceptible to infections or flu-like symptoms.

If you are receiving bortezomib for the treatment of multiple myeloma, the adverse effects you may experience are listed below:

Very common adverse effects (may affect more than 1 in 10 patients)

• Sensitivity, numbness, tingling, or burning sensation in the skin, or pain in hands or feet due to nerve damage
• Reduction in the number of red blood cells and/or white blood cells (see above)
• Fever
• Feeling unwell (nausea) or vomiting, loss of appetite
• Constipation with or without bloating (may be severe)
• Diarrhea: if it occurs, it is important to drink more fluids than usual. Your doctor may prescribe another medicine to control diarrhea
• Exhaustion (tiredness), feeling weak
• Muscle pain, bone pain

Common adverse effects (may affect up to 1 in 10 patients)

• Low blood pressure, sudden drop in blood pressure upon standing, which could lead to fainting
• High blood pressure
• Decreased kidney function
• Headache
• General feeling of discomfort, pain, dizziness, lightheadedness, feeling weak, or loss of consciousness
• Chills
• Infections, including pneumonia, respiratory infections, bronchitis, fungal infections, cough with phlegm, flu-like illness
• Herpes zoster (localized including around the eyes or spread throughout the body)
• Chest pain or difficulty breathing during exercise
• Various types of rashes
• Itchy skin, skin lumps, or dry skin
• Facial flushing or small capillary rupture
• Skin redness
• Dehydration
• Indigestion, bloating, belching, flatulence, stomach pain, intestinal or stomach bleeding
• Liver function abnormalities
• Mouth or lip sores, dry mouth, mouth ulcers, or sore throat
• Weight loss, loss of taste
• Muscle cramps, muscle spasms, muscle weakness, limb pain
• Blurred vision
• Infection of the outer layer of the eye and inner eyelid surface (conjunctivitis)
• Nosebleeds
• Difficulty or problems sleeping, sweating, anxiety, mood changes, depressed mood, restlessness or agitation, changes in mental state, disorientation
• Swelling of the body, including around the eyes and other body parts

Uncommon adverse effects (may affect up to 1 in 100 patients)

• Heart failure, heart attack, chest pain, chest discomfort, increased or decreased heart rate
• Kidney failure
• Vein inflammation, blood clots in veins and lungs
• Blood clotting disorders
• Inadequate circulation
• Inflammation of the heart lining or fluid around the heart
• Infections, including urinary tract infections, flu, herpes virus infection, ear infection, and cellulitis
• Bloody stools or bleeding from mucous membranes, for example, from the mouth or vagina
• Cerebrovascular disorders
• Paralysis, seizures, falls, movement disorders, disturbances or changes in, or decreased sensitivity (touch, hearing, taste, smell), attention disorders, tremors, jerking
• Arthritis, including inflammation of the joints in fingers, toes, and jaw
• Disorders affecting the lungs, preventing the body from receiving sufficient oxygen. These include difficulty breathing, shortness of breath, breathlessness without exertion, breathing that may become shallow, difficult, or stop, labored breathing
• Hiccups, speech disorders
• Increased or decreased urine production (due to kidney injury), pain when urinating, or blood/proteins in the urine, fluid retention
• Altered level of consciousness, confusion, memory impairment or loss
• Hypersensitivity
• Hearing loss, deafness, or ringing in the ears (tinnitus), ear discomfort
• Hormonal disorders that may affect salt and water absorption
• Overactivity of the thyroid gland
• Inability to produce enough insulin or resistance to normal insulin levels
• Eye irritation or inflammation, excessively watery eyes, eye pain, dry eyes, eye infections, eyelid cyst (chalazion), red and swollen eyelids, watery eyes (lacrimation), abnormal vision, eye hemorrhage
• Swelling of lymph nodes
• Joint or muscle stiffness, feeling of heaviness, groin pain
• Hair loss and abnormal hair texture
• Allergic reactions
• Redness or pain at the injection site
• Mouth pain
• Infections or inflammation of the mouth, esophagus, stomach, and intestine, sometimes associated with pain or bleeding, reduced intestinal movement (including obstruction), abdominal or esophageal discomfort, difficulty swallowing, vomiting blood
• Skin infections
• Bacterial and viral infections
• Dental infections
• Pancreatitis, bile duct obstruction
• Genital pain, difficulty achieving an erection
• Weight gain
• Thirst
• Hepatitis
• Injection site reactions or device-related disorders
• Skin reactions and disorders (which may be severe and life-threatening), skin ulcers
• Bruising, falls, and injuries
• Inflammation or bleeding of blood vessels appearing as small red or purple spots (usually on the legs) up to large bruise-like areas under the skin or tissue
• Benign cysts
• A serious and reversible brain disorder including seizures, high blood pressure, headaches, fatigue, confusion, blindness, or other vision problems.

Rare adverse effects (may affect up to 1 in 1,000 patients)

• Heart problems, including heart attack, angina
• Severe nerve inflammation, which may cause paralysis and breathing difficulties (Guillain-Barré syndrome)
• Flushing
• Discoloration of veins
• Inflammation of spinal nerves
• Ear problems, ear bleeding
• Underactivity of the thyroid gland
• Budd-Chiari syndrome (clinical symptoms caused by obstruction of the hepatic veins)
• Changes or abnormalities in intestinal function
• Cerebral hemorrhage
• Yellowing of the eyes and skin (jaundice)
• Severe allergic reaction (anaphylactic shock), whose signs may include difficulty breathing, chest pain or tightness and/or dizziness/fainting, intense skin itching or skin lumps, swelling of the face, lips, tongue, and/or throat, which may cause difficulty swallowing, collapse
• Breast disorders
• Vaginal tearing
• Genital inflammation
• Inability to tolerate alcohol consumption
• Wasting or loss of body mass
• Increased appetite
• Fistula
• Joint effusion
• Cysts in the joint lining (synovial cysts)
• Fracture
• Breakdown of muscle fibers causing other complications
• Liver swelling, liver hemorrhage
• Kidney cancer
• Skin disease similar to psoriasis
• Skin cancer
• Paleness of the skin
• Increased platelets or plasma cells (a type of white blood cell) in the blood
• Blood clots in small blood vessels (thrombotic microangiopathy)
• Abnormal reaction to blood transfusions
• Partial or complete loss of vision
• Loss of libido
• Drooling
• Protruding eyes
• Light sensitivity
• Rapid breathing
• Rectal pain
• Gallstones
• Hernia
• Wounds
• Weak or brittle nails
• Abnormal protein deposits in vital organs
• Coma
• Intestinal ulcers
• Multi-organ failure
• Death

If you are receiving bortezomib in combination with other medicines for the treatment of mantle cell lymphoma, the adverse effects you may experience are listed below:

Very common adverse effects (may affect more than 1 in 10 patients)

• Pneumonia
• Loss of appetite
• Sensitivity, numbness, tingling, or burning sensation in the skin, or pain in hands or feet due to nerve damage
• Nausea or vomiting
• Diarrhea
• Mouth ulcers
• Constipation
• Muscle pain, bone pain
• Hair loss and abnormal hair texture
• Exhaustion, feeling weak
• Fever

Common adverse effects (may affect up to 1 in 10 patients)

• Herpes zoster (localized including around the eyes or spread throughout the body)
• Herpes virus infection
• Bacterial and viral infections
• Respiratory infections, bronchitis, cough with phlegm, flu-like illness
• Fungal infections
• Hypersensitivity (allergic reaction)
• Inability to produce enough insulin or resistance to normal insulin levels
• Fluid retention
• Difficulty or problems sleeping
• Loss of consciousness
• Altered level of consciousness, confusion
• Dizziness
• Increased heart rate, high blood pressure, sweating
• Abnormal vision, blurred vision
• Heart failure, heart attack, chest pain, chest discomfort, increased or decreased heart rate
• High or low blood pressure
• Sudden drop in blood pressure upon standing, which could lead to fainting
• Difficulty breathing during exercise
• Cough
• Hiccups
• Ringing in the ears (tinnitus), ear discomfort
• Intestinal or stomach bleeding
• Indigestion
• Stomach pain, bloating
• Difficulty swallowing
• Infection or inflammation of stomach and intestine
• Stomach pain
• Mouth or lip sores, sore throat
• Liver function abnormalities
• Itchy skin
• Skin redness
• Rash
• Muscle spasms
• Urinary tract infection
• Limb pain
• Swelling of the body, including around the eyes and other body parts
• Chills
• Redness and pain at the injection site
• General feeling of discomfort
• Weight loss
• Weight gain

Uncommon adverse effects (may affect up to 1 in 100 patients)

• Hepatitis
• Severe allergic reaction (anaphylactic reaction), whose signs may include difficulty breathing, chest pain or tightness and/or dizziness/fainting, intense skin itching or skin lumps, swelling of the face, lips, tongue, and/or throat, which may cause difficulty swallowing, collapse
• Movement disorders, paralysis, jerking
• Dizziness
• Hearing loss, deafness
• Disorders affecting the lungs, preventing the body from receiving sufficient oxygen. These include difficulty breathing, shortness of breath, breathlessness without exertion, breathing that may become shallow, difficult, or stop, labored breathing
• Blood clots in the lungs
• Yellowing of the eyes and skin (jaundice)
• Eyelid cyst (chalazion), red and swollen eyelids

Rare adverse effects (may affect up to 1 in 1,000 patients)

• Blood clots in small blood vessels (thrombotic microangiopathy)
• Severe nerve inflammation, which may cause paralysis and breathing difficulties (Guillain-Barré syndrome)

Reporting of adverse effects

If you experience any adverse effect, consult your doctor or pharmacist, even if it is a possible adverse effect not listed in this leaflet. You may also report them directly through the national reporting system detailed in Appendix V. By reporting adverse effects, you can help provide more information on the safety of this medicine.

5. Storage of Bortezomib Fresenius Kabi

Keep this medicine out of the sight and reach of children.

Do not use this medicine after the expiry date stated on the vial and outer packaging following EXP.

This medicine does not require special storage conditions regarding temperature. Store the vial in its outer packaging to protect it from light.

The chemical and physical in-use stability of the reconstituted solution has been demonstrated at concentrations of 1 mg/ml and 2.5 mg/ml for 96 hours at 25°C and 8 days at 2–8°C, when stored in the original syringe and/or vial.

From a microbiological standpoint, the product should be used immediately after preparation. If not used immediately, the storage times and conditions prior to use are the responsibility of the user. The total storage time of the reconstituted medicine should not exceed 96 hours (if stored at 25°C) and 8 days (if stored at 2–8°C) before administration.

Bortezomib is intended for single use only. Any unused medicine and all materials that have come into contact with it must be disposed of in accordance with local regulations.

6. Contents of the container and other information

Composition of Bortezomib Fresenius Kabi

• The active substance is bortezomib.
• The other component is mannitol (E421).

Bortezomib Fresenius Kabi 2.5 mg powder for injectable solution

Each vial contains 2.5 mg of bortezomib (as manitol boronic ester).

Bortezomib Fresenius Kabi 3.5 mg powder for injectable solution

Each vial contains 3.5 mg of bortezomib (as manitol boronic ester).

Reconstitution for intravenous administration:

After reconstitution, 1 ml of intravenous injection solution contains 1 mg of bortezomib.

Reconstitution for subcutaneous administration:

After reconstitution, 1 ml of subcutaneous injection solution contains 2.5 mg of bortezomib.

Appearance of the product and contents of the pack

Bortezomib powder for injectable solution is a lyophilized powder or white to off-white paste.

Bortezomib Fresenius Kabi 2.5 mg powder for injectable solution

Each pack of Bortezomib Fresenius Kabi 2.5 mg powder for injectable solution contains one 10 ml clear glass vial with a grey rubber stopper and a yellow aluminium flip-off cap, containing 2.5 mg of bortezomib.

Bortezomib Fresenius Kabi 3.5 mg powder for injectable solution

Each pack of Bortezomib Fresenius Kabi 3.5 mg powder for injectable solution contains one 10 ml clear glass vial with a grey rubber stopper and a blue aluminium flip-off cap, containing 3.5 mg of bortezomib.

The vial is presented either wrapped in a shrink sleeve (without tray) or in a tray with a lid. Each carton contains 1 single-use vial.

Marketing Authorisation Holder

Fresenius Kabi Deutschland GmbH
Else-Kröner-Straße 1,
61352 Bad Homburg v.d.Höhe, Germany

Manufacturer

Fresenius Kabi Deutschland GmbH
Pfingstweide 53
61169 Friedberg, Germany

OR

Fresenius Kabi Polska Sp. z.o.o., ul. Sienkiewicza 25, Kutno,
99-300, Poland

Further information about this medicinal product is available upon request to the Marketing Authorisation Holder.

Date of the most recent revision of this leaflet:

Other sources of information

Detailed information on this medicinal product is available on the European Medicines Agency website: http://www.ema.europa.eu.

This information is intended for healthcare professionals only:

1. RECONSTITUTION FOR INTRAVENOUS INJECTION

Note: Bortezomib is a cytotoxic agent. Therefore, caution should be exercised during handling and preparation. The use of gloves and other protective clothing is recommended to prevent skin contact.

BORTEZOMIB DOES NOT CONTAIN PRESERVATIVES AND THEREFORE STRICT ASEPTIC TECHNIQUE SHOULD BE FOLLOWED DURING HANDLING.

1. Preparation of a 2.5 mg vial: carefully add 2.5 ml of sterile 9 mg/ml (0.9%) sodium chloride injection solution to the vial containing bortezomib powder, using an appropriately sized syringe without removing the vial stopper. Dissolution of the lyophilized powder is complete within less than 2 minutes.

Preparation of a 3.5 mg vial: carefully add 3.5 ml of sterile 9 mg/ml (0.9%) sodium chloride injection solution to the vial containing bortezomib powder, using an appropriately sized syringe without removing the vial stopper. Dissolution of the lyophilized powder is complete within less than 2 minutes.

The resulting solution concentration will be 1 mg/ml. The solution should be colourless and clear, with a final pH of 4 to 7. There is no need to check the pH of the solution.

1. Before administration, visually inspect the solution for particles and discoloration. If discoloration or particles are observed, the solution must be discarded. Confirm that the correct dose for intravenous administration (1 mg/ml) is being used.

2. Chemical and physical in-use stability of the reconstituted solution has been demonstrated at concentrations of 1 mg/ml and 2.5 mg/ml for 96 hours at 25°C and 8 days at 2–8°C, stored in the original vial and/or syringe.

From a microbiological standpoint, the reconstituted product should be used immediately after preparation. If not used immediately, the storage times and conditions prior to use are the responsibility of the user. The total storage time of the reconstituted medicinal product should not exceed 96 hours (if stored at 25°C) or 8 days (if stored at 2–8°C) before administration.

It is not necessary to protect the reconstituted product from light.

2. ADMINISTRATION

1. After dissolution, withdraw the appropriate amount of reconstituted solution according to the dose calculated based on the patient's Body Surface Area.
2. Confirm the dose and concentration contained in the syringe before use (check that the syringe is labelled for intravenous administration).
3. Inject the solution as an intravenous bolus over 3–5 seconds through a peripheral or central intravenous catheter into a vein.
4. Flush the peripheral or intravenous catheter with sterile 9 mg/ml (0.9%) sodium chloride solution.

Bortezomib Fresenius Kabi 2.5 mg and 3.5 mg MUST BE ADMINISTERED ONLY BY INTRAVENOUS OR SUBCUTANEOUS ROUTE. Do not administer by other routes. Intrathecal administration has resulted in fatal cases.

3. DISPOSAL

A vial is for single use only and any remaining solution must be discarded.

Any unused medicinal product and all materials that have come into contact with it must be disposed of in accordance with local regulations.

The following information is intended for healthcare professionals only:

Only the 2.5 mg and 3.5 mg vials may be administered subcutaneously, as described below.