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Remsima treatment is to be initiated and supervised by qualified physicians experienced in the diagnosis and treatment of rheumatoid arthritis, inflammatory bowel diseases, ankylosing spondylitis, psoriatic arthritis or psoriasis. Remsima should be administered intravenously. Remsima infusions should be administered by qualified healthcare professionals trained to detect any infusion-related issues. Patients treated with Remsima should be given the package leaflet and the special Alert card.
During Remsima treatment, other concomitant therapies, e.g. corticosteroids and immunosuppressants should be optimised.
Posology: Adults (≥18 years): Rheumatoid Arthritis: 3 mg/kg given as an intravenous infusion followed by additional 3 mg/kg infusion doses at 2 and 6 weeks after the first infusion, then every 8 weeks thereafter.
Remsima must be given concomitantly with methotrexate.
Available data suggest that the clinical response is usually achieved within 12 weeks of treatment. If a patient has an inadequate response or loses response after this period, consideration may be given to increase the dose step-wise by approximately 1.5 mg/kg, up to a maximum of 7.5 mg/kg every 8 weeks. Alternatively, administration of 3 mg/kg as often as every 4 weeks may be considered. If adequate response is achieved, patients should be continued on the selected dose or dose frequency. Continued therapy should be carefully reconsidered in patients who show no evidence of therapeutic benefit within the first 12 weeks of treatment or after dose adjustment.
Moderately to severely active Crohn's disease: 5 mg/kg given as an intravenous infusion followed by an additional 5 mg/kg infusion 2 weeks after the first infusion. If a patient does not respond after 2 doses, no additional treatment with infliximab should be given. Available data do not support further infliximab treatment, in patients not responding within 6 weeks of the initial infusion.
In responding patients, the alternative strategies for continued treatment are: Maintenance: Additional infusion of 5 mg/kg at 6 weeks after the initial dose, followed by infusions every 8 weeks or Re-administration: Infusion of 5 mg/kg if signs and symptoms of the disease recur (see 'Re-administration' as follows and Precautions).
Although comparative data are lacking, limited data in patients who initially responded to 5 mg/kg but who lost response indicate that some patients may regain response with dose escalation (see Pharmacology: Pharmacodynamics under Actions). Continued therapy should be carefully reconsidered in patients who show no evidence of therapeutic benefit after dose adjustment.
Fistulising, active Crohn's disease: 5 mg/kg given as an intravenous infusion followed by additional 5 mg/kg infusions at 2 and 6 weeks after the first infusion. If a patient does not respond after 3 doses, no additional treatment with infliximab should be given.
In responding patients, the alternative strategies for continued treatment are: Maintenance: Additional infusions of 5 mg/kg every 8 weeks or Re-administration: Infusion of 5 mg/kg if signs and symptoms of the disease recur followed by infusions of 5 mg/kg every 8 weeks (see 'Re-administration' as follows and Precautions).
Although comparative data are lacking, limited data in patients who initially responded to 5 mg/kg but who lost response indicate that some patients may regain response with dose escalation (see Pharmacology: Pharmacodynamics under Actions). Continued therapy should be carefully reconsidered in patients who show no evidence of therapeutic benefit after dose adjustment.
In Crohn's disease, experience with re-administration if signs and symptoms of disease recur is limited and comparative data on the benefit/risk of the alternative strategies for continued treatment are lacking.
Ulcerative colitis: 5 mg/kg given as an intravenous infusion followed by additional 5 mg/kg infusion doses at 2 and 6 weeks after the first infusion, then every 8 weeks thereafter.
Available data suggest that the clinical response is usually achieved within 14 weeks of treatment, i.e. three doses. Continued therapy should be carefully reconsidered in patients who show no evidence of therapeutic benefit within this time period.
Ankylosing spondylitis: 5 mg/kg given as an intravenous infusion followed by additional 5 mg/kg infusion doses at 2 and 6 weeks after the first infusion, then every 6 to 8 weeks. If a patient does not respond by 6 weeks (i.e. after 2 doses), no additional treatment with infliximab should be given.
Psoriatic arthritis: 5 mg/kg given as an intravenous infusion followed by additional 5 mg/kg infusion doses at 2 and 6 weeks after the first infusion, then every 8 weeks thereafter.
Psoriasis: 5 mg/kg given as an intravenous infusion followed by additional 5 mg/kg infusion doses at 2 and 6 weeks after the first infusion, then every 8 weeks thereafter. If a patient shows no response after 14 weeks (i.e. after 4 doses), no additional treatment with infliximab should be given.
Re-administration for Crohn's disease and rheumatoid arthritis: If the signs and symptoms of disease recur, infliximab can be re-administered within 16 weeks following the last infusion. In clinical studies, delayed hypersensitivity reactions have been uncommon and have occurred after infliximab-free intervals of less than 1 year (see Precautions and Adverse Reactions). The safety and efficacy of re-administration after an infliximab-free interval of more than 16 weeks has not been established. This applies to both Crohn's disease patients and rheumatoid arthritis patients.
Re-administration for ulcerative colitis: The safety and efficacy of re-administration, other than every 8 weeks, has not been established (see Precautions and Adverse Reactions).
Re-administration for ankylosing spondylitis: The safety and efficacy of re-administration, other than every 6 to 8 weeks, has not been established (see Precautions and Adverse Reactions).
Re-administration for psoriatic arthritis: The safety and efficacy of re-administration, other than every 8 weeks, has not been established (see Precautions and Adverse Reactions).
Re-administration for psoriasis: Limited experience from re-treatment with one single infliximab dose in psoriasis after an interval of 20 weeks suggests reduced efficacy and a higher incidence of mild to moderate infusion reactions when compared to the initial induction regimen (see Pharmacology: Pharmacodynamics under Actions).
Limited experience from re-treatment following disease flare by a re-induction regimen suggests a higher incidence of infusion reactions, including serious ones, when compared to 8-weekly maintenance treatment (see Adverse Reactions).
Re-administration across indications: In case maintenance therapy is interrupted, and there is a need to restart treatment, use of a re-induction regimen is not recommended (see Adverse Reactions). In this situation, Remsima should be re-initiated as a single dose followed by the maintenance dose recommendations described as previously mentioned.
Older people (≥65 years): Specific studies of Remsima in elderly patients have not been conducted. No major age-related differences in clearance or volume of distribution were observed in clinical studies. No dose adjustment is required (see Pharmacology: Pharmacokinetics under Actions). For more information about the safety of Remsima in elderly patients see Precautions and Adverse Reactions.
Impaired renal and/or hepatic function: Remsima has not been studied in these patient populations. No dose recommendations can be made (see Pharmacology: Pharmacokinetics under Actions).
Paediatric population: Crohn's disease (6 to 17 years): 5 mg/kg given as an intravenous infusion followed by additional 5 mg/kg infusion doses at 2 and 6 weeks after the first infusion, then every 8 weeks thereafter. Available data do not support further infliximab treatment in children and adolescents not responding within the first 10 weeks of treatment (see Pharmacology: Pharmacodynamics under Actions).
Some patients may require a shorter dosing interval to maintain clinical benefit, while for others a longer dosing interval may be sufficient. Patients who have had their dose interval shortened to less than 8 weeks may be at greater risk for adverse reactions. Continued therapy with a shortened interval should be carefully considered in those patients who show no evidence of additional therapeutic benefit after a change in dosing interval.
The safety and efficacy of Remsima have not been studied in children with Crohn's disease below the age of 6 years. Currently available pharmacokinetic data are described in Pharmacology: Pharmacokinetics under Actions but no recommendation on a posology can be made in children younger than 6 years.
Ulcerative colitis (6 to 17 years): 5 mg/kg given as an intravenous infusion followed by additional 5 mg/kg infusion doses at 2 and 6 weeks after the first infusion, then every 8 weeks thereafter. Available data do not support further infliximab treatment in paediatric patients not responding within the first 8 weeks of treatment (see Pharmacology: Pharmacodynamics under Actions).
The safety and efficacy of Remsima have not been studied in children with ulcerative colitis below the age of 6 years. Currently available pharmacokinetic data are described in Pharmacology: Pharmacokinetics under Actions but no recommendation on a posology can be made in children younger than 6 years.
Psoriasis: The safety and efficacy of Remsima in children and adolescents younger than 18 years in the indication psoriasis have not been established. Currently available data are described in Pharmacology: Pharmacokinetics under Actions but no recommendation on a posology can be made.
Juvenile idiopathic arthritis, psoriatic arthritis and ankylosing spondylitis: The safety and efficacy of Remsima in children and adolescents younger than 18 years in the indications juvenile idiopathic arthritis, psoriatic arthritis and ankylosing spondylitis have not been established. Currently available data are described in Pharmacology: Pharmacokinetics under Actions but no recommendation on a posology can be made.
Juvenile rheumatoid arthritis: The safety and efficacy of Remsima in children and adolescents younger than 18 years in the indication juvenile rheumatoid arthritis have not been established. Currently available data are described in Adverse Reactions and Pharmacology: Pharmacokinetics under Actions but no recommendation on a posology can be made.
Impaired renal and/or hepatic function: Remsima has not been studied in these patient populations. No dose recommendations can be made (see Pharmacology: Pharmacokinetics under Actions).
Method of administration: Remsima should be administered intravenously over a 2 hour period. All patients administered Remsima are to be observed for at least 1-2 hours post-infusion for acute infusion-related reactions. Emergency equipment, such as adrenaline, antihistamines, corticosteroids and an artificial airway must be available. Patients may be pre-treated with e.g., an antihistamine, hydrocortisone and/or paracetamol and infusion rate may be slowed in order to decrease the risk of infusion-related reactions especially if infusion-related reactions have occurred previously (see Precautions).
Shortened infusions across adult indications: In carefully selected adult patients who have tolerated at least 3 initial 2-hour infusions of Remsima (induction phase) and are receiving maintenance therapy, consideration may be given to administering subsequent infusions over a period of not less than 1 hour. If an infusion reaction occurs in association with a shortened infusion, a slower infusion rate may be considered for future infusions if treatment is to be continued. Shortened infusions at doses >6 mg/kg have not been studied (see Adverse Reactions).
For preparation and administration instructions, see Cautions for Usage.
