Gilenya

Gilenya can only be obtained with a prescription and treatment should be started and supervised by a doctor experienced in multiple sclerosis. Gilenya is available as capsules (0.25 mg and 0.5 mg). The recommended dose for adults is one 0.5 mg capsule taken once a day by mouth, the recommended dose for children depends on body weight.

Because Gilenya decreases the heart rate and can affect the heart’s electrical activity and rhythm, the patient’s blood pressure and heart activity is checked before starting treatment and during treatment, and also if Gilenya treatment is restarted after an interruption. Details on the recommendations for monitoring patients are found in the summary of product characteristics.

For more information about using Gilenya, see the package leaflet or contact your doctor or pharmacist.

In multiple sclerosis, the immune system (the body’s defences) incorrectly attacks the protective sheath around the nerves in the brain and spinal cord. The active substance in Gilenya, fingolimod, prevents T cells (a type of white blood cell involved in the immune system) travelling from the lymph nodes towards the brain and spinal cord, thus limiting the damage they cause in multiple sclerosis. It does this by blocking the action of a receptor (target) on the T cells called the sphingosine-1- phosphate receptor, which is involved in controlling the movement of these cells in the body.

Three main studies in adults and one main study in children have found that Gilenya was more effective than placebo (a dummy treatment) or interferon beta-1a (another medicine for treating multiple sclerosis) in patients with relapsing-remitting multiple sclerosis. The main measure of effectiveness in all the studies was based on the number of relapses the patients experienced each year.

In two studies involving a total of 2,355 patients, Gilenya was compared with placebo over two years. Patients treated with Gilenya had around half the number of relapses compared with patients given placebo.

In a third study involving 1,292 patients, Gilenya was compared with interferon beta-1a over one year. Patients receiving Gilenya had around half the number of relapses compared with patients given interferon beta-1a.

In a study involving 215 children, Gilenya was compared with interferon beta-1a for up to 2 years. Of patients given Gilenya, 14% (15 out of 107) experienced relapses compared with 54% (58 out of 107) of patients given interferon beta-1a.

The most common side effects with Gilenya (seen in more than 1 patient in 10) are flu, sinusitis (inflammation of the sinuses), headache, cough, diarrhoea, back pain and raised liver enzyme levels (a sign of liver problems). The most serious side effects are infections, macular oedema (swelling in the central part of the retina at the back of the eye) and atrioventricular block (a type of heart rhythm disorder) at the start of treatment. For the full list of side effects of Gilenya, see the package leaflet.

Gilenya must not be used in patients at risk of infections due to a weakened immune system, patients with a severe infection or a long-term active infection such as hepatitis, and patients with cancer or severe liver problems. Gilenya must also not be used in patients with certain diseases affecting the heart and blood vessels or in those who have had such diseases or problems with the blood supply to the brain. Women should not become pregnant while taking Gilenya and for two months after treatment has stopped. For the full list of restrictions, see the package leaflet.

The European Medicines Agency concluded that there is clear evidence of the benefit of Gilenya in relapsing-remitting multiple sclerosis in both adults and children and noted that it had the benefit of being taken by mouth while most other medicines for this disease are given by injection. However, because of possible side effects, the Agency concluded that Gilenya should only be used in patients  who have a real need for the medicine either because their disease has not improved with at least one other disease-modifying therapy or because it is severe and getting worse rapidly. In addition, the Agency concluded that all patients should have their heart activity closely monitored after the first dose. The Agency decided that Gilenya’s benefits are greater than its risks and recommended that it be given marketing authorisation.

The company that markets Gilenya will provide results from a study to assess the risk of side effects  on the heart and circulation. It must also ensure that all doctors who prescribe Gilenya receive an information pack containing important safety information, including a checklist of the risks with Gilenya and the situations where its use is not recommended. The checklist includes information on the tests and monitoring in patients before and during treatment with Gilenya. The pack will also include information on a registry to collect data on babies born to women treated with Gilenya, as well as a patient reminder card for patients or their carers with key safety information.

Recommendations and precautions to be followed by healthcare professionals and patients for the safe and effective use of Gilenya have also been included in the summary of product characteristics and the package leaflet.

As for all medicines, data on the use of Gilenya are continuously monitored. Side effects reported with Gilenya are carefully evaluated and any necessary action taken to protect patients.

Gilenya received a marketing authorisation valid throughout the EU on 17 March 2011.