1 INDICATIONS AND USAGE

1.1 Pharyngitis/Tonsillitis

Cefuroxime axetil tablets are indicated for the treatment of adult patients and pediatric patients (13 years and older) with mild-to-moderate pharyngitis/tonsillitis caused by susceptible strains of Streptococcus pyogenes.
Limitations of Use

• The efficacy of cefuroxime axetil in the prevention of rheumatic fever was not established in clinical trials.
• The efficacy of cefuroxime axetil in the treatment of penicillin-resistant strains of Streptococcus pyogenes has not been demonstrated in clinical trials.

1.2 Acute Bacterial Otitis Media

Cefuroxime axetil tablets are indicated for the treatment of pediatric patients (who can swallow tablets whole) with acute bacterial otitis media caused by susceptible strains of Streptococcus pneumoniae, Haemophilus influenzae (including β-lactamase–producing strains), Moraxella catarrhalis (including β-lactamase–producing strains), or Streptococcus pyogenes.

1.3 Acute Bacterial Maxillary Sinusitis

Cefuroxime axetil tablets are indicated for the treatment of adult and pediatric patients (13 years and older) with mild-to-moderate acute bacterial maxillary sinusitis caused by susceptible strains of Streptococcus pneumoniae or Haemophilus influenzae (non-β-lactamase–producing strains only).
Limitations of Use
The effectiveness of Cefuroxime axetil for sinus infections caused by β-lactamase–producing Haemophilus influenzae or Moraxella catarrhalis in patients with acute bacterial maxillary sinusitis was not established due to insufficient numbers of these isolates in the clinical trials [see Clinical Studies (14.1)].

1.4 Acute Bacterial Exacerbations of Chronic Bronchitis

Cefuroxime axetil tablets are indicated for the treatment of adult patients and pediatric patients (aged 13 and older) with mild-to-moderate acute bacterial exacerbations of chronic bronchitis caused by susceptible strains of Streptococcus pneumoniae, Haemophilus influenzae (β-lactamase–negative strains), or Haemophilus parainfluenzae (β-lactamase–negative strains).

1.5 Uncomplicated Skin and Skin-Structure Infections

Cefuroxime axetil tablets are indicated for the treatment of adult patients and pediatric patients (aged 13 and older) with uncomplicated skin and skin- structure infections caused by susceptible strains of Staphylococcus aureus (including β-lactamase–producing strains) or Streptococcus pyogenes.

1.6 Uncomplicated Urinary Tract Infections

Cefuroxime axetil tablets are indicated for the treatment of adult patients and pediatric patients (aged 13 and older) with uncomplicated urinary tract infections caused by susceptible strains of Escherichia coli or Klebsiella pneumoniae.

1.7 Uncomplicated Gonorrhea

Cefuroxime axetil tablets are indicated for the treatment of adult patients and pediatric patients (aged 13 and older) with uncomplicated gonorrhea, urethral and endocervical, caused by penicillinase-producing and non- penicillinase–producing susceptible strains of Neisseria gonorrhoeae and uncomplicated gonorrhea, rectal, in females, caused by non- penicillinase–producing susceptible strains of Neisseria gonorrhoeae.

1.8 Early Lyme Disease (erythema migrans)

Cefuroxime axetil tablets are indicated for the treatment of adult patients and pediatric patients (aged 13 and older) with early Lyme disease (erythema migrans) caused by susceptible strains of Borrelia burgdorferi.

1.10 Usage

To reduce the development of drug-resistant bacteria and maintain the effectiveness of cefuroxime axetil and other antibacterial drugs, cefuroxime axetil should be used only to treat or prevent infections that are proven or strongly suspected to be caused by susceptible bacteria. When culture and susceptibility information are available, they should be considered in selecting or modifying antibacterial therapy. In the absence of such data, local epidemiology and susceptibility patterns may contribute to the empiric selection of therapy.

13 NONCLINICAL TOXICOLOGY

13.1 Carcinogenesis, Mutagenesis, Impairment of Fertility

Although lifetime studies in animals have not been performed to evaluate carcinogenic potential, no mutagenic activity was found for cefuroxime axetil in a battery of bacterial mutation tests. Positive results were obtained in an in vitro chromosome aberration assay; however, negative results were found in an in vivo micronucleus test at doses up to 1.5 g/kg. Fertility studies in rats (males dosed for 70 days prior to and through mating; females dosed 21 days prior to mating through lactation) at doses up to 1,000 mg/kg/day (9 times the MRHD based on body surface area) have revealed no adverse effects on fertility.

14 CLINICAL STUDIES

14.1 Acute Bacterial Maxillary Sinusitis

One adequate and well-controlled trial was performed in subjects with acute bacterial maxillary sinusitis. In this trial, each subject had a maxillary sinus aspirate collected by sinus puncture before treatment was initiated for presumptive acute bacterial sinusitis. All subjects had radiographic and clinical evidence of acute maxillary sinusitis. In the trial, the clinical effectiveness of cefuroxime axetil in treating acute maxillary sinusitis was comparable to an oral antimicrobial agent containing a specific β-lactamase inhibitor. However, microbiology data demonstrated cefuroxime axetil to be effective in treating acute bacterial maxillary sinusitis due only to Streptococcus pneumoniae or non-β-lactamase–producing Haemophilus influenzae. Insufficient numbers of β-lactamase–producing Haemophilus influenzae and Moraxella catarrhalis isolates were obtained in this trial to adequately evaluate the effectiveness of cefuroxime axetil in treating acute bacterial maxillary sinusitis due to these 2 organisms.

This trial randomized 317 adult subjects, 132 subjects in the U.S. and 185 subjects in South America.
Table 10 shows the results of the intent-to-treat analysis.

Table 10. Clinical Effectiveness of Cefuroxime Axetil Tablets in the Treatment of Acute Bacterial Maxillary Sinusitis

	U.S. Subjectsa	South American Subjectsb
	Cefuro xime Axetil Tablets 250 mg Twice Daily (n = 49)	Control c (n = 43)	Cefuroxime Axetil Tablets 250 mg Twice Daily (n = 49)	Controlc (n = 43)
Clinical success (cure + improvement)	65%	53%	77%	74%
Clinical cure	53%	44%	72%	64%
Clinical improvement	12%	9%	5%	10%

a 95% confidence interval around the success difference [-0.08, +0.32].

b 95% confidence interval around the success difference [-0.10, +0.16].
c Control was an antibacterial drug containing a β-lactamase inhibitor.

In this trial and in a supporting maxillary puncture trial, 15 evaluable subjects had non-β-lactamase–producing Haemophilus influenzae as the identified pathogen. Of these, 67% (10/15) had this pathogen eradicated. Eighteen (18) evaluable subjects had Streptococcus pneumoniae as the identified pathogen. Of these, 83% (15/18) had this pathogen eradicated.

14.2 Early Lyme Disease

Two adequate and well-controlled trials were performed in subjects with early Lyme disease. All subjects presented with physician-documented erythema migrans, with or without systemic manifestations of infection. Subjects were assessed at 1 month posttreatment for success in treating early Lyme disease (Part I) and at 1 year posttreatment for success in preventing the progression to the sequelae of late Lyme disease (Part II).

A total of 355 adult subjects (181 treated with cefuroxime axetil and 174 treated with doxycycline) were randomized in the 2 trials, with diagnosis of early Lyme disease confirmed in 79% (281/355). The clinical diagnosis of early Lyme disease in these subjects was validated by 1) blinded expert reading of photographs, when available, of the pretreatment erythema migrans skin lesion, and 2) serologic confirmation (using enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay [ELISA] and immunoblot assay [“Western” blot]) of the presence of antibodies specific to Borrelia burgdorferi, the etiologic agent of Lyme disease. The efficacy data in Table 11 are specific to this “validated” patient subset, while the safety data below reflect the entire patient population for the 2 trials. Clinical data for evaluable subjects in the “validated” patient subset are shown in Table 11.

** Table 11. Clinical Effectiveness of Cefuroxime Axetil Tablets Compared with Doxycycline in the Treatment of Early Lyme Disease**

	**Part I (1 Month after 20 Days of Treatment)**a	**Part II (1 Year after 20 Days of Treatment)**b
	Cefuroxime Axetil Tablets ** 500 mg** Twice Daily (n = 125)	Doxycycline 100 mg 3 Times Daily (n = 108)	Cefuroxime Axetil Tablets 500 mg ** Twice Daily (n = 105c)**	Doxycycline 100 mg 3 Times Daily (n = 83c)
Satisfactory clinical outcomed	91%	93%	84%	87%
Clinical cure/success	72%	73%	73%	73%
Clinical improvement	19%	19%	10%	13%

a 95% confidence interval around the satisfactory difference for Part I (-0.08, +0.05).

b 95% confidence interval around the satisfactory difference for Part II (-0.13, +0.07).

c n’s include subjects assessed as unsatisfactory clinical outcomes (failure + recurrence) in Part I (cefuroxime axetil - 11 [5 failure, 6 recurrence]; doxycycline - 8 [6 failure, 2 recurrence]).

d Satisfactory clinical outcome includes cure + improvement (Part I) and success + improvement (Part II).

Cefuroxime axetil and doxycycline were effective in prevention of the development of sequelae of late Lyme disease.

While the incidence of drug-related gastrointestinal adverse reactions was similar in the 2 treatment groups (cefuroxime axetil - 13%; doxycycline - 11%), the incidence of drug-related diarrhea was higher in the cefuroxime axetil arm versus the doxycycline arm (11% versus 3%, respectively).

2 DOSAGE AND ADMINISTRATION

2.1 Important Administration Instructions

• Cefuroxime axetil tablets and cefuroxime axetil for oral suspension are not bioequivalent and are therefore not substitutable on a milligram-per-milligram basis [see Clinical Pharmacology (12.3)].
• Administer cefuroxime axetil tablets as described in the appropriate dosage guidelines [see Dosage and Administration (2.2)].
• Administer cefuroxime axetil tablets with or without food.
• Pediatric patients (aged 13 years and older) who cannot swallow the cefuroxime axetil tablets whole should receive cefuroxime axetil for oral suspension because the tablet has a strong, persistent bitter taste when crushed [see Dosage and Administration (2.2)].

2.2 Dosage for Cefuroxime axetil Tablets

Administer cefuroxime axetil tablets as described in the dosage guidelines table below with or without food.

Table 1. Adult Patients and Pediatric Patients Dosage Guidelines for Cefuroxime Axetil Tablets

Infection	Dosage	Duration (Days)
Adults and Adolescents (13 years and older)
Pharyngitis/tonsillitis (mild to moderate)	250 mg every 12 hours	10
Acute bacterial maxillary sinusitis (mild to moderate)	250 mg every 12 hours	10
Acute bacterial exacerbations of chronic bronchitis(mild to moderate )	250 or 500 mg every 12 hours	10a
Uncomplicated skin and skin-structure infections	250 or 500 mg every 12 hours	10
Uncomplicated urinary tract infections	250 mg every 12 hours	7 to 10
Uncomplicated gonorrhea	1,000 mg	single dose
Early Lyme disease	500 mg every 12 hours	20
Pediatric Patients younger than 13 years (who can swallow tablets whole)** b**
Acute bacterial otitis media	250 mg every 12 hours	10
Acute bacterial maxillary sinusitis	250 mg every 12 hours	10

a The safety and effectiveness of cefuroxime axetil administered for less than 10 days in patients with acute exacerbations of chronic bronchitis have not been established.
b When crushed, the tablet has a strong, persistent bitter taste. Therefore, patients who cannot swallow the tablet whole should receive the oral suspension.

2.5 Dosage in Patients with Impaired Renal Function

A dosage interval adjustment is required for patients whose creatinine clearance is less than 30 mL/min, as listed in Table 4 below, because cefuroxime is eliminated primarily by the kidney [see Clinical Pharmacology (12.3)].

Table 4. Dosing in Adults with Renal Impairment

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Creatinine Clearance (mL/min)	Recommended Dosage
≥30	No dosage adjustment
10 to ˂30	Standard individual dose given every 24 hours
˂10 (without hemodialysis)	Standard individual dose given every 48 hours
Hemodialysis	A single additional standard dose should be given at the end of each dialysis