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OCUFLOX®
(ofloxacin ophthalmic solution) 0.3%
sterile

DESCRIPTION

OCUFLOX® (ofloxacin ophthalmic solution) 0.3% is a sterile ophthalmic solution. It is a fluorinated carboxyquinolone anti-infective for topical ophthalmic use.

Chemical Name:

(±)-9-Fluoro-2, 3-dihydro-3-methyl-10-(4-methyl-1-piperazinyl)-7-oxo-7H-pyrido[1,2,3-de]-1,4 benzoxazine-6-carboxylic acid.

Contains: Active: ofloxacin 0.3% (3 mg/mL). Preservative: benzalkonium chloride (0.005%).

Inactives: sodium chloride and purified water. May also contain hydrochloric acid and/or sodium hydroxide to adjust pH.

OCUFLOX® solution is unbuffered and formulated with a pH of 6.4 (range - 6.0 to 6.8). It has an osmolality of 300 mOsm/kg. Ofloxacin is a fluorinated 4-quinolone which differs from other fluorinated 4-quinolones in that there is a six member (pyridobenzoxazine) ring from positions 1 to 8 of the basic ring structure.

CLINICAL PHARMACOLOGY

Pharmacokinetics:

Serum, urine and tear concentrations of ofloxacin were measured in 30 healthy women at various time points during a ten-day course of treatment with OCUFLOX® solution. The mean serum ofloxacin concentration ranged from 0.4 ng/mL to 1.9 ng/mL. Maximum ofloxacin concentration increased from 1.1 ng/mL on day one to 1.9 ng/mL on day 11 after QID dosing for 10 1/2 days. Maximum serum ofloxacin concentrations after ten days of topical ophthalmic dosing were more than 1000 times lower than those reported after standard oral doses of ofloxacin.

Tear ofloxacin concentrations ranged from 5.7 to 31 μg/g during the 40 minute period following the last dose on day 11. Mean tear concentration measured four hours after topical ophthalmic dosing was 9.2 μg/g.

Corneal tissue concentrations of 4.4 μg/mL were observed four hours after beginning topical ocular application of two drops of OCUFLOX® ophthalmic solution every 30 minutes. Ofloxacin was excreted in the urine primarily unmodified.

Microbiology:

Ofloxacin has in vitro activity against a broad range of gram-positive and gram-negative aerobic and anaerobic bacteria. Ofloxacin is bactericidal at concentrations equal to or slightly greater than inhibitory concentrations. Ofloxacin is thought to exert a bactericidal effect on susceptible bacterial cells by inhibiting DNA gyrase, an essential bacterial enzyme which is a critical catalyst in the duplication, transcription, and repair of bacterial DNA.

Cross-resistance has been observed between ofloxacin and other fluoroquinolones. There is generally no cross-resistance between ofloxacin and other classes of antibacterial agents such as beta-lactams or aminoglycosides.

Ofloxacin has been shown to be active against most strains of the following organisms both in vitro and clinically, in conjunctival and/or corneal ulcer infections as described in the INDICATIONS AND USAGE section.

*Efficacy for this organism was studied in fewer than 10 infections

AEROBES, GRAM-POSITIVE:AEROBES, GRAM-NEGATIVE:
    Staphylococcus aureus    Enterobacter cloacae
    Staphylococcus epidermidis    Haemophilus influenzae
    Streptococcus pneumoniae    Proteus mirabilis
ANAEROBIC SPECIES:    Pseudomonas aeruginosa
    Propionibacterium acnes    Serratia marcescens*

The safety and effectiveness of OCUFLOX® ophthalmic solution in treating ophthalmologic infections due to the following organisms have not been established in adequate and well-controlled clinical trials. OCUFLOX® ophthalmic solution has been shown to be active in vitro against most strains of these organisms but the clinical significance in ophthalmologic infections is unknown.

AEROBES, GRAM-POSITIVE:
    Enterococcus faecalis    Staphylococcus hominus
    Listeria monocytogenes    Staphylococcus simulans
    Staphylococcus capitis    Streptococcus pyogenes
AEROBES, GRAM-NEGATIVE:
    Acinetobacter calcoaceticus var. anitratus    Klebsiella pneumoniae
    Acinetobacter calcoaceticus var. lwoffii    Moraxella (Branhamella) catarrhalis
    Citrobacter diversus    Moraxella lacunata
    Citrobacter freundii    Morganella morganii
    Enterobacter aerogenes    Neisseria gonorrhoeae
    Enterobacter agglomerans    Pseudomonas acidovorans
    Escherichia coli    Pseudomonas fluorescens
    Haemophilus parainfluenzae    Shigella sonnei
    Klebsiella oxytoca
OTHER:
    Chlamydia trachomatis

Clinical Studies:

INDICATIONS AND USAGE

OCUFLOX® ophthalmic solution is indicated for the treatment of infections caused by susceptible strains of the following bacteria in the conditions uled below:

*Efficacy for this organism was studied in fewer than 10 infections

CONJUNCTIVITIS:
    Gram-positive bacteria:    Gram-negative bacteria:
        Staphylococcus aureus        Enterobacter cloacae
        Staphylococcus epidermidis        Haemophilus influenzae
        Streptococcus pneumoniae        Proteus mirabilis
        Pseudomonas aeruginosa
CORNEAL ULCERS:
    Gram-positive bacteria:    Gram-negative bacteria:
        Staphylococcus aureus        Pseudomonas aeruginosa
        Staphylococcus epidermidis        Serratia marcescens*
        Streptococcus pneumoniae    Anaerobic species:
        Propionibacterium acnes

CONTRAINDICATIONS

OCUFLOX® solution is contraindicated in patients with a history of hypersensitivity to ofloxacin, to other quinolones, or to any of the components in this medication.

WARNINGS

NOT FOR INJECTION.

OCUFLOX® solution should not be injected subconjunctivally, nor should it be introduced directly into the anterior chamber of the eye.

Serious and occasionally fatal hypersensitivity (anaphylactic) reactions, some following the first dose, have been reported in patients receiving systemic quinolones, including ofloxacin. Some reactions were accompanied by cardiovascular collapse, loss of consciousness, angioedema (including laryngeal, pharyngeal or facial edema), airway obstruction, dyspnea, urticaria, and itching. A rare occurrence of Stevens-Johnson syndrome, which progressed to toxic epidermal necrolysis, has been reported in a patient who was receiving topical ophthalmic ofloxacin. If an allergic reaction to ofloxacin occurs, discontinue the drug. Serious acute hypersensitivity reactions may require immediate emergency treatment. Oxygen and airway management, including intubation should be administered as clinically indicated.

PRECAUTIONS

General:

As with other anti-infectives, prolonged use may result in overgrowth of nonsusceptible organisms, including fungi. If superinfection occurs discontinue use and institute alternative therapy. Whenever clinical judgment dictates, the patient should be examined with the aid of magnification, such as slit lamp biomicroscopy and, where appropriate, fluorescein staining. Ofloxacin should be discontinued at the first appearance of a skin rash or any other sign of hypersensitivity reaction.

The systemic administration of quinolones, including ofloxacin, has led to lesions or erosions of the cartilage in weight-bearing joints and other signs of arthropathy in immature animals of various species. Ofloxacin, administered systemically at 10 mg/kg/day in young dogs (equivalent to 110 times the maximum recommended daily adult ophthalmic dose) has been associated with these types of effects.

Information for Patients:

Avoid contaminating the applicator tip with material from the eye, fingers or other source.

Systemic quinolones, including ofloxacin, have been associated with hypersensitivity reactions, even following a single dose. Discontinue use immediately and contact your physician at the first sign of a rash or allergic reaction.

Drug Interactions:

Specific drug interaction studies have not been conducted with OCUFLOX® ophthalmic solution. However, the systemic administration of some quinolones has been shown to elevate plasma concentrations of theophylline, interfere with the metabolism of caffeine, and enhance the effects of the oral anticoagulant warfarin and its derivatives, and has been associated with transient elevations in serum creatinine in patients receiving cyclosporine concomitantly.

Carcinogenesis, Mutagenesis, Impairment of Fertility:

Long term studies to determine the carcinogenic potential of ofloxacin have not been conducted.

Ofloxacin was not mutagenic in the Ames test, in vitro and in vivo cytogenic assay, sister chromatid exchange assay (Chinese hamster and human cell lines), unscheduled DNA synthesis (UDS) assay using human fibroblasts, the dominant lethal assay, or mouse micronucleus assay. Ofloxacin was positive in the UDS test using rat hepatocyte, and in the mouse lymphoma assay.

In fertility studies in rats, ofloxacin did not affect male or female fertility or morphological or reproductive performance at oral dosing up to 360 mg/kg/day (equivalent to 4000 times the maximum recommended daily ophthalmic dose).

Pregnancy:

Nursing Mothers:

In nursing women a single 200 mg oral dose resulted in concentrations of ofloxacin in milk which were similar to those found in plasma. It is not known whether ofloxacin is excreted in human milk following topical ophthalmic administration. Because of the potential for serious adverse reactions from ofloxacin in nursing infants, a decision should be made whether to discontinue nursing or to discontinue the drug, taking into account the importance of the drug to the mother.

Pediatric Use:

Safety and effectiveness in infants below the age of one year have not been established.

Quinolones, including ofloxacin, have been shown to cause arthropathy in immature animals after oral administration; however, topical ocular administration of ofloxacin to immature animals has not shown any arthropathy. There is no evidence that the ophthalmic dosage form of ofloxacin has any effect on weight bearing joints.

Geriatric Use:

No overall differences in safety or effectiveness have been observed between elderly and younger patients.

ADVERSE REACTIONS

DOSAGE AND ADMINISTRATION

The recommended dosage regimen for the treatment of bacterial conjunctivitis is:

Days 1 and 2Instill one to two drops every two to four hours in the affected eye(s).
Days 3 through 7Instill one to two drops four times daily.
The recommended dosage regimen for the treatment of bacterial corneal ulcer is:
Days 1 and 2Instill one to two drops into the affected eye every 30 minutes, while awake. Awaken at approximately four and six hours after retiring and instill one to two drops.
Days 3 through 7 to 9Instill one to two drops hourly, while awake.
Days 7 to 9 through
treatment completionInstill one to two drops, four times daily.

HOW SUPPLIED

OCUFLOX® (ofloxacin ophthalmic solution) 0.3% is supplied sterile in opaque white LDPE plastic bottles and white dropper tips with beige high impact polystyrene (HIPS) caps as follows:

5mL in 10mL bottle - NDC 11980-779-05

Note: Store at 15-25°C (59-77°F)

Rx only

Rev May 2005

© 2005 Allergan, Inc.
Irvine, CA 92612, U.S.A.
Licensed from: Daiichi Pharmaceutical Co., Ltd., Tokyo, Japan and Santen Pharmaceutical Co.,
Ltd., Osaka, Japan

® marks owned by Allergan, Inc.
U. S. PAT. 4,382,892; and 4,551,456
7651X
71589US11S

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