Food and Drug Administration
Center for
Drug Evaluation and Research
SUMMARY
MINUTES OF THE
Matthew Rudorfer, M.D.
(Chair)
Tana Grady-Weliky, M.D.
Irene Ortiz, M.D.
Richard Malone, M.D.
Andrew Leon, Ph.D.
Philip Wang, M.D., M.P.H.,
Dr. PH
Wayne Goodman, M.D.
James McGough, M.D.
Jean Bronstein, R.N.,
M.S. (Consumer Representative)
FDA
Participants
Robert
Temple, M.D.
Russell
Katz, M.D.
Thomas
Laughren, M.D.
M.
Dianne Murphy, M.D.,
Susan
Cummins, M.D., M.P.H.,
Anne Trontell, M.D., M.P.H.
Executive Secretary
Anuja M.
Patel, M.P.H.
Gail Griffith, B.A., M.A.
(Patient Representative)
Cynthia Pfeffer, M.D.
Psychopharmacologic Drugs Advisory Committee Consultant (non-voting):
Daniel Pine, M.D.
David Shaffer, M.D.
Psychopharmacologic Drugs Advisory Committee Industry Representative (Non-voting):
Dilip Mehta, M.D., Ph.D.
Pediatric Subcommittee Consultant Members of the Anti-Infective
Advisory Committee (voting):
Joan Chesney, M.D.
Robert Nelson, M.D. Ph.D.
Victor Santana, M.D.
David Danford, M.D.
Robert Fink, M.D.
Mark Hudak, M.D.
Susan Fuchs, M.D.
Richard Gorman, M.D., FAAP
Norman
Fost, M.D., M.P.H. (CBER Consultant)
AIDAC Members of the Pediatric Subcommittee of the Anti-Infective Advisory Committee (voting):
Mary Glode, M.D.
Judith O’Fallon, Ph.D.
Steven Ebert, Pharm.D. (Consumer Representative)
Pediatric
Subcommittee of the Anti-Infective Advisory Committee Consultants (voting):
Charles Irwin, Jr., M.D.
James Perrin, M.D.
Laurel Leslie, M.D.,
FAAP
Elizabeth Andrews, Ph.D.
Pediatric Subcommittee of the
Anti-Infective Advisory Committee Acting Industry Representative (non-voting):
Samuel Maldonado,
M.D., M.P.H.
Cardio-Renal AC Members Absent:
None
Guest Speaker (non-voting):
Kelly Posner, Ph.D
These
summary minutes for the
I certify that I attended the
_________//S//______________________ ________//S//_________________________
Anuja M. Patel, M.P.H. Matthew Rudorfer, M.D.
Executive
Secretary Chair
On
Prior to the meeting, the members and the invited
consultants had been provided the background material from the FDA and written
statements submitted by the public. The meeting was called to order by Matthew
Rudorfer, M.D. (Committee Chair); the Conflict of Interest Statement was read
into the record by Anuja M. Patel, M.P.H. (Executive Secretary). There were approximately 450 persons in
attendance. There were approximately 54
speakers for the Open Public Hearing session.
Open Public
Hearing Speakers:
· David Antonuccio, Ph.D. and
Irving Kirsch, Ph.D.
· Lisa VanSyckel
· Anne Blake Tracy, Ph.D.
· Mark Miller
· Jay and Corey Baadsgaard
· Joyce Storey
· Jennifer and Jame Tierney
· Donna Taylor
· Shannon Baker
· Dawn Rider and Vincent Boehm
, A.S.P.I.R.E
·
Sara Bostock
·
Vera Sharav, The
·
Cynthia Brockman
·
Tod and Eileen Shivak
· Suzanne Vogel-Scibilia, M.D., The National
·
Dennis Winter
·
Steve Cole
·
Allan Routhier
·
Daniel Safer, M.D.
·
Julie Magno Zito, Ph.D.,
·
Joseph Glenmullen, M.D.
·
Linda Cheslek
·
Jeff Avery
·
Harry Skigis
·
Rosie Meysenburg
·
Rachel Adler and Sheila McDonald, Child and Adolescent Bipolar
Foundation
·
Andy Vickery
·
Pepper Draper
· Donald Marks, M.D., Ph.D.
·
Leah Harris M.A.
·
Donald Farber, Esq., Law Office of Donald J. Farber
·
· Sharon McBride
· David Fassler, M.D. American Psychiatric Association
·
·
Thomas Moore, M.D.
· Pamela Wild
· Karen Menzies
·
Amy Coburn
·
Gary Cheslek, M.D.
·
Paul Domb and Matthew Piepenburg
·
Terri Williams
·
Glenn McIntoch
·
Delnora Duprey
·
Joe Pittman
·
Richard Mack
·
Gloria and Noah Wright
·
Marion Goff
·
Sherri Walton, Mental Health Association of
·
Peter Breggin, M.D.
·
Robert Fritz
·
Lawrence Greenhill, M.D., American
·
Tom Woodward
FDA Presentations:
Overview of Issues Russell Katz, M.D.
Director, Division of Neuropharmacological Drug Products, FDA
Pediatric Drug Development Dianne Murphy, M.D.
Director, Office of Counter-Terrorism and Drug Development, FDA
Pediatric Depression and Its Treatment Cynthia Pfeffer, M.D.
Suicide and Related Problems in Adolescents David Shaffer, F.R.C.P. (Lond), F.R.C. Psych
Pediatric and adolescent Antidepressant Gianna C. Rigoni, Pharm.D., M.S.
Drug Use in the
One Year Post-Exclusivity Mandated Adverse Event Solomon Iyasu, M.D., M.P.H
Review for Paroxetine and Citalopram Lead Medical Officer, Division of Pediatrics Drug Development, FDA
Office of Drug Safety Data Resources for the Study of Andrew Mosholder, M.D., M.P.H.
Suicidal Events Epidemiologist, Office of Drug Safety, FDA
Regulatory History on Antidepressants and Suicidality Thomas Laughren, M.D.
and Update on Current Plans for Analysis of Pediatric Team Leader, Division of Neuropharmacological Drug Products, FDA
Suicidality Data Neuropharmacological Drug Products, FDA
Suicidality Classification Project Kelly Posner, Ph.D.
Plans for Analysis of Patient Level Data for Tarek Hammad, M.D., Ph.D., M.Sc., M.S.
Pediatric Studies Safety Reviewer, Division of Neuropharmacological Drug Products, FDA
Questions to the Committee:
Topics
Directly Pertinent to Continuing Evaluation of Data from Pediatric Controlled
Trials:
1.
Possible Failure to Fully
Capture All Events of Potential Interest with Regard to Suicidality
The first step
in the process of evaluation for suicidality was to find events of potential
interest. GSK (Glaxo Smith Kline) had
developed an algorithm for searching for events possibly representing
suicidality in their database, and FDA proposed a variation of this to other
sponsors. However, this was admittedly a
compromise. It is conceivable that certain cases of interest might have been
missed by the search methods employed.
The only fail safe approach to identifying all possible events of
interest would be to have experts blindly evaluate every case report form for
the more than 4000 patients who participated in these trials. Since that is not feasible, FDA welcomes
advice from the committee on possible modifications to the search strategies
used for identifying cases that might have been missed. Additional searches at this point would
further delay the analyses of these data, and this needs to be taken into
consideration. However, if the
committees feel there are serious deficiencies in the search methods employed,
it would be helpful to hear about alternative approaches.
The overall consensus of the Committees was
that the FDA should proceed with the planned
re-analysis of the data once a team of mental health experts at
In conceptualizing
future plans for re-analysis of data on adverse behavioral reactions, some
discussion focused on defining the boundaries of events that should be
considered indicative of suicidal behavior.
Committee members recognized the need to define these boundaries more
precisely than in the reviewed studies and offered some guidelines. In particular, some Committee members
recommended that “cutting” should not be considered a symptom of suicidal
behavior.
The Chair summarized
the consensus of the committee stating that although individual members had
reservations about the limitations of the existing database,
the Committee endorses the continuation of the re-classification of data
with some additional measures as mentioned above. The Committee advised the FDA
to attempt to recreate the process of identifying cases of suicide-related
events and look for multiple different types of definitions that may be
subsumed under “stimulation (or activation) syndrome.” This would necessarily require keeping
definition(s) as broad as possible.
2.
Approaches to Classifying Events into Meaningful Categories for the
Purpose of Further Analysis
As noted, an
important next step is to decide on categories into which events of interest
might be classified, along with operational definitions for such
classifications. The approach used by
sponsors thus far has been to classify cases first into a crude category of
“possibly suicide-related,” and then a further sub-grouping of that broader
group into a “suicide attempt” class.
Since we are just now beginning to address this question with our
outside experts, we would welcome any advice the committees might have on how
to classify these events for the purpose of further analysis.
The consensus of the
Committees was that a level of certainty and variability in analysis be
included in the reclassification of data. The Committees were concerned that
the general quality of the data, as they were originally collected, was
relatively low. This complicates any effort of reclassification. Efforts at
re-creating the methodology used at various sites of the different trials are
important for understanding the specific information that was actually gathered
in each data set. The Committees
encouraged the identification of treatment-emergent agitation and related
behaviors as potentially relevant mediators of self-harm ideation or actions.
3.
Patient Level Data
Analysis
Since we are
in the preliminary stages of designing an appropriate analysis of patient level
data, this would be an opportune time to get feedback on how to approach this
analysis. In addition, you have seen our
list of potential covariates for inclusion in this analysis, and we would
welcome any thoughts you might have on this list. If we have left out important covariates,
please let us know, since this would be the time to try to gather any
additional information that you feel might be helpful in trying to understand
these data.
As noted, the Committees did
have suggestions for additional covariates that might be collected from these
databases to assist in designing an appropriate analysis plan. Individual
committee members provided multiple suggestions to approaches to identifying
covariates, and mentioned the potential value of evaluating observed events in
relation to time of dosing or other intervention changes. Committee members
expressed an interest in seeing data from various patient-level variables. These included a broader array of adverse
effect variables, related to the broader “stimulation/activation” syndrome
described above, as well as potential patient-level data that may have
moderated therapeutic or adverse effects delineated in the available
studies. Committee members inquired
specifically about data on co-morbid psychopathology, such as anxiety or
disruptive behavior disorders, adverse environmental events, and family history
or other variables that may relate to the risk for bipolar disorder. In sum, the Committee felt that extending the
analysis of patient level data beyond the focus specifically on suicidality
related or mediating variables would be of value. These would include family history of mood
and other mental disorders, pretreatment pre-morbid conditions such as
hypomanic/manic symptoms or akathisia, careful delineation of the diagnosis
where possible, e.g. unipolar vs. bipolar depression vs. schizophrenia
spectrum, comorbidities (other mental and physical disorders, substance use), administration of other medications. As noted, particular attention to the
presence of signs and symptoms of treatment-emergent agitation and activation
is recommended, to include time to development and severity of such behaviors
both pre- and post- treatment in both patients on medication and control group
members.
Topics of
Future Interest
4.
Ascertainment for
Suicidality
As we reviewed
the descriptive information for the events identified by sponsors as possibly
suggestive of suicidality, it became apparent that ascertainment for emergence
of suicidality was not optimal. The case
descriptions were frequently sparse and lacking the kind of detail that would
ordinarily be useful in assessing whether or not the events might legitimately
be considered to represent suicidality.
Of course, these studies were not designed with that goal in mind. Indeed, patients who were judged to be
suicidal at screening were excluded. Nor
did we emphasize such assessment for suicidality in our Written Requests for
these pediatric programs. Furthermore,
there is, of course, no fix for this problem with regard to these studies. However, one of our outside experts will
address the issue of how one might develop guidance for more adequate
assessment for emergent suicidality in future studies. We would welcome any advice from the
committees on the development of such guidance.
The
Committee’s consensus was that the review of the available data pointed to the
pressing need for more research on this topic in new samples of children and
adolescents studied in randomized controlled trials. In such future studies, the Committee noted
the importance of including children on various other medications while
gathering high-quality data on adverse events. The Committee also recognized
the importance of including placebos in such trials, in order to sort out the
disease from the treatment and to evaluate the data accurately. Particular focus on behavioral toxicity early
in treatment, including various forms of dysphoric activation, as noted above,
is recommended for more definitive assessment in future clinical trials to try
to capture instances of treatment-emergent difficulties that might precede or
occur in association with frank suicidality.
Pressing methodological issues for future clinical trials include the
desirability of standardizing assessment instruments to capture suicidality or
antecedent adverse effects of interest and permit better analysis across sites
and across trials. Such measures should
include self-assessment instruments for use by patients and their
parents/guardians.
5.
Future Approaches to Trying
to Address the Question of What Benefits These Drugs Might Have in Pediatric
MDD
Due to time constraints the Committee did not discuss this item
completely. The Committee was mixed on
the idea of drug-discontinuation designs.
Some Committee members clearly recognized the potential superior statistical
power in this design, given results from studies using this design in
adults. Other Committee members noted
that this design does not address key questions concerning the safety and
efficacy of delivering antidepressants as opposed to other treatments for a
child or adolescent presenting for the first time with symptoms of an untreated
major depressive disorder. To the extent
that this question remains central, it may be important to utilize various
research designs beyond a randomized withdrawal design.
In answering these
questions please keep in mind that the FDA does not regulate the practice of
medicine, but is responsible for providing information on the safety and
efficacy of the products it regulates. As a reminder, the FDA issued a Public
Health Advisory on
“FDA emphasizes that these drugs must be used with caution. Prescribers are reminded of the following
statement present in all antidepressant labeling:
Suicide: The possibility of a
suicide attempt is inherent in major depressive disorder and may persist until
significant remission occurs. Close
supervision of high-risk patients should accompany initial drug therapy. Prescriptions for Drug X should be written
for the smallest quantity of tablets consistent with good patient management,
in order to reduce the risk of overdose”.
The Committee
discussed the need to consider revising this statement, in light of recent
data. As noted, there was a consensus of
the Committee that labeling include a more prominent
warning of the risk of behavioral toxicity, particularly dysphoric
agitation/activation, early in the course of antidepressant treatment. It was also noted that the last statement in
the existing warning cited above, emphasizing the risk of medication overdose,
is a legacy of the tricyclic antidepressant era, and is no longer appropriate,
as drug overdose per se as a means of suicide is not a concern with the SSRIs
and other newer antidepressants.
Similarly, a bolded warning in all current Selective Serotonin Reuptake
Inhibitor (SSRI) labeling regarding the necessity to avoid a potentially fatal
drug-drug interaction with monoamine oxidase (MAO) inhibitor antidepressants,
while true, may well not reflect current medical practice, which entails only rare
use of MAO inhibitors. Consideration to
replacement of these outdated warnings with labeling more representative
of modern medical practice and concern is recommended.
6. A public meeting is planned in late summer
to discuss the results of further analyses of the controlled trials. Until that time, should the FDA provide
additional advice to practicing physicians regarding the use of these drugs?
·
If your
answer is yes, please provide specific information on what that advice should
be.
The Committee advised the
FDA to issue a warning in the interim to the physicians and the public on the
potential side effects of the SSRIs and other newer antidepressants. The Committee advised the FDA to inform the
public and health care workers including pediatricians and family practitioners
of the level of concern regarding possible harm to a minority of children on
antidepressants and the signs associated with the side effects. Specifically, the Committee felt that the necessity
of close follow-up, with monitoring for emergent adverse effects, during the
first weeks of treatment of children and adolescents with antidepressants
should be stated explicitly. Parents
or other responsible adults should be informed of the signs and symptoms of the
“activation syndrome” and of the urgency of having the child seen by physician
should such behaviors emerge, especially early in the treatment course.
The Committee
advised the FDA to inform the public and health care workers, including
pediatricians and family practitioners, that the data on the efficacy of SSRIs
for pediatric major depression is less compelling than Committee members had
recognized prior to recent events discussed by the Committee. The Committee is concerned that health care
workers are unaware of the fact that the strong majority of randomized
controlled trials of SSRIs do not demonstrate superiority over placebo in the
treatment of major depression in children and adolescents. The Committee felt that it was important for
the FDA to communicate this fact as it bears on the risk-benefit ratio for the
use of SSRIs in pediatric major depression.
7. Should FDA involve other professional
organizations in the community? If so,
how should FDA involve these organizations?
What messages should these organizations provide?
The Committee felt that the Agency should involve all health care
organizations whose membership includes physicians and other medical personnel
who might prescribe or be asked questions about antidepressant use in children
and adolescents. Such health care
professionals would include pediatricians, child and adult psychiatrists and
psychologists, internists, family practitioners, emergency room, intensive
care, and rehabilitation physicians, nurse practitioners, pharmacists, and
physicians’ assistants. Other
professionals who work with young people, including teachers and social
workers, should also be included.
Examples of such professional organizations cited by Committee members
include medical organizations such as the
These organizations and the Agency should provide information to health
care providers through a variety of sources, including newsletters and the
Internet, as well as face-to-face meetings and panel discussions.
In addition, the organizations should also inform and educate parents
so that when they make collaborative decisions with their child’s physician
they are fully informed and understand completely the serious potential risks
of the drug. The adults responsible for
the young person being treated with antidepressants should be aware of the
small but real risk of an “activation syndrome” developing in their children
and informed of the need to be vigilant about this concern and to immediately
contact the prescribing health care professional should any behavioral toxicity
emerge during treatment.
Following the discussion
session, the meeting adjourned at approximately