Sincalide

Risk Summary

Based on limited human data and mechanism of action, sincalide may cause preterm labor or spontaneous abortion. Available data with sincalide for injection are insufficient to establish a drug-associated risk of major birth defects, miscarriage or adverse maternal or fetal outcomes. In animal embryo-fetal development studies in which sincalide was administered to hamsters and rats during the period of organogenesis, no effects were seen at doses comparable to the maximum recommended clinical dose on a mg/kg basis. However, in a prenatal development study in which rats were administered sincalide during organogenesis through parturition, decreased weight gain and developmental delays were observed at a dose 122 times higher than the maximum recommended human dose based on body surface area.

The estimated background risk of major birth defects and miscarriage for the indicated population is unknown. All pregnancies have a background risk of birth defect, loss, or other adverse outcomes. In the U.S. general population, the estimated background risk of major birth defects and miscarriage in clinically recognized pregnancies is 2 to 4% and 15 to 20%, respectively.

Data

Animal Data

There were no effects on embryo-fetal development in hamsters when sincalide was administered subcutaneously at 250 or 750 ng/kg during organogenesis (Gestation Days 7 to 13) at doses up to 0.8 times the maximum recommended dose of 120 ng/kg on a body surface area basis. No effects on embryo-fetal development were observed in Sprague-Dawley rats at subcutaneous doses of 250, 450, or 750 ng/kg from Gestation Days 6 to16, representing 1.0 time the maximum recommended human dose on a body surface area basis. In a separate study at a higher dose of 90 mcg/kg administered subcutaneously to CFY rats from Gestation Day 10 through parturition (representing 122 times the maximum recommended human dose on a body surface area basis), offspring showed decreased growth, behavioral changes, and developmental delays.

Risk Summary

There are no data regarding the presence of sincalide in human or animal milk, the effects on the breastfed infant, or the effects on milk production. The developmental and health benefits of breastfeeding should be considered along with the mother’s clinical need for sincalide and any potential adverse effect on the breastfed infant from sincalide or from the underlying condition.

Long-term studies in animals have not been performed to evaluate carcinogenic or mutagenic potential, or possible impairment of fertility in males or females.

The following adverse reactions associated with the use of sincalide were identified in clinical trials or postmarketing reports. Because these reactions were reported voluntarily from a population of uncertain size, it is not always possible to estimate their frequency, reliably, or to establish a causal relationship to drug exposure.

The most frequent adverse reactions (20% or greater) are gastrointestinal: abdominal discomfort or pain, and nausea; these may not necessarily indicate an abnormality of the biliary tract unless there is other clinical or radiologic evidence of disease.

Less common adverse reactions include:

Hypersensitivity reactions: anaphylaxis and anaphylactic shock, hypotension, throat tightness, bradycardia, shortness of breath, nausea, abdominal cramping, diaphoresis, hives, rash, itching; and numbness of face, lips and eyes.

Neurological reactions: seizures, headache.

Vasovagal reactions: dizziness, loss of consciousness, nausea, diaphoresis, syncope and hypotension (generally self-limiting).

Other: nausea, vomiting, flushing, hypertension, urge to defecate, diarrhea, sneezing.