Tetanus and Diphtheria Toxoids Adsorbed

Akorn, Inc.
MassBiologics

TETANUS AND DIPHTHERIA TOXOIDS ADSORBED

FULL PRESCRIBING INFORMATION: CONTENTS*

• TETANUS AND DIPHTHERIA TOXOIDS ADSORBED DESCRIPTION
• CLINICAL PHARMACOLOGY
• TETANUS AND DIPHTHERIA TOXOIDS ADSORBED INDICATIONS AND USAGE
• TETANUS AND DIPHTHERIA TOXOIDS ADSORBED CONTRAINDICATIONS
• WARNINGS
• PRECAUTIONS
• TETANUS AND DIPHTHERIA TOXOIDS ADSORBED ADVERSE REACTIONS
• TETANUS AND DIPHTHERIA TOXOIDS ADSORBED DOSAGE AND ADMINISTRATION
• HOW SUPPLIED
• STORAGE
• REFERENCES
• Carton Label
• Vial Label

FULL PRESCRIBING INFORMATION

TETANUS AND DIPHTHERIA TOXOIDS ADSORBED DESCRIPTION

Tetanus and Diphtheria Toxoids Adsorbed (Td) manufactured by MassBiologics is a sterile vaccine for intramuscular injection.  After shaking, the vaccine appears as a homogeneous milky white suspension.

Each 0.5 ml dose of MassBiologics' Td is formulated to contain the following active ingredients: 2 Lf of tetanus toxoid and 2 Lf of diphtheria toxoid.  Each 0.5 ml dose also contains aluminum adjuvant (not more than 0.53 mg aluminum by assay), < 100 mcg (0.02%) of residual formaldehyde, and a trace amount of thimerosal [mercury derivative, (≤ 0.3 mcg mercury/dose)] (not as a preservative) from the manufacturing process.

The Corynebacterium diphtheriae and Clostridium tetani  organisms are grown on modified Mueller's media^1,2 which contains bovine extracts.  The bovine material used in these extracts is sourced from countries which the United States Department of Agriculture has determined neither have nor present an undue risk for bovine spongiform encephalopathy.  Tetanus and diphtheria toxins produced during growth of the cultures are detoxified with formaldehyde.  The detoxified materials are then separately purified by ammonium sulfate fractionation.  The diphtheria toxoid is further purified by column chromatography.  The tetanus and diphtheria toxoids are individually adsorbed onto aluminum phosphate.

The tetanus and diphtheria toxoids induce at least 2 units and 1 unit of antitoxin per ml of serum, respectively, in the guinea pig potency test.

CLINICAL PHARMACOLOGY

TETANUS
Tetanus (also known as lockjaw) is a serious, often fatal disease caused by an extremely potent neurotoxin produced by C. tetani. 

Protection against disease is due to the development of neutralizing antibodies to tetanus toxin.  A serum tetanus antitoxin level of 0.01 IU/ml measured via a neutralization assay is considered the minimum protective level.^3,4  The efficacy against tetanus of MassBiologics' Td is supported by the following:

1.  Response to primary series.  Of 20 adults with less than 0.0025 units/ml of tetanus antitoxin in pre-immunization serum, 14 (70%) had antitoxin concentrations of 0.01 or greater after 2 doses of Td (2 Lf tetanus toxoid dose).  After 3 doses of Td, 16 of 16 adults achieved 0.01 antitoxin units/ml.

2.  Response to booster doses.  Booster doses of Td at doses of 1 Lf and 5 Lf of tetanus toxoid induced tetanus antitoxin levels greater than 0.01 units/ml when administered to all 36 adults who had received prior tetanus immunizations.⁵

DIPHTHERIA
Diphtheria is an acute toxin-mediated disease caused by toxigenic strains of C. diphtheriae. Protection against disease is due to the development of neutralizing antibodies to diphtheria toxin.  A serum diphtheria antitoxin level of 0.01 IU/ml is the lowest level giving some degree of protection.^3,6  The efficacy against diphtheria of MassBiologics' Td is supported by the following:

1.  Response to primary series.  Of 10 adults with less than 0.001 units/ml of diphtheria antitoxin in pre-immunization serum, 50% had antitoxin concentrations of 0.01 or greater after 2 doses of Td (2 Lf diphtheria toxoid dose).  After 3 doses of Td, 6 of 6 adults achieved 0.01 antitoxin units/ml.

2.  Response to booster doses.  In clinical trials, booster doses of Td formulated to contain 1 Lf and 5 Lf of diphtheria toxoid, both induced antitoxin levels greater than 0.01 units/ml when administered to adults with prior diphtheria immunity.^5,7,8  In 140 adolescent males given a single booster dose of the 1 Lf formulation, all achieved an antitoxin titer of 0.01 units/ml or higher.⁸

TETANUS AND DIPHTHERIA TOXOIDS ADSORBED INDICATIONS AND USAGE

MassBiologics' Td is a vaccine indicated for active immunization for the prevention of tetanus and diphtheria.  This vaccine is approved for use in persons 7 years of age and older.

TETANUS AND DIPHTHERIA TOXOIDS ADSORBED CONTRAINDICATIONS

A severe allergic reaction (e.g., anaphylaxis) occurring after a previous dose of this vaccine, or any other tetanus or diphtheria toxoid-containing vaccine, or any component of this vaccine is a contraindication to administration of MassBiologics’ Td vaccine.  (See DESCRIPTION).  Because of the uncertainty as to which component of the vaccine might be responsible, no further vaccination with diphtheria or tetanus components should be carried out.  Alternatively, such individuals may be referred to an allergist for evaluation if further immunizations are to be considered.

WARNINGS

FREQUENCY OF ADMINISTRATION
More frequent administration of MassBiologics' Td than described in DOSAGE AND ADMINISTRATION may be associated with an increased incidence and severity of adverse reactions.

ARTHUS REACTIONS
Persons who experienced an Arthus-type hypersensitivity reaction following a prior dose of a tetanus toxoid-containing vaccine usually have high serum tetanus antitoxin levels and should not receive MassBiologics' Td more frequently than every 10 years, even for tetanus prophylaxis as part of wound management. (See  DOSAGE AND ADMINISTRATION).

GUILLAIN-BARRÉ SYNDROME
A review by the Institute of Medicine found evidence for a causal relation between tetanus toxoid and Guillain-Barré Syndrome.⁹  If Guillain-Barré Syndrome occurred within 6 weeks after receipt of a previous dose of tetanus toxoid-containing vaccine, the decision to give subsequent doses of MassBiologics' Td or any vaccine containing tetanus toxoid should be based on careful consideration of the potential benefits and possible risks.¹⁰

Vaccination with MassBiologics' Td may not protect all individuals.

PRECAUTIONS

GENERAL
Epinephrine injection (1:1000) and other appropriate agents and equipment must be immediately available should an acute anaphylactic reaction occur.

Prior to the administration of MassBiologics' Td, the vaccine recipient's current health status and health history should be reviewed.  This includes a review of the immunization history of the patient, the presence of any contraindications to immunization, and any adverse events after previous immunizations to allow an assessment of the benefits and risks of vaccination.  (See CONTRAINDICATIONS and WARNINGS ) .

If MassBiologics' Td is administered to immunocompromised persons (whether from disease or treatment) the expected immune response may not be obtained.

INFORMATION FOR PATIENTS
Prior to administration of MassBiologics' Td, patients, parents or guardians should be informed by the health care provider of the benefits and risks of immunization with Td and of the importance of completing the primary immunization series or receiving recommended booster doses.

The health care provider should inform the patient, parent, or guardian of the potential for adverse reactions that have been temporally associated with MassBiologics' Td or other vaccines containing similar ingredients.  Patients, parents or guardians should be instructed to report any suspected adverse reactions to their health care provider.

According to the National Childhood Vaccine Injury Act of 1986, Vaccine Information Statements must be provided by the health care provider with each vaccine dose administered.¹⁰

DRUG INTERACTIONS
Patients who are on immunosuppressive therapy, including alkylating agents, antimetabolites, cytotoxic drugs, irradiation, or corticosteroids (used in greater than physiologic doses), may have a reduced immune response to vaccines.

No safety and immunogenicity data are available on the concomitant administration of MassBiologics' Td vaccine with other U.S. licensed vaccines.

CARCINOGENESIS, MUTAGENESIS, IMPAIRMENT OF FERTILITY
No studies have been performed with MassBiologics' Td to evaluate carcinogenicity, mutagenic potential, or impairment of fertility.

PREGNANCY CATEGORY C
Animal reproduction studies have not been conducted with MassBiologics' Td.  It is also not known whether MassBiologics' Td can cause fetal harm when administered to a pregnant woman or can affect reproduction capacity.  MassBiologics' Td should be given to a pregnant woman only if clearly needed.

NURSING MOTHERS
It is not known whether MassBiologics' Td is excreted in human milk.  Because many drugs are excreted in human milk, caution should be exercised when MassBiologics' Td is administered to a nursing woman.

PEDIATRIC USE
MassBiologics' Td is not approved for use in infants and children younger than 7 years of age.  The safety and effectiveness of MassBiologics' Td in this age group have not been established.

GERIATRIC USE
No studies have been performed with MassBiologics' Td in adults aged 65 years and older in order to determine whether they respond differently than younger subjects.

TETANUS AND DIPHTHERIA TOXOIDS ADSORBED ADVERSE REACTIONS

DATA FROM CLINICAL TRIALS
Because clinical trials are conducted under widely varying conditions, adverse reaction rates observed in the clinical trials of a vaccine cannot be directly compared to rates in the clinical trials of another vaccine, and may not reflect the rates observed in practice. However, the adverse reaction information from clinical trials provides a basis for identifying adverse events that appear to be related to vaccine use and for approximating rates. Data on adverse reactions following fluid and adsorbed preparations of MassBiologics' Td with various doses of the diphtheria and tetanus components have been reported in a series of studies.^5,7,8,11,12

POSTMARKETING REPORTS
The following adverse events have been identified during post-approval use of MassBiologics' Td. Because these reactions are reported voluntarily from a population of uncertain size, it is not always possible to reliably estimate their frequencies or to establish a causal relationship to vaccination. The following adverse events were included because of seriousness or frequency of reporting:

General Disorders and Administration Site Conditions: Injection site reactions, including pain, tenderness, erythema, induration, pruritis, swelling and warmth; peripheral oedema, pyrexia, malaise

Nervous System Disorders: Dizziness, headache, convulsions

Musculoskeletal and Connective Tissue Disorders: Myalgia, musculoskeletal stiffness or pain, arthralgia

Skin and Subcutaneous Tissue Disorders: Rash

Gastrointestinal Disorders: Nausea

Infections and Infestations: Cellulitis

REPORTING OF SUSPECTED ADVERSE REACTIONS
To report SUSPECTED ADVERSE REACTIONS, contact MassBiologics at 1-800-457-4626 or VAERS at 1-800-822-7967 or www.vaers.hhs.gov.

TETANUS AND DIPHTHERIA TOXOIDS ADSORBED DOSAGE AND ADMINISTRATION

PRIMARY IMMUNIZATION
MassBiologics' Td may be used in persons 7 years of age and older who have not been previously immunized against tetanus and diphtheria, as a primary immunization series consisting of three 0.5 ml doses.  The first two doses are administered 4-8 weeks apart and the third dose is administered 6-12 months after the second dose.

MassBiologics'  Td may be used to complete the primary immunization series for tetanus and diphtheria, following one or two doses of Diphtheria and Tetanus Toxoids and Pertussis Vaccine Adsorbed (whole cell DTP), Diphtheria and Tetanus Toxoids and Acellular Pertussis Vaccine Adsorbed (DTaP) and/or Diphtheria and Tetanus Toxoids Adsorbed (DT) vaccine.  However, the safety and efficacy of MassBiologics' Td in such regimens have not been evaluated.

ROUTINE BOOSTER IMMUNIZATION
MassBiologics' Td may be used for routine booster immunization against tetanus and diphtheria in persons 7 years of age and older who have completed primary immunization against tetanus and diphtheria.  Routine booster immunization against tetanus and diphtheria is recommended in children 11-12 years of age and every 10 years thereafter.¹⁰

The Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP) has specific recommendations on booster immunization against tetanus and diphtheria for adolescents and adults.^10,13,14

TETANUS PROPHYLAXIS IN WOUND MANAGEMENT
For active tetanus immunization in wound management of patients 7 years of age and older, a preparation containing tetanus and diphtheria toxoids is preferred instead of single-antigen tetanus toxoid to enhance diphtheria protection.¹⁵ MassBiologics' Td is approved for wound management of patients 7 years of age and older.   

The need for active immunization with a tetanus toxoid-containing preparation, with or without Tetanus Immune Globulin (TIG) (Human) depends on both the condition of the wound and the patient's vaccination history (Table 1).

When indicated, TIG (Human) should be administered using a separate needle and syringe at a different anatomic site, according to the manufacturer's package insert.  If a contraindication to using a tetanus toxoid-containing vaccine exists in a person who has not completed tetanus primary immunization and other than a clean, minor wound is sustained, only passive immunization with TIG (Human) should be given.¹⁵

TABLE 1  GUIDE TO TETANUS PROPHYLAXIS IN ROUTINE WOUND MANAGEMENT IN PERSONS AGED 7 YEARS AND OLDER ^13,14,15

* Such as, but not limited to, wounds contaminated with dirt, feces, soil, and saliva; puncture wounds; avulsions; and wounds resulting from missiles, crushing, burns and frostbite.
† The ACIP has specific recommendations on use of Td or Tetanus Toxoid, Reduced Diphtheria Toxoids and Acellular Pertussis Vaccine Adsorbed (Tdap) in adolescents and adults.^13,14
‡ If only three doses of fluid tetanus toxoid have been received, then a fourth dose of toxoid, preferably an adsorbed toxoid, should be given.
§ Yes, if ≥ 10 years since the last tetanus toxoid-containing vaccine dose.
¶ Yes, if ≥ 5 years since the last tetanus toxoid-containing vaccine dose.  (More frequent boosters are not needed and can accentuate side effects.)

DIPHTHERIA PROPHYLAXIS FOR CASE CONTACTS
MassBiologics' Td may be used for post-exposure diphtheria prophylaxis in persons 7 years of age and older who have not completed primary vaccination, whose vaccination status is unknown, or who have not been vaccinated with diphtheria toxoid within the previous 5 years.  Consult ACIP recommendations for additional interventions for post-exposure diphtheria prophylaxis.¹⁵

ADMINISTRATION
Shake the vial well to resuspend the vaccine before withdrawing the dose.  After shaking, MassBiologics' Td is a homogenous milky white suspension.  Parenteral drug products should be inspected visually for particulate matter and discoloration prior to administration, whenever solution and container permit.  If these conditions exist, MassBiologics' Td should not be administered.

Inject 0.5 ml of MassBiologics' Td intramuscularly.  The preferred site is the deltoid muscle.  The vaccine should not be injected into the gluteal area or areas where there may be a major nerve trunk.

Do not administer this vaccine intravenously, subcutaneously, or intradermally.

MassBiologics' Td should not be combined through reconstitution or mixed with any other vaccine.

HOW SUPPLIED

The stopper of the vial is latex free.
MassBiologics’ Td is supplied in a package of 10 single dose vials.
NDC No. 17478-131-00 is the code for individual single dose (0.5ml) vials.
NDC No. 17478-131-01 is the code for the package containing ten vials.

STORAGE

Store at 2°C - 8°C (36°F - 46°F).  DO NOT FREEZE.  Discard product if exposed to freezing.

Do not use vaccine after expiration date.

REFERENCES

1. Latham WC, Bent DF, and Levine L. Tetanus toxin production in the absence of protein. Appl. Microbiol. 10(2): March 1962;146-152.

2. Mueller JH and Miller PA. Production of diphtheric toxin of high potency (100 Lf) on a reproducible medium. J. Immunol. 40: 1941;21-32.

3. Food and Drug Administration. Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS). Biological Products; bacterial vaccines and toxoids; implementation of efficacy review; proposed rule. Fed Reg 1985;50(240): 51002-117.

4. Wassilak SGF, et al. Tetanus toxoid. In: Plotkin SA, Orenstein WA, Offit PA, editors. Vaccines. 5^th ed. Philadelphia, PA: WB Saunders Company; 2008. p. 805-839.

5. Ipsen J. Jr. Immunization of adults against diphtheria and tetanus. NEJM. 1954; 251:459-466

6. Vitek CR and Wharton M. Diphtheria toxoid. In: Plotkin SA, Orenstein WA, Offit PA, editors. Vaccines. 5^th ed. Philadelphia, PA: WB Saunders Company; 2008. p. 139-156.

7. Edsall G, Altman JS, and Gaspar AJ. Combined tetanus-diphtheria immunization of adults: Use of small doses of diphtheria toxoid. Am J Public Health Nations Health. 1954 Dec;44(12):1537-1545.

8. Levine L, Ipsen J, and McComb JA. Adult immunization: preparation and evaluation of combined fluid tetanus and diphtheria toxoids for adult use. Am. J. Hyg. 1961;73:20-35.

9. Institute of Medicine. Stratton KR, et al, eds. Adverse Events Associated with Childhood Vaccines: Evidence Bearing on Casuality. Washington D.C.: National Academy Press. 1994:67-117.

10. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. General recommendations on immunization: recommendations of the Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP). MMWR 2006;55(No. RR-15):1-48.

11. McComb JA and Levine L. Adult immunization II. Dosage reduction as a solution to increasing reactions to tetanus toxoid. NEJM. 1961;256:1152-1158.

12. Levine L and Edsall G. Tetanus toxoid: What determines reaction proneness? J. Infect. Dis. 1981;144:376.

13. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Preventing tetanus, diphtheria, and pertussis among adolescents: use of tetanus toxoid, reduced diphtheria toxoid and acellular pertussis vaccines: recommendations of the Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP). MMWR 2006;55(No. RR-3):1-43.

14. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Preventing tetanus, diphtheria, and pertussis among adults: use of tetanus toxoid, reduced diphtheria toxoid and acellular pertussis vaccine. Recommendations of the Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP) and recommendation of ACIP, supported by the Healthcare Infection Control Practices Advisory Committee (HICPAC), for use of Tdap among health-care personnel. MMWR 2006;55(No. RR-17):1-37.

15. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Recommendations of the Immunization Practices Advisory Committee (ACIP). Diphtheria, tetanus, and pertussis: recommendations for vaccine use and other preventive measures. MMWR 1991;40(No. RR-10):1-35.

Manufactured by:
MassBiologics
University of Massachusetts Medical School
Boston, MA 02130
US Government License No. 1779

Distributed by:
Akorn, Inc.
Lake Forest, IL 60045


Product information as of August 2012

Carton Label

Vial Label