January 6, 2003
Dear Health Care Professional:
We are writing to inform you that Wyeth, in close cooperation with the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA), has adopted new labeling for Prempro™ (conjugated estrogens/medroxyprogesterone acetate tablets), Premphase® (conjugated estrogens/medroxyprogesterone acetate tablets), and Premarin® (conjugated estrogens tablets, USP).
A copy of the new Prescribing
Information is enclosed and is available at www.premarin.com and www.prempro.com.
The labeling changes include a boxed warning, which states that estrogens
and
estrogens plus progestin therapies should not be used for the prevention
of cardiovascular disease. The boxed warning for estrogen-only therapies
includes this same language as well as the long-recognized advisory that
estrogens
increase the risk of endometrial cancer when used without a progestin.
The boxed warning also includes risk information that previously appeared
in other sections of the labeling. Specifically, it states that because
the Women's Health Initiative (WHI) study reported an increased risk of myocardial
infarction, stroke, invasive breast cancer, and venous thromboembolism
(VTE), estrogens
and estrogens plus progestin therapies should be prescribed for the
shortest duration consistent with treatment goals.
The boxed warning
also states
that because other combinations of estrogens and progestins were
not studied in
the WHI, in the absence of comparable data, the risks identified
in the study should be assumed to be similar for all postmenopausal hormone
therapy (HT)
products.
The FDA is contacting other manufacturers of HT products to urge
them to implement similar revisions to the prescribing information
for their products.
Prempro and Premarin are indicated for:
• Relief of moderate to severe vasomotor symptoms associated
with menopause (the primary reason women seek treatment)
• Relief of moderate to severe symptoms of vulvovaginal atrophy associated with menopause
• Prevention of postmenopausal osteoporosis in appropriately selected patients
When
used in women without menopausal symptoms for the prevention of postmenopausal
osteoporosis, HT should be used only in
women at significant
risk for osteoporosis
in whom non-estrogen therapies have been carefully considered.
Only postmenopausal HT is indicated for all three of these
conditions. Premarin and Prempro continue to be valuable
treatments for symptomatic
menopausal
women.
Please see accompanying Prescribing Information. If you
have any questions, please contact Global Medical Affairs
at 1-800-934-5556.
Thank you for
your attention
to this important information.
Sincerely,
Victoria Kusiak, M.D.
Vice President, Global Medical Affairs and
North American Medical Director