Product Information

Description:   BioLon™ is a sterile, nonpyrogenic, optically clear, viscoelastic preparation of highly purified, high molecular weight sodium hyaluronate. BioLon™ contains 10 mg/ml of sodium hyaluronate dissolved in a physiological sodium chloride phosphate buffer (pH 6.8 - 7.6). This high molecular weight polymer is made up of repeating disaccharide units of N-acetyl-glucosamine and sodium glucuronate linked by (beta)-1,3 and (beta)-1,4 glycosidic bonds.

Sodium hyaluronate is a physiological material that is widely distributed in the connective tissues of both animals and man. Chemically identical in all species, hyaluronate can be found in the vitreous and aqueous humor of the eye, the synovial fluid, the skin and the umbilical cord.

BioLon™ has the following properties:

• High molecular weight (mass average molecular weight approximately 3 million daltons)
• High viscosity

Each milliliter of BioLon™ contains: sodium hyaluronate, 10 mg; sodium chloride, 8.5 mg; disodium hydrogen phosphate dodecahydrate 0.56 mg; sodium dihydrogen phosphate dihydrate 0.045 mg; water for injection q.s. BioLon™ has an osmolality of 260-380 mOsm/kg and a viscosity of approximately 100,000 cps at a shear rate of 0.1 sec ^-1 (25°C).

Indications:   BioLon™ is indicated for use as a surgical aid to protect corneal endothelium during cataract extraction (extra-capsular) procedures, intraocular lens (IOL) implantation and anterior segment surgery. When introduced in the anterior segment of the eye during these surgical procedures, BioLon™ serves to maintain a deep anterior chamber.

In addition, BioLon™ helps to push back the vitreous face and prevent formation of a post-operative flat chamber.

Contraindications:   When used as recommended there are no known contraindications to the use of BioLon™.

Warnings:   Mixing of quaternary ammonium salts such as benzalkonium chloride with sodium hyaluronate results in the formation of a precipitate. The eye should not be irrigated with any solution containing benzylalkonium chloride if BioLon™ is to be used during surgery.

Precautions:

• The BioLon™ syringe should be used only with the single-use cannula provided in the package.
• Cannulas are intended for single patient use only. If reuse becomes necessary on the same patient during the surgical procedures, rinse the cannula thoroughly with sterile distilled water to remove all traces of residual material.
• Verify that the cannula is properly locked to the Luer Lock Adaptor. Do not overtighten the Luer Lock Adaptor; this can lead to loosening of the Leur Lock Adaptor from the barrel.
• Use only if the solution is clear.
• Care should be taken to avoid trapping air bubbles behind BioLon™.
• Instilling excessive amounts of BioLon™ into the anterior segment of the eye may cause increased intraocular pressure.
• Pre-existing glaucoma or compromised outflow and operative procedures and sequelae thereto, including enzymatic zonulysis, absence of an iridectomy, trauma to filtration structures, and by blood and lenticular remnants in the anterior chamber may increase post-operative intraocular pressure. Therefore,
  
  •   ->Do not overfill the eye chamber with BioLon™.
  •   ->Remove all remaining BioLon™ by irrigation and/or aspiration at the close of surgery.
  •   ->Carefully monitor the intraocular pressure, especially during the immediate post-operative period. If a significant rise is observed, treat appropriately.
• On rare occasions, viscoelastic products containing sodium hyaluronate have been observed to become slightly opaque or to form a slight precipitate upon instillation into the eye. The clinical significance, if any, of this phenomenon is not known. The physician should, however, be aware of this possibility, and, should it be observed, the cloudy or precipitated material should be removed by irrigation and/or aspiration.
• BioLon™ is a highly purified substance extracted from bacterial cells. However, physicians should be aware of immunological, allergic and other potential risks of the type that can occur from the injection of any biological substance since the presence of minute quantities of impurities (e.g., proteins) cannot be totally excluded.

Adverse Reactions:   In clinical trials, 298 patients were treated with BioLon™ and 224 patients were treated with sodium hyaluronate, an approved comparative device on the U.S. market for more than five years. The incidences of adverse experiences that were reported in >1% of the patients are shown in Table I.

Adverse events which occurred in <1% and in at least 2 patients include: ocular hemorrhage, corneoscleral leak, suture related adverse events, vitreous in anterior chamber, hyphema and hematic Tyndall, synechiae, capsule rupture, and cyclytic membrane.

Dosage/Applications:    Cataract Surgery and Intraocular Lens Implantation

Refrigerated BioLon™ should be allowed to attain room temperature (approximately 20 - 30 minutes) prior to use. The usual dose required is 0.2 to 0.5 ml of BioLon™. BioLon™ should be slowly and carefully introduced into the anterior segment of the eye using the provided cannula.

Injection of BioLon™ can be performed either before or after delivery of the lens. BioLon™ may also be used to cost surgical instruments and the intraocular lenses prior to insertion.

Additional BioLon™ can be injected during surgery to replace any BioLon™ lost during surgical manipulation (see Precautions section).

How Supplied:   BioLon™ is supplied in sterile, disposable 2.25 ml syringes containing either 0.5 ml or 1.0 ml of 1% sodium hyaluronate in phosphate-buffered salt solution. Each product package contains a blister-packed syringe, a sterile, single-use ophthalmic cannula (anterior chamber irrigator) and a package insert.

Storage Instructions:   Store in a cold dark place (2° - 8°C; 36° - 48°F). May be kept at 25°C (77°F) for up to one month. Protect from freezing. Bring to room temperature prior to use.

Caution:   Federal law restricts this device to sale by or on the order of a physician.

Manufactured by:   Bio-Technology General, (Israel) Ltd., Kiryat Weizmann, Rehovot 76326, Israel

Manufactured for:   Akorn, Inc., Buffalo Grove, Illinois 60089

PRODUCT PHOTO(S):

BIOLON™
sodium hyaluronate

Syringe Operating Instructions

1. Twenty to thirty minutes before use, remove the product box from the refrigerator, remove the blister pack from the box and allow the syringe to reach room temperature.
2. Peel off the blister Tyvek backing.
   
3. While holding the blister open side down, bend the blister and allow the syringe to fall gently onto the sterile surface. (Alternatively, hold the blister open side up and bend back the blister until the barrel's luer end is exposed. Gripping the luer end of the barrel, remove the syringe from the blister. Do not remove the syringe from the plunger end).
   
4. Remove the tip cap from the syringe and attach the cannula. Attention: Do not apply pressure to the plunger rod while the cannula is being affixed.
   
5. Apply gentle pressure to the plunger in order to expel air from the cannula and verify that the syringe is operating properly.
   
6. The syringe is ready for use.

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